</s>ME 44-1987 being identical with the purchaser of the binoculars; however, it should be noted the witness has since been committed to the Tennessee Psychiatric Hospital and Institute, Mississippi State. At about 6:00 PM, on this date Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. was shot and killed by a single bullet fired from the bathroom of the roaming house at 422 South Main Street, the rooming house at 4222 South Main St. standing on the second floor balcony in front of Room 306 of the Lorraine Motel, the room that was the second Floor Balcony in the room where the roof was dropped at 4224 South Main street heard a rifle fired and a man run Street where he dropped a large bundle in front of 424 South Main Streets. A neighbor- front of a high rate of speed. A canvass of Mustang was seen immediately leaving the area at a high Rate of speed, A canvasso of one Eric S. GALT had spent half the night of one Eric 3, 1968, at the Rebel Motel. Memphis, Mustang, He gave an address 2608 highland April 3, 1966, at at the rebel Motel in Memphis, Avenue, Birmingham, Alabama. When inquiries Mustang. He gave as an address 2808 highlands Purpose of further identifying GALT, it was determined that he had not resided there determined to have not resolved there reason that GALT came to our attention in connection with this case. Inspector N. E. ZACHARY, Homicide Bureau, Memphis, Tennessee, Police Department, the assistant of Dr. Zachary, M. J.R. assistant to the MARTin LUTHER KIND, JR ., the on the sidewalk near the entrance of the building located near 424 South main Street. including located near the South Main Boulevard: 1) Remington Game Master rifle Model 760, telescopic sight, SN 47170 2) Banner by Bushnell binocular, was mounted in Redfield 3) First section of the April 4, 1968. of the "Commercial Appeal, 4, 1966. Issue newspaper published in Memphis 34 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

The document details the FBI’s investigation into the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which occurred on April 4, 1968, at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. A bullet recovered from the victim was identified as a soft Peters Manufacturing type, potentially fired from a Remington Game Master rifle (Model 760, SN 47170). Fingerprints linked to James Earl Ray were found on the rifle, binoculars (Bushnell with Redfield scope), newspaper clippings, and a Schlitz beer can. A Mustang car abandoned near South Main Street in Memphis contained items including bed linen with laundry marks, a plastic bottle of Mennen aftershave, an unopened Schlitz beer can, and a Channel Master radio (Model #6502). The FBI compared fibers from the bedspread to those found in the Mustang, suggesting possible connection. Eric S. GALT was identified as a suspect linked to the Rebel Motel in Memphis on April 3, 1968, though his residency and involvement remain unclear. The FBI also examined handwriting samples attributed to James Earl Ray, including letters dated October 24, 1966, and forms from Missouri State Penitentiary.  

Key People  
- **Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.**: Shot and killed on April 4, 1968, at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis.  
- **James Earl Ray**: Linked to the assassination via fingerprints on the rifle, binoculars, newspaper, and beer can; later identified as the suspect.  
- **Eric S. GALT**: Associated with the Rebel Motel in Memphis on April 3, 1968; his residency and role remain unclear.  
- **JERRY RAYNES** (father of James Earl Ray): Resided in Missouri; claimed to have last seen James Earl Ray in 1951.  
- **JOHN LARRY RAY** (brother of James Earl Ray): Served prison sentences in Illinois and Indiana; visited James Earl Ray at Missouri State Penitentiary multiple times.  
- **JERRY WILLIAM RAY** (brother of James Earl Ray): Employed as a maintenance man in Lake Forest, Illinois; claimed no contact with James Earl Ray since his escape.  
- **CAROL PEPPER** (sister of James Earl Ray): Married to Albert Pepper; stated she had not received communication from James Earl Ray post-escape.  

Key Locations  
- **Lorraine Motel, Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of Dr. King’s assassination on April 4, 1968.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary**: Where James Earl Ray was incarcerated; inmates and associates provided details about his behavior and activities.  
- **Rebel Motel, Memphis, Tennessee**: Linked to Eric S. GALT’s presence on April 3, 1968.  
- **South Main Street, Memphis, Tennessee**: Location of the abandoned Mustang containing evidence related to the investigation.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis.  
- **April 5, 1968**: A white Mustang was found abandoned near Capitol Homes in Atlanta, containing items including bed linen with laundry marks and a Channel Master radio.  
- **October 24, 1966**: James Earl Ray sent a letter to Dr. Earl C. Keppler, which was analyzed for handwriting comparison.  
- **April 4, 1958**: A form signed by James Earl Ray was submitted to the Kansas City Probation Office.  

