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FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
AND
PRIVACY ACTS
SUBJECT: MARTIN LUTHER KING JR,
FILE NUMBER: O1@@1@6O7g
ILAUXFLE
SECTION: Q;
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1
MARTIN i_ UTHER KING, JR
MAIN FILE
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JAN 31 1977
'-
Director
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Michael E. Shaheen, Jr., CounselOffice of Professional Responsibility
Excised Report on FBI[s Martin Luther King Investigations
Attached is a copy of the excised version of thereport of this Office's Martin Luther King Task Force.Excisions were made to protect the privacy rights ofpersons, to protect sensitive FBI sources and methods,and to delete classified material: In addition, changeswere made to correct factual errors which were in theoriginal version of the report.
No decision has been made on whether this reportwill be released to the public.
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TASKFORCB'10REVI!=HIHEFBIM92RI'IN1UI1-£EZRKDiG,J'R.,
, SEX2URI'I'Y AND ASSPESJZNATICN mvzsnsnrzcns
I
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;_.-92 .____,_ _ ___ ____ __Januaxy 11¢ 1977
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TABLE OF CDNTDTS
lN1RODUCIICN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A. The Mission of the Task Force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...1. The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...The Attorney Gmei-al's Directive . . . . . . . . . .Review up to April 26, 1976 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Task Force and its Method of Review . . . . . . . .. .
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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...
b. MPD Inf:i.ltration of Invaders . . . . . . . . . . . .. .c. MPD Surveillance Detail and Removal
- of Detective Redditt from Duty . . . . . . . . . .. .d. Details of Dan Black I-irernen
Fran Fire Station No. 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...e. MPD Tactical Units-Their Deployment and
Activities on the Evening of
April 4. 1968 . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . ...B. The FBI Investigation of the Assassination . . . ...1. Department 0 Justice Response and
FBI Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .
a. The Murder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...
b. Top Priority Investigation Ordered . . . . .. .c. Progress of the Investigation . . . . . . . . . ...
! Bessie Brewer's Rocming House . . . . . ...
! Ganipe Amusement Company . . . . . . . . . .. .! Inform-ation and Physical
Evidence Tracked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .
! Los Angeles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ., S! Atlanta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .! Celt Identified as James Earl Ray.. . ..
! Passport Search . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. .
8! Ray Apprehended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .2. Alleged Conspiracies. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. .
114
14
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21
24
24
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33
37
47
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48
50
52
54
S7
S8
60
61
62
C. rte Story of Jarres Earl Ray ....................
1Chronology of Ray: Activities on and
ftr 23] lecoocuoocuconrcnoonocon
w IIOIIIIIIIIIIIUQIIIOIOIOOIIIOIIIOIIIII
@ s IIOOIOIOIIOIOIIIIIIIIIIOIIIIO
Family contacts and assistance 4| IIIIQUIIOIIIOQ
D. Critical Evaluation of the Assassinaticn
QIQCIIUICIIQIIIIIIOIIIOCIIIIOCIIII
H-IESEURITYIIWESTIGATICN . . . . . . ..................
A. FBI Surveillance andarassment of Dr. King ....
1.Initiation of Technical Surveillance and
IOIOIOIICIIIIOOOOQPredicate for the Security Investigation ....
Kifq-HDCVEI ooncaaoinconcoonccqnoceoo
Technical Surveillance
DINTELPRJ Type and Other Illegal
OOQJQIQIIIQIQIUUOIIIIIIIOIOOIQIIiiB. Critical Ewaluaticn of the Security
I I I I O IIIIIIOUIOIIOOIIQIIIIIIIQOOUI
IIIICIIIIIIIIOOIIIIIIIIQUIIOIOIIIO
IIIIIIIIIQIIIIIII
the Security Investigaticn ...............
Q.IIIIII..IlII.ID..II.IIII.IIIIIOOIIIQCI
AUQIIUD.IQIIIIIIIIQIIIIIIQOIIIIIIIIIIII.
Eiulo u 0it No. Descrigicn
Map showing location of Tact Units
Diagmm of Crime scene.
Autopsy Report
James Earl Ray, some known
elcpmditures: April 23, 1967 to
J-I'£ 8|
5 Jarres Earl Ray, known inccrne:
April 23. 1967 to June 8. 1968.
6 Reading Bibliography .
7 Memo frcm Scatterday to Ibsen,
May 22.. 1961.
ii
V. AppendixA cI:1t'd] .-..................................
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Append.i.xB-InterviewMenr:>randa . . . . . . . . . ...........92
I'92n::r-r-in-I-irn
.....,...-=.......
ht-zm frcrn Sullivan tn Behrnnt,
August 30, 1963.
Memo frcm Baungardner to Sullivan,
Septarber 16. 1963
Memo for the Director frrn Tolsrn,
Septerrber 18, 1963
Mam from Sullivan to Behrnnt,
September 25, 1963
Classifier} {Deleted}
Memo frcrn Behront to Tolson,
October 17, 1973
Letter from Martin Luther King, Jr.
Task Force to James Earl Ray,
Decanber 15, 1976 -
Letter frcm James Earl Ray to
James H. resar, Decarber 20, 1976
Transcript of Plea Hearing
Classified ifaeletedi
Classified Deleted!
Deleted!Pi
165
167
169
170
l?5
176
177
178
19!;
200
201
1.
I. m
A. Mission Task 1-orgce
1. Hie Probl '
h November 1, 1975, William C. Sullivm, fonmr
Assistant Director, Domestic Intelligence Division,
Femal Bureau of Investigation, testified before the
Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations
with Respect to Intelligence Activities. He related that
£r@ lete 1963 md e_on.t.is=.¢92.g =.nti.1. the assessi1:~.etion of
Dr. Irtinliztl-aerKing, Jr., Ringwas the target ofan
intensive carrpaigl by the F.B.I. to neutralize him as an
effective civil Ii§92t$ leader. Sullivm stated that in
the war against King "No holds were barred." Senate
Report N0. 94-755, Final Report of the Select Committee
to Study Goverrxtental qaeraticns with Respect to
Intelligence Activities, Book II, p. ll!. This and other
testimny describing this F.B.I. comterintelligence
c.....,..._=m=*g".. e,,.....==* .st Kirgg reached
news media. As a oonsequmce there was a regeneration of
the widespread speculation on the possibility that the
Bureau may have had some responsibility in Dr. King's.
deathandnnynothave donean impartial andthorcrugm
investigation of the assassination.
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I2. §ttorn.ey _Ge.j-':era1's Piwregtix-5 _
ey C-e:92.erel oi the
lhited States directed the Civil Rights Divisim of the I
1_Je_pa__rt_tent oi Justice to mdertake a review of the les
of the Depertmem: end its Federal Bureau of Investigation
to determine whether the investigation of the assassinaticn
of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. should be reopened. Mare
particularly it was sought to be determined: ! whether
my acticn in relation to Dr. King by the FBI before
the assassinaticn had, or my have had, on effect, direct
or indirect, on that event, and ! whether any action was
takenhy the rs: which had, or my have had, any other
'adve:rse effect tn Dr. King. Recommendations for criminal,
disciplinary or other appropriate action were requested.
3- 9@s=_?~<-?-92*_1e':' 12 $<14>="11.?5-._.l?7§
-1vtwoservedasanedviseroobr. King,portionsoftheFBI
headquarters security file on Dr. King himself, porticns
of the FBI headquarters file on the assassinatida investi- '
gation, lome Dq_>ar'tmnt as opposed to I"BD1es relating "
to Dr. King, and other Bureau docmmts including everything
cnMa.rtinLutherKing, Jr., heldinthelate J. EdgarHoover's
official, omdmtial md personal files.
By a memorandum to the Attorney Gaieral dated_April
9, 1976, the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the
Civil Rights Division submitted a 51 page report of the
Chief of the Civil Rights Division: Criminal Secticn dated
March 31, 1976, adaody-lng the results of the three-ten study,
Anna!-r onTLBL
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iby electronic surveillance with a view to determining
which of such mterials shculd be and could be legally
destroyed. The Assistant Attorney General felt that
the 1-BI should assess the culpability of its agents
involved in the wrongdoing by the principals tamed in
the report. His 1::-zmorandun to the Attorney General
ccncluded that probably crinzinal redress was tim-
barred, that civil remedies tight be available to
the King family but might also be note enban'assing
than helpful, md hence that consideration be given
to a direct payment by the settlement process or by
a private bill to coupensate the King survivors, or
with the survivors concmrmce, the King Fomdation;
Lfthis last issuewereleft tothetask forceoran
Advisory Oomnissicn, it should cmsider the pros and
consandrecomm.-ndasitseest. '
The Attorney General forwarded the Civil Rigmts
Division memoranda md oommnts thereon from the Deputy
Attorney Gmeral, the Solicitor General, md r.-cm staff
nmbers and the Assistant Attorney General of the Crinrlinal
Divisicn! to the Comsel, Office of Pr-ofessicnal Respon-
sibility. Rae Attorney General charged the Ofce of
Professional Responsibility with the work of cazpleting
the begm by Civil Rights Division. His unm-
randun states:
_ _ fjirequestfortherezriew _
involved four untters. I-irst, whether
ltmking dgatimingign D:'t1-urcngh ' a assess was
and ha-zest; second, whether there was
any evidence that the FBI was involved
in the assessinaticn of Dr. King; third,
in light of the first two questions,
whether there is any new evidence which
has come to the attention of the Depart-
ment 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
havefoundthattheFBIt.nc1ertookasystem-
atic program of harassment of Martin Luther
King, -by means both legal and illegal, in
order todiscredithimandharmbothhim
and the movement he led. Assiming that
the uejor statutory violations relevant
m this @d».:ct so-old w 18 U.S.C. $ec'~:io-c.
241 and Section 242, Mr. Pottinger's mm-
randun concludesthat any prosecution eon-
templated under those acts would now be
barred by the five-year statute of limita-
tions with the possible exception which
would exist if there were proof of a om-
tinuing conspiracy.
As 1-netterofrnewevidence
with respect to the assassination my wader-
standing is t:hat the Department has nevu-
closed the Martin luther King file and
that nunerous allegations of the possible
involvement of co-conspirators are promptly
investigated. The thrust of the review which
I requested, however, was to determine
whether: new look at what was done bythe
Bureau in investigating the assassinatim
or in the relationship between the Bmreau.
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iand Dr. King Ililt give a ctiffermt
emphasis ornewclues inmywayto '
the qeestim of invol92»m...=-at m thet
crime. At this point in the review,
as I reed the memrands, nothing has%d up relevant m this latter
po .
Ihe review is not couplete.
Hr. Pottinger and all those who have
commented upon his namrandun reccnmend
thet the review M e~_*,nlet@. Hr.
Pottinger also has made other reccm:en-
daticns upon which there is scme differ-
ence 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 -etphisshould betgven to the fourth questicn.
In conduc g this review you should
call tpon the Department to furnish
to youthe staff you need.
My cmclusicn as to thef revie-r
conducted by the Civil Rights Divisicn
is that ithesnowshownthatthis
eehlplete Q neeesse-y, p=1_1'ti_eu-
lsrly in view of the ccnclusion as to
the systematic program of harassment.
If your review turns up setters for
specic acticn, we should discuss the
best way to proceed cn each such case."
s. 111: task Force And The Method of Review
The Comsel of the Office of Professicnal Res-ponsi
bility selected three attorneys frtm the Civil Ri§1ts Division,
' Joseph F. Gross, Jr., Jmes R. Kieckhefer md William D Waite
me attorney from the Criminal Section of the Tax Division,
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Jms F. Walker, and s retired attorney Fred G. 1-olsun,
who is currently a consultant to the Tax Division with
37 years of experimce in Civil Rigmts Division which
included hcnocide cases!, Criminal Divisicn and Tax
Division prosecutions. As the senior mm the letter
xqas designated to bead the task force. This oclmiittee
or task force bepm its work cn May la, 1976. Ihe committee
was further staffed by the addition of two research analysts,
Ms. Hope Byrne md Mr. Geoffrey Covert, two secretaries,
Ms. Veronica Keith and Hrs. Renee Holmes, and two clerk-
typists, Mrs. ieroylyne Mzrray md Ms. Dana Boyd.
Consideration of a~tentative outline for an eventual
report based on the chronology of events in the relationship
between Dr. Martin Luther King and the_Federal Bureau of
Il'_1192.est_l.gatiQ brought the ts...-=1<. iorce 1.1,: against the feet
that the eld of cm history before the assassination ma
just been plowed twice: once by the Civil Pignts Division
nemranda of March 31, 1976, and April 9, 1976 and once
among other kindred subjects! by the Senate Select Committee
to Study qaerations with Respect: to Intelligence
Activities Smate Report, No. 94-155 94th Congress, 2d
Sessim, Books II and III!.
By way of contrast, however, the matter of the assas-
B. vf 15? vine: nu! PR5 an nun1 U. Q W W 31$ an I'D l W
92s
Judged by the Civil Rights D:Lvisicn's Assistant Attorney
General md his tm assistants primarily on their famili-
arity with the Dqaartnaxt file on the investigation as it
had progressed since 1968. The Civil Rights Division:
Martin Imwer King, 'Jr. , review memoranda reected that
1 study had been mde of cnly the first 10 sections of the
FBI heackquarters file on the assassination investigation
andonlyarandcminspectionwas rbne ofsomeoftheren~ain-
21% I4 eeeév-'.:92.s= Hare was re factv-=1 d'1sc=1==sion or analysis
'Ihe conclusion was reached by the Civil Rights Division staff
that "the Bureau's investigation was ccnprehensive, thorough
an professicnal" Qixrphy n:elm'randum of March 31, 1976. p. 6! .i
It was determined therefore to begin the task force's study
with a complete review of the files on the FBI's investigation
of the assassination. It was the consensus of the review
team that by approaching the whole task by rst examining
the character md carpleteness of the uzurder investigation
-_ 4-.__._... ___.'l.1 I... __.I- ¢._ ..1__ e._.e______ J-v___-_92l_ _ ___A __Bl E-BWGL GI-Ll-LLL UH HHUB LU I-HE H-CCUITIBY uazerai S IILQSG-.CI'1
as to the Bureau's performance in that regard and also m
answer could be indicated to his question going to the Bureau's
possible responsibility, if any, direct or indirect, for
Dr. King: death.
After the examination of the FBI's investigation of
the uurder of Dr. King, the review team proceeded to go
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back and complete the ir.qui.."y into the Bureau's pre-
assassination relationship with Dr. King. Necessarily
included again in this second stage of our review was
the oonsideration of whether the FBI was in mfway
inplicated in the sander directly or indirectly.
