</s>FD-36 (Rev. 12:13:59) -SAC CC F.B.I ASSCT CC STENO SOP Date: 5/8/63 C-C#1 Transmit the following in (Type in plain text or code) C-#2 C.C#3 C-4 Vid ATMEL (Priority or Method of Mailing) C-A C-F#4 C-H#1 C-1 C-M#7 TO: DIRECTOR, FBI S-#3 SAC, CLEVELAND (44-565) (P) S-4 FROM: S-S#3 RE: MURKIN S-=5 Re Cleveland teletype or Director, 4/27/68 and Chicago teletype to Director, FBI, 5/1/68. Re Cleveland telephone was conducted on May 2, 1968, by SA HOMER K. MILLER at Lima, Ohio, and SA STEPHEN PUNTERRY All investigation was conducted by SA STEPHER PUNTERSKY and SA HOME, MILLER AT Lima, OHio, and Ohio. The following info- mation is being furnished to offices, who according to referenced and SA Home, MLLER at Lima, Ohio. Ohio, The following information- Chicago teletype, 5//1/69, are attempting to locate THOMAS EUGENE CHAMEROOKING towards his elimination in involvement in MORKIN. AT LIMA, OHIO Mrs. ESTHER MOTTER, Clerk, Health Department, Allen County, Lima, Ohio, advised birth certificate reflects THOMAC EUGENE CRAMER born at Lima. Ohio. at Lima, Father, DONALD CRAMERS, mrs. MARY RYKENA CRAMERA birth record was registered on 2/16/39. AT FINDLAY, OHI WAYNE ETHEL (NA), Chief of Police, Findlay, Ohio; Police 3-Bureau 3-Chicago - Memphis - Chicago - Seattle - Cleveland HOM/G/10 (14) <loc_155><loc_844>414-114-60 SEARCHED, INDEXED. <loc_680><loc_856>SEALIZATED, F.I.D. <loc_844><loc_851><loc_844><loc_851><loc_680><loc_857>MAY 6, 1990 FIELO. <loc_844><loc_844><loc_869><loc_844><loc_869><loc_855><loc_730><loc_855>FRI-CHICAGO. Approved:

Summary  
The document contains FBI records from 1963–1968 detailing investigations into potential threats against Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) and related individuals. Key details include: Thomas Eugene Cramer, a suspect linked to MLK’s assassination, was investigated by agents Homer K. Miller and Stephen Punterry in Ohio and Chicago. His arrest records for traffic violations and non-support were reviewed, and his wife, Glinda, reported his alcoholism and history of fabricating stories about threatening MLK. Cramer claimed in September 1966 to have joined the "Nazis" and intended to kill MLK upon returning to Chicago. The FBI noted no arrest record for him but found prior legal issues. Memphis, Tennessee, is referenced as a location where unverified threats against MLK were circulated, including claims that Grady Carroll, a former constable from Mississippi, planned to kill MLK after riots following his March in Memphis. Charles R. Recher, paroled in 1966 from Illinois State Penitentiary for rape, was associated with Chicago hoodlums and allegedly discussed an assassination plot against MLK for $20,000 or drug trafficking for $40,000. Morton L. Zaslawski, a Chicago attorney, was questioned about James Earl Ray and potential threats against MLK but denied involvement. Joseph John Gaffney, a student at Elmhurst College, was investigated for alleged connections to the Minutemen organization. Robert Cornell Buxton made a threatening call to the Chicago FBI office in March 1965, claiming he would kill MLK if given the opportunity, though he later denied making the call. The document also references Donald Lawrence Stout as an individual allegedly threatening to kill MLK armed and dangerous.  

Key People  
- **Thomas Eugene Cramer**: Suspect linked to MLK’s assassination; investigated for alleged Nazi affiliation and threats against MLK.  
- **Homer K. Miller** and **Stephen Punterry**: FBI agents conducting investigations in Ohio and Chicago.  
- **Grady Carroll**: Alleged conspirator in a plot to kill MLK, though the threat was unverified by the FBI.  
- **Glinda Cramer**: Wife of Thomas Cramer; reported his alcoholism and fabricated stories about threatening MLK.  
- **Charles R. Recher**: Paroled from Illinois State Penitentiary in 1966; associated with Chicago hoodlums, including Peter Verdino.  
- **Morton L. Zaslawski**: Attorney in Chicago questioned about potential threats against MLK.  
- **Joseph John Gaffney**: Student at Elmhurst College; investigated for alleged connections to the Minutemen organization.  
- **Robert Cornell Buxton**: Made a threatening call to the Chicago FBI office in March 1965.  
- **Donald Lawrence Stout**: Allegedly threatened to kill MLK armed and dangerous.  

Key Locations  
- **Chicago, Illinois**: Central location for investigations involving Recher, Zaslawski, Gaffney, Buxton, and Cramer.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Center of MLK-related threats and riots referenced in the document.  
- **Lima, Ohio** (Cramer’s birthplace) and **Findlay, Ohio** (police and credit bureau records for Cramer).  
- **Elmhurst College, Illinois**: Site of Gaffney’s enrollment and academic interactions.  
- **Seattle, Washington**: Reported location of Thomas Cramer in 1968.  

Key Events  
- March 17, 1965: Robert Buxton telephoned the Chicago FBI office threatening to kill MLK.  
- September 6, 1966: Thomas Cramer claimed to have joined the "Nazis" and intended to kill MLK upon his return to Chicago.  
- April–May 1968: FBI investigations into potential threats against MLK, including Recher’s alleged plot and Zaslawski’s involvement.  
- 1967: Military Intelligence in Evanston, Illinois, reported Joseph John Garfiny recruited "LANK" for a military unit during MLK’s visit to Chicago.  
- April 7, 1967: MLK denied knowledge of planned acts of violence against anyone during an interview with military authorities.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations into threats against MLK and tracking suspects like Cramer.  
- **Minutemen**: Alleged organization linked to Gaffney and Brettman; mentioned in context of potential extremist activities.  
- **Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)**: Tied to BROWN’s background as a troublemaker.  
- **Local police departments** (e.g., Findlay, Ohio; Hancock County, Ohio).  
- **Credit bureaus** and **health departments**: Used to verify personal records for Cramer.

MLK Declassified Files

44-cg-1114_738662_09-03-part_6_of_8.pdf

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