A Gangster in the Family

Our first talk on 16th January was A Gangster in the Family by Lord Dafydd Wigley.

Lord Wigley gave us a very interesting talk on how he discovered one of his distant relatives was one of America’s most feared underworld bosses. Mafia leader Llewellyn Morris Humphreys, better known as Murray the Hump, is the third cousin of Lord Dafydd Wigley, the former Caernarfon MP and AM. Hump, who took over from Al Capone as the head of the Chicago Mafia, was a bad man who might have turned out differently had it not been for a rough childhood.

In 2012 Lord Wigley visited the USA for an S4C documentary to probe his cousin’s background visiting many of the gangland locations. He said Humphrey was one of five children whose parents emigrated from Carno near Newtown Wales, to Chicago in the 1890s.

By the age of 13, Humphreys had already dabbled in petty theft and found himself in the custody of Judge Murray. The judge, inspired by a sense of paternalistic responsibility, attempted to steer the young hoodlum towards a different path. Judge Murray’s lessons proved invaluable in shaping the young man’s understanding of the legal system, a knowledge that would serve him well in his criminal endeavours.
Humphreys’ journey into the criminal underworld took a major turn when he hijacked bootleg liquor belonging to Al Capone’s mob. This move caught the attention of the Scarface himself, who, instead of seeking revenge, saw potential in the smooth-talking young Humphreys.

Capone offered him a position within the Chicago Mafia, where he rose through the ranks of organized crime. Humphreys’ intelligence and ability to navigate the treacherous waters of the criminal underworld quickly became evident, earning him nicknames like “The Hump” and “The Camel.” The “Hump” was from his name Humphreys, whilst “Camel” was from his affinity for wearing camel coats.

It is understood that Hump was involved in the gang killing on February 14, 1929, which became known as the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Despite this and other murderous links, Hump preferred to negotiate his way through problems, earning him respect within the criminal organisation. This approach earned him the respect of his peers, including Al Capone, who remarked, “Anybody can use a gun, but ‘The Hump’ uses his head.”

Between 1920s to the early 1930s, Humphreys, alongside other gang members played a crucial role in organising the takeover of various labour unions. This move solidified the mob’s control over key industries and political influence. When Al Capone was imprisonment in 1931, Humphreys took the reins controlling the mob, expanding its reach and influence. Humphreys had a finger in almost every pie, from trade unions to banking, and even had sway over newspaper editors.

By the 1960s, Humphreys had become a prime target for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He faced increased scrutiny, and the law enforcement agency sought to bring him to justice. On November 23, 1965, three FBI agents arrived at Humphreys’ Marina City apartment with an arrest warrant for perjury, the only criminal charge ever laid against him. He was arrested, taken down town, where his restaurant friend, Morrie Norman, posted bail for him.

That night at about 8:30pm his brother found him dead on the floor of his apartment. After such a violent life, Humphreys suffered a fatal heart attack while vacuuming his apartment, sparing him from the legal consequences that loomed on the horizon.

Lord Wigley himself had a very successful career as a politician in Wales. Thankfully the link to his Chicago cousin was not discovered till much later in his career, otherwise it may have been a different story. The Deganwy History Group thanked Lord Wigley for entertaining us with this wonderful story.

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