Ihe task force rade a particular point of looking
at all the material in the FBI headquarters and eld
office files on the Assassination Immstigation, the so-
11 A "M ':.....= .e.. ...1:k_in File being en eeronym i"er l5._l.r-ier
of King! ll; the Fartin Luther King Security File Z]; the
Ccminfil-SCZLC File Ca:',n.fi1 being en acrcmym for Ccxzrrunist
infiltration; S.C.L.C., the initials for the Southern Christian
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leadership Conference! 1! ; the file on Comnmist Ir1_¬11;ence
in Racial Fatters f+_/ and the adviser to King File 5/.
The "M.1:rki.n file was solely concerned with the xzurder investi-
gation. '.Une other four files provided a mslti-focal view
_____ __ _iV_ii_
y ma: uq. 44-ssaal
2/ FBI HQ. 100406670 -
gl -FBI HQ. 100-438794 '
_l_:_I FBI HQ. 100-M2529 and the predecessor file
'ent1t1ed Cr.::rm:nist Party, U.S.A. Negro Questim;
FBI HQ. 100-
§_/ FBI HQ. 100-392452
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of the Bureau: intelligence and oo.mterintellige.-nee
activities with respect to Dr. Martin Luther Kirg, Jr.
The scheme of citation hereinafter used will be to
Im'.nin:i.ze footnotes, place the source citation in the
body of the writing, and designate headquarters files
by "HQ" and murber and serial and Field Office files
by city and number and serial, e.g.= I-Enphis 44-1987-
153!. Exceptions to this scheme will be explained when
made.
The more voluninous of the pertinent files in
addition to the FBI headquarters files and the Washington
Field Office files were located in Memphis, Atlanta,
Baltimore, Charlotte, Birmingham, Orleans, los Angeles
San Francisco, Kansas City, St. Innis, Omaha, Chicago,
Springeld Ill.!, Milwaukee and New York. These were
examined in place by visits by task force personnel. The
ranainirg files were xeroxed and forwarded for review in
Washington. Pertinent newspaper clipping files maintained
by the Department and by the Bureau and its field offices
were scanned. I
In terms of papers examined, mre than 200,000
entries, nnny with mmerous pages concerning both the
nnrder investigation and the security investigation were
covered. 'Ihe five attorneys sitting together originally
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and later, as the work progressed, Splitting up to
perscnnel. considered separate sections of each file
ccxnpiling notes, carmenting m, or reading aloud, or
noting forreadingbyalloftheocxrmittee. itansof
significance. Notes were taken, when pertinent items
were encountered, on a serialby-serial basis "serials"
being each separate document entry of one or more pages
1
for accuracy against the tapes of those sur.-veillences.
A canvass of other investigative agencies was made to
determine whether their files reected that intelligence
or ommterintelligence requests had been made upon them
by the FBI in relaticn to Dr. I<:I.ng_ -Ihis included tlm
Defense Departnnit, the State Department, the U.S.
Informatzim Agmcy, tlm C.I.A., the Secret Service, the
Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service's I
Intelligence Division and the Treasury Department's Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. {the rhaterial turned up
by these agencies was e>ta:n.I.ned, albeit little of consequence
was discovered. Relevant portions of the investigatim reports
of the Memphis I'olice Deparumnt cn the murder were
zeroxed and tudied. "
In additicn to official files, the task force perscx-mel
ccnsidered published material from the public sector dealing
with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr! , and his assassination.
Included in this category were a viewing of the Coluzbia
Broadcasting Systan s program on the death of King in its series
"The Assassins," a National Broadcasting Ganpany ".lcmorrow"
program of April 1+, 1974, and perusal of books and articles
tn the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the role
oftheFBIinrelationtot:hen:urderofDr. King see
Bibliography, App. A,Eh¢. 6!. Ihis lead to acme valuable
-12-
evidentiery mterlal - principally the oral and written
ctatenrmts of James Earl Ray - which was used to buttress
the reconstructicn of the ects of the mnrdermd of the
I-RT in-user! cnrn . _Q-1 -I'hl i-I
Slime 30 intervi.ews were ccnducted, principally in
the assassination phase of the task force study. They were
helpful in supplementing the results of interviews done
during the mrder imrestigaticn.
D.1:r:I.ng the review of the Phxphis Field Office files,
m on-site inspection of the crime scene was conducted and
the exhibits in the office of the Clerk of the County Court
for Shelby County, Tennessee, were e.xan::Lned.
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111. mt ASSAS§_INATICN
A- I:-Events APIE} 4._1968
1. 1he_Poor Peop1e's_C_anpaiQ
To understand the movements of Dr. King during this
critical period, it is necessary to briey discuss the
Poor People's Campaign PDCAM! , originally called the
Washington Spring Project in which he and the SCLC were involved
PCOXM was scheduled to begin the first week of April 1968,
and involved recruiting scme 3.000 poor unemployed blacks
fran jl6 localities in the United States for the purpose of
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going to Washingtcn, D.C. , and petitioning the goverrmmt to
improve their ecornnic status HQ 157-8428-51!.
Theplanwas to camp on tl'1eWashingtmPbrn.ment or
Lincoln Memorial grounds HQ 157-8428-132!. During the first
and second weeks, demands would be made of congressmen and
heads of departments, such as the Secretary of labor. If the
danands were not met, nonviolent danonstrations were to be
conducted HQ 157-8426--109!.
Dr. King's planned travel schedule for February and
March included trips to 9 major cities and visits to various
points in Mississippi, Alabama, sddrh Carolina, North Carolina
and Virginia HQ 157 e428-75!. By mid February Dr. King had
become disoomraged with the lack of progress in recruitig and
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training demonstrators HQ 157-81:28-206!. Daring this low
point in 1ePOCAMDr. Kirgwas pursuaded toalter his plats
and to go to Phrphis, Tennessee.in support of s strike involving
the city: sanitation workers. g _
2. Man-nphis Ssnitatio_Q*j§orkerY_s;Sl:r<e
0n February 12. 1968, approximately 1,000 sanitation
workers enployed by the city of Phnphis called a wildcat
strike. The strikers were represented by Local 1733 of the
American Federaticn of State, County and Mmicipal Employees "
who demanded exclusive recognition of the union as bargaining
agent, setting up grievance procedures, wage improvements,
payroll r_1._-1.uet14>n of 92_r.n.icr= dU.P.5, and e pr@tion systm es 1.-sell
as a pension, hospitalization and life -inmrance program.
HQ 157-9146-X1.! .
The NAACP intervened in the strike because all of
the sanitation workers, excluding drivers, were black. A
militant young black power group known as the Invaders was
similarly interested in the strike. The group consisted of
about 15 members, mostly high school dropouts, and was a cell
of a larger group lcnom as Black Organizing Power BOP! headed
LI QIJLI-92-ll
Ihe strikers were also supported by a group of black
ministers, connected with the Memphis I.nte.rdencminationa1r
Ministerial Alliance, who adopted the name cm: odmmcy on
the Hove for I-Jquality!. It was members of this group that
were instrunental in bringing Dr. King to Mezphis. On March 3,
1968, the Pevererd Jo lewson f the
Centenary Phtfrodist Chmch,-Phmphis, and member of onus, stated
on a television program HHBQ-NJ that he wanted to bring
1!:. King and other heads of civil rights organizations! to
Harphis in an effort to unify the entire black ccmnunity
behind the denands of the strikers HQ 157-9146-X23!. The
intervention of these various black ccrmnnity organizations
caused the city of Msnphis to be concerned about the racial
overtones of the strike and the possibility of violence
R. King made his first visit to Memphis in support
of the strike on the night of I-hrch 18, 1968. On that occasion,
in addressing an estimated crowd of 9,000 to 12,000 people at
{ ' H
the night of March 18, 1968 and left I'Bnp'n.i.s shortly before
noon on Yexch 19, 1968, ostensibly to go to the State of
Mississippi in connection with the POCAM -K1 157-91166-I39! .
le City of Memphis was virtually paralyzed by I _
16-inch snowfall on March 22, 1968, resulting in the post-
ponement of the planned mass march to March 28, 1968. Dr. King
returned =0 Phrphis on the 28:11, arriving at the airport at
approximately 10:22a.m. By that tine apprmdmately 5,000 =0
6,000 people, about half of whom were of school age. had
congregated at the Clayborn Te:-ple located at 280 Hernando St.!
£0: the sta_.1.'t oi the nice, Atoordirmg to the plan oi the 1.nerr;h=
the sanitation workers were in front with the remainder of the
people following behind. The march was to proceed north on
I-iernando to Beale Street, thence west on Beale Street to
2-bin Street and north on Main Street to City Hall.
lhe march got underway at approximately ll:00a.m. and
had proceeded to Hernando and Beale before it was joined by
Dr. King. when the front of the march led by Dr. King!
reached Main Street, teenagers and young adults at the rear '
-12 .1... ____..!_ ____ 0|-||_.!_. .__ __ _ .h_ __ _ __. .. __....DI CHE IEICH DEE-I 1
of the march! ripped the signs off.their poles and began
1
a
2disruptim of the march caused Dr. King's aides to coomandeer
an automobile, and Dr. King and his partywere escorted by
police to the Rivenmnt Hotel operated by Holiday Inns of
America. HQ 157-9ll»6-AS!. hr. King left the march at
11:l5a.m. and checked into the Riverzmnt Hotel at ll:2l|a.m.
where he stayed until l-hrch 29, 1968. Dr. King and his party
were scheduled to return to Atlanta on March 28, 1968, at
9:O5p.m. via Eastern Airlines and were scheduladtn leave
Atlanta the unrning of March 29, 1968, for Baltinnre
HQ 157-9156-45!. 'Ihus, remain:Lng in I-hnphis on the night
ofthe28thwa.sachangeinplans. '
'Ihe city ordered L 7:OOp.m. curfew and approximately
3,500 members of the Tennessee Naticnal Guard were called out
to erui the violence. During the disturbance four blacks were
shot, one fatally; approximately 150 fires were set; and over
300 persons were arrested. Approximately one percent of the
marchers engaged in looting and violence and many of these were
people who were criminally inclined and who had been in previous
trouble. '1he March 29, 1968, issue of the Phnphis "Carmercial
Appeal" reported that many of the looters and window breakers
were black power advocates and that several wore jackets of
the "Invaders". However, other sources, including Lieutenant
E.H. Arkin of the Memphis Police Department, indicated that
-13-
many high school age students had put the word "lrwa.ders" on
their jackets for effect and were not necessarily? affiliated
with the BOP movement HQ 157-9146-AS!. The violence and
disruption of the u-arch was of great concern to Dr. King
because of the possible effect it might have on the planned
POGAM. Therefore, he vowed to return to Memphis and
demonstrate that he had not lost his effectiveness in
leading nomriolmt marches.
LL, King, togethe' with his stéf, reo_._1r:1.e.¢1 to
on April 3, 1968, at l0:33a.m. After a press
conference at the airport, the group proceeded to the Inrraine
Hotel, arriving there at approximately 11:20a.m. At about
l2:05p.m. Dr. King left the iorraine Pbtel for a meeting at
the Centenary Metlndist Church Security and Surveillance Rept
of G.P. Tines, Inspector, Memphis Police Department, dated
July 17, 1968!. Dr. King announced at this meeting that his
purposeinre to Merphiswas to leadamass marchon
However, on April 3, 1968, United States District
Court Judge Bailey Brown issued a temporary restraining order
against further marches in Memphis HQ 157-9146-9, p.l!.
Dr. King returned to the Lorraine Motel at 2:25p.m. and sometime
that afternoon Federal Phrshals served him and his aides with
-19-
0
'92
u
the restrairdng order. Security and Surveillance Rept. of
G.P. Tines, Inspector, Merphis Police Department, dated
July 17, 1968!. -
At approximately 4=oop.m. Dr. King and the SCLC staff
met with the BOP group at which time Charles Cabbage requested
nnney to institute BOP plans to start a "Liberation School"
and a "Black G:-op . r. King agreed to use his influmce
.. to 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 pattern. HQ 157-9146-9, p.9.!
' On the night of April 3, 1968, Dr, King spoke to
approximately 2,000 persons at the Mason Tanple. He emphasized
that the scheduled mass march umst be held on April 8, 1968,
to re-focus attention on the eightweek old sz-mitation workers
strike. __
After the speech, Solounn Jones, Jr., serving as
Liz. Ki_ngs ¢l1-wffel-I1 d_ro92.re hm hack to the T_or1:a.ine tbtel.
Dr. King told Jones to report back on 'I1'ursday morning,
April 4, 1968, at 8:30a.m. because he had to appear in court
in ccnnection with a restraining order. thnphis M-1987-2322
p.51.!
-.20..
4
I
|
3. Dr. King's gctivitiesd on Apri1_§rL1968
According to Mrs. Georgia I4. Ihv-is of Louisville,
Kentucky nu interview: uq File 44-saaa1-2634, p.26! =1»,
Rev. A.D. Willians King, Dr. King: brother! and Mrs. Lucie
Ward arrived in I-Iemphis on April 4, 1968, frcm Florida and
registered at the Lorraine Motel at approximately 1:00a.m.
Upon irquiring about Dr. King, they were told that he was
attendin,_g a strateg meetirg at a c.nurch. 'Ihe three then
went to the church, but Dr. King was not there.
Returning to the tmtel, Dr. King's brother,
Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Ward conversed in rocm 207 until they
observed 11:. King, along with Reverends Ralph Abernathy
and Bernard Lee, getting out of a taxicab in the motel
courtyard at about 4:30a.m. 11:. King was ':Lmri.ted to rocm 207
where he visited with his brother, Hrs. Davis and Mrs. Ward
until about 5:00a.m. He then went to room 306 where he and
were registered. e helf hour later
m-. King went to room 201 where he visited with Mrs. Davis
for approximately one Pour. Afterwards he returned to roan
306 for a strategy meeting scheduled for 8:00a.m.
Solcmon Jcnes, Jr., Dr. King's chauffer, returned
to the Lorraine Pbtel at about 8:30a.m. to take him to court
-21-
» /
92
However, Rev. Andrew Yomg advised Jones that hewas going to
rwmrrr inefaa rs? Dr. Rina Ha F In an-I il t921" YHBE LEG T'Ql'[email protected] -Q-ww-p w- -- --uu=- gee.--,_;.921.-.1 wag--v nu-r Qbviltwttt
to remain at the mtel. H2 44-38861-2322, p.51!. '
Dr. King raneined at the mtel the entire day,
returning to room 201 at about 1:30p.m. to visit Mrs. Davis.
He was later joined in roan 201 by his brother, l*Irs. Ward,
Abernathy, Lee, Young, and Attorney Chauncey Eslcridge.
The group conversed mtil about 5:45p.m. when Dr. King
announced they were going to dimer at the hcme of
Rev. Billy Kyles on M-38861-2631», p.23!. 1/ Brroute to
roan 306 to dress, Dr. King saw Solomon Jones, Jr. in the
motel courtyardandtoldhimto start thecaras theywere
preparirng =0 go to dinner an 44-38861-2322, p.52!.
ff There is a discrepancy in the exact time Dr. King returned
to room 306. Mrs. Davis places the time at 5 However,
in an FBI interview, Rev. Abernathy stated the i1 4,1968, he and Dr. did not leave the motel mast
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!.
