</s>ME 44-1987 3/31/68 JIMMY DELTON CARNER, operator of a rooming house located at 113 14th Street, N.R ., Atlanta, Georgia, admits being drunk during a large portion of the time around March 24, 31, 1968, but states that the time on March 31, 1968, state of the state of Alabama was also known as "the original week rent." GARNER does not recall seeing GALT after March 31, 1967. GARMER advised that when ERIC S. GALT paid his rent for the second week commencing March 31. 1968. He had the GALT written his name March 31st, 1968. made this envelope available, GALT hand- printed his signature on the envelope. his name was the fact that GALT held to then transfer this name to his official records when he was the owner of his own room. The FBI Laboratory concluded that the hand- on the envelope furnished by GARNER to his own DELTON GARNET, manager of the rooming house located at 113 14TH Street, NE. ., at Atlanta, was pre- printing on material previously submitted at this matter and attributed to Eric S. GALT. As a result of a lawful search of Room 2 of As a roaming house conducted on April 15, 1968, numerous items of a possible evidentialary value were obtained, including a map of Mexico. The FBI Identification Division: Latent Finger- print Section, reported that 2 latent finger- print were developed on this map and that these latent documents were identified map and thar OF JAMES EARL MAIL, FBI #8400 942 G. 32 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The declassified documents detail FBI investigations into the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on James Earl Ray (JER) as a primary suspect. Key evidence includes a Remington Model 700 rifle and binoculars recovered from the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, where MLK was shot on April 4, 1968. Fingerprints found at the scene matched JER, who had previously escaped from Missouri State Penitentiary in 1967. Hotel records link JER to stays at the Jefferson Hotel in Birmingham, Alabama, and the Peabody Hotel in Memphis. Eric S. Galt is mentioned as a possible associate, though his connection remains unclear. Inmate testimonies describe JER’s behavior in prison, including drug use, escape planning, and alleged racist views. Family members of JER denied involvement in the assassination, while some inmates claimed he discussed plans to kill MLK. The documents emphasize circumstantial evidence and conflicting accounts, with no definitive proof linking JER directly to the crime.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray (JER)**: Primary suspect; described as a non-confrontational inmate who allegedly planned escapes, sold drugs in prison, and expressed racist views toward Black individuals.  
- **Eric S. Galt**: Linked to JER through hotel records and alleged associations, though his identity is not conclusively confirmed.  
- **Ruby Carpenter (JER’s mother)**: Denied knowledge of JER’s whereabouts after his 1967 escape.  
- **Jerry Raynes (JER’s father)**: Claimed he last saw JER in 1951 and denied involvement in the assassination.  
- **Inmates**: Including Carl Williams, Walter E. Nolan, Floyd Evans Hill, Milton Zavalcokski, and Charles Calvin Bookman, who provided accounts of JER’s prison activities and alleged interactions with others.  

Key Locations  
- **Lorraine Motel, Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of MLK’s assassination on April 4, 1968.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary**: JER was incarcerated here from 1960–1967; inmates described his escape attempts and drug-related activities.  
- **Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary**: Linked to JER’s transfer in 1967 and interactions with Charles Calvin Bookman.  
- **St. Francis Hotel, Los Angeles**: Mentioned in context of alleged encounters with Eric S. Galt.  
- **Mexico**: Speculated as a potential refuge for JER, with references to smuggling operations and travel to cities like Acapulco.  

Key Events  
- **JER’s Escape from Missouri State Penitentiary (1967)**: Inmates reported plans involving a bread box delivery to a prison farm, though details remain unclear.  
- **Drug Sales in Prison**: JER and associates allegedly sold amphetamines, earning significant profits.  
- **Hotel Registrations**: Eric S. Galt registered at the Jefferson Hotel (Birmingham) and Peabody Hotel (Memphis), with ties to JER’s movements.  
- **Alleged Phone Call (April 1968)**: Charles Calvin Bookman claimed to receive a call from JER requesting money, though credibility was questioned.  
- **Fingerprint Match**: Fingerprints found at the Lorraine Motel and on a map of Mexico matched JER.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations into JER’s movements, assigned numbers to individuals like Kenneth Lee Wade (FBI No. 568 123) and Charles Calvin Bookman (FBI No. 8929555).  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary**: Central location for JER’s incarceration and prison activities.  
- **Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary**: Linked to JER’s transfer and interactions with inmates.  

Note: The documents contain fragmented, inconsistent information, including redacted FBI numbers and unverified claims about JER’s activities post-escape. While circumstantial evidence links JER to the assassination, no conclusive proof was established at the time of the investigation.

MLK Declassified Files

157-dn-203_617806_44-03-part_4_of_7.pdf

Document Summary

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