Early Life and Family Background
Alphonse Gabriel Capone, widely known as Al Capone, was born on January 17, 1899, in Brooklyn, New York, to Gabriele and Teresa Capone, immigrants from Italy. His father was a barber, and his mother a seamstress. Al Capone was the fourth of nine children. Capone grew up in a tough, working-class neighborhood that was home to various gangs. He attended school until the sixth grade but dropped out at the age of 14 after striking a teacher who reprimanded him. Following his departure from school, Capone drifted into the world of petty crime.
Capone’s early criminal affiliations were with small street gangs like the South Brooklyn Rippers and Forty Thieves Juniors, which later connected him with more prominent gangs such as the James Street Boys and Five Points Gang. His early interactions with gang leaders and mentors, including Frankie Yale, helped pave his way into organized crime.
The Move to Chicago and Rise to Power
In 1919, Capone relocated to Chicago at the invitation of Johnny Torrio, a mob boss who saw potential in him. At that time, Torrio was running a vast criminal operation that included gambling, prostitution, and bootlegging. The move marked a turning point in Capone’s life, as Chicago was fertile ground for organized crime, especially with the enforcement of Prohibition in 1920, which banned the sale and production of alcohol.
After the assassination of mob boss Big Jim Colosimo in 1920, allegedly orchestrated by Torrio and Capone, Torrio assumed control of the Chicago Outfit. Capone, acting as his right-hand man, managed much of the operation’s day-to-day business, including bootlegging alcohol, running gambling operations, and organizing brothels.
In 1925, after an assassination attempt left Torrio injured and ready to retire, he handed over leadership of the Chicago Outfit to Capone. At just 26 years old, Capone became the most powerful criminal in Chicago. Known for his ruthlessness, Capone expanded his empire and eliminated rivals through violence, cementing his status as the king of organized crime in the city.
Prohibition Era and Expansion of the Criminal Empire
The 1920s marked the peak of Capone’s career. His criminal activities largely centered around bootlegging, taking advantage of the nationwide prohibition of alcohol. Capone quickly became the leader of an intricate bootlegging network, importing liquor from Canada and bribing officials to protect his illegal enterprise.
Capone also used extreme violence to control his territory. Bars and saloons that refused to buy alcohol from him were frequently bombed, and rival gangs were eliminated. Despite the violence, Capone managed to cultivate a public image of a generous, larger-than-life figure. He was often seen in tailored suits and was known for his extravagant lifestyle. He even contributed to the community by opening soup kitchens during the Great Depression, which helped foster an image of a benevolent figure, even as his crimes were widely known.
St. Valentine’s Day Massacre
One of the most infamous events associated with Capone was the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, which took place on February 14, 1929. This brutal event was the culmination of a gang war between Capone and Bugs Moran, the leader of the North Side Gang. In a meticulously planned operation, Capone’s men, dressed as police officers, executed seven of Moran’s associates in a Chicago garage.
The massacre shocked the nation and marked the beginning of the end for Capone. The graphic images of the crime and the sheer scale of the violence led to public outrage and increased pressure on law enforcement to bring Capone to justice.
Legal Troubles and Downfall
Despite his involvement in numerous crimes, including murder, extortion, and bootlegging, law enforcement struggled to build a case against Capone for these offenses due to his ability to bribe officials and intimidate witnesses. However, the U.S. government found a way to prosecute him on charges of tax evasion.
In 1931, Capone was convicted of income tax evasion after investigators were able to prove that he had failed to report his substantial illegal income. On October 17, 1931, he was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison. Capone served his time in several prisons, including the infamous Alcatraz, where his health began to decline due to syphilis.
Decline and Death
Capone’s physical and mental health worsened during his time in prison. By the time he was released in 1939, his mind had significantly deteriorated due to syphilis, and he was no longer considered a threat by law enforcement. Capone spent his remaining years in seclusion at his mansion in Palm Island, Florida.
On January 25, 1947, Capone died of a heart attack at the age of 48. Despite his criminal activities, Capone remains one of the most iconic figures in American history. His life has been immortalized in countless books, movies, and TV shows, often depicted as the quintessential mobster of the Prohibition era.
