</s>FEDERAL SUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FD-D-SOV. 3-8-67) FEDERARY SUREAU OF INVESIGATION REPORTING OFFICE OFFICE OF ORIGIN. DATE INVESTIGATIVE PERIOD LOS ANGELES MEMPHIS 4/18/68 4/5 - 18/68 TITLE OF CASE REPORT MADE BY TYPE BY UNSUB, aka REPORT MADED BY EREROY W. SHEETS Jae Eric Starvo Galt, JOHN WILLARD, CHARACTER OF CASE Jae Harvey Loweryer - FUGITIVE; DR. MARWIN LUTHER KING, JR. CHARACTE OF CASE VICTIM CR REFERENCES: Memphis teletype to Los Angeles dated 1/5/68, Memphis telephone to the Bureau, at al, dated 1 /6/68. Albany telephone to be Bureau, et al, date 4/8/68 .. MemphisTeletype to the Bureau, et at al. dated 1/(68. Butel to all continental offices dated 1//9/68 ... Atlanta telephone to Bureau, to beau, at eal, dated 4/16/68 . Bureau telephone call to Los Angels dated 4 /13/68 , Memphisteletype to be bureau, et all, dated 2/16 /68. Memphis Teletype to to the bureau, at el, dated 3/13/66. -P- ADMINISTRATIVE This report contains only information relating to the activities of ERIC STARVO between November, 1997, and March 16, 1968, of the period of time which GALT is known to have resided in the Los Angeles, Calif. California, area. ACCOMPLISHMENTS CLAIMED NONE ACCOUNT: TALLS CASE HAS BEEN: FUS. SAVINGS RECOVERIES PENDING PERFORCATION YES NO PENDERING PERFECTION OVER SIX MONTHS YES NO APPROVED SPECIAL AGENT DO NOT WRITE IN SPACES BELOW COPIES MADE! IN CHARGE 441760/166 4-Bureau (44-38861) - Memphis (44)-1987) <loc_179><loc_722>- Atlanta (44)-23861 - Birmingham (44),

Summary  
The documents detail an FBI investigation into physical evidence linked to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on items recovered near the scene in Memphis, Tennessee, and connections to Eric Starvo Galt. Key evidence includes binoculars (Bushnell 7X35, serial number SND/406661) traced to York Arms Company in October 1967 and duck-billed pliers linked to Romage Hardware Company in Los Angeles, sold in October 1966. The investigation also examines financial records, including money orders and service station logs, for ties to Galt. A trunk containing evidence was found in Atlanta, where Galt’s forwarding address was located after November 1967. Interviews with Romage Hardware employees and Home Service Laundry staff explored laundry marks near the assassination site, including thermoseal machine records and customer accounts associated with "GALT." The FBI tracked Galt’s movements between Los Angeles and Atlanta, noting his residence at 1535 North Serrano Avenue and use of a 1966 white Mustang. No conclusive evidence directly links Galt to the assassination, but connections to physical items and financial transactions remain under review.  

Key People  
- **Eric Starvo Galt**: Person of interest linked to physical evidence, movements in Los Angeles and Atlanta, and a 1966 white Mustang.  
- **Dorothy Starves**: Sales manager at Bushnell Company, provided invoice details for binoculars.  
- **John R. Scantland**: Owner of Romage Hardware in Los Angeles, confirmed pliers were sold in 1966.  
- **Lucy Pinela**: Manager of Home Service Laundry, investigated laundry marks near the assassination scene.  
- **Dean Whitmore**: Purchased pliers from Romage Hardware; admitted owning similar pliers with removed labels.  
- **Hyman Beckman**: Owner of H. Beckman Chevrolet Service Station, referenced in service records for a 1966 Mustang.  
- **GALT**: Customer account at Home Service Laundry and Dry Cleaning, associated with thermoseal markings.  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Scene of Dr. King’s assassination on April 4, 1968; location of recovered binoculars and pliers.  
- **Los Angeles, California**: Romage Hardware (554 Hollywood Boulevard), where pliers were sold in 1966; Galt’s residence at 1535 North Serrano Avenue; Home Service Laundry and Dry Cleaning (5280 Hollywood Boulevard); H. Beckman Chevrolet Service Station (1506 North Normandie Avenue).  
- **Atlanta, Georgia**: Forwarding address for Galt post-1967; location of the trunk containing evidence linked to Dr. King’s assassination.  

Key Events  
- Recovery of binoculars and pliers near Dr. King’s assassination site in Memphis.  
- Investigation into Romage Hardware’s sale of pliers in 1966, with multiple employees confirming inventory records.  
- FBI interviews with Romage Hardware employees and Home Service Laundry staff to trace thermoseal laundry marks linked to the assassination scene.  
- Examination of cleaning invoices, laundry lists, and thermoseal machine records at Home Service Laundry.  
- Tracking Galt’s movements between Los Angeles and Atlanta, including his residence at 1535 North Serrano Avenue and use of a 1966 white Mustang.  
- Documentation of service orders for the 1966 Mustang at H. Beckman Chevrolet Service Station.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations into physical evidence, financial records, and laundry operations.  
- **Romage Hardware Company**: Los Angeles-based store where pliers were sold in October 1966.  
- **Home Service Laundry and Dry Cleaning**: Investigated for thermoseal markings linked to the assassination scene.  
- **H. Beckman Chevrolet Service Station**: Referenced in service records for a 1966 Mustang associated with GALT.

MLK Declassified Files

44-bh-1740_729219_06-02-part_1_of_5.pdf

Document Summary

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