Summary:  
The document contains a letter dated May 1, 1968, postmarked in Los Angeles, allegedly written by James Ray and addressed to the Editor of *The Los Angeles Times*. The letter claims Ray killed Martin Luther King Jr. for $3,000, expressing remorse and detailing his motivations, including resentment toward King’s civil rights advocacy. The FBI’s Los Angeles Office (SAC Wesley Grapp) received the letter and forwarded it for laboratory analysis to determine its authenticity. The letter includes references to individuals like Harold Swenson (Missouri State Penitentiary warden) and Cathy Norton (dance instructor), whom Ray accuses of making derogatory remarks about him. The FBI notes discrepancies in handwriting, typing, and spelling compared to known samples attributed to Ray, suggesting the signature may not be genuine.  

Key People:  
- James Ray (alleged killer of MLK, author of the letter)  
- Harold Swenson (Missouri State Penitentiary warden)  
- Cathy Norton (dance instructor)  
- SAC Wesley Grapp (FBI special agent in charge, Los Angeles)  
- Mr. DeLoach (recipient of the memo regarding the investigation)  

Key Locations:  
- Los Angeles, California (letter postmark, FBI office)  
- Missouri State Penitentiary (mentioned in context of Swenson)  

Key Events:  
- Investigation into MLK’s assassination by the FBI, including analysis of a suspect letter  
- Forwarding of the letter to laboratory for handwriting and typewriting examination  
- Alleged confession by James Ray regarding his involvement in MLK’s murder  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)  
- *The Los Angeles Times* (newspaper recipient of the letter)

MLK Declassified Files

190-hq-709_sec_011_ser_231_only-part_5_of_7.pdf

Document Summary

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