Pennod 1

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0:00:38 > 0:00:40- Lord Dafydd Wigley is in Chicago...

0:00:41 > 0:00:44- ..to trace the history - of his third cousin...

0:00:44 > 0:00:47- ..one of the most ruthless - and clever gangsters...

0:00:48 > 0:00:50- ..America had ever seen.

0:00:52 > 0:00:57- His name was Llewelyn Morris - Humphreys, or Murray The Hump.

0:00:57 > 0:01:00- When Al Capone - was incarcerated in 1932...

0:01:00 > 0:01:06- ..The Hump was declared - Public Enemy Number 1 by the FBI.

0:01:07 > 0:01:09- The nickname, Hump...

0:01:09 > 0:01:13- ..is an abbreviation - of his surname, Humphreys.

0:01:13 > 0:01:15- He was also known as The Camel.

0:01:15 > 0:01:20- What set him apart from every other - gangster in this bloody city...

0:01:21 > 0:01:26- ..was his understanding of how - business, politics and law worked.

0:01:26 > 0:01:30- Although he preferred - negotiating over killing...

0:01:30 > 0:01:35- ..he was prepared to take - all measures deemed necessary.

0:01:36 > 0:01:40- Plenty of evidence suggests - he was a cold-blooded killer.

0:01:40 > 0:01:46- Yet he commanded respect in Chicago - and throughout America.

0:01:47 > 0:01:52- Contemporaries regarded him - as a philosopher and politician.

0:01:52 > 0:01:55- He was also considered professorial.

0:01:55 > 0:01:58- He was obviously - a remarkably intelligent man.

0:01:59 > 0:02:03- He was involved in - the St Valentine's Day Massacre...

0:02:03 > 0:02:08- ..which took place some 20 yards - from where The Hump was born.

0:02:08 > 0:02:12- While Al Capone was being - interrogated by the police...

0:02:12 > 0:02:16- ..the Welshman - arranged an alibi for his boss.

0:02:16 > 0:02:20- Gangsters, - some dressed as police officers...

0:02:21 > 0:02:23- ..opened fire on Bugs Moran's mob.

0:02:23 > 0:02:29- He was a competitor in the - lucrative illegal alcohol market.

0:02:29 > 0:02:33- The selling of alcohol - was prohibited in America...

0:02:33 > 0:02:35- ..from 1920.

0:02:40 > 0:02:44- It was here on St Valentine's Day - 1920 that the massacre took place.

0:02:44 > 0:02:48- Six of Al Capone's adversaries - were shot in a garage...

0:02:49 > 0:02:51- ..which stood on this site.

0:02:51 > 0:02:55- It's believed that Murray Humphreys - was involved in the shooting...

0:02:56 > 0:02:59- ..and certainly - played a role in the plotting.

0:02:59 > 0:03:02- Some of his enemies - in the laundry business...

0:03:02 > 0:03:04- ..were shot dead.

0:03:06 > 0:03:09- The laundry service - was The Hump's idea.

0:03:10 > 0:03:13- A respectable front - for illegal operations.

0:03:14 > 0:03:19- The term, laundering money, - has been derived from that practice.

0:03:21 > 0:03:24- On that fateful - St Valentine's Day...

0:03:24 > 0:03:28- ..a river of blood flowed - from the garage onto the street.

0:03:31 > 0:03:33- But Bugs Moran - avoided the bloodbath.

0:03:33 > 0:03:37- He sensed something was wrong - and kept his distance.

0:03:40 > 0:03:44- The savageness of Chicago - is a far cry...

0:03:44 > 0:03:47- ..from the serenity - of Montgomeryshire.

0:03:47 > 0:03:53- Llewelyn Morris Humphreys's parents - emigrated to America in 1889.

0:03:53 > 0:03:57- His mother hailed - from the Llyn Clywedog region.

0:03:57 > 0:04:02- His father was - from Castell Farm in Carno.

0:04:02 > 0:04:06- Their Welsh relatives were reluctant - to embrace the gangster.

0:04:06 > 0:04:09- It was Huw Davies - who let the cat out of the bag.

0:04:10 > 0:04:15- I was in Chicago, researching a - series about the Welsh in America...

