</s>TRO12 AT PLAIN G35 PM ORGEMI 2-17-76 HLP TURK TASO (44-06661) TASO CAA-932D) MEMPHIS (44+06691) FROM: ATLANTA (44)-06697) MURM. RE ALAMIA TEL FEBRUARY 1S, 1976. WILLIAM SAIFORD VENABLE COHACIED THIS DATE AND ADVISED THAT HE AMD HOBERT AVEHULY, PREVIOUSLY, PRIVOUSLYS OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1455 AND HORELI AVENUE. AT THIS RESIDENCE WAS A LOUNGE KNOWN BY VARIOUS WAMES, INCLUDING PETE'S. PLACE AND DILL BALLY'S ., IN 1966 DUCK BAILLEY TOOK OVER THIS LOUGE AND NAMED IT BILL BAILEY'S .. AT AFROKIMAILY JOURNALY, 1965, LEWIS W. CLARK HAD THE LIQUOR LICENSE CHACLD 10 MRS NAME. PRIOR TO THIS LIVES LEMIS CLARK RAD MANAGED AND RUN THE LOUNCE KNOWN AS BILL BAILIEY'S FOR DUCK DAILEY. BUCK BAILLEY MOVER PARTICIPATED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE LOUGEE. VE MABLE DOES NOT KNOW ANYODY BY THE NAME OF POWELL, DOES NOT KNOW AN "DOUBLE" ., NO KNOW RAY GODFODY BY ME, NAME, HOWEVER, HAS NEVER PERSONALLY MET THE INDIVIDUAL. HE DOES NOT KNOW ANY OF GODFRIEY'S PERSONALY MET THE IINDIVIDUAL. M. DOES NOT KNOW AY OF GODFIREY.S. END PAGE ONE. SUR-CONE SEARCHED SERIALIZED INDEXED FLEED wilson 7W 4-0-846-942 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document contains FBI records from February 1976 detailing interviews with individuals associated with a lounge in Memphis, Tennessee, known as Bill Bailey's, located at 1455 Moreland Avenue. The investigation focuses on identifying individuals linked to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., including potential suspects and witnesses. Interviews with Lewis W. Clark, who managed the bar from September 1966 to 1973, identified Ray Godfrey and Claude Powell as frequent patrons. Clark noted Godfrey was extroverted and often played guitar, while Powell was described as quiet. June Hall, a former bartender, and Jackie Powell, wife of Claude Powell, were also interviewed. Jackie Powell claimed her husband had been offered money to assassinate King but refused, though she later stated the story was fabricated by her husband and his brother, Leon. The FBI sought further identification through composite images and attempts to locate former customers of Pete's Place, another lounge associated with the area.  

Key People  
- Lewis W. Clark: Managed Bill Bailey's from 1966–1973; identified Ray Godfrey and Claude Powell as frequent patrons.  
- Ray Godfrey: Described as extroverted and often played guitar at the bar.  
- Claude Powell: Identified as a quiet individual who frequented Bill Bailey's.  
- June Hall: Former day bartender at Bill Bailey's; stated she had not seen individuals in composite images.  
- Jackie Powell: Wife of Claude Powell, claimed her husband was offered money to assassinate King but refused; later dismissed the story as fabricated.  
- Leon Powell: Brother of Claude Powell, referenced as an alcoholic by Jackie Powell.  

Key Locations  
- 1455 Moreland Avenue: Address of Bill Bailey's lounge in Memphis, Tennessee.  
- Pete's Place: Another lounge associated with the area, mentioned in connection with former customers.  
- Atlanta and Memphis: Cities where interviews and investigations were conducted.  

Key Events  
- FBI investigation into potential involvement of individuals linked to Bill Bailey's in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.  
- Interviews with bar staff and patrons to identify suspects or witnesses.  
- Claims by Jackie Powell that her husband, Claude Powell, was offered money for the assassination but refused.  
- Attempts to verify identities through composite images and further interviews.  

Key Organizations  
- FBI: Conducted the investigation and interviews as part of the broader inquiry into MLK's assassination.

MLK Declassified Files

44-at-2386_hs1-852715321_164-03-part_4_of_4.pdf

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