1986. Geraldo Rivera, as part of his Mystery of Al Capone’s Vault TV special, introduces us to Robert St. John, an investigative journalist in 1920s Chicago. Mr. St. John ran a series of exposes on Al Capone’s criminal activities in Chicago at the time they were happening, around 1925, and after being accosted by goons in the street is approached by Mr. Capone himself in a closed room. The man recounts his experiences in vivid detail, going back to Cicero Illinois at 85 years old, when he was last there at 25 years old. 60 years later the Capones are underground, and the St. Johns are still alive and well.
Al Capone eventually bought the newspaper that Robert St. John wrote for in order to silence him. Mr. St John continued his career in Vermont and a myriad of other places with journalism and authoring 23 books in addition to radio broadcasting. Robert St John passed away in 2003.