</s>NOTE: This is the case involving the murder of Martin Luther King, Jr. Memphis, Tennessee, who is handling the state prosecution of James Earl, Ray feels it is necessary for his representatives to travel to Toronto, Canada, Montreal, Canada, London, England, and Lisbon, Portugal, to interview witnesses. They desire to depart as soon as possible and it is their opinion that the interviews are pertinent to case as they clearly Indigenous and flight status of subject after the assassination of King. M. Canada has been involved in the investigation of the Interviewed and SAC in Buffalo, Legals of Ottawa, London and to be being requested to immediately submit response if such arrangements can be made to have witnesses interviewed. After response by these respected offices, we will advise Mr. Canale accordingly. -3- 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail international coordination between U.S., Canadian, British, and Portuguese authorities to investigate Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination in Memphis, Tennessee. Phil M. Canale, Shelby County state attorney general, requested representatives (Robert Dyer, James Beasley, John Carlisle) to interview witnesses in Toronto, Montreal, London, and Lisbon for the November 12, 1968 trial of James Earl Ray, a suspect in King’s assassination. The FBI, U.S. Department of Justice, RCMP, and Canadian agencies facilitated these interviews, with specific contacts including Paul Bridgeman, Louis Feigan, Detective Inspector Kenneth Thompson, and Antonio Rocha Fama. Cost data from April to October 1968 reflects FBI expenditures on travel, communications, and personnel hours, totaling $1,281,847 by September 30, 1968, with 123,261 regular hours, 28,913 overtime hours, and 477,312 miles driven. Legal challenges included contempt orders against journalists and FBI fingerprint analysis by George Bone Brake linking Ray to the scene. Coordination extended to Ottawa, Mexico City, Rome, and Tokyo, with some offices discontinuing cost records due to lack of ongoing activity.  

Key People  
- Phil M. Canale (Shelby County state attorney general)  
- James Earl Ray (suspect in MLK’s assassination)  
- Robert Dyer, James Beasley, John Carlisle (Canale’s representatives)  
- Paul Bridgeman, Don Mills, Eric St Vincent Galt (Toronto witnesses)  
- Louis Feigan, John Welch, J.A. Chevarie (Montreal witnesses)  
- Detective Inspector Kenneth Thompson, Detective S. Phillip Birch (London police)  
- Antonio Rocha Fama, Aubry L. Moraniz (Lisbon contacts)  
- George Bone Brake (FBI fingerprint specialist)  
- Judge J. Preston Battle (overseeing media restrictions)  
- SAC Memphis (Special Agent in Charge, Memphis Division)  
- Mr. Mohr, N. P. Callahan (FBI personnel)  

Key Locations  
- Memphis, Tennessee (assassination site and trial location)  
- Toronto, Canada (witness interviews coordinated with RCMP and Toronto Police Department)  
- Montreal, Canada (RCMP and local authorities interviewed witnesses)  
- London, England (Ray’s arrest and Scotland Yard involvement)  
- Lisbon, Portugal (witnesses and Canadian embassy contacts)  
- Ottawa, Canada (RCMP coordination)  
- Mexico City, Mexico  
- Rome, Italy  
- Tokyo, Japan  

Key Events  
- International witness interviews coordinated by U.S., Canadian, British, and Portuguese authorities for the 1968 trial of James Earl Ray  
- FBI fingerprint analysis linking Ray to the assassination scene via George Bone Brake’s testimony  
- Legal disputes over media coverage, including contempt orders against journalists  
- Financial reporting on investigation costs from April to October 1968, with final records through September 30, 1968  
- Discontinuation of cost data submissions by FBI offices in Ottawa, Mexico City, Rome, and Tokyo due to lack of ongoing activity  
- Coordination between U.S. and Canadian authorities for suspect tracking and witness interviews  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- U.S. Department of Justice  
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)  
- Toronto Police Department  
- Scotland Yard (London Metropolitan Police)  
- Canadian Embassy in Lisbon  
- House Select Committee on Assassinations (referenced in document metadata)  
- Memphis Division (FBI)  
- Administrative Division (FBI)  
- Liaison Sections (various FBI field offices)

MLK Declassified Files

190-hq-709_bulky_231_sec_005_ser_231_only-part_04_of_12.pdf

Document Summary

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