</s>104-10137-10213 SECRET. C. CIA HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAM RELEASE IN FULL 2. 1999 HEMORANDUM FOR: Director Federal Bureau of Investigation #3 SUBJECT : Dr. Martin Luther KING, Jr. 1. Reference is made to this Agency's out message number 94270 dated 25 April 1968 concerning the assassi- nation of Dr. Robert Roderick Claflin BROWN, a Panamanian 2. On 16 April Roderick Clarifin BROWN. A panamanian national born on July 1917 in British Honduras, voluntarily appeared at the of the and signed a deposition, the highlights at the (1) on 26 March 1962 he served as a cook/seaman highlights to which are as follows: (2) (1) (2) or 26 October 1962 in the mobile airport about the Texaco S.S. Southampton which docked at Mobile, Alabama. on the morning of 26 October 1962 in this company of two follow Panamanians of the Southampton who died of two. LITTRELL, owner of LITTREILL Motor Co ., 221-25 South Clinton LITTREELL, Owner of LITRELL Motor Co. 221-26 South Clinton a Panamanican seaman, asked if he knew the king of Brown was KING, Jr ., (3) LITTRELI inquired whether BROWN was interested in employment, the details of which were unspecified in the United went on to describe Dr. KING as "Our greatest problem who was to us in the much trouble. He gave BROWN a business card to us in this event he was interested in pursuing the employ- mont offer. (4) (4) On 28 January 1963 BROWN wrote LITTREEll from New York City, stating he was interesting in a job in a Job in a SEARLET #2 fiee Kany fieE Kany. C.K.G. #3 C.R.C. JFK ACT 5-7-99 RELEASE 1/8299

Summary: The document references a 1968 CIA out message concerning the assassination of Dr. Robert Roderick Claflin Brown, a Panamanian national born in British Honduras in 1917. It details Brown’s interactions with Littrell, owner of Littrell Motor Co., including a deposition signed by Brown on 26 October 1962 regarding his employment inquiries. Littrell described Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as "Our greatest problem" and mentioned potential employment offers linked to unspecified troubles. Brown sought a job in New York City in January 1963, requesting $75 for travel expenses, which Littrell disputed due to lower local transportation costs. Brown suspected the job offer was connected to assassination plans for King, though no direct evidence is provided. The document notes that Littrell’s statements were distributed to the Department of Defense in April 1968 and mentions Brown’s return to Panama in 1964. Enclosures include a copy of Brown’s deposition and its English translation.  

Key People: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Robert Roderick Claflin Brown, Littrell (owner of Littrell Motor Co.)  
Key Locations: Mobile, Alabama; New York City; Panama; British Honduras  
Key Events: Employment inquiries by Brown in 1962-1963, suspected assassination plot connection to King, distribution of Littrell’s statements to Department of Defense in April 1968, Brown’s return to Panama in 1964  
Key Organizations: Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Defense

MLK Declassified Files

00304255_dr_martin_luther_king_jr_104-10137-10213.pdf

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