The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-01-27
BY ROBERT T. LOUGHRAN
DOWNRIGHT 1893 by United Press,


Copyright, 1888. by United Press
CHICAGO, Jan. 27.-The man
who stepped into Al Capone's shoes
as gang chief of Chicago broke his
silence today with the claim that
he is a master business man perse-
cuted by trade and civic organiza-
tions.
I'm no gang chief, no hoodlum, .
he protested, I'm business man
and a good one.
why, I'm the man who brought
Scent milk to Chicago saved the
housewives $4,000 a week. Then
there was a court fight, and I didn't
have the money to keep up the
battle"
Murray HUMPHREYS, 80, punctuated
his points with blows of his fist on
a table in an ante room of the mu-
nicipal court, during lull in his
trial On a charge of carrying a con-
cealed weapon.
HUMPHREYS explained the basis for
his claim for giving Chicago house
wives 9-cent milk. He said he was
instrumental in organizing an in
dependent milk concern which
bought milk in Wisconsin and re-
tailed it in Chicago at the Scent
/ price.
Competition of this concern, he
said forced the organized milk in
dustry to meet his cut price.
He spoke in excellent language.
There was no gang patois, no slang.
Jealousy Is Blamed
Before beginning. he tucked a
purple bordered silk handkerchief
into the breast pocket of his eXpen-
sive purple suit. He had needed the
handkerchief to shield his face while
running the gantlet of news photog-
raphers.
A rich purple necktie matched the
suit and handkerchief He wore a
white shirt, gray spats. His only
/ iewelry was costly wrist watch.
Come out to my office-the
Drsxel Rugs and Carpet Cleaners
on Cottage Grove avenue-and I'll
prove to you that all this persecu-
ton is based on the jealousy of
business rivals" he said
Chief Shoemaker has it in for
me because he is influenced by
these civic groups. That's why he
named me Public Enemy No. l.
L knew Al Capone, to speak to,
yes. But never belonged to his
syndicate or any other gang. That's
all vicious nonsense"
Capable Business Man"
AS he warmed to his theme,
HUMPHREYS brown eyes cleaned He
passed a, quick hand over his coal
black, curly hair, shrugged powerful
shoulders that tell of 180-odd pounds
of vigorous manhood. His upper
lip, which protrudes little in the
Chevalier manner, wrinkles as he
speaks.
But what is the use of me tell
ing you the truth? The papers never
print it about me. When I tell the
facts, people laugh. That's a
queer kind of justice.
But my only crime is being a
capable business man. My plant is
always open to every one. When
the police want to talk to me, they
don't have to arrest me. They know
my number I'll be glad to come
down any time.
Income Tax "AlI Paid
I'm accused of everything to
stealing bottles of milk from babies.
never shot any one. I've never
mixed in union rackets. I have no
police record"
What about your income tax?"
he was asked.
All paid" he said. st have no
trouble with Uncle Sam, nor with
any one else who plays fair. I'm a
business men, that's ALL"
HUMPHREYS court appearance fol-
lows his arrest some weeks ago in
a corridor of La Sale street Of
f1ce building. Standing nearby was
Charles Fischetti, cousin of AL Ca
pone. Inside room we're other
known gangsters. Police said the
office was headquarters for labor
racketeers.