-22-
At approximately 6:0Op.m. Dr. King and Rev. Abernathy
3|-iauid to leave ram 3%. Rev. Abe-math"; no for a
unnmt and 11'. King walked out onto the balcony just outside
the door to the roan HQ M-38861-2322, p.l»6!. He saw Jones
standing beside the car cn theground level and began a
oorrversatim about the weather. Jones advised Dr. King
that he should put on a topcoat as it was oool outside.
Dating this conversation, Dr. King was facing west and Jones
was facing east and looking up at Dr. King frcm the ground
level. As It. King acknowledged Jones ccncern about getting -.
L.-I-_ --___-.9- 1'___- I.-_---A _ -_- __-_.L~ -_-_ _ I-!_-IIL5 LU-I-Ld»L| uJ92JIlC5 IICQIU B bU'LI1 I-L UH-5 H .L-I-LG tlvugx
cracker and tr. King fell to the floor of the balcony in front
of room 306. Jones inmerliately called for help and a number
of Dr. King's aides, who were either in their rocns or standing
in the courtyard, rushed to his side no 44-38861-2322, p.52!. 3/
*l Sane critics of the FBI imrestigation have speculated that
§olomon Jones, Jr. set 11'. King up for the assassination by
mduly detaining him on the balcony. Nothing in the evidence
reviewed by the task force lends my credence to such speculation
-23-
4. {Bl Intelligence and.Lo¢al Police Activities
a. F151 Info-:T92ants. G. Jensen, the Special
Agent in Charge of the lrphis Field Office, and Joseph
Hester, case agent for MJRKIN, have unequivocally assured _
the task force that there was no electronic surveillance of
Dr. King in Penphis. It was explained that Merrphis was not in
the mainstream of Dr. King's SCIC activities Interview
of Special Agent Joe Hester, June 23, 1975, [email protected]!.
However, FBI agents did observe the sanitation worker's
strike activities for intelligence purposes and the Memphis
n_1I .' ___4___ - Iqi;92 ___92 __ I-1 __I_92 _ O3 ! P __ I 3roiioe ueparorent wen; and oonrioential pain inrormants aid
supply information to the field office lnterviea of former
SAC Robert Jensen, July 7, 1976, App.B!.
Our investigation disclosed that "there were five paid
confidential informants providing intelligence regarding the
racial situation to the tnnphis Field Office on a continuing
basis. The intelligence coverage pxovickd by these individuals
related to the activities of the Nation of Islan, Black Students
Association of PSU, Students for a Democratic Society, Black
rganizing Power, Black Front, Afro-American Brothere
hood, Invaders and the sanitaticn workers strike. There is
-24-
92
no evidmce. that the activities of these informants related
d.i_rectly to Dr. King. M_oreov|1'. there 2 no avid-_g1.ce
that would suggest that these informants were connected in
any way with the assassination of Dr. King. I-Q 134-11867;
170-1841; 170-1922; 170-2530 and 137-A885.!
I b. l~_IPD Infiltration of the In addition
to the paid FBI informants, an officer of the MPD infiltrated
the Invaders in an undercover operation. The officer who was
later exposed and is no longer with the MPD, was interviewed
by the task force. The mdercover assigrment began in
camefrantherearofthebui1c1ingswhichfrontonSouth
Main Street.
c. {PE _Sm:y_ei1]_._a;1ce Detail ans Rerm'va1_of Detective
Redditt from Duty. 3' Fran tlrm tine of Dr. King's return
tohhlaphis cnApri13, 1968, until thetiumofhis
assassination. he was under physical surveillance by the
MPD. Upon leaming of Dr. King's flight schedule, Inspector
6.1. Pines of the MID Inspectional Bureau instructed two
black plainclothes officers, Detective Bchard E. Redditt md
Patrohzarx Willie B. Richmnd, to go to the airport to observe
the arrival 0fDr. Kingandtokeep himunda cont:'.nuom
szrnreillance in order to see with whan he came in ocntact.
92
In addition to the surveillmoe detai1._ Assistant
Cnief of Police W.P. Huston ordered a detail of four men,
ccumandedby Inspector Ibn. Qnith, tog: to theairport
all I L92: II
waiting for Dr. King to arrive, Hrs. Thomas Matthews
advised Lieutenmt George K. mvis that she had come to the
a.irporttopickupDr. Kingandthatnoonehadeskedfor
police to be assigned to him. Inspector S.-nith also asked
Reverend James Izwson where they were going when they left
the airport and he replied: "We have not fully made up our
minds." Nevertheless, when Dr. King and his party left the
airport, Inspector Smith and his men followed them to the
at approximately 5=05p.m. Inspector G.P. Tines stated in
his report that he was not conferred with andl-|as_no idea
whythe securitydetailvasremved frcmDr. K:|.nga.ft_er
5:tTI5p.m. Former Ci1:i.ef Phcdonald has no present recollection
of the security detail Interview of James C. Macdonald,
.fors=er Q1_i§ ZED, Deeei92e_r 22, 1976. app. B.! lhe seeerity
detail was not resuned on April 4, 1968, Reports of
Inspectors Don H. Snith and J.S. Gagliano as imzorporated
in Report of Inspector G.P. Tines, g.!
As a separate activity from the security detail,
Detective Fedditt and Patrolman Richmond went to the airport
Wnen tr. King
left the airport they followed him to the ion-aine Yiotelm April 3rd and observedDr. King's arrival.
and learned that he was registered in room 306. Pedditt
telepbened héd_o,1_1.-arters .8111 i_-n£ora1.ed LL_=§.3§Qt_9£' 'li_1:1e-s
Dr. King was staying. at approximately l2:D5p.m. Redditt
and Richmond followed Dr. King and his party to the
Centenary Methodist Crmrch where a closed meeting of
approximately 30 black ministers was scheduled. Redditt
again called headquarters and advised his superiors of his
location. Redditt was instructed to leave Richmond at the
ch1rc'nandior'n;imtoreturni:otheareaofthelortai.ne
Pbtel for the purpose of finding 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 2:l.5p.m. Richmnd then
went to Clayborn Texple where he thought Dr. King would
address the sanitation workers prior to a scheduled 3:0Op.m.
mrch. However, Dr. King did not make an appearance there.
Richmnd telephoned headquuters at about 3:30p.m. and was
hr
UL!
>
P
1scheduled to address a mass meeting. Shortly_a.fter they
arrived at the tezple, Redditt was approached by Reverend
Malccmb D. Blackburn and told that the word was but that
1-.
home in a squad car. but refused to move his family because
of a sick relative. _ At about thetime the squad car arrived
in front of Redditt's residence, it was announced'cn the
radio that Dr. King had bee; shot. site: a couple of days,
Redditt did not hear any more about the threat on his life.
Interview of Edward E. Redditt, July 8, 1976, App. B.!
In our efforts to trace the source of the threat, we
have found that Pnilip R. Manuel, an investigator with the
Senate Investigating Committee, chaired by Senator McClellan
was in Memphis on April 4, 1968. While at the MPD Fennel
advised them based on a telephone call to his office in
Washington, that the Se.-ate Committee Staff had :i.n.forrnation
1nFn-nnnnr - %
Freedom Damcratic Party had made plans to kill a "Negro
lieutenant" in Mmphis. Manuel left Phnphis on a 5:50p.m.
oonfirmed that he was in Memphis and visited the MP1! at
the time stated and that his office did have 1 Mississippi
source. Pbreover, he said the events sounded familar and
he believed the MPD records were correct. Interview of
Philip R. Manuel, September 28, 1976, App. B.!
Although Redditt was relieved f-rcm duty at Fire
Station No. 2, Richmond remained there and continued to
observe who entered and left the motel. At approximately
6:00p.m. Richmond sawbr. King leave his room and walk
to the handrail on the balcony. The Reverend Billy Kyles
was standing off to Dr. King's right. An instant later
Richrond heard e loud sound similar to a shot and saw
Dnltingfallbackfromthehanclrailandputhishandup
to his head. At approximately 6:0lp.m. Richmond telephoned
headquarters and rep-orted__that Dr. King had been shat.
He was instructed to remain at the fire station. Richmond
then yelled to members of a MPD tactical squad which had
stopped at the station a few moments earlier! that he
believed Dr. Kinghad been shot. He thenran to the front
of the fire station and looked north and south on South Main
Street, but did not see anyone running or walking, except
the ten in the tactical squad who left the fire station
running in different directions. Shortly thereafter.
-32..
IK
Captain J. Ray arrived at the fire station md instructed
Richxond to go to headquarters and make a detailed report
of what he had seen. lntenriew of Patrolman W.B. Rid-nond. '
April 9, 1968, a.!
d. Details of Black I-irgemen frqnfire Station
No. 2-11 As of April 3, 1968, Norvell 2. Wallace and Floyd t.
Newsun were th.e only black firemen assigned to Fire Station
lb. 2 of the rhrphis Fire D8P8J.'E11'E'lt MFD!. Wallace was
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 workers strike,
attending their rallies and making financial contributions.
In our interview of Wallace Interview July 8, 1976
App. B.! he stated that at about l0=00 or l0;30 on the night
of April 3rd his captain-told him that a call had come in
requesting that a man be detailed to Fire Station No. 33.
He was immediately detailed to No. 33 although it was raining
and he was preparing to go to bed. Wallace further stated
that while Fire Station No. 33 was understaffed as a whole.
there was no shortage of personnel for the pmp tmck on which
he worked. Otherwise, he does not know why he was detailed.
*,/ -me details of the lelatzk fire-.r_.-=n 1=».m.... I-"ire St-?.'.ZL".".. 2 is
F second reason cited as a basis for the House Select Qmnittee
to investigate the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. -
-33-
I
Also, cn the night of April 3rd I-irenarr Newsun, in
a vholly personal capacity, attended a rally at the Mason
Temple where Dr. King made his last speech. _I-Ihm he returned
home about 10:30p.m.! there was a message for him to call
Lt. J. &uith at the fire department. When he called,
Lt. J- Srnith nrdarad him tn rnnn-rr rn I-ire sgagign gi 31 __- we _ -- w-__-ww -v__ - |_rw--e I-w ---e
on the mrning of April lsth rather than Fire Station No. 2.
Newsun claims that Fire Station No. 31 was ave:-strength at
the time and his detail madehis company short. I-brewer.
he says he never has received a satisfactory explanation
why he was detailed. However, he did say that Lt. Barnett
at one time told him he was detailed at the request of the
police. Interview of Floyd E. Newsun, July 8, 1976,
APP- B-! '
Y__--.-.J__¢_ -g ,__A- -_J -ea.--._.e- -__._92_-a.-q J A-L- 92IET92 L-.-JIILCIVJ-Ewb UL pd-5; ERG PIESE.-IL § D1 L-fl: PRU [EVE
failed to disclose the ihdividual who initiated the order or
the reason for detailing Wallace and Ne-wsun. According to
former Lt. Jack Smith, he received a telephone call between
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. No reason was given for the detail.
Smith said he immediately called Newsun, but Newsun was not
-34-
lune. Therefore, Smith left a message for Newsun to call
the fire staticm. Newsun called about l0:30p.m. and nith
advised him of the detail Intervied of Jack nith, dated
September 27, l976!.
V Wallace's ommanding officer, then Captain R.'1.
Jolmson, likewise stated that he received a telephone
call frcm someone in the personnel department requesting
him to detail Wallace. However, Johnson has no present
recollection of who the individual was that made the
request. Interview of R.'I. Johnson, Deputy C1-def, Memphis
Fire Department, December 21, 1976, App. B.!
Neither Captain Baity nor former Assistant Chief
Rivalto has any present recollection of the detail of
Wallace or Newsun. Captain Baity indicated that any
district chief could have ordered men moved Intetiew
of James T. Baity, September 27, 1976, App. B!. Also,
former Assistant Chief Rivalto said the fire department
shifted people around a.Ll the time wten a ccmpany became
understrength because of sickness, etc. Interview of
Arthur J. Rivalto,Septanber 21, 1915, App. B!.
Similarly, the former Chief of the MFD, Edward A.
Hamilton, has no recollection of the details. He speculated
that the men could have been detailed for a "fill in" to
bring a company up to strength Interview of Edward A.
Hamilton, September 27. 1976, App. B!.
-35-
me HI-D Strenth Report-Firefighting Personnel for
S-'h1.f t "A", Battalions Che and Eigh t, dated Aprl' -1 3, 1963
attached to Reinterview of Janes R. BO<i.CV£'1ght, bctober 20.
1976, App. B! stow that Wallace's Ca-npany No. 2 at Fire
Station No. 2 was operating at minimum strengh five men!
after he was detailed; whereas Ccmpany No. 33 to which he
was detailed operated at one over the mininun strength
four men! after the detail. Likewise, the Strength Report
for Shift "B" for Battalions Che and Two, dated April 1+,
1968 Also attached to the Boatwright interview of October 20, "
1976! show that News:.m's No. 55 at Fire Station No. 2
was operating at minimum strength five men! after the detail,
but Otmpamy 31 to which he was detailed operated at one over
the minium strength four men! after the detail.
I-bt.=evI=-.1, fl: Deput'y Chief Js 0. Barnett stated
that the people on the security detail operating out of
the fire station probably felt better without Wallace and
Newsun around Interviea of James 0. Barnett, September 27,
1976.! 0'1 the other hand, Assistant Chief Jaznes R. Boatwright
explained that they were having a very tense situation at
the time; that a number of threatening calls had been
received at Fire Station No. 2; and that the consensus of
opinion 1-as that Wallace and Newsxm were detailed for their
O 0 I __I 1 QQ 92 E: _.!___!Gal! PIOTZBCTZIOH, S1-1168 ty YE? Cl-E DL8-CK Ilrll 3SS1.gBC1
to that station Interview of James R. Boatwright, September 23
1916!. '
-35-
In this ootmecticn MPD Patrolman Willie n. Richnond
and former Detective Eduard E. Redditt. who conducted the
surveillance of Dr. King and his associates frun =15; fire
station, were reoorntacted and specifically asked whether
they had requested that Wallace and Newsun be detailed.