0:04:16 > 0:04:19- ..with the author and academic, - Emyr Humphreys.

0:04:20 > 0:04:23- We were - in the Bureau of Vital Statistics...

0:04:23 > 0:04:28- ..and I asked for Llewelyn Morris - Humphreys's death certificate.

0:04:28 > 0:04:32- Within an hour, I find out...

0:04:32 > 0:04:35- ..that not only - had he died in Chicago...

0:04:36 > 0:04:39- ..and was an investment adviser...

0:04:39 > 0:04:42- ..but his mother - was called Ann Wigley.

0:04:43 > 0:04:46- As a native of Montgomeryshire...

0:04:46 > 0:04:50- ..I was sure she had connections - with this area.

0:04:50 > 0:04:54- My father was watching - Huw's programme in 1977...

0:04:54 > 0:04:57- ..about America's bicentenary.

0:04:57 > 0:05:00- He was sitting at home, - whisky in hand.

0:05:00 > 0:05:04- The first half of the programme - was about Frank Lloyd Wright.

0:05:04 > 0:05:08- The second half focused - on this man from Montgomeryshire.

0:05:08 > 0:05:11- His father - was Bryan Humphreys from Carno.

0:05:12 > 0:05:14- My grandmother - was from the same area.

0:05:14 > 0:05:17- The gangster's mother - was Ann Wigley.

0:05:17 > 0:05:21- My father suddenly woke up, - spilling whisky everywhere.

0:05:22 > 0:05:24- That was the first time we learnt...

0:05:24 > 0:05:26- ..that we were related - to a gangster.

0:05:27 > 0:05:31- I later discovered in London - that his parents were married...

0:05:32 > 0:05:34- ..in China Street, Llanidloes...

0:05:34 > 0:05:40- ..where we'd filmed a series - on Emrys ab Iwan months previously.

0:05:40 > 0:05:42- That's how we found out - about the man.

0:05:43 > 0:05:46- However, that does not explain - the couple's emigration.

0:05:47 > 0:05:52- Why would anyone want to leave here - for America, especially Chicago?

0:05:52 > 0:05:55- The reason is open to conjecture.

0:05:55 > 0:05:58- Ann Wigley - gave birth to two children...

0:05:58 > 0:06:03- ..before her marriage to Bryan - in China Street, Llanidloes.

0:06:03 > 0:06:06- Bryan was most probably - the children's father.

0:06:07 > 0:06:10- It's believed that three other women - were also pregnant by him.

0:06:11 > 0:06:14- In order to stifle the scandal...

0:06:14 > 0:06:18- ..and to dodge the women's - families seeking revenge...

0:06:18 > 0:06:21- ..Bryan fled - far from Montgomeryshire.

0:06:39 > 0:06:45- Bryan and Ann Humphreys settled - in Racine in the state of Wisconsin.

0:06:45 > 0:06:49- At the time, it was a small town - with a strong Welsh influence.

0:06:49 > 0:06:55- Some 2,000 of the 15,000 population - were Welsh-speaking residents.

0:06:56 > 0:07:00- Bryan and his new wife, Ann, - came to Racine...

0:07:00 > 0:07:05- ..because Ann had a relative here - called David Painter Wigley...

0:07:05 > 0:07:08- ..who ran - a major business in Racine.

0:07:08 > 0:07:11- The building behind me - is still trading...

0:07:11 > 0:07:14- ..though it - no longer belongs to the family.

0:07:15 > 0:07:20- This is where they lived for two - years after first coming to America.

0:07:28 > 0:07:32- This book is proof that - Bryan Humphreys and Ann Wigley...

0:07:32 > 0:07:38- ..had corresponded with - David Painter Wigley here in Racine.

0:07:38 > 0:07:43- The book is called Hanes Bywyd A - Marwolaeth Yr Arglwydd Iesu Grist...

0:07:43 > 0:07:45- ..by the Honourable TL Hughes, Ohio.

0:07:46 > 0:07:52- There is a written message - in English on the first page.

0:07:52 > 0:07:55- "Presented to - Mr William Bryan Humphreys...

0:07:55 > 0:07:57- "..on his departure to America.

0:07:57 > 0:08:00- "With good wishes - for his future success...

