Eliot Ness is a famous (or, some would argue, infamous) Cleveland resident. While this Prohibition agent is often pointed to as the individual that took down Chicago crime boss Al Capone, he also enjoyed a career in Cleveland as the Director for Public Safety. Amazingly, some believe that Scarface himself might have enjoyed a career here in The Land. Capone in Cleveland?! That has to be a myth... right? Well, maybe. But maybe not. While this man is shrouded in a degree of mystery, it's highly possible that he has a history in our community. Check it out:
Al Capone, nicknamed "Scarface," was the boss of the Chicago Outfit that gained notoriety during Prohibition.
Capone was actually born in NYC, and he first got involved in organized crime when he was a teenager. In his twenties, he moved to Chicago and eventually got involved in the alcohol business... and he ruled with an iron fist. Infamously, he often blew up businesses that refused to work with him.
However, following the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre, Capone was impeded by the efforts of Eliot Ness and the Untouchables. He was eventually sent to prison, where he grew sick.
Eliot Ness, who famously had a connection to Cleveland, was one of several agents that worked to take down Al Capone. Ultimately, Capone was arrested for tax evasion. Due to his battles with syphilis, Capone went on a downward spiral. Eventually, his illness led to his release from prison in 1939. He died in 1947, and late-stage syphilis had taken its toll. His doctor described his mental state as comparable to that of a 12-year-old.
While Al Capone is often remembered as a lavish, over-the-top figure that fell hard and fast, some suspect he has secret ties to Cleveland... and, particularly, Little Italy.
What we do know is that Al Capone and his entourage would often spend weekends away from Chicago, thriving in luxury hotels under fake names. Big cities were a frequent hangout of his, though it's difficult (if not impossible) to provide which ones he visited. While he likely did enjoy a few getaways in Cleveland, just where he stayed and when are mysteries. What we do know, however, is that he did enjoy stopping at Ohio speakeasies.
And, believe it or not, there are some ties to Cleveland in Capone's history. In 1928, Capone sent a few members of his entourage to Cleveland for a national meeting with members of the Mafia.
The luxurious and over-the-top personas of mob bosses attracted police attention when they met at Cleveland's Hotel Statler on December 5. While police were suspicious, they grew concerned when a message came in from Chicago: Joseph Giunta and Pasquale Lolordo, two of Al Capone's men, were coming to Cleveland for a meeting. Cleveland police captured 23 men, and they all refused to provide insight into the meeting. Most of the men were released on bond, and the infamous Cleveland meeting has since faded away into mere legend.
So, did Capone himself come to Cleveland for "work?" The answer is a resounding maybe.
Capone has absolutely visited Ohio and has several known hangouts here in the Buckeye State. Cleveland speakeasies, on the other hand, are not clear hangouts of the former mob boss. It's possible that he used a fake name while stopping in town, if he ever did. We certainly had our fair share of watering holes in town, despite Prohibition regulating alcohol sales.
Despite the lack of certainty, rumors persist that Capone was active in The Land... and some suspect he had access to an underground tunnel for easy operations.
There are rumors that Al Capone invested in the Cleveland Club and used its tunnels to get to Little Italy. However, the club opened while Capone was under heavy scrutiny and surveillance, and there's no documentation to prove the rumored connection.
Whether or not Al Capone himself stopped by Cleveland, the area had its own personality during Prohibition... and it's a history that many locals have forgotten about today.
Cleveland has changed greatly over the years, thanks in part to the Mafia Commission Trial, which occurred after a local gangster's death. Today, Cleveland is no longer known as "Bomb City, U.S.A." Nonetheless, evidence of its darker past can be found throughout town if one knows where to look.
It's hard to say whether or not the rumors of Capone in Cleveland are anything more than rumors, but... it's certainly an interesting debate. What do you think? Did Capone ever operate here in The Land? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Interested in local history? Check out the tale of Cleveland's Torso Murders for more history.
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