</s>FD-302 (Rev.) 1-25-60) FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGAT Date 6/4/68 1 Mrs. CLARENCE HARRINGTON, 1501 East Street, advised she had telephone number 589-741 in December, 1967. Mrs. HARRINGTON. a Negro, advised she does not recall receiving a long distance telephone call from Texas, on December 15, 1967, although it is quite possible she did receive such a call. She explained that Vinton is very close to Orange and Beaumont, Texas as she was long distance. She also does recall that in Decem- Texas as being long distances. She does recall what in December- ber, 1967 ,, a call to her residence was made by a long distance operator, but the party at the other and had the wrong number. Upon viewing photographs of JAMES EARL RAY, she ad- vised that while he appeared familiar to her, she does Not know him. 5/22/68 at Vinton, Louisiana File # NO 157-10673 and/2-650 SA JAMES FRANCIS WRIGHT -epk Date dictated 5/28/68 by This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the Fbi and is licensed to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents consist of multiple FBI FD-302 forms dated between May 10–15, 1968, and June 3–5, 1968, detailing interviews with individuals in Louisiana and Texas regarding potential long-distance telephone calls associated with the Martin Luther King Jr. assassination investigation. The FBI sought to verify phone call records from Houston, Texas, to Louisiana during December 1967, assess familiarity with James Earl Ray (FBI #405 G42), and trace connections between suspects in Texas and individuals in Louisiana. Interviews focused on personal details, telephone number verification, and statements about relatives or acquaintances in Houston. Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company provided information on call records and payphone usage. Most respondents denied receiving calls from Houston or recognized Ray, though some noted potential links through family members or friends.  

Key People  
- **Isaac Curry** (Vinton, Louisiana): Stated he did not receive calls from Texas in December 1967; mentioned wife Maggie Johnson and daughter Laura Sherbia.  
- **Maggie Johnson** (Vinton, Louisiana): Lived with Isaac Curry; denied receiving calls from Texas. Her relative Lavinia Harris resided in Houston, Texas.  
- **Laura Sherbia** (Vinton, Louisiana): Daughter of Isaac Curry; denied recalling a call from Texas on December 17, 1967. Mentioned aunt Lavinia Harris in Texas.  
- **Silas Curry** (Clinton, Louisiana): Stated he received no calls from Texas in December 1967; daughter Arnisa Hennison resided in Texas.  
- **Mrs. Florence Thomas** (Tallulah, Louisiana): Denied knowing James Earl Ray and having relatives in Houston.  
- **Clayton Cox** (Tallulah, Louisiana): Police chief who stated Mrs. Florence Thomas was not affiliated with hate groups.  
- **Luther Gabriel** (Maurepas, Louisiana): Denied receiving calls from Texas in 1967.  
- **William Broadenauux** and **Norman Hardy** (Ponchatoula, Louisiana): Noted family member Jeanette Broadenauux worked in Houston, Texas.  
- **Murphy Herbert** (Ponchatoula, Louisiana): Stated the Broadenauux family was not connected to hate groups.  
- **Mrs. Eula Courrege** (Lake Charles, Louisiana): Reported a non-working phone number in Vinton, Louisiana.  
- **Harold Henderson** (Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana): Confirmed no records of radical individuals in his jurisdiction.  
- **Alex Leomone** (Plaucheville, Louisiana): Provided details about a pay telephone and noted Ray’s photographs were not recognized.  
- **Sidney Brouillete** (Simmesport, Louisiana): Mentioned calls from Houston, Texas, and denied recognizing Ray.  
- **Mrs. Charlie Brooks** (Slimesport, Louisiana): Had a phone number potentially called by a Houston friend on December 17, 1967.  
- **Essie Whitington** (Marksville, Louisiana): Noted possible calls from Houston, Texas, and did not recognize Ray.  
- **Nathan Dixon** (Glenmore, Louisiana): Had relatives in Houston who might have called him on December 1, 1967.  
- **Mrs. Fussell Musgrove** (Forest Hill, Louisiana): Mentioned a daughter-in-law from Houston, Texas, and did not recognize Ray.  
- **Mrs. Silas Green** (Slimesport, Louisiana): Had a child in Houston who might have called her on December 17, 1967.  
- **Mrs. Lawrence Webb** (Alexandria, Louisiana): Had daughters in Houston, Texas, and did not recognize Ray.  
- **Mrs. Lois G. Cotty** (Alexandria, Louisiana): Noted a possible call from Chicago, Illinois, or California.  
- **Johnny Quinney** (Alexandria, Louisiana): Had relatives in Houston, Texas, and did not recognize Ray.  
- **Mrs. Vivian W. Davis** (Alexandria, Louisiana): Mentioned her mother-in-law from Houston, Texas, who might have called her on December 1, 1968.  

Key Locations  
- **Louisiana**: Vinton, Denham Springs, Clinton, Monroe, West Monroe, Mandeville, Bogalusa, Downsville, Grambling, Tallulah, Maurepas, Ponchatoula, Slimesport, Marksville, Glenmore, Forest Hill, Alexandria, Plaucheville, Simmesport, Avoyelles Parish.  
- **Texas**: Houston, Beaumont, Orange.  

Key Events  
- FBI investigated telephone calls from Houston, Texas, to Louisiana during December 1967, focusing on potential connections to James Earl Ray.  
- Verification of phone number records (e.g., 757-3137) and changes in numbers during the period.  
- Interviews with individuals to confirm or deny links to suspects in Texas, including family members and acquaintances.  
- Examination of whether individuals had relatives or associates in Houston, Texas, who might have made calls.  
- Presentation of photographs of James Earl Ray to each individual for identification; none recognized him.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted interviews and telephone number investigations as part of the MLK assassination inquiry.  
- **Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company**: Provided information on record-keeping practices for outgoing local calls from pay stations.  
- **Local police departments**: In Ponchatoula, Kentwood, Vinton, Tallulah, and other Louisiana jurisdictions, provided statements about individuals’ affiliations with hate groups.

MLK Declassified Files

157-no-10673_hs1-852666771_130-04-part_2_of_3.pdf

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