0:08:00 > 0:08:05- "..by Sara Jones, Minffordd, Carno, - 27th of July, 1889."

0:08:05 > 0:08:08- This book was left...

0:08:08 > 0:08:10- ..at the home of DP Wigley...

0:08:10 > 0:08:14- ..proving that - Bryan Humphreys had lived here...

0:08:14 > 0:08:18- ..before moving to Chicago - and leaving this behind.

0:08:18 > 0:08:21- If he'd taken the book with him...

0:08:21 > 0:08:25- ..and raised Murray Humphreys - on these teachings...

0:08:26 > 0:08:29- ..perhaps - he'd have turned out differently.

0:08:37 > 0:08:40- Having discovered - where Bryan worked...

0:08:41 > 0:08:46- ..Dafydd Wigley's next step was - to find out where he used to live.

0:08:46 > 0:08:49- All was revealed...

0:08:49 > 0:08:53- ..in a reference book - about Racine from 1890.

0:08:54 > 0:08:55- He left the museum...

0:08:56 > 0:08:59- ..in search of his relatives' - first home in America.

0:09:01 > 0:09:04- But disappointment awaited him.

0:09:07 > 0:09:08- This is it.

0:09:09 > 0:09:14- We're here in Davis Place - where Bryan and Ann Humphreys lived.

0:09:14 > 0:09:17- Nothing remains of their house.

0:09:17 > 0:09:20- The house had vanished.

0:09:20 > 0:09:24- Bryan and Ann - had vanished from Racine too.

0:09:24 > 0:09:28- Perhaps the parochial - Welsh community of Wisconsin...

0:09:28 > 0:09:32- ..was too narrow-minded - for a man like Bryan.

0:09:32 > 0:09:36- The same could not be said - for Chicago, 70 miles away.

0:09:36 > 0:09:39- The two were worlds apart.

0:09:44 > 0:09:49- In 1891, Bryan and Ann Humphreys, - along with their daughter, Ethel...

0:09:49 > 0:09:53- ..moved to Chicago, - which was already a major city.

0:09:53 > 0:09:56- In 1893, - the World's Fair was held here.

0:09:56 > 0:10:00- It was a gritty, industrial city - and life was hard...

0:10:01 > 0:10:02- ..with much poverty.

0:10:03 > 0:10:07- Bryan Humphreys and his wife - came during this industrial era...

0:10:07 > 0:10:11- ..and it was into this society - that Murray Humphreys was born.

0:10:13 > 0:10:16- In the same city - during the same year...

0:10:16 > 0:10:21- ..a son was born to another family - of immigrants, this time from Italy.

0:10:21 > 0:10:24- His name was Alphonse Capone.

0:10:24 > 0:10:27- Between them, they succeeded...

0:10:27 > 0:10:31- ..to undermine the entire - law and order system in America...

0:10:31 > 0:10:34- ..from the ghetto - to the White House.

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0:10:50 > 0:10:55- The Chicago that Bryan and Ann - Humphreys inhabited in 1891...

0:10:55 > 0:10:58- ..was home - to a million economic fugitives...

0:10:59 > 0:11:02- ..from Italy, Ireland - and all over Europe.

0:11:02 > 0:11:05- As a centre - for industry and finance...

0:11:05 > 0:11:09- ..crime was rife in the city.

0:11:12 > 0:11:14- Initially, at least...

0:11:15 > 0:11:19- ..Bryan Humphreys managed - to avoid Chicago's temptations.

0:11:19 > 0:11:22- Life was comfortable - for him and his family.

0:11:23 > 0:11:25- Llewelyn, the future gangster...

0:11:25 > 0:11:29- ..is the golden-haired child - in this photograph.

0:11:29 > 0:11:33- But once the father lost his job, - it all began to fall apart.

0:11:34 > 0:11:39- Bryan Humphreys was a coachman to - one of Chicago's wealthiest men...

0:11:39 > 0:11:42- ..when he first moved there - from Racine.

0:11:42 > 0:11:44- He had a drink problem...

0:11:44 > 0:11:46- ..which led to him losing his job...

0:11:46 > 0:11:49- ..forcing him out - of a respectable area...

0:11:49 > 0:11:52- ..where the children - had started school...

0:11:53 > 0:11:54- ..into a poor neighbourhood.

