X-Nico

unusual facts about Federal penitentiary



Alcatraz Morgue

During Alcatraz's use as a Federal penitentiary from 1934 to 1963, deceased inmates were taken to the San Francisco County Coroner on the mainland.

Warren T. McCray

After serving three years in the federal penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia, he was paroled and returned home in 1927.


see also

Charles R. Forbes

He served one year, eight months and six days at the Leavenworth federal penitentiary.

Frank Sandford

Considered by former members and many neighbors to be a crank and an autocrat who insisted on unquestioning loyalty, Sandford—who had identified himself with the biblical Elijah and David—was convicted of manslaughter in 1911 and served seven years in a federal penitentiary.

McNeil Island

The federal penitentiary's most famous inmates were probably Robert Stroud, the "Birdman of Alcatraz," who was held there from 1909 to 1912; Charles Manson, who was an inmate from 1961 to 1966 for trying to cash a forged government check; and Alvin Karpis, who was an inmate until 1971 for operating as point man for Ma Barker's gang in the 1930s.

The Birdman

The Birdman was the nickname of convicted killer, Robert Stroud who was imprisoned at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary for 17 years.

Zoia Horn

A prisoner, Boyd Douglas in Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary on a work/study program who also worked at the Bucknell library relayed letters, allegedly including anti-war plot details and love letters, from fellow anti-war activists, including Sister Liz McAlistair, to Berrigan in prison.