Saskatchewan

Documentary tries to find Capone connection to Sask.

A Saskatchewan documentary about Al Capone is trying to uncover whether the American gangster really was part of the bootleg business in Moose Jaw.
Al Capone (middle) sits with his attorneys Michael Ahern, left, and Albert Fink in federal court in Chicago on Oct. 7, 1931, during his tax evasion trial. (Associated Press )

A Saskatchewan documentary about Al Capone is trying to uncover whether the American gangster really was part of the bootleg business in Moose Jaw.

The filmmaker behind "Finding Al", Kelly-Anne Reiss, is partnering up with a genealogy website to try to make the connection.

Lesley Anderson, who works as a content analyst at ancestry.ca, said she's starting to believe Capone may have done business in the province, but it is sometimes difficult to confirm the details.

"There's the old school, you know, 'we don't talk about things'," said Anderson. "Certainly criminal behaviour makes you want to hold on to your documents and not share information."

"But our generation is more open to all kinds of things that were taboo," Anderson added.

Both women have received some information from Capone's niece, Deirdre Capone.

"One family [member] changed his name entirely and had strange happenings in his life that he covered over, saying that he got injured in a mining accident but he really got shot," said Anderson.

Deirdre Capone will be speaking Monday night at Chapters book store in Regina, and Tuesday at the Mae Wilson Theatre in Moose Jaw.

The theatre will also show a preview of the documentary.