Gangsters Like Capone example essay topic

438 words
In Brooklyn - New York, in 1899, Alphonse Capone was born. Johnny Torrio, a bootlegger in Chicago, recruited him when he was at the age of 22. Torrio was one of the many people who had established his business after the passing of the National Prohibition Act in 1920. Capone's job was to persuade proprietors to buy Torrio's illegal alcohol. Within three years Capone had taken over Johnny Torrio's business and controlled 161 illegal drinking establishments. In an attempt to expand his business, Capone developed the policy of killing his competitors.

After the killing of "Don O'Banion" in 1926, gang-warfare broke out in Chicago. There were 130 gangsters murdered in just one district of the city in just on year. This included the famous St Valentine's Day Massacre when six leading members of the "Bugs Moran" gang were executed in a garage by gangsters dressed in police uniforms. Few of the murderers were arrested and convicted of their crimes.

Gangsters like Capone were able to use their money to bribe and payoff police investigators or intimidate potential witnesses. The police were also in chains by the refusal of any gangster to testify against another gangster. It is said that by the year 1929, Capone's income from the other aspects of his business was $60,000,000 from illegal alcohol, $25,000,000 from gambling establishments, $10,000,000 (vice) and $10,000,000 from other rackets. It is thought and said that Capone 600 gangsters working for him to protect this business from rival gangs that could kill him. Capone publicly admitted how he had gained his fortune. He said that he makes his money by supplying a public demand.

If he breaks the law, his customers who number hundreds of the best people in Chicago, are as guilty as he is. The only difference is that he sells and they buy. Everyone calls him a racketeer, he calls himself a businessman. ' Unable to get or collect the evidence to charge Capone of murder, in 1931 the local authorities decided to charge him with tax evasion.

Found guilty, Capone was sentenced to eleven years imprisonment in jail. When he was released from prison in 1939 prohibition had come to an end and he was no longer able to make money from selling illegal alcohol as he once used to. He was also showing signs of the effects of syphilis disease and no longer had the mental strength to keep past loyalties. Alphonse Capone died in 1947. May he rest in peace.