Frank Capone

Frank Capone (January 1895-April 1, 1924) was a Chicago mobster who participated in the attempted takeover of Cicero, Illinois by his brother Al Capone's criminal organization.

Two Brothers

Born Salvatore Capone, Frank moved from New York to Chicago with his older brother Al at the start of Prohibition. Although Al was prone to violence, Frank was reportedly considered much worse. Whereas Al usually wanted to negotiate, Frank opted to use violence immediately, explaining that, "You never get no back talk from a corpse."

Takeover of Cicero

In 1923, the Torrio-Al Capone organization, to be known as the Chicago Outfit, moved its operations from Chicago to Cicero, a Chicago suburb, after being driven from the city by reform Mayor William Dever. Within a year, Cicero city manager Joseph Z. Klenha and the town committeemen were on the gang payroll. During the 1924 Primary election, Frank and other Outfit members went to Cicero polling booths with submachine guns and sawed-off shotguns to see that local residents "voted right." Frank led an attack on an opponent's campaign headquarters, ransacking his office and assaulting several campaign workers. On April 1, Frank blocked voters from booths unless they confirmed that they were voting for Klenha. In one incident, Democratic campaign worker Michael Gavin was shot in both legs and held against his will with eight other campaign workers until Election Day was over.

Police Reinforcements

Upon hearing reports of election fraud, Cook County Judge Edmund J. Jareki brought 70 Chicago police officers into Cicero and swore them in as deputy sheriffs under the command of Detective Sergeant William Cusick. Arriving outside a polling booth near the Western Electric plant, the Chicago policemen encountered Frank and Al with cousin Charles Fishchetti and David Hedlin. Thinking that the police were members of the rival North Side Mob, Frank fired at them. The police fired back and killed Frank Capone.

Frank received an extravagant funeral, with $20,000 worth of flowers, purchased from North Side boss Dean O'Banion's Schofield's Flower Shop, lining the casket. The Chicago Tribune reported that the event was appropriate for, "....a fitting gentleman." Out of respect for Frank, the gambling dens and speakeasies of Cicero were ordered closed for two hours.

References

• Sifakis, Carl. The Mafia Encyclopedia. New York: Da Capo Press, 2005. ISBN 978-0-8160-5694-1
• Sifakis, Carl. The Encyclopedia of American Crime. New York: Facts on File Inc., 2001. ISBN 978-0-8160-4040-7

External links

• Seize the Night: Frank Capone
• The Brothers Capone by Allan May