Power in Cicero, Illinois
In Cicero, Capone and Torrio's gang in South Chicago competed and constantly battled with Dean O'Banion's North side. At one point the North side had a brewery that made illegal alcohol. The North side knew that one day it would be swarmed and searched through by policemen, so they sold a part of the brewery to Johnny Torrio. Once the raid was finished both Torrio and O'Banion were arrested and later released. After the scam, many of Torrio's members wanted revenge and then killed Dean O'Banion. This murder started a gang war.
Fighting back, the North Side gang attacked and in the process severely injured Johnny Torrio. This injury caused him to runaway to Italy. Capone was next in line and took over for Torrio controlling large parts of the bootlegging and speakeasy business in Chicago. Al Capone made an annual profit of $100 million through gambling, prostitution and making illegal alcohol. His bootlegging business brought liquor in from a gang on the East coast who got it from Canada. As Capone's income increased his power over police and law-enforcement increased as well.
His actions later lead to the paying off of the Chicago mayor William Hale Thompson. Payoffs kept Capone's gang from getting into any legal trouble. Al Capone based his operation out of the Lexington Hotel in Chicago. He owned and ran many businesses including casinos and speakeasies. With Capone's riches, he bought custom suits, jewelry, females, cigars, and gormet food and drinks (including alcohol). He also gained a lot of attention from the media and became a well-known celebrity.
With Capone's growing control, rival gangs fought back including the North Side gang. His cars were often shot at when driving out around town. One time the North Side gang shot into Capone's hotel base, hurting many innocent civilians in the process with flying glass and bullet debris. As a result of this attack, he hired armed body guards who surrounded the hotel 24 hours a day. Whenever he needed to leave, Capone escaped to one of his many hide-outs. One of his hide-outs was located in Couderay, Wisconsin. This resort consisted of a total of 407 acres and a 37 acre lake used to land planes transporting liquor.
Fighting back, the North Side gang attacked and in the process severely injured Johnny Torrio. This injury caused him to runaway to Italy. Capone was next in line and took over for Torrio controlling large parts of the bootlegging and speakeasy business in Chicago. Al Capone made an annual profit of $100 million through gambling, prostitution and making illegal alcohol. His bootlegging business brought liquor in from a gang on the East coast who got it from Canada. As Capone's income increased his power over police and law-enforcement increased as well.
His actions later lead to the paying off of the Chicago mayor William Hale Thompson. Payoffs kept Capone's gang from getting into any legal trouble. Al Capone based his operation out of the Lexington Hotel in Chicago. He owned and ran many businesses including casinos and speakeasies. With Capone's riches, he bought custom suits, jewelry, females, cigars, and gormet food and drinks (including alcohol). He also gained a lot of attention from the media and became a well-known celebrity.
With Capone's growing control, rival gangs fought back including the North Side gang. His cars were often shot at when driving out around town. One time the North Side gang shot into Capone's hotel base, hurting many innocent civilians in the process with flying glass and bullet debris. As a result of this attack, he hired armed body guards who surrounded the hotel 24 hours a day. Whenever he needed to leave, Capone escaped to one of his many hide-outs. One of his hide-outs was located in Couderay, Wisconsin. This resort consisted of a total of 407 acres and a 37 acre lake used to land planes transporting liquor.