Did Murray have total control over all unions in chicago, or did other crews or made guys oversee other unions without having to answer him?

Most sources from the 1950s and 60s say that Humphreys allegedly had the last word on all union activities. During those days Humphreys was the representative on the Outfits board of directors for the non-Italian faction and the "connection guys", and he also acted as advisor for the whole organization. Besides the non-Italians, Humphreys also had jurisdiction over all Italian made guys who were involved in union racketeering, no matter which crew they belonged to. Made guys like John Lardino (Aiuppa crew) answered and divided the cash with Humphreys from the union stuff. Also, some people believe that Joey Glimco was allegedly the top union guy but on the other hand, we have Humphreys calling Glimco "that cab driver", which possibly means that Humphreys had the power and authority to label those guys however he wanted.

Later ill try to find the doc or convo regarding Humphreys being not so much satisfied with Glimco, but right now I only have this one...



Also heres on file regarding Humphreys and Lardino, and also the Hump having the last word on all union activities....

Thanks for the reply but quick questions

Did Ricca give him complete control over all unions?

What did the rest of the family think about having to answer to a non Italian?

Humphreys position comes from a line of succession, meaning previously Guzik was probably the first non-Italian rep when Capone became the boss. And since Ricca was Capones successor, I believe he continued the same "tradition". In fact, when Guzik died at the start of 1956, Humphreys was the guy who inherited his position and also was present on the same meeting when Giancana was voted as the new boss. Later Humphreys vote was also important when they elected Battaglia as Giancanas successor.

What did the rest of the organization thought about this?! I think they didnt care much since the organization worked closely with the non-Italian criminal element since the days of Colosimo. The bosses and their underlings made more money or important contacts through Guzik, Humphreys and Alex, than with all of the Italian capos and members. Thats why Alex was the only one who literally breached the limits of Chicago's Mafia by becoming one of the three top leaders during the early 70s, and most of the Italian guys respected him the same way they respected Aiuppa or Cerone.

Curley also controlled Libonati. Who was married to Jeannette Van Hanxleden (dutch roots).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_V._Libonati

I believe the answer is yes. Curly started his union takeovers as far back as the 1920's. This is a good summary of his union activities.

This is from "The Outfit" by Gus Russo.

https://erenow.net/biographies/the-outfit-the-role-of-chicagos-underworld/3.php

Some old sources say that Libonati was allegedly a made guy (same as D'Arco, Marcy, Roti). Also when Ricca was in jail from 1959 until 1961, he was allegedly often visited by Libonati and every time they kissed on their cheeks like real made guys.



Not really the 1920's and more like the 1930's/40's but still, spot on

What gave Humphreys his power was his ability to make money and establish connections. He was an absolute gentleman. Never even swore

Cook County Democratic Party political machine was probably the most powerful in the whole country.

Thats right and believe it or not, Chicago's first political parties were in fact formed with the help of organized crime (manly Irish syndicates). Its like one of the "fallen angels" really hit the ground on that same spot that causes huge shit even today lol (the old Indians from that same area also felt the "best" of it).

If you read some of the wiretapped convos from Humphreys, you'll notice that he talks like those cartoon gangster characters from the Looney Tunes by constantly using words such as "You see.." or "See this....yeah, yeah.", and when he was mad he cursed a lot but as you already said, he knew how to act like gentleman and knew how to manipulate or scare the legitimate and political groups. But he was never able to fool the FBI and thats how he died, meaning during a raid from the feds or something like that.

LOL I went through some files so many stuff is blacked out. Like the name of the mayor who was mentioned a lot by the boys everybody now knows they were talking about Richard Daley.

Thats right again and in fact, Chicago Outfit made guy Louie Briatta was related to Mayor Daley through marriage, or in other words Daley’s son was the husband of Briatta’s daughter Mary. Old man Briatta was lieutenant for both Frank Ferraro and Gus Alex around the Loop and the First Ward aka the old South Side "Mafia".

Wasn't there a story about him being tailed by some cop cars and he pulled over to tell them it was unnecessary to have more than one car tail him, and that he would be more than happy to ride with them? Maybe I'm getting him confused with someone else, but I always loved that story lol

Lol I right now cannot remember such a story and Im not saying its not true, but did you ever read his FBI interview? If not, check it out...

https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc...&search=murray_humphreys%20interview

The power the connection guys had was incredible. In 1967, Outfit leaders wanted to stop passage of a bill in the Illinois State General Assembly that would have allowed the police to "stop and frisk" any person they had reason to believe had just committed a crime or was about to commit a crime. The bill would also have given police the right to search an individual for weapons. Ralph Pierce said Gus Alex, with the help of Leslie Kruse and himself, had been instructed to lobby all their political and judicial contacts to defeat the bill, which they did.

