</s>CLT-cay 9-2-69 Trotter to Mohr - JAMES EARL RAY, IDENTIFICATION MATTER On 3-10-69 Ray, charged with murder of King, plead guilty in Tenm State Court & sentenced 99 years Tenn State Prison, Nashville. He still has 13 years to serve in Mo. There are no court-imposed restrictions on discusing there are no courts-imposed restrictionions on discussing identification this case. Very excellent latent fingerprint Ray's identification by Bureau's Ident'e this case resulted in That attached interesting ident be approved for classroom & speech use. Fo-047 REY: 3-27-59) U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1960-32-141 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
James Earl Ray was convicted of murdering Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee, on March 10, 1969, and sentenced to 99 years in prison. The FBI conducted fingerprint analysis to confirm his identity and monitored his movements, noting potential connections to federal agents and Mexican authorities. Legal proceedings addressed concerns about prejudicial publicity, with contempt petitions against individuals involved in pretrial coverage dismissed after Ray’s conviction. Ray claimed he worked with federal agents to supply arms to Cuban refugees and was used as a "call guy" to obscure King’s assassination. Documents reference the disposal of currency bills linked to his activities and discussions about an author’s planned book on the case, including a $100,000 contract offer for Jim Bishop. Appeals for a new trial were denied by Judge Arthur Faquin in May 1969, citing ineffective counsel claims. The Department of Justice initiated a review of all materials related to King’s assassination in December 1975, including FBI files.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Convicted murderer of Martin Luther King Jr., claimed involvement with federal agents and Cuban refugees.  
- **Ramsey Clark**: Former Attorney General allegedly implicated in the plot.  
- **William Bradford Hue**: Author and potential conspirator mentioned in Ray’s statement.  
- **Arthur J. Hanes Sr., Charles Edmundson, Roy Hamilton, Renfro T. Hays**: Individuals involved in dismissed contempt petitions.  
- **Percy Foreman**: Attorney representing Ray at the time of his guilty plea.  
- **Judge Arthur Faquin**: Presiding judge who denied Ray’s motion for a new trial in May 1969.  
- **W. Preston Battle**: Former judge whose death on March 31, 1969, was noted in Ray’s appeals.  
- **Jim Bishop**: Author and potential collaborator with the Bureau on a book about the case.  
- **Robert Lewis**: Executive Editor of "The Reader's Digest," involved in publishing discussions.  

Key Locations  
- **Tennessee State Prison (Nashville)**: Where James Earl Ray served his sentence.  
- **Shelby County Criminal Court, Tennessee**: Venue for legal proceedings and contempt dismissals.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of King’s assassination and the trial of James Earl Ray.  
- **Knoxville, Tennessee**: Location of the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals’ ruling on Ray’s appeal.  
- **St. Louis, Missouri**: Site of TV broadcasts featuring Ray’s statement.  
- **Western District of Tennessee**: U.S. District Court where potential federal appeals were considered.  

Key Events  
- **March 10, 1969**: James Earl Ray pleaded guilty to King’s murder in Shelby County Criminal Court.  
- **August 14, 1969**: Broadcast of Ray’s statement via KNOX-TV, St. Louis, Missouri.  
- **July–September 1969**: Legal proceedings to dismiss contempt petitions against individuals involved in pretrial publicity.  
- **May 1969**: Judge Arthur Faquin denied Ray’s motion for a new trial, citing ineffective counsel claims.  
- **July 7, 1975**: Appeal of Ray’s conviction filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit.  
- **December 4, 1975**: Department of Justice initiated a review of all materials related to Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, including FBI files.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations, fingerprint analysis, and legal reviews; provided cooperation for potential book publications.  
- **Civil Rights Division (Department of Justice)**: Handled case documentation and legal proceedings.  
- **Tennessee State Court**: Addressed contempt petitions and legal challenges.  
- **U.S. Attorney General’s Office**: Oversaw legal proceedings and appeals, including the dismissal of federal charges against Eric Galt in 1971.  
- **"The Reader's Digest":** Engaged in discussions with the Bureau about publishing a book on the case, offering collaboration with author Jim Bishop.

MLK Declassified Files

190-hq-709_bulky_231_sec_003_ser_231_only-part_09_of_15.pdf

Document Summary

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