</s>FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64) FEDERAL BUREAU-OF INVESTIGATION 1 Date 5/1/68 GIL MARTIN, Owner, Sultan Room, St. Francis Hotel, 5333 Hollywood Boulevard, was interviewed and furnished the following information: MARTIN stated that RAY FERNANDELL is unknown to him. He stated that he does not employ anyone by that name at the Sultan Room and that he doesn't do not employ any fry cooks. He advised that there were no fry cooks employed at the St. Francisco Hotel. 4/27/68 Los Angeles, California Los Angeles 44-1574 On at File # SA THEODORE J. A'HEARN: Jmk 5/2/68 by Date dictated This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. 15 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents consist of FBI FD-302 forms and investigative reports spanning January to May 1968, detailing interviews and inquiries into James Earl Ray’s activities in Los Angeles, California. These records focus on Ray’s alleged connections to nightlife venues, including the St. Francis Hotel, Seventh Veil nightclub, Pez nightclub, and "The Local Swinger" correspondence club. Interviews with hotel staff, nightclub employees, and residents aimed to verify Ray’s presence at these locations and his associations with individuals such as Helena Vlahos, Melody O'Brien, and Eric S. Galt (an alias for Ray). The FBI also investigated financial transactions related to mailing lists for "The Local Swinger" and observed Ray’s behavior at the St. Francis Hotel, noting his habit of slamming doors and his appearance. While no direct references to Martin Luther King Jr., his assassination, or related events are present in this specific content, the documents link Ray to potential accomplices and locations associated with his alleged activities.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray** (also known as Eric Starvo Galt) – Subject of interviews and investigations; identified as a suspect in MLK Jr.’s assassination in separate records.  
- **Helena Vlahos** – Greek descent belly dancer employed at the Seventh Veil nightclub.  
- **Maria Vlahos** – Sister of Helena Vlahos, former employee of the Pez nightclub.  
- **Melody Margaret O'Brien** – Topless dancer who reported receiving unsolicited phone calls linked to an unknown individual.  
- **Martin Edward Villaire** – Roommate of Melody O'Brien; received unsolicited phone calls potentially tied to Ray.  
- **James E. O'Dowd and Ann L. Meyers** – Co-owners of "The Local Swinger" correspondence club, who sent a member list to Eric S. Galt in February 1968.  
- **Patricia Anderson** – Recipient of letters from Eric S. Galt; interviewed by the FBI.  
- **Louise Larson** – Manager of Larson Book Store (5334 Hollywood Boulevard); reported a customer matching Ray’s description.  
- **Norman Cox** – St. Francis Hotel tenant who claimed familiarity with Ray but could not confirm his location.  
- **Diane DiGenova and George Snelling** – Residents of 1535 North Serrano Avenue; denied knowledge of Ray.  
- **John Robert Guerin** – Security officer at 323 West Sixth Street; reported moving into Apartment 6 at 1535 Serrano Avenue in July 1967.  

Key Locations  
- **St. Francis Hotel (Los Angeles, California)** – Center of interviews regarding Ray’s alleged stays and activities, including the Sultan Room.  
- **Seventh Veil nightclub (7180 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles)** – Employed Helena Vlahos as a belly dancer.  
- **Pez nightclub (1508 North Vernon Avenue, Los Angeles)** – Associated with Maria Vlahos and topless dancing.  
- **"The Local Swinger" correspondence club** – Operated from Post Office Box 3802, Downey, California; linked to mailing list distribution and Eric S. Galt.  
- **1535 North Serrano Avenue (Los Angeles, California)** – Identified as Ray’s residence between November 1967 and January 1968.  
- **Hotel Rio and Hotel Tropicana (Puerto Vallarta, Mexico)** – Mentioned as locations where Ray allegedly stayed in November 1967.  
- **Alhambra, California** – Address associated with a mail forwarding service referenced in the investigation.  

Key Events  
- FBI interviews conducted to investigate James Earl Ray’s connections to nightlife venues, including the St. Francis Hotel and Seventh Veil nightclub.  
- Investigation into "The Local Swinger" correspondence club, focusing on mailing list distribution and financial transactions.  
- Photographic identification attempts to confirm Ray’s identity through interviews with hotel staff, residents, and business owners.  
- Verification of Ray’s alleged residence at 1535 North Serrano Avenue via car service records and tenant statements.  
- Observations of Ray’s behavior at the St. Francis Hotel, including his habit of slamming doors and appearance.  
- Inquiries into unsolicited phone calls reported by Melody O'Brien and Martin Villaire, potentially linked to an unknown individual associated with Ray.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)** – Conducted interviews, investigations, and photographic identification efforts related to James Earl Ray’s activities.  
- **Los Angeles Police Department** – Mentioned in context of location checks and resident verification.  
- **Free Press** – Newspaper associated with advertisements linked to Eric S. Galt through "The Local Swinger" mailing list.

MLK Declassified Files

44-at-2386_hs1-852715321_162-04-part_3_of_5.pdf

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