Note: Al Capone's files have been pilfered more heavilly than many other inmates. This collection are all that remain in the National Archives to document his decline due to a syphilitic paresis in the brain.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
FEBRUARY 8, 1938
It was announced at the Department of Justice today that on February 5, 1938, Alphone Capone, an inmate of the United States Penitentiary at Alcatraz, became ill and that since that time he has been confined in the prison hospital on the Island. He is still under observation but the doctors have not made a definite diagnosis of the case.
The Department has no intention of transferring Capone to another institution in the near future, unless the diagnosis indicates that hospitalization at another institution is necessary.
WESTERN UNION
FEBRUARY 9, 1938 MIAMI BEACHFLORIDA
JAMES A. JOHNSTON
DEAR SIR DUE TO THE RUMORS WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE AT ONCE SO I COULD BE NEAR MY HUSBAND IF ANYTHING SHOULD HAPPEN THAT HE WOULD NEED ME BUT WOULD NOT LIKE TO MAKE THE TRIP AND FIND THAT HE HAS ALREADY BEEN TRANSFERRED KINDLY PLEASE ADVISE ME BY RETURN WIRE COLLECT WESTERN UNION RESPECTFULLY YOURS
MRS. ALPHONSE CAPONE
93 PALM ISLAND
RECEIVED BY WAW FROM GF 2-9-38
RESPONSE WESTERN UNION COLLECT 2-9-38
RETEL NINTH HAVE JUST HAD REPORT FROM PHYSICIANS ADVISING ME THAT YOUR HUSBAND IS QUIET, COMMUNICATIVE, COOPERATIVE, APPARENTLY COMPREHENDS HIS CONDITION AND NECESSITY OF FOLLOWING DOCTORS ORDERS AND THAT IT IS NOT NOW NECESSARY TO RESTRAIN HIM THEREFORE DISCOUNT RUMORS STOP HOWEVER, THEY CANNOT DEFINITELY DETERMINE WHAT CHANGES MAY OCCUR AND THEY DO NOT WANT TO PREDICT STOP IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES I SUGGEST YOU AWAIT FURTHER ADVICE AND IN THE MEANTIME KEEP IN TOUCH WITH DIRECTOR OF BUREA, WASHINGTON, TO WHOM REPORTS WILL BE FORWARDED.
J.A. JOHNSTON
TRANSMITTED BY FR TO PR 2-9-38
March 29, 1939
CONFIDENTIAL
Medical Director,
Bureau of Prisons
Department of Justice
Washington, D.C.
Sir:
Re;Reg. No. 397, CAPONE, Alphonse
I have the honor to report that our Consultant in Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat has informed me in an unwritten and confidential matter that the above named inmate has an opacity in each eye or incipient cataract formation.
I have questioned Dr. Uhls carefully about the condition and he informs me that it has nothing to do with the Trsparsamide treatment being administered at this time.
Under the circumstances I have advised Dr. Uhls to defer any eye treatment for the time being since our inmate help is probably familiar with the treatment being used on another inmate with the same condition.
In the meantime I shall continue with the Tryparsamide and the patient will be seen by Dr. Uhls at weekly intervals, i.e., for examination of the eye grounds.
Respectfully,
George Hess, A.A. Surgeon
Chief Medical Officer
[NARA-SB:RG-129:85-AZ]