How Did Capone's Early Violence Build a Criminal Empire?
The path to becoming a notorious crime boss required more than just brute force. Capone's ascent was intricately linked to shifting power dynamics, strategic alliances, and the volatile business of illegal alcohol. Understanding this early groundwork reveals the mechanisms of organized power.
Alphonse Gabriel Capone, born on January 17, 1899, was influenced by the organized crime figure Johnny Torrio, who served as a mentor. Capone initially worked as a bouncer in establishments such as brothels after moving to Chicago from New York City. His criminal involvement grew through connections with the Five Points Gang, and he began in Chicago working as a bouncer in a brothel, which is believed to be where he contracted syphilis. He was aware of the infection early on, but did not seek treatment, despite the potential cure of Salvarsan.
A critical turning point in his career involved the North Side Gang. After gunmen from this rival group nearly killed Johnny Torrio, Torrio retired and subsequently passed control of his criminal enterprise to Capone. While Capone expanded the bootlegging business using increasingly violent methods, he maintained connections with figures like Mayor William Hale Thompson and the Chicago Police Department, which provided a degree of protection from law enforcement.
The conflict with the North Side Gang was pivotal to both his rise and eventual downfall. Torrio had previously arranged the murder of Dean O'Banion on November 10, 1924, at his flower shop, an act that placed Hymie Weiss in charge of the North Side Gang. Furthermore, Capone’s initial activities included involvement with small gangs like the Junior Forty Thieves and the Bowery Boys before joining the Brooklyn Rippers and then the Five Points Gang.
Capone's notoriety was cemented by events like the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre, where seven individuals from competing gangs were killed in broad daylight. This event damaged Chicago's public image and prompted influential citizens to demand government intervention, leading newspapers to label him "Public Enemy No. 1." Ultimately, federal authorities charged him with tax evasion, leading to his conviction of five counts in 1931 and an eleven-year sentence.
Source: Al Capone
