There was this thread made by some1 about Murray Humphreys and it got me thinking about his allegedly suspicious death.In 1965 he was found dead of a heart attack in his 51st floor apartment.Story goes that three FBI agents arrived and knocked on the door of Humphreys’ apartment and old man Hump answered with a gun in his hand.They quickly overpowered and handcuffed him and took him to the station.In his apartement the agents found a coded journal wich allegedly was never deciphered.He was taken into custody and then released on bond.THree hours later Murray was found dead by his brother,lying face down on the floor in his apartment.The coroner said it was a heart attack.His borther reported that,when he found Murray on the ground he saw many signs of battle and things thrown around the room.The authorities quckly removed his body and in a record time they did the autopsy and no1 gave any report on foul play.

One source also states that one of the people that did the autopsy on Murray,said that he saw a small puncture wound behind Murrays right ear.It was suspected that maybe an empty needle filled with air was injected in him that caused his death.This inspired newspaper columnist Mike Royko by sayin that the mobster had “died of unnatural causes.”

What do you guys think about the whole situation?Usually in situations like this many people say "Its bullshit" and stuff like that but who knows???I dont see any reason why he would be killed by the agents?!I think that he died from all the stress that was goin around him in his last days.Whats your opinion guys?

I've never heard of any shady biz in connection with Hump's death. Class act. Untouchable. *(pun intended)

Russo wrote about it in The Outfit and while I don't remember it that well, he didn't suspect anything suspicious, and one of his primary sources was Hump's second wife.

He lived in the Marina Towers, which was the real cool place to live back then. Now they're kinda run down.

he wrote about how he turned his condo into a fortress because at that point he was absolutely terrified/paranoid about wires.

Hump was also recorded around that time lamenting that he would give anything to get out, but it was impossible.

I think in the book it said his heart gave out qhich was unnatural causes for him, implying that he had a whole lot of heart which was probably true.

Yeah a lot of sources are sayin that the Hump became paranoid a lot in his last years.He had tear gas,alarm's and bars on the windows of his apartment and always kept a gun.The old man went crazy.I wonder what was in that coded diary of his that the agents found?Numbers and accounts?

I always heard it was a heart attack. Apparently the Feds went to pick him up and things got a little rough. He died shortly after posting bail. Guess the stress/old age finally got to him. I think Curly is the most underated when talking about the Outfit guys.

Hump was one-of-a-kind. He had lots of influence with Ricca and Accardo and apparently spoke openly with no fear of retaliation. In addition to Russo's book, the FBI has lots of information about Humphreys.

According to the literature he was very much a member of the upper echelon of The Outfit, even though he was of Welch descent. The Hump was quick to point out potential problems to the top guys. He cautioned Accardo about the downside of purchasing the big mansion. Accardo later said he should have listened to Humphreys. He also shared with Accardo and Ricca concerns relative to the actions of DeStefano and Giancana. The Hump detested publicity and was quick to point out those who were "making too much noise."

The pressure of taking care of Outfit business just about drove Humphreys crazy. Just as others have stated, he wanted out but couldn't get out. He became very paranoid because the FBI was following him just about everywhere. The pressure was really getting to him.

I have read some theories about his death, but nothing solid has surfaced other than he died from heart failure.

I can't see, or even fathom that Ricca and Accardo clipped him. No way. He gets arrested and within hours the put out the contract on him? I just don't see it.

He had a bad ticker and the stress got to him. He was a huge loss to CN everywhere.

Think about it, he's the guy who came up with the strategy of pleading the 5th.

How many of these guys (not just the outfit) used that over the decades.

He was one of the few that would've been successful in anything they chose to do in life.

they wouldn't have killed him......he was stressed out and over 60

probably drank, smoked, and stayed up all kinda late hours

Theres a story that The Hump was so paranoid in his last days that he used to change his apartment keys every few days in case the FBI somehow copied them.

Also that he even wanted to order a beating or a hit in worst case on journalist Sandy Smith for calling him stupid and that he did a foolish move to evade subpoena in 1965.

I also belive that no way the mob would've killed him.He was a legend among gangsters but the thing is some of these "legends" die in a awkward situations and brings the belief of something suspicious,something like the case's of Luciano or Longie Zwillman.

For those who may not know, Sandy Smith was a newspaper journalist (Chicago Tribune - I believe). His main focus was organized crime. There have been reports that he identified to FBI agents around 1957 the top gangsters in The Outfit. He also told them that Giancana had replaced Accardo as the day-to-day boss.

Kinda sums up Accardo's feelings toward Sandy Smith. Posted this earlier but here it is again.

http://chicagoist.com/2012/07/11/from_the_vault_of_art_shay_the_mafi.php#photo-7



http://chicagoist.com/2012/07/11/from_the_vault_of_art_shay_the_mafi.php#photo-7

Humphreys was a very valuable Outfit Top Echelon man. In 1965, The Top 4 men in the Outfit were as follows:

Paul Ricca, Tony Accardo, Sam Giancana, & Murray Humphreys.

Next were the 6 Capos:

Sam Battaglia, Fiore Bucciere, Jack Cerone, Joey Auippa,
Ross Prio & Frank LaPorte.