LIFE IN PRISON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 233, 1 October 1932, Page 3 (Supplement)

LIFE IN PRISON.

THE DAILY ROUND. AL CAPONE, SHOEMAKER. DEPOSED LORD OF GANGDOM. It was a far cry from Chicago's public enemy No. 1 to Federal prisoner No. 40,886, but "Scarface" Al Capone, the deposed lord of Chicago's gangdom, is the only man in America who qualifies as both,' and his job at the Atlanta prison is to make shoes for the 3000. prisoners. Assigned to the shoe shop, he is getting his first taste of being bossed, and from indications received from the prison, he does not like the assignment or the idea of obeying orders. Despite the fact that the Federal Government has clamped the lid down tightly on any information concerning those incarcerated within the grey walls of the institution, reliable reports are that Capone maintains an almost uncanny self-enf.qrced isolation. He does not associate with his fellows. His smile of late seems to have lost a portion of its arrogance. It appears to have been diverted into one of resignation, but the sardonic curl of his ample lips still lingers. He takes only the exercise prescribed by regulations. He is interested, however, in athletics, and recently attended a baseball game between inmates of the prison and a local cotton manufacturing company team. Cnpone, the former king of the midwest vice and beer activities, is now answering seven roll calls a day. The Government asks him to tell it that he is still there seven times every 24 hours. But Capone, at whose door is laid, according to report, the death of more than a score of beer barons and alleged disloyal satellites, is not confined for his outlaw activities. The Government sent him to prison for ten years for evasion of income taxes. As a neophyte in the prison shoe shop, he and a score of fellow inmates rise about six each morning. He has a simple breakfast, for under the administration of the present warden he has little opportunity to repeat the alleged activities of a certain George Remus, of Cincinnati, who is said to have bootlegged beefsteaks into the prison. He then answers another

roll call, the second of the day, and rushes to the shop. From seven until noon he is busy learning his trade. He then has lunch. Back to work, he remains until about 4.30. There are two hours of recreation in which he may read or stroll about the spacious grounds, but behind the 30-foot walls and in the presence of guards. Hβ is permitted two shaves a week, and only two baths. He probably misses his facial treatments, massages and manicures of former days, but he is not complaining. At 8 p.m. Capone must observe 3, quiet hour, when he may again read or talk in subdued whispers. At 10' o'clock lights go out, and another day has passed. As soon as he has convinced prison officials that he intends to observe the rules, he will probably be shifted from the grind of the shoe shop to some other duty. A clerical job in the prison library or as an assistant to the chapel of the Protestant or Catholic chaplain probably will be tendered to him. This will mean that the prison uniform can be supplanted by white duck trousers and a white shirt. Capone is looking forward eagerly to that, but as long as he remains a highly publicised inmate of the institution there is little likelihood that the warden will grant him any concession.—(N.A.N.A. Copyright.)