Key Organizations  
- **FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)**: Conducted fingerprint and handwriting analysis on items linked to James Earl Ray.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary**: Site of James Earl Ray’s incarceration; inmates provided details about his behavior and associates.  
- **Avalon Cleaners and Laundry, Inc., Los Angeles, California**: Laundromat associated with laundry marks found in the abandoned Mustang.  

Summary:  
The document contains testimonies from multiple inmates and individuals who were incarcerated with James Earl Ray during his time at various prisons in Missouri, Alabama, and other states. These accounts describe Ray’s behavior, drug use, interactions with fellow inmates, and alleged discussions about potential involvement in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). Ray is noted to have mentioned a $100,000 bounty offered by an unnamed "Businesses' Association" for killing MLK, though no specific details about this offer are provided. He also discussed plans to travel to Mexico and Canada, referencing his intention to avoid detection due to physical traits like wearing down soles on his shoes. Some inmates described Ray as a loner with no close friends, while others noted his interest in Spanish language and legal studies. The text includes references to Ray’s alleged connections with individuals such as Carl Drake, Thomas Britton, and Johnny Valenti, though credibility of these associations is questioned due to conflicting accounts.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray** (central figure; described as a loner, drug user, and possibly involved in MLK assassination plot)  
- **Carl Drake** (inmate at Missouri State Penitentiary; mentioned as having contact with Ray post-release)  
- **Thomas Britton** (inmate who reported Ray’s interactions with other prisoners)  
- **Johnny Valenti** (individual associated with Ray, possibly involved in criminal activities)  
- **Milton Zalvaloski** (named alongside Valenti in connection to Ray)  
- **JAMES EARL RAY** (repeatedly referenced as the subject of testimonies)  
- **[SSN REDACTED]** (multiple instances of redacted social security numbers, e.g., NNNN, 504977)  

Key Locations  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary** (primary prison where Ray was incarcerated; multiple inmates testified about his time there)  
- **St. Louis, Missouri** (Ray’s alleged residence and connection to other inmates)  
- **Birmingham, Alabama** (mentioned in context of Ray’s familiarity with the area)  
- **Mexico** (discussed as a potential destination for Ray to avoid detection)  
- **Canada** (referenced in Ray’s plans to evade authorities)  

Key Events  
- **Ray’s drug use**: Described as taking amphetamines, barbiturates, and other substances; some inmates noted his reliance on drugs for medical reasons.  
- **Discussions about MLK assassination**: Ray allegedly mentioned a $100,000 bounty from an unnamed organization for killing MLK, though no evidence of this offer is provided.  
- **Escape planning**: Inmates reported Ray’s attempts to escape prison, including tunneling plans and connections to potential harbors in Mexico or Canada.  
- **Prison interactions**: Ray was described as a quiet, non-violent inmate who engaged in poker games and had limited social ties with other prisoners.  
- **Post-release activities**: Some inmates speculated about Ray’s movements after release, including his alleged presence in New Orleans, Louisiana, and connections to individuals like George Ben Edmondson.  

Key Organizations  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary** (institution where Ray was incarcerated)  
- **Businesses' Association** (unnamed entity allegedly offering a bounty for MLK’s assassination; no further details provided)  
- **Prison poker games** (activity involving Ray and other inmates)  
- **Canadian passport procedures** (discussed as a method for Ray to evade detection)  

Summary:  
The document contains statements from former inmates and prison staff detailing their interactions with JAMES EARL RAY during his incarceration at various Missouri prisons between 1955 and 1968. Inmates describe RAY as a quiet, non-confrontational individual who was interested in escape plans but not involved in violent activities. Some mention RAY's use of narcotics, his association with other inmates like TED RICHARDSON and DONALD JOHNSON, and his alleged interest in Mexican military structures. One inmate recalls a conversation about a potential bounty on Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING’s life, though this is presented as speculative. No direct evidence or admissions of involvement in the assassination are provided. The text also includes details about RAY's escape attempts, prison work assignments, and interactions with guards and fellow inmates, but no conclusive links to the MLK assassination investigation.  

