</s>CIVIL RIGHTS - CONSPIRACO INTERSTATE FLIGHT - ROBBERY 1, 0, 4182 4-20-48 WANTED BY FBI JAMES EARL RAY FBI No. 405,542 G 16 M 9 000 12 ALIASES: Eric Stavo Galt, W. C. Herron, Harvey Lawyer, James McBride, James O'Connor, James Walton, James Waylon, John Willard, "Jim" M 4 101 Photographs taken 1960 Photograph taken 1963 James Ray (eyes drawn by artists) DESCRIPTION HEIGHT: 50, born March 10, 1928. Alton, Illinois EYES: blue Odds: 18, 18, 17, 18. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 99. 100, 110, 111, 112, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 114, 115. 116, 127. 130, 130. 130. 120, 130-130. 130-131, 120-130, 130 - 130-132, 130 130-134, 130 140-130-134. 140-135, 140-150, 120, 125-126, 120.130-135. 140.130. 140, 125.130, 140, 150-126. 140 - 125, 150, 126-127, 120 - 135-126-127. 120-127-134-130: 140-125-126 CRIMINAL RECORD Ray S. Shaw, mostly small cell center of forehead and small scar on NATIONALITY: American RECARMS: normally normally left ear to ear, ear, or ear, is a lone owner's completed in batting. Ray S Shaw, mainly left ear, right ear, and right ear. is a postal money Ray S Saw, mostly right ear to enter, or operating vehicle whose owner's and robbery, and operating operating vehicle without driver's CAUTION: A Federal warrant was issued on April 17, 1986, Birmingham, Alabama, changing Eric Stave Galt with consent to a murder wherein the CERICUS. and SHOT. CONSIDER ARMED AND EXTREMELY DAN- CODE: Section 51. A Federal warrant is issued as issued on July 20, 1987, at Jefferson City, Missouri, charging with Ray Wright with Flight to Avid Confidential for the crime of Robbery (Title 18. IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS PERSON, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL FRI OFFICE. <loc_420><loc_867><loc_420><loc_880><loc_68><loc_880>Telephone NUMBERS AND ADDRESSES OF ALL OFFICES LISTED ON BACK.<loc_68><loc_881><loc_68><loc_881>April 20th, 2008 Federal of Investigation <loc_890><loc_904><loc_750><loc_903>Washington, D. C, 20353333

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into James Earl Ray’s criminal activities and potential connections to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968. Ray, listed under multiple aliases including Eric Stavo Galt and W.C. Herron, was charged with murder in Birmingham, Alabama, and robbery in Jefferson City, Missouri. FBI records reference an informant, Myrtis Ruth Hendricks, who worked at John's Restaurant in Laurel, Mississippi, and reported that Devilish Nick, the restaurant owner and alleged KKK leader, discussed MLK Jr.’s assassination before public news of the murder. Nick’s office contained a rifle associated with the plot, which two men allegedly transported in a maroon Dodge vehicle. Ray’s movements were tracked by the FBI around April 4–5, 1968, with sightings in Dallas, Texas, and Grand Prairie, Texas. Investigations also linked Ray to stolen vehicles, including a 1960–1961 Plymouth with license plate details, and connected him to individuals like Richard Burnham and R.B. Harrell through criminal records. The FBI coordinated with agencies such as the National Automobile Theft Bureau (NATB) and local law enforcement to verify information. Ray was marked as "ARMED AND DANGEROUS" and associated with an alleged assassination plot, though specific details of the plot are not fully detailed in these documents. Other individuals linked to the KKK include John Nix of Mississippi, Billy Joe Faulkner of Dallas, and Myrtis Ruth Hendricks, who also reported interactions with Nick involving prostitution and abuse.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Suspect in multiple crimes including murder, robbery, and theft; listed under aliases; linked to MLK Jr.’s assassination investigation.  
- **Myrtis Ruth Hendricks ("Jitterbug")**: Informant at John's Restaurant in Laurel, Mississippi; reported Devilish Nick’s discussion of MLK Jr.’s assassination and his KKK leadership.  
- **Devilish Nick**: Owner of John's Restaurant in Laurel, Mississippi; described as KKK leader in the area; associated with a rifle found in his office and weapon transfer to a maroon Dodge vehicle.  
- **Thomas McGee**: Former employee of John's Restaurant; confirmed Devilish Nick’s KKK leadership and abuse of workers.  
- **Richard Burnham**: Mentioned in FBI records related to thefts and criminal history.  
- **R.B. Harrell**: Linked to stolen vehicles and other offenses.  
- **John Nix**: Mississippi Klan member; federal indictment for arson and kidnapping.  
- **Billy Joe Faulkner**: Dallas resident with criminal record; linked to KKK activities and alleged threats against family members.  
- **J. Edgar Hoover**: FBI Director referenced in documents.  
- **SA John Kemmy**: FBI agent involved in car theft investigations.  

Key Locations  
- **Laurel, Mississippi**: Site of John's Restaurant where Devilish Nick operated; location of Hendricks’ employment and interactions with Nick.  
- **Dallas, Texas**: Ray’s alleged residence (212 North Carroll Avenue) during 1956–1957; FBI investigation hub.  
- **Grand Prairie, Texas**: Reported sightings of Ray around April 4–5, 1968.  
- **Ft. Worth, Texas**: Mentioned in vehicle tracking efforts.  
- **Oklahoma City, Texas**: Involved in trailer rental and license plate checks.  
- **San Antonio, Texas**: Coordinated with Dallas on suspect leads.  
- **Alexandria, Louisiana**: Car rental and license plate records linked to Ray’s 1960–1961 Plymouth.  
- **Jackson, Mississippi**: Nix’s association with Klan activities.  
- **Hattiesburg, Mississippi**: Klan-related crimes and trials involving John Nix.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: Myrtis Ruth Hendricks overheard Devilish Nick discussing MLK Jr.’s assassination before public news; Ray’s alleged movements tracked by FBI.  
- **April 23–24, 1968**: FBI telegrams and memos detailing stolen vehicle investigations and Ray’s potential involvement in the assassination plot.  
- **April 4–5, 1968**: Ray’s sightings and movements monitored by FBI in Dallas and Grand Prairie, Texas.  
- **Review of unsolved cases in Dallas**: FBI examined Ray’s criminal history, including thefts and robberies.  
- **Tracking stolen vehicles**: FBI coordinated with NATB to verify records for a 1960–1961 Plymouth linked to Ray.  
- **License plate investigation**: Louisiana license plate 25E-930 traced to Herz Rent-A-Car, associated with Ray’s car.  
- **Nix’s Klan activities**: Federal indictments for arson and kidnapping; connections to Hendricks and Faulkner.  
- **Faulkner’s arrest in Dallas**: Alleged threats against family members and KKK ties.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted primary investigations, coordinated with local law enforcement, and tracked Ray’s movements and criminal history.  
- **Ku Klux Klan (KKK)**: Devilish Nick described as leader in Laurel, Mississippi; John Nix associated with Klan activities and federal indictments.  
- **National Automobile Theft Bureau (NATB)**: Assisted FBI in verifying stolen vehicle records.  
- **Herz Rent-A-Car**: Car rental company linked to license plate tracking for Ray’s 1960–1961 Plymouth.  
- **Local law enforcement agencies**: Including Dallas PD, Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, and San Antonio offices; involved in suspect verification and coordination.

MLK Declassified Files

44-dl-2649_sec_002_ser_201-325-part_2_of_8.pdf

Document Summary

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