Al Capone went to Northwestern-Nebraska before going to prison

How did Al Capone spend his final days as a free man before being sentenced to prison on charges on tax evasion?

He went to a college football game, of course. And in a nice form of symmetry – seeing that the two teams meet on Saturday – he went to watch Northwestern host Nebraska in Evanston, Ill.

If it helps set the mood, think back to the days chronicled in HBO's Boardwalk Empire, though it's not evident from The Associated Press' account if Nucky Thompson was present as part of Capone's entourage.

It's Saturday, Oct. 3, 1931. Capone is three days away from going on trial on charges of income tax violations, The AP reports. Like most of us (me, at least), Capone opted to enjoy one final afternoon of college football before facing life imprisonment.

I wouldn't chose to watch the Wildcats and Cornhuskers, but note that Capone's options were likely limited by, you know, the lack of television – it's not like he could have stayed home and caught Oregon-Arizona State on ESPN.

It gets worse: Capone, who once ruled Chicago with an iron fist (see The Untouchables), was greeted with "an intermittent chorus of throaty jeers and boos all during the game," wrote The AP.

This despite being accompanied by "Machine-gun Jack McGurn" and several henchmen. Thanks to Eliot Ness and Company, Chicago – and Northwestern fans in particular – was free to boo Capone lustily without fear of reprisal. One can only think that "Machine-gun Jack" left his weapon of choice on his bedside table.

The full AP story (under the headline "Capone Given 'Bronx Cheer'"), courtesy of Timothy Hughes Rare & Early Newspapers, because it's positively fantastic:

"Forty thousand persons gave 'Scarface Al' Capone the 'Bronx Cheer' Saturday at Northwestern university's Dyche stadium in Evanston.

The gang leader, accompanied by 'Machine-gun Jack' McGurn and several henchmen, was jeered and hooted by the vast throng attending the Northwestern-Nebraska football game when he arose and departed at the end of the third period.

Capone and his party occupied seats in the 45th row and were targets for an intermittent chorus of throaty jeers and boos all during the game. When he and his friends arose from their seats at the end of the third period, the chorus became a mighty crescendo that swept over the huge stadium.

The Capone party walked hurriedly and apparently somewhat abashed to the nearest exit.

Capone goes on trial Tuesday before Federal Judge James H. Wilkerson on charges of income tax violations."

College football is the great equalizer, obviously.

I'm just going to throw this out there: What about the curse of Al Capone? Northwestern went 36-13-1 from 1926-31. From 1932, when Capone was incarcerated, until 1947, when he died, the Wildcats went 59-66-9. Then, in 1948, Northwestern won eight games, a program-high since 1905.

Thanks to Adam Rittenberg and Brian Bennett for the heads-up.