INFORMATION
AND
SECTION: Q;
,.........
FEDERAL BUREAU
OF INVESTIGATION
. / i
'
THE BEST
COPY
OBTAINABLE IS
INCLUDED
IN THE
REPRODUCTION OF
THESE DOCUMENTS.
PAGES INCLUDED THAT ARE RETRRED, LIGHT, 0R
OTHERWISE DIFFICULT
T0 READ
RESULT OF CONDITION NO BETTER
ARE THE
THE GF TRE COPY CAN BE
ORIGINAL DQCUMENT,
REPRODUCED.
Sam-|oN .12-._
1 1*
1 I _ -<-
~ *,
.,; - .. ..-.>"
92
I3,
92 -_ H. -, "=:_ v' .."~ ' , __ ,;V-_-.r,",.! .~/. -E:1 .:":' , T-' '1" ':. 5.1-"' F5.~ - FEt-1" ___ '. y_925_>, .. _--.._ 1,. -_q9292-'.$. 92 .=_1 '. -_-111: 3
i
'-
|
JAN 31 1977
Director
1
Shaheen, Jr.,
Counsel
Investigations
O
"""""""""""'-. 5'. _
report of this Office's Martin Luther King Task Force. Excisions were made to protect the privacy rights of persons, toprotect sensitiveFBI sources and methods, and to delete classified material: Inaddition, changes were made to correct factual errors which were in the
original version of the report. will be released to the public.
sc
/ *L.
I5
-:=.-:3-:3
92 "S
W 3-
Kgg? ..
.-3+ -=" -
=3f%
. Sf: -I -Q. R R2...
-1-.
"A Ju .1 III!
11'
naporcr cm
um nr-:1=Am:-1n~rr
cs ausrzcs
TASKFORCB'1 0REVI!=HIHEFBIM92RI'IN1UI1-EZRKDiG,J
, SEX2URI'I'Y AND ASSPESJZNATICN mvzsnsnrzcns
r 1.
-15
Januaxy 11
1977
____ __
TABLE OF CDNTDTS
lN1 RODUCI . ..ICN .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. A. The Mission ofthe Task Force . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... 1. The . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... The Attorney Gmei-al's Directive . .. .. .. .. . Review up to April 26, 1976 . .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
TaskForce and its
THE ASSASSINATIQ1 INVEBTIGATIQI . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . A. Events Surrounding April 4, 1968 . .. .. .. .. .. .. ... 1. Poor Peoples Campaign . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... . 2. Memphis Sanitation Worker's Strike . .. .. .. .... 3. Dr. King's Activities on April 4, 1968 . .. .. ...
4. FBI Intelligence and local Police ' Activities . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... a. FBI Informants . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ...
15 21
-of
d. Details
. .. .. .. .. .. .
24 25
26 33
24
FranFire Station
No. 2 . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ...
. . . ... . . . . . .. . . . . ...
Activities on the
B.1. The FBI Investigation of the Assassination . and . ... . Department0 Justice Response
FBI Performance . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .
1968 .. . . . .
Evening of
a. The Murder
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . ...
37 47
Evidence Tracked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .
48 48 50
S8 60 61 62
52 54 S7
47 47 47
ft r w @
on and
OOQJQIQIIIQIQIUUOIIIIIIIOIOOIQIIii
IIIIIIIIIQIIIIIII
AUQIIUD .IQIIIIIIIIQIIIIIIQOIIIIIIIIIIII.
Eiulo
it No.
Map showing
u 0 Descrigicn
to
5 6 7
inccrne:
ii
V. AppendixA
cI:1t'd] .-..................................
92
9 10 11
12 13
14
Sullivan,
167
169
15
16 17 18
170 l?5
176
Letter frcm
James H.
James Earl
resar, Decarber
Ray to
20, 1976
177
Transcript of
Classified ifaeletedi Classified Deleted!
Append.i.xB-InterviewMenr:>randa .
Deleted!
1.
I.m
A.
Mission
1. Hie Probl '
Task 1- orgce
testified before
the
Senate Select Committee to Study GovernmentalOperations with Respect to Intelligence r@ lete 1963 Activities. He related that
Dr. I rtinliztl-aerKing,
intensive carrpaigl effective civil
Senate
Committee to
with Respect
and other
news media. As a oonsequmce there was a regeneration of the widespread speculation on the possibility that the
impartial andthorcrugm
the assassination.
2.
I 92
1. I 0
my acticn
vtwoservedasanedviseroobr. King,portionsoftheFBI
headquarterssecurity file on
of the FBI headquarters file on
gation, lome
Dq_>ar'tmnt as opposed to
to Dr. King, and other Bureaudocmmts including everything cnMa.rtinLutherKing, Jr., heldinthelate official, om dmtial md personal files. J. EdgarHoover's
Bya memorandum to the Attorney Gaieraldated_April 9, 1976,the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the
Civil Rights Division submitteda 51 page report of the Chief of the Civil Rights Division : Criminal Secticn dated
March 31, 1976, adaody-lngthe results of the three-ten study,
Anna!-r TLBL on
-1
! 0
i. 4 1
Assistant Attorney
i
1 l
than helpful,
to a direct a private
Y 92
*1
tothetask forceoran
md oommnts thereon from the Deputy the Solicitor General, md r.-cm staff of the Crinrlinal
Pr-ofessicnal Respon-
sibility. Rae
Professional Responsibility
the
randun states:
begm by
Civil Rights
involved four
__
f_jirequestfortherezriew
untters. I- irst, a assess
whether
in light of the first two questions, whether there is any new evidence which has cometo the attention of the Department concerning the assassination of Dr. Kingwhich shouldbe dealtwithby the appropriate authorities; fourth, whether the nature of the relationship between the Bureau and Dr. King cells for criminal prosecution, disciplirnary proceedings, or other appropriate action. As tte fourth point, I agm note that fromthe partial reviewwhichhas been made, Hr. Pottinger concludes we
and ha-zest; second, whether there was any evidence that the FBI was involved in the assessinaticn of Dr. King; third,
241 and Section 242, Mr. Pottinger's mmrandun concludesthat any prosecution eontemplated under those acts would now be barred by the five-year statute of limitations with the possible exception which would exist if there were proof of a omtinuing conspiracy.
