</s>JN 157-9586 FD-302 Division Mr. DON M. STRICKLAND, Mgr ., Holiday Inn Motel At Atlanta Miami Birmingham Minnapolis Charlotte Mobile Chicago Newark Chicago New Orleans Columbia New Orleans Dallas New York Denver New Orleans Denver New York Denver Oklahoma City Houston Indianaapolis Philadelphia City Richmond Jacksonville Salt Lake City Kansas City Savannah Kansas City Seattle Little Rock Seattle Louisville Seattle Tempa Memphis WALTER COUTURE, MGR. Cannoneer Motel Albany Minneapolis Atlanta Atlanta Birmingham New Orleans Cincinnati New York Denver Oklahoma CITY Detroit Oklahoma Indianaapolis Philadelphia Kansas City Sacramento Kansasville Sacramentofis Memphis Savenannah Miami Springfield Milwaukee Tempa 3

The documents detail FBI efforts to investigate motel registrations and track individuals associated with Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. Records from the Jackson Division (File 157-9586) include lists of motels in Birmingham, Memphis, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, St. Louis, and other cities, along with names of managers, owners, and registered guests for dates March 29 to April 3, 1968. The FBI reviewed these records to identify individuals potentially linked to James Earl Ray, a suspect in the assassination. Canadian registrations from Saskatchewan, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and other locations were noted, with discretion given to the Memphis Office of Origin on whether to pursue further identification. A "Look" magazine article (April 7, 1969) alleging Ray stayed at a motel in Corinth, Mississippi, on April 2, 1968, was referenced. The Department of Justice established a task force in 1976 to review the FBI's investigation, addressing involvement, new evidence, and disciplinary actions. Additional documents include teletypes from the FBI’s internal communications regarding procedures for reproducing materials in the MLK investigation file, planning interviews with former Bureau officials such as A. Belmont, F.J. Baumgardner, C.D. DeLoach, W.C. Sullivan, J. Brown, and N.R.C. McCowan to review supervision protocols and actions taken during the case. James Earl Ray is repeatedly referenced as a suspect with an active FBI warrant for conspiracy and unlawful flight, along with details about his criminal record, physical description, and distribution of wanted flyers containing his photograph, aliases, and fingerprints. The documents emphasize caution regarding Ray’s potential armed danger.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Suspect in MLK’s assassination; referenced in motel registration checks, "Look" magazine article allegations, and FBI warrants for conspiracy and unlawful flight.  
- **A. Belmont**: Former Assistant to the Director of the FBI; mentioned in planned interviews about supervision protocols.  
- **F.J. Baumgardner**: Former Section Chief; listed as a former FBI personnel subject to interview.  
- **C.D. DeLoach**: Former Assistant to the Director; included in interviews related to MLK investigation actions.  
- **William Bradford Huile**: Author of a "Look" magazine article alleging Ray’s presence in Corinth, Mississippi.  
- **Memphis Office of Origin**: Decided on actions regarding Canadian identification requests.  

Key Locations  
- **Corinth, Mississippi**: Motel where Ray allegedly stayed (April 2, 1968).  
- **Birmingham, Memphis, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, St. Louis**: Cities with motels listed in registration records.  
- **Saskatchewan, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada**: Locations of Canadian registrations noted in the files.  
- **New Haven, Louisville, San Francisco, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Quincy or Alton, Illinois**: Locations referenced in FBI internal communications and Ray’s birthplace.  

Key Events  
- **Review of motel registrations (March 29–April 3, 1968)**: FBI checked records to identify individuals linked to James Earl Ray.  
- **"Look" magazine article (April 7, 1969)**: Alleged Ray’s stay in Corinth, Mississippi, prompting further investigation.  
- **Task force review (1976)**: Department of Justice ordered a review of the FBI’s investigation into MLK’s assassination, focusing on involvement, evidence, and disciplinary actions.  
- **FBI internal review**: Procedures for reproducing documents in the MLK investigation file and planning interviews with former officials.  
- **Active search for James Earl Ray**: Following his escape from prison, with federal warrants issued for conspiracy and unlawful flight.  
- **Distribution of wanted flyers**: Detailing Ray’s criminal history, physical description, and fingerprints.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted motel registration checks, reviewed files, coordinated with field offices, and planned interviews with former officials.  
- **Department of Justice**: Established a task force to review the FBI’s investigation under the Office of Professional Responsibility.  
- **Jackson Division (File 157-9586)**: Maintained motel registration records and processed leads for investigation.

MLK Declassified Files

157-nh-818_626213_20-03-part_3_of_3.pdf

Document Summary

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