Al Capone
Alphonse Gabriel “Al” Capone was an American gangster who attained fame during the Prohibition era as the co-founder and boss of the Chicago Outfit. His seven-year reign as crime boss ended when he was 33 years old.
Capone was born in the borough of Brooklyn in New York City to Italian immigrants. He was considered a Five Points Gang member who became a bouncer in organized crime premises such as brothels. In his early twenties, he moved to Chicago and became bodyguard and trusted factotum for Johnny Torrio, head of a criminal syndicate that illegally supplied alcohol — the forerunner of the Outfit — and that was politically protected through the Unione Siciliana. A conflict with the North Side Gang was instrumental in Capone’s rise and fall. Torrio went into retirement after North Side gunmen almost killed him, handing control to Capone. Capone expanded the bootlegging business through increasingly violent means, but his mutually profitable relationships with mayor William Hale Thompson and the city’s police meant that Capone seemed safe from law enforcement.
Capone apparently reveled in attention, such as the cheers from spectators when he appeared at ball games. He made donations to various charities and was viewed by many to be a “modern-day Robin Hood”. However, the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre of gang rivals, resulting in the killing of seven men in broad daylight, damaged Chicago’s image — as well as Capone’s — leading influential citizens to demand governmental action and newspapers to dub him “Public Enemy №1”. (source Wikipedia)
Entries in “1927: The Diary of Myles Thomas”
Dinner With Snorky (July 24, 1927)Capone rose to power at just 25 years old, just a little over a year ago. He appears much older in the newspapers, but he’s a young man, entering his prime. His ruthlessness, efficiency and enjoyment of talking with the press have all combined to make him great copy for reporters, and they in turn have helped make Scarface a legend in his own time, and even a hero to some.
"Mr. Capone. A Pleasure To See You Again" (August 19, 1927)“I provide services for people. Those services may be illegal, but that ain’t my fault. None of my clients voted for prohibition. And prostitution ain’t never hurt nobody. I give people what they want. And I give ’em quality product — whether it’s booze or screwin’. And my gamblin’s on the level, too.
Where Am I? (August 20, 1927)
Feeling Sick (September 12, 1927)