Key People  
- JAMES EARL RAY (suspect in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination)  
- TED RICHARDSON (inmate associated with RAY)  
- DONALD JOHNSON (inmate at Mississippi State Penitentiary, possibly linked to RAY)  
- FRANK MABERRY (inmate who recalled no association between RAY and MLK-related activities)  
- HAROLD DEAN KLEMP (inmate at Folsom State Penitentiary, described RAY as non-violent)  
- CHARLES CALVIN BOOKMAN (FBI number 892355, claimed to have received a phone call from RAY in 1968)  

Key Locations  
- Missouri State Penitentiary (Jefferson City, Missouri)  
- Missouri Training School for Men (Moberly, Missouri)  
- Folsom State Penitentiary (California)  
- Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary (Kansas)  
- Memphis, Tennessee (mentioned in context of RAY’s alleged association with a bounty on MLK)  

Key Events  
- RAY’s escape attempts from prison (notably in April 1967)  
- Inmate accounts of RAY’s drug use and interactions with other prisoners  
- Speculative conversation about a potential bounty on Dr. KING’s life (mentioned by SERO, an inmate in Memphis)  
- RAY’s alleged interest in escape routes and prison infrastructure (e.g., bread box modifications)  

Key Organizations  
- Missouri State Penitentiary  
- Mississippi State Penitentiary  
- FBI (involved in interviews and tracking RAY)  
- U.S. Federal Prisons (Leavenworth, California, etc.)  

Summary:  
The document contains witness statements and investigative notes regarding individuals associated with Eric Starvo Galt, also known as James Earl Ray, who was a suspect in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Dyrell Dennis, residing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, initially denied knowledge of Galt but later stated she stayed at the St. Francis Hotel in Los Angeles from March 1 to March 9, 1968. She described encountering a man named BRIC (last name unknown) who introduced himself as Galt, characterized by his nervous demeanor, salt-and-pepper hair, and possession of $10 and $20 bills. Dennis noted Galt’s erratic behavior and eventual departure after exchanging money. Anta Louise Kawzwinkel in Hollywood, California, confirmed she did not recognize Galt or Charles J. Stein. Marie Martin, a cocktail waitress at the Sultan Room in the St. Francis Hotel, detailed interactions with Galt, including exchanges of $20 bills, discussions about political registration under George Wallace’s campaign, and a television set trade on February 14, 1968. Rita Stein and Charles Stein reported Galt drove them to New Orleans to register for Wallace’s party and later interacted with Marie Martin. Jerome Wallis Vernon, owner of a laundry business in Upland, California, noted Galt regularly dropped off laundry, paid in cash, and left specific items like T-shirts and underwear marked similarly to his laundry. Ginger Lee Nance, who resided in Illinois, mentioned her association with Kawzwinkel but stated she did not know Galt.  

Key People  
- Dyrell Dennis (resided in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; later in Los Angeles)  
- Anta Louise Kawzwinkel (Hollywood, California)  
- Marie Martin (St. Francis Hotel, Los Angeles; used multiple names including Myrial Tomas, Marie Denning, Marie Mantinello)  
- Rita Stein (Los Angeles, California)  
- Charles J. Stein (Los Angeles, California)  
- Jerome Wallis Vernon (Upland, California; owner of Home Service Laundry and Dry Cleaning Company)  
- Ginger Lee Nance (Dixon, Illinois; later in Los Angeles)  

Key Locations  
- Towne Hotel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin  
- St. Francis Hotel, Los Angeles, California (Sultan Room)  
- Palms Apartments, Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, California  
- New Orleans, Louisiana  
- Upland, California (Home Service Laundry and Dry Cleaning Company)  
- Dixon, Illinois  

Key Events  
- Galt’s interactions with Dennis at the St. Francis Hotel in 1968  
- Registration for George Wallace’s political campaign by Rita Stein, Charles Stein, and Marie Martin  
- Exchange of $20 bills between Galt and Marie Martin  
- Laundry transactions involving Galt at Vernon’s business (January–March 1968)  
- Nance’s hitchhiking trip to California in 1967 with Kawzwinkel  

Key Organizations  
- Home Service Laundry and Dry Cleaning Company (Upland, California)  
- Political campaign associated with George Wallace (California registration efforts)

MLK Declassified Files

157-an-37_617130_01-02-part_5_of_7.pdf

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