</s>OFFICIAL FORM NO. 10 MAY FPPH (E.O.G) (GMO) 91414 USA FPPHR (E) 911414 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Memorandum TO Director, FBI (44-38861) DATE: 4/19/68 SAC, Kansas City (44+3886) SUBJECT: MURKIN Enclosed to the Bureau are six copies and to each office one copy of the following photographs: office one Copy of the Following photographs: JAMES EARL RAY, Missouri Department of Correction R/A/16, dated 3/17/60 and 9/8/66 9/9/66 WALTER TERRY R/E, Kansas CITY SO #29636 TBT ##55858 Stand up photographs of RAY on the left, Kansas city So #29367 and RIFE, KansasCity SO 29236, taken 3/28/55. 2 - Bureau (Encs. 24) (AM) 2 - Each Field Office (EnCs. 4) (Am) 2 - Kansas City (120) 15-7-1067-73-30 SEARCHED. SERIALIZED. FILLED. APR 2, 1968 FB1-NEW ORLEANS Buy T.I.S. S. Savines Bonds Regularly on the Perwoll Savines Plan. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O ., 14176

Summary:  
The documents contain FBI investigative records from April 1968 detailing James Earl Ray’s incarceration history in Missouri state prisons (1955–1967) and federal facilities, including Jefferson City State Penitentiary and Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary. Ray’s interactions with inmates like Raymond Curtis are noted, with Curtis reporting Ray’s alleged awareness of a $1 million bounty on Martin Luther King Jr.’s head and potential involvement in planning his assassination. Ray’s connections to organized crime syndicates in Chicago and Kansas City are highlighted, along with his stated intent to flee to countries such as New Zealand or Switzerland if necessary. FBI efforts include surveillance in New Orleans, coordination with local law enforcement agencies, and administrative actions related to document release under Executive Order 14176. Additional records from Louisiana (1968) reference investigations into individuals linked to Eric Starvo Galt and Ray, including interviews at dance studios, laundry services, and post offices in New Orleans, Thibodaux, and Golden Meadow. A white male suspect described as resembling Ray was observed watching MLK’s funeral on television in New Orleans. FBI agents conducted license plate checks and post office record reviews to verify identities of individuals associated with the suspects.  

Key People:  
- James Earl Ray (subject of investigation; alleged connection to MLK assassination)  
- Raymond Curtis (inmate who interacted with Ray; reported Ray’s awareness of bounty on King)  
- Lester G. Davis (FBI agent)  
- William Lloyd Fisher (linked to Georgia driver’s license records)  
- Thomas Kaiser (citizen who reported seeing a man resembling Ray)  
- SA Reed W. Jensen (FBI special agent)  
- Raymond Corvell (rented post office box in Golden Meadow, Louisiana)  
- Mrs. Nettie Hudson (dancing lessons at Continental Dance Studio)  
- Eric Starvo Galt (linked to dance studio and media reports)  
- Roger A. Bombardier, William T. Brooks, Donald B. Heed, James D. Hill (FBI agents involved in Louisiana investigations)  

Key Locations:  
- Kansas City, Missouri  
- Jefferson City State Penitentiary, Missouri  
- Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary, Missouri  
- New Orleans, Louisiana (dance studios, hotels, post offices)  
- Golden Meadow, Louisiana (post office box rentals)  
- Thibodaux, Louisiana (laundry services, rental apartments)  
- Houma, Louisiana (laundry services)  
- Memphis, Tennessee (mentioned in teletype transmissions)  

Key Events:  
- Ray’s incarceration in Missouri state prisons and federal facilities from 1955–1967.  
- Curtis’s testimony about Ray’s alleged awareness of a $1 million bounty on King’s head and potential involvement in assassination planning.  
- FBI surveillance efforts in New Orleans, including monitoring individuals resembling Ray and verifying identities through license plate checks and post office records.  
- Investigations into Louisiana-based individuals linked to dance studios, laundry services, and post offices, including Raymond Corvell and Eric Starvo Galt.  
- Surveillance of a man described as resembling James Earl Ray at MLK’s funeral viewing in New Orleans.  
- Administrative actions related to document release under Executive Order 14176.  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Missouri Department of Correction  
- Georgia State Patrol  
- U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)  
- Continental Dance Studio (New Orleans, Louisiana)  
- Offshore Laundry, Ideal Cleaners, White Star Cleaners (laundry services in Louisiana)  
- Post Office in Golden Meadow, Louisiana  
- Sheraton Charles Hotel (New Orleans, Louisiana)

MLK Declassified Files

157-no-10673_hs1-852666771_123-02-part_2_of_2.pdf

Document Summary

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