Burton Earnest "Whitey" Phillips was an American criminal, convicted of bank robbery and kidnapping. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison He robbed $2,090 from the Chandler Bank of Lyons in Kansas in February 1935, before taking the cashier and his assistant hostage and driving away in a stolen car with an accomplice. He was initially sent to Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary and had planned on overpowering the sheriff and obtaining his weapons before escaping and robbing the same bank again. He was assessed as a dangerous criminal who would be more secure at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. He was sent to Alcatraz on October 26, 1935. Phillips was a malicious, angry character, and was noted by the Alcatraz staff upon arrival. In 1937, he savagely attacked the Warden of Alcatraz James A. Johnston in the Dining Hall from behind and beat him until he was restrained; Johnston was 63 at the time and Phillips around 24. Phillips was said to have been angry with Johnston over a worker's strike. His attack was described as a "queer mental quirk". He died in Kansas in 1999.
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It was the spring of 1999, when I left Topeka and stopped in Yates Center on my way to Chanute to have coffee with friend and former employer Al Allison (long time Chanute resident and former owner of Oil Patch). Al had just finished meeting a few days before with a man from California who had been in town to make arrangements for his recently deceased Uncle, Burton Phillips.
Burton Phillips was not well known around Yates Center...no one seemed to have any recollection about his past, only that he lived a few miles north of town on the NW corner of an intersection in a very very small trailer. He kept to himself, was well read, and rarely engaged in conversation. Much to Allison's surprise, the nephew came into the Yates Center coffee shop, asked for him by name, introduced himself and asked if Allison would agree to settle a few details related to Burton's estate....as apparently Burton had mentioned should anything happen to him, the family should ask for "his friend" Allison...given Burton thought him as a local man who could be trusted etc.
The nephew explained he'd been in town for just another day, as he was "looking for something" out at his Uncle's trailer, but then would return to California, etc. Allison told the nephew how surprised he was that Burton had requested him, as he really didn't know Burton all that well, think they were really more "acquaintances" than "friends". The nephew said, "...then you didn't know about Burton's past?" "No" replied Allison. The nephew continued, "..well my Uncle was one of the most notorious bank robbers in Kansas in the 30s, he spent most of his life in Alcatraz with the "Bird Man" Robert Stroud, Al Capone, Doc Barker, Machine Gun Kelly...he spent a considerable amount of time on "D" block after an almost fatal assault on the Warden". Allison was shocked. As the nephew left, news of Burton's past exploits rapidly circulated around the coffee shop and on down the street to the general populace.
A few days later on my way back home to Topeka, I stopped at Burton's "home" a little trailer nestled into a hedge grove. His meager life belongings lay thrown outside the trailer on the ground...some dishes, silverware, a few coffee cups and stacks of Wall Street Journals. The door was swinging in the breeze...yes, someone had ransacked the place looking for "something" of importance...but why would a guy chose to live out his life in such small confines...then it occurred to me...it was the size of a jail cell, only with a few more conveniences within reach...it indeed was what he was familiar with as "home". As I walked back to my car I looked down into the ditch...there laying in the mud was his mailbox....on the side was painted, "Burton Phillips"....I pondered the question, "if he were still alive, would he have sat down for an interview? Doubtful was my self answer"...over the years I have thought of Burton...we actually traveled a few years ago and visited Alcatraz...I went to his cell...it was like all the others...about the size of a very small trailer
Since that time, I've never met a local who said they really "knew" Burton Phillips...he remains just a man that lived his life in quite solitude among a community that had no idea of his past.
After release, Burton Phillips lived out the remainder of his years in a very small mobile home a few miles north of Yates Center, Kansas. It is said that he kept to himself, and was intelligent and well-read. Locally, no one knew of his criminal history, until after his death.
******************************************************
It was the spring of 1999, when I left Topeka and stopped in Yates Center on my way to Chanute to have coffee with friend and former employer Al Allison (long time Chanute resident and former owner of Oil Patch). Al had just finished meeting a few days before with a man from California who had been in town to make arrangements for his recently deceased Uncle, Burton Phillips.
Burton Phillips was not well known around Yates Center...no one seemed to have any recollection about his past, only that he lived a few miles north of town on the NW corner of an intersection in a very very small trailer. He kept to himself, was well read, and rarely engaged in conversation. Much to Allison's surprise, the nephew came into the Yates Center coffee shop, asked for him by name, introduced himself and asked if Allison would agree to settle a few details related to Burton's estate....as apparently Burton had mentioned should anything happen to him, the family should ask for "his friend" Allison...given Burton thought him as a local man who could be trusted etc.
