I ran out to the yard for help and while out on the stairs Mr. Mach brought out Young to the top of the stairs and Mr. Spencer (who had come up by this time) and I held him while the other officers were coming. The knife I found on Young I turned over to Mr. Mach.
/S/ Wesley C. Hicks
Alcatraz, California
December 3, 1940
To: E.J. Miller, Associate Warden
From: W.C. Hicks, jr. Officer
Re: Stabbing of Rufus McCain #267
At 9:55 A.M. I entered the Tailor Shop and reported to Mr. Mach. He was just about to take a count as he said he took it a little before the hour. After the count, Mr. Mach suggested he show me around the Shop.
We had just started (between 10:00 and 10:05 A.M.) and he was showing me some pattern when I heard someone shout “Hey, Ruf, Hey, Ruf.” Turning around, I saw Young #244 standing with a knife in his right hand and McCain fall to the floor. Mr. Mach immediately grabbed him and threw him against the wall and at the same time twisting his right with the knife down to his side. He then called to Mr. Pone and to myself to get his knife. Mr. Pone got the knife in his hand and I found another slipped under his belt in front.
I ran out to the yard for help and while out on the stairs Mr. Mach brought out Young to the top of the stairs and Mr. Spencer (who had come up by this time) and I held him while the other officers were coming. The knife I found on Young I turned over to Mr. Mach.
/S/ Wesley C. Hicks
Memorandum to the Warden:
Re: 267-Az, McCain, R.R.
The above captioned Inmate was brought to the Hospital at about 10:00 today, on a stretcher. It was found that he was suffering from an extensive wound of the right side of the abdomen. This wound was about five inches in length and entirely through the abdominal wall. The omentum was exposed and partly protruding. There was considerable oozing of blood from several points on the omentum. He was suffering also from shock. He was given immediate treatment to combat the shock and steps were taken to stop the bleeding. In the meantime Passed Assistant Surgeon George H. Hunt was called from the U. S. Marine Hospital in San Francisco and he came at one to the Island and an anesthetic and the abdomen explored to determine the extent of the damage. It was found that no viscus was cut through but there were many bleeding points found in the region of the Hepatic flexure of the colon, in which neighborhood there was a hematome. All bleeding points found were ligated and the wound closed with drainage down to the peritoneum. The patient was returned to his room and shock treatment was continued with the administration of fluids and stimulants to support pulse.
As this is written at 2:45 P.M. the patient is still in shock and has a great deal of pain. His pulse is small and slow but his color is fairly good and he complains of great tenderness over the abdomen. Stimulation and fluids will be continued and sufficient narcotic to control the pain. This injury was received at the hands of another inmate. This man is still in a very critical condition and the prognosis is extremely guarded.
Respectfully,
Romney M. Ritchey, Surgeon (R),
Chief Medical Officer
United States Public Health Service
U. S. Penitentiary, Alcatraz, California
November 4, 1940
Memorandum to the Warden:
Re: 267-Az., Mc Cain, Rufus (Deceased)
The following statement is made to include the several verbal and written reports we made to you yesterday regarding the above captioned Inmate.
At about 10:00 a.m. yesterday the above captioned former Inmate was brought to the Hospital on a stretcher. He was pale and his skin was moist and his shirt was bloody and he was holding with both hands a mass which was protruding from a large opening in the abdomen. He was placed on the table and a hypodermic was given for the pain. The wound was cleansed and inspected and he appeared to be in severe shock from the exposure of the abdominal contents. Bleeding points in the omentum were tied off and active shock treatment instituted. His general condition did not greatly improve but it was imperative that further investigation of the possible injury to intestines be undertaken. This was done by Passed Assistant Surgeon G. H. Hunt, USPHS, of U. S. Marine Hospital, San Francisco.
No penetrating wound or any viscus was found by considerable oozing of blood from the posterior surface of Omentum. The abdominal wound was then closed with drains into the sheath of the rectus muscle. During this procedure he was given intravenous glucose solution and when returned from the Operating Room his condition was considered fair considering everything, but the pulse was slow and weak. He continued to receive shock treatment and stimulation and some sedative to combat the pain, but by 2:00 P.M. his pulse was only 40 and very thready. He then appeared to rally a little and his pulse returned to 78 but still very small and weak. At about 3:00 P.M. he began to fail again with labored respiration and beginning cyanosis and in spite of continued efforts to relieve him of these symptoms, he died at 3:30 P.M. December 3, 1940, approximately six hours after the injury was received. The cause of death was surgical shock caused by a penetrating wound of the abdomen with internal injuries to the Omentum.
The Associate Warden and myself were both present at the time of death.
Alcatraz on Trial
Federal Judge Michael Roche.
Word of the murder spread fast, and newspapers quickly latched onto the story of McCain’s vicious act. In February of 1941, under heavy guard, Young was transferred to the Federal Court Building in San Francisco for his arraignment. Federal Judge Michael Roche was to preside over the case, and the acclaimed Federal Prosecutor, Frank Hennessy, stated from the beginning that he would seek the death penalty for Young. When Judge Roche asked Young if he wished the court to appoint an attorney for him, a soft-spoken Henri approached the bench and requested two young attorneys with no previous record of contributing to unfavorable convictions. Young stated: “I should like to have the court appoint two youthful attorneys of no established reputation for verdicts or hung juries.” Henri seemed to be contemplating his fate in an inappropriately lighthearted fashion. He joked that although the attorneys probably would not have a positive influence on his trial outcome, the case would at least provide them with some professional experience.
Attorney Sol Abrams
Attorney James MacInnis