Thomas Jefferson once wrote, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" ("In Congress"). However, when Gabriele Capone brought his family to the United States he would have to face discrimination against immigrants as he attempted to pursuit happiness. He arrived in Brooklyn, New York at a time where immigrants were not well received. Their language barrior and italian culture was not acceptable by many. At that time, the "La Mano Nera" was a group of immigrants who murdered, and kidnapped individuals in exchange for money (Bergreen 30). Discrimination existed among each other in Brooklyn. The North Italians, the South Italians, the Irish, the German were all against each other (Bergreen 23). Discrimination was like a virus that contaminated people as soon as they set foot in America.
However, the prodigy of the mob world would soon be born. "Alphonsus James Capone was born on January 17, 1899" to the neighborhood that received him with an empty embrace (Curt and Sautter 193). He was to grow up and become a respected man. Capone was a successful criminal because of his strong mentors, his powerful personality and his ability to generate loyalty in his followers. These factors along with many others, were the key ingredients to his fortune. His arrival to America in that era was eminent for Al Capone success.
| AL CAPONE FACTS | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 17, 1899 in Brooklyn, NY |
| Died | January 25, 1947 in Palm Island,FL |
| Charge(s) | Tax Evasion |
| Imprisonment | 1932-1939 |
Although America was painted as a promising land where life was a fairytale, the Capone neighborhood was the opposite of enchanting. "Brooklyn remained a succession of congenial, low-profile neighborhoods, provincial and insular, as much a state of mind as a borough of New York City"(Bergreen 28). One of the many reasons Capone ended up the way he did, a gangster, was because of his terrible neighborhood. They lived near the Gowanus Canal. "In time, the expended use and growth of the canal area, coupled inadequate systems for sewage disposal and unlimited discharges of raw sewage directly into its waters, transformed the canal, a man-made water way with very limited tidal exchange to open water, into a polluted, stagnant eyesore" (Sturcken and Dellicarpini). That was the setting for most of Capone's young life until his later years, when he would retaliate against the world. Not only did Capone live in a slum, but he was also treated second-rate because of his Italian background. The lack of unity in America and the financial situation immigrants had, placed the Capone family in a one way street to horrible neighborhoods. Would he have been a better person if he had been raised in a different environment? The world will always wonder and those questions will remain unanswered.
Furthermore, the education system was poorly driven by the government. "The School system was deeply prejudice against them and did little to encourage any interest in higher education" (Bardsley). The school system was rigid, dogmatic, and so strict that they used physical force to maintain discipline (Bergreen 34). How much can be expected from these children? How can society blame them for not becoming lawyers, or doctors? America did not give them the opportunity to succeed and not even their parents expected them to achieve the American Dream. Children such as Capone were left to their own judgment, and they had no one to steer them in the right direction, but many to lead them the wrong way.
Capone's life completely changed when the family moved to Garfield Place, where Frankie Yale would play a significant role in his life (Bergreen 37). "Yale took Capone under his wing and impressed upon the younger man how business can be built up through brutality" (Bardsley). Yale's life was nothing but violence and that is how he got business done his way. Most of Capones's tactics were learned from Yale, tactics that he would use later to his advantage. Yale's philosophy as Bergreen described him, "If you persisted however, Frankie shut you down. No one went to cops because Frankie had paid them off" (48). Capone's character soon came to the surface again when he sent Arthur Finnegan a member of a powerful gang, to the hospital (Schoenberg 35). These marked the end of life in Brooklyn, Yale sent him to Chicago to work for Johnny Torrio. In 1919, Capone arrived in Chicago ("Al Capone"). He was a young adult in a new city and temptations came knocking on his door.
Johnny Torrio
Frankie Yale
"By mid-1922 Capone ranked as Torrio's number two man and eventually became a full partner in the saloons, gambling houses, and brothels" ("Al Capone" 2). Torrio was leading the way and Capone was his loyal follower, ready to achieve the unexpected. Torrio's ability to trust Capone was displayed over time. Torrio later in the years flew to Italy and back leaving Capone in charge (Schoenberg 95). Capone respected him and Torrio knew it. "Among street people, respect is a precious commodity that is hard won, easily lost and therefore jealously guarded" (Moeller 157). Capone matured over the years and he learned the racketeer's game and he established his reputation. He was becoming a powerful well known business man. "He expended into the suburbs, sometimes using terror as in Forest View, which became known as Caponeville" ("Al Capone").
