AL CAPONE- ‘SCARFACE’ Capone was born in New York on 17th January 1899. He lived in a poor Brooklyn slum. He attended a strict Catholic school but was expelled age 14 for hitting a female teacher. With no school Capone started mixing with gangster Johnny Torrio. At 18 Capone began working as a bouncer for another famous gangster Frankie Yale It was whilst working for Frankie that Capone got his famous nickname. Frankie slashed the face of Capone after he made a rude comment about his sister

Estimated income up to 1927- In 1924 Capone moved to Chicago, a corrupt city famous for its gambling and brothels. The Prohibition Act was also passed and it was this that projected Capone to the big time. He became involved in smuggling bootleg whisky into Chicago with the help of his old friend Frankie Yale and would brutally murder anyone who stood in his way. In the 7 years that he was Chicago’s gangland boss Capone authorised the killing of over 300 people. But Capone saw himself as a legitimate business man and a man of the people. Most of the police were on his payroll. It seemed like he could get away with anything, until… Estimated income up to 1927- Alcohol- $60,000,000 Gambling places, dog tracks- $25,000,000 Brothels, dance halls- $10,000,000 Miscellaneous rackets- $10,000,000 WARNING!

St Valentine’s Day Massacre On the 14th Feb 1929 Capone ordered the murder of rival gang the North Siders. A meeting was arranged between the North Siders and a bootlegger selling whisky. But Capone’s friend Machine Gun McGurn and his men were waiting for them. Disguised as police, Capone’s men pretended to search them, but instead took their guns and shot them in the back. Capone had gone too far this time, he was attracting too much attention and public opinion was starting to change. One step too far

Public Enemy No. 1 By now Capone was attracting attention in all the wrong places. In March 1929 President Hoover said “Have you got that fellow Capone yet? I want that man in jail!” Capone’s days were numbered. He was arrested in March 1930 and on the 17th June 1931 sentenced to 11 years for tax evasion. He was let out after 6 and a half years for good behavior but never recovered and died in 1940 a powerless recluse. He was never punished for the over 300 murders he is said to have committed.

What was prison like for Al? Before After