</s>PAGE THREE THIS SINCE THERE IS A CONTRAST LINE IN THE TAN ON HIS UPPER LIP. THIS GOLD RING SHE OBSERVED ON HIS LITTLE FINGER IS ONE- FOURTH TO ONE-HALF INCH WIDE AT THE TOP. SHE OVERHEAD SUSPECT TALKING WITH GORDON FORBES. ON THE BASIS OF THIS CONVERSATION, SHE BELIEVES THAT BORVES WAS THE CAPTAIN ON A FISHING BOAT OUT OF PANAMA CITY, FLA. THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT SOME KIND OF FISH THAT WOULD BEGIN TO RUN SOON. FORBES ASKED SUSSPECT IF HE WAS GOING BACK ON THE BOAT. SUSPET SAID, "NO, UNLESS THINGS GET A HELL OF A LOT WORSE THAN THEY ARE ... SOURCE DREW IMPLICATION FROM THIS FORBS AND THE SUSPT MIGHT HAVE SHIPPED ON THE SAME FISHINO BOAT OR OPERATED OUT OF THE SAME PORT ON FISHINE BOATS. SOURCE HAS THE IMPRESSION THAT SUSPOSET TOLD HER THAT HE WAS ORIGINALLY FROM UP NORTH BUT HAD BEEN IN THE SOUTH FOR SEVERAL YEARS. INSPECTOR ZACHARY ARRANGED FOR THE SOURCE TO MEET THE BUREAU ARTISTS ON THE NIGHT OF APRIL FOURTEEN, SIXTY EIGHT. END ARK FBI ATLANTA 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14178

The documents detail FBI investigative efforts related to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., including witness accounts, suspect descriptions, and logistical inquiries. A witness described a suspect with a gold ring on his little finger, noting his appearance and a conversation about fishing boats in Panama City, Florida. Harold H. Fletcher, arrested in 1965 for a violation, was sought but no record was found in Bessmer City, NC. FBI agents contacted individuals linked to Delta Airlines flights and airline stewardesses, including Miss Sherry Winslett, who provided descriptions of a suspect involved in the King assassination. Reggie Smith, a CBS cameraman, reported footage potentially showing an individual connected to the case, with details about film storage and contact information. Miscellaneous entries include FBI operational memos on unrelated cases, such as thermoseal machines and airline records, alongside administrative notes on document handling and release under Executive Order 14178.  

The documents also contain multiple entries related to forensic evidence collection and investigative inquiries connected to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). They include details about laundry markings and tape samples from various locations in Mississippi, such as Crescent Laundry (Hattiesburg), Long's Laundy & Cleaners (Tupelo), and the University of Mississippi. These materials were analyzed by the FBI Laboratory to compare with items recovered at the scene of the shooting on April 4, 1968, including a white Jockey t-shirt, checked print undershoes, and other garments marked by Thermo-Seal or Poly Mark machines. The FBI requested comparisons to identify potential connections to the suspect.  

Additional entries reference Herbert Bradford, who reported sighting an individual matching the description of the assassination suspect in Atlanta on April 8, 1968. Bradford described the suspect as driving a light blue foreign-american car (possibly a Saab) without Georgia license plates. He later corrected details about the vehicle’s make and color. The FBI noted discrepancies between Bradford’s account and other investigative findings. A separate entry mentions a teletype from Birmingham regarding a 1966 Mustang and its registration status in the District of Columbia, labeled "ARMED AND DANGEROUS."  

Key People  
- **Harold H. Fletcher**: Arrested in 1965 for a violation; sought but no record found in Bessmer City, NC.  
- **Reggie Smith**: CBS cameraman who provided information on film footage potentially linked to the King assassination.  
- **Miss Sherry Winslett**: Airline stewardess who described a suspect with specific physical traits and clothing.  
- **Michael Garcia**: Reported seeing an artist sketch of a suspect resembling a hitchhiker near Columbus, Georgia.  
- **Herbert Bradford**: Washington, D.C., resident who reported sighting a suspect in Atlanta on April 8, 1968.  
- **Martin Luther King Jr.**: Subject of investigation.  
- **FBI personnel** (Director, SAC, WFO).  

Key Locations  
- **Panama City, Florida**: Mentioned in context of fishing boat operations.  
- **Bessmer City, NC**: Fletcher’s residence and location where no record was found.  
- **Atlanta, Georgia**: Central to FBI operations, including Delta Airlines flight records and CBS headquarters.  
- **Columbus, Georgia**: Location of a hitchhiker incident referenced in Garcia’s report.  
- **Mississippi State University** (State College, Miss.).  
- **Crescent Laundry** (Hattiesburg, Miss.).  
- **Long's Laundy & Cleaners** (Tupelo, Miss.).  
- **University of Mississippi**.  
- **Birmingham, Alabama**: Source of teletype regarding a 1966 Mustang.  
- **Washington, D.C.**: Location of Herbert Bradford and teletype reference.  

Key Events  
- **Investigation into suspect descriptions**: Includes witness accounts of a gold ring, fishing boat connections, and physical traits.  
- **Search for Harold H. Fletcher**: Attempts to locate him despite prior arrest record.  
- **CBS film review request**: Reggie Smith offered footage potentially showing an individual linked to the assassination.  
- **Delta Airlines flight records**: Inquiry into travel patterns of L.D. Kendrick and stewardess sightings.  
- **Collection and analysis of laundry markings and tape samples**: From Mississippi locations (April 1968) compared with items recovered at the MLK assassination scene (April 4, 1968).  
- **Herbert Bradford’s sighting of a suspect in Atlanta** (April 8, 1968): Described driving a light blue foreign-american car without Georgia license plates.  
- **FBI comparison request for forensic evidence**: Linked to the MLK assassination scene.  
- **Teletype inquiry about a 1966 Mustang and registration status**: Labeled "ARMED AND DANGEROUS."  

Key Organizations  
- **FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)**: Conducted investigations, coordinated with SAC offices, and managed document releases under E.O. 14178.  
- **CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System)**: Involved in providing film footage for review.  
- **Delta Airlines**: Mentioned in flight records and stewardess reports.  
- **Textile Marking Machine Company** (Syracuse, New York): Associated with Thermo-Seal or Poly Mark machines used on garments.  
- **Crescent Laundry, Long's Laundy & Cleaners, University of Mississippi**: Laundry services referenced in forensic evidence analysis.

MLK Declassified Files

44-at-2386_hs1-852715321_156-05-part_4_of_4.pdf

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