As 1-netterofrnewevidence
with respect to the assassination my waderstanding is t:hat the Department has nevu-
-5-
'
as I
po .
reed the
this point
in the
review,
Hr. Pottinger and all those who have commented uponhis namrandun reccnmend thet the review M e~_*,nlet@. Hr. Pottinger also has made other reccm:endaticns upon which there is scme difference of opinion. In my view, it is essential that the review be ccupleted as soon as possible and in as thorough a nnnner as is required to answer the basic qmstions. In view of that has already beam done, and the tentative @.e11_1.1.=iens reer.:hed., special -etph is call tpon to youthe
Q
should betgven toreview the fourth questicn. In conduc g this you should
the Department to furnish staff you need. thef revie-r Divisicn
eehlplete Q neeesse-y, p=1_1'ti_eulsrly in view of the ccnclusion as to the systematic program of harassment. If your review turns up setters for speci c acticn, we should discuss the best way to proceed cn each such case."
s. 111: task Force And The Method of Review
Office of
Professicnal Res-ponsi
bility selected
' Joseph F. Gross, me attorney
0
three attorneys
Jr., Jmes
Division,
D Waite
of the
Tax Division,
,-s-
Jms F.
xqas designated
oclmiittee
or task force bepm its work cn May la, 1976. Ihe committee
was further staffed by the addition of two research analysts, secretaries,
Covert, two
Ms. Veronica Keith and Hrs. Renee Holmes, and two clerktypists, Mrs. ieroylyne Mzrray md Ms. Dana Boyd.
for an eventual
Consideration of
a~tentative outline
report based
on the chronology of
events in
the relationship
Pignts Division
1976 and once
to Study qaerations
Activities Smate
Sessim, Books By way
B. vf 1 U.
II and
of contrast,
15? Qvine: W W
the assasW
I'D
92
Judged by
the Civil
General md his tm assistants primarily on their familiarity with the Dqaartnaxt file on the investigation as it had progressedsince 1968. The Civil Rights Division : Martin Im werKing, 'Jr. , review memoranda re that ected
1 study had been mde of cnly the first 10 sections of the
andonlyarandcminspectionwas rbne ofsomeoftheren~ain21% I4 eeev-'.:92.s= Hare wasre factv-=1d'1sc=1==sion or analysis 'Ihe conclusionwas reached by the Civil Rights Division staff
team that by
rst
examining
possible responsibility,
After the examination of the FBI's investigationof the uurderof Dr. King, the reviewteamproceeded to go
-3-
:-
92
back and complete the ir.qui.."y into the Bureau's preassassination relationship included again in this with Dr. King. Necessarily
Ihe task
at all the
material in
office files
the so-
for the
Southern Christian
Comnmist Ir1_11;ence
y ma:
uq. 44-ssaal
_/ FBIHQ. 100-392452
-9-
in the
body of
I-Enphis44-1987-
The more voluninous of the pertinent files addition to the FBI headquarters files
in
personnel.
were scanned.
In terms of
I
papers examined, mre than 200,000 concerning both the
nnrder investigation and the security investigation were covered. 'I five heattorneys sitting together originally
-10-
and later,
Splitting up
to
perscnnel. considered
ccxnpiling notes,
separate sections
or reading
of each file
aloud, or itansof
carmenting m,
were encountered,
being each
"serials"
more pages
separate document
for accuracy against the tapes of those sur.-veillences. A canvass of other investigative agencies was madeto
determine whether their files re ected that intelligence
requests had been made upon them to Dr. I<:I.ng_ -Ihis included tlm
Internal Revenue
Intelligence Division
murder
were
In additicn
to official
files, the
task force
perscx-mel
Broadcasting Systan s program on the death of King in its "The Assassins," a National
program of April 1+,
series
tn the
Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the role King see to acme valuable
-12-
evidentiery mterlal -
Slime30 intervi.ews were ccnducted, principally in the assassination phase of the task force study. They were
files,
-13-
1. 1he_Poor Peop1e's_C_anpaiQ
To understand the movements of Dr. King during this
critical period,
it is
the
called the
scme 3.000
-
poor unemployedblacks
for the purpose of
United States
goverrmmt to
Theplanwas to
Lincoln Memorial
campon tl'1eWashingtmPbrn.ment or
the first
visits to
North Carolina
and
-11;.-
training
point in
were represented by
-inmrance program.
in the
strike
because
all
of
were black.
Ihe strikers
ministers, connected
were also
with the
were instrunental
1968, the
in bringing
Pevererd Jo
lewson
effort to
ccmnunity
The
HQ 157-9146-X23!.
intervention of
these various black ccrmnnity organizations Msnphis to be concerned about the racial
and the possibility of violence
the strike
visit to
in addressing
an estimated
' H
the night of March 18, 1968 and left I'Bnp'n.i.s before shortly
noon on Yexch 19, 1968, ostensibly to go to the State of
connection with the POCAM -K1 157-91166-I39!.
