Legs Diamond Research Paper

During the period of prohibition, from 1920 to 1933, the sale, manufacture and transportation of alcohol was made illegal, through the Volstead act of 1919, leading to the first and only time an Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was repealed. Throughout this time in American history gangsters were common and were constantly increasing in every city but one in particular stood out from all the others making a significant impact on American history. Scarface, Alphonse Capone or more commonly known as Al Capone; who was the most infamous gangster, taking advantage of the era of Prohibition, ran an organized crime association in Chicago during the 1920s. He was responsible for over 500 murders; he had 700 men under his control and earned $60 million a year for bootlegging. Capone, who was glamorised in media and shown as charitable to the helpless was also controlling and violent and became an iconic figure of the successful American gangster who insisted he was just ‘supplying the public demand’.

Prohibition led to the bootlegging of liquor and the gang wars of the 1920’s. The most notorious gangster of all time, known as Al Capone, was the most powerful mob leader of his era. He dominated organized crime in the Chicago area from 1925 until 1931. Capone grew up during the roaring 20s in Chicago. He joined the James Street gang, lead by Johnny Torrio. In 1920, Torrio asked Capone to move to Chicago and work with his uncle who controlled the city’s largest prostitution and gambling ring at the time. Capone had liked that idea. Later that year the Prohibition act came into affect and Capone became interested in selling illegal whiskey and other alcoholic beverages. Al Capone was America's best known gangster and greatest

Turf toe is an injury that affects the joint at the base of the big toe. It occurs when the toe is bent upward by force and extended beyond its normal limits (hyperextension). The joint of the big toe is surrounded by tissues (ligaments and tendons) that help to keep it in place. If any of these tissues are damaged, turf toe may result.

Once the organized crime families were established they were the main contributors to the illegal “Bootlegging” of alcohol. During the 20’s there was a great deal of violent crimes. Most of them could be connected back to the organized crime families. Alphonse Gabriel “Al” Capone was a gangster who led illegal activities such as the smuggling and the bootlegging of alcohol during the prohibition. Even though he had a tough exterior he was a caring man he was the first to open up a soup kitchen in Chicago (hammer). Capone’s estimated annual revenue was around 100 million dollars. He had many men working for him such as Frank Nitti, August Pisano and Louis Morganno. He supplied Chicago with most of its alcohol. (Capone: the man and his era).

It’s the beginning of the 1950’s. The citizens of Chicago are awaken by gunfires of mobsters of the “Chicago Outfit's,” lead by Al-Capone. Al-Capone was one of the best mobster kings in America, he got away with multiple murders, bootlegged alcohol during the prohibition era, along with numerous other court cases.

Mr. Fallon a close contact with Al Capone was able to answer a few questions that many others have wondered about Al Capone. One of the questions that were asked was if Al Capone as young has been violent and had the mentality he has now. Mr. Fallon mentioned that he was not in fact he was a good son to his parents and was with them every day. Then we asked “if al capone was a good kid then how did all this violence cause by him came to be.” And Mr. Fallon explained, “Even though he was a good son he had some interactions that were not that good. He was involved in different gangs: The Junior Forty Thieves, The Bowery Boys, and the notorious Five Points Gang. And ones he left with Torrio to Chicago that's where Capone became famous. He handled many jobs for Torrio and started gaining experiences, after Torrio retirement Capone became the man in charge.” Mr. Fallon was then asked if this gave more power to Al Capone. “Yes he was able to buy policemen to cover him and anything that he did. Prohibition brought big amounts of money to

Andrew Melton was given the task of finding the man he thought could bring Capone down. At this time in America, finding an honest federal agent who couldn’t be bribed was very difficult. Andrew Melton finally chose Eliot Ness to be the leading man for the Bureau of Prohibition, and Ness found only 9 dependable men to work with. He and his men launched a series of raids on Al Capone’s breweries, arresting several of his men, and closing down many of his operations. After an especially successful raid, Al Capone realized these men were a serious threat, so he offered them about $2,000 a week to leave him alone, which was almost as much as they made in a year. What Al Capone didn’t expect, was that each of the agents would turn him down. The newspapers covering the story deemed the individuals who were brave enough to take a stand against Capone The Untouchables. Capone paid men to trail the Untouchables, while Ness tapped Capone’s phones. Capone killed Ness’s friend, and in retaliation, Ness drove Capone’s confiscated trucks of alcohol around his hotel in mockery. "What we had done this day," he told people later, "was enrage the bloodiest mob in criminal history...We had hurled the defiance of "The Untouchables" into their teeth; they surely knew by now that we were prepared to fight to the finish." Their private battle continued, with Ness trying to arrest Capone

    Prohibition caused gangs and organized crime to thrive in the 1920’s. Big gangsters made fortunes off of bootlegging, or the illegal make and distribution of alcohol, and speakeasies, illegal clubs or bars that sold alcohol. Al Capone of Chicago was one of the most well known gangsters of the time. He made up to $60 million dollars annually bootlegging and running speakeasies