For this reason, "He had an extensive spy network in Chicago, from newspaper boys to policemen, so that any plots were quickly discovered" ("Al Capone"). "At 26 Al Capone became the ruler of the $100- million-a-year criminal empire that Johnny Torrio had constructed" (Curt and Sautter 193). Capone knew how to handle his organization. He used violence like Yale had taught him, but most of the time he tried to handle things without violence. "I'm an alright guy, sure I got a racket, so's everybody. Most guys hurt people I don't hurt people. I don't hurt nobody. Only them that get in my way" (qtd. in Curt and Sautter 199). People did get in his way, and he used different tactics to eliminate them. For example, Capone killed Joe Howard for calling him a "dog pimp," in front of witnesses, though later no one recalled anything (Iorizza 36). Most likely Capone had paid them, because Capone always achieved what he had in mind. Most of his crimes were committed by his allies such as, his brothers, Jack McGurn, Albert Anselmi, John Scalise, and many more (Bergreen). Seven men were held on charge of homicide in connection with murder, and one them was Alphonse Capone, the door man ("Seven Held" 17). But Capone was a smart man he was never caught for murder. Hymie Weiss was the only man that Capone ever feared and he was gunned down along with on of his three body guards (Iorizza 43). Capone eliminated his threats as soon as they got to powerful or before they planned to kill him. He was always a step ahead of the enemy and that is why he succeeded.
On the other hand, the law wanted Capone behind bars, but he was so difficult to convict. "Not even Elliot Ness and his untouchables could stop Capone from running and peddling booze and beer, to say nothing to their inability to gather sufficient evidence to send him to federal prison" (Iorizza 73). Capone knew how to commit murder without it being traced to him. It is ironic that he went to prison for something that was not related to murder or illegal alcohol. Everyone knew who was, but like the law states, innocent to proven guilty. In the mid 1920's illegal gambling earnings were not taxable income but in 1927 Sullivan ruling claimed that illegal profits were in fact taxable ("Al Capone"). The government had a role in this decision because it was a method that they could use to diminish the illegal crime in the states. Once more, Al Capone proved to be a lot smarter than they taught. "He showed no income to speak of. He owned no property; never endorsed a check; signed no receipts, had no bank account" (Iorizza 74). Although, Al Capone dropped out of school he proved to the world that even if he did not get an education he was not stupid, he was street smart. But to every empire there is a fall.
Thus, "Wilson accidentally found a cash receipt ledger that not only showed the operation's net profit for a gambling house, but also contained Capone's name; it was a record of Capone's income" ("Al Capone"). Capone was facing the end of his career. They finally had something to apprehend him with and they would have no pity towards his soul. Capone soon would enter a court room that will determine his life. "Capone's trial on the long pending federal contempt charge was set for February 25, 1931, in Chicago" (Schoenberg 305). The government had him in the palm of their hands and money couldn't get him out of this one. He was going to end up in a cell as his home for many years to come. According to the paper, " Alphonse Capone a number one among Chicago's public enemies and reputedly the wealthiest of gangland leaders, surrendered to the government this afternoon and was released on $50,000 a bail following an indictment by a federal grand jury on charges of wilful evasion of income taxes amounting to $215,080.48" ("Capone is Indicted" 4). Capone pleaded guilty so they could give him a lower sentence, he figured that if he was honest and sincere that they would be more lenient that if he pleaded not guilty and they found him guilty. That was an intelligent move, but he still had a bad reputation that he could not erase. "Judge Wilkerson sentenced him a total of ten years in federal prison and one year in the county jail" ("Al Capone"). Life for Capone changed in blink of an eye. He was still the most powerful gang lord in Chicago, but now he would be relocated to another state in prison. Al Capone would serve his time in Atlanta, toughest federal prisons (Schoenberg 329). Did Capone manage his empire from jail? Did he decide to turn everything over as Torrio had done it? He probably manipulated everyone in prison with all the money he had. He was soon found to dangerous and was sent to a place that could be considered hell.
"Capone spent the last eight years of his life on Palm Isle with his extended family" (Iorizzo 99). He had finally realized that family is the only thing that remains when the fortune is gone. "On January 21, 1947, he had an apoplectic stroke that was probably unrelated to his syphilis" ("Al Capone"). Capone was getting closer to his departure, he had fulfilled his destiny. Capone had pursuit his happiness at the cost of everything; he set an example to all of America. Never underestimate a person's ability to achieve the unexpected, because with the right mentors, and the right environment, life could steer them in the wrong direction. Capone was lucky enough to have a decent death. "His death came from a cardiac arrest at 7:25 Saturday night, January 25, 1947, the family at his bedside" (Schoenberg 354). After all the allegations that where made against Capone, can you really blame him for becoming the man he did? Al Capone once said, "All I ever did was to sell beer and whisky to our best people. All I ever did was supply a demand that was pretty popular. Why, the very guys that make my trade good are the ones that yell the loudest about me. Some of the leading judges us the stuff. When I sell liquor, it's called bootlegging. When my patrons serve it on silver trays on Lake Shore Drive, it's called hospitality (Schoenberg). Overall, his accomplices, including the government, were as guilty as he was. Research has proven that a person's life is the result of the individual's actions. However, there are many factors to consider that have a significant role in the individuals actions. In Capone's case, the environment he lived in that brought him close to his bad influences, the poor education benefits offered, his family's way of life, and the character that he developed over the years lead him to be one of the greatest mobsters of all time.