Mississippi in
le City of
16-inch snowfall
ponement of the planned mass marchto March 28, 1968. Dr. King
people following
I-iernando to
behind. The
Beale Street,
thence west
2-bin Street
lhe march got underway at approximately had proceeded to Hernando and Beale before Dr. King. when the front of the march
.__ __
_ .h_
__
_ __.
.. __....
of the
march! ripped
the signs
off.their poles
and began
disruptim of
an automobile,and Dr. King andhis partywere escorted by police to the Rivenmnt Hotel operatedby Holiday
America. HQ 157-9ll6-AS!. hr.
11:l5a.m. and checked into
Inns of
King left
the march at
Hotel at ll:2l|a.m.
the Riverzmnt
where he stayed until l-hrch 29, 1968. Dr. King and his party
were scheduled to return to Atlanta on March 28, 1968, at
and many of these were who had been in previous the Phnphis "Carmercial
that
-13-
many high school age students had put the word "lrwa.ders" on
disruption of
the u-arch was of great concern to Dr. King might have on the planned
to Memphis and
in
his effectiveness
leading nomriolmt
LL , King, togethe'
onApril 3,
conference at
the airport,
Hotel, arriving
there at
purposeinre to
Merphiswas to
leadamass marchon
However, on April 3,
1968, United
States District
0 '92
the restrairdng
order. Security
At approximately 4=oop.m. Dr. King and the SCLCstaff met with the BOP group at which time Charles Cabbage requested
plans to start a "Liberation School"
and a "Black .. to
G:-op . r.
secure funds for BOP and Rev. Andrew Young agreed to help
write up a plan. It is believed these eencessiens were eede
toBOPinordertokeepthe:nin1ineandpreventthanfrcxn
following a violent
' On the
approximately 2,000
to re-focus attention on the eight week old sz-mitation workers strike. __ After the speech, SolounnJones, Jr., serving as
April 4,
to appear in court
M-1987-2322
in ccnnection p.51.!
order. thnphis
-.20..
4 I
|
registered at the Lorraine Motel at approximately 1:00a.m. Upon irquiring about Dr. King, they were told that he was
about 5:00a.m.
were registered.
-21-
92
to remainat the
returning to
Davis.
going to
ff
There is
to room 306. Mrs. Davis places the time at 5 in an FBI interview, Rev. Abernathy stated the i1
of the day in room 3 6. He further: stated that had been gone from their room for approximately cm less when they returned to the room at about 5:30p.m dressed for dimer at the home of Rev. Billy Kyles. 2322, p.48!.
However, 4,
-22-
At approximately
Abe-math"; no
for a
unnmt and11'. walked King out onto the balcony just outside
the door to the roan HQ M-38861-2322, p.l6!. He saw Jones
began a
level. As
L.-I-_ --___-.9IIL5 LU -I -L dL|
It. King
fell to
the floor of
inmerliately called
*l Sane
critics of
speculated that
mduly detaining him on the balcony. Nothing in the evidence reviewed by the task force lends my credence to such speculation
-23-
4.
a.
{Bl Intelligence
F151 Info-:T92ants.
Office,and Joseph
assured _
surveillance of
have unequivocally
A@.B!.
worker's
strike activities
roiioe
n_1I
for intelligence
Iqi;92 ___92 __ I-1
ueparorent
.' ___4___ -
_ O3 !
__ I
supply information
lnterviea
paid
informants providing
situation
basis.
related
The intelligence
to the activities
Association
Black
rganizing
hood,
Power, Black
and the sanitaticn
Invaders
-24-
92
no evidmce.
that the
activities of
these informants
related
avid-_g1.ce
were connected in
In addition
the MPD infiltrated
the Invaders in an
later exposed by the
undercover operation.
task force.
assigrment began in
camefrantherearofthebui1c1ingswhichfrontonSouth
Main Street.
Redditt from Duty. 3' Fran tlrm tine ofDr. King's return
tohhlaphis cnApri13, assassination. he 1968, until thetiumofhis by the was under physical surveillance
Inspector
two
Bchard E. Redditt md
szrnreillance in order to
92
In addition Cnief of
to the
surveillmoe detai1._
tog: to
theairport
all I
L92: II
waiting for
Dr. King
to arrive,
advised Lieutenmt
a.irporttopickupDr. Kingandthatnoonehadeskedfor
police to
be assigned to him.
Inspector S.-nith also asked were going when they left have not fully made up our left the
to the
Reverend James Izwson where they the airport and he replied: "We
minds." Nevertheless,
airport, Inspector
at approximately
5=05p.m. Inspector
.fors=er ZED, Q1_i Deeei92e_r 22, 1976. app. B.! lhe seeerity
detail wasnot resuned on April 4, 1968, Reports of
Inspectors Don H. Snith and J.S. Gagliano as imzorporated
to the
black ministers
was scheduled.
superiors of
Richmond at
ch1rc'nandior'n;imtoreturni:otheareaofthelortai.ne
Pbtel for
a suitable
place where
elose s1_sr92.eill@_oe could be kept on the motel. remained at the Centenary Methodist Church until the
-23-
meeting was over at approximately went to Clayborn Texple where he sanitation workers
then
address the
to a scheduled
the tezple,
D. Blackburn
>
1-.
In our
efforts to
source of the
R. Manuel, an investigator
Committee, chaired 1968. While call
with the
a "Negro
on a 5:50p.m.
the MP1! at
the MPD records were correct. Interview Manuel, September 28, 1976, App. B.! was relieved
remained there
Although Redditt
Station No. 2, Richmond
f-rcm duty at
Fire
to
and continued
motel.
leave his
At approximately
room and walk
Dnltingfallbackfromthehanclrailandputhishandup
then yelled
Kinghad been
front
fire station
and looked
north and
South Main
Street, but
the ten
in the
Shortly thereafter.
