</s>FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION Mr. T. Tolson. Mr. Deloach. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Mr. Mohr. Mr. Bishop Communications Section Mr. C. Cuhan APRIL 0 1968 Mr. E. Cohan Mr. R. Cohan FRI WASH DC TELETYPE Mr. K. Mr. X. Mr. Mr. Ravel Mr. Taveler Mr. Taylor FRI BIRMGHAM Mrs. Teller Miss Holmes Telia Gandy 1129 PM URBENT 4-9-68 GDM To DIRECTOR AND MEMPHIS To DIRECTORDER AND MEMPHIS FROM BIRMHAM 844-1740) (P) The Adwuran MURKIN. CR. 00: MEMPHIs SUMMARY OF INVESIGATION RE ERIC ERIC SERVO GALT. APPROXIMATELY EIGHT PM, APRIL EIGHT, SIXTEIGHT, PETER STARYO CHERRES, OWNER BOARDING HOUSE, TWO SIX ZERO EIGHT. HIGHLAND AVENUE, BRIMMINGHAM, ADVISED EALT, TENNANT FOR APPRECIATELY THREE MONTHS DURING FALL. CHERRES UNABLE TO LOCATE REGISTRATION CARD AND CANNOT BE DEFINITE RE DATES OF OCCUPANCY, BUT-FEELS. APPROXXIMATLY SEPTEMBER RE LAST DATESOF OCCUPCANY, BUT.FEELS, CHERRS DESCRIBED GALT, WHITE MALE, FIVE FEET ELEVEN FISHES, NEAT APPEARANCE. SEVENTY LBS ., TWENTYGALT, THIRTY YEARS, FAIR COMPLEXION NEAT APPREARANCE ., CHERRES CLAIMS GALT ., STATED PREVIOUSLY FAIR COMPLEXION INGALLS BOAT WORKS, PASCAGUACULA, MISS. BUT UNEMPLOYED TIME OF ARRIVAL AND ON "VACATION." DURYING STAY GALT RECEIVELY PACKAGE FROM CHICAGO, ILL. STATED IT WAS: MERCHANDISE PREVIOUSLY ORDERED BUT HE DECIDED HE DID NOT WANT IT AND RETURNED IT. GALT ALSO END PAGE ONE 6 APR 161968 0e-Long SAR 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into potential threats against Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on surveillance, interviews, and forensic analysis of individuals linked to the assassination. Key activities include canvassing transportation hubs, lodging establishments, and gun shops in Birmingham, Alabama, as well as tracking suspects across multiple jurisdictions. Investigations centered on Eric Galt, a man with ties to a rented Mustang and reported presence in Memphis, Tennessee, following King’s assassination. Efforts to identify Galt involved reviewing rental records, bank transactions, and witness accounts, including his physical description and employment history discrepancies. The FBI also pursued leads involving Herbert Wilson Bowen in California, who reported two men near the Prelude Club in North Hollywood, described as white males with specific physical traits and driving a Georgia-licensed Mustang. A matchbook linked to Memphis was recovered from one of the suspects. Additional inquiries tracked Alfred Joseph Kaminiski in Mansfield, Ohio, and James Kidden in Florida, both associated with coded communications and potential criminal ties. The investigation spanned multiple locations, including Tampa, Cleveland, and Silver Springs, Maryland, with coordination between FBI field offices and local law enforcement.  

Key People  
- **Eric Galt**: Suspect in Birmingham, Alabama; rented a Mustang from William D. Paisley, claimed employment on a barge line, and had ties to Memphis via phone calls and financial records.  
- **Herbert Wilson Bowen**: Informant in California who reported two men near the Prelude Club in North Hollywood, described as white males with specific physical traits.  
- **Alfred Joseph Kaminiski**: Suspect in Mansfield, Ohio; described with physical details and military service claims, subject to fingerprint comparisons.  
- **James Kidden**: Tracked by James Shuster in Florida; described as a white male with behavioral traits and potential criminal associations.  
- **William D. Paisley**: Birmingham car dealer who sold Galt a Mustang.  
- **Percy Strickland**: Boarding house resident who confirmed Galt’s description.  
- **James Shuster**: Individual who attempted to contact Kidden and provided information on his whereabouts.  

Key Locations  
- **Birmingham, Alabama**: Primary location for Galt’s residence, car purchase, and FBI surveillance.  
- **North Hollywood, California**: Prelude Club where two men were reported by Bowen.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Linked to the matchbook address found with one of the suspects.  
- **Knoxville, Tennessee**: Site of Hertz rental records tied to Galt’s phone calls.  
- **Mansfield, Ohio**: Kaminiski’s location; subject of FBI fingerprint comparisons.  
- **Tampa, Florida**: Investigation into James Kidden’s movements.  
- **Silver Springs, Maryland**: Hotel where a damaged black Mustang with firearms was observed.  

Key Events  
- **April–August 1967**: Galt’s stay at the Highland Avenue boarding house in Birmingham and subsequent car purchase from Paisley.  
- **Surveillance in Birmingham**: Canvassing of taxi drivers, bus stations, charter plane services, and gun shops to identify suspects.  
- **Matchbook evidence**: Recovery of a Memphis-linked matchbook from one of the suspects near the Prelude Club.  
- **Phone calls from Knoxville**: Galt’s alleged use of a phone booth in Knoxville, Tennessee, linked to his ties to Memphis.  
- **Coded communications**: FBI tracking of encrypted messages and telephonic inquiries across multiple jurisdictions.  
- **Fingerprint comparisons**: Requested for Kaminiski’s records and suspect identification.  
- **Observation of damaged Mustang**: A black Mustang with firearms found at a hotel in Connecticut, associated with one of the suspects.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted surveillance, interviews, and forensic analysis across multiple locations.  
- **U.S. Department of Justice**: Coordinated FBI investigations and provided legal oversight.  
- **Local law enforcement agencies**: Collaborated with FBI in Birmingham, Memphis, Knoxville, Tampa, Cleveland, and Silver Springs, Maryland.

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_01-03-part_4_of_9.pdf

Document Summary

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