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[Bad] 009 - Temperance
Jun. 10th, 2008 02:19 pm1920s
He'd thought the movement the madness of women with far too much time on their hands, burgeoned by religious fervor. In some ways they reminded him of the black gowned harridans and ministers of his youth, condemning one thing as the work of Satan when the truth was that the only culprit was human weakness. He could have told them that such things failed, regularly, and that outlawing one vice would only give rise to more sinning to acquire the vice or a finding of new ones. But, instead, he watched and when the American Congress passed the 18th Amendment outlawing alcohol in America, he gave serious consideration to relocating to another country. On the other hand, he knew there was quite the fortune to be made. He'd done his share of rum running in the Caribbean and smuggling along the English coast to make sure no one went without their supplies of fine French brandy when the Crown made importing it illegal.
January 16, 1920, Prohibition began, as the 18th Amendment became effective, and by then the American underground was perfectly prepared to handle the upsurge in business. He moved to Chicago, watching in amusement as organized crime snagged a firm foothold it was never going to let go of, and wondered if the American government knew what it had done. He worked the northern borders with his boating experience, bringing rum and other spirits through the Great Lakes into the city. Louisa appreciated the life it gave her, and the status they had among the Chicago elite. Everyone knew what he did, but he was careful enough the law couldn't touch him. His freelancing finally brought him to Capone and Moran's notice, and with a keen eye on the situation, he bowed gracefully to Capone's pressure and allied himself with the Outfit, which gave Louisa even more to quietly lord over Chicago's society matrons.
Of course, his involvement meant there was always plenty of alcohol on hand at home, a fact he found himself mildly regretting in 1926, after Louisa's death, but on further thought...well. She'd known his secret and couldn't be trusted to keep her mouth shut, so it was likely for the best. The federal government's interest in Capone finally brought his involvement in the Outfit to an end. He'd always had a knack for getting out when he could, and he did, shifting his operation to Rum Row off the Atlantic Coast, with his own boat. He quickly became known for the finest parties on the Coast, much to the Coast Guard's disgust, as he always stayed just beyond the Rum Line. A few of his competitors tried to hijack his ship a time or two, but he hadn't been a pirate for years without learning some tricks, and after a few attempts, the word spread to leave Monroe's ships alone if you valued your life. He bought a second ship as a supply ship, manning it with more weaponry than necessary, but it was also never molested, and his mini-empire grew.
He stayed until 1933, when the 21st Amendment ended Prohibition, coming out of it well over $300 Million richer. Selling his boat, and recommending his men to the merchant marines, he bid America adieu, and returned to England for the first time in a century and a half. All told, it had been far more profitable than the Caribbean or running the blockade on the South, and with a slight grin, he sat back and waited until the next time someone decided to infringe on free trade. Of all the professions he'd pursued, he decided as he settled into yet another new life, smuggling was by far his favorite.
He'd thought the movement the madness of women with far too much time on their hands, burgeoned by religious fervor. In some ways they reminded him of the black gowned harridans and ministers of his youth, condemning one thing as the work of Satan when the truth was that the only culprit was human weakness. He could have told them that such things failed, regularly, and that outlawing one vice would only give rise to more sinning to acquire the vice or a finding of new ones. But, instead, he watched and when the American Congress passed the 18th Amendment outlawing alcohol in America, he gave serious consideration to relocating to another country. On the other hand, he knew there was quite the fortune to be made. He'd done his share of rum running in the Caribbean and smuggling along the English coast to make sure no one went without their supplies of fine French brandy when the Crown made importing it illegal.
January 16, 1920, Prohibition began, as the 18th Amendment became effective, and by then the American underground was perfectly prepared to handle the upsurge in business. He moved to Chicago, watching in amusement as organized crime snagged a firm foothold it was never going to let go of, and wondered if the American government knew what it had done. He worked the northern borders with his boating experience, bringing rum and other spirits through the Great Lakes into the city. Louisa appreciated the life it gave her, and the status they had among the Chicago elite. Everyone knew what he did, but he was careful enough the law couldn't touch him. His freelancing finally brought him to Capone and Moran's notice, and with a keen eye on the situation, he bowed gracefully to Capone's pressure and allied himself with the Outfit, which gave Louisa even more to quietly lord over Chicago's society matrons.
Of course, his involvement meant there was always plenty of alcohol on hand at home, a fact he found himself mildly regretting in 1926, after Louisa's death, but on further thought...well. She'd known his secret and couldn't be trusted to keep her mouth shut, so it was likely for the best. The federal government's interest in Capone finally brought his involvement in the Outfit to an end. He'd always had a knack for getting out when he could, and he did, shifting his operation to Rum Row off the Atlantic Coast, with his own boat. He quickly became known for the finest parties on the Coast, much to the Coast Guard's disgust, as he always stayed just beyond the Rum Line. A few of his competitors tried to hijack his ship a time or two, but he hadn't been a pirate for years without learning some tricks, and after a few attempts, the word spread to leave Monroe's ships alone if you valued your life. He bought a second ship as a supply ship, manning it with more weaponry than necessary, but it was also never molested, and his mini-empire grew.
He stayed until 1933, when the 21st Amendment ended Prohibition, coming out of it well over $300 Million richer. Selling his boat, and recommending his men to the merchant marines, he bid America adieu, and returned to England for the first time in a century and a half. All told, it had been far more profitable than the Caribbean or running the blockade on the South, and with a slight grin, he sat back and waited until the next time someone decided to infringe on free trade. Of all the professions he'd pursued, he decided as he settled into yet another new life, smuggling was by far his favorite.
