CG 44-1114 RJD/1a/3 1 OTHER INVESTIGATION Re: WILLIAM FERBER OF WILLIAN FARBERS (Look Alike) On April 18, 1968, it at 3:15 PM, CLARENCE PETERSON, Assistant Vice President, Amalgamated Bank, 111 South Dearborn Street President, allegedly advised an an unknown male, strongly ressembling the likeness of ERIC GALT, appearing in the April 11 issue of the Chicago (TRIC GALT, appearing on the April 14 issue of this issue of which and requested to purchase a $10,000 certificate of deposit (savings) for cash. Mr. PETERSON inquired as to whether the (to make inquiry concerning Mr.PETERSON's name as the background informed that he did not. Mr PETERSON then proceeded to make enquiry concerning why his unknown male's background information that he was necessary for him to identify himself. MrPETERSON informed the unknown male information and inquired Mr. PetERSON informed his new customers whereupon the unknown man produced a driver's license issued whereupon his unknown man brought a driver to his license FERBER or WILLIAM FARBERS. The unknown male explained that he presently resided in another state and that this license was the license issued to him he resided in Wisconsin. Mr. PETERSON advised he turned the driver's license he found was obscured from view by a card containing the words. National Association of Ballroom Dancers. the words, "We would not be aware of the owner's driver's license was further, the unknown men grabbed it out of his hands stating that he could not be why he had to furnish any hands stating he could be the unknown Male grabbed it off his before he could obtain a certificate of deposits, he would be required to fill out the necessary savings account forms furnished to the unknown males. The Unknown male informed PETERSON that he would fill out out the signature cards at the in the lobby of the bank. in the lounge of the Bank. PETERSON stated that he left his desk temporarily for only a few seconds to report this incident to his superiors and turned around to see if the - 143 -

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into individuals suspected of being look-alikes or associates of James Earl Ray, the alleged assassin of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On April 18, 1968, Clarence Peterson, an Amalgamated Bank employee in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, encountered an unknown man resembling William Ferber or William Farbers, who attempted to open a certificate of deposit. The individual produced a driver’s license linked to Wisconsin but was identified as a look-alike due to obscured details and discrepancies in motor vehicle records. Subsequent FBI inquiries revealed no matches for William Ferber in state databases, though a 1968 issue of *Ballroom Dancers* magazine was noted.  

On April 23, 1968, the FBI investigated claims that an individual driving a blue Chevelle with Alabama license plate 42-7866 was connected to MLK’s assassination. Interviews with Sol Levin and others in Chicago yielded no conclusive evidence. A separate report mentioned Russell Miller, who claimed he had seen the car but later denied involvement. The FBI also pursued leads on Dale Baxter and others in Gary, Indiana, who allegedly possessed information about the murder, though they denied knowledge.  

A Tennessee license plate (BK 1897) was linked to John Powell’s sighting of a 1962 Pontiac Catalina convertible occupied by a man resembling James Earl Ray. The FBI also investigated a car with license BW 2739 observed in Chicago and a postcard from R. Taylor in Oak Lawn, Illinois, which contained anti-MLK rhetoric but no direct evidence.  

On April 25–26, 1968, the FBI contacted airlines at O'Hare International Airport to identify potential connections to Ray. Delta Airlines records were reviewed for seat selection and passenger interactions, though no direct links to Ray were found. Alvin Sharp reported observing a man resembling Ray at O'Hare on April 24, 1968, but the individual was not identified. The Chicago Police Department’s Identification Division conducted fingerprint checks against known prints of Ray, eliminating over 300 latent fingerprints without matches. The FBI also coordinated with the Illinois State Probation Office regarding BODKER, a parolee with a history of violent crimes and burglary, who returned a Hertz car to Chicago. Investigations extended to country clubs and the American Bartending School in Chicago, though no conclusive ties to Ray were found.  

Key People  
- **Clarence Peterson** (Amalgamated Bank employee)  
- **William Ferber/William Farbers** (look-alike suspect)  
- **James Earl Ray** (alleged assassin of MLK)  
- **Russell Miller** (claimed to have seen the assassination vehicle)  
- **Dale Baxter, Shirlee Mackowiaik, Jack Weisbuck** (individuals with alleged knowledge)  
- **R. Taylor** (sender of anti-MLK postcard)  
- **BODKER** (parolee with criminal history; linked to Hertz car return)  
- **Alvin Sharp** (reported sighting of a man resembling Ray at O'Hare Airport)  
- **Paul Vana** (Delta Airlines employee, recently married and unavailable for questioning)  
- **SA Daniel R. Huntington, SA John W. Moran, SA Clark, SA Ramon W. Stration, SA Richard G. Stilling** (FBI agents involved in the investigation)  

Key Locations  
- Chicago, Illinois (bank incident, car sightings, Delta Airlines Ticket Office, American Bartending School, Illinois State Probation Office)  
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin (motor vehicle records)  
- Alabama (license plate investigations)  
- Gary, Indiana (anonymous tip leads)  
- Oak Lawn, Illinois (R. Taylor’s location)  
- O'Hare International Airport (Chicago)  

Key Events  
- April 18, 1968: Clarence Peterson encounters look-alike suspect at Amalgamated Bank.  
- April 23, 1968: FBI investigates blue Chevelle with Alabama license plate linked to MLK assassination.  
- April 24–26, 1968: FBI contacts airlines at O'Hare International Airport for travel history checks; Alvin Sharp reports sighting of man resembling Ray.  
- April 26, 1968: Russell Miller denies involvement in car sightings; postcard from R. Taylor received.  
- May 1, 1968: Hertz Rental records indicate James E. Bodker rented a car resembling James Earl Ray.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Amalgamated Bank  
- Pure Oil Company  
- Motor Vehicle Divisions (Wisconsin, Tennessee)  
- Chicago Police Department (Identification Division)  
- Illinois State Probation Office  
- Delta Airlines (O'Hare International Airport)

MLK Declassified Files

44-at-2386_hs1-852715321_160-05-part_4_of_4.pdf

Document Summary

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