</s>(REV. 4-13-60) H. S. Department of Justice (IMATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILE) DO NOT DESTROY- DO NOT DETROY- PENDING LITIGATION PENDING LICATION DO NOT DETROY - 2-189 PENDIND LITGATION Pending Litigation C-2-1898 5e 19-19-23-3-3.5-2.3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-8 FEDERAL BUREAU ea 1993-2323-2 top page FEDERAL BUREAUS CLOSED -1-1.1-4.2-3 3-4 3-3 4-4 4-3 2-4 2-5 3-5 2-6 3-7.8-8.9-9.1.8.8 -1/4-4/4.4-3,4.5 4-5.4.3 3.4 3.3.3 4.4 4.5 3.5.3 C-1,8.2.8/8.7.9.8 "DO NOT DISTROY-soe-197-25-4593-4C-10/9.9/10-9/11.1 HISTORICAL VALUE: "NATIONAL ARCHIVES" "obed-199-25.5 -52-54-4c-6/9/15.5" INVESTIGATION Serial: 1 Volume Number: Bureau File Number DO NOT DISTROY. PRESERVE FOR SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIO -1=7-166-135 See also Nos. "DO DO NOT DESTRY: HISTorical VALUE, DO NOT RESTROY . NATIONALARCHIVES" PRESERIVE FOR SELECT COMMITEE ONASSASSINATIONS X 10-44221 2005 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 18176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., with a focus on leads from El Paso and Memphis in April 1968. A suspect described as a white male, approximately 45 years old, 5'10" tall, weighing 200-210 lbs, with short hair, was observed in Valentine, Texas, on April 6, 1968, near a café. He smoked four cigarettes during breakfast, and a vehicle matching a 1960s Desoto or Chrysler with large tail fins was noted outside the café. The FBI sought to identify individuals linked to the assassination, including checks on names like Harvey Lowmeyer/Lowmer and inquiries into laundry tags found at the scene (thermo-sealed markings from Syracuse, NY). A rifle abandoned near the crime scene was noted as potentially purchased under an alias. Coordination between FBI offices in El Paso, Memphis, and Washington D.C. is highlighted.  

The document also includes an FBI communication dated April 7, 1968, regarding a case designated "MURKIN," previously titled "ASSASSINATION OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR." It instructs federal agencies to handle information under this code word exclusively for investigations related to MLK’s murder, racial incidents, or activities stemming from his position. The FBI warns that unrelated racial matters should be submitted under appropriate captions. The text details an investigation into Jesse Clayburn Stephens, Jr., a Minutemen member and bomb suspect who resided in El Paso, Texas, before moving to Baltimore. On January 23, 1967, Stephens reported that an "important person" in a group called "THE PARTY" was flying to El Paso the following day. This individual, later identified as Roswell S. Monroe, traveled on American Airlines using a credit card issued to Ritter Equipment Company in San Mateo, California. His itinerary included stops in Phoenix, Arizona, and El Paso before staying in Dallas, Texas, from January 24–26, 1967, prior to returning to California.  

Monroe’s physical description is provided: approximately 35–40 years old, 5'10"–6'1", 160–170 lbs, dark brown hair, medium complexion, long narrow face with a prominent aquiline nose, heavy beard stubble, and wearing a dark suit, white shirt, black tie. He was photographed at El Paso Airport during a layover on January 24, 1967, with glasses removed. Photos of Monroe were forwarded to FBI offices in Birmingham and Memphis for witness identification. The document notes that the San Francisco FBI office confirmed Monroe’s residence in San Carlos, California, as of October 29, 1967, and listed his height as 6'1". The Dallas office reported Monroe traveled from San Mateo to Dallas/Fort Worth on January 23–24, 1967, for a "large sum of money" transfer, allegedly for clandestine Minutemen training land purchases.  

Key People  
- **Leonard Banksdale**: Engineer who reported observing the suspect at Valentine, Texas.  
- **James Earl Ray**: Mentioned as a suspect in later reports (though not directly linked to the April 1968 observations).  
- **Harvey Lowmeyer/Lowmer**: Name associated with a rifle potentially used in the assassination.  
- **Jesse Clayburn Stephens, Jr.**: Minutemen member and bomb suspect linked to Roswell S. Monroe.  
- **Roswell S. Monroe**: Suspected individual associated with the Minutemen group; traveled between California, Arizona, Texas in 1967.  
- **Ritter Equipment Company**: Issued credit card used by Monroe for travel.  

Key Locations  
- **Valentine, Texas**: Site of suspect observation on April 6, 1968.  
- **El Paso, Texas**: FBI office involved in initial investigations and coordination; Monroe’s initial stop and Stephens’ reported contact location.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Location of King’s assassination.  
- **Washington D.C.**: Central FBI headquarters coordinating the investigation.  
- **San Mateo, California**: Monroe’s residence and origin of the credit card.  
- **Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas**: Monroe’s destination for alleged money transfer.  
- **San Carlos, California**: Monroe’s listed residence in 1967.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis.  
- **April 6, 1968**: Observations of a suspect in Valentine, Texas, by Leonard Banksdale and others.  
- **April 7–9, 1968**: FBI directives to investigate laundry tags, rifle origins, and potential suspects linked to the case.  
- **April 8, 1968**: FBI requests for checks on individuals with names Lowmeyer/Lowmer and bombing suspects.  
- **January 23–26, 1967**: Monroe’s travel between Arizona, Texas, and California.  
- **January 24, 1967**: Monroe photographed at El Paso Airport.  
- **October 29, 1967**: San Francisco FBI office confirms Monroe’s residence in San Carlos.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Central agency conducting investigations across multiple offices; coordinated efforts on MLK assassination and related racial incidents.  
- **Minutemen**: A group associated with Monroe and Stephens; suspected involvement in bomb activities.  
- **Southern Pacific Railroad**: Mentioned as a source of information about the suspect’s movements.  
- **National Archives**: Custodian of declassified records related to the case.

MLK Declassified Files

157-ep-186_hs1-852950407_179-01-part_1_of_8.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search