</s>FD: 245 (REV. 4:13:60) H. S. Department of Justice (MATERIAL MUST NOT BE PROVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILE) DO NOT CSTROY PED.J. LITIGATION FEDERAL BUREAU DO NOT DESTROY of HISTORICAL VALUE NATIONAL ARCHINESS INVESTIGATION Volume Number Scribe. Bureau File Number ENTIRE FILE REVIEWED FOR HISTORICAL DO NOT DISTROY DECLASSIFICATION DECLASIFICATION/ PENDING LITigation 116-1389 See also Nos. ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED BEDEN, IS INJURATED BATE/DATE/SOR-SOR/CABYde 10-47002 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

The documents consist of FBI telegrams and internal memos from late 1968 detailing an investigation into the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which occurred on April 4, 1968. The primary focus is on James Earl Ray, who was later identified as the perpetrator. Key elements include inquiries about Ray’s movements, coordination among FBI offices in Birmingham, Memphis, and New York, and efforts to trace financial transactions, travel records, and potential accomplices. A letter from Mrs. Lucille P. Morrison (April 18, 1968) references fictional names from James Bond novels, suggesting confusion or misinformation about the killer’s identity. The FBI acknowledges the inquiry while maintaining confidentiality. Additional telegrams outline procedures for tracking Ray, including reviewing bank robbery cases, checking border stops, distributing wanted flyers, and contacting informants. References to Minutemen groups, photographs of individuals resembling "RIC STARVO GALF," and connections to Illinois law enforcement are noted. Administrative tasks such as form submissions, file indexing, and inter-office coordination are also documented. Some sections contain garbled or encoded text (e.g., "FD-36" forms, unclear references), indicating fragmented records. No conclusive evidence linking Eric Galt or other suspects to the assassination is found, though their names appear in related investigations.  

Key People:  
- James Earl Ray (subject of investigation)  
- Mrs. Lucille P. Morrison (inquirer about Dr. King’s assassination)  
- WILL JARVIS (reporter for article on Minutemen)  
- CARL IWASAKI (photographer)  
- REESSE DOBSON (Chief of Police, St. Clair County, Illinois)  
- SA-JACK ROBERTS (suspected undercover operative)  

Key Locations:  
- Kansas City, Missouri (conviction appeal mentioned)  
- Shiloh, Illinois (Minutemen activity referenced)  
- Collinsville, Illinois (Minutemen activity referenced)  
- Birmingham, Alabama (FBI office location)  
- St. Clair County, Illinois (police department linked to Roberts)  

Key Events:  
- FBI investigation into James Earl Ray’s involvement in Dr. King’s assassination  
- Inquiry by Mrs. Morrison about the killer of Dr. King, referencing fictional Bond characters  
- Coordination among FBI offices for border stops and latent fingerprint checks  
- Review of bank robbery cases for potential connections to Ray  
- Distribution of wanted flyers and contact with informants  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- U.S. Immigration and Border Patrol  
- Local law enforcement agencies in Illinois and Alabama

MLK Declassified Files

44-bh-1740_729219_06-03-part_1_of_5.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search