</s>Rosen to Delaoch memorandum RE: MURKIN Intend to meet with Mr. Phil M. Canale, State Attorney General, Shelby County, Tennessee, during the latter part of September, 1968, to thoroughly discuss the state's prosecution. Mr. Canalo results of our findings. The Department advised that in the event of the following circumstances, the State's prosecution, Mr. Canalale results of Our findings. The Department advised this that in our event. Mr. Canalle desires a particular piece of evidence for court arrangements which we recovered and in our possession, we should make arrangement which we over and in him. Mr. Canalle A conference was held at the Memphis Office, with Mr. Canonle has been held at our matter of living up witnesses and evidence in the forthcoming state trial was dis- cused. Mr Canale proposed the following procedures be established. 1. Representative of his office to meet With our Laboratory examiners who conducted examination of the evidence. He would like this meeting to take place preferably next week. 2. Mr . Canale would desire that his representative thoroughly review the actual physical evidence for the purpose of selecting review the evidence for this purpose introduce and it would be determined the most advantageous to he may need in connection with the trial. 3. After review of the Evidence he proposes that representatives of his Office contact pertinent field divisions and discuss with Agents who obtained the evidence that they can and discuss what agents do obtained for evidence that this can effect will amount to a pretrial conference with agents who in conducted the investigation. Would obviate the evidence of unnecessary Agents to appear for extensive pretrial conferences, unnecessary agents to appear as opposed to Memphis in the connection with the trials. This, for example, would result in the savings of Agents travel and per diem cost. 4. Mr .. Canale mentioned the possibility that a repre- sentative of his offices may become involved in foreign travel which would relate to the investigation conducted in those foreign countries. Mr." Canale could be involved in this course, do this in his own countries, Mr ., Canale will continue to meet the course, and necessary for him with evaluate the persons as witnesses and to conclude which witnesses: /it would be necessary to utilize. -3- CONTINUED - OVER 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary: The text contains a detailed inventory of physical evidence collected during an FBI investigation into the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) in 1968. Evidence includes items from a 1966 Ford Mustang, rooms in Atlanta (113 14th Street), and other locations. Key categories include vehicle-related items (floor mats, tire treads, tools, maps), personal belongings (clothing, ashtray material), and documents (maps, thermo seal machine types). Soil samples from various sites were analyzed to trace the car's movements. The evidence is linked to James Earl Ray (JER), the primary suspect in MLK’s assassination, who fled to Canada after the murder. The investigation also includes legal discussions about subpoenas for notes allegedly written by JER and media contacts related to his trial. Social security numbers (SSNs) are present in some entries but redacted or masked. The documents reflect FBI efforts to manage public perception, legal proceedings, and media coverage of the case, dated from September 1968.  

Key People: James Earl Ray; Phil M. Canale Jr. (state prosecutor); William Bradford Hule (author); Charles Edgerton Kavenagh; Charles Edwin Kelly; William Leon Leaptrott; Henry Peter Leifermann; Lloyd Leo Lewallen, Jr.; Joseph Anthony Lewis; Douglas Shannon Looney; Gerald Charles Lubenow  

Key Locations: Memphis, Tenn. (MLK’s hotel); Atlanta, Ga. (113 14th Street); Washington, D.C.; Nashville, Tenn.; London, N.; Texas; Oklahoma; Louisiana; New Mexico; Mexico  

Key Events: Analysis of soil samples to trace the 1966 Ford Mustang’s movements; discussions about obtaining search warrants or subpoenas for documents related to James Earl Ray; media contacts seeking access to Ray’s trial; FBI and Department of Justice debates on disclosure of information to prosecutors.  

Key Organizations: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Department of Justice; American Broadcasting Co.; The Associated Press; Memphis Press-Scimitar; United Press International; The New York Times News Service; The Nashville Banner

MLK Declassified Files

190-hq-709_bulky_231_sec_004_ser_231_only-part_02_of_14.pdf

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