Alcatraz Justice: The Rock's Most Famous Murder Trial
One of the country's most sensational murder trials took place 56 years ago and involved men who were already in prison. This historical and legal account by trial lawyer Lageson (Battle at Alcatraz) describes an incident that began in May 1946, when six inmates on Alcatraz Island invaded a gun gallery, stole weapons, and captured a cell house, taking nine hostages. During the uprising, three of those inmates and one officer were killed. The three remaining inmates were tried in the Federal District Court of California for the officer's murder. The trial had all the elements of a contemporary trial: allegations of abuse by prison authorities, misleading testimonies regarding what happened, and, especially, questions about the sanity of defendant Sam Shockley. The outcome the execution of Shockley and Miran Thompson and the freeing of Native American Clarence Carnes comes at the end of a suspenseful drama. Lageson, whose father was one of the guards held hostage, has documented the proceedings in exhaustive detail. For readers who have patience, this book offers a good look at how the U.S. justice system works. Recommended for crime collections. Frances Sandiford, Green Haven Correctional Facility Lib., Stormville, NYCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.