The nephew explained he'd been in town for just another day, as he was "looking for something" out at his Uncle's trailer, but then would return to California, etc. Allison told the nephew how surprised he was that Burton had requested him, as he really didn't know Burton all that well, think they were really more "acquaintances" than "friends". The nephew said, "...then you didn't know about Burton's past?" "No" replied Allison. The nephew continued, "..well my Uncle was one of the most notorious bank robbers in Kansas in the 30s, he spent most of his life in Alcatraz with the "Bird Man" Robert Stroud, Al Capone, Doc Barker, Machine Gun Kelly...he spent a considerable amount of time on "D" block after an almost fatal assault on the Warden". Allison was shocked. As the nephew left, news of Burton's past exploits rapidly circulated around the coffee shop and on down the street to the general populace.
A few days later on my way back home to Topeka, I stopped at Burton's "home" a little trailer nestled into a hedge grove. His meager life belongings lay thrown outside the trailer on the ground...some dishes, silverware, a few coffee cups and stacks of Wall Street Journals. The door was swinging in the breeze...yes, someone had ransacked the place looking for "something" of importance...but why would a guy chose to live out his life in such small confines...then it occurred to me...it was the size of a jail cell, only with a few more conveniences within reach...it indeed was what he was familiar with as "home". As I walked back to my car I looked down into the ditch...there laying in the mud was his mailbox....on the side was painted, "Burton Phillips"....I pondered the question, "if he were still alive, would he have sat down for an interview? Doubtful was my self answer"...over the years I have thought of Burton...we actually traveled a few years ago and visited Alcatraz...I went to his cell...it was like all the others...about the size of a very small trailer
Since that time, I've never met a local who said they really "knew" Burton Phillips...he remains just a man that lived his life in quite solitude among a community that had no idea of his past.
After release, Burton Phillips lived out the remainder of his years in a very small mobile home a few miles north of Yates Center, Kansas. It is said that he kept to himself, and was intelligent and well-read. Locally, no one knew of his criminal history, until after his death.
Burton Earnest "Whitey" Phillips was an American criminal, convicted of bank robbery and kidnapping. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison He robbed $2,090 from the Chandler Bank of Lyons in Kansas in February 1935, before taking the cashier and his assistant hostage and driving away in a stolen car with an accomplice. He was initially sent to Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary and had planned on overpowering the sheriff and obtaining his weapons before escaping and robbing the same bank again. He was assessed as a dangerous criminal who would be more secure at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. He was sent to Alcatraz on October 26, 1935. Phillips was a malicious, angry character, and was noted by the Alcatraz staff upon arrival. In 1937, he savagely attacked the Warden of Alcatraz James A. Johnston in the Dining Hall from behind and beat him until he was restrained; Johnston was 63 at the time and Phillips around 24. Phillips was said to have been angry with Johnston over a worker's strike. His attack was described as a "queer mental quirk". He died in Kansas in 1999.
******************************************************
It was the spring of 1999, when I left Topeka and stopped in Yates Center on my way to Chanute to have coffee with friend and former employer Al Allison (long time Chanute resident and former owner of Oil Patch). Al had just finished meeting a few days before with a man from California who had been in town to make arrangements for his recently deceased Uncle, Burton Phillips.
Burton Phillips was not well known around Yates Center...no one seemed to have any recollection about his past, only that he lived a few miles north of town on the NW corner of an intersection in a very very small trailer. He kept to himself, was well read, and rarely engaged in conversation. Much to Allison's surprise, the nephew came into the Yates Center coffee shop, asked for him by name, introduced himself and asked if Allison would agree to settle a few details related to Burton's estate....as apparently Burton had mentioned should anything happen to him, the family should ask for "his friend" Allison...given Burton thought him as a local man who could be trusted etc.
The nephew explained he'd been in town for just another day, as he was "looking for something" out at his Uncle's trailer, but then would return to California, etc. Allison told the nephew how surprised he was that Burton had requested him, as he really didn't know Burton all that well, think they were really more "acquaintances" than "friends". The nephew said, "...then you didn't know about Burton's past?" "No" replied Allison. The nephew continued, "..well my Uncle was one of the most notorious bank robbers in Kansas in the 30s, he spent most of his life in Alcatraz with the "Bird Man" Robert Stroud, Al Capone, Doc Barker, Machine Gun Kelly...he spent a considerable amount of time on "D" block after an almost fatal assault on the Warden". Allison was shocked. As the nephew left, news of Burton's past exploits rapidly circulated around the coffee shop and on down the street to the general populace.
