If there were ever just one name that was synonymous with crime, it would have to be Al Capone. No criminal has ever achieved more fame, or infamy, than the world famous gangster. And probably never will.
It's a common misconception that Alphonse Capone was born in Italy. In reality, Capone was born in Brooklyn, New York, on this day in 1899. His father, Gabriele was an educated barber from the village of Castellmarre di Stabia, just south of Naples. Gabriele came to America in 1894 with his pregnant wife, Teresina (later Teresa), and two young sons Vincenzo (later James, then Richard "Two-Gun" Hart, another whole story in itself) and Raffaele (later Ralph, or "Bottles"). Older brother Salvatore (later Frank) was born in 1895. Alphonse was the first Capone child born and conceived in the U.S. All told, the Capones had nine children -- seven boys and two girls.
The Capones were an average, religious, law-abiding Italian family. But after the family moved to the Park Slope section of Brooklyn, Al and his brothers met the mentor that would forever change the lives of the entire Capone family -- gangster Johnny Torrio.
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IN PRINT: Uncle Al Capone
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