Day 1 - Oostburg School District

Al Capone is still one of America’s best known gangsters. Also known as ‘Scarface’, he was one
of the top bootleggers during the Prohibition Era, he was a regular hitman himself, and gave
the orders over the St. Valentines Day Massacre.
Alphonse Gabriel Capone was born on January 17 th , 1899 to Gabriele and Teresina Capone in
Brooklyn, NY. He grew up there and quickly became associated with various gangs, but took
the time to settle down. Capone married Mae Josephine Coughlin, an Irish woman who
shortly before their marriage had given birth to his son, Albert Francis ("Sonny") Capone.
They was later forced out of New York and sent to Chicago after Scarface killed two fellow
gang members. He was sent under the wing of another gangster while in Chicago, and
eventually inherited his ‘outfit’. Capone had connections everywhere, police, store owners,
hotel and bar owners, and even the mayor of Chicago. Al Capone had became Public Enemy
#1, in the city of Chicago. Police tried to catch Capone doing anything illegal, but whenever a
hit was made, a business was destroyed, or any gang-type activity was going on, Capone
always had an alibi. The government then hit with a surprise attack; Income Tax Evasion.
Capone was charged with income tax evasion for the years 1925-29, He was also charged for
failing to file tax returns for the years 1928 and 1929. Capone owed $215,080.48 in taxes. A
third indictment was added, charging Capone with conspiracy to violate Prohibition laws
from 1922-31. He was sentenced to ten years in federal prison and one year in the county jail.
After gaining total control in prison, he was sent to Alcatraz where he became the model
prisoner, making no confrontation with the guards and refusing any participation in prison
fights. Here he began to show signs of syphilis. After finishing his prison term, he went to
live out the rest of his days at home with his family in Palm Island, FL. On January 21 st , 1947,
he had a stroke, unrelated to his syphilis. On January 24 th , pneumonia set in and he died to
the next day from cardiac arrest. Al Capone was first buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery
between his father, Gabriele, and brother, Frank, but in March of 1950 the remains of all three
were moved to Mount Carmel Cemetery in Chicago.