</s>- - PAGE THREE SAN FRANCISCO, THE AMERICAN BARTENDERS SCHOOL AND CONTINENTAL BARTENDERDS SCHOOL IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. AND BARTENDers SCHOOL OF SANTA CLARA, SAN JOSE, CALIORNIA." ARMED AND DANGEROUS. END END PJR FBI MILNAUK HO ... OET FBI-HOUSTON DN ... ENH FBI DENVER PX ... JDD FBI PHOENIX TK 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

The documents detail FBI investigations into two individuals, Eric Starvo Galt and James Allen Smith, both linked to potential threats against Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) in the months preceding his assassination on April 4, 1968. Galt was identified as a suspect due to his alleged conspiracy to intimidate MLK in Memphis, Tennessee, while Smith was investigated for criminal ties and connections to individuals who allegedly offered him financial incentives to assassinate MLK. The FBI’s efforts included tracking Galt’s movements, analyzing evidence such as a 30.06 rifle found near the Lorraine Hotel (where MLK stayed), and pursuing leads on Smith’s whereabouts through his attorney and law enforcement contacts.  

Key People  
- **Eric Starvo Galt**: Suspect linked to conspiracy to intimidate MLK; used aliases John Willard, Harvey Lowymer, and Shaw Galt. Described as a white male with brown hair, blue eyes, and a nervous habit of pulling at his left earlobe.  
- **James Allen Smith**: Criminal with a history of theft and fraud; last arrested in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 29, 1968. Allegedly approached by GLEN E. GELVIN ("REX") regarding threats against MLK.  
- **J. Edgar Hoover**: FBI Director who authorized press releases and provided details about the investigation.  
- **Ramsey Clark**: U.S. Attorney General who announced Galt’s fugitive status.  
- **FRED FICK**: Attorney for Smith, who refused to discuss his case over the phone.  
- **GLENN R. TENNIS**: Stepfather of Smith, who reported on his whereabouts and interactions.  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of MLK’s assassination; Lorraine Hotel where he stayed. A 30.06 rifle was found near a rooming house overlooking the hotel.  
- **Birmingham, Alabama**: Location of Galt’s rifle purchase (March 30, 1968) and Smith’s alleged connections to stolen car transactions.  
- **Atlanta, Georgia**: Where Galt’s abandoned 1966 white Mustang was found in April 1968.  
- **San Angelo, Texas**: Home of GELVIN, who provided details about Smith’s dealings with the Southern Christian Conference.  
- **Fort Worth, Texas**: Site of Smith’s last arrest in 1968.  
- **Houston, Texas**: Where Smith was taken after his arrest and made bond.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: MLK’s assassination in Memphis, Tennessee.  
- **March 29–April 5, 1968**: Alleged conspiracy by Galt and an individual he claimed was his brother to intimidate MLK.  
- **April 17, 1968**: FBI press release announcing Galt’s fugitive status and details of the investigation.  
- **February 29, 1968**: Smith’s arrest in Fort Worth on a Houston warrant.  
- **April 15–16, 1968**: FBI inquiries into Smith’s potential involvement in threats against MLK, including an alleged $500 offer for assassinating him.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations into both suspects, including surveillance, informant contacts, and cross-referencing employment records.  
- **Southern Christian Conference**: Allegedly involved in stolen car transactions with Smith, which led to threats against MLK.  
- **Seafarers International Union**: Linked to Thomas Joseph Cox, a former U.S. Navy veteran who provided details on Galt’s alleged employment as a merchant seaman.

MLK Declassified Files

44-ho-1509_sec_002_ser_61-170-part_2_of_6.pdf

Document Summary

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