</s>OFFICIAL FORM NO. 10 MAY (18) EDITION NO. 19 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT UNITED STATE'S GOVERNMENT Memorandum TO SAC, EL PASO (157-186) DATE: 4-23-68 FROM : SA FRANCIS J. PRASEX & SA WALLACE A. CROSSMON SUBJECT: MURKIN At approximately 8:00 AM 4-23.68 WESLEY E. SHAVER, Ass't. Chief Clerk, received a call from an individual who gave his name as "PHILLIP WHITER", he stated that about a half an hour ago a man ressembling ERIC STARVO GALT was in the Aztec Bar, 500 South Stanton, E1 Paso. ROSA ONTEVERSE, Barnard, Aztec BAR, advised she was alone in the bar, that no customers had been in this morning, that no one used the pay telephone had the bar , and that she did not know anyone by the name of PHILIP WHITE. A copy of the I.O. relating to GALT has shown to her and she could not identify it as ressemblling anyone she knew. A copy was left with her to place under the bar in the event someone ressembling GALT did come in. FJP: (1) SEARCHED SEARCHEO: I.D.ED.E.C.E1.7.7, SERIALIZED / F/L/LIED / PROOF COPY APR 2-1988 FBI-EL PASo Agent Supv. Chief St. Buy U.S. Savings Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Savings Plan 17-10-13 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O ., 14176

Summary:  
The document outlines FBI investigations into James Earl Ray’s criminal history and his potential involvement in the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on April 1968 activities. On April 23, 1968, Wesley E. Shaver reported a man resembling Eric Starvo Galt at the Aztec Bar in El Paso, Texas, but bar owner Rosa Onteverse confirmed no customers were present. The FBI circulated fingerprint identification sheets for Galt, noting no matches, and later linked Lon R. Hummel’s driver’s license record to Ray as a suspect. On April 19, 1968, the FBI announced via press release that James Earl Ray (escaped from Missouri State Penitentiary in 1967) was identified as Eric Starvo Galt through fingerprint analysis of over 53,000 individuals, linking him to latent prints found at the assassination scene. The FBI distributed wanted flyers and photographs of Ray and Walter Terry Rife to law enforcement agencies in Texas, Mexico, and other regions, emphasizing Ray’s status as an "armed and dangerous" fugitive.  

The text also details Ray’s criminal history, including convictions for burglary, armed robbery, and forgery from 1949 to 1967, with aliases such as James McBride, James Walton, W.C. Herron, and James O'Connor. His physical description includes a scar on the forehead and palm. Walter Terry Rife is noted as a co-conspirator in a 1955 burglary of a U.S. post office. FBI records reference Ray’s release under Executive Order 14176 and his escape from Missouri State Hospital in 1966, leading to federal fugitive status after 1967.  

Key People:  
- James Earl Ray (identified as Eric Starvo Galt)  
- Lon R. Hummel (linked to Ray via investigation)  
- Walter Terry Rife (co-conspirator in 1955 burglary)  
- J. Edgar Hoover (FBI Director)  
- Ramsey Clark (U.S. Attorney General, announced Ray’s identification)  
- Postal Inspector (involved in 1955 post office burglary case)  

Key Locations:  
- El Paso, Texas (Aztec Bar, FBI offices)  
- Jefferson City, Missouri (Missouri State Penitentiary)  
- St. Louis, Missouri (Ray’s armed robbery convictions)  
- Midland, Texas (Texas Department of Public Safety Regional Headquarters)  
- Juarez, Mexico (cross-border investigation)  
- Fulton, Missouri; Quincy, Illinois; Alton, Illinois; Chicago, Illinois; Kansas City, Missouri; Leavenworth, Kansas; Los Angeles, California (locations tied to Ray’s criminal history)  

Key Events:  
- April 23, 1968: Report of a man resembling Eric Starvo Galt at Aztec Bar in El Paso.  
- April 19, 1968: FBI press release identifying James Earl Ray as Eric Starvo Galt and linking him to Dr. King’s assassination via fingerprint analysis.  
- Fingerprint analysis confirming Ray’s identity through latent prints found at the assassination scene.  
- Distribution of wanted flyers and photographs to law enforcement agencies in Texas, Mexico, and other regions.  
- 1955 burglary of a U.S. post office (involving Walter Terry Rife).  
- Escape from Missouri State Hospital in 1966 and subsequent federal fugitive status.  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- U.S. Immigration and Border Patrol  
- Texas Department of Public Safety  
- El Paso Police Department (EPD)  
- Midland Resident Agency (DPS)  
- United States Department of Justice  
- U.S. Postal Inspection Service  
- Missouri State Hospital  
- U.S. Penitentiary at Leavenworth

MLK Declassified Files

157-ep-186_hs1-852950407_179-02-part_4_of_7.pdf

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