Both and Bedddtc denied that they gee su_o_h a
request or had knowledge of any one else in the police
department making such a request Reinterviews of Richmnd
and Redditt, September 28, 1976, App. B!. l
Oar investigation has not disclosed any evidenoe
that the detail of Wallace and Newsun was in any way
ccnnected with the assassiriation of Dr. King. However,
the circumtances surrociding the details strongly suggest
that both man were detailed because they supported the
mesa units were organized for the purpose of qvoiding riots
which other cities, such as Detroit, had experienced Interview
of Frank Hollcman, former Director of Fire and Police for the
City of Phnphis, September 15, 1976, App. B!. lbcunents
obtained from the State's Attorney General Itan 9 Eran MPD
Miscellaneous Records! show that on the evening of April 4,
1968, at the time Dr. King was shot, there were nine tactical
units in service at various locations as follows:
Tact:I,h:i.t No. St:-leer Imatims
6
B
99
10
ll
12
13
17
18Ihcxms and North Parkway
Jackson and Watkins
-1
Chelsea and Watkins
thin and Butler
Georgia and orzems
-mg; and Latham
Bellevue and Effie
lhion and Bellevue
FOtIL'!.'11 and Ggyggg
In additim to the tactical units, the documents
obtained from the State's Attorney General show that there
were ten regular police cars with 3 to 4 men per car! in
the general area of the Lorraine Motel. Ihese cars were
at the following locations at the time Dr. King was shot:
-33..
92I
_Ca_1;ig. Street locations
224 Phin and Beale
228 Third md Poplar
232 Fourth and Butler
230 Lhion and Front
236 Third and Belz
245 6 _Seccnd and Gayqso
247 hnp and Barton
365 Lamar md Bellevue
367 Poplar and Cleveland
' 369 Linden and East
'1he mp Part of Iten 9 from PPD Miscellaneous
Records, see App. A, Ex. 1! shows that Tact lhits 10 and 18
were within a radius of one mile of crim scene 00
block of Mzlberry Street! at the time of the shooting; and
mu Lhits 6,11 and 12 we within a radius of two miles
of the scene. Tact lhits 7,l4,l5 and 16 were located outside
the boundaries of the map and are not shown. Cars runber
224,230,232,2h5 and 247 were within a radius of one mile of
the scene and cars number 228 and 369 were within a radius
of two miles. However, cars nunbez 736,365 and 367 were
outside the boundaries of the map.
Particular ezphasis is given to Tact lhit l0 and
the activities of its men, as this unit was located at
Fire Station No. 2 S. Main and Butler! at the time of the
-39-
shooting. On the afternoon of April lo, 1968, '_I'act lhit 10,
consisting of three ca-s and 12 men stopped at Fire Station
No. 2 for a rest break at approxioaately 5:50pm. "the unit
was ccnmanded by Lt. Judson E. Ghormley of the Shelby Comty
Sheriff: Department. The other members of the unit included
Deputies 92J.A. D.:Four, W.J. Berry, Vernon Dollahite, RN. Baker
and Ronald Haley of the sheriff 's department; and Patrolman
Carroll Dunn, William Gross, Jason Pbrris, Barney Wright,
Enmett Douglass and Torrance lenders of the HPD.
Interviaws of the above named men indicate tlmt when
the unit arrived at the fire station, the cars were parked
on the north side of the fire station entrance with the lead
car actually obstructing the sidewalk. The second car was
parked directly behind the lead car and the third car was
double parked alongside these two cars. MPD Statements,
State v. .Iames Earl Ray,--DuFour p.lM9; Bary p.l450;
Ghormley pp.145l and 1532; Dollahite pp.l&55 and 1505;
Dunn p.l457; Gross p.l460; Morris p.ll+63; Wright p.ll+66;
Baker p.l468; Douglass 10.1469; Lenders 12.1471 and Fhley
p.lla80.!
llhile Patrolman Douglass remained with the lead car
to mnitor the radio, all of tlm other men wmt into the fire
station to take a break. when the shot was fired that killed
Dr. King at approximately 6:Olp.m.!, these men were at various
-40-
Ki
locations in the fire station drinking coffee, maldzvg telephone
alls, etc. Patro'.Lran Pietro:-.d, 1.-to ees me"-.L;'92g the s92_eveillan.ce
post in the rear of the station, yelled throughout the station
thatDr. Kinghadbemshot. 'Ihemembersofthetactunit,
scmeofwhanhadheardthe shot, allranoutthenorthside
of the fire station and then east toward the rear of the fire
station and the lorraine Pbtel. See diagran of crime scene,
App. A. Ex. 2!.
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
fire station with the other men. After Patrolman Ibuglass
realized what had happ-z:ed, he returned to the lead car, along
with Patrolman Wright, and radioed the dispatcher that Dr. King
had been shot. Douglass and Wright thm drove the lead car _
south on S. Main to E. Bntler, east on E. Butler to Mulberry
and north on mlberry to the entrance of the Lorraine rbtel.
Douglass and Wright later drove the car, accompanied by one
or two other un.identi.fied officers, north on Mzlbezry to
Huling, west on Huling to S. Main and south on S. Main to the
front of the buildings located just north of the fire station. 1/
fl There are conflicts in the statements of Douglass, Wright
and hormley. Douglass stated that Ghormley and 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
Douglass left the fire station together and picked up one or two
other unidentified officers at the Lorraine 1*-btel. Q1 the other
hand, Ghormley claims he turned around at the concrete 1.-all at the
rear of the fire station and ran to the front of the station and
then north on S. Main Street.
.l|.]_-
5,
92
Theothermeninthe tactunit continuedto therear
of the fire station to a concrete retaining 1-all _abutting
Ihlberry Street. Du!-our, Dollahite, Pbrris, Baker, landers,
Haley and Dunn climbed down the concrete wall and ran across
Phlberry Street to the Lorraine Pbtel. DuFom' and Marris ran
up the stairs to the balcony where Dr. Kings body lay.
The people there said the shot had come frcm a red brick
b-_1ildi_g north. of the fte et.ation ax S. Street. !-Jhile
DuFou:r remained with Dr. King's body Lmtil the ambulance came,
rbrris rannorthonhslberry toulingandwestonnling to
the north side of the buildings facing S. Main Street. Another
officer probably Haley 5: mm! was already at that point,
and Harris stopped there to assist him in securing that area.
Baker ran to the Fbtel balcony when-e DuFour was standing
beside Dr. i¬ings body. i-Te then ran hack to §t. and
ran north for a distance to an alley. Baker ran into the
L112}? looking ior anything s=_spiei.=;-92e=. He nor.-iced that
other me-nbers of the tact unit were securing a building
probably the building with its north end on Huling! .
Therefore, Baker went to the corner of Mzlberry and E. Butler
ani took up a position there.
After Lenders learned the directicn the shot came
frcm, he found a 55-gallon drun and climbed back up the
concrete retaining wail on §t. into the lot on
-42-
L
which the buiJ.ding where the sl-nt was fired is "located. landers
observed that the bathrocm window was partially and
hesawanelderlywhitexmlecomeuptothewindowandlookout
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. rte Q-n an-non. In-I CIA fr
window. lzmdersalsocheckedthebushesonthelotfor
evidence md checked the entire area for footprints. After
other officers arrived, landers and another MPD officer
climbed onto the roof of a one story building which backs
up to Malberry St. This building runs along the north side
of the building whence we shot was fired. 1-"mam; not.h.!.ng
on the roof, they came clown and started up an alley leading
to a basement. About 10 feet up the alley they found two
- I
mrth end of the b... ldirzg. ..te mntizued r'.'.o:-.ing
withgmdram! toS.Ma.i.nandtLm1edsouthmS.!-hin.
Ibllahite noticed a mmbmr of patrons in Jim: @111 at A18
S. Main. He ran into the cafe and ordered everyone to remain
seated and not to leave. Ibllahite em stopped nmentarily
at Canipe's Anusarnmt bmpany located at £24 S. Main where
he observed a green bed spread lyirg in the doorway partially
covering a blue suitcase and a box containing a rie. As he
continued down S. Main a short distance near a fenced-in
I92nuun1J:IInIo manna 1' an J92n-on-nqun--e .411-1AuI ammo an-uanlnlnnunnF-L 92J'U§=L @l92JLUl-Lg, llul EIJL-ll=L
officer coming north on Main. Ibllahite turned around
at that point and walked back to Can1pes store ahead of
92
-92
1
Gnnnley and Gross also returned to the front of
the fire station after first ruming to the retain.ing wall.
'':eybothu1medmrthonS.!'!ainandra:1tonardHuJ.ing.
G-nrmley stopped at Canipes Amsement Go. where he observed
what appeared to be a blanket partially covering a blue
suitcase and a Broming rifle box with about a foot of the
barrel of a rifle acposed.
ue apparent discrepancies in the statements of
Gnrmley and Ibllahite car. be accounted for only by the
mass confusion vhich mst have occurred immediately after
the -shooting. However. it appears that Dollahite first
observed the bundle wl"i.1enrn1:!.1:92g south on s. ram with
his gun drawn. But, he continued past Canipes Amusement
Company and after he saw Ghormley and the other officer
ooningnorthheturnedaroundand tookupapositiononthe
opposite side of the street from Canipe's.
According to the transcript of the MPD radio tapes
HPD James Earl Ray Supplements, Attorney General: copy,
Supplement 79, p.17ll+! Tact Lhit 10 advised the dispatcher
t1'a.t Dr. Fing had been shot at the !.orrai=.e Motel at é:D3p.a.
By 6:06p.m. , the dispatcher had ordered a circle formed
around the lnrraine Motel md the buildings west of the
untel on S. Main. Pbreover, patrol cars and other Tact
{hits had begun to arrive on the scene. At 6:07p.m. Tact
Unit 10 advised the dispatcher that the weapon was in front
of 424 S. Main and that the subject ran south m S. Main. .
At 6:6Sp.m. the subject was described as a well-dressed,young.
white male. At 6:l0p.1:n. the dispatcher relayed information
from Tact lhit 1Q. that tte séject bad lei; the org in a
late mdel white mstang. .
'1hemeni.nt.heTactIhitsandpatrolcarskeptt11e
area sealed off, directed traffic, and checked out suspicious
individuals while detectives from the Homicide Squad investi-
gated the scene. Inspector Nevelyn E. Zachary of the MPD
Homicide Squad arrived at the Iorraine Pbtel at approximately
6:l5p.m., and hy 6:3tJp.m. he had taken custody of the bundle
of articles found in the doorway of C.anipes knusanent. '
Zachary turned the bridle, except ior a tee shia-t glllll pair
of shorts, over to the FBI at about 9:30 or 10=O0p.m. The
tee shirt and shorts were also turned over: to the FBI after
the laundry marks were checked with local laundries Interview
of fonner Inspector Nevelyn E. Zachary, September 15, 1976,
APP- B!-
-45-
1
B. FBI Investigation Of The Assassination
1. '1he Department oi Justice Re§pon§e and'FBIPerformance 0 0 * Z
_ a. Ihe Murder. At approximately 6:00 p.m. on
April a, ma, Dr. rm-=s.n Int-Her King, Jr., was standing
on the balcony outside of his roan at the lorraine Hbtel
in Ibnphis, 'I'en.nessee. Mxnents later, Dr. King was shot
by a high power rifle and then rushed to St. Joseph:
Hospital. At 7:05 p.m. he was prcmounced dead. The
cause of death was a bullet wound which tore the major
neck blood vessels and severed the spinal cord at the
root of the neck I-iecnphis 44-1987 Sub Sec. 1-1.3, and see
autopsy report, App. A Ex. 3!.
b. Top Priority Investigation Ordered. The Memphis
Police Department was immediately a'-are of the King assault
and prcmptly notified the FBI Memphis Field Office heeded by
SAC Robert G. Jmsen. SAC Jensen telephonically relayed the
information to Washington where Director Hoover and Attorney
General Clark were infonned. The Memphis Field Office was
directed cm the evening of April lo, 1968 to immediately conduct
a full investigation of the matter as a possible violation
of 18 U.S.C. 241, the civil rights conspiracy statute HQ 44-
38861-109! . _ _ 0
-47-
Ibis directive soon became national inscope with
SAC's in all 1-BI Field Offices being ordered by teletypeA n
on April 7, 1968, to participate and conduct a top priority A
investigation mder their personal supervision. Ibis meant
.11 leads were to be afforded immediate, thorough and
imaginative 3.'|IE1|.'|Ii92."'Ii"s and all possi " from s@ 1*"
exhausted. Also, 24 hcurs was set as the period after receipt
of a lead within which the investigation and reporting rmst
be ccnzpleted. All SAC's were to bear personal responsibility
for my failure to handle the investigation HQ 4!»-38861-153!.
c. Progress of the Investigation. The breadth of
this top priority investigaticn is repeatedly evidenced in
the Murkin files. All in.formant: sources - racial, security
and criminal - were immediately alerted and contacted for
if1f6i:TnEticT1. The i and other hate group-s as well as
individuals known to have violent proclivities were checked.
The files were checked for prior threats against Martin Luther
King, Jr. HQ 44-38861-2649!. Nam checks were cmtinuously
being made on Selective Service records, city and telephone
directories, drivers license bureaus, motor vehicle divisions,
financial institutions, credit records, criminal and civil
the shot was fired. Bessie Brewer, Charles A, Stephens
and William C. Anchutz were interviewed md a physical -
description of a suspect was obtained. ' 92
recalls believlng that he had seen this perscn earlier
that a.ftemoon_with Mrs. Brewer. Stephens described him
as a white male of average build, in his 30's, 5'10 to ll."
tell, weighing 165 pounds and wearing a dark suit presenting
a meat clean appearance M-1987 Sub A sec. l!.
Like Stephens, Anchutz was a resident of the rooming
houseandinhis rocmat the timeofthe shooting. Also
like Stephens, Anchutz occupied a room adjacent to "John
Willard." He recalls vatching television in his roan that
afternoon when he heard a gm shot. Inmediately, he went -
tothedoorar|dasheopeneditsauam1'1nnmingtowardhim
Ihisman coveredhis faceasheranand carriedablanket
wrapped bundle. Anchutz addressed the my saying: "I
thouglnt I heard a shot." The n-ma responded: "Yeh, it was e
amt. Anchutz described the man as 6' tall with a slim
build and in his 30's Memphis 44-1987 Sub A sec. 1!.
! The Canipe Amusement
Company is located at 424 South Main Street and is just a
short distance frat Bessie Brewer's Roaming Ibuse at 42235
South thin Street. In the recessed entrance to Cenipe Company
a blanket wrapped bundle presumably the bundle Stqahens
and Anchutz saw! containing valuable pieces of physical
evidence was recovered shortly after the shooting.
-50-
-92
The store or-ner, Guy W. Canipe, and-two oastcmers,
Berrell Finley and Julius 1.. Grahm, were in the store at the
time of the assassination. Each was interviewed by the
FBI and described hearing a "thud" which drew their attention,
and as they looked to see what had happened, they observed
the blew '"-" - - -1 the er-ltrmce. At the sane
time, they saw amen dressed in a dark suit walking rapidly
south cm the sidewalk away frcm the bundle. A fee nnnents
later, they said, a white compact autcmobile - possibly a _
Mustang - proceeded north on South Main Street at a high
rate of speed. The mle was described as white, approximately
so years of age with A nzediun build, 5'10" to 6' an and
weighing 160 to 180 pounds. thlphis 44-1987 Sub A sec 1!.
