Lot 204

Al Capone Escape Prison Doc. from Warden, "the event that Capone does not report... a search for the inmate may be instituted immediately," Unique!

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Al Capone Escape Prison Doc. from Warden, "the event that Capone does not report... a search for the inmate may be instituted immediately," Unique!

Estimate: $900 - $1,200

Starting Bid: $300

(0 Bids)

June 17, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
Wilton, CT, US

Description:

Al Capone
Terminal Island, CA, April 13, 1939
Al Capone Escape Prison Doc. from Warden, "the event that Capone does not report... a search for the inmate may be instituted immediately," Unique!
Document

Original carbon copy typed memorandum from the Federal Correctional Institution at Terminal Island, California, dated April 13, 1939, concerning notorious gangster Alphonse "Al" Capone during the final phase of his federal imprisonment. The memorandum, sent to the officer in charge of yard detail from Associate Warden Pietrzak, details specific instructions regarding inmate Capone's supervised work assignment and movement between the Hospital Annex and prison yard detail. The memo references "inmate Capone, No. 397," who was then quartered in the Hospital Annex, and outlines procedures allowing Capone to engage in limited outdoor labor maintaining the trash platform near the rear sally port while under close institutional supervision. The memorandum further instructs prison personnel to coordinate directly with the Chief Medical Officer and to immediately notify the Captain's office should Capone fail to report or return as ordered. The detailed procedural language reflects the heightened security concerns and administrative oversight surrounding one of America's most infamous inmates. Expected toning and wear from a carbon copy, else fine. Possible docketing from prison warden in corner. Measures 8" x 10.5".

From the collection of Patterson Smith, a rare book dealer who also published many works focused on crime.

In full:

"FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION

Terminal Island, California

April 13, 1939.

MEMO TO OFFICER IN CHARGE OF YARD DETAIL:

It is desired that inmate Capone, No. 397, now quartered in the Hospital Annex, be engaged in some useful employment in the open air when all working lines are out. Therefore, it is desirable that he be given an assignment to keep the trash platform near the rear sally port in a sanitary condition at all times, except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays, when the main body of inmates are in the yard.

When the lines are out you are to communicate with the Chief Medical Officer, or his assistant, notifying him of that fact and the Chief Medical Officer will instruct inmate Capone to report to you.

When the lines are about to return from the outside work, you will send this inmate back to the Hospital Annex, instructing him to report to the Chief Medical Officer.

In the event that Capone does not report to you within several minutes from the time he is sent by the Chief Medical Officer, you will notify the Captain's office so that a search for the inmate may be instituted immediately. The Chief Medical Officer, likewise, will communicate with the Captain's office if Capone fails to return to his custody upon release from the yard.

K. T. PIERZAK,
Associate Warden"

This remarkable memorandum provides an intimate glimpse into Al Capone's deteriorating condition during his imprisonment at Terminal Island Federal Correctional Institution in 1939. Once the most feared and powerful organized crime boss in America, Capone had by this time become physically and mentally diminished due to advanced neurosyphilis contracted years earlier.

Following his 1931 conviction for income tax evasion, Capone served time at several federal institutions including the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary and Alcatraz before his health necessitated transfer to Terminal Island's Hospital Annex. This memo demonstrates the extraordinary level of administrative supervision surrounding Capone even in decline, including strict movement procedures and immediate search protocols if he failed to report as directed.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8" x 10.5"
  • Medium: Document

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