</s>APPROVED FOR RELEASE 2025 UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER 14176 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20505 2 MAY 1958 MEMORANDUM FOR: Director Federal Bureau of Investigation SUBJECT : Dr. Martin Luther KING, Jr. 1. Reference is made to this Agency's out message number 94270 dated 25 April 1993 concerning the assassist- nation of Dr. Martin Luther KING Jr. 2. On 16 April 1963 Claflin EOWN, a Panamanian national born on July 1917 in British Honduras, voluntarily appeared at the Department of National Investigations (DMI) of the Republic of Panama and signed a deposition, the highlights of which are as follows: Alabama. (1) On 26 October 1962 he saved as cook/seaman about the Texaco S.S. Southampton which docked at Mobilo, (2) While on 26 October 1963 he sawed to the Mobile airport on the morning of 26 October 1982 in the company of two follow Panamanians sonnon, he was approached by Marvin P. LITTLELL, owner of LITTLEL Motor Co ., 921-25 South Clinton Street, Athens, Alabama, who after accounting BROWN was a Panamanican sonnan, asked if he knew of Dr." Martin Luther KING, Jr." (3) LITTLLLL induced whether BROWN Was interested in employment, the details of which were unspecified. Ho went on to describe Dr. KING as "Our own problem who is causing us much trouble. He gave EOWN a business card to use in the event he was interested in pursuing the employ- mont offer. (4) On 23 January 1963 BROWN wrote LITTEL from New York City, stating he wasinterested in a job and 44-1740-1645 ALL FBI INFORMATION CONTACTED SEARCHED INDEXED HERE: SEARCHING MAYS 1968

Summary  
This document is a CIA memorandum dated 2 May 1958 addressed to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). It references an out message number 94270 from 25 April 1993 concerning the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The text details interactions involving Claflin EOWN, a Panamanian national born in British Honduras in 1917, who voluntarily appeared at Panama’s Department of National Investigations (DMI) on 16 April 1963. EOWN provided a deposition highlighting his activities: on 26 October 1962, he worked as a cook/seaman aboard the Texaco S.S. Southampton docking in Mobile, Alabama. On 26 October 1982 (likely an error; original text may refer to 1963), EOWN was at Mobile Airport with two Panamanian companions when approached by Marvin P. LITTLELL, owner of LITTLEL Motor Co., who inquired if EOWN knew Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and offered employment, describing King as “our own problem” causing trouble. LITTLELL provided a business card for potential job pursuit. In January 1963, EOWN wrote to LITTLELL from New York City expressing interest in the job and requesting $75 for travel to Mobile. LITTLELL’s reply questioned the expense, noting bus fare was less than $40. EOWN suspected the offer was tied to King’s assassination plans and did not respond, returning to Panama in 1964. The document includes enclosures: a copy of LITTLELL’s letter and Spanish-language deposition by EOWN, along with an English translation.  

Key People  
- Claflin EOWN (Panamanian national, born in British Honduras, 1917)  
- Marvin P. LITTLELL (owner of LITTLEL Motor Co., Athens, Alabama)  
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (subject of the investigation)  

Key Locations  
- Panama (Department of National Investigations, DMI)  
- Mobile, Alabama  
- New York City  
- British Honduras (now Belize)  

Key Events  
- Claflin EOWN’s deposition at Panama’s DMI on 16 April 1963  
- Encounter with Marvin P. LITTLELL at Mobile Airport on 26 October 1982 (likely a date error; original text may refer to 1963)  
- Employment offer linked to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  
- EOWN’s suspicion of the job offer being tied to assassination plans  
- EOWN’s return to Panama in 1964  

Key Organizations  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Department of National Investigations (DMI), Republic of Panama

MLK Declassified Files

07172058_memo_for_fbi_re_dr_marti.pdf

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