Ihe bundle, after being discovered at C-mipe's doorway
by a of a Police 'Depa.rune1'1 t Tactica.|."' squad ,
first came into the custody of Inspector Zachary of the
lhrnphis Police Department's Hcmicide Bureau. Late: in the
evening of April 4, 1968, between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.,
Inspector Zachary delivered the bundle to SAC Jensen who
immediately had it flown by agent courier to Washington for
laboratory examination Memphis la-4-1987-610!. The bundle
contained a Model 760 Rendrgton Gamemaster rie, 30-06
springfield caliber, and a blue zipper bag. The bag contained
various toilet articles along with a pair of serfs mderwear
with 1.aund.t'y tags, apairof binoculars, twcfcsns of
beer,u1dapaperbagbearing:nadvertisenentforXoxk 7
Arm Company, Fbaphis, Tennessee, with a York Ams Canpany
cash salesreceipt dated April lo, 1968 Memphis Ur-1987
SJ: A sec l!.
! Information and Physicslggxriidencg 'Ir§cked. The
investigation continued with emphasis on tracing all physical
' 4 .1 ..
i
a laboratory examinat:Lon of this retumed rifle revealed
that it was clogged with ooline a heavy grease firearm
preservative! and could mt be loaded and readied to fire
HQ 144-38861-1:32!. Ihe salesman also provided a physical
descriptim of "Lawyer" which matched those previously
The paper bag and the sales receipt from York Arms
Ccmpany led agents to the Memphis store where the binoculars
we The York Arm salesman explained that he
sold the pair of binoculars at approadmately 4:00 p.m.
April A, 1968, to a white male matching the descriptions
previously obtained Memphis 44-1981 Sub A sec. 1!. By
Cheddng the manufacturer's can codes and distribution records
thetwobeercanswere tracedtoSouthhaver>MirmowSt~np,
D-_.A-92...1-,1-;a 92.I-'-_-_-I-_-,1-e-a: ' l'lLbbJ-58-I-PPL 92 '
'Ihe center of the investigation shifted from Memphis
toBirn:i.ngha:nmApril9, when the searchofldenphis inns
focused on the Rebel Fbtel and the April 3 registration
L
s
I
92
2
3 /Ihe possibility of a link between Eric Starve
Ge1tandthe1m1<nowns92.:jectwasp92:rsuedinAJabanabythe
Bi:m:Lngham and Pbbile offics. In their pursuit '
_1ea:med that on August 29, 1967, Galt purchased a 1966
white Mustang autmnbile. '1he Bureau agents also learned
that the State of Alabama issued a motor vehicle operator's
lioense in October 1967 to Eric Starvo Galt, 2608 Highland
.l92na||_nn492 Q-:dIIII|I|I:c92|Iunn|_ l1l92-an-nn In Ilnkuoni Q0!DVGIHJB; D.L.l-Ll-I-I-UEHQHI, | I: kill;-I-L5
obtained frcm this license matched those previously received:
white mle, born July 20, 1931, 5'11" tall, 175 pounds with
blue eyes and brown hair I-I2 44-38861-1180! .
When the investigation mved to Ga1t's Bir:::i.n,gha:n
address 1: as learned that Galt lived there in late August
mtil early October 1967. Because of the length of this
ocntact, emphasis was placed on developing information on
Gait: backgroumi. Significantly, it was learned that during
iGalthadhadit serviced twiceinthelosmgeles area
aq u.-saasi-9&9!.
No, also incidmt to the search of the ibstmwg a
frayat of cardboard torn from a Klemex box was found.
Q1 it were the names and Los Angeles addresses of Anita _
Katz:-rinkel and Ginger Nance HQ M-38861-989!.
Tnree, lamdry markings frcm the recovered underwear
were tracked to Hcnn Service laundry and Dry Cleaning,
Hollywood, California HQ 44-38861-885!. The following
day agmts learned that the name Eric Starvo Galt appeared
in 1aundry's records.
Lastly, a pair of pliers recovered frcm the blue
zipper bag were traced to the Rampage Hardware Store which
iswithin fiveblocks ofHomeServiceLa:und:ryanc1Dry
Cleaning HQ 1+4-38861-1174!.
Since it was Iénom that while in Binninghan Galt
pursued an interest in dancing, all dance schools in the
Ins Angeles area were checked. Galt's name appeared in
the records of the National Dance Studio, Ios Angeles.
M-38861-1293! .
Eventually, the dance studio oontact proved to be
most important because it was through an interview with the
dance studio owner that a photograph of Eric Starvo Galt was
nally obtained. '1he owner keyed the agents to m interest
-55-
Galt had expressed in attmding I. bartending school
HQ M-38861-1066!. Checking the area, the Internetiorual
School of Barteudingl was located and it provided G-alt:
graduation photograph. 1-or the first time, agents were
able to see and distribute a photo of their subject. To be
sure of maximxn dissemination, the photo was circulated annng
the news media HQ 44-38861-967!.
Hbitle 1.41 Los sngeles git rst 1_:Lved at the Serrano
Apartmmts and later at the St. Francis Hotel. Persons
contacted at these locations called him a "loner" and
described him as a personwho kept to himself. A departure
from this characterization, however, was reported by Charles
Stein who, at no acpense to himself, rode with Galt in the
Mustang frcm Ins Angeles to New Orleans and return.
Stein mcplained that he and his sister Rita Stein met
Galt t11rougJ'1theirca:s1.n}iarieMart5nvd'nwasworkingas a
bar maid at the Sultan Bar located in the St. Francis Hotel.
Galthad1:e.nt1onedtoMarti.n thathewas planning to drive
toNa¢Or1eans endsheaskedifhewouldbewillirlg togive
her cousin a ride there in order to pick up her children.
He agreed, but it was Charles and not Rita who went along
__l-0 q_I_ nan
w1t.n ualt u-1Q
C
ul
_.ms scoured for clues and although Galt's hotel and roan
were located the effort was fruitless I-Q 44-3886_l-1197!.
Stein also stated Galt made several telephone cells frcm
pay telephones along the way but an exhaustive search of
countless telephone records, l'lLI1bEI.'S and subscribers
.g. = .
explained that Galt conditioned the ride to Na-I Orleans
cn Charles Stein, Rita Stein and Marie Martin joining
George Wallace: American Independent Party. Each joined
but again the ensuing investigation of this lead learned
nothing HQ 44-38861-1003! .
! il;_a:lt£. OnApril ll, 1968, a citizen call came
through to the Atlanta Police Departmmt reporting the missing
white Mustang. According to this caller and another person.
; 92i
in his rocm were e booklet, "Your Opportunities in Lock-
snithing" md a collection of maps. One of these maps
% of the eity of rlslaate with the reside.-.c.e of !4L"..11".
Luther King, Jr. , and the headquarters of SCUZ circled
HQ 44-38861-967! .
Other evidence of Ga1t's presence in Atlanta was
received frcm the Piedmnt Landry where records showed
he picked up laundry April 5. 1968 H1 44-38861-3627!.
! Identified as James Earl Ray, Knowing that
alt returned to Atlanta. after the assassination all eon-
ceivable modes of transportation in, around and out of
Arm-cc" = "" = = . "rare-er, -
trail was cold; there was no evidence-as to where he fled
from Atlanta.
The Bureau becarre worried because with each passing
hour Ga1t's chances of avoiding capture became better and
better. Therefore, the investigative emphasis shifted frcm
following Gale's trail. to identifying Galt. In an effort
to acccuplish this the Bureau initiated a comparative search
of three identical latent fingerprints believed to be Galt's
ll: L1-|l%¢LPLJnlIL *@§ lu=JJV=L=92J
thebinocu1a.rs;anda third frcmthemap ofAt1anta found
Q
Iibwever, the speculation paid off when on April 19, 1968,
1 E Q 1 I Q! I Q I 1! __j____
Jares Lari Bay's nngerprmi: card cmpareo msnucairy
sq an-3sae1-1515!.
I.
Attorney General dated May 13, 1968 in which he explains
that extensive investigation has not resulted any new
developments beyond Atlanta, April 5. Therefore, the
Director requested authorization for telephone and micro-
phone surveillance on Pay family members. me request,
however, was never acted upon T-YO 44--33361-3509! .
! Pas;-Err. Search. From an interview with a former
oellmate of Ray's at Missouri State Prison it was learned
that Bay appreciated the ease with which a perscr. living
in Canada could obtain a false passport I'D 44-38861-3889! .1
Though it is not clear that the cel1mate's ocmrents pre-
cipitated a search of Canadian passports issued since Ray's
April 23, 1967 escape, it is knom that on the request of
theFBI Legatintianada suchasearchwas oonductedby the
Royal Canadian ivbunted Polioe. A passport search was also
conducted in Mexico an the United States HQ 44-38861-4445!.
'Ihough the search went through a staggering number
of applications and was based on the ourparison of Ray's
photograph to those sub-nitted with the application, it proved
to be the necessary break in piddng up Ray's trail. At
9:30 p.m. June 1, 1968, The Legal attache, Ottawa,
Canada, called the Bureau to advise that after reviewing
acme 175,000 applications the RCMP located a passport issued
-60-
1
'3
-i
%
i
5April 24, 1968 under the nane Pemon George Sneyd which
contained a photograph very definitely similar to Ray
-I2 M-38861-4190!. '
Ihe passport was filed by the Kennedy 'l92:a've1
Agency in Toronto, Canada. Incident to their investi-
gation, the Royal Canadian Pbunted Police contacted the
travel agmcy and obtained a hand printed note from Sneyd
concerning his application. The note together with the
passport photo and a latent palm print were forwarded to
the Bureau for laboratory examinatrlon which ooncluded that
Ray and Sneyd were the sane person HQ 44-38861-A262, 4263!.
8! lax gpprehended. The Kennedy Travel Agency also
provided informatima that aeyd purchased e romd trip air
ticket from Toronto to Iondon departing May 6 and retmning
May 21, 196$. mt new Scotland Yard determined that Sneyd
um-med in the return portion of the fare and received a
May 7, 1968 ticket to Lisbon, Portugal plus a $14.60 voucher
HQ 41¢»-38361-4319!.
Inmigration authorities in Lisbon were immediately
contacted. It was learred that Ray had entered Lisbon
May 7 but had exited for London May 17, 1963 HQ 44-38861-
4725!. _
Stops were issued by New Scotland Yard for Sneyd. At
11:15 a.m. , June 8, 1968, Ray was apprehended by officers of
-51-.
I-
:
4
P
F
'1-s.rd *-..=b.1_le he ees passing t.hro92..1gh L-ritish
immigration ofices in the London Airport. At the due
he was planning a flight to Brussels, Belgium HQ M48861-
4616! .
2. Etlleged Gonspiracies
Literally scores of alleged conspiracies were
oumunicated to the Bureau. Fran the date of the assas-
sination in April, 1968, even up to this date, the FBI
has been approached by mmerous persons with stories
which purport to identify a conspiracy to kill King.
0
is previously stated, each SAC was held personally
sponsible for an expedited and thorough review.
Based on our review of the les, the tasll force
is satisfied that the FBI did a credible and thoroueh 7 *7 7 '7_ _' '7" i'i7"_T"
job in attempting to identify any possible conspiracy
or persons who could have been involved in the mrder.
In each of the allegations received, the Bureau immediately
interviewed the person who was the source of the allegation
where this was possible i.e. where the source was not
monymus!. In situations where the complaint was not an
hoax the Bureau then attazpted immediately to
identify the alleged participants and interview them.
Where there was not a sa.$£actory e-_x_plan.at2n to dispel
the allegation concerning such matters as whereabouts or
associations, the Bureau thm would check f1.n'tha'. Ihis
does not mean that every allegation was pursued to the
ultimate degree. Judgment based on experience dictated
many of the decisions.
Ihese judgrents were also tempered by a critical
factor. fifteen days after the murder, the HI
was convinced that Galt and Ray were the same person,
that this purchased the rifle, rented
room across from the lorraine Motel, and fired the shot
that killed Dr. King. While there were many other people
-63-
whowere antagonistic toward Dr. King and
had qaparently discussed killing him, any successful
conspiracywouldhave tohave irrvolvedhybasedcnthe
evidence at hmd. In all the years following the assas~
sination, the irwatigation has failed to reveal my
connection between any alleged con.spirator s! and James
Earl Ray including those alleged by Ray hitrself. lacked,
tile ep -- _ -_- - 4. nuw --,-5 Q11-n-.5:a
totally alone during the year after his escape from the
Missouri State Prison.
We have not addressed here the Bureau's handling of
particular conspiracy leads because of the large number of
C. The Story of Ja:1es*pE§arl_,_Bay _
l. Chronology of Ray's Activities On and _
After April 23. 1967 _ _ _p
Ch Sunday, the 23rd of April 1967, after he had
April 23, 1
served seven years of a twmty year sentence for armed
robbery in the Missouri State Penitentiary at Jefferson
City, James Earl Ray escaped. When a truck appeared at
the prison bakery where Ray worked, a bread box K25
"-4.
carried onto the truck to be delivered to a nearby prism .
farm. Bay had concealed himself inside the bread box,
and later ed fran the prison truck at a stop prior to its
reaching the Renz prison farm. 503; Huie, pp.24-27.! :1
Ray allegedly headed first toward Kansas City
- April 21+-28
Huie, p.27!. Q1 the third day he burglarized a
trailer sitting by the Misscmri River taking a blanket
and food Huie, p.27!. For the next three nights he made
his my along the railroad in the direction of Kansas City
_'f'_/ Ray has provided varying accounts of his escape from
prison and of his subsequent activities prior to apprehension.
The task force's most credible view of his statements has
been used here. '1hese admissions of Ray are found in He Slew
the Dreamer, Huie, Willim Bradford, Delacorte Press, New York,
H53 Hereinafter, Huie!; All other citations herein are for
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.
-65-
/.
5
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 Hay 3rd, Ray secured work for the next eight
as a dishwasher and oooks helper at me" '.I.nd.1.m1"May 3
Trail Restaurant in Winnetka, Illinois, and resided at
2731 North Sheffield in Chicago under the name John L. J 5
_ une
Rayns. He purchased a 1959 Chrysler automobile from
a private omer on June Sth for $200 548!. Ch
June 9th, he failed a driver's test, but passed the
' ~ June 12
test on June 12th 394!. Ray moved fr.-an his
Sheffield address to 1648 Lunt Street on June 17th
-a - J1me 17
where he paid one week's_rent 118! . Pay was issuedJu1e9
a driver's permit in the name of John L. Rayns for the
-- June 21
State of Illinois on June 21st 394!. During the week
of June 19th Ray left his job, and requested that his
final paycheck be forwarded to the Lunt Street address,
which 1: was snag.
