</s>OPTIONAL POINT NO. 1 301-12-742 SAA GEL, INC. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Memorandum SAC (157-2627) (P) DATE: 1/15/68 TO SAC. (157 -2627] (P.) FROM SA. CLARENCE W. SLAUGHTER SUBJECT: MURKIN Re ERIC STARVO GALT. Following as checked 4/11/68! There was no record of an ERIC STARVO GALT at the Dothan, Ala. City Directory Dothans, Ala ., City Directory Dothon, Ala -, City directory, which includes Abbeville, Newton, Columbia, Newville, Headland, Pinckard, Dothann, Ala, City Director, Midland City, Sloomburg, Ala .., Midlandsburg, Ala ... Midland City. Sloobom, Ala ,, and Mckersburg, ALa. Dotham, Ala., telephone directory,which includes Brantley, Dozier, Gantt, and Red Level, Ala .... Enterprise, Ala ·, telephone directory , which includes Elba and Enterprise, Ala·, telephone Directory, which include Florale, Ala telephone directory Floralea, Ala Telephone directory, Ashford and Cottomood - Ala. telephone directory. Ashford, Ala- telephone directory ., including Hartford, Geneva, Ala_telephone directory, including Hartford, and Samson, Ala. Telephone directory ,, including Arton, Geneva. Ala. Telephone Directory, including Horton, Banks, Brundridge, Clio, Daleville, Echo, Louisville, and Newton. Dothanian, ClIO, DaleVILLE, Echo ,, Louisvillle, and Newton. Dohann Credit Bureau, per BARBARA CARROLL Houston County, South Carolina, per BULENE GRANGER Dothanon County, Houston County Circuit and County Courts. Criminal Dockets, P.D ., HOUSTON COUNTY Circuit and Country Cottonwood, Ala: PD, per Chief SONNY JACKSON Ashford. Ala .- Per Chief J. T. J. W. J ., SKIPPER Ashford , Ala . ., AlA ., Per Chief T. T ., L.J ., T. W ., J. J .. ., K. L ., S. S. Smith Headland, Ala." PD, Pd ., P D ., D.C ., Chief Chief J .- J. Smith <loc_711><loc_728><loc_711><loc_741><loc_268><loc_741>AbbeVILLE, Ala :, Ala _, PD ,, Per Cher Chief RUBERT MONEY <loc_756>Henry County, Henry County, Circuit and County Henry County. 80 County. County, Al. Dale County, 80

Summary  
The documents detail the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) investigation into James Earl Ray, a fugitive linked to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was shot on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. Ray, identified under aliases such as "Eric Starvo Galt," was added to the FBI’s "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list following the murder. The text outlines his criminal history, physical description, and the FBI’s nationwide search efforts. It also references federal warrants issued for unlawful interstate flight, conspiracy to interfere with civil rights, and robbery charges. The documents highlight inter-agency coordination via teletype communication and media outreach to publicize Ray’s fugitive status.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Central figure, identified as the perpetrator of MLK Jr.’s assassination. Aliases include Eric Starvo Galt, Harvey Lawyer, John Willard, James McBride, James Walton, W. C. Herron, and James O’Conner.  
- **FBI Special Agent in Charge (SAC)**: Oversaw coordination of search efforts and media outreach.  
- **Media Outlets**: Targeted for disseminating Ray’s photo and description, including the Mobile Press Register, WVBT-TV (Mobile), Montgomery Advertiser-Journal, and others.  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of MLK Jr.’s assassination on April 4, 1968.  
- **Alabama**: Investigative focus areas, including Birmingham and Mobile.  
- **Missouri**: Ray’s prior incarceration at the Missouri State Penitentiary (1960–1966).  
- **Atlanta, Georgia**: Location of a recovered 1966 Mustang linked to Ray.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee.  
- **April 17, 1968**: FBI issued a federal warrant charging Ray with conspiring to interfere with civil rights (linked to the assassination).  
- **April 20, 1968**: Ray added to the FBI’s "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list.  
- **Media Outreach**: FBI instructed agents to contact local TV stations, newspapers, and radio stations to publicize Ray’s fugitive status.  
- **Fingerprint Match**: Confirmed Ray and Eric Starvo Galt were the same individual through latent fingerprint comparisons.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted the investigation, issued warrants, coordinated inter-agency efforts, and managed media outreach.  
- **Interstate Compact Agencies**: Leveraged state probation officers and parole officials across Alabama and Missouri to locate Ray.  
- **U.S. Postal Service**: Mentioned in Ray’s criminal record for forging money orders.  

Note: The documents reflect the FBI’s operational tactics during the Cold War era, including teletype communication (FD-38/36 forms) and surveillance methods. Redacted or corrupted sections suggest potential sensitivity or incomplete records.

MLK Declassified Files

157-mo-2627_625067_26-05-part_4_of_4.pdf

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