</s>10-17-68 PLAINTEXT TELETYPE URGENT TO SAC, MEMPHES (44-1987) FROM DIRECTOR, FER (44 -38861) MURKIN. REURTIL OCTOBER SIXTEEN CONCERNING ARTICLE APPEARING IN "THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL." INFORM DON OWENS GEORGE BONE BRAKE IS FINGERPRINT EXPERT WHO PRESENTED DETAILED TESTIMONY IN OPEN COURT IN LONDON, ENGLAND, IN CONNECTION WITH EXTRAIDITION OF RAY. TESTIMONY RECEIVED WIDESPREAD PUBLICITY IN NEWS MEDIA THROUGHOUT WORLD. DUNG POLICE SCHOOL CONDUCTED BY BONE- BRAKE AT WICHITA, KANSAS, SEPTEMBER NINE THROUGH THIRTEEN LAST IN A CLOSED SESSION MEMBERS OF CLASS ATTEMPTED TO QUEKY BONEBRAKIE AS TO DETAILS OF FINGERTPRINT TESTIMONT, BONEBRIKE GAVE NO FACTS OTHER THAN WHAT HAD ALREADY BEEN QUOTED BY PRESS CONCERNCING HIS LONDON TESTIMENT AND THE IN ONLY VERY BRIEF FASHION, NO MEMBRS OF PRESS WERE PRESENT. ON ONE OCCASION DURING SCHOOL, MEMBORS OF PRESS WIRE BRIFFLY IN- VITED TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPES AND TO COLLECT DATA FOR STORY NEM:hs (7) NOTE: Cover memo C. E. Ganley to Mr. Trotter dated 10-17-'68 captioned "James Earl Ray, Latent Fingerprint Evidence," CEG:hs 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on James Earl Ray’s alleged involvement and connections to the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). George Bonebrake, a latent fingerprint examiner, testified in London, England, about fingerprints linked to Ray, which garnered media attention. His testimony was scrutinized for potential violations of court orders restricting public commentary on the case, leading to scrutiny of his 1968 police school in Wichita, Kansas. The Memphis Police Department and Judge W. Preston Battle addressed concerns over Bonebrake’s public statements, while a committee of attorneys challenged his conduct, alleging contempt of court. The FBI and Justice Department were informed of these developments. Separately, Dr. Bertram D. Sarason, a professor at Southern Connecticut State College, informed authorities that an employee of McCall’s Publications claimed the KKK hired him to assist in MLK’s assassination, though he withheld the employee’s identity due to fears of job loss. The FBI also reviewed William Bradford Hule’s work on "Look" magazine, which included articles about Ray, and monitored Ray’s communications with Judge Battle, including threats of libel suits against media outlets. Ray’s employment history at a restaurant in Winnetka, Illinois, was noted in an FBI report.  

Key People  
- **George Bonebrake**: Latent fingerprint examiner who testified about James Earl Ray’s fingerprints.  
- **James Earl Ray**: Suspected assassin of MLK Jr.; engaged in legal disputes with media and authorities.  
- **Dr. Bertram D. Sarason**: Professor at Southern Connecticut State College; provided information about KKK involvement in MLK’s assassination.  
- **William Bradford Hule**: Author who wrote about Ray and reportedly obtained notes from him for a "Look" magazine article.  
- **Judge W. Preston Battle**: Memphis Criminal Court judge handling Ray’s state trial; received letters from Ray regarding media coverage.  
- **Don Owens**: Former FBI agent, attorney for the committee challenging Bonebrake’s conduct.  
- **Phil M. Canale**: Shelby County, Memphis, State Attorney General involved in addressing Bonebrake’s public statements.  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of MLK Jr.’s assassination and location of Judge Battle’s court.  
- **Wichita, Kansas**: Location of Bonebrake’s 1968 police school scrutinized for public commentary on the case.  
- **London, England**: Site of Bonebrake’s fingerprint testimony in 1968.  
- **Montreal, Canada**: Meetings involving James Earl Ray under an alias (Eric Galt).  
- **Ottawa, Canada**: Correspondence and police reports related to Ray’s activities.  
- **New Haven, Connecticut**: Home of Southern Connecticut State College where Dr. Sarason worked.  
- **Winnetka, Illinois**: Location where Ray allegedly worked at a restaurant in 1967.  

Key Events  
- **October 4, 1968**: FBI received information from Dr. Sarason about McCall’s employee and KKK involvement in MLK’s assassination.  
- **November 10–11, 1967**: "Look" magazine published articles about Ray, linked to his alleged KKK ties.  
- **September 12, 1968**: Ray sent a letter to Judge Battle expressing intent to file libel suits against media outlets for negative portrayals of him.  
- **October 2, 1968**: FBI Special Agent Rene J. Dumaine reported on Ray’s employment history at a restaurant in Winnetka, Illinois.  
- **Bonebrake’s fingerprint testimony in London, 1968**: Generated media attention and led to scrutiny of his public statements.  
- **Committee of attorneys challenging Bonebrake’s conduct**: Alleged contempt of court for violating restrictions on discussing the case publicly.  
- **FBI monitoring Ray’s communications**: Including correspondence with Judge Battle and legal threats against media outlets.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations into Ray’s activities, media interactions, and potential KKK ties.  
- **Ku Klux Klan (KKK)**: Allegedly hired an individual to assist in MLK Jr.’s assassination, as per McCall’s employee’s claims.  
- **Memphis Police Department**: Involved in addressing concerns about Bonebrake’s public statements.  
- **United States Department of Justice**: Reviewed Bonebrake’s actions and the KKK-related investigation.  
- **Southern Connecticut State College**: Institution where Dr. Sarason worked and provided information about the KKK plot.

MLK Declassified Files

190-hq-709_bulky_231_sec_004_ser_231_only-part_12_of_14.pdf

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