Inmate AZ 85
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Alcatraz Inmate 85 arrived on the island on August 22, 1934. As the low number indicates, this federal prison was a new institution. In fact, it had been in operation only eleven days.
However, Alcatraz Island had previously housed a military fort - commonsensically named Fort Alcatraz - from 1846 to 1861 after which it more or less morphed into a military prison. This "disciplinary barracks" was in use until October 13, 1933.
Then the Federal Bureau of Prisons took over. With a cell block already in place, it only cost about $250,000 to get it going as the officially named United States Penitentiary, Alcatraz Island1.
Footnote
Despite what you saw on the old Untouchables episode, Eliot Ness was not involved in getting approval from Congress for the money. Nor did the mob try to stage a break from the convict train as it went to the island.
Inmate AZ 85 was sentenced to 11 years for income tax evasion. He was released from Alcatraz on January 19, 1939. The discrepancy between the sentence and the actual time served will be understood when you learn about the penal system of the era.
So for those who want to learn how Inmate AZ 85 fared after he arrived on "The Rock" (and even later), you can, you mugs, just click here.