Hugh Alderman - Florida Prisoner 63 Years
A Rice Gang Member in 1916
Hugh Alderman’s parents, Thomas and Frankie were born in 1868 in Florida. There were four sons and two daughters born to the couple between 1889 to 1904 and all raised in the grassy swamp lands Southern Florida. Life in this region, surrounded by the Everglades environment, was demanding and a struggle for anyone at the turn of the 20th century. All of these native children went on to live honest livelihoods except one Alderman son named Hugh.
Hugh Alderman born 1892 in Florida
Hugh Alderman was born December 10, 1892 in Dade County, Florida with brown eyes, black hair and a medium built. As a young man he decided he would not follow in his father’s footsteps as a grocer or farmer. He envisioned an easier life, one which involved robbery.
A notorious gang headed by two brothers was formed by 1915 in South Florida. The brothers were Leland and Frank Rice, also from Florida. Joining the Rice Gang was Jim Tucker and Hugh Alderman, all looking for an easy way to acquire money.
The Rice Gang
It was Friday, September 15, 1916 when the four men robbed the Bank of Homestead in Dade County, Florida and made off with $6,500. This was the first major bank robbery in Dade County’s history.
At the end of a two-week grueling manhunt in the Florida Everglades three members of the Sheriff’s posse were shot and killed by the Gang. In turn the four gang members finally were killed or captured.
Alderman Captured
Hugh Alderman surrendered on the west coast of Florida to the lawmen and Frank Rice was captured after being wounded. Leland Rice and Jim Tucker died while fleeing the law. Alderman and Frank Rice blamed Leland and Jim on shooting the posse members; they stated they were not the gunmen.
Frank Rice stood trial in Miami on January 30, 1917 and then Hugh Alderman. Both were found guilty of second degree murder and given life sentences. Frank Rice later was paroled on October 14, 1926 after serving nine years. Frank remained paralyzed from his 1916 wounds while running from the posse and developed tuberous in prison. Frank died two weeks after his parole on October 26, 1926 in a Tampa hospital.
Alderman Prisoner at Raiford in Florida
Hugh Alderman with prison number 12991, began serving his life sentence at Raiford prison in northern Florida on November 8, 1917. Hugh escaped from Raiford on November 9, 1919 but was recaptured that day. While part of a road gang he escaped again on February 6, 1924 however authorities recaptured him the same day.
Florida State Hospital Holds Alderman
By April 17, 1927, Hugh Alderman was sent to the Florida State Hospital for the insane in Chattahoochee. He remained there for the next 53 years and died while still incarcerated on May 4, 1980. Besides being known as part of the Rice Gang and pulling off the first bank robbery in Dade County, Hugh Alderman has the distinction of having served the longest of any prisoner in Florida history, some 63 years as a prisoner.
World Events Missed by Alderman
World events remained outside his prison walls during those decades; America’s involvement in World War I and II, the Roaring Twenties, Prohibition, The Great Depression, growth of American industry and might, assassination of a President, landing on the moon, the resignation of a President, rock-and-roll music and many other national events.
Source:
“Forgotten Heroes - Police Officers Killed in Dade County 1895-1995” by William Wilbanks, 1997, Published by Turner Publishing Co.
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