Thats right and thats also one quite cool info which again confirms the importance of the connection guys and non-Italian squad within the Chicago Outfit. Its quite sad when some researchers place guys like Guzik, Humphreys or Alex on the same level with non-Itals from other families such as Rockman or Joe Watts, obviously because none of those non-Itals belonged to a line of succession but on the other hand, Chicago's non-Itals had their own official position (Guzik-Humphreys-Alex) and also the right to vote regarding many important issues. If they really want to compare the non-Itals from other families with some of the guys from the Outfit, then they can compare NYs Joe Watts with Chicagos Lenny Patrick or Frank The German, or Cleveland's Rockman with Les Kruse, Dave Yaras or Joe Epstein, but bosses like Guzik, Humphreys and Alex were on a higher and different level by being more powerful and respected within their own family and also by other crime families from around the country, and thats why they had the last word on some specific rackets, also held official position on the Outfits round table, and also controlled large areas and many other lucrative rackets, including both high level political and legitimate contacts.

Humphreys mentioning the national mafia commission regarding some problem with another family (i think Cleveland) something which tells us that the high level Chicago non-Itals knew about the important Mafia protocols...

You are right about that anecdote G.


Murray Humphreys – the Montgomeryshire mind behind the Chicago mob
31st January 2021
LLANIDLOES
By Gavin Grosvenor
@CTSport ?
Reporter

LLEWELLYN Humphreys lived in a world of secrets and violence.

However as a leading member of Al Capone's Chicago Outfit, the man who would be known as Murray Humphreys, had been unrivalled.

Humphreys was born in the city in 1899 to parents who had emigrated from Llandinam several years earlier having been married in Llanidloes.

Life had been no kinder to the Humphreys family in Chicago and Llywellyn began his career in crime as a seven year old.

However Llywellyn had not been a violent thug and when he was 13 years old he was taken into the custody of a judge called Jack Murray who had encouraged him to pursue a career in law.

Murray had not taken his advice though took his name.

For the rest of his life Llywellyn Humphreys was known as Murray Humphreys.

Though it would be just one of his many nicknames he would garner in a lifetime of crime.

Three years later he served 60 days in Chicago's Bridewell Jail having convinced the prosecutor of the merits of a lesser larceny charge he would admit to rather than risk convicting the curly haired 16 year old of burglary.

He told the prosecutor 'If you reduce the charge to one of petty larceny, I will plead guilty. I will get a light sentence. You will get a conviction that looks good on your record. Everybody will be happy. What's more, you will receive a suitable gift before the case goes to court.'

Murray briefly went straight and married but was tempted back to a life of crime and in 1921 set up a bootlegger with fellow criminal Fred Evans.

All went smoothly for several years until Murray hijacked some bootleg belonging to the Capone mob.

When Humphreys was identified by the truck’s driver as the hijacker who had stuck a gun in his face, some Capone men picked Humphreys up and brought him before Capone.

However the smooth talking of Humphreys endeared him to the man who was known as 'Scarface.'

Humphreys climbed the ranks of the organisation.

He was known as the 'The Hump' and 'The Camel' for his love of camel hair coats and also known as Mr Einstein' 'The Brainy Hood' and 'Mr Moneybags'.

Capone remarked 'Anybody can use a gun. 'The Hump' can shoot if he has to, but he likes to negotiate with cash when he can” and 'Nobody hustles like The Hump'.

Humphreys' speciality had been bribing officials.

He said: 'The difference between guilt and innocence in any court is who gets to the judge first with the most.'

However there can be no doubt about his ruthless streak.

Humphreys was one of the planners behind the infamous St Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929 when seven members of Bugsy Moran's gang were lined up against the wall of a garage in North Street, the very street where the Hump was born, and machine gunned to death.

In 1931 he was indicted for the kidnapping of union president Robert Fitche but escaped conviction.

The 1930s saw Humphreys rise to the top of the Outfit with Capone in jail for tax evasion and described as 'Public Enemy Number One' by authorities.

He served 13 months for tax evasion after surrendering following an 18 month man hunt.


Humphreys continued to play a prominent role in the Outfit for the next two decades.

For paroling three jailed mobsters, Humphreys had used his leverage to ensure a US Supreme Court nomination for Attorney General Tom Clark in 1949.

Humphreys continued to exploiting the intricacies of the legal system's Double Jeopardy rule and the U.S. Constitution's Fifth Amendment for the Mob’s benefit.

When “Greasy Thumb” Jake Guzik died in 1956, Humphreys arranged for the to be removed from the restaurant and taken home where the widow was told her husband had died at home rather than compromise the restaurant and the Mob's activities.

By now Humphreys had made millions of dollars for the Mob and travelled the world as far as Iran and the Philippines where he had been hosted by kings and presidents.

As the top advisor to boss Sam Giancana, Humphreys came to be followed by the authorities and topped their 'Hoodlum List.'

However Humphreys did not care and is even recorded to have joined the federal agents and bought them lunch one day.

Humphreys said: 'You've been following me all day. There's no need for two cars. I'll ride with you.'


The FBI bugged a known meeting place of the Mob's for five years and Humphreys began each morning by saying 'Good morning, gentlemen, and anyone listening. This is the 9 o'clock meeting of the Chicago underworld.'

