Al Capone: Who Was Al Capone?

Who was Al Capone?

Who was Al Capone? Alphonse Capone, who became known as “Scarface” was born on January 17, 1899. His parents, along with two brothers immigrated from Italy in 1894. He rose to notoriety as the leader of the Chicago mafia during the Prohibition era. He had a personal fortune estimated at 100 million dollars as the head of the infamous crime syndicate. He was sent to prison in 1934 for tax evasion. He was a significant figure in the world of organized crime. Al Capone was one of the most famous mob bosses, if not “the” most famous. Gabriele Capone and his wife Teresa boarded a ship to the United States in June 1895. The had two young sons, Vincenzo and Raffaele (Bergreen 5). Teresa was expecting their third child,

Between the ages of ten and twelve, he passed for a youth of sixteen to eighteen” (Bair 12). “As a ten year old, he liked to hang out around the gates of the Navy Yard and taunt sailors when they came through on their way to the bars and brothels that lined the street. There are numerous tales of his exploits, with some having him itching for fistfights with sailors twice his age; others have him actually fighting them and winning” (Bair 12). Al was forced to undergo the humiliation of repeating the sixth grade after missing school so much and his declining grades because of it. “By the time he was ready to go on to the seventh grade, Al Capone was fourteen years old. That year, his adolescent frustration and impatience with school finally exploded. After being scolded by his teacher one time to often, Al lashed out at her. She struck him, and he hit her back” (Bair 36). He was sent to the principal’s office where he was given a beating. He vowed never to return to school (Bair

This group of young boys was run by Johnny Torrio, who was also in charge of the notorious Five Points Gang. Capone eventually joined this gang (Italia 104). Al, a cousin of Johnny’s, was working as a bouncer in a sleazy nightclub in 1919. Al was known for his vile temper and brutality and had been arrested for disorderly conduct. He was also suspected of having committed two murders (Maclean 68). “Just as things were getting too hot for Capone in New York, he was invited to Chicago by Torrio, who said he needed a trusted man to help him run Big Jim Colosimo’s empire. Capone left for Chicago on the next train” (Maclean 68). “Prohibition became law in 1920 and soon bootlegging, the biggest racket of its time, was launched. It was destined to bring untold wealth to a few and unbridled violence and death to many” (Maclean 68). “While no one gang had dominance over the entire city of Chicago, Johnny Torrio and Al Capone would change all that” (Maclean 71). “When it had become apparent that the Volstead Act would become law, Torrio immediately began making plans for the Colosimo mob to cash in on it. Unfortunately, Colosimo wasn’t interested: he was happy with his brothel and casino empire as it was” (Maclean 71). He was newly married and enjoyed showing off his own bar to his friends (Maclean 71). This lack of ambition in Colosimo, Johnny found annoying (Maclean