Today in History: Al Capone released from Alcatraz
Due to the notoriety that the name carries with it, most people assume that Al Capone languished away in prison until an old age or was killed by rival mob bosses. However, despite being probably the most well-known gangster of all time, "Scarface" (a name he hated) was released from prison for relatively minor tax-evasion charges on this day and then disappeared from the public eye.
The year was 1939
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I have to admit, i also presumed that Capone had been done for murder, especially the famous St. Valentine’s Day Massacre which resulted in the execution deaths of 7 members of a rival mob outfit in Chicago. However, not only was Capone not implicated in these murders, but the case was deemed "unsolved" and there is a lot of speculation that since it was "mob on mob crime" there was never a very serious investigation initiated.
When the word on the street turned out to be one of silence, there were never any serious leads to pursue. In a slightly morbid fashion, I kind of admire this devotion among the criminal underworld to never be a "rat" even when doing so could provide some sort of vengeance.
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Capone had managed to obtain near celebrity status due to his nefarious activities (well, nefarious in the eyes of the government) but managed to be somewhat of a hero to the common man. He also did not shy away from the public eye, often taking interviews and being very up-front about what it is that he does.
In relation to his underground bootlegging operations, he is famously quoted as saying, on the record...
Imagine that! Here you are, constantly under surveillance for exactly that sort of thing and then having the "untouchable" arrogance to publicly admit to precisely that. This is (or at least was) the power of due process back in the 20's and 30's. While everyone knew that Capone was involved in these sorts of things, on paper he kept himself far enough from it that any case against him wouldn't stick because he was meticulous in keeping a distance on paper and in most cases physically.
Alphonse never had a bank account and dealt exclusively with cash. There is only one known check that has ever been signed by Al Capone, and it was a check made out to Scarface, not the other way around.
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This piece is currently held by a private collector in Philadelphia and he has no intention of selling it
While the government was well aware of the fact that Capone was not only involved in organized crime, but was also in charge of it in Chicago (and beyond) there was nothing they could get to stick to him. Once president Herbert Hoover assisted in declaring Capone "Public Enemy number 1" there was a lot of pressure to convict the man of something... anything!
They got him once for carrying a concealed weapon in Philadelphia for which he served 9 months in jail and then later got him indicted on income tax fraud.
A lengthy trial ensued where the jury had to be swapped out because it became known that several of the jurors had been bribed by Capone's enterprise. In the end Alphonse was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison due to 5 convictions (out of 20.)
He was eventually moved to the "inescapable" Alcatraz prison and it is rumored that Capone was sent to this prison as a publicity stunt rather than out of necessity. The San Francisco island retreat was normally reserved for the most violent or problematic prisoners and Capone was known as an "especially well-behaved prisoner."
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relatively luxurious accommodation
Upon his release, the government was likely suspecting he would return to the throne in Chicago, but precisely the opposite happened. He went to his estate in Florida, and stayed out of the public eye for the rest of his years.
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As far as anyone knows, Capone was never involved in criminal activities ever again after his release from prison, as he lived out his days fishing and doing other such harmless activities. However, this could have a lot to do with his deteriorated mental state after his decade-long stint behind bars.
Ironically, his 11 year sentence would end up being a death sentence, as he had syphilis as he had contracted the disease (and kept it secret) in his late teens. Medicine wasn't exactly top-drawer in the 30's - certainly not in prison.
Upon his release his vast fortune entitled him to the best available medical care but many hospitals refused to treat him. At that point the disease was too far developed for any sort of cure and his condition worsened over the years. I was a little disappointed to find out that the Chicago mob only granted him a stipend of around $600 a week and Capone's fortune, and his mental state, diminished rapidly during his final years.
While living out his days in Florida he suffered a stroke and eventually died of heart failure related to pneumonia. He was a mere 48-years old.
Did you know Al Capone was my great grandpa’s right hand man! lol My gramps got kicked out of the US after he expanded their bootlegging business! lol
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Did your Gramps really know Capone? That's pretty special
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Very interesting! I studied History at university, and one of the subjects I specialised in focused on America in the 1920s. While I vivdly remember learning about the St Valentine's Day massacre, I don't remember learning that Al Capone lived out his autumn years in comfort, out of jail. It just shows the importance of questioning what we are taught and doing our own research. Otherwise our "education" is simply propaganda.
The St Valentine's Day massacre an "unsolved" case? How convenient! Maybe just another instance of police and "authorities" being very cosy with mobsters.
Well the crazy thing is that Chicago was ashamed of something like 70 murders during the Capone years but now it is 10x that amount and no one ever talks about it
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70 murders these days is a three day weekend in Chicago! 🧐
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Al Capone would be super impressed with how much you know about him
Al Capone would be
Super impressed with how much
You know about him
- gooddream
I'm a bot. I detect haiku.
LOL! This comment is so random. A condom PSA?
well he does have a point!
He had some pads right here in my town of Bayville, NJ which is kinda cool! Lol
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as a collector of various rare merch, i would imagine that you would really love to have that one and only signed check from Capone.... Imagine what this is worth! ?
He seems a happy fun guy lol
I wonder why a guy who was in prison for being a mobster was allowed to keep his ill gotten fortune? I suppose you have to prove that it was all ill gained.
perhaps it was because R.I.C.O. (not the suave kind) hadn't been enacted yet. I'm not sure about this one. Today they would take everything from a mobster, yes.
The life and time of Al Capone is a confirmation of the fact that manual judicial systems can't be perfect as it strives to protect the innocent more than the need to punish criminals!
Al- Capone was a criminal , but the inadequacy of the judicial system freed him.
Despite this lacuna in human Justice, divine Justice is sacrosanct for a man but harvest the karmic law 9f retribution.
It is expected therefore , that he suffered health punishments, even as he succumbed to death at a relatively young age!!
May another Al - Capone never emerge from the silhouette of the dark nights!!
nice info
He definitely lived the high life and had no idea he died that way. In your mind you expect him to be toppled by a drive by shooting or something and going out in a blaze of glory.
i kind of wonder how it is that I never knew this. I guess they just kind of stopped talking about him... perhaps because the government was either pals with him, or they were embarassed that they weren't able to convict him of more.
Congratulations @gooddream!
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I am really liking these today in history posts. I can say with pride and ignorance, that I did not know many of the facts you have stated here. It's a nice quick read on the highlights. I too thought he perished in prison or disappeared like Jimmy Hoffa. Just goes to show the value of reading.
I also see there is a lot to learn about condoms.
hahaha, yeah, the condom guy... thanks man!
I'm glad you like them man because out of all the stuff I make I probably like making the history ones the most whereas when i do a film review it is normally just stream-of-consciousness where just am kind of mean to movie makers.
Hahahahaha.. a little mean, but that’s critical thinking for ya. We can’t coddle them!
Dang, that is really really young! I am just a little shy of that. I guess I probably haven't lived the life he did though. Plenty of rich food and alcohol. That is still pretty sad that he was so young. You didn't want to mess with the Mob, but they at least had a code and I kind of respect that. Not like the mob these days that will dabble in pretty much everything. I remember when they opened his secret vault. What a let down that was!
"Ironically, his 11 year sentence would end up being a death sentence, as he had syphilis as he had contracted the disease (and kept it secret) in his late teens. Medicine wasn't exactly top-drawer in the 30's - certainly not in prison."
I thought he had a fear of needles, that was what I always heard..
Howdy gooddream! How interesting..I thought he'd probably died in prison so this was an eye-opener. He was a brilliant gangster wasn't he? And one of the few I've ever heard of that didn't go back to a life of crime after his prison sentence. Remarkable. Another great history piece!