</s>104-10065-10267 JFK ACT SECRET. 2 MAY 1969 RELEASE MEMORANDUM FOR: Director Federal Bureau of Investigation SUBJECT : Dr. Martin Luther KING, Jr. 1. Reference is made to this Agency's out messago number 94270 dated 25 April 1968 concerning the assassi- nation of Dr. Martin Luther KING. Jr. 2. On 16 April Roderick Claflin BROWN, a Panamannin national born 1 July 1917 in British Honduras, voluntarily appeared at the July 1917 to British Honduras. Voluntarily of the Republic of Panama and signed a deposition, the highlights of which are as follows: (1) On 26 October 1962 to served as cook/seannin aboard to Texaco 3.5. Southampton which docked at Mobile, Alabama. (2) While on a shore visit to the Mobile airport on the morning of 26 October 1963 in the company of two follow Panamaniamanamanaman, he was approached by Marvin P. LITTRELL, owner, andaman, who was approached to Marvin P, Street, Athens, Alabama, who after ascertaining BROWN was a Panamanian shaman, asked if he knew of Dr ., Martin Luther KING, Jr ., (3) LITTRELE inquired whether BROWN WAS intersted in employment, the details of his whereabouts were inspected. He went on to uscribe Dr. KING. He was our greatest problem who is causing us much trouble. As our greatestproblem who to use in the event he was interested in pursuing the employ- mont offer. (4) On 28 January 1963 BROWN wrote LITTREL from Now York City, stating he wasinterested in a job and CIA HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAM SECRET. RELEASE IN FULL 1997 Jn 1/2/1997 0644444

Summary  
The document contains fragmented information related to investigations into Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination and associated individuals. It references Roderick Claflin Brown, a Panamanian national born in 1917, who met Marvin P. Littrell in October 1962 while working as a cook/seaman aboard the Texaco 3.5. During a shore visit to Mobile, Alabama, Littrell approached Brown about potential employment involving Dr. King, describing him as "our greatest problem" and suggesting assassination plans. Brown later suspected the job offer was tied to an assassination plot and dismissed the incident until after King's death in April 1968. The document includes a deposition by Brown, translated into English, and notes that the FBI could not evaluate claims about Italian Socialist Party sources discussing activities related to King’s 1964 trip to Italy. Surveillance records mention individuals linked to discussions involving Florida gubernatorial elections and references to "IDEN" codes, with IDEN C explicitly identified as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  

Key People  
- Roderick Claflin Brown (Panamanian national, born 1 July 1917)  
- Marvin P. Littrell (alleged contact regarding employment and assassination plans)  
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (identified as IDEN C in surveillance records)  
- Bernard Lee (IDEN D)  
- Harry Wachtell (mentioned in context of signatures or correspondence)  
- Lillian (signature associated with a document dated 7/9/06)  
- Harvey Wachtellel, Maxine Thurston (named in IDEN H and I entries)  

Key Locations  
- Mobile, Alabama (site of Brown’s shore visit in October 1962)  
- Panama City (reference to Panamanian national status)  
- Rome, Italy (location of U.S. intelligence representative mentioned in the Italian Socialist Party context)  
- Miami, Florida (linked to IDEN A and local surveillance operations)  

Key Events  
- Meeting between Roderick Claflin Brown and Marvin P. Littrell in October 1962 in Mobile, Alabama, discussing potential employment involving Dr. King  
- Suspected assassination plot linked to a job offer, dismissed by Brown after King’s death in April 1968  
- FBI investigation into Italian Socialist Party sources discussing activities related to King’s 1964 trip to Italy  
- Surveillance operations in Miami, Florida, involving IDEN codes (e.g., IDEN C = Dr. King) and discussions about Florida gubernatorial elections  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Italian Socialist Party (mentioned as a source of information regarding activities related to Dr. King)  
- U.S. intelligence operations in Rome (via the FBI’s representative)  
- Local law enforcement in Miami, Florida (involved in surveillance of IDEN codes)

MLK Declassified Files

00279948_dr_martin_luther_king_j_104-10065-10267.pdf

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