Al Capone Biography :: Biography

Al Capone was possibly the largest and most feared mofia bossAmerica has ever seen. This 1920s gangster made his mark on the worldthrough unionised crime during the Prohibition era. He is solely attributedwith wampums reputation as a lawless city. Alphonsus Capone was born on January 17, 1899 in Brooklyn, NewYork. As a child he was a member of the Brooklyn Rippers and the FortyThieves Juniors kid gangs. Capone quit school at age fourteen in the sixthgrade. He worked a few odd jobs in Manhattan in a bowling alley and acandy store. Then Capone took a position as a bouncer in Frankie YalesBrooklyn dive and the Harvard Inn. While working at the Inn he wasattacked by a man and received the facial scars that would blow over him thebyname Scarface. Capone met Anne Mae Coughlin at a dance in 1918. Later that yearon December 4, 1918 she gave birth to their son, Albert Sonny Francis. Less than a month later they were married.Capone became a member of the Five Points gang in Manhattan. Duri ng this time he hospitalized a rival gang member in a fight. Feeling theheat from the strange group, he moved his family to Chicago. He began towork for John Torrio, an old partner and mentor of Yale. Capone was soonhelping to manage Torrios bootlegging business. He quick gained therespect of Torrio and became his number two man. After being shot by anopposing gang member, Torrio left Chicago. Capone became boss of theoutfit. Torrios men respected Capone and trust his business decisions. They referred to Capone as the big man. In the next five years heexpanded his industry of crime. Capone controlled speakeasies, nightclubs,brothels, gambling houses, and much more. His bootlegging provided the cityof Chicago with alcohol during prohibition. Capone had a reported income of$100,000,000 a year. Capone had an intricate spy network throughout Chicago. Crookedpolice men let him prepare for liquor raids and both(prenominal) of his other men madehim aware of assassination plots. He woul d use hotels as his headquartersand front businesses for a hideout. Capone was always good at successfullyknocking off his enemies when they became too powerful. Although he killedmen himself, it was much safer for his henchmen to do his dirty work.Capones men would rent an apartment across the street from their mug andgun him down when he stepped outside. These operations were quick andprecise, and Capone always had an alibi.On St. Valentines Day, 1929, four of Capones cohorts entered the