(Above) Murray “The Camel” at various ages.

Al Capone once said of Murray “The Camel” Humphreys, “The Hump can shoot if he has to but he likes to negotiate with cash when he can.” Sam Giancana called Murray “the nicest guy in the mob.” The chief investigator for the State Attorney’s office described him as “public enemy number one.”

Llewelyn Morris Humphreys was the chief political and labor racketeer in the Chicago Outfit during Prohibition. He was also one of the gunmen in the “St. Valentine‘s Day Massacre” of 1929.

In 1965, he was 66 years old and living in a one-bedroom apartment on the 51st floor of Marina City’s east tower.

Indicted on November 23, 1965, on charges of lying to a federal grand jury, Murray was home when three FBI agents arrived and knocked on his door. Humphreys was not alone, though. He had a 38-caliber revolver in his hand and when an agent saw it, he said, “Murray, for Christ’s sake, you know we’re FBI agents. Put down the gun.”

They quickly overpowered Murray, handcuffed him, and took from him the key to his safe. He was taken into custody and released around 5:00 p.m. after a friend, restaurateur Morrie Norman, posted ten percent of a $4,500 bond.

At about 8:30 p.m., back at his Marina City apartment, Murray was vacuuming a room when he suffered a heart attack and died. His brother, Ernest, found him lying face down on the floor and called the fire department at 8:59 p.m. Firefighters arrived and tried to revive Murray but he was pronounced dead at 9:31 p.m. by Dr. R.B. Robbins, who also lived in the building. Newspaper columnist Mike Royko later quipped the mobster had “died of unnatural causes.” (Left) Murray and his wife, Jeanne, out for dinner.

Humphreys discretely moved to Marina City on Memorial Day, May 30, 1963. Knowing that Humphreys was moving but not knowing exactly where he was moving to, FBI agent William F. Roemer, Jr. correctly guessed Marina City because it was in demand with the city’s high-rolling apartment dwellers.

He lived in unit 5131, rented to longtime gofer Eddie Ryan. Shortly before Humphreys moved in, FBI agents gained access to the apartment and hid a microphone. Agent Roemer also developed an informant in the building, known only as a secretary at Marina City.

The FBI described the apartment as “elegant, if not spacious,” with views of Lake Michigan, Tribune Tower, and State Street. They noted expensive-looking furniture, paintings, and a player piano. Humphreys had a burglar alarm, tear gas, and bars on the windows of his 51st floor apartment.