0:11:55 > 0:11:58- Llewelyn had to leave school - at seven years of age.

0:11:58 > 0:12:01- He sold newspapers - on a street corner...

0:12:01 > 0:12:04- ..and had to fight for his patch.

0:12:05 > 0:12:10- Life was hard. He came into contact - with Chicago's worst elements.

0:12:11 > 0:12:12- From an early age...

0:12:13 > 0:12:18- ..Llewelyn Humphreys learnt the most - important lesson in gangsterism.

0:12:18 > 0:12:20- Securing and ruling territory.

0:12:20 > 0:12:24- Inevitably he got into trouble - with the authorities.

0:12:24 > 0:12:30- At one point, he came across - a character called Judge Murray.

0:12:30 > 0:12:32- According to family legend...

0:12:32 > 0:12:37- ..he influenced him a great deal and - tried to persuade him to study Law.

0:12:37 > 0:12:40- He saw potential in the young boy.

0:12:40 > 0:12:43- Llewelyn - thought so highly of this judge...

0:12:43 > 0:12:48- ..that he adopted his name and - became known as Murray Humphreys.

0:12:48 > 0:12:50- He learnt so much from the judge....

0:12:50 > 0:12:55- ..but this wisdom wasn't used - as the judge had intended.

0:12:55 > 0:12:57- When he was 15, - he committed a crime...

0:12:58 > 0:13:00- ..which carried - a custodial sentence.

0:13:01 > 0:13:04- He tried to strike a deal - with the prosecutor at City Hall.

0:13:04 > 0:13:07- If he were charged - with a lesser crime...

0:13:07 > 0:13:12- ..that didn't carry a prison - sentence, then he'd plead guilty.

0:13:12 > 0:13:17- The prosecutor would be praised for - bringing a criminal to justice...

0:13:17 > 0:13:20- ..and be rewarded with a small gift.

0:13:20 > 0:13:22- That's precisely what happened.

0:13:23 > 0:13:27- He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge - and the following day...

0:13:27 > 0:13:31- ..an expensive watch - was delivered to the prosecutor.

0:13:31 > 0:13:35- Murray Humphreys, - as he was now known...

0:13:35 > 0:13:38- ..was on his way - to becoming a gangster.

0:13:38 > 0:13:42- In 1921, - he was involved in an incident...

0:13:42 > 0:13:47- ..which forced him out of Chicago - to his brother's home in Oklahoma.

0:13:47 > 0:13:52- It was in the town of Norman that - he met Mary Clementine Brendle...

0:13:52 > 0:13:55- ..who was half-Irish, half-Cherokee.

0:13:55 > 0:14:00- They were married, and the - educated and sophisticated wife...

0:14:00 > 0:14:03- ..taught her husband the skills...

0:14:03 > 0:14:07- ..to behave like a real gentlemen - in his home movies...

0:14:08 > 0:14:13- ..and to socialize confidently - with prominent American leaders.

0:14:24 > 0:14:26- In 1921, - The Hump returned to Chicago...

0:14:27 > 0:14:29- ..with his new wife.

0:14:29 > 0:14:33- In his absence, the city's gangsters - had diversified.

0:14:34 > 0:14:38- A year earlier, the Government - enforced Prohibition...

0:14:38 > 0:14:44- ..prohibiting alcohol from being - manufactured and sold in the USA.

0:14:44 > 0:14:49- For the gangsters, it was a - wonderful opportunity to make money.

0:14:49 > 0:14:51- In the years that followed...

0:14:51 > 0:14:55- ..illegal alcohol - was the mainstay of their business.

0:14:55 > 0:14:59- It proved a continuous battle - between police and gangsters.

0:15:00 > 0:15:02- The police occasionally won.

0:15:03 > 0:15:07- Here they are destroying 30,000 - worth of illegal liquor in Chicago.

0:15:08 > 0:15:13- The gangsters made millions - upon millions of dollars profit.

0:15:13 > 0:15:19- It wasn't just the usual mobsters - who profited from Prohibition.

0:15:19 > 0:15:23- It was how Joe Kennedy, the father - of President JF Kennedy...

0:15:24 > 0:15:26- ..made his fortune - - the first of many.

