Southern and West Coast Connections:Information about Samuel Ruey Eaton
Samuel Ruey Eaton (b. Jul 04, 1911, d. Mar 18, 1980)
Notes for Samuel Ruey Eaton:
SAMUEL RUEY EATONandALICE YATES, Wife #2 were COUSIN'S:
RUEY'S FATHER: :COLUMBUS COMMODORE EATONandALICE'S MOTHER:RUBY EATON-YATES ' FATHER:CICERO ROLAND EATON wereBROTHER'S.Their PARENTS:ROLAND R. EATON andNARCISSUS HARRIS-EATON.
SAMUEL RUEY EATON in ALCATRAZ ISLAND PRISON, SAN FRANCISCO, CA
It began for Ruey Eaton in May 16, 1931 in Booneville, Prentiss County, MS and ended in October 1945.
Ruey and his brother, Clovis Eaton, parked their carnear the Dogwood Stand on the West side of Booneville, MS.They walked to Mr. Dave "Billy" Griskel's house, who lived near the Carolina Methodist Church.Shortly after at their arrival at their Dad, Columbus Commodore Eaton's home, they heard on the radio someone had been shot near where they left their car. He and Clovis had been accused of the shooting and orders had been given to "shoot them on sight".
Their long journey of evading the authorities began in the Tippah Hills in MS.Some of the names mentioned in the book were:Homer Green, Talmer Jumper,Sam Jumper, Earl Strange, Will Barnett, Uncle Henry Yates, Eulice Orff, Natt Taylor, Doc & Jeff Simmons,Uncle Hugh Chatman; and the places in MS were:Paul Chapel Church, Dry Creek Canal, Water Valley, Oxford, New Albany, Ripley, and Dry Creek Community.
ABUSE BY AUTHORITIES OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS: The authorities arrested65 family and friendsbecause theyfeared they might feed the Eaton Brothers. Their sister, Ethel Eaton-Geno, had her 14 year old son taken away. .A few days later, his father, Columbus Commodore Eaton,was arrested and told he would not be released until his son's surrendered.Ruey and Clovis felt they must surrender in order for their family members and friends to be released from jail.
SURRENDERED AND CONVICTED:On June 12, 1931, Ruey and Clovis Eaton surrendered at the Booneville, MS jail to the night jailor.They were moved to Tupelo, Lee County, MS for the hearing in Aberdeen, Hinds County, MS.After being convicted, they were sent to Parchman Prison.Clovis was placed in Camp 6 and Ruey was in Camp 5. They never saw each other again until 7 years later in 1938 in Leavenworth Prison when Clovis came to visit Ruey.
Ruey and some inmates at Parchman, MS prison made a prison break and headed for Prentiss County, to the Dry Creek Community where his family lived.
Ruey remained free for many years; but his luck changed in 1934,when Ruey, Joe Baggett and Henry Crabb were hiding out in a shack owned by Frank and Grady Eaton in Arkansas when they were captured by authorities.Ruey and Henry Crabb were sentenced in April 1934 to the Atlanta Federal Prison; and Joe Baggett was sent to the Ohio Federal Prison.Ruey Eaton's No. was 44316.
ALCATRAZ ISLAND: The Atlanta Prison began preparing the prisoners that were being transferred to the new Federal Prison, Alcatraz Island inSan Francisco Bay, CA.Ruey Eaton and his cell mate were placed in a holding cell with AL CAPONE.When CAPONE arrived in the cell and removed his cap, there were at least 50 cigars in it.He told them to help themselves.
On Saturday Night in 1934,the prison train pulled out of Atlanta, GA for the long hot ride across the country.They traveled through New Orleans, San Antonia, TX Reno, NV, Los Angeles, CA and finally to a small town on the North side of San Francisco Bay where the prison cars were backed on to a Barge.They docked at ALCATRAZ about 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday Morning.
Ruey Eaton was assigned NO. 61 and AL CAPONE was No. 85.
LEAVENWORTH PRISON SHIPMENT TO ALCATRAZ:Among them were MACHINE GUN KELLY, No.137 and DOC BARKER.RALPH ROE and TED COLE, the 2 prisoners that later escaped Alcatraz and were never found.After Ruey Eaton left Alcatraz, Doc Barker attempted to escape Alcatraz and was killed.
TRANSFER TO ATLANTA VIA LEAVENWORTH:Through the help of MS Senator Pat Harrison, Ruey's request for a transfer back to Atlanta was granted.First though he was sent to Leavenworth Federal Prison.He had been at Alcatraz almost 47 months.In Leavenworth, his Dad, Clovis and Ruey's son, Ray, came to visit him.Unbeknown to Ruey, this would be last time he would see his Dad alive.
"FULL AND COMPLETE PARDONGRANTED TO YOU BY GOVERNOR MURPHEE"of Mississippiwas what the telegram said as Ruey read it standing in the Assistant Warden's Office.
On October 05, 1945, Ruey Eaton was released from Atlanta Prison and was heading homeHe walked out the door to see Clovis Eaton, his brother, and Gabe Garrett. Waiting in the car was his brother, Oliver Eaton, and Bill Young, a friend.He had not seen his brother, Oliver, in 11 years.
After 14 years and 9 months, Ruey was back home in the Dry Creek Community.
Ruey Eaton would later serve as the first Mayor of Jumpertownwhen it was incorporated in 1975 until July 01, 1977.He served a four year term on the Board of Aldermen.
RETURN TO ALCATRAZ ISLAND was done in August 1977 when Ruey Eaton, Sam Jumper, Marvin Yates, Ellis Wren and David Yates made the trip to San Francisco, CA.Ruey got his ride across the Golden Gate Bridge for the first time.The next day they boarded the boat for the trip across the Bay to Alcatraz Island. It had been 43 years since he first arrived there; and 39 years since he left it.
VISIT TO PARCHMAN, MS PRISON:In September 1977, Rueymade the trip with Jimmy Moore, Cullen Yates and J.P. Davis.This would close his visits to Alcatraz and Parchman.
Source:"In Prison....and Out" by Ruey Eaton.
More About Samuel Ruey Eaton:
Date born 2: Jul 04, 1911
More About Samuel Ruey Eaton and Willie Evelyn McCombs:
Marriage: Booneville, Prentiss County, MS.
Children of Samuel Ruey Eaton and Alice Yates are:
- Dennis Murphy Eaton, b. 1947, Booneville, PrentissCounty, MS.