</s>190-HQ-709 Bulky 231-ONLY FBI - CENTRAL RECORDS CENTER HQ - HEADQUARTERS Class: Case # Sub Vol. Serial # 0190 709 12 231 ONLY 8/19/1935/344 KRPWALI QTY1 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail the U.S. government’s investigation into the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on James Earl Ray’s extradition from the United Kingdom to face charges in the United States. Key aspects include:  
- Ray’s apprehension in London on June 6, 1968, following extradition proceedings under the Extradition Act, 1870, initiated by British authorities. The Metropolitan Police issued warrants for his arrest, and the FBI coordinated with U.S. attorneys general and the State Department to facilitate legal transfers.  
- FBI inquiries into Ray’s financial activities, including potential Swiss bank accounts, with requests to Swiss authorities for records of transactions between April 4 and June 7, 1968. The Bureau also sought information on Ramon George Sneyd, who used the name “Ramon G. Sneydy” during his stay at New Earl Court Hotel in London.  
- Discovery of a 38-caliber revolver and silencer documentation in Ray’s luggage during British police searches. The FBI requested news clippings from Memphis newspapers (*Memphis Press-Scimitar*, *The Commercial Appeal*) to confirm the assassination was not politically motivated.  
- Coordination of Ray’s transport from London to the U.S., including considerations for military versus commercial flights due to media scrutiny. Legal proceedings in the UK involved the Queen’s Bench Division and the British Crown Prosecution Service.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Accused of murdering MLK Jr., apprehended in London, and sought for extradition.  
- **Martin Luther King Jr.**: Civil rights leader assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.  
- **Fred M. Vinson, Jr.**: Assistant Attorney General overseeing extradition coordination and requesting news clippings.  
- **John J. Clark**: Bureau of Prisons official managing Ray’s custody post-extradition.  
- **George Bonebrake**: FBI fingerprint examiner involved in extradition proceedings.  
- **Arthur Jackson Hanes**: Legal representative for Ray, with passport records referencing residences in Birmingham, Alabama.  
- **Ramon George Sneyd**: Individual linked to Ray via documents found in his luggage.  
- **Ian Colvin**: Columnist for *The Daily Telegraph*, referenced in internal FBI communications.  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of MLK Jr.’s assassination.  
- **London, UK**: Where Ray was apprehended and processed for extradition; New Earl Court Hotel linked to Sneyd’s stay.  
- **Bow Street Magistrates’ Court**: Issued warrants for Ray’s arrest in the UK.  
- **Shelby County, Tennessee**: Ray’s residence prior to fleeing to Canada.  
- **New Scotland Yard (UK)**: Conducted investigations into Ray’s activities and luggage contents.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: MLK Jr.’s assassination in Memphis, Tennessee.  
- **June 13, 1968**: Warrants issued by Bow Street Magistrates’ Court for Ray’s extradition to the U.S.  
- **May 7, 1963**: Ray’s arrival in England, later linked to his movements during the investigation.  
- **June 23–24, 1968**: Coordination of transporting Ray from London to the U.S., including arrangements for newspaper clippings and flight logistics.  
- **June 18, 1968**: Legal proceedings in the UK regarding Ray’s extradition, including a search revealing a revolver.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations into Ray’s background, financial activities, and movements.  
- **U.S. Department of Justice**: Oversaw extradition coordination with British authorities.  
- **British Crown Prosecution Service**: Involved in UK legal proceedings for Ray’s extradition.  
- **New Scotland Yard (UK)**: Investigated Ray’s activities in England, including his luggage contents.  
- **The Daily Telegraph (media outlet)**: Referenced in internal FBI communications regarding classified advertisements found in Ray’s wallet.

MLK Declassified Files

190-hq-709_sec_012_ser_231_only-part_01_of_11.pdf

Document Summary

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