</s>JAMES RAY MEMPHIS COUNTY TAIL Memphis, TENN. AUG12/68 REGISTERED REGISTEREO REGISTEREED To. Hon. W. prettn Battle 65114 Judge of the Criminal Court Memphis Tennessee, 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail investigative and administrative records related to the trial of James Earl Ray for the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on FBI and federal agency coordination with Shelby County, Tennessee authorities. Key elements include Ray’s legal correspondence referencing his brother K, financial arrangements for a government-funded flight from England, and alleged connections to William Bradford Huie, Dr. Russell C. Hadley (plastic surgeon), and George Ben Edmundson. The FBI compiled reports for Phil M. Canale, Shelby County Attorney General, regarding Ray’s fugitive status, aliases, and movements between 1968, with investigative materials spanning locations such as Memphis, Los Angeles, Chicago, St. Louis, and Portugal. A court order (September 18, 1968) permitted defense access to evidence including firearms, hotel records, psychiatric reports, and clothing items recovered from Rawlins, Alabama, and other sites. Physical evidence listed includes .30-06 Springfield caliber rifles, bullet fragments, fibers, textiles, and administrative forms such as motel registrations and safe deposit box contracts. Discussions centered on document testimony preparation, fingerprint analysis, and the admissibility of evidence for Ray’s state trial scheduled in Memphis (November 12, 1968).  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray (accused of assassinating MLK Jr.)  
- William Bradford Huie (author with alleged ties to Ray)  
- Dr. Russell C. Hadley (plastic surgeon who performed surgery on Ray)  
- George Ben Edmundson (interviewed regarding potential connections to the assassination)  
- Phil M. Canale, Jr. (Shelby County Attorney General, recipient of investigative reports)  
- Stephen J. Pollak (Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division)  
- W. Preston Battle (Judge, Shelby County Criminal Court)  
- Arthur J. Hanco (attorney for Ray)  
- Mr. Conrad, Mr. Jovons, Supervisor Richard B. Long, SA James H. Mortimer, Mr. Robert K. Dyer, Mr. James Besley, Mr. John Carlyle  

Key Locations  
- Memphis, Tennessee (trial location, evidence handling, Shelby County offices)  
- Los Angeles, California (site of Ray’s plastic surgery)  
- Chicago, Illinois (alleged connection between Ray and Alex Borran)  
- St. Louis, Missouri (legal correspondence)  
- Rawlins, Alabama (location of clothing found in evidence comparisons)  
- Portugal, Lisbon (referenced in memoranda)  
- Mexico (mentioned in report dissemination)  
- Canada (referenced in money orders and postmarked envelopes)  

Key Events  
- Plastic surgery performed on James Earl Ray in Los Angeles around May 1968  
- Financial voucher for a government-funded flight to transport Ray from England to the U.S.  
- FBI investigation into potential connections between Ray, Alex Borran, and the assassination of MLK Jr.  
- Court order (September 18, 1968) granting defense access to firearms, hotel records, psychiatric reports, and clothing items  
- Dissemination of investigative reports to Phil M. Canale regarding Ray’s fugitive status and aliases  
- Coordination between FBI, Department of Justice, and Memphis Police Department on evidence control and trial preparation  
- Submission of letters from James Earl Ray to his brother Jerry, J. B. Stoner, Arthur Hanes, and solicitors in London  
- Review of physical evidence including firearms, bullet fragments, clothing, fibers, and textiles recovered from locations associated with the case  
- Preparation of a report on document testimony and authentication standards for trial  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Department of Justice (Civil Rights Division)  
- Shelby County Criminal Court, Tennessee  
- Memphis Police Department  
- Attorney General’s office (Memphis)  
- District Attorney’s office (local prosecutor involved in the case)  
- General Investigative Division (Supervisor Richard B. Long)  
- Physics and Chemistry Section (discussed firearms evidence)  
- Document Section (SA James H. Mortimer, handled document testimony)

MLK Declassified Files

190-hq-709_bulky_231_sec_004_ser_231_only-part_13_of_14.pdf

Document Summary

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