-32..
I K
Captain J .
Richxond to go
working the night shift on April 3rd and Newsucn $25 scheduled ' to report for the day shift on April lrth. Both of these
individuals actively s~:.;1po'rted the smitation attending their rallies and making financial workers strike, contributions.
there was no shortage of personnel for the pmp tmck on which he worked. Otherwise, he does not knowwhy he was detailed.
Jr.
-33-
call
department.
Whenhe called,
- I--e ire sgagign
gi
31
on the mrning
Newsun claims that Fire Station No. 31 was ave:-strength at the time and his detail madehis company short. I-brewer.
explanation
APP-B-! '
Y__- -.-.J___ JIILCIVJ-Ewb UL -g ,__A- -_J -ea.- -. _.e- -__._92_-a.-q J pd-5; ERG PIESE.-IL D1 A-L- 92IET92 L-.L-fl: PRU [EVE
failed to
disclose
the ihdividual
who initiated
the order
or
3:O0p.m.and 5:O0p.m. on April 3, 1968, from either Captain James T. Baity or former Assistant Chief Arthur J. Rivaltoh
in the perscnnel department specifically requesting that
Newsun be
detailed.
-34-
lune.
the fire
a messagefor Newsun to
call
advised him of
him to
recollection of
request.
of Interview
B!. Also,
department
people around a .Llthe time wten a ccmpany became because of sickness, etc. of Interview
understrength
the details.
a "fill
of Interview
App. B!.
EdwardA.
-35-
Personnel for
Station No. 2 was operating at minimum strengh five men! after he was detailed; whereas Ccmpany No. 33 to which
was detailed operated at one over the mininun strength
he
detail. Likewise,
Battalions Che
men! after
Barnett stated
out of Wallace and 27,
that a
Fire Station
the consensus
their
to that
station Interview
1916!. '
-35-
gee su_o_h a
Oar investigation has not disclosed any evidenoe that the detail of Wallace and Newsun was in any way
Director of
1968, at the
units in service
time Dr.
tactical
at various
Tact:I,h:i.t No.
6 B 99 10
ll
St:-leer Imatims
Watkins
Watkins
Chelsea and
thin and
Butler
12 13 17 18
In additim
obtained from
were ten
men percar! in
cars were
the general
Motel. Ihese
at the
following locations
at the
-33..
92
_Ca_1;ig.
224
Street locations
Phin and Beale
228
232 230 236
Third md
Fourth
Poplar
and Butler
245 6
247
365
367
' 369
'1 mp he Part of Iten 9 from PPDMiscellaneous Records, see App. A, Ex. 1! showsthat Tact lhits 10 and 18
of
crim scene
00
of
a radius
of two miles.
and
-39-
Deputies 92J.A. D.:Four, W.J. Berry, Vernon and Ronald Haley of the sheriff
the HPD.
when
the unit
on the
arrived at
north side
the fire
of the
station, the
fire station
entrance with
obstructing the
sidewalk. The
two cars.
MPD Statements,
the radio,
take a
all of
tlm other
the shot
men wmt
was fired
into the
that killed
fire
break. when
Dr. King
at approximately
6:Olp.m.!,
at various
-40-
'Ihemembersofthetactunit,
shot, allranoutthenorthside
Patrolman Douglass, who had remained in the lead car tommitortheradio, heardthe shotwhenitwas fired. He -.
imnediately got out of the car and ran toward the rear of the
theleadcar _
front of
fl
and hormley. Douglass stated that Ghormleyand other unidentified officers got in the car with him at the fire station and they drove to the lorraine Pbtel. According to Wright's version. he and
one or two
and
Q1 the other
.l|.]_5,
92
Theothermeninthe tactunit
continuedto therear
up the stairs to
to ulingandweston nling
its north
learned the
directicn
the shot
came
frcm, he
concrete retaining
wail on t.
-42-
"located. landers
and
He ordered him to get back frcm the window. Ianders also saw
an elderly white female looking out a window directly south
4- In
A41 Q Q 410.
fr
window. lzmdersalsocheckedthebushesonthelotfor
After
up to Malberry St.
This building
mrth end of
the b...ldirzg.
withgmdram!
toS.Ma.i.nandtLm1edsouthmS.!-hin.
he
92 -92 1
the front
of
the fire
station after
first ruming
' ':eybothu1medmrthonS.!'!ainandra:1tonardHuJ.
G-nrmley stopped at Canipe s
what appeared to be a blanket suitcase and a Broming barrel of a rifle
Amsement Go.where he
partially covering with about a foot
observed
a blue of the
rifle box
by the
Supplements, Attorney
Supplement 79, p.17ll+! Tact Lhit 10 advised the dispatcher t1'a.t Fing Dr. had been shot at
By 6:06p.m. ,the dispatcher had
of 424 S. Main and that At 6:6Sp.m. white male. the subject At 6:l0p.1:n.
was described as a well-dressed,young. the dispatcher sject bad . relayed information lei; the org in a
that tte
white mstang.
'1hemeni.nt.heTactIhitsandpatrolcarskeptt11e
area sealed off, directed traffic, and checked out suspicious
individuals while
detectives from
and shorts were also turned over: to the FBI after marks were checked with local laundries Interview
B. FBI
lorraine Hbtel
and then
p.m. he was prcmounced dead. The wound which tore the the spinal major
cause of death was a bullet neck blood vessels and severed root of the neck
cord at the
I-iecnphis 44-1987 Sub Sec. 1-1.3, and see App. A Ex. 3!.
autopsy report,
of 18 U.S.C. 241,
the civil
statute HQ
38861-109! _.
