When the Outfit Ran Chicago, Vol II: The Al Capone Era

This book deals primarily with the Al Capone Era in Chicago. Technically this would cover a six-year, eight-month period of time from when Johnny Torrio was shot by “Bugs” Moran in January 24, 1925 to October 24, 1931, when Al Capone was sentenced to 11 years in prison for income tax evasion. However, the book will go back a bit earlier, when Johnny Torrio first brought Capone to Chicago from New York and follow through to Capone's time in prison, his retirement in Florida, and his subsequent death.

Al Capone’s function was to clear the decks and establish supremacy of the Chicago Outfit over the independent gangs in Chicago. He did that in such a spectacular and violent manner that he came to personify what people wanted to believe the quintessential gangster boss to be. Capone owns the judges and police and he does what he wants without their interference. What Capone wants is to rule Chicago and this means a death struggle with all the other gangs there. One by one he drives them from the field with machine guns, shotguns, and bombs until only the North Side Gang stands between him and the complete submission of Chicago.

The North Side Gang, however, is not inclined to step aside without a fight and goes toe-to-toe with Capone is a series of gun battles forever enshrined in Hollywood movies. The North Side Gang’s attack culminates in the 10-car Hawthorne Restaurant drive-by, where 1,000 rounds are fired at Capone. He, however, survives the onslaught unscathed and then launches a devastating counter-attack on February 14, 1929 known as the St Valentine’s Day Massacre, which breaks the back of the North Side Gang. At long last Capone now rules Chicago but he will do so only for another two-and-a-half years, then will go to prison for the next 11 years. Upon release he will be little more than a vegetable.

Al Capone will die from a stroke on January 25, 1945. Only 350 people will view his body one last time and a mere 50 people will show up to pay their respects at his gravesite. Al of Capone's great wealth will revert back to the Outfit and most of what was left would go to the IRS. Al's wife Mae will have to continually sell off her remaining possessions to make ends meet. She will die in a Florida nursing home in 1986. After a series of odd jobs Sonny, Al's only child, will change his name to Albert Francis and disappear into obscurity. Al Capone will not be known as either a particularly good husband or a good father. His sole claim to fame will be his notoriety as the murderous gangster who ran Chicago during the “Roaring 20s.”