Capone, Al

Alphonse Capone (1899–1947) was one of the most notorious Italian American gangsters during the Prohibition era. After moving to New York City from his birthplace of Naples, Italy, Capone quickly became involved in gang activities in Brooklyn during his early teenage years. From his petty childhood crimes of vandalism, theft, and fighting, he soon moved up into the famous Five Points gang and earned power and prestige with the group for his ability to strongarm opponents. Capone was involved in many altercations over turf, money, power, and women, including an incident with fellow gangster Frank Gallucio in which Capone's face was slashed three times with a knife, giving him the nickname “Scarface” for the rest of his life.

In 1920, Capone moved to Chicago as righthand man to John Torrio, an infamous gangster. Torrio eventually relinquished his power to Capone after an assassination attempt, and Capone quickly worked to become king of the corrupt city of Chicago during the 1920s. He owned speakeasies, brothels, and gambling houses and distributed alcohol across the city. He was taking in up to $60 million a year, but he also paid up to $30 million a year in protection from corrupt government leaders and police officials.

Capone is most famous for the St. Valentine's Day Massacre on February 14, 1929, in which members of the rival gang of George “Bugs” Moran were gunned down by Capone's henchmen dressed as [Page 119]police officers. This event solidified Capone's status and power in Chicago.

Capone's public image was vastly different from his true personality. He was quiet, professionally dressed, and generous with his money, which he often gave to charity. He was able to maintain this contradiction because the authorities were never able to find any evidence of his illegal activities. Most of the crimes he committed were out of the jurisdiction of the federal government, and all of the local police and government officials had been bribed to keep quiet about his actions. Eventually, Capone was brought up on charges in 1931 and found guilty of the lesser crime of tax evasion by Eliot Ness and the socalled “Untouchables” of the federal government. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison and $80,000 in fines and court costs and served his time first in Atlanta and then Alcatraz. He was released in 1939 and suffered from mental and physical illness due to syphilis. He retired to his home in Palm Island, Florida, and remained there until he died of a stroke in 1947 at the age of 48.