_ 0
-47-
Ibis directive
with
being ordered
by teletype n A
their personal
within which
responsibility HQ 4!-38861-153!.
breadth of
in
repeatedly evidenced
security
against Martin
HQ 44-38861-2649!. Nam checks were cmtinuously on Selective Service records, city and telephone
license bureaus, credit records, motor vehicle criminal and divisions, civil
Bessie Brewer,
Charles A, Stephens
md a physical
92
'
perscn earlier
Willard." He
recalls vatching
television in
Inmediately, he went
tothedoorar|dasheopeneditsauam1'1nnmingtowardhim
a slim
!
Company is located at short distance South thin a blanket
The CanipeAmusement
424 South Main Street and is just a
frat Bessie
Street. In
wrapped bundle
-50-
-92
The store or-ner, Guy W. Canipe, and-two oastcmers, Berrell Finley and Julius 1.. Grahm, were in the store at the
the blew
' "-" -
--1
the er-ltrmce.
At the
sane
suit walking
rapidly
A fee
nnnents
courier to
contained a Model 760 RendrgtonGamemaster ri e, 30-06 springfield caliber, various toilet and a blue zipper bag. with a pair The bag contained
articles along
of serfs mderwear
binoculars, twcfcsns
of 7
beer,u1dapaperbagbearing:nadvertisenentforXoxk Arm Company,Fbaphis, Tennessee, with a York Ams Canpany cash salesreceipt
SJ: A sec l!.
! Information
investigation continued
'
all physical
..
descriptim of
York Arms
we
sold the April A, pair of
thetwobeercanswere tracedtoSouthhaver>MirmowSt~np,
D-_.A-92...1-,1-;a 92.I-'-_-_-I-_-,1-e-a: ' l'lLbbJ-58-I-PPL 92 '
Ihe possibility
Ge1tandthe1m1<nowns92. :jectwasp92:rsuedinAJabanabythe
In their pursuit
'
Highland
obtained frcm
this license
white mle,
to Ga1t's Bir:::i.n,gha:n
Significantly, it
I 92 2
Galthadhadit
serviced twiceinthelosmgeles
area
aqu.-saasi-9&9!.
No, alsoincidmt to
frayat of
Hollywood, California
in
1aundry's records.
Lastly, a pair of pliers recoveredfrcm the blue
the Rampage Hardware Store
ofHomeServiceLa:und:ryanc1Dry
which
HQ 1+4-38861-1174!.
pursued an interest
in dancing, all
be
-55-
I. bartending school
Internetiorual
the news media HQ 44-38861-967!. Hbitle 1.41Los sngeles git rst Apartmmts and
contacted at
later at
these locations
the St.
Francis Hotel.
a "loner"
called him
Galt t11rougJ'1theirca:s1.n}iarieMart5n a
bar maid at the Sultan Bar located in the St. Francis Hotel.
Galthad1:e.nt1onedtoMarti.n thathewas toNaOr1eans endsheaskedifhewouldbewillirlg her cousin a ride there in order to pick
planning to
drive togive
up her children.
He agreed, but it
__l-0 q_I_ w1t.n ualt nan u-1Q
countless telephone
_.
.g.
explained that
u
the ride
cn Charles
Stein, Rita
Marie Martin
nothing HQ 44-38861-1003! .
;92
snithing" md a collection
% of the eity of rlslaate
of maps.
with the
Oneof these
maps
1968 H1 44-38861-3627!.
!
alt returned
Identified as
to Atlanta.
after the
in, around
and out of
Arm-cc"
= ""
."rare- er,
trail was
from Atlanta.
cold; there
was no evidence-as to
where he fled
the investigative
of three
identical latent
fingerprints believed
to be Galt's
ll: L1-|l%LPLJnlIL
*@ lu= JJV=L=92J
1968,
sq an-3sae1-1515!.
I.
Attorney General
5. Therefore,
the
authorization for
T-YO 44--33361-3509! .
! Pas;-Err.
oellmate of
living
clear that
search of
Canadian passports
April 23,
1967 escape,
it is
knom that
on the request of
the also
ivbunted Polioe.
those sub-nitted
proved
Canada, called
the Bureau
issued
-60-
April 24,
contained a photograph very -I2 M-38861-4190!. Ihe passport Agency in Toronto, gation, the travel agmcy concerning his
Canada. Incident
Royal Canadian
Pbunted Police
Iondon departing
in Lisbon
were immediately
was learred
had exited
4725!.
Stops were issued by New Scotland Yard for 11:15 a.m. ,June
_
Sneyd. At
%
i
-51-.
5
2. EtllegedGonspiracies
Literally
oumunicated to
I:
sination in
4
April,
1968, even
up to
P F
'1
stated, each SAC was held personally an expedited and thorough review.
Based on our
is satisfied that the
tasll force
possible conspiracy
the mrder.
monymus!. In
identify the
alleged participants
Ihese judgrents were also tempered by a critical factor. fifteen days after the murder, the HI
same person,
that killed
Dr. King.
other people
-63-
irwatigation has
reveal my
James
con.spirator s! and
ep during the
Prison.
