</s>FD-35 (new. 5:22-64) F.B.I Date: 4/25/68 Transmit the following in (Type in plantest or code) AIRTEL AIRMALL (Priority) Via AIRMall DIRECTOR, FBI AND TO: ALL CONTINENTAL OFFICES SAC, ATLANTA (44-2386) (P) FROM: SUBJECT: SURKIN CR (00: MEMPHIS) Re Atlanta airtel to Director, 4/22/68. 2 - Bureau 2 - Jacksonville 2 - Phoenix 2 - Albuquerque 2 - Jacksonville 2 - Pittsburgh 2 - Albany 2 - Kansas City, 2 - Portland 2 - Anchorage 2 - Los Vegas 2 - Washington City, 2- Portland 2 - Baltimore 2 - Salt Lake City 2 - Birmingham 2 - Las Vegas 2 - Little Rock 2 - St. Louis 2 - Boston 2 - Louisville 2 - San Antonio 2 - Buffalo 2 - Louisville 2 - Saint Louis 2 - Charlotte 2 - Miami 2 - Chicago 2 - Michigan 2- San Diego 2 - Cincinnati 2 - Milwaukee 2 - Minneapolis 2 - Savannah 2 -San Juan 2 - Cleveland 2 - Indianapolis 2 - Minnesota 2 - Seattle 2- New Haven 2 - Sacramento 2 - Detroit 2 - New Orleans 2 - Tampa 2 - Dallas 2 - Denver 2 - Atlanta 2 - Tampa 2 -Detroit 2 -New York 2 -Atlanta 2 -Denver 2 - Newark New Orleans 2 - Houston 2 - Norfolk City <loc_344><loc_751>2 - Orlando City 2 -Houston 2 - Omaha (JULI-JB 2 - Oklahoma <loc_347><loc_769>(119) 2 - Indianaapolis<loc_119><loc_785><loc_301><loc_801>2 - Philadelphiaphia 2- 2 - Ohio

The provided documents consist of FBI internal communications and memos from May 1968 related to the investigation into the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) and the pursuit of James Earl Ray, who was charged with his murder. The FBI coordinated efforts to locate Ray, distributed photographs for public identification, and sought assistance from media outlets. Key details include:  
- **James Earl Ray** was identified as a suspect in MLK’s assassination and linked to other crimes (e.g., bank robberies).  
- Agents tracked potential accomplices, such as Gay Gintner, who allegedly distributed leaflets related to MLK’s murder, with meetings at locations like the Spirit House in Portland, Oregon.  
- A "look-alike" suspect was reported on a Greyhound bus traveling from San Francisco to Olympia, Washington, described with physical traits matching Ray.  
- The FBI emphasized urgency in handling leads and shared procedural guidelines for field offices, including reporting formats and administrative protocols under Executive Order 14176.  

**Key People:**  
- **James Earl Ray**: Charged with MLK’s assassination; central figure in the investigation.  
- **Gay Gintner**: Suspected accomplice involved in distributing anti-establishment leaflets.  
- **Melvin Spencer**: Mentioned as a contact during investigations.  
- **W. B. Soyars, Jr.**: FBI Special Agent in Charge (SAC) for Portland, Oregon.  
- **Jack T. Hazen**: Case agent linked to unrelated bank robbery cases.  

**Key Locations:**  
- **Portland, Oregon**: Primary location for FBI operations and suspect tracking.  
- **San Francisco, Washington, Olympia**: Cities where Greyhound bus sightings were reported.  
- **Klamath Falls, Seattle**: Mentioned in transit records for the suspected look-alike.  

**Key Events:**  
- Distribution of Ray’s photographs to media for public identification.  
- Investigation into potential accomplices and their activities (e.g., leaflet distribution).  
- Coordination of FBI field offices on case procedures and reporting standards.  
- Documentation of a "look-alike" suspect on a Greyhound bus, raising questions about identity verification.  

**Key Organizations:**  
- **FBI**: Central to the investigation, with directives for media engagement and inter-office collaboration.  
- **Greyhound Bus Company**: Used as a potential route for tracking suspects.  
- **National Bank of Oregon**: Mentioned in unrelated bank robbery cases linked to Ray.  

**Additional Notes:**  
- The documents include administrative details about form submissions, declassification protocols (Executive Order 14176), and internal FBI procedures.  
- A section lists fictional characters from Ian Fleming’s novels (*Casino Royale*, *Diamonds Are Forever*), likely unrelated to the investigation but included in the text.  

The materials reflect a multifaceted effort to identify Ray, address potential conspiracies, and manage investigative logistics during the 1968 period.

MLK Declassified Files

157-pd-380_628415_06-02-part_6_of_7.pdf

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