Al Capone – Leading the Chicago Outfit
Alphonse Gabriel Capone, more widely known as Al Capone, remains a towering figure in the annals of American organized crime. His name conjures images of tailored suits, fedora hats, and the roar of Tommy guns, forever intertwined with the turbulent era of Prohibition and the rise of powerful, ruthless criminal empires. Capone’s story is a complex tapestry of ambition, violence, and ultimately, downfall, a cautionary tale woven into the fabric of American history. He was a man who commanded respect and fear, a symbol of both the allure and the brutality of the criminal underworld.
Born in the bustling metropolis of Brooklyn, New York, on January 17, 1899, Al Capone’s roots lay in the humble origins of Italian immigrants. His parents, Gabriele and Teresina Capone, sought a better life in the United States, bringing with them the values and traditions of their homeland. Young Al, however, found himself drawn to the allure of the streets, a world far removed from the quiet respectability his parents envisioned. His formal education ended abruptly after the sixth grade, a turning point that set him on a path towards a life of crime. He quickly became associated with a notorious street gang, a formative experience that shaped his character and honed his skills in the art of survival.
Among the individuals who profoundly influenced Capone’s early career were Johnny Torrio and Lucky Luciano, both destined to become prominent figures in the world of organized crime. Torrio, a seasoned gangster with a sharp mind and a pragmatic approach, recognized Capone’s potential and took him under his wing. Luciano, a charismatic and ambitious young man, became a close associate and confidant. These early relationships proved crucial in Capone’s ascent through the ranks of the criminal underworld.
Around 1920, at Johnny Torrio’s invitation, Capone made a pivotal move to Chicago, Illinois, a city ripe with opportunity for those willing to bend the law. Torrio had established himself as an influential lieutenant to his uncle, Giacomo "Big Jim" Colosimo, a major crime boss who controlled a vast network of illicit enterprises. Colosimo’s organization was involved in various criminal activities, including prostitution, gambling, and extortion. They also cultivated relationships with receptive public officials, labor unions, and employee associations, ensuring a level of protection and influence that allowed their operations to flourish. However, the advent of Prohibition in 1920 created a significant rift between Torrio and Colosimo. Colosimo, reluctant to venture into the risky and potentially lucrative alcohol distribution business, clashed with Torrio, who saw the immense potential for profit. This disagreement ultimately led to Colosimo’s demise.
Torrio, with the ambition and foresight to seize the opportunities presented by Prohibition, orchestrated his uncle’s murder and took control of the organization. He immediately recognized the importance of Al Capone and appointed him as his right-hand man. Together, they embarked on a period of rapid expansion, aggressively pursuing the illegal brewing, distilling, and distribution of beer and liquor. They viewed these activities as "growth industries," capitalizing on the insatiable demand for alcohol during Prohibition.
The year 1925 marked a significant turning point in Al Capone’s career. Torrio, having survived a near-fatal assassination attempt, decided to relinquish control of the organization and retire to Brooklyn. Capone, having proven his loyalty, ruthlessness, and business acumen, inherited the mantle of leadership, becoming the undisputed boss of what would soon be known as the Chicago Outfit. He had cultivated a fearsome reputation during the tumultuous gang rivalries of the era, fighting tooth and nail to acquire and maintain "racketeering rights" in various territories throughout Chicago. This reputation only grew stronger as rival gangs were systematically eliminated or neutralized, consolidating Al Capone’s power and influence. The suburb of Cicero effectively became a fiefdom of the Capone mob, a testament to their pervasive control.
The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre on February 14, 1929, stands as a chilling reminder of the brutality that characterized the Chicago gang era. Seven members or associates of the "Bugs" Moran gang were brutally murdered, machine-gunned against a garage wall by rivals disguised as police officers. While Al Capone was in Florida at the time, the massacre was widely attributed to the Chicago Outfit, further cementing his image as a ruthless and remorseless gangster. The event shocked the nation and intensified public pressure on law enforcement to bring Capone and his organization to justice.