Thereafter, on July ll», Ray purchased a 1962 July 14
Plymouth autambile from a oonmercial dealer in East
St. Louis, Illinois, and transferred the licensed
plates from the Chrysler to the Plymouth 413; Huie,
p_.39!. Leaving East St. louis on July 15, Ray proceeded
-66-
to Montreal, Canada, via Indianapolis, Detroit and July 15
Windsor Huie, p.40!. His prime objective was
allegedly to secure a Canadian passport idem p.41! .
_ _ ____ |__ ___.¢ ____ ___1 :___ __ ____.r_1_._, ['2 IEQISCETBG IDI BI! UVEITIJ-git
stay at the Bourgard Fbtel in Dorian, just west of
Montreal idan, p.43; 54371:!.
Nut, Ray first used the alias Eric S. Galt July 19
when he signed a six mnth lease for an apartment
in the Harkay Apartments, 2589 Nocre Dame Fast, in
Mzntreal 192; Huie, p.43!. Ray then allegedly
held up a food store stealing $1700 Huie, p.47!.
The following day he spent~ $300 for new clothes at the
Tip Top Tailors, 588 t. atherine West, had his hair
mt and a manJ'.cu're at the Queen Elizabeth I-btel Huie,
p.48!. He also ordered on July 21st a $75 tailor-made
suit at the English and Scotch Woolen Canpany 692!.
A unnth and a half later, by a letter from Birmingham
dated September 6, 1967, this tailoring ccmpany was '
instructed by Ray to send the finished garment to @
at his then Birmingham address.! Ihree days later Fay July 25+
ordered three sex books frcxn Future Books, Inc., in
Inglewood, California, 192!, and on July 23th, he July 23
enrolled in a correspondence course at the I.ocl<sm:|'.thing
Institute, Little Falls, New Jersey 068!. Both nntters
were paid by Canadian mney orders.
-67- _
Ray vacationed, beginning July 30th, at the July 30;
hagustGtaylbcks Innon1.ake0uirmet inthe Iaurentian
Alu A l9292I -1-92O-an| n92JlI-G-L
a respectable uounan to vouch for him on a passport
application. He "picked up" by a female Canadian '
Government anployee and her girlfriend and spent the
next few days with than before leaving on August 7th;
The two women followed, stayed overnight with Ray in August 7
Pbntreal on August 7th, and them returned to their
reside-xces in ttawa Huie, pp.5l-53; SW2!. Ch
August 9th, he purchased by money' order a fonmJ.a for August 9
glass ior a two-may mirror 192!. on Ammsr 19 -i¢_-- _-
August 19th, Fay visited the goverrment employee in
Ottawa, but did not importune her to assist him on his
passport application Huie, p.54!.
During the approximately tun and one-half "Raoul"
contact
truth of the story, Ray left ibntreel, met hie
brother at Horthbrooke, Illinois, gave his Plymuth
oer to his brother Jerry 413! , proeeeded
fran Northbrooke or Chicago to Birmingham, stayed
August 26th at the .h'a.nad.a Hotel, 2230 Fourth
Avenue as John L. Rayns SQOO; Huie, p.61!, and that
samedayalso tookarocminthen-meEric S. Galt
at the Economy Rocrns, 2608 Highland Avenue 324!.
'l92-no days later Pay, as Galt, giving the Highland
Avenue address, rented safety deposit box lie. 5517
at the Main Office, Birmingham Trust National Bank
323 - - o 623 Ihe eoeess record on this
box shows entries at 2:32p.m. on August 28; frcm
1:52p.m. to 1:S6p.m. on September S; from 11:05
=5 11:08a.m. on September 21; and frcm 1O:16a.m.
to 1O:19a..m. on September 28 323!.
The purchase of e white 1966 Ford Phstang was
accornplishedattheendofAugustbyansweri:nge .
éwjifiéf E0 GT1 L
august and payag
cash tp William D. Paisley on the 30th 28!. All
checks with car p92;:¢_:hese ¢;'h;:om1og"v Fay
himself aclnitted to author William Bradford Huie.e__
LnAugust 26
August 28
August 29-30
I
5
i.
EBey as Eric Starve Galt, applied for and was
issued Alabama driver's license No.28l>89l+7 #143!.
'1é sig-uaturre matches the otf hiT1uwI"' -it.us o "
same name M43!. At some point ducting his stay in
Birminghau, Ray purchased a .38 revolve: which was
found on his person on his arrest in Heath;-ow Airport,
London, England 422!.
0-1 Septer 12th, Ray enrolled for 5 weekly
dance classes at the Continental Dance Club Studios
32l+!. B12 Pbdern Photographic Book Publishing
Go. Inc. , of New York City received a coupon order
frcm Eric S. Gait for a photo Book 33! and a letter
by Ray as Galt written September 26, asking that. the
booknotbe sent as hewasmovingandwouldgive the
changed address later 143!. 'Ihe-handw'riti.ng was
identical with Ray's £»llo3! .
Ray purchased a bank draft from the Exchange
Security Bank, 5 points South Branch, Bimingham
payable to the Superior Bulk Film Co. of Chicago and
this ecccmpanied an order tn that company for a Kodak
Super 8 zmvie camera, a projector, a splicer and a 20
foot rerrote control cable; price $337.24 135!. Then
Faytypedarntetothefilmcanparlysevezudays
-70-September 6
September 12
September 26
September 28
!
later m which he acknowledged receipt of the items
he had ordered but returned the tovie camera as the .
wrong one; he stated he was leaving for Mexico on
October 7, and would send a new address to which
the correct movie camera could be forwarded 186!.
Lt: September 30th, Ray paid only for his room 118! .
Ray, as Galt, was issued Alabama license tags
No.1-38993 for l968. He left Binrdngham for Mexico
cn October 6 Huie, p.66!. On the Bth of October,
Ray purchased a 30 day Mexican auto insurance policy
904!. He reached Acapulco _On October 10th. proceeded
to Guadalajara cm October 15th and left there on
the 18th for Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, I-ierico,
arriving in Puerto Vallarta on the 19th l+96! . He
registered in Room 212 of the Hotel Rio at I-brelos 86
on this date; his "Galt" signature and writings match
his other Galt writings A143!. Galt typed a letter
tothe£ilmcompanytoaskforarefundtothePuerto
Valletta address in lieu of the Kodak movie camera
which had been mailed meanwhile to his vacated
Birmingham address 116!. Again the written signature
on this note matched the string of "Galt" signatures.
1143!. For sane reason Huie says Ray said he wanted November 6-13
-71-October
October
October
October
October
October
October6
8
10
5l
18
19
22
aweekinaunre expensive roominahotelonthe
beach.! Huie, p.81!, Ray switched hotels, going
fran the Rio to the Hotel Tropicana 219!. He
spent mast of his time in the period Eran October
19 to lbvember 13, 1967, with a girlfriend, Irma
Morales, whose true name is l 'anue1a Aguirre Medrano
219!, and possibly another female named Nina
Huie, p.8!.
Ray left Puerto Vallarta and drove to Los
Angeles where he rented an apartment at 1535 North
Serrano Avenue on the 19th of November. 68; Huie,
p.85!. He then wrote a typed letter to the Superior
Bulk Film Ccupany, Chicago, to forward to his
address the refund due him for the undelivered Kodak
nmrie camera; the signature rm this letter matches
the other "G-alt" signatures. 143!.
In this second week of his stay in Los Angeles,
Ray began a series of six visits to a clinical
psychologist, Dr. Mark 0. Freeman, in hopes ofNovarber 14
November
Novazber
December19
4
Apparently, in a further self-improvement step,
Ray enrolled in a course of dancing instmctions with
the omer of the National Dance Studio, 2026 Pacific
Avenue, long Beach, California 143!. Q1 December
13th, Ray wrote his Birmingham bank to close his
safety deposit box 323!. He paid $100 on the
dancing lesson contract en the lloth of December, left
' at the Avalon le-i'1ers E: IIJT1fY, Ihc. ,
5662, lbllyuood Blvd. , Los Angeles, on the following
day-ticket No.3l053 and laundry mark "20R-3" mde
by a Iheron Seal marking machine 143!; and also
on December 15th Bay, as Galt still, began a romd
trip drive with Charles J. Stein, 5666 Prarnklin
Avenue, los Amgeles, to New Orleans in liays white
Imstang to pick up Stein's sister's two small children
143!. Stein and Pay arrived in New Orleans on the
* the latt fé§i§f.e1'1r|g "'_ at the wm-"-tie]. Hotel,
1021+ Chartes Street, Room 126 399!. The "Galt"
rezistration card si2:nature matched the striruz of
such signatures in Bay's odyssey and he further
recorded that he was driving a Mistang with Alabama
license No.1-38993 and gave his address as 2608
1-lighland Avenue, Birrningham 143!.
-73-Decanber 5
December 13
December 14
December 15
December 17
9
i
. Ray checked out before the l:00p.m. checkout
time on the 19t-1 end, with the two children and
Charles Stein, made the return trip to Ins Angeles
arrivi11gbythe21stofDecer:i>erwhenhetookthe
first of the series of dancing lessons he had
signed up for. Tne next day he picked up his
laundry. Four more dancing lessons are recorded
next 1143!.
I1 December 28, 1967, Pay first indicated
his interest in zhzmigratlng to Africa, and mre
particularly toe white ruled area, ~by writing a
letter of inquiry to Hr. John Acord, Chairman,
American-Southern African Council, 800 Fourth St. ,
S.W., Washington, D.C.; the signature of Galt
batched up with the other Gait writings. 143!.
Pay said he visited Las Vegas on New Year's
Day. Huie, p.96!. Dance lessons are cbcunented
on the 2nd and 3rd days of 1968 325!. Gelt
bought Bank of America money order No.0799 18037
in the amunt of $15 frcm the Hollywood Western
Breath peyeble to Lee!-:s1nit_l1ir;g lnstitute 32.5!
'IheFBI]abmadetheusua1writinguatchuponthe
sigwture lh3! . Meanwhile Ray sl-owed up regularly
for dance lessons 325!. Q1 January 19th Ray signed
-7!»-Decenber 19
December 21
December 22
December 25 ,
26 . 27628
1968
January 1 ,2&3
January
January 9,11 ,15
166-18
92
up for a bartmding course at the International School
of Bartending 2125 Sunset Boulevard 325!; his _
application signature fits his other Galt signatures
143!. He left his laundry at the Home Service
laundry and Dry Cleaning Co. at 5280 Pollywood Boulevard
325, cites laundry list 290.3065 in E. G-alt: name
with Thernn Seal sticker 023-6, the marking cm the
'1-shirt and shorts in the bag abandoned at the front
door of G1-mipe's nusenent Go. in lhrphis, April 4,
1968!.
- Ch January 21, 1968, Ray changed his lodgings
-a
to Roan 403 of the St. Francis Hotel, 5533 Hollywood
Boulevard 325!. On the 22nd and on the 23rd, 25th,
29th, 30th, 31st, February 1, 5, 6, 8 and 12, Ray
regularly attended dance lessms 325!. He attended
bartending school through to March 2, 1968. He bought January 29
two Bank of Imerica mney orders on the 29th of January,
one to place an ad in the Free Press soliciting a 0
fenalepenpal andthe second topay foramail
forwarding service 500!. Each transaction created
a handwriting match as did e Bank of America rmney order
No.0799 17281 payable to the locksmithing Institute, January 31
Little Fall, New Jersey 325!.
-75-
ii.92
lie;-"s l9é6 14_Jst_o-rg 1.-rith Jlebae liege-e
bb.l-38993 registered in Alabama under the alias
Galt was serviced cn the 13th at a Chevron Statim,
1506 North hbrmndic Avenue, Los Angeles with mileage
at 34,185. Another undated servicing some 200 miles
later occurred at Cbrt Fox Ford Co. , 4531 Hollywood
Boulevard in Ins Angeles 325!.
Ray attempted to increase his social life by
writing and sending his photograph to a wcman listed
by "The local winger" listing was secured for
$1.00; Ray in fact wrote 5 such letters #116! . me
_-|11- ndu-new-n-wn nuns: n:-1|-lav! Pn IPHQ 'F'R'|"e n92:|Pn1-n1v92c an!W W ibik iii ml W M Q U- 6 mi? M
Ray's photograph secured. For reading material, __
Pay ordered books frcm Future Books paying by money
order 110.0799 l9l>30 on the 26th. .500!. The
signature matchup was made A163!. Ch this sane day
Ray made a money order payment 510.0799 19701 to the
Incl-csmitlding Institute 325!. He sent another.
No.0799 19704, for the "LocI<smith's Ledger" with
matching sig92atm-e 325!; he sent two money orders,
Nos.0799 19702 and U799 19103, and a Letter order to
Tiffany Enterprises, 8512 Whitworth Drive in Ios Angel
Q an-rI'1 .nw-Ag»-w 1-sauna; Faun nan n? 15 -:11-92ac:_92 1'92:HAlIn'F'FGQ LL BLUE-L IIIHBE. £95 91$ FLA: 92-Id» 92|IGlkf2|l»iEII92- otasulq-92.l-0-low
500! , with sig1atu:res matchable on two of the threeES
docmzats #143! .
-16-February l7
Feb:-..=_=.ry 26
At intervals in his stay in nos Angeles, Qay
hadpLu'>ti.c surge:ydo:1etod1angehisag=earance
authoruieputsi-J1.i.s1:reat1nentasmMard13, land
11, 1968, Huie, pp.107-B!: he visited a psych:>1ogist-
hypnotist, Reverend Vbn Koss an January 4, 1968
Huie, p.102!, and allegedly acme seven othe.r
psych:i.atr.i.st5| hypnotists or scientologists.
Accordingtoauthoruie, hefrequentedabarlomcwm
asthenabbisrbotclubandama-:enightbecz|:ne
involved m a racial argurent followedty admugginq in
which he ma his wallet stolen and 105: his suit jacket,
ax keys and driver's license 0-Iuie, p.96-98!. According
toauthorHuieci1:LngRayash.i.s source, Raytelephoned
Alabamaandhadaduaplicaue 1_icenseissued:thiswas
forwardedfrcmhisfom92esBi:minghaanaddresstcCa1ifomia
and Iemived there about March 10, 1968 H1-lie, p.98!_. _
"Gait" was graduated frtln the bartending school
cnthe2ndofMa.rch. H.i.spic:'!:urewast.akenwiththe
school operator and Ray closed his eyes to make recogni-
ticn nnre difficult 143; Huie, 'p.1o4!.
A postal money order No.1,916,211,07B wassent
to the Iocksmithing Institute as a pen'.od:|'.c payrrent cn
the correspondence course Ray was taking 428! . The
signature matchup was mack. M143.!
....-17...March2
March
».-
N.
Ray listed a change of address on Fhrch 17
with the st. Francis iiotei, giving forwarding
address as Gmeral Delivery, Phin Post Office
Atlanta, Georgia 143!. Presu::§b1y'he*1e.£t
Ins Angeles in his white Mxstang on this date,
p-roceedingtoNew0r1eanswherehe1eftab0x
of clothing for Phria Martin's little daughter,
Marian de Grassee, at Charles Stein's cousin
Ilheresa Stone's residence, 4019 Royal Street am;
1-luie, p. 108!.
