Al Capone, American gangster and mob boss (b. 1899)

Alphonse Gabriel Capone: The Notorious Chicago Crime Boss of the Prohibition Era

Alphonse Gabriel Capone, often recognized by his stark nickname "Scarface," was a pivotal figure in American organized crime, achieving significant notoriety during the turbulent Prohibition era. Born on January 17, 1899, in New York City, he would ultimately rise to become the co-founder and undisputed boss of the formidable Chicago Outfit. His impactful, albeit illicit, reign as a powerful crime boss spanned approximately seven years, concluding dramatically when he was incarcerated at the relatively young age of 33.

Early Life and Criminal Apprenticeship in New York

Born into a large family of Italian immigrants from Angri, Campania, near Naples, Alphonse Capone was one of nine children. His formative years were spent in Brooklyn, New York, where he received some education but was expelled from school at the age of 14 after assaulting a teacher. As a teenager, he gravitated towards the burgeoning street gangs of Lower Manhattan, eventually joining the notorious Five Points Gang. This era was characterized by a proliferation of ethnic gangs and a fluid underworld, providing a harsh apprenticeship. Under the tutelage of figures like Frankie Yale, a prominent gangster and saloon owner, Capone honed his skills, working as a bouncer in various organized crime premises, including brothels and dance halls, where he gained firsthand experience in the lucrative, albeit illicit, liquor trade and enforcement.

It was during his time as a bouncer that Capone received the infamous scar on his left cheek, earning him the moniker "Scarface." The wound was reportedly inflicted by Frank Galluccio with a razor blade during an altercation over Galluccio's sister in a bar. Capone, ever conscious of his image, often tried to explain the scars away as war wounds from his time in the military, despite never having served.

The Move to Chicago and Rise Through the Ranks

In his early twenties, around 1920, Capone relocated to Chicago. This move was not arbitrary; he was specifically invited by Johnny Torrio, a former Five Points Gang mentor who had become a significant figure in Chicago's criminal underworld. Torrio served as the head of a powerful criminal syndicate that masterfully exploited the opportunities presented by the 1920 federal ban on alcohol production, sale, and transport, enacted by the Eighteenth Amendment and enforced by the Volstead Act. Capone quickly became Torrio's trusted bodyguard and factotum, learning the intricate workings of the bootlegging empire that was the precursor to the Chicago Outfit. This syndicate enjoyed considerable political protection, largely facilitated through its deep connections with the Unione Siciliana, a powerful fraternal organization with significant political influence within the Italian-American community.

The Violent Ascent to Leadership: Beer Wars and Political Influence

Capone's ultimate ascent to leadership was directly tied to a brutal and protracted conflict with Chicago's rival North Side Gang, initially led by Dean O'Banion and later by Hymie Weiss and George "Bugs" Moran. These "Beer Wars" were fought over control of lucrative bootlegging territories and distribution networks. The intensity of this gang warfare escalated dramatically, leading to numerous assassinations. After North Side gunmen nearly killed Johnny Torrio in a targeted ambush, Torrio, weary of the relentless violence and sensing the shifting tides of power, decided to retire in 1925. He strategically handed over control of his vast criminal enterprise to Capone, marking the beginning of Capone's seven-year reign as the leader of what became known as the Chicago Outfit.

Under Capone's aggressive leadership, the bootlegging business expanded exponentially, often through increasingly violent and ruthless means. His organization gained control over an extensive network of breweries, speakeasies, gambling dens, and brothels across Chicago. Crucially, Capone maintained mutually profitable relationships with key political figures, most notably Mayor William Hale "Big Bill" Thompson, and various corrupt elements within the city's police force. This widespread corruption provided a protective shield, making Capone seem virtually untouchable by local law enforcement agencies.

Public Persona vs. Brutal Reality: The Saint Valentine's Day Massacre

Despite his violent undertakings, Capone meticulously cultivated a public image. He seemed to revel in attention, often appearing at public events like ball games where he received cheers from spectators. During the Great Depression, he made highly visible donations to various charities, including establishing soup kitchens, which led many in the struggling public to view him as a "modern-day Robin Hood," a benefactor who provided services the government often failed to deliver. He was known for his expensive suits, diamond rings, and lavish lifestyle, which he made little effort to conceal.

