One More Reason To Love Bill Murray

SEPTEMBER 20--There are a million reasons to love the great Bill Murray.

Here’s just one:

Tomorrow marks two milestones in the comedian’s life: His 60th birthday, and the 40th anniversary of his arrest for marijuana trafficking.

On September 21, 1970, Murray celebrated his 20th birthday by getting arrested at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. As reported by the Chicago Tribune, Murray was waiting to board a plane to Denver when he “jokingly told another passenger that he was carrying two bombs in his luggage.”

Murray’s comment was apparently overheard by a ticket agent who, missing the humor, summoned federal agents. While a subsequent search of Murray’s luggage did not turn up any explosive devices, United States marshals instead found five bricks of marijuana. The pot totaled ten pounds and was valued at $20,000.

A Tribune news brief indicated that cops had actually been aware of Murray’s attempt to transport the marijuana: “Chicago vice detectives had been waiting at the airport to arrest Murray because they had received a tip.” At the time, Murray was a pre-med student at Regis University, a Jesuit college in Denver.

Charged with possession of cannabis, Murray pleaded guilty to the drug count in Cook County Circuit Court, according to an Illinois State Police rap sheet. He was sentenced to five years probation on the misdemeanor conviction. (3 pages)