At this time he was conscious, smiling, and I asked him what had happened and he said that Lucas had come up from behind him, stuck him in the back while he was standing looking at a mandolin which was laying on the counter in the Clothing Room. Upon being attacked he grabbed the mandolin and swung it around, hitting Lucas in the head. Lucas continued to attempt to attack him and in the attempt to disarm Lucas, he got a few minor cut on his hands.

Asked him what the cause of the attack was and he said it was the same old story, because he would not furnish money requested by Lucas.

Guard Sanders who was on duty in the Clothing Room at the time reports that a few minutes before he had gone in the clothing room and went over to a small desk with #107-Best. They were drawing a design for some additional pigeonholes for inmates clothing. Mr. Sander’s back was towards the door. He noticed Capone enter the Clothing Room and saw him looking at the mandolin but did not notice Lucas come in. The first he noticed was when he heard a scuffle and yelling.

At that time Capone was trying to protect himself against the attack of Lucas. Mr. Sanders was only about ten feet away, pulled out his club and jumped over to them, pushed Capone behind him and with Lucas in front of him ordered Lucas to surrender the half of scissors he was holding in his hand, which Lucas did without any resistance. Mr. Sanders took Lucas then up the stairs to the cellhouse and turned him over to Mr. Lapsley. At the same time he blew a whistle to attract attention of the cellhouse guard.

#107-Best went with Capone up the stairs through the kitchen to the mess hall gate. Through this gate Best took Capone on up to the Hospital while Mr. Sanders cleared the basement of all inmates. Mr. Lapsley took Lucas to the Hospital and stayed with him. 

This is all the information I have been able to obtain up to the present time (3:00 P.M., excepting that as soon as Lucas had a slight cut on his head dressed I order him placed in Solitary Confinement “D” Cell Block, about 10 A.M.

The second memorandum included with this text was written to Warden Johnston by the Chief Medical Officer, George Hess. The memo provides a detailed summary of Capone’s injuries:

On June 23, 1936 the above inmate was brought to the hospital with multiple stab wounds and with a history as follows;

About 9:30 A.M. while engaged at work in the clothing room he was attacked by another inmate with a pair of clothing scissors. He gave the name Lucas, number 224, as the man who stabbed him. His condition at the time he was brought to the hospital was that of semi-shock. He was given the usual circulatory stimulants and then first aid measures and an examination.

The primary examination and treatment was given by Doctor Greenberg. He found several wounds as follows; a small punctured wound in the left chest posteriorly about 2 cm Deep which did not penetrate the chest cavity, a puncture wound on the medial aspect of the left thumb about 1 ¹/ ₂cm In length and extending to the bone, several superficial wounds – two on the right arm and one on the right hand. Under the fluoroscope there was seen a foreign body embedded in the first phalanx of the left thumb. This was removed by operation in the operating room under local anesthesia, it was the point of the scissors blade and was about ½ inch in length. The piece of blade was strongly embedded in the bone and much difficulty was experienced in removing the object. He was given 1500 units of tetanus antitoxin.

The patient is recovering from the injuries in a satisfactory manner. The prognosis is considered good at this time. He will probably be confined to the hospital for at least three more days.

*     *     *

Alcatraz California

June 26, 1936

Pursuant to orders of Warden James A. Johnston issued this date, the Board comprising Deputy Warden C. J. Shuttleworth, Chairman, Chief Medical Officer Dr. George Hess and Lieutenant E. J. Miller is now convened for the purpose of providing a hearing for inmate James C. Lucas, Number 224-Az, having been charged that on the twenty-third day of June, 1936, he did attack inmate Number 85-Az, Capone, with a dangerous weapon, inflicting several wounds on the body of this inmate.

The board is now in session and the prisoner will be brought before the board for hearing. (Prisoner summoned).

(By Deputy Warden C. J. Shuttleworth, Chairman)

Lucas, you are called before this Board on instructions of the Warden to try you for an assault on Tuesday morning of this week, June 23, 1936, about 9:30 A.M. on the body of #85-Az, Capone, with a dangerous weapon inflicting several injuries on his body with a part of a pair of scissors, is that correct?

A.  (no audible response)

Q.  What excuse have you got to offer for this attack?

A.  Well, when I was working there, I was minding my own business,     getting along and he got a bunch of crazy ideas in his head and messed around—

Q.  What do you mean crazy ideas?

A.  He went to you and told you that I was going to bump him off and    some other stuff and I had no such idea in my head, nothing like             that, it was not in my mind.

Q.  You state that he went to me about it. Did you see him go to me?

A.  No, but I—

Q.  Did anyone see him go to me with any such stories or hear him?

A.  Well, I couldn’t prove that. I don’t want to try to prove that, but I      know it is so.

Q.  How did you come in possession of these scissors?

A.  Just lay there and I went and got them.

Q.  Just lay where?

A.  In the Barber Shop.

Q.  Where about in the Barber Shop?

A.  On the stand where they always stay.

Q.  Did you break them apart or take the screws out of them?

A.  Unscrewed them.

Q.  Why did you unscrew them instead of using the entire scissors?

A.  One half is better than all of it.

Q.  One half is better—

A.  Sharper.

Q.  Then what did you do after you unscrewed them?

A.  What did I do?

Q.  Yes, how did you know that Capone was in the Clothing Room?

A.  Well, I just knew he was in there, looked and seen him.

Q.  Looked and saw what?

A.  Went on in, knew that he was in there.

Q.  Knew that he was in the Clothing Room. Did you warn him at all     before you made the attack on him or just come in without any     warning?

A.  What do you mean by that?

Q.  Speak to him?

A.  No.

Q.  You didn’t warn him. What was your intention to do to him?

A.  How? What do you mean?

Q.  Well, did you just intend to go in there as a threat or what did you    go in there for with them?

A.  Well, I don’t know.

Q.  What was you first idea when you got the scissors?

A.  Well—

Q.  Was it to go in there and kill him if you could, was that what your     intention was or just to go in there and have a fight?

A.  Well, to just show him no to stool on me and let me well enough       alone.

Q.  Did you know that when you did this, Lucas, that you might have     killed him, that you could have killed him with this?

A.  No, I did not think.... not with them.

Q.  Did you hold the scissors in your hands, these bare scissors, or did you wrap a handkerchief around them to act as a holder?