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  1. On this day - 21 March

On this day - 21 March

Historical items of interest as featured in the papers of the day.

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Closure of Alcatraz

Daily Express 21/03/1963

Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary was a prison built atop an island just off the cost of San Francisco, California. It opened in 1934 and housed several high profile prisoners including Al Capone and "Machine Gun" Kelly.

On March 21st 1963, the prison was closed and the remaining prisoners were sent to other facilities across the United States. The prison building remains and is now a popular tourist attraction.

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Milly Dowler reported missing

Daily Express 21/03/2002
On March 21st 2002 Milly Dowler was reported missing when she didn't return home from school. It took until September 18th for her remains to be related. In June 2011 Levi Bellfield was found guilty of Dowler's abduction and murder and given a whole life sentence, which added to the three life sentences he already had for other crimes.

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