Scarface And The Untouchable: Unveiling the Untold Story of Chicago's Criminal History

Chicago in the 1920s and 1930s was a city plagued by crime. Two iconic figures dominated the headlines and shaped the city's underworld - Al Capone, famously known as "Scarface," and Eliot Ness, the head of the legendary Untouchables. This is the untold story of their ruthless rivalry, their rise to power, and the impact they left on the American criminal landscape.

Al Capone: The Rise of Scarface

Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1899, Al Capone was destined for a life of crime. At a young age, he joined the notorious Five Points Gang, where he learned the art of bootlegging, gambling, and racketeering. Capone's charisma and ruthlessness quickly propelled him through the ranks, making him one of Chicago's most feared gangsters.

Scarface and the Untouchable: Al Capone, Eliot Ness, and the Battle for Chicago

by Max Allan Collins (Kindle Edition)

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	47157 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	739 pages

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With the advent of Prohibition in 1920, Capone saw a golden opportunity to capitalize on the illegal alcohol trade. He assembled an empire, known as the Chicago Outfit, which operated speakeasies, breweries, and distilleries throughout the city. Capone's control over the criminal underworld was cemented, as he extorted businesses, eliminated rivals, and evaded law enforcement at every turn.

Eliot Ness and The Untouchables: Crusaders Against Corruption

In stark contrast to Capone's rise to power, Eliot Ness was a dedicated law enforcement officer determined to bring Chicago's criminals to justice. Appointed as the leader of the Prohibition Bureau's Chicago Division, Ness assembled a handpicked team of incorruptible agents, known as the Untouchables. Together, they waged a relentless war against Capone and his criminal empire.

With the help of wiretaps, undercover agents, and relentless surveillance, the Untouchables exposed the inner workings of Capone's operation. They seized illegal alcohol shipments, tracked down hidden speakeasies, and arrested countless members of the Chicago Outfit. Ness became a symbol of justice, inspiring hope in a city plagued by corruption.

The Battle for Chicago's Soul

The clash between Capone and Ness reached its peak in the infamous St. Valentine's Day Massacre of 1929. Capone's gang, disguised as police officers, brutally executed seven of their rivals from the North Side Gang. The shocking brutality of the massacre sent shockwaves throughout the nation, forcing the government to take drastic action.

In response to public outcry and mounting pressure, the federal government intensified its efforts to bring down Capone. Ness and his Untouchables played a pivotal role in the subsequent investigation, ensuring that Capone faced justice for his multitude of crimes. In 1931, Capone was convicted of tax evasion and sentenced to eleven years in prison.

The Legacy of Scarface and The Untouchable

The story of Scarface and The Untouchable reverberates through history, leaving a lasting impact on Chicago and the world of organized crime. Capone's fall marked the beginning of the end for the prohibition-era gangsters, as law enforcement agencies became more organized and efficient at tackling organized crime.

Eliot Ness, on the other hand, became an American hero and folklore figure. He went on to serve in various law enforcement roles and authored several books about his experiences. Ness's relentless pursuit of justice and his unwavering dedication to upholding the law have made him an enduring symbol of integrity and morality.

In

Scarface and The Untouchable are names etched into the annals of history, representing two titans who clashed during a tumultuous period in Chicago's criminal history. Their stories continue to captivate us, reminding us of the thin line between law and lawlessness, and the individuals who shape the course of our society.

Whether it's the larger-than-life persona of Scarface or the unwavering pursuit of justice embodied by The Untouchable, their tales are a testament to the allure and complexities of the criminal world.

Scarface and the Untouchable: Al Capone, Eliot Ness, and the Battle for Chicago

by Max Allan Collins (Kindle Edition)

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	47157 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	739 pages

FREE

The definitive history of gangster-era Chicago—a landmark work that is as riveting as a thriller

A CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

"REVOLUTIONIZES OUR UNDERSTANDING OF AL CAPONE AND ELIOT NESS." — Matthew Pearl • "GRIPPING. READS LIKE A NOVEL." — Chicago magazine • "AN EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT." — Sara Paretsky • "ESSENTIAL. THE TELLING IS SO EXPERTYLY DONE, IT'S HARD TO RESIST.”  — Seattle Times• “A VERY GOOD BOOK. READS WITH FORCE AND STYLE.”   — Chicago Tribune • “A DEFINITIVE ACCOUNT. MASTERFULLY WRITTEN.” — CrimeReads

Includes 115 photographs and a map of gangland Chicago.

In 1929, thirty-year-old gangster Al Capone ruled both Chicago's underworld and its corrupt government. To a public who scorned Prohibition, "Scarface" became a local hero and national celebrity. But after the brutal St. Valentine's Day Massacre transformed Capone into "Public Enemy Number One," the federal government found an unlikely new hero in a twenty-seven-year-old Prohibition agent named Eliot Ness. Chosen to head the legendary law enforcement team known as "The Untouchables," Ness set his sights on crippling Capone's criminal empire.

Today, no underworld figure is more iconic than Al Capone and no lawman as renowned as Eliot Ness. Yet in 2016 the Chicago Tribune wrote, "Al Capone still awaits the biographer who can fully untangle, and balance, the complexities of his life," while revisionist historians have continued to misrepresent Ness and his remarkable career.

Enter Max Allan Collins and A. Brad Schwartz, a unique and vibrant writing team combining the narrative skill of a master novelist with the scholarly rigor of a trained historian. Collins is the New York Times bestselling author of the gangster classic Road to Perdition. Schwartz is a rising-star historian whose work anticipated the fake-news phenomenon.

Scarface and the Untouchable draws upon decades of primary source research—including the personal papers of Ness and his associates, newly released federal files, and long-forgotten crime magazines containing interviews with the gangsters and G-men themselves. Collins and Schwartz have recaptured a bygone bullet-ridden era while uncovering the previously unrevealed truth behind Scarface's downfall. Together they have crafted the definitive work on Capone, Ness, and the battle for Chicago.