</s>FBI MOBILE FBI MIAMI 106PM 100PM URGENT 6/8/68 GJM TO ALL SACS FROM DIRECTOR 44-38561 MURKIN SUBJECT JAMES EARL RAY APPREHENDED AT LONDON, ENGLAND, JUNE EIGHT INSTANT. DISCONTINUE EFFORTS TO LOCATE AND REMOVE ALL STOPS. ARMED AND DANGEROUS. END FOI MBJAD 157-2827-20f SEARCHED INDEXED SERIALIZED FILED JUN 8 1968 FOR MOBIle 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The text comprises fragmented law enforcement records from the 1960s–1970s, primarily focused on Alabama and investigations linked to civil rights-era activities. It references individuals in Dothan, Opelika, and Mobile, with repeated names like Raymond Joseph Ritchitcher and Gene C. Larrimore. Driver’s license checks from April–May 1968 suggest efforts to track aliases or false identities. Coded identifiers such as "157-2627-SF3" and "JTB-1605" appear, likely representing internal case numbers. The document also references FBI surveillance of individuals connected to James Earl Ray, a man convicted in the U.S. for Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination but later acquitted by a British court. Legal proceedings involving extradition, appeals, and informants like Robert W. McDonough and Joel R. Hitt are detailed, alongside mentions of locations such as Shady Banks Court Motel in Memphis. The text highlights Cold War-era surveillance practices and the contentious nature of Ray’s trial, including procedural flaws and racial bias allegations.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray: Convicted in 1968 for MLK’s assassination but later acquitted by a British court in 1969.  
- Robert W. McDonough: FBI agent involved in surveillance of individuals linked to Ray.  
- Joel R. Hitt: FBI agent noted in records related to Ray’s case.  
- John Hanes: British lawyer representing Ray during his trial in London.  
- Raymond Joseph Ritchitcher, Gene C. Larrimore: Individuals under investigation or surveillance in Alabama.  

Key Locations  
- Dothan, Opelika, Mobile (Alabama): Centers of civil rights activism and law enforcement focus.  
- Memphis, Tennessee: Site of MLK’s assassination and Ray’s trial.  
- Shady Banks Court Motel (Memphis): Location tied to Ray’s alleged activities.  
- London, UK: Venue for Ray’s acquittal in 1969.  

Key Events  
- Investigation into civil rights-era activities in Alabama (1960s–70s).  
- FBI surveillance of individuals connected to James Earl Ray.  
- Trial and conviction of James Earl Ray for MLK’s assassination (1968).  
- Acquittal of Ray by a British court in 1969 due to insufficient evidence.  
- Extradition processes and legal appeals related to Ray’s case.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Conducted surveillance and investigations into Ray and associates.  
- Local law enforcement agencies in Alabama: Monitored individuals under investigation.  
- Magistrates' Court, London: British court that acquitted Ray in 1969.  
- U.S. legal system: Handled Ray’s trial and subsequent appeals.

MLK Declassified Files

157-mo-2627_625067_27-04-part_1_of_2.pdf

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