0:15:26 > 0:15:30- We'll hear more - about the difficult relationship...

0:15:30 > 0:15:34- ..between him and Murray The Hump - in the next programme.

0:15:34 > 0:15:37- But soon after returning - to Chicago...

0:15:37 > 0:15:41- ..Murray Humphreys - did something foolish.

0:15:41 > 0:15:43- He set out to sabotage...

0:15:43 > 0:15:47- ..a lorry load of alcohol - belonging to Al Capone.

0:15:48 > 0:15:51- He held the driver at gunpoint - and hijacked the load.

0:15:52 > 0:15:55- Of course, he was caught - and brought before Al Capone.

0:15:55 > 0:16:00- Such a crime - usually resulted in death.

0:16:00 > 0:16:03- However, - as he did with Judge Murray...

0:16:03 > 0:16:07- ..Llewelyn convinced Al Capone - that he had something to offer.

0:16:07 > 0:16:09- Instead of shooting him...

0:16:10 > 0:16:13- ..Al Capone - decided to recruit him into his mob.

0:16:13 > 0:16:15- From that moment onwards...

0:16:16 > 0:16:21- ..Al Capone relied wholeheartedly on - The Hump's imagination and vision.

0:16:21 > 0:16:24- The pair's influence...

0:16:24 > 0:16:27- ..permeated all aspects - of American life.

0:16:28 > 0:16:31- The biggest problem - faced by the authorities...

0:16:31 > 0:16:36- ..was getting people to testify - against gangsters of this ilk.

0:16:36 > 0:16:39- They knew how to buy - a witness's silence...

0:16:39 > 0:16:41- ..with money or with threats.

0:16:41 > 0:16:45- The Hump - was imprisoned for 18 months...

0:16:45 > 0:16:50- ..for income tax fraud, - the lesser of his crimes, in 1934.

0:16:50 > 0:16:54- He told the press - he'd spend his time behind bars...

0:16:54 > 0:16:57- ..studying English and Geometry.

0:16:58 > 0:17:01- This was a typical statement - from the gangster...

0:17:01 > 0:17:05- ..who was different - from all the rest.

0:17:05 > 0:17:08- Once he was freed, - the Welshman returned home...

0:17:08 > 0:17:13- ..and closed the door - on the gangster world.

0:17:15 > 0:17:18- We're here outside - Murray Humphreys's home...

0:17:19 > 0:17:22- ..where he and his family - lived in the suburbs.

0:17:22 > 0:17:25- It was - a respectable neighbourhood...

0:17:26 > 0:17:28- ..where he was able - to keep a low profile.

0:17:28 > 0:17:33- There was a playhouse in the back - garden for his daughter, Llewella.

0:17:33 > 0:17:36- It was aptly named - the crooked house...

0:17:36 > 0:17:39- ..after the family who lived here.

0:17:40 > 0:17:44- Thanks to his love - of home movies and editing...

0:17:44 > 0:17:48- ..remarkable footage exists - of Murray Humphreys.

0:17:48 > 0:17:52- He and some of America's - most notorious gangsters...

0:17:52 > 0:17:57- ..are captured as doting fathers and - husbands at home with the family.

0:17:57 > 0:18:00- Murray's daughter, Llewella...

0:18:00 > 0:18:03- ..gave these films - to Huw Davies as a gift.

0:18:03 > 0:18:07- Some of the most interesting items - are the home movies.

0:18:07 > 0:18:11- Llewella was treated - as their little princess.

0:18:11 > 0:18:14- They call her - their American princess.

0:18:18 > 0:18:22- Here's the gangster himself - in the flesh...

0:18:23 > 0:18:27- ..putting his American princess - to bed on Christmas Eve.

0:18:28 > 0:18:32- And here he is, reminding Llewella - that she hasn't said her prayers.

0:18:45 > 0:18:50- The Christmas celebrations and - the tree were huge and fantastic.

0:18:50 > 0:18:52- There were endless presents.

0:18:53 > 0:18:55- They were obviously - a wealthy family.

0:18:59 > 0:19:02- 1940 was a poor Christmas - for the Welsh...

0:19:03 > 0:19:06- ..and the rest - of continental Europe.