He was also heard to say 'Go out of your way to make a friend instead of an enemy' and 'If you ever have to cock a gun in a man's face, kill him. If you walk away without killing him after doing that, he'll kill you the next day.'

The stunned FBI agents noted every word for five years from 1957 and many developed an affection for Humphreys who had always encouraged helping the wives of jailed men and using violence as a last resort.

The FBI would discover Humphreys a much-loved father and neighbour who had given silver coins to those in need and spent every Christmas donating food to native American families.

However at the same time, Humphreys had endured several turbulent years which had culminated in his daughter being committed to a mental asylum in Kansas while Murray and his wife divorced.

FBI chief J Edgar Hoover remarked Humphreys 'perhaps the most brilliant mob mind in Chicago' though by the mid 60s he had remarried and taken the name Lewis Hart while living with worsening health in Florida.

He visited Wales just once, in 1963, travelling to the land of his parents under an assumed name.

In 1965, Giancana was arrested and Humphreys went on the run.

However the FBI had come to learn Humphreys' habits and the fact he tended to travel by rail to Oklahoma due to his worsening vision and the call was put out to stop the train where he was promptly arrested.

Humphreys claimed to have not known of the subpoena though witnesses claimed to have seen him on the train reading a newspaper with his face on the front page.

Humphreys was once again arrested.

Murray Humphreys on his arrest.

However when agents arrived at his door the ageing mobster had opened it pointing a 38-caliber revolver.

One of the agents is quoted as saying: 'Murray, for Christ’s sake, you know we’re FBI agents, put down the gun.'

Humphreys was jailed and bailed and was dead by the same evening having suffered a heart attack while vacuuming his house. He was aged 66.

FBI agent Bill Roemer had spoke of his affection for Humphreys with his grieving family.

He later said: '"I had clearly developed an affinity for Hump – more so by far than for anyone else in the mob.

'The man had killed in the Capone days on the way up. He had committed my cardinal sin, corruption, many times over. But there was a style about the way he conducted himself. His word was his bond.

'Without question, I preferred working against a despised adversary such as a Giancana rather than a respected adversary such as a Humphreys.

'Each was a challenge – the difference being that I enjoyed the fruit of my success so much more against Giancana than I did against 'The Camel'. In Chicago there would be plenty more mobsters to choose as targets. But none like Hump.'

https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/...montgomeryshire-mind-behind-chicago-mob/

Great find @H and thanks a lot.

I just want to add two things....one, during the early and mid 1920s Humphreys was a low level criminal who was mainly involved in hijackings, extortion and stickups, and wasnt connected to any of the crime syndicates. As it was already mentioned in the article, one day he hijacked one of Capones trucks and that occurred sometime during the late 1920s (possibly around 1928). In 1928 Capone became a member of the Mafia and was instantly elevated to capo, and so he began to gather his own crew and made connections to many independed gangs. Because they werent syndicate-connected, it seems Capone very much liked the young criminals who had the balls to do everything. Besides young Humphreys who allegedly hijacked one of his trucks, another similar individual was Sam Battaglia who had the balls to rob the wife of Chicagos mayor who in turn was backed by the Capone Mafia. Again, it seems Capone respected that same type of young hoodlums and thats why he took them into his organization.

Second, during his last years, Humphreys was so paranoid because of the huge government heat. He used to change his apartment keys every few days in case the feds somehow copied them and also had tear gas, alarms and bars on the windows of his apartment and always kept a gun. Again, as it was already mentioned in the article, Humphreys even pulled out a gun at the feds who in turm came knocking on his door.

As the general story goes, Humphreys was arrested and taken to the station, and during the search in his apartment, the feds allegedly found a coded journal wich allegedly was never deciphered. Later Humphreys was released on bond and allegedly died at his home from a heart attack, while cleaning his apartment. He was found dead by his brother and later the coroner confirmed it was a heart attack.

According to Humphreys' brother, when he enteted the apartment he saw the Hump on the ground and allegedly saw some signs of battle mainly because of the things which were thrown around the room.The authorities quckly gave a report that there was no foul play.

Sometime later an information came out from one of the doctors who performed the autopsy on Humphreys, who said that he allegedly saw a small puncture wound behind the right ear. It was suspected that maybe an empty needle filled with air was injected in him that caused his death.This was the info which inspired newspaper columnist Mike Royko that the mobster had “died of unnatural causes.”

I personally think that Humphreys probably died from all of the stress which caused his heart to stop. The main proof for that might be the huge protection which Humphreys used in his apartment, but constantly carrying a gun is something to think about. He was going to shoot who? The feds? His associates from the mob? I really cant tell.

There are even some rumors that before his death, Humphres allegedly wanted to retire from the mob. And what about that coded journal and was it ever deciphered? There are allegedly still some questions regarding Humphreys' last moments and also regarding his death.

Who knows, maybe Humphreys belongs to that same group of mobsters who died under suspicious circumstances such as Longy Zwillman etc.?! Just my two cents...

Cheers