</s>PD 157-183 ME 44-1987 UNKNOWN SUSPECT SUGGESTED BY ARTHUR BROWN, CRESCENT CITY, CALIFORNIA ARTHURN BROWN. 1968, at approximately 3.10 p.m. ARTHUN BROWN Post Office Box 1032, Crescent City, California, telephone Crescent City 41363, telephoneically contacted with Medford, Oregon PBI, telephoneally informed by Medford PBI following. At 2:45 AM on April 29, 1968, he was having lunch at Glenn's Bakery and Coffee Shop, 3rd and 3rd at Street, Crescent City, California. An individual residing JAMES RAY MAY next to him and drank a cup of coffee and left. He stated this suspect was wearing a checkeded gray sports coat with gray slacks and white shirt. He said the suspect had dark gray slats and fit and the description and appearance of RAY as set forth in the newspapers and and television. Mr. BROWN stated he was unable to determine what type of vehicle this suspect Was driving since he hand to pay bill for his lunch and by the time he did that the man had gone. He stated the suspect appeared very and felt his bill that he had a side and the front view of the very and left his lost. That he had just like HAY. The front view information was furnished to the San Francisco Office by communication dated April 29. 1968. -1-1.1-2-1 -1:1-4-1 -1=1-0-1 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigative efforts related to the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on leads, suspects, and operational activities across multiple locations. Arthur Brown of Crescent City, California, reported a suspect matching James Earl Ray’s physical description but could not confirm vehicle details. Alvin Johnson was checked against photographs and found dissimilar to Ray. Erick Gault, investigated as a potential lead in Portland, Oregon, was ruled out due to discrepancies in his description compared to Ray. Ruth E. Galt and Lowell T. Galt were eliminated after verification of their identities and employment records. The FBI conducted checks on Oregon vital statistics for unidentified male deaths, finding none since April 5, 1968. Operations included distributing flyers to charitable agencies, checking driver’s license records, and coordinating with local authorities in Portland and Memphis. Leads involving Ernest Emillis, a man claiming to be sent by "Communists" to kill civil rights leaders, were dismissed due to physical discrepancies and lack of evidence. Additional investigations focused on individuals like James Allen Johnston, John Kelly, and John Williard, all reported as potential suspects based on alleged connections or physical resemblance to Ray. The FBI issued an All Points Bulletin (APB) for Eric Starvo Galt and a 1966 white Mustang, later canceled on April 11, 1968.  

Key People  
- **Arthur Brown** (Crescent City, California): Reported suspect matching James Earl Ray’s description.  
- **Alvin Johnson** (Oregon): Checked against photographs but found dissimilar to Ray.  
- **Erick Gault** (Portland, Oregon): Investigated as a potential lead but ruled out due to physical discrepancies.  
- **Ruth E. Galt** and **Lowell T. Galt** (Oregon): Eliminated after verification of identities and employment records.  
- **Ernest Emillis** (Portland, Oregon): Claimed involvement in assassination plot but dismissed due to physical differences from Ray.  
- **James Allen Johnston**: Suspect eliminated after investigation showed no match to Ray.  
- **John Kelly** (Forest City, Tennessee): Suggested as a suspect due to gun ownership and military background.  
- **John Williard**: Reported by Mrs. Cockrell as a former student with possible criminal ties.  
- **Donald Churchill** (investigated as suspect in Oregon).  
- **Samuel J. Lindley** (Portland, Oregon): Reported sighting of an individual matching the suspect’s description.  
- **Geraldine Marie Tanner** (Portland, Oregon): Provided letter suggesting someone intended to harm Dr. KING.  
- **Frank Davis**: Distributed Spanish-language flyers.  
- **Eric Starvo Galt**: Subject of APB issued by FBI.  

Key Locations  
- **Crescent City, California**: Arthur Brown’s report location.  
- **Portland, Oregon**: Central hub for investigations involving Gault, informants, and FBI operations; included cafes, hippie communities, and airports.  
- **Grass Valley, Oregon**: Alvin Johnson’s reported contact location.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Coordinating office for FBI case management.  
- **San Francisco, California**: Greyhound bus route where a look-alike passenger was described.  
- **Olympia, Washington**: Destination for the Greyhound bus passenger.  
- **Rogue River, Oregon**: Sawmills and logging operations investigated for sightings of Ray.  
- **Malheur County, Oregon**: Spanish-speaking labor camps targeted with flyers.  
- **Billings, Montana**: James Bigelow’s report location (date possibly erroneous).  

Key Events  
- **April 29, 1968**: Arthur Brown reported suspect at Glenn’s Bakery in Crescent City.  
- **April 23, 1968**: Glendora Smith reported Alvin Johnson seeking postal services.  
- **March 19, 1968**: George F. Wick reported Erick Gault’s car purchase inquiry.  
- **May 17, 1968**: FBI checked Oregon vital statistics for unidentified male deaths.  
- **April–May 1968**: FBI distributed flyers and coordinated with agencies to locate James Earl Ray.  
- **March 1968**: George F. Wick reported contact with Erick Gault about car trades.  
- **April 1968**: Glendora Smith and Sheriff Leo Roberts evaluated Alvin A. Johnson’s resemblance to Ray.  
- **April 29, 1968**: Arthur Brown described an unknown suspect matching Ray’s appearance in Crescent City.  
- **May 1968**: FBI investigated a look-alike passenger on a Greyhound bus from San Francisco to Olympia.  
- **April–May 1968**: John Kelly and John Williard were reported as suspects by informants in Memphis and Eugene, Oregon.  
- **April 10–25, 1968**: Investigations into sawmills and logging operations in Rogue River, Oregon, yielded no sightings of Ray.  
- **Distribution of Spanish-language flyers** in Malheur County, Oregon, targeting potential suspects.  
- **Issuance and cancellation of an APB** for Eric Starvo Galt and a 1966 white Mustang on April 11, 1968.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations, coordinated with local authorities, and managed case files.  
- **Portland Office, FBI**: Handled leads in Oregon, including informants and vehicle checks.  
- **Memphis Office, FBI**: Managed case coordination and administrative tasks.  
- **Sacramento Office, FBI**: Coordinated investigations into suspects like Chester John Lis.  
- **San Francisco Office, FBI**: Handled reports on the Greyhound bus passenger and other leads.  
- **Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)**: Conducted passport checks and airline contacts in Portland, Oregon.  
- **U.S. Department of Justice**: Involved in case management and coordination.  
- **Portland Police Department**: Collaborated with FBI on investigations.  
- **Narcotics Bureau (Portland, Oregon)**: Participated in operational activities.

MLK Declassified Files

157-pd-380_628415_06-01-part_2_of_7.pdf

Document Summary

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