something that I always wanted to know

what did the Mafia, the five families etc. feel about Capone and the outfit. Was there a mutual respect or did they look down on them or appreciate them?

what was the true relationship between the outfit and the American mob?

There definitely was respect (he had known Lucky Luciano and Frankie Yale for example for years) and in the early 30's he became a full fledged member of Cosa Nostra and a short time later the official boss/father/rappresentante of the Chicago family as a whole..

In the beginning of the Castellammarese War, Capone was an ally of Giuseppe Masseria. Joe ''The Boss'' even went as far as officially inducting Capone, a Neapolitan, in his family. He made him a Capodecina with the authority to induct 10 of his men in Chicago..

When Masseria lost the war, Maranzano declared Capone the sole boss of the Chicago family, this included the Sicilian factions who were independent from the Outfit before that time. Capone was very grateful and he showed this by letting Maranzano have his national meeting at the Hotel Congress in Chicago, where Capone payed for the whole thing. According to Joe Bonanno's book 'A Man of Honor', at the end of the meeting Capone even went as far as asking the mafiosi, from all over the US, to declare Salvatore Maranzano Capo dei Capi..

And after Maranzano was whacked by Luciano & co., Capone and the Outfit got one of the seven seats on the first Commission. Big Al didn't enjoy his seat on the Commission very long, because of his jail sentence at Alcatraz for tax-evasion. He was replaced by Paul Ricca, who also was very respected on a national level, just like the Outfit was itself. They controlled everything West of the Mississippi and from the late 60's on it basically ran its own Midwest Commission where they settled disputes and other affairs for the Midwest and West Coast families..

Where I live in Peoria about 3 hours South of Chicago better known as Little Chicago or The River City back in the 30s we had some Italians here that were running liquor for Capone who got caught in the infamous Bureau County Liquor Bust but Peoria also was home to The Shelton Gang ran by 3 brothers (Earl Shelton "Big Earl", Carl Shelton "Corky", and Bernie Shelton "Red") they were known for keeping Capone an Torrio out of the city but there main competition was a guy named Charlie Birger and his well known Shady Rest Gang...Shelton Family house which was considered a mansion back then still stands today just off of Farmington Road and had the street named Shelton Lane...a buddy of mine grandparents bought the house and still own it to this day I've been it once very nice old wood trim big ass oak staircase and a secret passage in the basement that leads underground all the way to the farmhouse in the backyard....Peoria is home to the oldest Outlaws MC chapter in Illinois to this day still and the Clubhouse is just 4 blocks down the road from the Shelton's home.

I've got friends that live in Peoria and a few of them swear that Capone had a house there. theres a big house a little outside of the city on a wooded hill that you can barely see that they say was his.

Do you know where at exactly they maybe thinking of the Shelton's house cause it's just outside Peoria city limits in a small town called Bellevue which is still in Peoria County....if don't mind what are your friends names I may know them actually if not comfortable I understand also Peoria is big but not that big if grew up here I've been pretty much my whole life except from moving to San Diego when I graduated highschool for a few years

You can barley see the Shelton house from the main drag on Farmington Road have to drive really slow and look down Shelton Lane and can just see the front of the house cause the property is surrounded by a bunch of pine trees

He may well of had a stash house here but I have never been informed of it or told of its location is only reason why I'm thinking they maybe confused with the Shelton house my great uncle on my mother side which was Italian his name was Dink Gianatti he was a mechanic for the Shelton Gang putting bullet proof on all there cars he had a friend who was caught in the Bureau County Liquor Bust I believe in 1938 a guy by the name of Frank Nizzia but my father who is Lebanese his uncle had a tavern called The Hitching Post at the bottom of Farmington Road and that's where Bernie Shelton the youngest of the brothers was shot and killed at in the parking lot I still have Bernies shoulder holster here at my house which was given to me by my mothers father which was given to him by my great uncle Dink...Peoria has very big and well known Lebanese community with lots of political power here from long time reigning Mayor Jim Maloof who has since passed away to Congressmen Ray LaHood who was with Obama Administration and also longtime Peoria County Sheriff George Shadid who also a Illinois Senator he has recently passed away also tho... I cherish both sides of my family Lebanese/Italian my father is a big shot City guy in the Union but I'm like the last of a dieing breed that really fell into the love and lifestyle of the Mafia I've had my fair share of trouble when I used to drive up to Chicago every now and then but those days are over for me lol....pretty much the most well known Italian family I would say in Peoria still to this day is the Agatucci Family they have had a very well known and long time running restaurant famous for there thin crust pizza which is actually called Agatuccis they just started selling there pizzas in major grocery store food chains like Krogers and Hy-Vee which I don't blame them cause it's all about making money

There used to be a pizza place on N University and West Bradley called LaHoods (across the street from Avanti's) Any relation?

they very well could have it confused or they could just be full of bs which is what I've always kind of assumed. I like Peoria though, I was there a few summers ago for 4th of July weekend and enjoyed it there.

I can't remember any road names but that certainly fits the description.

Ya very cool house guaranteed it's not considered a mansion nowadays but back in the 30s I'm sure it was looked at as a very big place to live in especially since they had majority of the Shelton Family that lived there or atleast all the grandkids had a place to run around on if you can imagine the picture I'm tryin to paint lol....would not consider it a plantation by any means but very big amount of property to have owned way back then...from looking at it towards the front its surrounded by pine trees and really cool black rod iron fence that looked very expensive back then also but behind the house sits a barn/farmhouse which is then surrounded by nothing but woods that I'm pretty sure would have to lead to if you would start walking from the back it will lead you to the old railroad tracks which then would lead you to Kickapoo creek where I have been told was a really cool place to swim in back in the old days and also stories are known of the creek back then to have taken some lives from drownings in parts where the current can be very strong and still floods Kickapoo road to this day at times I was told a relative on my mother side also died in that creek from diving in and low and behold was killed instantly from a sharp piece iron or metal maybe that went rite into there head and was found by a divers or a dive team back then because storied was told to my family by the friend the relative was with that when they dove in they never came back up I can't recall the name of the relative off top of head at moment just was told growing up to stay away the Kickapoo creek.

No relation to me but I'm sure def a relation to the LaHood Family...LaHood Family is very big family here in Peoria....I've seen pictures of the place your talking about tho in books when I have gone to Peoria Historical Society building downtown to look for certain info on different things...that Avantis restaurant is the first and oldest of four Avantis in Peoria area and still makes a killing to this day couldn't have picked a better location to start a restaurant if you ask me since property is caddy corner from Bradley University all tho college every year spending money on food has generated millions easily just off that location alone what is ironic tho is the sole owners of Avantis is not even Italian there from Swizterland...old man by the name of Albert Zeller started it and is still alive today and he has a only child I believe a son by the name of Stefan Zeller who by looking at time can tell has a very bad cocaine habit.

did the outfit at its peak rival the five families?

Maybe im mistaken but didn't michael franzese mention that his dad spoke of Capone and how he didn't like him. Which is what I've read, he was chased out of new York. He was a nobody here, then once he's in chicago he becomes this big shot

Sonny would've been around 14 years old when Capone went to prison.

Joe bonanno said Capone was always smiling and that he was a jolly person

Fucking Santa Claus