However, this carefully constructed facade was irrevocably shattered by the infamous Saint Valentine's Day Massacre on February 14, 1929. In this shocking event, seven members of the North Side Gang, rivals led by George "Bugs" Moran, were brutally murdered in broad daylight at a garage on Chicago's North Side. The perpetrators, disguised as police officers, lined the victims against a wall and machine-gunned them. Although Capone was in Florida at the time, the massacre was widely attributed to his orders, sending a chilling message about his ruthless dominance. The sheer audacity and brutality of the event deeply damaged Chicago's public image and Capone's perceived invincibility. It ignited widespread public outrage and galvanized influential citizens and civic organizations to demand decisive government action against organized crime. Newspapers across the nation vehemently condemned Capone, famously dubbing him "Public Enemy No.1," a title that cemented his notoriety.

Federal Prosecution and Imprisonment: The Tax Evasion Breakthrough

The Saint Valentine's Day Massacre proved to be a turning point, intensifying federal scrutiny on Capone. While local authorities struggled to prosecute him on Prohibition-related charges due to political corruption, federal authorities, particularly the U.S. Treasury Department's Bureau of Internal Revenue (later the IRS) and the Prohibition Unit led by agents like Frank J. Wilson and Eliot Ness, became determined to bring him down. Recognizing the difficulty of proving specific illicit acts, federal investigators shifted their focus to tax evasion – a novel approach at the time, stemming from the 1927 Supreme Court ruling in United States v. Sullivan, which affirmed that illegally obtained income was still taxable.

In 1931, Capone was charged with a staggering 22 counts of tax evasion and 1 count of Prohibition violation. During a highly publicized and closely watched trial, a critical piece of evidence admitted by the judge was Capone's own admissions of his significant income and unpaid taxes. These admissions had been made during prior, ultimately abortive, negotiations with the government where he had attempted to settle his tax debts. On October 17, 1931, after a landmark trial, Capone was convicted on five counts of tax evasion, primarily based on the evidence collected by Treasury agents. He was subsequently sentenced to 11 years in federal prison, a substantial term that effectively ended his reign as a crime boss.

Following his conviction, Capone replaced his original defense team with experts specializing in tax law, hoping to secure an appeal. Although a subsequent Supreme Court ruling strengthened the legal grounds for some tax evasion appeals, Capone's specific appeal ultimately failed, solidifying his fate.

Decline, Illness, and Final Years

Capone began his federal sentence at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia. However, his ability to influence his empire from within prison walls led authorities to transfer him in August 1934 to the newly opened, maximum-security federal prison on Alcatraz Island, California. During his incarceration, Capone's health rapidly deteriorated. He showed clear signs of neurosyphilis, a tertiary stage of syphilis that affects the brain and spinal cord, which had likely been contracted years earlier. As his sentence progressed, he became increasingly debilitated both mentally and physically, suffering from dementia, disorientation, and physical ailments.

Due to his declining health and severely impaired mental state, Capone was granted medical parole and released from Alcatraz in November 1939, after serving almost eight years of his sentence. He spent his final years largely out of the public eye, living a quiet life in Palm Island, Florida, under the care of his family. On January 25, 1947, Alphonse Gabriel Capone, the man once dubbed "Public Enemy No.1," died at the age of 48 from cardiac arrest, following a stroke.

Frequently Asked Questions About Al Capone

When and where was Al Capone born?

Alphonse Gabriel Capone was born on January 17, 1899, in Brooklyn, New York City, to Italian immigrant parents.

What was Al Capone's famous nickname and why?

His most well-known nickname was "Scarface," which he acquired after a razor blade attack left prominent scars on his left cheek during his youth in New York.

How did Al Capone become powerful in Chicago?

He moved to Chicago in the early 1920s to work for Johnny Torrio's criminal syndicate, which illegally supplied alcohol during Prohibition. After Torrio retired due to gang violence, Capone took over, expanding the bootlegging business through violence and political corruption.

What was the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre?

It was a notorious event on February 14, 1929, where seven members of a rival gang (George "Bugs" Moran's North Side Gang) were murdered by men disguised as police officers. Though Capone was not directly present, it was widely attributed to his orders and significantly damaged his public image.

Why was Al Capone imprisoned?

Despite his extensive involvement in bootlegging and other criminal activities, Al Capone was ultimately imprisoned for federal income tax evasion. Federal authorities successfully proved he had earned significant income that he had not declared or paid taxes on.

How long was Al Capone's prison sentence?

He was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for tax evasion, though he was released after almost eight years due to declining health.

What happened to Al Capone after his release from prison?

After his release from Alcatraz due to neurosyphilis, Capone spent his final years in declining health, cared for by his family in Florida. He died on January 25, 1947, from cardiac arrest following a stroke.