On this day, October 18th, 1931, Al Capone was convicted of tax evasion in a Chicago courtroom, leading to his imprisonment and marking the end of his criminal empire.
Background
Alphonse Capone, was an infamous American gangster. Born, January 17, 1899 in Brooklyn, to Italian immigrant parents. He dropped out of school at 14 and joined street gangs, including the Five Points Gang, where he honed his criminal skills under Johnny Torrio. Capone relocated to Chicago in 1919, at Torrio’s invitation to work for his organization, initially as a bouncer and enforcer. He rose to become the leader of the Chicago Outfit crime syndicate, that dominated the illegal alcohol trade, gambling, prostitution, and extortion rackets.
He was known for his ruthlessness, orchestrating brutal acts to maintain control, including the 1929 St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, where several rival gang members were gunned down.
He corrupted police, judges, and politicians, which allowed him to operate with near impunity for years.
The Quiz
How did Al Capone get the nickname, “Scarface”?
The Answer
In 1917, when Capone, was 18, he worked as a bouncer and bartender at the Harvard Inn, a bar and brothel in Coney Island, owned by mobster Frankie Yale. Capone made a crude remark to Lena Galluccio, about her figure. Frank Galluccio, a small time criminal and Lena’s brother, confronted Capone. They started fighting, Galluccio, pulled a knife and slashed Capone’s face three times.
The Winners
AK9EN – INSULTED A WOMAN, BROTHER SLASHED HIS FACE
K8EA – SAME ANSWER AS AK9EN
K3WGS – GAVE COMPLETE ANSWER INCLUDING DATE, NAMES, LOCATION, AND CAUSE
NA3AR – SAME ANSWER AS AK9EN
N9PL – SAME ANSWER AS K3WGS
Thanks, to those who participated in today’s Net!
-Ron