A few days later on my way back home to Topeka, I stopped at Burton's "home" a little trailer nestled into a hedge grove. His meager life belongings lay thrown outside the trailer on the ground...some dishes, silverware, a few coffee cups and stacks of Wall Street Journals. The door was swinging in the breeze...yes, someone had ransacked the place looking for "something" of importance...but why would a guy chose to live out his life in such small confines...then it occurred to me...it was the size of a jail cell, only with a few more conveniences within reach...it indeed was what he was familiar with as "home". As I walked back to my car I looked down into the ditch...there laying in the mud was his mailbox....on the side was painted, "Burton Phillips"....I pondered the question, "if he were still alive, would he have sat down for an interview? Doubtful was my self answer"...over the years I have thought of Burton...we actually traveled a few years ago and visited Alcatraz...I went to his cell...it was like all the others...about the size of a very small trailer
Since that time, I've never met a local who said they really "knew" Burton Phillips...he remains just a man that lived his life in quite solitude among a community that had no idea of his past.
After release, Burton Phillips lived out the remainder of his years in a very small mobile home a few miles north of Yates Center, Kansas. It is said that he kept to himself, and was intelligent and well-read. Locally, no one knew of his criminal history, until after his death.
******************************************************
It was the spring of 1999, when I left Topeka and stopped in Yates Center on my way to Chanute to have coffee with friend and former employer Al Allison (long time Chanute resident and former owner of Oil Patch). Al had just finished meeting a few days before with a man from California who had been in town to make arrangements for his recently deceased Uncle, Burton Phillips.
Burton Phillips was not well known around Yates Center...no one seemed to have any recollection about his past, only that he lived a few miles north of town on the NW corner of an intersection in a very very small trailer. He kept to himself, was well read, and rarely engaged in conversation. Much to Allison's surprise, the nephew came into the Yates Center coffee shop, asked for him by name, introduced himself and asked if Allison would agree to settle a few details related to Burton's estate....as apparently Burton had mentioned should anything happen to him, the family should ask for "his friend" Allison...given Burton thought him as a local man who could be trusted etc.
The nephew explained he'd been in town for just another day, as he was "looking for something" out at his Uncle's trailer, but then would return to California, etc. Allison told the nephew how surprised he was that Burton had requested him, as he really didn't know Burton all that well, think they were really more "acquaintances" than "friends". The nephew said, "...then you didn't know about Burton's past?" "No" replied Allison. The nephew continued, "..well my Uncle was one of the most notorious bank robbers in Kansas in the 30s, he spent most of his life in Alcatraz with the "Bird Man" Robert Stroud, Al Capone, Doc Barker, Machine Gun Kelly...he spent a considerable amount of time on "D" block after an almost fatal assault on the Warden". Allison was shocked. As the nephew left, news of Burton's past exploits rapidly circulated around the coffee shop and on down the street to the general populace.
A few days later on my way back home to Topeka, I stopped at Burton's "home" a little trailer nestled into a hedge grove. His meager life belongings lay thrown outside the trailer on the ground...some dishes, silverware, a few coffee cups and stacks of Wall Street Journals. The door was swinging in the breeze...yes, someone had ransacked the place looking for "something" of importance...but why would a guy chose to live out his life in such small confines...then it occurred to me...it was the size of a jail cell, only with a few more conveniences within reach...it indeed was what he was familiar with as "home". As I walked back to my car I looked down into the ditch...there laying in the mud was his mailbox....on the side was painted, "Burton Phillips"....I pondered the question, "if he were still alive, would he have sat down for an interview? Doubtful was my self answer"...over the years I have thought of Burton...we actually traveled a few years ago and visited Alcatraz...I went to his cell...it was like all the others...about the size of a very small trailer
Since that time, I've never met a local who said they really "knew" Burton Phillips...he remains just a man that lived his life in quite solitude among a community that had no idea of his past.
After release, Burton Phillips lived out the remainder of his years in a very small mobile home a few miles north of Yates Center, Kansas. It is said that he kept to himself, and was intelligent and well-read. Locally, no one knew of his criminal history, until after his death.
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