</s>FBI MEMPHIS 64TH URGENT A/7/68 CAF TO ALL: SACS FROM MEMPHIs (44-1987) 2P MURKINS: CR: 00 MEMPHISM: RE BUTEL TO ALL SAC'S APRIL SEVEN, NINTEEN SIXTY EIGHT: FOR INFO ALL OFFICES; PERINTINENT PERIODS IN INVESTIGATION ARE MARCH TWENTY NINE AND THIRTY IN BIRMINGHAM, ALA ., AND APRIL FOUR, SIXTHY EIGHT, IN MEMPHINS, TENNIS, TENNS. IN EVENT ANY DATA. DEVELOPED RE-SUSPECTS; IF INTERESTED OFFICES CAN ESTABLISH WHEREABOUTS OF SUSPECTS ON DATES ABOVE, THIS MAY EIMPLIATE SUSPT. IF THIS CANNOT BE DONE, EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO SECURE PHOTOGRAPHS OF SUGPECHS IN QUESTION AND FORWARD PHOTOS TO MEMPHIIS AND BIRMINGHAM FOR POSSIBLE ELIMINATION. PERINTINIENT DESCRIPTIVE DATA SHOULD BE INCLUDED WITH PHOTOS: IF UNABLE TO ELIMinate ON BASIS OF ESTABLESHED THEREABOUITS IN PERINTINT PERIOUTS, INTERESTINENT OFFICES SHOULD MAKE EFFORTS TO SECURE FINGERPRINTS OF SPECT IN QUESTIONS AND SUBMIT SAME TO BUREAU FOR ELIMIMATION. COMPOSITE DESCRIPTION, BASED ON DATA-DEVELOPEO IN BIMINGHAM AND MEMPHISH, IS AS FOLLOWS, END PAGE ONE SEARCHED INNOPENTIAL SEARCHING INNEPALY, INNEXTER KPR7-1968 FB-DALLAS adunned 7.0m 4776/6.0 Ternall Cepak Hill SAC Shantins Clerner's 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The declassified documents consist of FBI internal memos and investigative reports from April 1968, detailing the agency’s efforts to investigate the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., which occurred on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. The reports focus on tracking leads, analyzing physical evidence (e.g., a rifle found near the crime scene), and identifying potential suspects. Key details include descriptions of a suspect profile—a white male aged 26–40 with specific physical traits—and links to a rifle associated with an individual named Harvey Lowey/Lowery. Evidence such as beer cans with Mississippi tax stamps was examined to trace movements. The FBI emphasized immediate action, strict confidentiality, and cross-referencing records across multiple jurisdictions. The documents also reference other suspects like Walter Isseel, Hubert Ferrell, Cleveland, and Isaac Kirk, along with their alleged connections to the crime. While James Earl Ray was later identified as the assassin by U.S. authorities, the reports highlight unresolved questions and speculative leads.  

Key People  
- **Harvey Lowey/Lowery**: Linked to a rifle found near the assassination site; described as 36 years old, 5'8" tall, and weighing 150–160 pounds.  
- **Walter Isseel (Yssel)**: A Secret Service case with criminal history, including weapons ownership; matched a composite sketch of the killer.  
- **Hubert A. Ferrell**: Claimed to have knowledge of an assassination plot against MLK two weeks prior; his brother James Ferrrell was under scrutiny for anti-Negro sentiment and firearm possession.  
- **Cleveland**: Arrested in Joplin, Missouri, due to resemblance to the artist’s conception of the killer; had no ID or permanent address.  
- **Isaac Kirk**: Connected to Roth Construction Company and microwave tower work; resembled the artist’s description of the killer.  
- **James Earl Ray**: Identified as the lone assassin by U.S. authorities, though not directly referenced in the documents.  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of MLK’s assassination on April 4, 1968.  
- **Birmingham, Alabama**: Mentioned as a location tied to key dates (March 29–30) for suspect elimination.  
- **Longview, Texas**: Home of Schlitz Brewing Company, linked to beer cans with Mississippi tax stamps.  
- **Hattiesburg, Clarksdale, Meridian, Mississippi**: Locations associated with the distribution of beer cans tied to the suspect’s movements.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee.  
- **April 8–10, 1968**: FBI and other agencies compiled investigative reports, focusing on leads, evidence analysis, and suspect tracking.  
- **March 29–30, 1968**: Dates referenced for verifying suspects’ whereabouts during critical periods.  
- **FBI directives (April 1968)**: Emphasis on immediate action, cross-referencing records, and maintaining strict confidentiality in the investigation.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Central agency conducting the investigation, emphasizing high-priority case management and evidence analysis.  
- **U.S. Secret Service**: Maintained a protective intelligence file on Walter Isseel.  
- **Local law enforcement agencies**: Involved in tracing suspects, verifying alibis, and coordinating with federal authorities.

MLK Declassified Files

44-dl-2649_sec_001_ser_1-200-part_2_of_9.pdf

Document Summary

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