</s>FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64) FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION Date 4/17/68 AARON ISAAC LOTTON was interviewed at Ingallsalls Shipbuilding Corporation, Pascagoula, Mississippi. Mississippi. He advised he has been employed since July 1965. He and that he has resided with Martin Parents since July, 1965. AAROn A LOTTON on Martin Bluff Road, Gautier, Missouri. He has long been interested in ballroom dancing and worked on a dancing instructor there there Arthur Murray Dance studio. He has been in Orleans, Louisiana from January to Jamaica, Louisiana, from February to February to June 1958. He is dancing at Fred Astar Studio for about he taught dancing at the Court Studio in about one year beginning about July 1958. While in Jackson- ville, he began a course at Court Studio for About dance. He began at court reporting, but hair styling. After completing this course, he worked as a professional hair stylist in Atlanta, Georgia from about 1959 to 1963 when he went to California was a professional at Anaheim, California to Los Angeles and worked at Anaheim. He returned to Mississippi and obtained employment until Igals Ship- building Corporation in 1965. LOFTON said the names JOHN WILLARD and HARVEY LOWNEY or LOMMER names nothing to him. He was shown two artist's conception of two white males. He said he does not recall every having white anyone. who closely resembled either of these. LOFTOFT was asked whether he had known anyone named GALT. He said he feels sure he has never known anyone anyone by this name. He asked whether the name he had never known to him, as he is familiar with the character in the novel to him. As he was familiar with GALT, he is very familiar recently coming across the GALT and the general and not recently when the name appeared in the national press 4/16/17-168 at PasagoulA, Mississippi, File # Jackson 157-9586-5/12-92 SA'S JAMES J. FILES, and 4/ 17/68 by PETER'S CROOKS/JF/JIF/brh Date dictated 4/117/68 This document contains neither information nor conclusions nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is learned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14178

Summary  
The documents detail FBI interviews conducted in April 1968 as part of an investigation into the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). AARON ISAAC LOFTON, interviewed on April 17, 1968, in Pascagoula, Mississippi, provided details about his activities around the time of MLK’s death on April 4, 1968. Lofton stated he returned home at 3:30 p.m. that day and learned of MLK’s assassination via television later that evening. He discussed the event with BEN WOOD in Gautier, Mississippi. The FBI sought information about Lofton’s background, including his military service (U.S. Army, 1955–1962), employment at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation in Jackson, Mississippi, and residences in Atlanta, California, New Orleans, Jacksonville, and Los Angeles. Lofton denied knowing JOHN WILLARD, HARVEY LOWNEY, or GALT and provided details about his family, education, travel to Mexico (April 15–May 1, 1967), and ownership of a .22 caliber revolver.  

Virginia Ray, wife of JAMES RAY, reported that her husband did not resemble photographs of James Earl Ray published in Jackson newspapers on April 19, 1968. She described his physical traits, including gray eyes, a red face, and frequent alcohol consumption, and noted his vehicle was a 1967 white Malibu with dented fenders. Virginia Ray also mentioned missing items from her trailer in September 1967. The FBI interviewed family members and associates who confirmed they did not recognize James Ray in photographs of James Earl Ray. A separate section referenced BILLY RAY KING, registered at the Downtown Motor Inn in Clarksdale, Mississippi, on April 4, 1968, under a pseudonym, with physical descriptions including dark hair, a light shirt, and a slender build.  

Additional interviews included MARION JACKSON ENGLAND JR., a Texas salesman who provided his movements between March and April 1968, including stays at motels in Mississippi and Alabama, a phone call to his wife on April 4, and details about his car. BEN HART, a resident of Canton, Mississippi, was questioned regarding his whereabouts on April 4, 1968, with accounts from his mother (ETHEL HART), cousin (BETTY WATKINS), and landlady (ETHAN RINGS). ROBERT OWEN SHERRIDAN, an Illinois resident, reported observing a light blue or green 1963 RAMBLER with an unknown Georgia license plate near Mobile, Alabama, on April 8, 1968. All interviews were conducted by FBI agents as part of the broader investigation into MLK’s assassination.  

Key People  
- AARON ISAAC LOFTON (interviewed in Pascagoula, Mississippi)  
- BEN WOOD (Gautier, Mississippi; discussed MLK’s death with Lofton)  
- JAMES RAY (husband of VIRGINIA RAY; described as subject of investigation)  
- VIRGINIA RAY (wife of JAMES RAY; reported physical traits and vehicle details)  
- BILLY RAY KING (registered at Downtown Motor Inn in Clarksdale, Mississippi on April 4, 1968)  
- MARION JACKSON ENGLAND JR. (Texas salesman interviewed regarding movements in March–April 1968)  
- BEN HART (Canton, Mississippi; questioned about whereabouts on April 4, 1968)  
- ETHEL HART (mother of BEN HART; provided account of his activities)  
- BETTY WATKINS (cousin of BEN HART; provided account of his activities)  
- ETHAN RINGS (landlady of BEN HART; provided account of his activities)  
- ROBERT OWEN SHERRIDAN (Illinois resident; reported observation of a RAMBLER near Mobile, Alabama)  

Key Locations  
- Pascagoula, Mississippi (Lofton’s interview location)  
- Gautier, Mississippi (Lofton’s residence)  
- Jackson, Mississippi (Lofton’s employment at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation; FBI interviews)  
- New Orleans, Louisiana; Jacksonville, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Los Angeles, California (Lofton’s residences and work locations)  
- Tupelo, Mississippi (Virginia Ray’s home)  
- Clarksdale, Mississippi (Downtown Motor Inn where BILLY RAY KING stayed)  
- Corinth, Mississippi (England’s interview location and motel stays)  
- Canton, Mississippi (Hart’s residence; FBI interviews with family members)  
- Mobile, Alabama (Sheridan’s observation of RAMBLER; England’s travel destination)  
- Millington, Tennessee (Sheridan’s stay at Rip Van Winkle Motel)  

Key Events  
- Lofton’s interview on April 17, 1968, regarding his activities around MLK’s assassination on April 4, 1968  
- Virginia Ray’s report of her husband’s physical traits and vehicle details (April 1968)  
- FBI interviews with Marion Jackson England Jr., Ben Hart, and Robert Owen Sheridan in late April 1968  
- Observation of a light blue or green 1963 RAMBLER with an unknown Georgia license plate near Mobile, Alabama, on April 8, 1968  
- Virginia Ray’s account of missing items from her trailer in September 1967  
- Registration of BILLY RAY KING at Downtown Motor Inn in Clarksdale, Mississippi, on April 4, 1968  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation (Lofton’s employer)  
- Young Republicans (Lofton’s membership; he was County Chairman in Jackson County, Mississippi)  
- American Welding Society (mentioned as an organization Lofton affiliated with)  
- Southwest Junior College (Lofton’s educational pursuits)  
- Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol (MSP) (involved in Sheridan’s interview regarding travel and medical history)

MLK Declassified Files

157-jn-9586_624938_427e-03-part_4_of_5.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search