</s>FD-248 (REV. 4:13-60) H. S. Department of Justitie (MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILE) CLASSIFICATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (147-4-4.400.00) P08-1/4/19/20 A 4-11/11/10 "DO NOT DESTROY" FEDERAL BUREAU HISTORICAL VALUE, HISTORTICAL VALU. HISTORY ARCHIVES. "DO NO NOT TRO" HISTURICAL VALUES. NATIONAL ARCHIVE'S of HISTORKAL VALUE. INVESTIGATION PALE INFORMATION CONTAINED BEREEN S/UNCLASSIFIED Serifits: 44-3886/1. File Number 44-388/6/1 Serifics: Volume Number Sentinel: ENTIRE FILE REVIEWED FOR HISTORIC/ DECLASSICATION DO NOT TROTOR See also Nos. B) Memos 44-1144 Newaper Glipping 44-114 Echifet E 44-111-4 - Whats a Martin AntheckKingf DO NOT DESTROY - PENDING LITIGATION do not destroy all volumes 97-4 Sub A pg. 2/2/2 C-5 19-19-18276 225 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The FBI investigation into the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968, centered on Eric S. Galt (also known as Leroy W. Sheets) and items linked to the crime scene in Memphis, Tennessee. Key evidence included binoculars from Bushnell and Company in Pasadena, California; duck-billed pliers purchased by Romage Hardware in Los Angeles; laundry marks traced to a dry cleaner in Los Angeles; service tickets with an Alabama license plate; and Galt’s residences in Los Angeles and Atlanta. The investigation spanned November 1967 to March 1968, involving interviews with Romage Hardware employees, National Dance Studios staff, International School of Bartending associates, and others. The FBI noted Galt was considered armed and dangerous. A separate laundry mark investigation linked a suitcase containing marked clothing found near the assassination scene to Home Service Laundry and Dry Cleaning in Los Angeles, with inconsistencies in customer names (e.g., "E. GAIT," "GALT," "GAITH") and thermo-seal marking practices.  

Key People  
- **Eric S. Galt** (also known as Leroy W. Sheets): Suspected individual linked to the assassination investigation.  
- **John Staryo Gait**: Alias associated with Galt.  
- **Harvey Loyneses**: Fugitive mentioned in the case.  
- **Rita Stein, Charles J. Stein, Marie Martin**: Associates of Galt interviewed by the FBI.  
- **Jack Edwin Jones, Dennis Sheldick, Donald M. Caldwell, Howard John Kelleher, Steven Hendriks, Allian Osborne, Dean Whitmore, Dr. Maurice Seiderman, P. B. Jacquart, Everett Rutledge, Ernest Zazzaro, David Staley**: Romage Hardware employees and associates interviewed about pliers sales or customer interactions.  
- **Lucy Pinella, Jay Vernon, Mrs. Lucy Pinela**: Laundry business personnel involved in thermo-seal marking investigations.  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Scene of Dr. King’s assassination; binoculars and pliers linked to the crime.  
- **Los Angeles, California**: Galt’s residences (1535 North Serrano Avenue), Romage Hardware (554 Hollywood Boulevard), National Dance Studios, International School of Bartending, Home Service Laundry and Dry Cleaning (5280 Hollywood Boulevard), Delite Laundry (1607 Brooklyn Avenue).  
- **Pasadena, California**: Bushnell and Company, supplier of binoculars found at the assassination site.  
- **Atlanta, Georgia**: Trunk of a 1966 white Mustang found with laundry marks and names Antia Katswinkel and Ginger Day.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., with a suitcase containing marked clothing found near the scene.  
- **April 5, 1968**: Memphis FBI office reported binoculars (Bushnell 7x35) found near the assassination site.  
- **April 6–8, 1968**: Interviews with Romage Hardware employees confirmed pliers were sold as "seconds" from a bargain bin.  
- **November 1967–March 1968**: Galt’s movements tracked, including residences in Los Angeles and Atlanta.  
- **April 12, 1968**: FBI noted Galt was considered armed and dangerous.  
- **Thermo-seal marking investigation**: FBI traced laundry marks on garments to identify potential connections to the assassination.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations into Dr. King’s assassination, linked items to Galt, and interviewed witnesses.  
- **Romage Hardware Company**: Sold tools, including pliers tied to the crime scene.  
- **Bushnell and Company**: Supplier of binoculars found at the assassination site.  
- **Home Service Laundry and Dry Cleaning**: Involved in thermo-seal marking investigations.  
- **Textile Marking Machine Company, Syracuse, New York**: Manufacturer of thermo-seal machines used in laundry operations.

MLK Declassified Files

44-cg-1114_738662_03-03-part_1_of_7.pdf

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