HERE’S
AN ALCATRAZ PRISON AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL BOOK TITLED:
“ALCATRAZ #
1259”
SIGNED BY INMATE AUTHOR
WILLIAM G.
BAKER
Experience Alcatraz history come to life with this best-selling memoir written by former inmate and self-described "bad boy" William G. "Bill" Baker, also known as inmate #1259-AZ.
Baker went to
prison for robbery. He went to Alcatraz for breaking out of prison. In one of
those escapes he stole a car. Because he was a risk for escaping he was sent to
Alcatraz. If you break the rules you go to prison, you break the prison rules
you go to Alcatraz.
He was at Alcatraz
from 1957 to 1960. Unfortunately Mr. Baker was a slow learner when he left the
Rock he was already making plans to counterfeit payroll checks. He spent the
next 40+ years in and out of prison.
In this book, he details his time on "The Rock," recounting his arrival in 1957, daily life behind bars, and how he and other inmates navigated the harsh prison conditions. Baker offers a firsthand, candid account of daily routines, prison jobs, and the survival mentality of the inmates.
In 1957, when 23-year-old William ("Bill") Baker stepped onto the Alcatraz dock for the first time, he had no idea what the future held. He never would have guessed that 50 years later, he would return to the island...this time as a celebrated author.
Today, Bill is one of the last living Alcatraz inmates and delights visitors with stories from his time on the Rock. In Alcatraz 1259, visitors can take this once-in-a-lifetime experience home. Written with Bill's characteristic candor and dry humor, this powerful first-person account of Alcatraz paints a revealing portrait of life at the world's most notorious prison.
About this Item: Signed by author and inscribed to previous owner – dated Feb. 17, 2017. Paperback. 127 pp. B&W photos. Memoir of author's experiences as inmate at Alcatraz prison; 4to; 231 pages; Published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform 2012. Signed by Author. The book comes with a ©1997 Self-Guided Tour Booklet and map of Alcatraz, book sales receipt dated Feb. 17, 2017.
THE BOOK IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.
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The United States Disciplinary Barracks on Alcatraz were acquired by the United States Department of Justice on October 12,
1933, and the island became a federal prison in August 1934. Alcatraz was designed
to hold prisoners who continuously caused trouble at other federal prisons. At
9:40 am on August 11, 1934, the first batch of 137 prisoners arrived at
Alcatraz, arriving by railroad from the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas to Santa Venetia, California, before being
escorted to Alcatraz, handcuffed in high security coaches and guarded by 60
special FBI agents, U.S. Marshals and railway security officials.
Most of the prisoners were notorious bank robbers and murderers. The
prison initially had a staff of 155, including the first warden James A. Johnston and associate
warden J. E. Shuttleworth, both considered to be "iron
men".The staff were highly trained in security, but not rehabilitation.
Cell 181 in Alcatraz
where Al Capone was imprisoned
During the 29 years it was in use, the jail held some of the most
notorious criminals in American history, such as Al Capone, Robert Franklin Stroud (the "Birdman of
Alcatraz"), George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Bumpy Johnson, Rafael Cancel Miranda (a member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party who attacked the
United States Capitol building in 1954), Mickey Cohen, Arthur R.
"Doc" Barker, and Alvin "Creepy" Karpis (who served more
time at Alcatraz than any other inmate). It also provided housing for the
Bureau of Prisons staff and their families.
During its 29 years of operation, the penitentiary claimed that no
prisoner successfully escaped. A total of 36 prisoners made 14 escape attempts, two men trying
twice; 23 were caught alive, six were shot and killed during their escape, two
drowned, and five are listed as "missing and presumed drowned". The
most violent occurred on May 2, 1946, when a failed escape attempt by six
prisoners led to the Battle of Alcatraz. Perhaps the most famous is the intricate escape carried out on June 11, 1962, by Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin; the three men
are believed to have drowned in their attempt. Contrary to popular belief, it
was possible to escape and swim all of the way to shore.
Although most men were caught or drowned before reaching shore, in 1962 prisoner John Paul Scott escaped, and made it to the shore. However, upon reaching the shore he was so weary that he was found unconscious by police and in hypothermic shock. To this day, people compete in the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon and swim the 1.5 miles to shore.
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(member name: John Lissandrello). I subscribe to each organizations' code of
ethics and authenticity is guaranteed. ~Providing quality service and
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