Fkcm Newmleans, Ray drove to Selma, Alabama
502! , where Ray began to stalk Dr. King according
to Huie's statement of Pay'a' adrnissinn on this! and,
after an cvemight stay there, he went an to Mmtgomery,
1:12 Bimighm and fin-ally tr! Atlanta, Ceergi I-Hie, p.
112!. -
In Atlanta, Ray rented roam No.2 in a rooming
house at 113-14th Street, NJ-2. x-cm "the operator,
Jimry Dalton Gamer 033!. He stayed there until
March 28 on which day, while still in Atlanta, he
pu:n:hased U.S. Postal mney ordm: Ho.5.615,057,923 pay-
able to the Ioclucnithing Institute 428! . the Galt
signature was a matchup A1153! .
-78-J
March 22
Phrch 23
March 24
March 24
March 28
ii " 92
GI QQO
Q4-U-.-.-4..-I -0- 0-1--. AA----.--Iq-nu E.-51.0y-PGQLEU CL» L-LE IIBLKJ-lln-Ll-LIB
Company, 5701 Airport Higfmay in Birmingham, Alabaml
azmdusirngtheeliasarveyloo-lnyerp92.:rcl1asedaRani.x1gtcm
.243 caliber rifle, Model 700 with a 2x-7x Redfield
telescopic sight Imunted on it 32!. Allmst certainly
because the breech of the .243 caliber weaponwas caked
with a hardened preservative coline! and could not
be loaded, Ray returned it the following day not having
fired it!. Fe mcplained that his "brother" didn't like
it, and exchanged the .243 rifle for a Pbdel 760, 30-06
caliber Remington. Ihe scope was transferred to the
latter rifle. Throughout these transactions the package
for eitherriflewas eBrom.ing shotgun cartonwhichwas
large enough to l1old the scope-equipped Rezningtons 32!
me Atlanta rocming house operator, Jimmy Delton
Garnerstatedhehadkayprinthisname EricS. Ga1t!on
an old envelope at Garner's reqmst so that Garner could
ntansfer the name properly to his official records; the.
handprinting is a untchup with other GaltRay printing
samples 033!. .
-79- .March 30
March 31
1!Q
4Using the name Eric Salt, Ray left his laundr;
anddrycleaning at thePiedm'mtIa1mdrypic1<:.1p 'Apr".l 1
staclcn, 1168 Peachtree, HM. in Atlanta 153!. 1&0 April 3
days later, as Eric S. Galt, Pay cn April 3 registered
i_m:_o Bogs 34 at the Rebel Motor Hotel, 346-5 1_an._.=i'_'
Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee the distance between Atlanta
and rhzphis by the most convenient route is 398 miles!;
he gave 2608High1andAva'me,Birn1i.nghama.shis address
and he noted on the registration card he was driving
a Mlstang with Alabama license No. 1-38993 143!. His
signature was a mtch to the other identified Galt signa-
tures 116!. Q1 this smae day, Ray purchased a safety
razor and shaving supplies at the Rexall Store in
_ a--1-.--_. --1--._-L -. .-
rmted the room using the alias John Willard Puie, p-.
30!. Ray want out to the York Anus Company Store then
located at 162 South ram Street and purchased a pair
of Buslnell binoculars for a total of $41.55 143!;
Ray was identied by the salesnan at York Arm and
Rayadmitstohavingbeentothesportsstoremdto
having made the purchase of the binoculars Huie, p.
115!. By 5p.m. at the latest, Ray had remrned to
theroominghouse, parléedhisrhstazmgaxmdhadtakam
his zipper bag md bedspread .-.0 Room 5-B mm, 13.115!;
by necessary in:Eerence,_ because it was achittedly
brought down from there and dropped on the sidewalk,
the 30-Oriflehadbeentakenup toRoom5-B at this
time or just before Ray's trip to the York Arms Co.
Store See 1-hie, p.114 and p.131; 4143!.
Ls detailed in the discussicn of the course of
the FBI investigation E at pp. 48-50, the assassin fled
franthecormnnbathroomattherearof themqning
house after firing the shot that killed Dr. King. The
assassin could have cleared and undoubtedly did clear
the corridor and the stairs to the street in about 45
seconds. In another 15 seconds at the outside he could
have reached and undoubtedly did reach Ray's white
- 81.6:03:50p.1
92
I-hstang after dropping Ray's bag, the rifle Bay bought
and bearing only his fingerprints and the bedspread which
Fay admits taking up to Room 5-3 Staff reenactma-mt;
Huie, p.115!. According to a post-conviction statement by
Ray to then Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Field
Office, Robert Jensen, rocmer Charles Stephens had a
good look at Pay in the rooming house 622; Interview of
Robert Jensen, July 7, 1976, App. B!.
. Q1 the street G.1yWa.1-ren Canipe, Jr., in his place
~
of business, Canipe masemmt 00. , at £24 South Main Street
he.ardathudnearthefrontdoorofhisstore,1ookedup
to see a white male walk rapidly past his store going
south right to left to someone inside t'he store! and,
with the two customers in store, went to the front
door where they observed a small white car, a Mzstang 6:0l>p.m
according to the two customers, pull away going north
left to right! frun a urrb side parking place just south
of C-anipes store Memphis 44-1987 Sub A-Sec.1; cf.
Huie, p.131!.
According to Ray: admission to author I-Iuie, Ray April 4 1968
drove south into Mississippi and then turned east through
Birmingham reaching Atlanta about 6a.m. on April 5th April 5.
1968
-Iuie, p.132!. He abandoned the white Mustang. Ch the
-32-
l
table '41 the ~::c::~. at the Ark.-1'.:.a rocx::':.g I-ouse, he left
a letter about South Africa frcrn the John Birch Society
in California and a copy of the Free Press Eran lbs
mgeles to divert the FBI: attention to California
while he fled to Canada -luie, p.133!. Ray picked up .
his laundry at the Piedmont Laundry pick-up station at
1168 Peachtree N.E. in Atlanta on the Sth of April 697!
He thentookabus departingAt1ant.a_1ust afternoonon
the 5th and arrived in Cincinnati at about l:30a.m. on
the6thofApril. Afteraonehourlayoverwhichhe
atatedhe spent ina tavernnear thebus depot, Pay
continued by bus to Detroit where he arrived at about
8a.m. -hie, p.135!. He crossed by taxi into Canada
arriving inindsor an hour or so before noon and
proceeded frcm there to Toronto by train arriving at
about 5:00p.m. -luie, p.135!. He rented a roan at
102 Ossingtcn Avenue without giving his name 502;
Huie, p.135!.
On the 8th of April Ray began the process of
securing a Canadian passport. He picked two names,
Paul Edward Bridgman and Ramn George Sneyd, frcm the
announcements of births in newspapers for the year
1932 at the public library Huie, p.l37!. He mde an
-sa- nAvril 5.
1963between
9:00a.m.
102003.111.
approx .
1:UOpJn.
Avril 6.
1968
1:30a.m.
2 : 30a .m.
between 1
and lla.
approx.
5p.m.
approx.
6p.m.
April 8.
1965
April 10,
1968
" xC
_--1 8- -' ' 1 J ' '-appiitattm tor a wmjricata cerzizlcste in each of
thesenamesonApri110andonthefol1owin3dayhed '
a passport picture taken in the name of Bridgman and
then to provide a separate mailing address for the
expected replies as to Sneyd, he rented a roan at _
962 Dundas Street in the name of Sneyd on April 16th
502; Huie, p.141!. Q1 the same day he executed an
application in the name Paul Bridgman with his, Ray's
102 Ossington Avenue address as the person to be
_ 4,--Q I --@----q-- I'll.--I-92L.-:L::l= Cu. uJ..l:L5::uu_y 92n.u-Le, P
Kennedy Travel Agmcy of Toronto handled the processing
of the application for Ray 502! . On the 19th Ray
moved to the Dundas Street address 502!. ,
me fingerprints of "Eric S. Gelt" were found to
be a nntch with tlnse of Jarnesjarl Ray after a search
of the print file on Fugitive Felons.
Accordhg to author Huie he gleaned from Ray that
Ray visited four bars on the 21st in order to watch the
92
l
On April 2!» the Can.adi.an passport i.-1 the rain of
Iiamon George Sney_a_was issued to Pay I-tu:I.e, p.148!. Bay
purchased a round trip ticket to london and departed
on May 6, 1968 Huie, p.149!. Frcm London Ray took a
plane to Lisbon where he SPEFLC 10 days looking for a _
passage to Angola Huie, p.150! . When he was unable
to so he returned to London after first getting his
passport replaced at the Canadian Embassy in Lisbm to
correct the Spelling of the name Sneyd instead of Sneyg!
lhlnLI=| F.
Rayretm-ned tolzmdonandspenthis time trying
to find a way to join a mercenary force Huie, p.150!.
lb this end he bought a plane ticket to Brussels and was.-92.;.1ri.Z. 2l~
1968
May 6 ,
1968
May 16.
1968
Fay 17 ,
1968
in the process of meeting his plane at the Heathrow Airport June_8,
when he was apprehended on June 8, 1968, by detectives from
New Scotland Yard 346,4368; Huie, p.150-151!. The arrest
was made on the basis of use of a fradulent passport and
carrying a concealed weapon, i.e., the loaded .38 caliber
Japanese-make revolver found on his person at Heathrow
346,l»368: Huie, p.151!.
This chronology has been ccmpiled frcxn data in FBI
reports and Ray's letters to author William Bradford Huie.
It was hoped by the task force that we would have an1968
I
oppor:.'..r.i:'; to go over the facts with Janes ml Bay
himself. Accordingly, after the United States Supreme
Court denied his petition for a writ of certiorari, on
December 13, 1976, a verbal request was made to Ray:
Jl.ttoi11_ey, Js Lesa, £01: an cg.-ortl.r92.it},r to
Ray. lesar stated that he was writing Ray a letter that
day and would advise him of our desire to interview him
and leave the cntter up to him Interview of James H.
Lesar, December ll», 1976, App. B!. Also, the task force
sent Ray a letter on Decenber 15, 1976, via his attorrey
requesting an interview See letter to Janes Earl Ray,
December 15, 1976, App. A, Eh-:.1&!. While no answer to
our letter was received, Ray sent the task force a copy of
e letter addressed to his attorrzejr. Fay attached e copy
of a couplaint he recently filed in a civil action and
stated in the letter to his attorney that: "I agree with
your advice opposing the interview. It would appear that
this would only be in the interest of the J.D. and their
book writing collaborators, e.g. , Gerold Frank, George
M:Mil1ian, et al." See letter to James H. lesar, Decembetr 20,
1976. App. A, 51.15!.
Absent a statement to us frcm Ray, four existing Pay
exrplanations were ccmpared and are here briefly noted.
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i
First, no one, ct!-er ti-an his attor:~.e;:s".:.=....I-cec. -.-1:1-.
Ray before the plea bargaining resulted in his ecrwicticn
of the First Degree murder of Martin lather King, Jr. , and
sentencing in open oourt on Phrch 10, 1969, before Judge
W. Preston Battle, Criminal Oourt of Shelby County.
Tennessee See Transcript App. A, Ex.l6!. At that time.
on lo_:L_'g_ Q5, Judge Battle asked Ray: "Are you pleading
guilty to Murder in the First Degree in this ease because
you killed Dr. Fax.-tin Luther King under such circumstances
that would make you legally guilty of Harder in the First
Degree under the law as explained to you by your lawyers?"
Ray answered: "Yes."
Ray then acknowledged that he was pleading guilty
freely, voluntarily and undastandirgly. He md his
attorney, Percy Foreman, initialed the copy of these
qmstions and answers. hay also signed a detailed
stipulation confessing that he fired the fatal shot 506!
The task force observes that the only way one can
Inn f-1|" n'F Fire? Jae-|-pa Inn-Hp? in !.:i-nan nna.... .... .....-.., .... .... .....g...... ............. -.. ....... .......
accomplishes, or aids or assists in the accomplisl-ment, of
the wrongful killing of a human being with premeditation
and malice aforethought. Thus, Ray has judicially confessed
thathe intended to anddid kill Ix. King.
/.4
l 1
I
Secmci, Ray related in writ":.g to aizthot Hui: a
story of hisodyssey 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,"
waited in the white Mustang, and drove "Raoul" away from
the crime scene after the murder wholly unaware of the
killing of Dr. King. In this version "Raoul", or "Focal",
is the mysterious killer whom Ray thought to be an
international gun-runner; Pay bought the murder weapon for
"Raoul" thinldng it was be displayed to prospective
Mexican buyers in Room 5-B of the "flop house" on South
Phin Street l-hie, p.130-131!.
Third, in a statement read on a program of Station
RMJX-IV St. Louis, Misscnnri, in August of 1969 by his
brother Jerry, James Ray was quoted as alleging that
he was the imocent victim, "the fall guy" of a scheme by
the FBI Menpls 44-1987 Sub M665!. This description of
the crime contains no reference to Raoul.
Fourth, the most recent story available to the
task force is reported as the result of a four hour interview
by Wayne Cnastain, Jr. , for the Pacific News Service,
October 20, 1974. It is to t1'm effect that Ray was "set up
-33..
7
1
;.!
as 1 patsy" for "Raoul." It proceeds along the same lines
asthet:a1etoldbyRaytoauthorHuiet11att.hcre92astO
heameeting at therooninghzruse at 6p.m. withan
international gun runner. Ray was instructed by Raoul to
have the white Mistang at the wrb for "Raou1s use that
Q11 IQ Z7 1Iq ' 92-I
6:00p.m. to get air in a low tire and f police swammg
all over the place when be tried to return at 7:05p.m. He
could not park, ms tlxmed back by police and learned only
after driving 100 miles into Mississippi that he had been
-92P92
Ray: stipulated judicial confession cargo;-ue in
detailwiththefactsdtsclosedlzytlae investigaticnand
the feuure of the se1.fserving stories persuasively
undennines the lilcelitnod of any cacnspiracy.
-90-
_ 3
2. Motive
James Earl Ray, born 1928, was raised under
difficult circunstances. His parents were poor, unedhr
cated and generally resided in areas surrounded by
criminal activity. Ray did not achieve a high school
education, nor did he attend any vocaticmal instituti.on.*
Afterenlistinginthe am5ri.nl946, Raydidnotmeetthe
mi1.itary's standards and was discharged in 1948 for lack ~
of adaptability. '0-no 44-38861-3333, 3981!.
mus, attheageoftwenty-one, 1-ehadaverylimited
education, was not trained or skilled at any particular job,
and was a reject of the military atablishment. lhereafter,
heprcceededtcparticipateinandbeapprehendedfora
number of criminal act-icns for which he would be incarcerated
for of the next eighteen years until his escape frcm
the Missouri State Pamitentiary in April 1967. Ray's criminal
activities included robbery, forgery and burglary HQ 44-38861-
4l43!. Hewasnotknowntohavebeeninvolvedincrizneswhere
victins or witnesses were physically harmed.