With Chicago’s government being weak and easily to extort, Capone and Torrio began a business together through bootlegging, gang violence, and gambling in houses called deuces. At the beginning of the 1920s, James Colosimo was in charge and making the most money. Colosimo effectively developed profound political associations, by becoming a precinct captain in the First Ward Aldermen Coughlin and Kenna, and later turning into the bagman (authority of illicit benefits and container of fixes) in the vice laden Levee District, which gave him political insurance from any prosecution. He and Torrio also ran a very successful group of racketeers. This gang would become a crime organization called the Outfit through Al Capone syndicate. According to the PowerPoint, Colosimo did not want to be a part of the bootlegging business. Torrio disagreed stating that it was his opportunity and wealth. When Colosimo returned from his honeymoon, he was shot and killed in his own café. Many were led to think Torrio paid Frankie Yale to get rid of Colosimo. Torrio became the head leader and created a huge criminal empire through bootlegging. He shaped a new gang cartel that allocated the bootlegging industry ensuring product stability and higher profits.

Even after he stopped pursuing his education, Capone began to work to support his family and “always brought his entire paycheck home to his mother”. However, Al was steered towards a life of crime when he started spending time in Manhattan with his older brother, Ralph, who often did odd jobs for gangs. After some time, Al began to work for Johnny Torrio, a renowned mob boss in New York. From there, his penchant for a life of crime only grew. Capone became something of a protegee to Torrio. Eventually, Torrio realized his organization could become more profitable in Chicago, so he turned over his territory to Frankie Yale, for whom Al began to work. Soon, Capone had made enemies within a rival gang, so Yale suggested he move to Chicago to work for Torrio until New York was safer. Capone recognized the move as a step up, and so he continued his work in Chicago for the rest of his career. After an attempt on Torrio’s life, he retired, and put Capone in charge of his entire organization when he was just twenty-six years old. When Capone took over, the United States was mid-prohibition, so the large majority of his focus was on bootlegging. Before the end of the decade, Capone “controlled all 10,000 speakeasies in Chicago and was said to be ruling the entire bootlegging business from Canada to Florida”. Needless to say, Al Capone had become a powerful and influential figure in Chicago.

In 1920, the United States entered a new stage in its life, the Era of Prohibition. However, flaws in the planning, execution, and administration caused this noble idea to vacillate unquestionably. However, men who were willing to break the law were the ones that were able to build a lucrative life for themselves; one such man was Alphonse Capone. However, honest men such as Elliot Ness fought adamantly to defend their morals, beliefs, and the law of the land. Nevertheless, Capone was a man who took advantage of his time and lived the life of the American Dream: going from rags to riches. However, it was this very same opulence that caused his downfall and incarceration. The tireless efforts of Elliot Ness eventually paid off

‘Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes’ by Paul Simon is a piece for a folk/rock band with a world beat feel to it. This song portrays a story between a poor boy and a rich woman. The piece being composed in 1986, the modern era, has its focus set on individual expressionism. The composer achieves this through the songs aesthetic expression and his unique style of writing. This has been influenced by previous styles, and in turn has influenced concurrent musical styles.

Larry Hoover was born on November 30th, 1950 in Jackson Mississippi, but moved to Chicago at the age four years old. When Larry was 12 years old he became the leader of the “Chicago Supreme Gangsters.” Which is now known as the “Gangster Disciple Nations.” As the years went by Hoover became the well known leader of the gang and occasionally engaged in petty crimes. He eventually got evolved in shootings and assaults. In 1973, Larry Hoover was sentenced to 150-200 years in prison for killing a drug dealer. Later on in his passed years in prison he committed money laundering in prison , and his punishment was increased to six life sentences.

By 1925 there were at least 3200 speakeasies and stores who sold liquor in order to get some extra income in New York. The smuggling of alcohol was a very good business that involved money. Some of the direct distilling and home brewing were secretly installed in garages, tenements, and warehouses. With the fear of being hijacked, the bootleggers hired gunmen to protect the goods; so illegal gun market was a side effect of the Prohibition that brought big amounts of money. The illegal alcohol and gun market brought gangs to everywhere, these gangs fought constantly to maintain the territory and respect. Chicago and New York where the cities where the Mafia gain more power, gang wars and assassination became an everyday thing. On May 11th, Jim Colosimo was the first of the Chicago mafia bosses to be assassinated.

Stunned by the harsh sentence, Dillinger became a tortured, bitter man in prison” (“Famous Cases,” n.d). On May 10, 1933, after serving eight-and-a-half years of his sentence, he was released on parole, where his life quickly continued to revolve around trouble. Dillinger and his gang committed several robberies, murders, and jailbreaks, causing Dillinger to be known for evoking the Gangster Era that ended on July 22, 1934, the night he was pronounced dead at Alexian Brothers Hospital after being shot three times by police officers in the alley by the Biograph Theater (“Famous Cases,” n.d).