0:19:06 > 0:19:10- It was the second Christmas - of the Second World War.

0:19:10 > 0:19:13- America was yet to join the war.

0:19:13 > 0:19:16- Poor is the last word you'd use - to describe the way...

0:19:17 > 0:19:21- ..in which Christmas was celebrated - at the Humphreys' household.

0:19:35 > 0:19:38- Ann, nee Wigley, - The Hump's mother...

0:19:38 > 0:19:41- ..leads the invited guests - to the dinner table.

0:19:41 > 0:19:46- Among them is her son, Ernest, - who was also a mobster.

0:19:46 > 0:19:48- Here's a motley crew...

0:19:48 > 0:19:51- ..tucking into turkey at Christmas.

0:19:57 > 0:20:01- The Hump's home movies contain - the only footage of his parents.

0:20:03 > 0:20:07- It's so strange - to see his parents...

0:20:07 > 0:20:11- ..who were both from this area, - are together...

0:20:11 > 0:20:13- ..in these movies.

0:20:14 > 0:20:19- I found that very strange. The film - is in colour and very professional.

0:20:19 > 0:20:21- It was shot on 16mm film.

0:20:21 > 0:20:24- It's a treasure trove to me.

0:20:27 > 0:20:31- It's no wonder that The Hump - took an interest in film-making.

0:20:32 > 0:20:36- The Welshman and his gangsters - ruled the trade unions...

0:20:36 > 0:20:39- ..the Hollywood studios - and the cinemas.

0:20:40 > 0:20:44- One of the strangest experiences - was seeing footage of him...

0:20:44 > 0:20:47- ..and Fay Wray, - the star of King Kong...

0:20:47 > 0:20:50- ..walking together in Hollywood.

0:20:50 > 0:20:54- It's proof that he was - a Hollywood boss during that era.

0:21:00 > 0:21:03- There was no end - to Murray Humphreys's influence.

0:21:03 > 0:21:08- Though his parents would have known - not to build a house on sand...

0:21:08 > 0:21:11- ..they didn't dissuade - their son from doing so.

0:21:12 > 0:21:15- He didn't just build a house - in the Nevada desert...

0:21:16 > 0:21:18- ..he built an entire city.

0:21:18 > 0:21:23- He financed the venture - by stealing from the pension fund...

0:21:24 > 0:21:27- ..of the Teamsters - Transport Workers Union.

0:21:29 > 0:21:31- One of the most remarkable feats...

0:21:31 > 0:21:36- ..was the way in which - Murray Humphreys created Las Vegas.

0:21:36 > 0:21:39- He set about bribing...

0:21:39 > 0:21:43- ..the members - of the state government...

0:21:44 > 0:21:48- ..in order to change the law - to allow gambling.

0:21:48 > 0:21:53- Having succeeded, he built hotels - incorporating gambling casinos.

0:21:53 > 0:21:57- He owned two of the largest - gambling hotels in the city.

0:21:57 > 0:21:59- As a consequence...

0:22:00 > 0:22:04- ..hundreds of millions of dollars - flooded through Chicago...

0:22:04 > 0:22:09- ..from the mob's exploits - in Las Vegas...

0:22:09 > 0:22:12- ..and as a direct result - of Murray Humphreys's activities.

0:22:14 > 0:22:19- It was in Vegas that The Hump mixed - with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin...

0:22:19 > 0:22:23- ..and Sammy Davis Jr, - members of the legendary Rat Pack.

0:22:24 > 0:22:29- Frank Sinatra sang at his daughter - Llewella's lavish graduation party.

0:22:30 > 0:22:33- From Italian extraction...

0:22:33 > 0:22:36- ..Sinatra was suspected - of having Mafia connections.

0:22:37 > 0:22:41- But his status - as a star of stage and screen...

0:22:42 > 0:22:46- ..granted him entry - into the White House in Washington.

0:22:47 > 0:22:51- Later, Murray Humphreys himself - would directly influence...

0:22:51 > 0:22:56- ..John F Kennedy's - presidential campaign.

0:22:56 > 0:22:58- # Kennedy for me

0:22:59 > 0:23:01- # Kennedy, Kennedy, Kennedy #

0:23:22 > 0:23:24- S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

0:23:24 > 0:23:25- .