</s>2 BH 44-1740 these establishments were checked thoroughly under the name of RAY AND his other aliases during any period he was known to have been in the Birmingham area, but no suction to have seen in the birmingham area, including Exhibition of his photograph was extended to include all employees on all three shifts of each hotel and motel. No employees could make any identification. 38 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
This document details an FBI investigation into James Earl Ray (RAY) following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on his movements and activities in Birmingham, Alabama, and surrounding areas between March 1968 and May 1968. The investigation involved checking employees at hotels, motels, bus stations, railroads, airlines, car rental agencies, laundries, dry-cleaning establishments, luggage storage facilities, safe deposit boxes, and used car advertisements for potential sightings or records of RAY. No identifications were made during these checks. The Bureau also reviewed parolee records from Missouri State Penitentiary and Alabama state parole systems, but no connections to RAY were found. A separate inquiry into a license plate (42-7866) linked to an automobile in Chicago, Illinois, was conducted, leading to the identification of EDGAR F. BORDEN as a possible individual associated with the plate, though no conclusive link to RAY was established. The investigation also included monitoring "lonely heart" organizations and reviewing classified advertisements for potential connections to RAY.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray (RAY)**: Subject of the investigation suspected in MLK's assassination.  
- **SA ROBERT M. BARRETT, WILLIAM A. SAUCIER, NEIL P. MARTIN, RICHARD D. SCHWEIN**: FBI agents involved in the investigation.  
- **Mr. JOHN McINTOOSH**: U.S. Probation Officer contacted regarding Missouri parolee records.  
- **Mr. WARREN GASTON**: Alabama State Parole and Probation Officer.  
- **Mr. L. B. STEPHENS**: Alabama state parole records custodian.  
- **EDGAR F. BORDEN**: Individual linked to a license plate investigation in Chicago, Illinois.  
- **Mrs. WALCIE JOHNSON**: Mother of EDGAR F. BORDEN, providing details about his appearance and movements.  

Key Locations  
- **Birmingham, Alabama**: Central location for most investigations (hotels, motels, bus stations, railroads, car rental agencies, laundries, etc.).  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Mentioned as RAY's last known location before fleeing to Memphis following MLK’s assassination.  
- **Albany, Tennessee**: Potential next location for RAY after Memphis.  
- **Chicago, Illinois**: Location of the license plate (42-7866) investigation.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary**: Source of parolee records checked for connections to RAY.  

Key Events  
- **April 1968**: FBI agents contacted employees at bus stations, railroads, airlines, and car rental agencies in Birmingham to check for sightings of RAY. No identifications were made.  
- **May 1968**: Investigation expanded to include laundries, dry-cleaning establishments, luggage storage facilities, safe deposit boxes, and used car advertisements.  
- **License plate investigation (April 22–24, 1968)**: Efforts to trace the owner of license plate 42-7866 led to EDGAR F. BORDEN, though no direct link to RAY was confirmed.  
- **Review of "lonely heart" organizations (May 14–15, 1968)**: FBI agents checked directories and electronic records for individuals matching RAY’s description.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted the primary investigation into RAY’s movements and activities.  
- **Alabama State Parole and Probation Office**: Checked parolee records for potential connections to RAY.  
- **Birmingham Trust National Bank, First National Bank of Birmingham, City National Bank of Birmingham, Central Bank and Trust Company**: Cooperated in reviewing safe deposit box records.  
- **Electra-Checkers, Compute-Date Corporation**: "Lonely heart" organizations reviewed for potential leads on RAY.

MLK Declassified Files

44-at-2386_hs1-852715321_162-02-part_3_of_3.pdf

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