Al Capone - an American Gangster

In Girl in the Glass, when Declan and James descend into the underground Washington, D.C., Hooker’s Divison or Murder’s Bay, Declan must exchange his Navy formal blues for something less conspicuous. In Murder Bay, where gangsters rule, it makes sense the suit he procures would have a similar aesthetic. When they arrive in Colorado, Garrett quips that Declan looks like a slender Al Capone.

This is a reference to one of America’s most notorious gangsters. Al Capone rose to prominence during the Prohibition era. He became the co-founder and boss of the Chicago Outfit, a powerful organized crime syndicate involved in bootlegging, gambling, and prostitution.

Chicago Outfit engaged in bootlegging, gambling, prostitution, bribery, narcotics trafficking, and protection rackets. His reign was marked by brutal acts of violence, including the infamous St. Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929, in which seven members of a rival gang were murdered.

Despite his notoriety, Capone was difficult to prosecute for his crimes. In 1931, he was finally convicted of income tax evasion and sentenced to 11 years in federal prison. He served time in Alcatraz before being released in 1939 due to declining health caused by syphilis.

Al Capone during good times

Al Capone on trial

Al Capone with his team of lawyers