-_
4. nuw
--,-5 Q11-n-.5: a
_
and _
After April
23. 1967 _
_p
after he had April 23, 1
Ch Sunday, the 23rd of April 1967, served seven years of robbery in the a twmty
Missouri State
City, James Earl Ray escaped. When a truck the prison bakery where Ray worked, a bread
"-4.
and later
ed fran
prior to
its
21+-2
Huie, p.27!.
his my
along the
railroad in
the direction
of Kansas City
of his
subsequent activities
of his
prior to
apprehension. He Slew
statements has
serials in the Bureau's MJRICIN file, HQ 44-38861. The task force has obtained xerox copies of Ray's corresponda-ace with Mr. Huie which reflect the admissions cited by Huie.
the Dreamer, Huie, Willim Bradford, Delacorte Press, New York, H53 Hereinafter, Huie!; All other citations herein are for
-65-
/.
toacirylargeermzghsohewouldnotbenoticedand
tookatraintoSt. 1ouis._I-Iethenoookata:-cicabto. East St. Louis, called a friend who drove him to Edwards-
ville whence he caught a bus for Chicago Huie, p.28!. Q1 Hay3rd, Ray secured work for the next eight
as a dishwasher and oook s helper at Illinois, and May 3 me" '.I.nd.1.m1" resided at
une
Trail Restaurant
in Winnetka,
_
for $200
548!. Ch
Ju1e9
passed the
June 12
where he paid one week's_rent 118! .Pay a driver's permit in the State of Illinois
--
was issued
June 21
on June 21st
be forwarded to the
from a oonmercial
transferred the
dealer in East
licensed
Illinois, and
plates from
the Chrysler
to the
Plymouth 413;
Huie,
-66-
and July
15
allegedly to secure
_ _
____ |__
BI! UVEITIJ-git
__ ____.r_1_._
stay at the
Bourgard Fbtel
in Dorian,
just west
of
Mzntreal 192;
a manJ'.cu're at the Queen Elizabeth I-btel Huie, also ordered the English on July 21st a $75 tailor-made
later, by
a letter
this tailoring the finished
from Birmingham
ccmpany was garment to @ days later Inc., in Fay July 25+ '
Inglewood, California,
enrolled in
192!, and
on July 23th,
he July
23
course at
Institute, Little
Jersey 068!.
-67- _
Alu A
purchased by money' order a fonmJ.a a two-may mirror 192!. Fay visited did not on
Ammsr 19 -i_-- _-
and one-half
"Raoul"
truth of
the story,
hie
to Birmingham, stayed
Economy Rocrns,2608 Highland Avenue 324!. as Galt, giving the Highland lie. 5517 August 26
deposit box
Main Office,
-o
623 Ihe
accornplishedattheendofAugustbyansweri:nge .
w ji fif E0 GT1 L
.e__ Ln
Paisley on car
to author
the 30th
Bey as Eric Starve Galt, applied for and was issued Alabama driver's license No.28l>89l+7#143!. September 6
"
in
September12
32l+!.
that. the
the
changedaddress later
'Ihe-handw'riti.ng was
identical with Ray's llo3! . Ray purchased a bank draft from the Exchange
I 5
September28
Security Bank, 5
payable to the Superior Bulk Film Co. of Chicagoand this ecccmpanied an order tn that company for a Kodak splicer and a 20 Then
i.
-70-
leaving for
address
Mexico on
to which
send a new
the correct
room 118! .
October 6
p.66!. On
October
8
10
October
l 5
to Guadalajara
on
October
I-ierico,
l+96! .He
18 19
October
at I-brelos 86
match
October
and writings
22
A143!. Galt
typed a letter
totheilmcompanytoaskforarefundtothePuerto
Valletta address which had in lieu of the Kodak to his movie camera vacated
Birmingham address 116!. Again on this note matched the string 1143!. For
signature
-71-
aweekinaunre expensive
roominahotelonthe
beach.! Huie,
fran the Rio to
p.85!. He
the Superior
nmrie camera; the signature the other "G-alt" signatures. second week of six
letter matches
In this
Angeles,
Novarber 14
November
19
Novazber December
Apparently, in a
Ray enrolled
further self-improvementstep,
with
Decanber 5
Beach, California
13th, Ray wrote his Birmingham bank safety deposit box dancing lesson contract ' at the Avalon 323!.
to close his
December 14
en the lloth
Blvd. , Los Angeles, on the following and laundry mark "20R-3" mde 143!; and also
1021+Chartes Street,
rezistration
the striruz of
license No.1-38993 and gave his address as 2608 1-lighland Avenue, Birrningham 143!.
-73-
Decenber 19
Charles Stein,
arrivi11gbythe21stofDecer:i>erwhenhetookthe
first of the series of dancing lessons he had
December 21 December 22
next 1143!. I1 December 28, 1967, Pay first his interest particularly toe letter of inquiry in zhzmigratlng to Africa, white ruled to Hr. indicated and mre a
American-Southern African
writings. 143!.
lessons are cbcunented
325!. Gelt
bought Bank
in the
of America
amunt of $15
moneyorder No.0799
frcm the Hollywood Western
18037
Breath peyeble to
sigwture lh3!
for dance
'IheFBI]abmadetheusua1writinguatchuponthe
lessons 325!.
-7!-
92
up for
a bartmding
course at
the International
School
fits his
laundry at
laundry and Dry Cleaning Co. at 5280 325, cites with Thernn Seal laundry list
290.3065 in E. G-alt :
sticker 023-6,
front
April 4,
31st, February
regularly attended
attended
January 29
a handwriting
31
-75-
92
i.
Fox Ford Co. ,4531 Hollywood 325!. his social life by February l7
Ins Angeles
photograph to
a wcman listed
listing
Pn W IPHQ M
__ money
signature matchup was made A163!. Ch this Ray made a money order
Incl-csmitlding Institute
sane day
325!;
he sent
Tiffany Enterprises,
Q an-rI'1.nw-Ag-w 1-sauna; Q LL BLUE-L IIIHBE.
