As the famous mobster Al Capone once said, “The American
System of ours, call it Americanism, call it capitalism, call it what you will
gives each and every one of us a great opportunity if we only seize it with
both our hands and make the most of it.” This quote illustrates that Al
Capone and of course, many of the other men and women in the mafia knew how to
profit from the times they were in. One of the more famous mobster leaders Al
Capone had already begun to profit from not only The Great Depression, but also
from the Prohibition through bootlegging. Another way to profit was to prey on
the rich such as the infamous “Machine Gun Kelly” did with his bank robberies
and of course his famous Thompson. Others simply enjoyed the thrill that came
from being feared such as “Creepy Karis” These three were some of the few
members of the mafia who knew how to seize the moment making them the best of
the worst thus bringing them to Alcatraz Island.
Of all the criminals and leaders of gangs, Al Capone was one of the most
infamous and notorious ones to date. He had already been a figure to the public
long before his arrest by winning the hearts of many by making soup kitchens
and helping the poor. In fact, he had gotten so much notoriety that the F.B.I had
begun to fear the power he held socially and politically. It wasn’t until his
arrest in 1928 where he was guilty to tax evasion (FAMOUS INMATES). Out of all
the crimes he and his gang had committed from bootlegging during the
Prohibition to the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, he had been convicted for tax
evasion. The penalty for Capone’s crime was 11 years in prison and had $50,000
worth of fines. (Al Capone 85-AZ)
After only 6 years in Leavenworth prison, he would be sent
to Alcatraz in 1934 (Al Capone 85-AZ). Due to his notoriety, the prison
received more attention of his incarceration. The biggest difference for Capone
was that the guards at Alcatraz would never be corrupted. At all the other
prisons Al was able to corrupt the guards by bribing them in exchange for a
special privileges. His exact words towards the incorruptible guards was
“Alcatraz has got me licked”. Over time he learned to accept that he was
“licked” and eventually joined the island’s band by playing the banjo.
Everything wasn’t always pretty at Alcatraz though because if Capone didn't
find trouble, the trouble found him. He had been in multiple prison fights and
it only aided his disease syphilis that he had contracted from a cocaine
withdrawal. His entire time in Alcatraz would be spent withering away from
syphilis until in 1937 he would say only in the medical ward (FAMOUS INMATES).During
his final year of his sentence, he would be in Terminal Island in 1938. A life
spent on crime would forever be Capone’s legacy and would forever be a figure
of the past.
Likewise, another famous criminal had begun to make a name
for himself with his ever famous Thompson. It is none other than “Machine Gun
Kelly”. This convict isn’t as bad as the nickname had portrayed him for had it
wasn’t for his wife, he might have never reached Alcatraz. Kelly’s wife Kathryn
did more than just persuade him to become a criminal, she had also given him
the Thompson machine gun. The crime that would incarcerate Kelly would have
resulted in a profit of two-hundred thousand dollars if it had succeed (Machine
Gun Kelly). Their plan was to kidnap a famous millionaire by the name of
Charles F. Urschel who coincidentally had connections with the newly formed
F.B.I. Within two months of them kidnapping him, the F.B.I would capture the
lovebirds. Originally Kelly had been sent to Leavenworth prison, but due to him
bragging that the prison wouldn’t hold him, they transferred him to Alcatraz.
There at Alcatraz Kelly would start to resent his life of crime and became a
sort of poster boy for good behavior at Alcatraz earning him the nickname
“Pop-gun” (Kelly). It is because of this behavior that he would be transferred
back to Leavenworth. After three years in Leavenworth, Kelly would die of a heart
attack. All in all, Kelly’s name has been over exaggerated on multiple
occasions from the prison to the media during the 1930’s.
Furthermore, the thrill of being feared and the power that
came with it was all that led Alvin “Creepy Kapris”. The gang he controlled
call the Kapris-Baker was one of the most formidable gangs at the time, almost
rivaling that of Capone’s gang. It’s no wonder they had gained power when their
leader Alvin had a photographic memory. They would use this attribute to their
advantage when they would perform numerous crimes such as bank robbing and
kidnapping. Then in 1934, he was captured and was considered the last public
enemy to be taken in at the time (Alvin Karpis). He spent three years in
Terminal Island until he was sent to Alcatraz in 1937 due to bad behavior.
Surprisingly at Alcatraz he would befriend many inmates such as Al Capone who
all had nickname him “Creepy Kapris” for his devilish smirk. In fact, all the
guards would fear him for his smile. Then in 1939, he would be sent back to
Terminal which was common for many inmates at the time (Alvin Kapris). During
his time at Alcatraz, Alvin would be one of the few inmates who never attempted
to escape. Lastly, fear is what drove Alvin to the life of crime and fear is
what made him rise to power, but it is also fear that got him trough his time
at Alcatraz.
All
in all, these three men were some of the few members of the mafia who knew how
to seize the moment making them the best of the worst and thus bringing them to
Alcatraz. Al Capone, the man who held a large power within the mafia had gone
to Alcatraz because of his crimes catching up to him. Then there’s machine gun
Kelly who had could have turned down the life of crime had it not been for his
wife. Lastly Alvin “Creepy Kapris” who ever so enjoyed the look of fear on the
guards’ faces managed to also rise to power through that very fear. In
conclusion, the events the lead to Alcatraz and the events that followed should
be remembered for this island has held the most powerful and resourceful
criminals to date.
Al "Scarface" Capone- One of the most famous Mob leaders to date, a picture of him
Machine Gun Kelly- A Mugshot taken before was incarcerated in Leavenworth
Alvin "Creepy Kapris"- Another well known mafia leader who also went to Alcatraz with Al and Kelly
The Five Families of New York who ruled with an iron fist