</s>tenood from four to six years at the Federal Youth Contor in Ash- land, Kentucky. My mother was given a one year probation sentenced- I spoke Kentucky. "My mother was born in Ashland. Kentucky, Kentucky, and I I was spoiled on parole March 6, 1974. I was also involved in the prison in Ashley, KY. I attended the Ash- land Community College and maintained a 3.5 and above grade average. Upon my release on March 6. 1974, I entered Georgia State Univor. stity and took a part time security job. While attending Georgia State University my parole officer, Mr. Steve D. Mills informed my mother that I had been arrested in New Orleans, I could have been sent to a drug dealer for a crime. I am staying that Robert Byron Watson, Social Security No. ofo. was arrested in Now Orleans on a drug charge. I have been in the ofo, was arrested on New Orleans on the drug charge for a drug arrest. From this time in ident. My fact birth date, though, that someone else was using my name, I knew my birth date and my Social Security number was they are arrested. I knew drugs in New Orleans. the U.S. Government, and if I had had been able to prove where within the U S. Government and if i had had to have been paid in jail, I am any- way. I was attending Georgia state University, and i was taking an overload of courses just as I did in Ashfield, Kentucky; making 3-5 and above grade averages. During this time while I was at attending Georgia STATE University I would often often spend time with a girl friend, namely Mrs. Donna, I would often spend $250 Ashfield in District, Georgia. On the night of July 6,1974 I was At Donna Rathcamp's and I was studying for my mid quarter examinations. About 12:00 P.M. I became hungry and proceed to check the refrigerator and found there nothing in it that I wanted. Dona was asleep upstairs. Glove there was nothing in that I want. Doña dedicated upstairs, Glove a block to an all night food store near the bridge on 1,285. It was a very short distance and I could easily walk it, and besides it felt good to get out into the fresh city. While the way to the food store, a policeman pulled up to the side of the road, jumped out and threw up against my patrol car and searched mo. I pulled out a bag of pot-up pocket which I didn't even have and took me to the DeKalb County Jail. I was charged with Solicitating a Ride, Pub, and the Department of Police. In itself, these minor charges were not serious offenses, but they would constitute grounds for the revoloking of my parole. There was under an ounce of pot in the bag.

Summary  
The document details the FBI’s investigation into the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on James Earl Ray as the primary suspect. Key events include Ray’s movements in Alabama, Georgia, and Memphis during April 1968; purchases of a Winchester rifle with a Redfield scope in Birmingham, Alabama; and his registration at multiple motels, including the Rebel Motel in Birmingham and the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, where King was staying. A bundle containing the rifle, binoculars, shaving gear, and other items was discovered near the Lorraine Hotel following King’s assassination on April 4, 1968. Ray’s fingerprints and handwriting were linked to the weapon and associated documents. The investigation also examined financial transactions, passport records, toll calls, and vehicle movements to track Ray’s activities. Eric S. Galt, using aliases such as Bridgeman and Sneyd, was implicated in planning the attack through shared connections with Ray.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Suspected assassin of MLK; arrested in London in 1968, later extradited to Tennessee.  
- **Eric S. Galt**: Linked to Ray via aliases (Galt, Bridgeman, Sneyd) and alleged involvement in planning the assassination.  
- **John Kopp** (Birmingham gun store manager): Identified Eric Galt as a customer interested in ballistic weapons.  
- **Harvey Lowmeyer**: Purchased a rifle with a Redfield scope in Birmingham; later returned it for a newer model.  
- **Carol Pepper and John Larry Ray**: Tied to Ray’s associates; toll records reviewed for communication patterns.  

Key Locations  
- **Birmingham, Alabama**: Sites of gun store visits, weapon purchases, and motel stays (Flamingo Motel, Travel Lodge).  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Lorraine Hotel (where MLK was staying), rooming house near the hotel, and locations where Ray registered.  
- **Atlanta, Georgia**: Motels (Rebel Motel, Flamingo Motel) and dry cleaners linked to Ray’s activities.  
- **Toronto, Canada** and **Lisbon, Portugal**: Locations of Ray’s alleged aliases and passport-related transactions.  

Key Events  
- **April 3–4, 1968**: MLK arrived in Memphis, stayed at the Lorraine Hotel; assassination occurred shortly after 6 p.m.  
- **March–April 1968**: Eric Galt’s movements: registered at motels in Selma, Alabama; purchased a rifle and scope in Birmingham; rented rooms in Atlanta.  
- **April 4, 1968**: Bundle containing a rifle, binoculars, shaving gear, and other items found near the Lorraine Hotel.  
- **May–June 1968**: Ray’s arrest in London, extradition to Tennessee, and FBI confirmation of his handwriting on documents linked to the assassination.  

Key Organizations  
- **FBI**: Conducted passport checks, financial reviews, toll record analysis, and fingerprint comparisons.  
- **RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police)**: Assisted with passport investigations and tracking Ray’s movements in Canada.  
- **Local police departments** (e.g., Memphis PD): Assigned security to MLK; later involved in evidence collection post-assassination.  
- **Banking institutions**: Reviewed transactions, safe deposit boxes, and money orders linked to Ray’s financial activities.  

Additional Investigation Details  
- **Passport records**: Checked for individuals using aliases (Galt, Bridgeman, Sneyd) in Canada and the U.S.  
- **Financial checks**: Monitored bank withdrawals, money orders, and Western Union transactions across multiple cities.  
- **Toll records**: Analyzed phone calls from Ray’s residences, motels, and public phones to track his movements.  
- **Bank robberies**: Investigated UNSUB (unidentified suspect) cases in the U.S., Canada, and England for potential connections to Ray.  
- **Vehicle tracking**: Reviewed Mustang rentals, stolen cars, and Ford Motor Company records to link vehicles to Ray’s activities.

MLK Declassified Files

190-hq-709_bulky_231_sec_003_ser_231_only-part_14_of_15.pdf

Document Summary

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