-16-
and allegedly
psych:i.atr.i.st5| hypnotists
or scientologists.
forwardedfrcmhisfom92esBi:minghaanaddresstcCa1ifomia
and Iemivedthere aboutMarch 10, 1968 H1-lie,
"Gait" was graduated frtln the bartending
p.98!_. _
school
March2
cnthe2ndofMa.rch. H.i.spic:'!:urewast.akenwiththe school operator and Ray closed his eyes to make recogni-
Huie, 'p.1o4!.
March
Iocksmithing Institute
....-17...
.N.
Ray listed
forwarding
Post Office
p-roceedingtoNew0r1eanswherehe1eftab0x
of clothing
Marian de Grassee,
March 22
Phrch 23
stay there,
Mmtgomery, March 24
Ceergi I- Hie, p.
rooming
March 24
Gamer 033!.
He stayed
while still
in Atlanta,
. the
Galt
-78-
ii "92
GI
QQO
sight Imunted on it
the following
fired it!.
it,
caliber
latter rifle.
for eitherriflewas
to his official
-79- .
his laundr;
Apr".l 1
Atlanta
hewas driving
His
identified Galt signasafety
1 !
rmted the
alias John
Willard Puie,
p-.
30!. Ray want out to the York Anus Company Store then
Rayadmitstohavingbeentothesportsstoremdto
having made
115!. By
p.
theroominghouse, parledhisrhstazmgaxmdhadtakam
franthecormnnbathroomattherearof themqning
King. The
clear
45
6:03:50p.1
another 15
seconds at
the outside
he could
-81.
92
Bay bought
of
in his
place
of business,
he.ardathudnearthefrontdoorofhisstore,1ookedup to see a white male walk rapidly past his store going
south right
to left
according to the two customers, pull away going left to right! frun a urrb side parking place just
north south
April 5.
1968
-32-
Birch Society
lbs
Avril 5.
1963
and a copy of
the Free
Press Eran
divert the
FBI : attention
to California
Ray picked up .
at
697!
departingAt1ant.a_1ust afternoonon
the 5th
where he arrived
Avril 6.
1968
arriving in indsor
-luie, p.135!.
1:30a 2 :30a
between 1
and lla.
approx 5p.m.
appro 6p.m.
April 8.
1965
-sa- n
April 10,
1968
"x
'cerzizlcste'
in each of
thesenamesonApri110andonthefol1owin3dayhed '
a passport picture taken in the name of Bridgman and then to provide a separate mailing address for the
as to Sneyd, he rented a roan at 16th _
expected replies
application in
Ray's
4,--Q
I--@----q--
I'll.--I-92
Kennedy Travel Agmcy of Toronto handled the processing of the application for Ray 502! .On the 19th Ray
moved to
502!. ,
me fingerprints
be a nntch with tlnse
of "Eric
of Jarnesjarl
on Fugitive Felons.
author Huie he gleaned from Ray that
92 l
ticket to
Huie, p.149!.
looking for
_
.-92.;.1ri.Z. 2l~
1968
passageto Angola
to
his
passport replaced
May 6 ,
1968
May 16.
1968
lhlnLI=| F.
Rayretm-ned tolzmdonandspenthis to find a lb this end way to join he bought a mercenary force Huie, a plane ticket to
Fay 17 ,
1968
in the
when he was apprehended on June 8, 1968, by detectives New Scotland Yard 346,4368; was made on the basis of carrying a
use of a fradulent
loaded .38
at Heathrow
oppor:.'..r.i:'; to go over the facts with Janes ml Bay himself. Accordingly, after the United States Supreme for a writ of certiorari, on
Ray. lesar stated that he was writing Ray a letter day and would
advise him of our desire to interview him to him Interview of JamesH. App. B!. Also, the task force
and leave the cntter up Lesar, Decemberll, 1976, sent Ray a letter
was received, Ray sent the task force a copy of addressed to his attorrzejr. Fay attached e copy action and
in a civil
It wouldappear that
See letter
1976. App. A, 51.15!. Absent a statement to us frcm Ray, four existing Pay
-35-
First,
no one,
ct!-er ti-an
At that
time.
you killed
Dr. Fax.-tin Luther King under such circumstances of Harder in the First to you by your lawyers?"
that would make youlegally guilty Degree under the law as explained
.....-.., ....
n'F Fire? Jae-|-pa Inn-Hp? nna .... .....g...... ............. -.. in !.:i-nan ....... .......
aids or assists
of
killing of
/ .4 l 1
Secmci, Ray related inwrit":.g toaizthot Hui: a story ofhisodyssey Eran Missouri State Prison to!-lanphis
which acknowledged that he bought the mrder weapon, mde
hiswaytobia-nphis, rentedtl1erocmthereat422So.1th Main on April 1+, 1968, using the alias "John Willard,"
killing of
is the
Dr. King.
In this
international gun-runner;
fall guy"
of a scheme by
This description of
most recent
is reported
-33..
as 1 patsy"
for "Raoul."
It proceeds
along the
same lines
asthet:a1etoldbyRaytoauthorHuiet11att.hcre92astO
have the white Mistang at the wrb for "Raou1 s use that
Q11 IQ Iq ' 92-I Z7 1
6:00p.m. to get
all over could not
air in a low
be tried
swammg
He
at 7:05p.m.
after driving
7 1
;.
-92
P 92
-90-
_ 3
2. Motive
generally resided
criminal activity.
achieve a high
school
Afterenlistinginthe am5ri.nl946,
military atablishment.
heprcceededtcparticipateinandbeapprehendedfora
number of criminal act-icns for which he would be incarcerated
for
the Missouri
activities included
4l43!. Hewasnotknowntohavebeeninvolvedincrizneswhere
victins or
-91-
-92 92
*3.
it
shipwith
aman orwunan
during his
adult life.
