Gangsters compensated for the fragility of their existence by living large lives guides. Al Capone himself was well aware of the risks involved in his honorable activities. This is why he ordered an 8-cylinder Cadillac in 1928, which cost him a whopping $30,000. The machine weighed four tons, had a bulletproof fuel tank and armor plates reinforced the body; the panes were 2 to 3 centimeters thick. The rear window was retractable and allowed a sniper to protect the retreat of the vehicle. Onlookers could gaze at Al Capone in all his glory, dressed in a striped yellow suit, wearing white spats and a black velvet cape over his shoulders. Good souls never ceased to rave about the sumptuous donations that "good old Al" made to charities.
Al Capone reached the climax of his career with the St. Valentine's Day Massacre of 1929. This exploit allowed him to completely liquidate the gang of Bugs Moran, his Irish rival. Coldly, methodically, seven men were machine-gunned in a garage on North Clark Street. Al Capone did not carry out such executions for his pleasure. These were essential measures for the smooth running of his business. Only the bursts of machine gun fire could secure contraband revenue and punish violations of non-aggression pacts made with other gangs in the city.