</s>FBI ATLANTA FBI MOBILE 24 PM URGENT 4/16/68 VFP TO DIRECTOR, MEMPHIS AND ATLANZA FROM MOBIle 157-2627 MURKIN. 00 ME. RE ATTEL TO DIRECTOR INSTANT DATE. WILLIAM G. FALKNER, BOX THIRTYFIVE, MIDLAND CITY, ALA ADVISED INSTANT DATIE THAT HE LAST SAW HIS SON, BILLY JOE FAULKNER, WM, AGE FORTY, SIX FT. TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY LBS ., BROWN HAIR, BLUE EYES, ON APRIL TWO SIXTYFIGHT WHEN YOUNG FAULKER STOPED BY HIS HOUSE TO PICK UP CLOTHES. AT THAT TIME HE TOLD FAULKNER THAT HE HAD MOVED FROM ATLANLA. FAULNKER ADVISID THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW PRESENT WHERABOUTS OF SON; HE STATED HE DID LIVE IN A ROOMING HOUSE IN ATLANTAIN, GA. FAUKNER STATED SON AT SQUARE D ELECTRONICS INC. ATLANLANTA, GA ., FAULKKNER STATEO SON ISUALLY CONTACTS HIM EVERY MONTH AND WILL ADVISIVE MOBIBLE DIVISION OF SONS WHEREABOUSTS IMMEDIATELY AFTER CONTACT. BILLY JOB FALKER ALLEDGEDLY HAS TRAVELED TO CENTRAL AMERICA AND HAS WORKED IN PENSACOLA, FLA AND DALLAS TEXAS AS WELL AS HAVING SERVED THIRTEEN YEARS IN U.S. AIRFORCE. THREE ZERO TWOS FOLLOW. ATLANTA AT SQUARE DE ELECTRONICSS ATTEMPT TO LOCATE FAULKRNER. END 46-2386. 422 JVE SEARCHED IN EXEDED. FBI ATLANTIA SERIALIZED: FILLED. FBI-ATLANTAINA 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into Eric Starvo Galt (also referred to as Eric Gault) and other individuals linked to potential connections with the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). Key elements include efforts to locate Galt through driver’s license checks, employment records, and witness interviews, including William F. Morlin (Bureau of Labor Standards) and Howard Eugene Caldwell, who was associated with the American Motor Hotel in Atlanta. The FBI examined laundry records from Piedmont Laundry Branch Office in Atlanta, noting items picked up by an individual described as a man in his thirties with a "neat" appearance. Maps with markings in Atlanta (e.g., Daniel Street, Auburn Avenue) and Los Angeles (e.g., Beverly Hills, Sunset Boulevard) were analyzed for tracking purposes. The documents also reference MLK’s stay at the American Motor Hotel on April 7, 1968, with hotel records indicating a guest registered to Room 638. Additional investigations include anonymous phone calls to Atlanta police departments alleging an individual linked to King’s murder was staying at 61 13th Street, NE, and reports of a cab driver named Paul Shields transporting a person matching a suspect’s description (middle-aged white male) to the area. The FBI sought information on George Clayton, registered at the Falcon Hotel in Atlanta, described as wearing dark glasses and having a brown crew cut, and explored ties between James Forbes (“Reddit” fishing boat operator) and Gordon Forbes in Panama City, Florida. Administrative notes reference declassification (E.O. 14178) and unrelated forms such as U.S. Savings Bonds promotions and parking permits.  

Key People  
- **Eric Starvo Galt** (also referred to as Eric Gault): Central figure in the investigation; his movements and associations are scrutinized.  
- **Billy Joe Faulkner**: Son of William G. Falkner, last seen in Atlanta in April 1968; described as having military service history.  
- **William F. Morlin**: Senior Safety Engineer at Bureau of Labor Standards, consulted on employment records.  
- **Howard Eugene Caldwell Jr.**: Interviewed by FBI; linked to the American Motor Hotel but did not match suspect descriptions.  
- **George Clayton**: Registered at Falcon Hotel in Atlanta, described as a suspect with physical traits matching descriptions of the individual linked to King’s murder.  
- **James Forbes**: Operator of “Reddit” fishing boat, mentioned in connection with Gordon Forbes and potential ties to the suspect.  
- **Gordon Forbes**: Linked to Panama City, Florida, and associated with James Forbes; referenced in reports about the suspect’s possible whereabouts.  
- **Paul Shields**: Cab driver who allegedly transported a person matching the suspect’s description to 13th Street, Atlanta.  
- **SA Alden F. Miller**: FBI Special Agent involved in coordinating investigations and reporting on leads.  

Key Locations  
- **Atlanta, Georgia**: Central to investigations involving Galt’s residences, laundry records, hotel stays (American Motor Hotel), and reported sightings of suspects at 61 13th Street NE and the Falcon Hotel.  
- **Los Angeles, California**: Mentioned in map markings and laundry records.  
- **Beverly Hills, Los Angeles**: Noted in map markings.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Associated with MLK’s planned meeting on April 3, 1968.  
- **Marietta, Georgia**: Site of anonymous calls about a white Mustang.  
- **Panama City, Florida**: Tied to James Forbes and potential suspect connections.  

Key Events  
- FBI efforts to locate Galt through driver’s license checks, employment records, and witness interviews.  
- Analysis of maps with ink markings in Atlanta and Los Angeles for tracking purposes.  
- Examination of laundry items linked to an individual matching Galt’s description.  
- Interviewing witnesses (e.g., Falkner, Morlin) regarding Galt’s associates and movements.  
- Anonymous phone calls to Atlanta police departments (April 16–17, 1968) alleging the presence of a suspect linked to King’s murder at specific addresses.  
- Reports on George Clayton’s movements and potential ties to the suspect.  
- Investigations into James Forbes’ associates in Panama City, Florida, including Gordon Forbes and “Reddit” fishing boat operations.  
- Cab driver sightings and descriptions of individuals matching suspect profiles.  

Key Organizations  
- **FBI**: Conducted investigations across multiple locations, including Atlanta, Memphis, Los Angeles, and Panama City; coordinated efforts through SACs (Special Agent in Charge).  
- **Bureau of Labor Standards**: Consulted for employment records.  
- **Georgia State Department of Vital Statistics**: Checked birth records for individuals named Gault.  
- **Local police departments**: Atlanta, Georgia; Memphis, Tennessee; and others involved in reporting anonymous tips and sightings.  
- **Credit bureaus and telephone directories**: Used to verify identities and track suspects’ movements.

MLK Declassified Files

44-at-2386_hs1-852715321_156-07-part_3_of_4.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search