The documents detail logistical arrangements for transporting James Earl Ray, a suspect in Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, from London, England, to Memphis, Tennessee, following his conviction. Coordination involved the FBI, U.S. Department of Justice, British authorities, and state agencies like Tennessee's. Key aspects include securing military aircraft (costing $13,000), escort parties led by FBI agents, medical evaluations, and handling personal effects during transit. Security measures included prisoner stripping, photography, restraints, and communication with the British Home Secretary regarding timing of Ray’s removal. Upon arrival in Memphis, local authorities were to assume custody, with photographic verification and receipt of property. The documents also reference a 1.38 caliber Liberty Chief's revolver found on Ray during his arrest in London, traced to Hiroku Firearms Manufacturing Company in Japan. Japanese National Police Agency sought information about the weapon’s origin, but U.S. Department of Justice withheld details citing relevance to federal charges. Raymond Curtis, a convicted inmate, claimed association with Ray and involvement in planning King’s assassination, writing letters to Ebony magazine and Charles Leonard Sanders, which were forwarded to the FBI for investigation.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray (suspect in MLK Jr.'s murder)  
- Fred M. Vinson, Jr. (Assistant Attorney General)  
- Arthur J. Hanes (attorney for Ray; also Alabama attorney seeking to meet Ray)  
- Harold K. Light (ASAC, FBI escort party leader)  
- George R. Zeiss, III (FBI Special Agent)  
- John Minnich (FBI Legal Attaché to London)  
- Kenneth L. Bounds (FBI General Investigative Division)  
- British Home Secretary (involved in final removal order)  
- Raymond Curtis (convicted inmate claiming association with Ray)  
- Charles Leonard Sanders (Managing Editor of Ebony magazine)  
- J. Edgar Hoover (FBI Director)  

Key Locations  
- London, England (Ray’s incarceration and departure point; site of weapon discovery)  
- Memphis, Tennessee (destination for Ray’s transfer; Naval Air Station at Memphis as U.S. arrival point)  
- Dalton, Georgia (Curtis’s incarceration location)  
- Tokyo, Japan (Japanese authorities’ involvement in gun investigation)  

Key Events  
- Planning for Ray’s transport from England to the U.S., including military aircraft selection, escort arrangements, and cost allocation ($13,000).  
- Coordination with British authorities on timing of Ray’s removal order and public announcement.  
- Medical evaluations and security protocols during transit, including prisoner stripping, photography, and restraints.  
- Provisions for Ray’s clothing, food, documentation (e.g., identity certificates, vaccination records), and handling of the weapon found on him.  
- Japanese National Police Agency’s inquiry into the weapon’s origin; U.S. Department of Justice withheld details about its provenance.  
- Curtis’s letters to Ebony magazine detailing alleged conspiracy with Ray, forwarded to FBI for investigation.  
- British authorities’ consideration of delaying public announcement of Ray’s removal.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- U.S. Department of Justice  
- Japanese National Police Agency  
- British Home Secretary’s Office  
- Tennessee State Authorities  
- Royal Air Force (RAF)  
- American Embassy in London  
- Ebony magazine  
- Air Force (specifically, General Counsel J. William Doolittle)

MLK Declassified Files

190-hq-709_sec_012_ser_231_only-part_09_of_11.pdf

Document Summary

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