Until the age of 25, the young Purcărea had fooled death twice. First time, immediately after August 23, 1944: the unit he was part of was sent to the front, and all his comrades were killed by an enemy machine gun.

Purcărea survived because he was on leave at that time. The second episode was when he was a member of the group of Dumitru Apostol. Due to his limited activity and the fact that he was not caught together with the others, he received a small punishment and was not among those chosen by the Securitate to be executed.

The old crosses in the former courtyard of the prison mark the symbolic tombs of those who died in this prison.