</s>FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64) FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION Date 4/12/68 GEORGE W. COVINGTON, residing Bob White Drive, was interviewed at his place of business Covington and Tyner, 243 West Center Street. COVINGTON advised that his partner WELDON HARVEY TYNER, JR. was working with COVINGTON in the cleaning of a drainger ditch on April 4, 1968. COVINGION advised that he could recall this since he kept record of their work day which he had checked and because he remembered Thursday being the day that it rained a good bit. COVINCTON advised that He and TYNER were working in conjunction with some Canton, Mississippi city employees in the ditch project. 4/11/68 at Canton. Mississippi On File # Jackson 157-9586 SA JERRY R. PARKER/pac 4/112/68 by Date dictated This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document contains multiple FBI records from April 1968 related to investigations into Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. Key elements include interviews with Weldon Harvey Tyner Jr., a civil engineer in Canton, Mississippi, who was associated with naval reserve training at Camp Lejeune (1966) and reportedly expressed hostility toward MLK during that time. Tyner’s records indicate he was qualified with a .45 caliber pistol and an M-1 carbine rifle. The FBI sought to verify if Tyner made statements about killing MLK during the training session. Other records include motel registration checks in Mississippi for individuals linked to the KKK (OKKKK) and UKA, Inc., as well as forensic analysis of tape samples related to potential evidence. Administrative notes and case file references are also included.  

Key People  
- **Weldon Harvey Tyner Jr.**: Civil engineer in Canton, Mississippi; associated with naval reserve training at Camp Lejeune (1966); reportedly expressed hostility toward MLK during training.  
- **George W. Covington**: Partner of Tyner; worked on drainage ditch projects in Canton, Mississippi.  
- **Commander Chester Poolle**: Naval Reserve Training Center official who provided records on Tyner’s service and qualifications.  
- **SAM H. Smith III**: Provided information about an individual known as "JACK" (possibly Tyner) who expressed hostility toward MLK during training.  
- **Ernest Gilbert, Billy Means, Harry Kelley, Carl Smith, Wayne Quarrels, Jack Seale, Grady Cook**: Individuals linked to KKK/UKA activities in Mississippi; some mentioned in context of potential threats or investigations related to MLK.  

Key Locations  
- **Canton, Mississippi**: Site of drainage ditch projects involving Tyner and Covington; also referenced as a location for KKK/UKA meetings.  
- **Camp Lejeune, North Carolina**: Naval reserve training site where Tyner attended in 1966.  
- **Jackson, Mississippi**: Headquarters for FBI investigations; mentioned as the location of motel records checks and administrative filings.  
- **Greenwood, Mississippi**: Site of a meeting involving a sign painter’s place, referenced in context of racial tensions.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: Tyner and Covington worked on drainage ditch projects in Canton, Mississippi; Tyner reportedly expressed desire to see MLK killed.  
- **April 10–12, 1968**: FBI conducted interviews with Tyner, Poolle, and others; reviewed motel records in Mississippi for individuals linked to KKK/UKA activities.  
- **April 15, 1968**: Forensic analysis of tape samples (K17, K18, K20) conducted by FBI Laboratory to determine connections to potential evidence related to MLK’s assassination.  
- **April 1968**: Informant reports referenced activities of the KKK (OKKKK), UKA, Inc., and Community Defense Force (CDF) in Mississippi; included mentions of racial tensions and potential threats against MLK.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted interviews, forensic analysis, and administrative filings related to MLK’s assassination investigation.  
- **United Klans of America (UKA), Inc.**: Mentioned in context of KKK activities in Mississippi; referenced as a group with potential ties to threats against MLK.  
- **Naval Reserve Training Center**: Camp Lejeune, where Tyner attended training in 1966; linked to his qualifications and alleged hostility toward MLK.  
- **Community Defense Force (CDF)**: Mentioned in informant reports as an organization with potential interest from local residents in Mississippi.

MLK Declassified Files

157-jn-9586_624938_427a-03-part_5_of_5.pdf

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