Although
hewasabouttooc:rmitaveryinfamouscrineofassassination, neither adult life his childhood, of crime his military years nor his action.
and imprisonment
signaled such
Hiscrimina1act.ivitieswererntthoseofah:i.redorself-
aoottrplished premeditated
Earlliaynurdernr. Marti.nLutherKing,
p tiv-e facts
in 1955
Ieavenworth,
for forgery
of post
orders. On
September 12,
butwasnevertza.nsfen'edtherebecauseherefusedtolive in the Thus, he integrated dormitory was supposedly at the wi1J_i.ng to farm OD 44-38861-1678! benefit
sacrifice this
and its
acocmpanying privileges
to avoid
association with
State Penitentiary
-92-
bekilled.
Healsorespondedthatonseveraloccasions
killings.
Bedidsaythat,ifRayhadnot,hewould
'
IQ
i r
definitelylcnowwhohad
killed
the prisoners.
He also
saidthathewouldnotbesurprisedifheactedwithout
beingpaidforthekilling.
-
Itshouldbenotedthatamther
pn'.sone.rwhowasac1'ef atPEPandRay'sbossforsixyears,
statedthatthisinrlatewasagoodfrieradofkayandhealso hated Negroes. HQ 44-38861-4443! . '
that in.
getMartinLutherK.i.ngwhenhegotoLrtofprison._
an 44-38861-2678, 2791!.
A third innate at HEP tun 1962 until 1965, &scribedRayasa'1cnewo1"w!'nnevertrusted anycne. I-Iestated thatliaywas aracistandwm heard
his dislike
of Negroes.
Another
killing Martin
Ray did not
Luther King.
This prisoner
said that
44--38861-4143! .
atKa.nsasCitywho Kansas, that
the !!!I1 92.:_1I!'I"!i'-= e. Dr, Martin L-1_>1:he_r Q29 m.cem.e the aple
of ocnversation
at the
Many
prisoners
heard
that b92_Jsinessnen had raised a considerable arrount of money, aboutonen::i.11ion dollars, as abounty onI<ing's head. _He
fur-therstatedthatnaynentionedadozentines thathadhe known about the bomtyonifohn
had he been free he would
have collected
-94-
got out
in time
inportantavenueofreview. Asaresultofavolmtary
pqchiatric exami.nati.cn in 1966, Ray was described as
having a sociopathic
anxiety and
personality, antisocial
type with
In ._
depressive features
an 44-32361-3505!.
Freanan. WhileRaywasinI.osAngeleshewasapatient
capable was of
could act important. alone, and
involving Ray
havenotivatedhimtomurder. WhileinHa>ci.ooi.r1thefall
-95-
mrales,
in the City
of Puer.-toVallarta.
Morales admitted
that took place or: Siinday, uctccer "' She " and Ray WEir e
seatedatatableinabarmdweredrix cingwhexmfqr
gersons arrived and were seated She stated that Ray kept goading the
'I'hereafter, Ray left his table
pocket.
kill
the
blacks. He 'me:1ccr92tin921edtobeinsultingar1dwhe
discussion with
Dr. King if
threats.
car"
'-
uu 92.
the
all field
divisions to
latent fingerprints
April ls,
had not
a source for
with one
that Pay
e
ei :
Ytinnetka, Illinois,
weeks. As a dishwasher and cook's helper, Ray had received checks totaling $664 frun May 7, 1967 thrtmgh June 25, 1967
See, List olcnoun:I.nccme, App. A, Ex. 5!. Ibis is the
knonn robberies
be associ-
Ray. Ihe
Q--at-I J-ll
Bureau investigated
I
the possibility
J-LLJIl1ln|
in 1967,
but it
was established
thathe was
not a partici-
pmt.
a food
"Raoul"
journalists. It
uost likely
oonmitted on a periodic
-99-
theory.
Jerry ,
B!. Be
to his
brother two
times dning
his employment
not James,
winnetka restaurant
and advised
that he,
roan
A. Est-:'_l;r_Ccn':etts _ar-5 Assistagce Q2. review oi the files indicated that the FBI
hadrnhardevidence1ir dngJa:nesRaytoar1yoonspiracy
to kill Dr. King. Absent such evidence, the Bureau
family members. While such contact may render the actions of the family member criminally liable, it is not generally " in the
Thecnrmectionofthekayfmiilytothecrimaagainst
the largest manhunt in history had beam aided in his fugitive status by at least one family merber. Ibis and other facts
J!
1 1*
Fizst,
contacts
Ray visited
Janesthreeorfourtinesandhadbozrowedrroneyfzczm Jameson at least one occasion during his mzfinanent Chicago 4+-1144 Sub G 17!. to visit Ihe last visit John Ray visited or attenpted cn at least nine occasions. 22, 1967, the day before The Bureau also discovered
ser anntieyordertoafictitious
companyAlbe:ctJ. Pepper
The moneywas sent
and business partner
immediately after his escape. In St. Louis where John Ray was living! two former inmates at MSP, stated that they
l96'1' Kansa
with Pay as
they entered
.' I
departure 1-cmhis
stats that
facts
toward possible
brothers. Richard
at
Marie Martin,
cousin of
Charles Stein.
date when Ray left Los Angeles! James Ray had been stating thathewas inneed
to send
1
-103E
/';
:-
that Jerry Ray may not have been entirely candid with the
ia1
disclosed to
hehadreoogni2edthephotographofEricStarvoGaltas being identical with his brother James prior to the time