*1-BI files disclosed that James Earl Ray has an IQ of 105
H2 41+-38861-3503!.
-91-
J
- - *3.
92 92
it
In March 1968. James Earl Ray was for-ty' years
oldandwasw-*er*kr:1r~t-1 toha*vease.':.'.|.o'os relationi
shipwith aman orwunan during his adult life. Although
hewasabouttooc:rmitaveryinfamouscrineofassassina-
tion, neither his childhood, his military years nor his
adult life of crime and imprisonment signaled such action.
Hiscrimina1act.ivitieswererntthoseofah:i.redorself-
aoottrplished premeditated rmnrderer. Why then would James
Earlliaynurdernr. Marti.nLutherKing, Jr.?
An analysis of Fey's prison records and interviews
with his prison :|."nates reveals sore ptiv-e facts with
respect 1:: a motive. For example, in 1955 Ray was incar-
cerated in the federal penitentiary at Ieavenworth, Kansas
for forgery of post office money orders. On September 12,
1957, Pay was approved for the honor farm at Leavenmorth,
butwasnevertza.nsfen'edtherebecauseherefusedtolive
in the integrated dormitory at the farm OD 44-38861-1678!
Thus, he was supposedly wi1J_i.ng to sacrifice this benefit
and its acocmpanying privileges to avoid association with
An innate with Ray at Missouri State Penitentiary
for approximately three years, stated that Ray hated
Negroes. I-lefur-therstatedthatRayhadsaidthat
all the Negro prisoners inside the penitentiary should
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§
I-
i
rQ
0i
bekilled. Healsorespondedthatonseveraloccasions
Rayhadsaidhewou].dkil1Dr.Ma:.-tinIutherl<ir|g,Jr.,
iftheprioeuereright. Inl966,t1-uerewasariotat
the pehitentiary. Three blacks were killed. The inmate
no can 4--:u92-luau: um bknlnLEI-$1 Jill I-1%
killings. Bedidsaythat,ifRayhadnot,hewould '
definitelylcnowwhohad killed the prisoners. He also
saidthathewouldnotbesurprisedifheactedwithout
beingpaidforthekilling. Itshouldbenotedthatamther
pn'.sone.rwhowasac1'ef atPEPandRay'sbossfor sixyears,
-
statedthatthisinrlatewasagoodfrieradofkayandhealso
hated Negroes. HQ 44-38861-4443! . '
that in. 1963 Ray made 1:2-e ::ena:I< 1:.-zat he was going to
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
many times discussing his dislike of Negroes. Another
prisonerbecane aquaintedwithayin 1965 and said that
myommentedifheevergotoutofjailhewasgoingto
makeh.iJnsel£a'bxmchofm::ney, andBayfurthersaida
"Businessmen's Association" had offered $100,000 for
killing Martin Luther King. This prisoner said that
Ray did not know what the B'usinessmens Association"
was, but he intended to find out. 44--38861-4143! .
AoelJmatewithRayin 1955 atKa.nsasCitywho
later served prison time with Ray at Leavenworth, Kansas,
was also incarcerated with Ray at PEP. E stated that
during the period when President Kennedy was assassinated
the !!!I192.:_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 F. Kennedy's head and
had he been free he would have collected it: and, if he
-94-
got out in time and EL.-:5 were still a.-_i':e, he would get
the bounty on King HQ 44-38861-4143! . A prisoner
who was at IE? f:uni1958 through 1965 stated Ray did
mt1ikeNegroesandwascapab1eo£ki11.ingnr.Martin
Luther King, Jr. -ID 44-38861-4143!.
Bay's psychological background is also a very
inportantavenueofreview. Asaresultofavolmtary
pqchiatric exami.nati.cn in 1966, Ray was described as
having a sociopathic personality, antisocial type with
anxiety and depressive features an 44-32361-3505!. In ._
1954, a prison sociologist stated that Ray's delinquencies
seem due to impulsive behavior, especially when drinking
ID 44-38861-3335! . Its-se charactez-istics and ccnments
about Pay support the opinion of psythologist Dr. Mark
Freanan. WhileRaywasinI.osAngeleshewasapatient
of Dr. Freeman. Dr. Freeman believes that Ray was potentially
capable of was a selfn~otiv-ated person who
could act alone, and likely fantasized on being scmecne
important.
mere were two matters involving Ray and blacks
while outside prism which shed some light on whether his
hatred of blacks and need for inportance and profit could
havenotivatedhimtomurder. WhileinHa>ci.ooi.r1thefall
-95-
of 1967, Ray associated with a Me.~c:'.-can woman, -Ema
mrales, in the City of Puer.-to Vallarta. Morales admitted
spending considerable time with him and recalls an incident
that took place or: Siinday, uctccer "' " She and Ray WEir e
seatedatatableinabarmdweredrixcingwhexmfqr
blacks and several white gersons arrived and were seated
at another table. She stated that Ray kept goading the
blacks for sure reason. 'I'hereafter, Ray left his table
togotohiscar, andwhenhereturnedhe askedherto
feel his pocket. Morales did and felt a pistol in his
pocket. Ray stated to Morales that he wanted to kill the
blacks. He'me:1ccr92tin921edtobeinsultingar1dwhentl'92e
5
discussion with Pat Goodsell, a frequent fznele czszccaer,
omcerning blacks and time civil rights movement. Ray beeme
very involved andbegan dragging Goodsell towards the cbor
saying, "I'll drop you off in Watts and we'll see how you
like it there" HQ M-38861-3557!. Ray then supposedly wmt
outside and had to fight two persom, one being black Huie,
pp. 96-98!.
thus, it seems clear that Ray openly displayed a
strong racist attitude towards blacks. H1112 in prison,
Ray stated hewould kill Dr. King if given the qaportunity
and Bay was prepared to threats. or attack black persons
w
in Poerto Vallarta, Itaclco, with a weapon for apparently
a racial reason. lhese events and occurrences leading to
the assassination of Dr. King and the assassination itself
car" - '- ~ a single, conclusive mtive.
Yet, Ray's apparent netted for the civil rights n:oveme=nt,
his possible yearning for reeoguition, and a desire for a
potential quick profit may have, as e whole, provided
sufficient inpetns for him to act,l md to act alone.
uu 92.I
to mrra.-. liv'.r~.g expenses, Ray had made several sab-
stantial purchases, e.g., cars, photo equipu:nent,
lessons See, List of known expenditures, App. A, Ex. ls!.
Ihese expenditures suggested that he had financial assist-
ance and lwnce possible co-conspirators. Therefore, the
particularly interested in determining his
sources of inccme. Ch April 23, 1968, the Director advised
all field divisions to cxzunsider Ray as a suspect in any
unsolved bank robberies, burglaries or armed robberies
occun'ing after April 23, 1967. I112 results were negative.
_0n April 29, 1968, the Director :Ln a teletype to
all SAC's ordered that all la: enforcement agencies which
mintained unidentified latent fingerprints be contacted
and requested that fingerprints of Ray ccuupared in order
todete:u'.ruehispast whereaboutsiiidpos -
his source of funds. Again, negative resdlts were obtained.
The Director, m May 14, 1968, razdnded all eld divisions
that Ray had spent a considerable mount of money April
23, 1967 until April ls, 1968, and advised that a source for
these mcmies had not been determined. 'Ihe Director ordered
that photographs of Ray be displayed to appropriate witnesses
in unsolved bank robberies and bark burglaries. These efforts
and ell others to date, with one exception, have proved
As e result of one of 1-luie's look articles. the
id asm":.ain that Pay tad been =:-ploya at e
restaurant in Ytinnetka, Illinois, for app-roudmtely ei:
weeks. As a dishwasher and cook's helper, Ray had received
checks totaling $664 frun May 7, 1967 thrtmgh June 25, 1967
See, List o£lcnoun:I.nccme, App. A, Ex. 5!. Ibis is the
only knom source of inocme for Ray following his prism
escape. Reports fron the Royal Canadian Haunted Police
indicated no knonn robberies or burglaries which could be
omnected with Ray, nor did Mexican authorities notzlfy
the Bureau of my criminal activity which could be associ-
ated with Ray. Ihe Bureau investigated the possibility
LL-b B-on Q--at-I I 4 1-10 u-||92'L_nu-Q -0- 115:1 BL W J-ll Q 92JlJU=-J L flil-n92ILl| J-LLJIl§1ln§|
in 1967, but it was established thathe was not a partici-
pmt.
Ray related to author Huie that he robbed a food
store in Canada, and that an individual named "Raoul"
furnishedhimfunds onaoontinuousbasis forvarious
s. 'I.nese matters were actively pursued by the
mreaubutbaveraewerbeenoorroboratedbyttzen. Norhave
they been corroborated by private inquiries of writers md
journalists. It is the Bureau's opinion that Ray uost likely
oonmitted on a periodic basis several robberies or burglaries
during this period in order to support htnself. Ray's criminal
~
-99-
Rbacl<.grU92.n'1d does lead credence to this theory.
'11-we task force interviewed Ray: brother; Jerry
Bay %, L'1tg92.rie~.-.v oi Jerry Ray, Qe@>e_l' Z9, l9?§ - ,
B!. Be stated that to his knowledge family
not provide James with any funds. Jerry admitted he net
with his brother two or three times dning his employment
at the winnetka restaurant and advised that he, not James,
paid for their eating and drinking expenses. However,
when Jerry again saw his brother on his return from Canada
in August, 1967, Jmes did have some money because it was
he who paid for their expenses which incltded e mtel roan
92v____- __1.I__'| L92__... 'r___.. _'|-.. _____ 1...!.. 1.3- __... -..i_._...:.._
JETIY I-CICIBU tnat JHEIS H-.L5U EHVE {DID IIU-5 C-HI CI-].LllI;'Ill-.L-I15
that he would purchase a more expensive car in Alabama. '
Jerry stated he ms unaware of where his brother had
obtained his unney asawell as the mount of money he had
at this time.
Accordingly, the sources for Ray's funds still
remain a mystery today.
-100-
I
QA. Est-:'_l;r_Ccn':etts _ar-5 Assistagce
Q2. review oi the files indicated that the FBI
hadrnhardevidence1irdngJa:nesRaytoar1yoonspiracy
to kill Dr. King. Absent such evidence, the Bureau
spparmtly discounted the significance of any contact
between Ray and his family. M the Chicago case agent
told us, it is not unusual for a fugitive or aperson
whohas ooumittedagivencrimetobeintouchwith
family members. While such contact may render the actions
of the family member criminally liable, it is not generally "
pursued absent some evidence of direct participation in the
crime. '
However, inlig-at ofthefact thatagooddeal
of mystery still sun-rounds James Ray m-mi the assassination,
particularly the unans by which he financed his life style
and travels, we concluded that on the basis of the infot-
mtion which was moovered, the Bureau should hsve pursued
this line of the investigation more Chofwghl!.
Thecnrmectionofthekayfmiilytothecrimaagainst
Dr. King may have hem nonexistent. This does not alter the
fact, however, that the FBI discovered that the subject of
the largest manhunt in history had beam aided in his fugitive
status by at least one family merber. Ibis and other facts
suggestive of family assistance became clear as the Bureau's
investigation progressed.
-101-
1 1*J!
Fizst, John and ;E..."fj Ray had significant contacts
with James while he was in Missouri State Penitentiary
0159! at Jeffersm City, Missouri. Jerry Ray visited
Janesthreeorfourtinesandhadbozrowedrroneyfzczm
James on at least one occasion during his mzfinanent
Chicago 4+-1144 Sub G17!. John Ray visited or attenpted
to visit James Ray while at MSP cn at least nine occasions.
Ihe last visit took place on April 22, 1967, the day before
Ray escaped I-D 44-338861-4503! . The Bureau also discovered
that while in prison at I6? James Ray had a fellow irmate
-"92
seranntieyordertoafictitious company Albe:ctJ. Pepper
Stationary Co.! in St. Louis, Missouri. The money was sent
to the address of Carol Pepper sister and business partner
of John Ray! where she resided with het husband Albert.
James Rayhadtoldthe imatewhosentthemmey that itwas
a way of getting money out of the prison HQ 44-38861-2614! .
Seocnd, JamesEarlRaywassee.nbyseveralpeoplein
both the St. Louis and Chicago areas during the period
immediately after his escape. In St. Louis where John
Ray was living! two former inmates at MSP, stated that they
had seen James Ray on separate occasions. Cne stated that
hehadseenkaythreetinesbetweennayloand, l96'1' Kansas
City, 44-760-786!. The other saw Ray entering a bank with
Jittmie Owens and spoke briefly with Pay as they entered
-102-
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1
E-IQ 41>-38861-31:83!. In the Chicago area where Jere ; Ray
was living, the Bureau discovered that James Ray had
purchased: ear on June s, 1961 Chicago. 49-1i1a so» n J
Ex. 85! and had worked in Wirmetlca, Illinois. Ray:
employers also told Bureau age-zts that Janes Ray had
received several calls fra a Cw "'* * to be Ray's
brother immediately prior to James departure £1-cmhis
job. lbsy stats that these sells had a vLsibly disttmbing
effect on James Ray Chicago 46+-11.14 Sub G-37! . Jerry
Raynes, father of the Ray brothers, told the FBI that he .
overheard John and Jerry mention that James had been in
-
Ihi.C8gO during the sunner of 1967 Chicago 44-111.4-508!.
'I11ird, in California, the FBI discovered two facts
which pointed toward possible contact between James Ray
and his brothers. Richard Gonzales who was a fellow
student with Ray at bartending school in Los Angeles
told Bureau agmts that Ray had told him upon completion
oftheooursethathe Ray! wasgoingtovisitabrother
m B5....~1.'J.:~,g1~..e .. for t.-re '.-.ee1*_e. HQ 44-38861-1233!; lhe FBI
also interviewed Marie Martin, cousin of Charles Stein.
She stated that for sane time before March 17, 1968, the
date when Ray left Los Angeles! James Ray had been stating
thathewas inneed of funds andwas waiting forhis brother
to send him some money.
-103-
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v :-
!ourt..92, through an informant the Bureau discovered
that Jerry Ray may not have been entirely candid with the
ia1 nus-dunno ll Q3!-eral 1:92lbQqIIvIi-$.05
disclosed to Bureau agents cn June 7, 1968, that Jerry Ray
stated he had seen his brother James! at least once at na
pre-arranged meeting place in St. Louis shortly after his
escape. Jerry also allegedly stated to the informant that
hehadreoogni2edthephotographofEricStarvoGaltas
being identical with his brother James prior to the time