</s>OPTIONAL FORM NO. 19 MAY FROM (C) (C.P.M.) (G.P.) 14176 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Memorandum SAC, JACKSON (157-9586) DATE: 5/2/68 TO : : SA JAMES J. FILES SUBJECT: MURKIN SUBJECT: Miss. on 4/29/68 Detective J. B. GIBSON, Pascagoula, On 4/49/68 Detective J.B. GIPSON, had skipped a bill at the Holiday Inn, JAMES L. RAY. had skipped the bill at Holiday Inn. Pascaggoula. Miss ., on 1/15/68. LINDA WALKER, Desk Clerk, Holiday Inn , Pascaguoula ,, advised her record show that JAMES I. RAV. L. Ray. She skipped a bill at the Holiday Inn on 1/156/68 owing $21.96. She said the file had been sent to Holiday Inn on Holiday Inn for Corporation, Memphis, Tenn ,, for collection. On 4 /29/69 CHRIST K. THEGESEN, Manager, Holiday Inn, PASCAGULA, advised that J.AMES L ., RAY registered in Room 205, 6/12/12 at 2:19 p.m. Listing his address as Route 3, Box 216, Troy, Ala. He listed his employment Route 3. Box 216. Troy, Ala ., He listed His employment as H. E. Thomas, Private Contractor. He listing his driving as Ford bearing Ala. License 38-38-3555. Mr. TYGESSEN said that Wia. He issued a license to Mr. Thygesen said that Wia, issued to Ray HARRISON, Route 1, Cottomoor, Ala. a Chevrolet and that had written to RAY HARRION and received a note back indicating that he was seeking was connected with Billy Martin's City Auto Sales, Dothan, was. He said he wrote a letter to that address and it was returned me alone. Mrs. W.S. REGEL LEWIS, HOUSEKEEPER, HOLIDAY Inn, Pascagoulla, Housekeeper, Holiday inn, they bear no similarity when JAMES EARL RAY, She said that skipped her holiday inn on January, 1968. The james L. RAY was said that she recalls J.RAY and with that was a man she said up in his 50's, heavily built and that with full jaws. She Said that <loc_850><loc_806><loc_850><loc_822><loc_162><loc_823>1- Jackson J.F.Pibb.D. <loc_163><loc_875>(1) SEARCHEDXED SEARCHER INNOKED <loc_859><loc_859><loc_800><loc_862>MAY 2,1968

Summary  
The document contains FBI records from May 1968 detailing investigations into James Earl Ray’s movements in Mississippi following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It includes information on Ray’s stays at Holiday Inn in Pascagoula, Mississippi (January 15, 1968; April 29, 1968), room number 205, and employment as a private contractor with a 1959 Ford vehicle bearing Alabama license plate 38-38-3555. The FBI sought to locate Ray through hotel records, service stations, and interviews with witnesses, including Donald Dickson (Thrift Courts Motel, Senatobia, Mississippi), who reported hearing about MLK’s assassination from a guest on April 4, 1968. References to a 1966 white Mustang with Alabama tags and Schlitz beer cans (brewed March 15, 1968) were noted as part of the investigation. The FBI also examined paper bag distribution linked to the Southaven Minnow Shop in Mississippi, confirming matches between specimens from the shop and evidence from other cases. Composite drawings of suspects (Eric Starvo Galt, Harvey Lowery, John Willard) were circulated for identification. Interviews at Friendship Inn-affiliated motels yielded no conclusive matches to Ray’s description or activities.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Fugitive linked to MLK’s assassination; stayed at Holiday Inn in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on January 15 and April 29, 1968.  
- **Donald Dickson**: Employee at Thrift Courts Motel in Senatobia, Mississippi; reported hearing about MLK’s assassination from a guest on April 4, 1968.  
- **Bill and Jane McLaughlin**: Proprietors of Southern Minnow Shop in Southaven, Mississippi; reported sales of Schlitz beer cans and interactions with a white male driving a white Mustang.  
- **Willie McLaughlin**: Son of Bill and Jane McLaughlin; interviewed regarding beer purchases at the minnow shop.  
- **Lawrence Parker**: Frequent customer at Southern Minnow Shop; interviewed about suspect activity.  
- **Lew Houston**: Manager of Service Beverage Company, provided records of Schlitz beer shipments to Southaven Minnow Shop.  
- **V.P. Wait**: Manager of Senatobia Tobacco Company; discussed paper bag distribution.  
- **Grover Kinney**: Stock Manager at Pettis Cigar Company; referenced paper bag sourcing.  

Key Locations  
- **Holiday Inn, Pascagoula, Mississippi**: Ray’s registered stays (January 15, 1968; April 29, 1968).  
- **Thrift Courts Motel, Senatobia, Mississippi**: Dickson’s workplace; reported MLK assassination information.  
- **Southern Minnow Shop, Southaven, Mississippi**: Sold Schlitz beer cans and interacted with a suspect described as driving a white Mustang.  
- **Friendship Inn-affiliated motels** (e.g., Townhouse Motel, Southern Motel, Marshall Motel): Interviewed for clues related to Ray’s movements.  
- **Clarksdale, Mississippi**: Headquarters of Service Beverage Company; Schlitz beer distribution hub.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: MLK assassination site; curfew enforcement mentioned.  

Key Events  
- FBI investigation into James Earl Ray’s activities in Mississippi, including hotel records, service station checks, and interviews with witnesses.  
- Search for a 1966 white Mustang with Alabama tags and Schlitz beer cans (brewed March 15, 1968) as part of the investigation.  
- Donald Dickson’s report of hearing about MLK’s assassination from a motel guest on April 4, 1968.  
- FBI examination of Schlitz beer cans and brown paper bags linked to Southaven Minnow Shop, confirming matches with previously submitted specimens.  
- Interviews at Friendship Inn-affiliated motels to identify Ray or associates based on composite drawings and physical descriptions.  
- Documentation of Schlitz beer shipment records from Service Beverage Company to Southaven Minnow Shop, including dates and quantities.  
- Confirmation by Senatobia Tobacco Company that the “Homestead Stubby” paper bags were exclusively distributed to Southaven Minnow Shop.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted the investigation into Ray’s movements and potential involvement in MLK’s assassination.  
- **Service Beverage Company**: Supplier of beer to Southern Minnow Shop, with records indicating Schlitz deliveries in March–April 1968.  
- **Senatobia Tobacco Company**: Handled distribution of “Homestead Stubby” paper bags to Southaven Minnow Shop.  
- **Pettis Cigar Company**: Sourced paper bags for Senatobia Tobacco Company; referenced by Grover Kinney.  
- **Schlitz Brewery** (Longview, Texas): Source of beer distributed in Mississippi; linked to evidence from the minnow shop.  
- **Graham Paper Company** (Memphis, Tennessee): Supplier of brown paper bags to Southern Minnow Shop.

MLK Declassified Files

157-jn-9586_624938_427c-02-part_4_of_4.pdf

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