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A Picture from History: St. Valentine’s Day Massacre

Reenactment of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, which occurred when reputed members of the Al Capone gang disguised themselves as policemen and murdered members of the George "Bugs" Moran gang in a garage, located at 2122 North Clark Street in the Lake View community, being held by Cook County Coroner Dr. Herman N. Bundesen and investigators, Chicago, Illinois, 1929.
In this edition of A Picture from History, we look at the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre and its impact on notorious gangster, Al Capone.
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    In 1929, alcohol was an illegal item throughout the United States.

    But a thriving bootleg liquor business sprang up underground.

    And in Chicago, nobody had as much influence in the trade as gangster Al Capone.

    Al Capone
    Al Capone

    For Capone, business boomed. He pulled in roughly $85 million per year in 1920’s money — close to $1.3 billion today.  

    There was only one problem…Bugs Moran.

    Bugs Moran

    Bugs Moran
    Bugs Moran

    Moran’s attempts at moving into the liquor business aggravated Capone’s South Side Gang, who wanted to operate throughout Chicago, not just a section of the city.

    Capone wasn’t happy…and Moran was about to make him even less so.

    Location of Saint Valentines Day Masascre
    Map of Chicago

    Aside from attempting to assassinate Capone’s friend and mentor, Johnny Torrio, Bugs also sent hitmen after Capone.

    John Torrio
    John Torrio

    But Moran took it further, targeting Capone’s chief hitman, “Machine Gun” Jack McGurn.

    Jack McGurn
    Jack McGurn

    Bad blood built between the two and it culminated on Valentine’s Day 1929.

    The Last Valentine’s Day

    February 14, 1929 — seven of Moran’s men waited in a North Side garage for a shipment of bootlegged Canadian whiskey.

    A police car pulled up with four men stepping out – two wearing police uniforms.

    The police ordered Moran’s men up against a nearby wall, shoulder to shoulder. Thinking it was nothing more than a police raid, Bugs’ men complied.

    Reenactment of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre.
    Reenactment of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. (Photo: Chicago History Museum)

    It would be the last thing they’d do.

    Shots rang out from two Thompson submachine guns and a shotgun.

    By the time the dust settled, all seven of the men laid dead on the ground.

    Valentines Day Massacre Tommy Guns
    The two Tommy guns used in the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre now reside in Berrien County, Michigan. (Photo: Chriss Lyon via Block Club Chicago)

    Chicago Mourned

    Public outcry was swift for what became known as the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.

    It proved to be a nightmare for Capone.

    Before the shooting, he was seen as something of the common man’s hero — fighting against the system’s injustice.

    St Valentines Day Masascre Brick
    Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre brick displayed at the National Museum of Crime & Punishment, Washington, D.C. (Photo: David via WikiCommons)

    But after, Capone became a violent criminal in the public’s eye. In short, it was a public relations disaster.

    Furthermore, the massacre brought down the entire strength of the federal government on Capone’s head.

    Capone was in Miami during the shooting, but the blame instantly fell to him. (Though the case technically remains unsolved.)

    Al Capone
    Al Capone

    Valentine’s Day 1929 brought Capone into the limelight, and investigators seized the opportunity to lock him away.

    The famed gangster was later sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for tax evasion.

    This is a new style of article for Pew Pew Tactical; if you liked it — let us know in the comments! If you didn’t enjoy it…well phooey. To catch up on previous Pictures from History, click on over to our History Category.

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    15 Leave a Reply

    • Vincent Alberry

      Yep, I agree, keep the stories coming. I find them fascinating. Thanks.

      October 4, 2021 5:39 pm
    • Rick

      Yes keep them coming.

      October 4, 2021 9:42 am
    • Thomas

      I look forward to your historically and factual accurate , articles. They are a great addition to this 2nd Amendment and sporting information site. Thank you.

      October 3, 2021 11:32 pm
    • James Whitaker

      I have been facinated with "The Mob" since I was very young . . . a long time ago. It still facinates me to the point that I think I have watched every documentary about the mob and it's characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the new storyline. Keep it up. There are lots of mobsters who would like to have their stories told.

      October 3, 2021 8:06 pm
    • Peter Gazzinya

      I agree. Better than telling everyone to keep buying hellishly overpriced ammunition. Carry on with this vector, Victor.

      October 3, 2021 7:47 pm
    • Garth Daniels

      Very cool,keep articles like this coming.

      October 3, 2021 5:18 pm
    • Jim Hovater

      I can't wait until you do Bonnie and Clyde.

      October 3, 2021 4:34 pm
    • Roger McCullough

      Very interesting, liked it a lot.

      October 3, 2021 3:36 pm
    • Kelly Miller

      Loved it! Sitting at the airport waiting and it was a nice read.

      October 3, 2021 3:13 pm
    • Derrick

      Awesome reading.....nice touch keep it coming

      October 3, 2021 1:39 pm
    • Steve Sherridon

      Great article. But thrice you call him Maron and twice Moran......- a google search shows Moran......

      October 2, 2021 11:44 am
      • Jacki Billings, Editor

        Sometimes the fingers have a mind of their own. Thanks for that catch, it's been fixed!

        October 2, 2021 1:54 pm
    • Vinny

      "Bootleg Canadian Whiskey",,, wonder if any of this shipment may have been brought in by whiskey running Joseph Kennedy?, or did he only smuggle into New York speakeasies?

      October 2, 2021 10:27 am
    • Jermaine

      Loved it!!! Great history!! Very relevant to some the laws we have today. Would be nice to see more about the weapons of choice! This would totally make your mission and the article relevant to your Readers IMHO.

      October 1, 2021 1:33 pm
    • Jeff

      Love it
      Don't forget about the battle of athens Tennessee

      October 1, 2021 11:10 am
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