</s>FBI CHICAGO FBI-BUFFALO 4-3PMURGENT 4-26-68 MIC TO DIRECTOR (44-38861), CHICACO (44~1114), MEMPHIS (44+1987) FROM BUFFALOO (44)-3741) 2P MURKIN. 00 MEMPHIs. RE CHICAGE TEL APRIL TWENTY FIVE LAST CONCERNING TELEGRAM SENT TO NAACP CHICACAO BY MRS. JESSIE KILGRAS. JESSEKILGRASS. E10 MRS. jESSIE KLIGRAS, W/F, AGE FIFTY-NINE, APT. SEVEN, SEVEN FIVE TWO LIBERTY ST ., PENFIELD, NY, ADVISED TODAY INSTANT TELEGRAV SENT TO NAPACP, CHICAQO, ILL ., NOV. FOURTEEN LAST, WAS SENT AS RESULT OF A DREAM. MRS ., KILGRAVIS ADVISED SHE READ OF A SPEECH DR. KING MADE IN BUFFALLO, NY , AND NEXT NIGHT DREAMED DR. KING'S LIFE WAS IN DANGER. MRS .. KILIGRASS SAID SHE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT A MEMBER OF THE NAACP ., ROCHESTER, NY ., AND THEN CALLED THE CHICAGO PD, WHO SUGGESTED SHE SEND A TELEGERAM. Mrs. KILGGRAS VOLUNTEERED SHE HAS BEEN UNDER PSYCHIATRIC CARE FOR FOUR YEARS, PART OF WHICH TIME WAS SPENT IN A LOCAL HOSPITAL FOR MENTAL TREATMENT. SEARCHED INDEXED END PAGE ONE SEARCHIZED / FILLED PR-CHICOGO 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14178

Summary  
The documents detail FBI and Chicago Police Department investigations into threats against Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) between 1965 and 1968, focusing on individuals who allegedly planned or expressed intent to assassinate MLK. Key figures include Mrs. Jessie Kilgras of Penfield, NY, who sent a telegram to the NAACP after dreaming MLK’s life was in danger; Thomas E. Cramer of Helena, Illinois, who claimed he was assigned to kill MLK by a “NAZIL” group but denied Nazi Party ties; Donald L. Cramer (Thomas’s brother), who stated Thomas fabricated stories about his wife’s death and MLK’s assassination; Morton L. Zaslavsky, an attorney in Chicago investigated for allegedly funding MLK’s assassination; and Donald Ray Stout, a white male with multiple arrests linked to threats against MLK. Investigations also referenced other individuals such as Robert C. Buxton, Alfred G. Schneider, Joseph John Gaffney, and Stephen Lane, some of whom were tied to alleged Nazi-affiliated plots or property disputes in Chicago. The FBI compiled records of these individuals, noting unresolved cases, lack of conclusive evidence, and potential connections to anti-Black groups or extremist organizations.  

Key People  
- **Mrs. Jessie Kilgras**: Sent a telegram to the NAACP after dreaming MLK’s life was in danger; had mental health history.  
- **Thomas E. Cramer**: Claimed he was assigned to assassinate MLK by a “NAZIL” group; denied Nazi Party ties.  
- **Donald L. Cramer**: Brother of Thomas E. Cramer; stated Thomas fabricated stories about his wife’s death and MLK’s assassination.  
- **Morton L. Zaslavsky**: Attorney and currency exchange operator in Chicago; investigated for alleged funding of MLK’s assassination.  
- **Donald Ray Stout**: White male with multiple arrests linked to threats against MLK; referenced in corrupted arrest reports.  
- **Robert C. Buxton**: Alleged to have made threats against MLK in 1965; no confirmed involvement in plots.  
- **Alfred G. Schneider**: Linked to a 1967 plot involving Joseph John Gaffney and Stephen Lane, who allegedly recruited a team to target MLK.  
- **Joseph John Gaffney**: Alleged to have recruited Stephen Lane for a mission against MLK in 1967.  

Key Locations  
- **Penfield, NY**: Mrs. Kilgras’s residence.  
- **Chicago, Illinois**: FBI offices; Zaslavsky’s address (6240 N Drake Ave); Stewart-Warner Co. (where Thomas Cramer worked).  
- **Helena, Illinois**: Thomas E. Cramer’s residence.  
- **Detroit, Michigan**: Home to Donald Lawrence Stout, investigated for alleged Nazi ties and fugitive status.  
- **Elmhurst, Illinois**: Joseph G. Gapney resided here; interviewed about potential involvement in MLK-related plots.  
- **Berlin, New Hampshire**: Donald Lawrence Stout’s residence linked to a 1958 non-recognition of a license plate.  
- **Milwaukee, Wisconsin**: Mentioned in arrest records for Donald Ray Stout.  
- **Madison, Wisconsin**: Referenced in police department filings.  
- **Berwyn, Illinois**: Address associated with Donald Ray Stout’s arrest records.  

Key Events  
- Mrs. Kilgras sent a telegram to the NAACP after a dream about MLK’s safety.  
- Thomas E. Cramer claimed he was assigned to assassinate MLK by a “NAZIL” group but denied Nazi Party ties.  
- Donald L. Cramer stated Thomas had a history of fabricating stories, including claims about killing his wife and plotting against MLK.  
- Morton Zaslavsky was investigated for alleged funding of MLK’s assassination; a letter accused him of supporting anti-Black groups and offering $3,000 to kill MLK.  
- Donald Ray Stout had multiple arrests between 1964–1966, including charges of “assisting Police Disorderly” in Chicago and unspecified offenses in Milwaukee.  
- Alfred G. Schneider was linked to a 1967 plot involving Joseph John Gaffney and Stephen Lane, who allegedly recruited a team to target MLK.  
- FBI compiled records of individuals (e.g., Stout, Buxton) under investigation for threats against MLK, noting unresolved cases or lack of evidence.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations into threats against MLK, compiling records and cross-referencing names with law enforcement databases.  
- **Chicago Police Department**: Involved in local inquiries, including the 1965 case against Zaslavsky and follow-ups on threats.  
- **NAACP**: Received a telegram from Mrs. Kilgras about MLK’s safety.  
- **American Nazi Party**: Thomas E. Cramer denied affiliation; referenced in allegations against others.  
- **Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)**: Mentioned in a legal dispute involving Morton L. Zaslavsky, though not directly tied to MLK’s assassination investigation.  
- **Chicago Credit Bureau, Incorporated**: Reviewed Morton Zaslavsky’s business and personal records.  

Note: Some entries include potential social security numbers (e.g., 131324, 1585022) or other numerical data that may have been redacted or corrupted. The text contains fragmented entries with unclear context, suggesting possible errors or incomplete records.

MLK Declassified Files

44-cg-1114_738662_09-03-part_4_of_8.pdf

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