Young had been sent to Alcatraz for murder in 1933, and was later involved in an escape attempt during which the gangster Doc Barker was shot to death.
Young var blevet dømt for mord og sendt til Alcatraz i 1933 og var involveret i et flugtforsøg fra Alcatraz, under hvilket den berømte gangster Doc Barker blev skudt og døde.