</s>MO 157-2627 3. Microfilmed copies of deeds showing signatures of different heirs of Mrs. EDITH R. THOMESON, decased. 4. Copy of deed signed by Mrs. FLORENCE MARTIN and DELBERT MARTINT, Springfield, Missouri. 5. Copy off of a deed dated September 7, 1951, listing heirs of EVA UULLEY. Memphis should review the enclosed material to determine if any of any of the persons named may be related to subject RAY and if so, order any indicated investigation. In the event that the material is not of any value to this Investment, it would be Indicated, rebunded to this Mrs. SCARBOROUGH, 603 Englewood Drive, Dothan, Alabama 36301. 2 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14178

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigative activities related to the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on leads and interviews regarding potential conspirators. A memo dated April 29, 1968, from Mobile, Alabama, instructed agents to prioritize investigations into individuals linked to threats against MLK. An interview with Bobby Joe Faulkner in Yellow Bluff, Alabama, described his stay at Garnier’s Rooming House in Atlanta, Georgia, where he encountered a gray-haired man resembling James Earl Ray, noted for having a throat operation and speaking in a whisper. FBI agents reviewed blood donor records for James Earl Ray, confirming his Navy serial number 926263, height (5'11"), weight (180 lbs), and physical traits. Coin telephone calls from Texas, Louisiana, and Florida were analyzed for potential connections to Ray. A letter from Deverly Ruck Harney referenced "new information" about MLK’s assassination, though its content remains unclear. FBI SACs in Atlanta, Memphis, Mobile, Tampa, and San Juan coordinated efforts, including checks on laundry and dry-cleaning records.  

A separate memorandum dated May 2, 1968, from Special Agent Raymond J. Maxwell to SAC Mobile (file number 157-2627) details an investigation involving Jack Cone, a resident of Dothan, Alabama, who repaired shotguns. The text references a letter Cone received from the President of Alabama and notes that shortly after MLK’s assassination, Cone was questioned about a potential bounty on King’s life. Cone denied knowledge of any bounty but described himself as a "big talker" and "braggard." He claimed to have no information about a half-million-dollar reward for details leading to King’s death. Cone was located in Dallas, Alabama, on April 26, 1968, and appeared cooperative during the interview. Fragmented details mention a laundry-related investigation in Atlanta, including references to parking lots, photographs of laundry marks, and unspecified locations such as "Terra Seven" and "Thref-Tenth St." Illegible or garbled sections include mentions of "Cable is Prouisstied" and "Birrah May Wist," which appear unrelated to the MLK investigation.  

Key People  
- **Bobby Joe Faulkner**: Interviewed in Alabama; described encounters with a gray-haired man resembling James Earl Ray.  
- **James Earl Ray**: Suspected assassin of MLK; physical description noted (5'11", 180 lbs, brown eyes) and Navy serial number 926263.  
- **Deverly Ruck Harney**: Sent a letter to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover with vague claims about "new information" related to MLK’s assassination.  
- **Special Agents in Charge (SACs)**: Coordinated investigations across multiple cities, including Atlanta, Memphis, Mobile, Tampa, and San Juan.  
- **Jack Cone**: A white male, approximately 50 years old, described as 5'8", around 215 pounds, with dark brown hair and a dark complexion; resided in Dothan, Alabama.  
- **Ken Hogg**: Law enforcement officer who reportedly received information from Cone about a bounty on King’s life but later denied the claim.  
- **Raymond J. Maxwell**: Special Agent involved in the investigation.  

Key Locations  
- **Atlanta, Georgia**: Garnier’s Rooming House where Faulkner resided; location of potential sightings of Ray; mentioned in fragmented laundry investigation details.  
- **Yellow Bluff, Alabama**: Faulkner’s residence during his stay in the area.  
- **Mobile, Alabama**: FBI headquarters for some investigative coordination.  
- **San Juan, Puerto Rico**: Mentioned in context of a Navy-related lead involving James Earl Ray Jr.  
- **Dothan, Alabama**: Where Jack Cone resided and where the initial inquiry took place.  
- **Dallas, Alabama**: Location where Cone was found on April 26, 1968.  

Key Events  
- **April 29, 1968**: FBI memo prioritizing investigations into threats against MLK and potential conspirators.  
- **Interview with Bobby Joe Faulkner (Yellow Bluff, Alabama)**: Described encounters with a gray-haired man matching Ray’s physical description.  
- **Blood donor record review**: Confirmed James Earl Ray’s Navy serial number and physical traits.  
- **Coin telephone call analysis**: Checked calls from Texas, Louisiana, and Florida for connections to Ray.  
- **Coordination of FBI efforts**: SACs in multiple cities collaborated on laundry/dry-cleaning records and other investigative leads.  
- **April 24–25, 1968**: Efforts to locate Jack Cone were unsuccessful.  
- **April 26, 1968**: Jack Cone was located at his place of business in Dallas, Alabama.  
- **Post-King assassination inquiry**: Cone’s alleged statements about a bounty on King’s life were discussed, though he denied making such claims.  
- **Laundry investigation**: Fragmented details suggest an unrelated case involving laundry marks and photographs, possibly linked to Atlanta.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Central agency conducting the investigation, with SACs overseeing regional operations.  
- **Navy Personnel Records**: Used to verify James Earl Ray’s military service and identify potential connections.  
- **U.S. Savings Bonds Program**: Mentioned in a separate administrative note about payroll savings plans.

MLK Declassified Files

157-mo-2627_625067_26-06-part_2_of_2.pdf

Document Summary

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