Death for R.C. Cline, prison officer fatally beaten with a hammer by convicts in the attempted break at the Federal Penitentiary on Alcatraz island, came yesterday while his wife, mother of his four children, prayed for his recovery, her hand in his.
Dressed in black, Mrs. Etta Cline, had stood with folded arms in a small room off the main corridor of the Marine Hospital. She remained there for hours, hardly moving. As long as the doctors would permit it, she had remained at his bedside through Monday night.
To questions she responded: "I cannot talk about it, please. Warden's orders."
Many hours later she was summoned to the room upstairs. Her husband died soon after she had been escorted to a chair at his bedside. Then she returned to the cottage on the island she and her children had occupied with Cline since Alcatraz became a Federal prison.
Cline was 36, was specially trained in prison work and held a high rating for efficiency.
He entered the Federal prison service November 24, 1931, attending the Government's guard training school in New York.
His first assignment was to the U.S. Detention Farm at La Tuna, Texas.
He was transferred for duty to the Alcatraz penitentiary May 13, 1934, a few weeks before it opened to receive prisoners.
He advanced from junior guard to the position of senior custodial officer.
As a civil service employee, Warden Johnston believed it probable that funds from the Civil Service Association's liability compensation fund would be available to Cline's widow and children.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle, 25 May 1938, page 13.
* * * * * *
From biomelton:
Edah Ileta Melton was born December 21, 1901, presumably in Fannin County,Texas.
She married:
(1) Royal Cline. He was a federal guard on Alcatraz Island and was murdered in 1938 in an attempted
prison escape.
(2) Jimmy Hunt
(3) ______Hindeman
(4) Otto Best
Edah is buried in Baird, Callahan County, Texas (see Find-a-Grave Edah Melton Best).
The children of Edah and Royal Cline were:
--Lucille
--Naomi Dell (Tommie)
--Juanita
--T. Burel and Arel V, twins.
* * * * * *
Death for R.C. Cline, prison officer fatally beaten with a hammer by convicts in the attempted break at the Federal Penitentiary on Alcatraz island, came yesterday while his wife, mother of his four children, prayed for his recovery, her hand in his.
Dressed in black, Mrs. Etta Cline, had stood with folded arms in a small room off the main corridor of the Marine Hospital. She remained there for hours, hardly moving. As long as the doctors would permit it, she had remained at his bedside through Monday night.
To questions she responded: "I cannot talk about it, please. Warden's orders."
Many hours later she was summoned to the room upstairs. Her husband died soon after she had been escorted to a chair at his bedside. Then she returned to the cottage on the island she and her children had occupied with Cline since Alcatraz became a Federal prison.
Cline was 36, was specially trained in prison work and held a high rating for efficiency.
He entered the Federal prison service November 24, 1931, attending the Government's guard training school in New York.
His first assignment was to the U.S. Detention Farm at La Tuna, Texas.
He was transferred for duty to the Alcatraz penitentiary May 13, 1934, a few weeks before it opened to receive prisoners.
He advanced from junior guard to the position of senior custodial officer.
As a civil service employee, Warden Johnston believed it probable that funds from the Civil Service Association's liability compensation fund would be available to Cline's widow and children.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle, 25 May 1938, page 13.
* * * * * *
From biomelton:
Edah Ileta Melton was born December 21, 1901, presumably in Fannin County,Texas.
She married:
(1) Royal Cline. He was a federal guard on Alcatraz Island and was murdered in 1938 in an attempted
prison escape.
(2) Jimmy Hunt
(3) ______Hindeman
(4) Otto Best
Edah is buried in Baird, Callahan County, Texas (see Find-a-Grave Edah Melton Best).
The children of Edah and Royal Cline were:
--Lucille
--Naomi Dell (Tommie)
--Juanita
--T. Burel and Arel V, twins.
* * * * * *
Inscription
QS w/Arel V. Cline, T. Burel Cline & Royal C. Cline
Family Members
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Laura Gertrude Melton Alexander
1890–1977
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Gastford Latideon "Bud" Melton
1891–1956
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Lewis Avon Melton
1893–1970
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Harless Washington Melton
1897–1981
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Marlie Alexander Melton
1898–1949
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Berdie Telezine Melton Cole
1900–1979
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Thomas Gilbert "Bert" Melton
1900–1982
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George Vernon Melton
1904–1922
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Ima Cleo Melton Benge
1905–1996
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Robbie Norene Melton
1910–1911
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See more Cline Best or Melton memorials in:
- Clyde Cemetery Cline Best or Melton
- Clyde Cline Best or Melton
- Callahan County Cline Best or Melton
- Texas Cline Best or Melton
- USA Cline Best or Melton
- Find a Grave Cline Best or Melton
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