Alphonse Gabriel Capone was born on January 17, 1899 in Brooklyn, New York to Gabriele and Teresina Capone. He was fourth out of his nine siblings, having a rather large family. Not long after, when Al Capone was 14, he joined his first official gang, the South Brooklyn Rippers, later to be known as the Five Point Juniors. At age 18, Al Capone started his job at Harvard Inn working for Frankie Yale. This is where he earned the name “Scarface” when he was cut three times on his face in a fight. Soon following that incident, Al Capone married Mae Coughlin. In a few months, she was pregnant and then Albert Francis Capone was born. He would remain Capone’s first and only son through his lifetime.
At about 1920, Al Capone moved to Chicago. He got a job working for Johnny Torrio, a Chicago crime boss. Capone worked hard and gained respect from Torrio while at the same time learned lots from him. In March of 1925, Torrio handed his company over to Capone in fear for his life. At the age of 26, Al Capone was very well known. He would dress in loud colors and was easily distinguishable. He was a major crime boss in Chicago. However, although he was a very dangerous man, he was also very generous. Al Capone opened multiple soup kitchens and homeless shelters.
Nonetheless, Al Capone was still a cold-blooded killer. On February 14, 1929 the St. Valentines Day Massacre took place with Al Capone behind six murders. This is what brought the government’s attention to Capone. They were trying to arrest him, but it was very tricky; Capone ran his businesses with cash and through third parties and was very secretive.
After lots of digging, and finding evidence, Al Capone was brought to trial and arrested for tax evasion on October 6, 1931. After staying at a few local prisons, Al Capone was sent off to Alcatraz as one of the first prisoners in August of 1934. During his time there, his health steadily declined. He was transferred to a hospital on January 1, 1939 and eventually paroled on November 16, 1939. By this time, his reputation of a one of the most dangerous gangsters was long behind him. On January 1, 1947, Alphonse Gabriel Capone died at the age 48, ending his short-lived legend of a notorious gangster.
At about 1920, Al Capone moved to Chicago. He got a job working for Johnny Torrio, a Chicago crime boss. Capone worked hard and gained respect from Torrio while at the same time learned lots from him. In March of 1925, Torrio handed his company over to Capone in fear for his life. At the age of 26, Al Capone was very well known. He would dress in loud colors and was easily distinguishable. He was a major crime boss in Chicago. However, although he was a very dangerous man, he was also very generous. Al Capone opened multiple soup kitchens and homeless shelters.
Nonetheless, Al Capone was still a cold-blooded killer. On February 14, 1929 the St. Valentines Day Massacre took place with Al Capone behind six murders. This is what brought the government’s attention to Capone. They were trying to arrest him, but it was very tricky; Capone ran his businesses with cash and through third parties and was very secretive.
After lots of digging, and finding evidence, Al Capone was brought to trial and arrested for tax evasion on October 6, 1931. After staying at a few local prisons, Al Capone was sent off to Alcatraz as one of the first prisoners in August of 1934. During his time there, his health steadily declined. He was transferred to a hospital on January 1, 1939 and eventually paroled on November 16, 1939. By this time, his reputation of a one of the most dangerous gangsters was long behind him. On January 1, 1947, Alphonse Gabriel Capone died at the age 48, ending his short-lived legend of a notorious gangster.
By: Serene Ong