</s>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - (MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS N.L.D) - - - - - - - DO NOT DESTROY - - FEDERAL BUREAU 1740 FEDERAL BUREAU FOR THE REVIVED of AIL-A-CUSTAINED. BAR-U/L/O1.SL.CURTIGS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bureau File Number - - - - 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail an FBI investigation into the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) in 1968, focusing on interviews with witnesses, pawn shop transactions, and evidence collection. Key elements include:  
- FBI agents interviewed business owners and hotel staff in Birmingham, Alabama, to identify suspects based on physical descriptions and behavioral observations. Interviews included Joe Silligman of Liberty Loan, who described a man seeking to pawn a Winchester Model 70 rifle; Henry Cox of Liberty Motors, who mentioned Tommy Karr resembling the artist’s conception; and Richard Mitchell, who claimed to have seen the suspect near MLK’s death location on April 6, 1968.  
- The FBI reviewed hotel records, newspaper archives (e.g., *Birmingham News*), and business registries for names like Eric S. Galt, Jay Wallace Vernon, and Harvey Lowmeyer, finding no matches.  
- A separate investigation referenced a white male described as "RENO" (5'11", 150 lbs, black hair) observed at Chandler’s Barber Shop in Birmingham. Witnesses M.H. Chandler and Bernice Williamson provided accounts of unusual behavior, including a car incident near a highway on April 16, 1968, involving an explosion or gunfire.  
- The FBI compiled public records (newspapers, photographs, maps) to track MLK’s movements in cities like Atlanta, Birmingham, Memphis, and Los Angeles. Evidence included a bedspread found in Memphis linked to suspect James Earl Ray ("Galt") and inquiries into individuals with ties to extremist groups, such as Roy James (American Nazi Party) and Ezra Gault (white supremacist).  
- Criminal records for Theral Burns Lyman and Harvey Edward Lohmeyer were reviewed, noting burglary charges and incarceration. A 1963 complaint form referenced an incident at a library involving an individual named Wim, though details remain unclear.  

Key People  
- **Joe Silligman**: Liberty Loan employee who described a suspect seeking to pawn a rifle.  
- **Henry Cox**: Liberty Motors owner who mentioned Tommy Karr resembling the artist’s conception.  
- **Richard Mitchell**: Witness claiming to have seen the killer of MLK on April 6, 1968.  
- **M.H. Chandler**: Barber shop owner who recalled an unusual interaction with a white male at his establishment.  
- **Bernice Williamson**: Waitress at Pearl & Pat's Cafe who reported a car incident near a highway on April 16, 1968.  
- **James Earl Ray** (referred to as "Galt"): Suspect linked to the bedspread found in Memphis.  
- **Roy James**: American Nazi Party member arrested for assaulting MLK and threatening FBI agents.  
- **Ezra Gault**: White supremacist from Florida with ties to Mississippi and Alabama, brother of FNU Gault (possibly James Earl Ray).  
- **Theral Burns Lyman**: Criminal record includes burglary charges and incarceration in California prisons.  
- **Harvey Edward Lohmeyer**: Arrested for attempted burglary in San Diego County; family connections explored.  

Key Locations  
- Birmingham, Alabama (businesses like Liberty Loan, Peoples Loan Company, Liberty Motors, and Chandler’s Barber Shop).  
- Memphis, Tennessee (site of the assassination and location of the bedspread evidence).  
- Atlanta, Georgia (included in MLK’s itinerary for evidence collection).  
- Los Angeles, California (mentioned in FBI requests for photographic and geographic data).  
- Florida (LAWTON/LAWTYE) – Home of Ezra Gault and Tommy Tatum.  
- San Diego County, California – Location of Harvey Edward Lohmeyer’s criminal record.  
- 28th Street, Norristown, PA – Mentioned in connection with an individual named Wim.  

Key Events  
- FBI interviews with business owners and hotel staff to identify suspects based on physical descriptions and behavioral observations.  
- Investigation into pawn transactions involving a Winchester Model 70 rifle and the bedspread found in Memphis.  
- Review of newspaper archives for MLK-related photographs and public records to establish his itinerary.  
- Witness accounts of unusual behavior, including an incident involving a white car and explosion/fire near a highway on April 16, 1968.  
- Inquiries into individuals with ties to extremist groups (e.g., American Nazi Party) and their criminal histories.  
- Review of criminal records for Theral Burns Lyman and Harvey Edward Lohmeyer, including burglary charges and incarceration.  
- A 1963 complaint form referencing an incident at a library involving an individual named Wim, though details remain unclear.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Central to the investigation, coordinating regional offices and evidence collection.  
- American Nazi Party (ANP) – Mentioned in relation to Roy James’ affiliations.  
- California Department of Motor Vehicles – Referenced for driver’s license records.  
- U.S. Coast Guard – Provided records on Eric Starvo Galt’s maritime employment.  
- Alabama Motorsports Association – Linked to individuals like Eric Starvo Gain and Harvesty Lemyer.

MLK Declassified Files

44-bh-1740_729219_04-02-part_1_of_5.pdf

Document Summary

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