Al Capone: The Greatest Mobster of all time

Dorian WadeChristian Lowe

2nd period

Background Info.

• Real Name: Alphonsus Capone• DOB: January 17, 1899• Born in Brooklyn, New York• Son of Italian immigrants, Gabriele and

Teresa Capone. • Spouse: Mary “Mae” Coughlin• Had a son named, Albert “Sonny” Francis

Capone

How did it start?

• He dropped out of school in the 6th grade. • He joined a notorious street gang led by

Johnny Torrio.• In the 1920’s, Capone followed Torrio to

Chicago to become a powerful lieutenant of the Colosimo mob.

• Capone took full advantage of selling & making illegal beer and liquor.

How did it start? (Cont.)

• Torrio took over the Colosimo Mob after the death of Big Jim Colosimo.

• Not long after Torrio surrendered control to Capone.

• Capone built a reputation for being one of the most terrifying Mobsters in Chicago.

• He dismantled many rival gangs in the process of taking over Chicago.

St. Valentines Day Massacre

• February 14, 1929• Four men disguised as police officer came

into Bugs Moran’s warehouse and killed seven of his men.

• Capone’s men killed some of Moran’s men. • Ceased the Prohibition Act of alcohol(18th

amendment) and was the reason for the creation of the 21st amendment.

Mr. Untouchable

• The FBI wanted to take Capone down, but had no real evidence to do so.

• “Some of the best customers we had were cops.” – John Morahan

• He was arrested many times before, but would always post bail soon after.

• Was able to use his money to bribe police men and intimidate potential witnesses.

How they caught Scarface

• The FBI could not get help put Capone in jail• 2/27/1929: Capone was subpoenaed to court

to be a witness for a case concerning violations of prohibition.

• Capone told the court he could not make the trip.

• 3/27: FBI discovered that Capone was lying and arrested him for contempt of court.

How they caught Scarface

• Two months later Capone was arrested for carrying concealed weapons.

• 1931: As soon as he was released, Capone was convicted of the contempt of court charge.

• While Capone was in jail, the Federal treasury had been digging of his unpaid income taxes.

• On October 24 ,1931, Capone was sentenced to 11 years in jail.

Scarface v.s. Al Capone• The 1932 film, Scarface, was loosely based on Al

Capone’s life. • Capone’s men came to visit Ben Hecht to make sure the

film was not about his life. • "Al is one of the most famous and fascinating men of

our time. If we call the movie Scarface, everybody will want to see it, figuring it's about Al. That's part of the racket we call showmanship.” – Ben Hecht

• There was a remake made in 1983 of the film.• Capone had his own copy of the 1932 version of the

film.

The Demise

• After Capone was released from jail he ended his career of being a mobster.

• He went through treatment for syphilis. • He was one of the first civilians to take

penicillin for syphilis, but it was too late for him.

• January 1947: Capone had a stroke and came down with pneumonia.

• Died on January 25 , 1947

Heavy Artillery

• The Thompson 1928• Smith and Wesson Model 19• Colt M1911A• Remington Model 870• Full auto 1911 in .38 Super • Browning Auto 5 Sawed Off • Colt Huntsman Suppressed

Works Cited• "How the Law Finally Caught Up With Al Capone." FBI. FBI, 2005. Web. 1 Feb. 2016.

<https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2005/march/capone_032805>.• FBI. FBI, 2010. Web. 1 Feb. 2016. <https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/history/famous-

cases/al-capone>.• "History Files - Al Capone." History Files - Al Capone. Web. 1 Feb. 2016.

<https://www.chicagohs.org/history/capone.html>.• "8 Things You Should Know About Al Capone." History.com. A&E Television

Networks. Web. 1 Feb. 2016. <http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/8-things-you-should-know-about-al-capone>.

• "The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre." History.com. A&E Television Networks. Web. 1 Feb. 2016. <http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-st-valentines-day-massacre>.

• "The St Valentine's Day Massacre in Chicago." The St Valentine's Day Massacre in Chicago. Web. 1 Feb. 2016. <http://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/st-valentine’s-day-massacre-chicago>.

• "Scarface (1932)." Turner Classic Movies. Web. 1 Feb. 2016. <http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/90484|0/Scarface.html>.