Henri Young
Encyclopedia
Henri Theodore Young was a prisoner at Alcatraz who attempted to escape with two other inmates, Arthur Barker
and Rufus McCain
and is best known for being the main character in the movie Murder in the First
.
Young became a bank robber and was known for aggressively taking hostages. In 1933, he committed murder. After spending time in prisons in Washington state
and Montana
, he was sent to the federal prison on Alcatraz Island
. On the night of January 13, 1939, Young, with prisoners Rufus McCain
, Arthur Barker
, Dale Stamphill, and William Martin, attempted to escape. Martin, Young, and McCain surrendered, while Barker and Stamphill refused to surrender and were subsequently shot. Barker eventually died from his injuries. Allegedly, Young and McCain were sentenced to long terms each in solitary confinement, but they were back in the prison general population within months. A year later, Young killed Rufus McCain by plunging a spoon into his neck; he never revealed his motive.
Murder in the First alleges that Young was tortured after his escape attempt, that he killed McCain in the cafeteria immediately after his return to the general population, and that he was found dead in his prison cell in 1942 just before his appeal with the word “victory” on the wall. However, many of the events depicted in the film are historically inaccurate -- in reality, Young was released from segregation after only a few months and killed McCain more than a year later.
Arthur Barker
Arthur R. "Doc" Barker was an American criminal, the son of Ma Barker and a member of the Barker-Karpis gang along with Alvin Karpis....
and Rufus McCain
Rufus McCain
Rufus Roy McCain was a prisoner at Alcatraz who attempted escape with Henri Young and Arthur Barker. On the night of January 13, 1939, McCain with Henri Young and Arthur Barker attempted escape from The Rock. The guards started to fire shots at Arthur Barker. Barker eventually died and McCain and...
and is best known for being the main character in the movie Murder in the First
Murder in the First
Murder in the First is a largely fictitious 1995 film, directed by Marc Rocco, about a petty criminal named Henri Young who is put on trial for murder in the first degree.-Plot:...
.
Young became a bank robber and was known for aggressively taking hostages. In 1933, he committed murder. After spending time in prisons in Washington state
Washington State
Washington State may refer to:* Washington , often referred to as "Washington state" to differentiate it from Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States* Washington State University, a land-grant college in that state- See also :...
and Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, he was sent to the federal prison on Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz Island is an island located in the San Francisco Bay, offshore from San Francisco, California, United States. Often referred to as "The Rock" or simply "Traz", the small island was developed with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, a military prison, and a Federal...
. On the night of January 13, 1939, Young, with prisoners Rufus McCain
Rufus McCain
Rufus Roy McCain was a prisoner at Alcatraz who attempted escape with Henri Young and Arthur Barker. On the night of January 13, 1939, McCain with Henri Young and Arthur Barker attempted escape from The Rock. The guards started to fire shots at Arthur Barker. Barker eventually died and McCain and...
, Arthur Barker
Arthur Barker
Arthur R. "Doc" Barker was an American criminal, the son of Ma Barker and a member of the Barker-Karpis gang along with Alvin Karpis....
, Dale Stamphill, and William Martin, attempted to escape. Martin, Young, and McCain surrendered, while Barker and Stamphill refused to surrender and were subsequently shot. Barker eventually died from his injuries. Allegedly, Young and McCain were sentenced to long terms each in solitary confinement, but they were back in the prison general population within months. A year later, Young killed Rufus McCain by plunging a spoon into his neck; he never revealed his motive.
Murder in the First alleges that Young was tortured after his escape attempt, that he killed McCain in the cafeteria immediately after his return to the general population, and that he was found dead in his prison cell in 1942 just before his appeal with the word “victory” on the wall. However, many of the events depicted in the film are historically inaccurate -- in reality, Young was released from segregation after only a few months and killed McCain more than a year later.