During the 1920s and early 1930s, the FBI’s investigative jurisdiction was more limited than it is today. Gang warfare and the depredations of organized crime generally fell outside the Bureau’s purview, falling instead under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. However, the FBI became involved when Al Capone displayed a marked reluctance to appear before a Federal Grand Jury on March 12, 1929, in response to a subpoena. His lawyers filed for a postponement, submitting a physician’s affidavit claiming that Capone was suffering from bronchial pneumonia in Miami, Florida, and that travel to Chicago would endanger his health.
The FBI, however, uncovered evidence that contradicted Capone’s claims of illness. They obtained statements indicating that he had been seen at racetracks in the Miami area, had traveled to the Bahamas, and had been interviewed at the office of the Dade County Solicitor, appearing to be in good health. This evidence cast doubt on Capone’s claims and raised suspicions that he was attempting to evade the grand jury subpoena.
Capone eventually appeared before the Federal Grand Jury in Chicago on March 20, 1929, completing his testimony on March 27. As he left the courtroom, he was promptly arrested for Contempt of Court, an offense that carried a potential penalty of one year in prison and a $1,000 fine. He posted a $5,000 bond and was released, but the legal noose was beginning to tighten around him.
Further legal troubles arose on May 17, 1929, when Capone and his bodyguard were arrested in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for carrying concealed deadly weapons. In an expeditious display of justice, they were sentenced to one year each within just 16 hours of their arrest. Capone served nine months of his sentence, earning an early release for good behavior on March 17, 1930.
On February 28, 1931, Capone was found guilty in Federal Court on the Contempt of Court charge and sentenced to six months in Cook County Jail in Chicago, Illinois. Although he appealed the conviction, his appeal was subsequently dismissed, further solidifying his legal woes.
While Capone faced these legal challenges, the U.S. Treasury Department was meticulously building a case against him based on tax evasion charges. In addition to Capone himself, his brother Ralph "Bottles" Capone, Jake "Greasy Thumb" Guzik, Frank Nitti, and other prominent members of the Chicago Outfit were also targeted with tax evasion charges.
On June 16, 1931, Al Capone initially pled guilty to tax evasion and Prohibition charges, seemingly confident that he had secured a favorable deal with the prosecution, boasting to the press that he had struck a deal for a 2 ½ year sentence. However, the presiding judge quickly disabused him of this notion, informing him that he was not bound by any such agreement. Capone, realizing the gravity of his situation, promptly changed his plea to not guilty.
The trial commenced, and on October 17, 1931, Capone was convicted on multiple counts of tax evasion. On November 24, he was sentenced to eleven years in federal prison, fined $50,000, and ordered to pay $7,692 in court costs, in addition to $215,000 plus interest due on back taxes. The six-month Contempt of Court sentence was to be served concurrently. While awaiting the outcome of his appeals, Capone was confined to the Cook County Jail. Upon the denial of his appeals, he was transferred to the U.S. Penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia, and later to the infamous Alcatraz Island in California.
On January 6, 1939, Capone was released from Alcatraz and transferred to Terminal Island, a Federal Correctional Institution in California. Finally, on November 16, 1939, he was released after serving seven years, six months, and 15 days, having paid all fines and back taxes. However, his long period of incarceration and the repeal of Prohibition in January 1933 had significantly diminished his power and influence. His empire had crumbled, and his reign as the king of the Chicago Outfit was over.
Furthermore, Capone suffered from the debilitating effects of paresis, a form of dementia caused by syphilis, which had significantly deteriorated during his confinement. Immediately upon his release, he sought treatment at a Baltimore hospital for his neurological condition and then retired to his estate on Palm Island near Miami, Florida.
He never publicly returned to Chicago and was no longer capable of participating in gangland politics due to his declining mental state. By 1946, physicians and psychiatrists concluded that Al Capone had been reduced to the mentality of a 12-year-old child. He remained on Palm Island with his wife and immediate family, living a secluded life until his death on January 25, 1947, caused by a stroke and pneumonia. Al Capone was initially buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Chicago but was later moved to Mount Carmel Cemetery.
Al Capone’s life and career stand as a stark reminder of the allure and the consequences of organized crime. His rise to power, fueled by ambition, violence, and a disregard for the law, was ultimately followed by a dramatic fall from grace. He remains a legendary figure, forever etched in the annals of American history as the embodiment of the gangster era.