</s>KC 44-760 3 A check on April 26, 1968, of the address at 3819 Wyandotte, Kansas City, Missouri, reveals that this address is now a parking lot. The 1967 Polks Directory lists MARY M. PORTER at telephone number 0-67-71, and one JOHN F. COATES, JE 1- 3719. A telephone call was made to each of the numbers and it was determined the numbers no longer listed to this individual. A check was made on April 28, 1968 , of the Address 608 East Street Kansas City. Missouri, and it was determined that the Emery Hotel has been demolished and a new building housing the Langley Optical Company is at that address. 146 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents consist of two distinct FBI records: one detailing an investigation into the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) and a separate inquiry into Eric S. Galt’s enrollment in a locksmithing course. The MLK-related portion focuses on LyNN RAY CLEVELAND, arrested in Joplin, Missouri, on April 9, 1968, for questioning about his potential connection to MLK’s assassination on April 4, 1968. Cleveland claimed to be a traveling Baptist minister but provided inconsistent accounts of his movements, including hitchhiking through Arizona, Missouri, and Tennessee. The FBI noted no direct evidence linking him to the murder but highlighted his erratic behavior, lack of identification, and history of mental health issues. The second portion details Eric S. Galt’s enrollment in a correspondence locksmithing course at the Locksmithing Institute in Little Falls, New Jersey, with financial transactions processed through the Bank of Bloomfield and Canadian Postal Money Orders. FBI laboratory reports analyzed handwriting and typewriter styles on payment coupons and letters linked to Galt, though no definitive conclusions were reached due to lack of identifying defects.  

Key People  
- **LyNN RAY CLEVELAND**: Arrested in Joplin, Missouri, questioned about MLK’s assassination; described as a traveling Baptist minister with inconsistent accounts of his whereabouts.  
- **Reverend Billy Max Wuller**: Provided information about Cleveland’s movements from Baxter Springs, Kansas, on March 3, 1968.  
- **Reverend Ken Rasdale**: Reported encountering Cleveland in Bolivar, Missouri, around April 5, 1968.  
- **Detective Captain Walter Flenner**: Oversaw Cleveland’s arrest and interrogation in Joplin, Missouri.  
- **Eric S. Galt**: Enrolled in a locksmithing course; financial transactions analyzed by the FBI for handwriting and typewriter comparisons.  
- **Dale L. Dykema**: Mentioned as a sender of letters to Galt.  
- **Ginger Nance**: Identified as the writer of questioned handwriting on certain documents.  

Key Locations  
- **Joplin, Missouri**: Site of Cleveland’s arrest on April 9, 1968.  
- **Springfield, Missouri**: Cleveland claimed to have stayed at Hoff’s Hotel on April 4, 1968.  
- **Kingman, Arizona**: Cleveland recalled being there around March 28, 1968.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of MLK’s assassination on April 4, 1968.  
- **Little Falls, New Jersey**: Location of the Locksmithing Institute where Galt enrolled.  
- **Montreal, Canada**: Mentioned in the context of a postmarked envelope related to Galt.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee.  
- **April 9, 1968**: LyNN RAY CLEVELAND arrested in Joplin, Missouri, for questioning about MLK’s assassination.  
- **Interrogation and Investigation**: Cleveland’s inconsistent accounts of his movements, including claims of staying in Springfield, Missouri, and hitchhiking through multiple states.  
- **Analysis of Financial Records**: FBI laboratory reports examined checks, money orders, and letters linked to Eric S. Galt’s locksmithing course enrollment.  
- **Handwriting Comparison**: FBI compared handwriting on payment coupons and envelopes to determine authorship, though no definitive conclusions were reached.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations into MLK’s assassination and Eric S. Galt’s financial transactions.  
- **Joplin, Missouri Police Department**: Oversaw Cleveland’s arrest and provided details about his interrogation.  
- **Bank of Bloomfield, New Jersey**: Handled checks and negotiable instruments related to Galt’s course enrollment.  
- **Fidelity Union Trust Company**: Managed deposits tied to financial transactions for Galt.  
- **Locksmithing Institute**: Located in Little Falls, New Jersey; associated with Galt’s correspondence and payment records.

MLK Declassified Files

44-cg-1114_738662_05-04-part_4_of_5.pdf

Document Summary

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