</s>1 BH 44-1740 JTA cap On April 6, 1968, CHARLES F. CAUDLE, employed at Aeromarine Supply Company, 5701 Airport Highway- Birmingham, Alabama, advised that the did not recall- observing the individual at Aeromarine Supply Com, any observing and the individual that the Aeromaranine Supply Company was purchased a rifle and a scope. On April 5, 1968. J. HOVT STEPHENS, employee of Aeromarinine Supply Co. ,, HOYT Airport Highway, Birmingham advised he did not recall observing the individual at Aeromerine Supply Supply Company on March 29 and 30, 1968 ,, who purchased a rifle and scope. 30 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail an FBI investigation into firearm purchases by HARVEY LOWEYER at Aeromarine Supply Company in Birmingham, Alabama, during March 1968. Employees CHARLES F. CAUDLE and J. HOYT STEPHENS reported no recollection of Loweyers purchasing a rifle and scope. A classified advertisement in the Birmingham Post-Herald (March 30, 1968) listed firearms for sale with Aeromarine Supply as a vendor. Investigative efforts included photographing individuals potentially linked to weapon purchases, reviewed by agents J. J. ARNETT and PETER JOHN BODKIN. Interviews with residents and business contacts in Birmingham failed to confirm Loweyers' existence or residence. The address 1907 South 11th Street was determined fictitious after inquiries with Judge WILLIAM ARTHUR JENKINS. A taxi driver, JOE B. GILLIAND, described a passenger matching an artist’s sketch of Loweyers on March 28, 1968, traveling from Birmingham Airport to Five Points South. Hotel, airline, and car rental records showed no matches for Loweyers or related names.  

The documents also include FBI records of a 1966 white Ford Mustang two-door hardtop purchased by ERIC S. GALT from WILLIAM D. PAISLEY on August 29–30, 1967. The car had prior ownership by MELVIN M. HARVEY and was originally sold by MARING CRAWFORD FORD COMPANY in December 1966. Records show the vehicle’s registration history, including an Alabama tag (no. 14-88354) and subsequent transfer to Paisley. The sale involved multiple interactions between Galt and Paisley, including a meeting at First National Bank in Birmingham on August 30, 1967, where Galt paid $1,995 for the car. Paisley described Galt as a white male, approximately 32 years old, with dark brown hair, quiet demeanor, and no Alabama accent. Additional details include observations of the car parked near a rooming house on Highland Avenue in Birmingham and descriptions of its condition, such as bald tires and red floor mats.  

FBI records from April 1968 detail interviews at a rooming house in Birmingham regarding a tenant named ERIC GALT. Mr. PETER CHERPES, the landlord, provided information about GALT’s stay from August to October 1967, including his room number (Room 14), payment records, and descriptions of his appearance and behavior. GALT was noted as a white male, approximately 50 years old, with medium brown hair, fair complexion, and thin build. He reportedly worked for a manufacturing company involved in boat production, possibly INGALLS BOAT CORPORATION or Pascagoula, Mississippi. CHERPES recalled GALT receiving a package from Chicago, returning it to the post office, and having interactions with a Ford Mustang. Other tenants at the rooming house during this period included D.T. GREEN, CHARLES JACKSON DAVIS, PERCY STRICKLAND, and others, though none confirmed direct connections to GALT beyond shared residency.  

An FBI FD-302 form dated April 11, 1968, details an interview with HILL HARDY regarding his residence at a boarding house in Birmingham. Hardy reported he was originally from Pensacola, Florida, and had been living at the boarding house operated by PETE CHERRES (later spelled as PETE CHARLES) since July 1967. He stated he occupied Room 21 since that time. The document notes the previous building housing the boarding house was sold in July 1967, prompting relocation. Hardy described an individual named E.S. GALT who resided in Room 14 from August 26, 1967, but could not recall anyone by that name or description. He also mentioned a white Mustang automobile associated with someone at the boarding house but provided no further details. After viewing an artist’s conception of the individual, Hardy confirmed it did not match anyone he remembered living there. The document includes additional entries referencing SAS NEIL P. SHANAHAN and NIEL M. BARRETT with dates in April 1968, along with administrative notes about FBI property restrictions and a release under Executive Order 14176.  

Key People  
- HARVEY LOWEYER (subject of firearm purchase investigation)  
- CHARLES F. CAUDLE (Aeromarine Supply employee)  
- J. HOYT STEPHENS (Aeromarine Supply employee)  
- WILLIAM ARTHUR JENKINS (Judge, interviewed about address verification)  
- JOE B. GILLIAND (taxi driver who identified sketch)  
- ERIC S. GALT (purchased 1966 Mustang; resided at rooming house)  
- WILLIAM D. PAISLEY (sold Mustang to Galt)  
- MELVIN M. HARVEY (previous owner of Mustang)  
- MARING CRAWFORD FORD COMPANY (original seller of Mustang)  
- PETER CHERPES (landlord of rooming house)  
- D.T. GREEN, CHARLES JACKSON DAVIS, PERCY STRICKLAND (other tenants at rooming house)  
- HILL HARDY (interviewed about boarding house residency)  
- PETE CHERRES/PETE CHARLES (boarding house operator)  
- NEIL P. SHANAHAN, NIEL M. BARRETT (SAS references)  

Key Locations  
- Aeromarine Supply Company, 5701 Airport Highway, Birmingham, Alabama  
- 1907 South 11th Street, Birmingham, Alabama (fictitious address)  
- Birmingham Airport, Birmingham, Alabama  
- St. Vincent Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama  
- Birmingham, Alabama (central location for car transactions and rooming house observations)  
- Highland Avenue, Birmingham, Alabama (rooming house where Galt was allegedly staying; 2608 Highland Avenue)  
- Nifty Paper Company, Birmingham, Alabama  
- Boarding house on 19th Street, Birmingham, Alabama  
- Room 14 (boarding house)  
- Room 21 (boarding house)  

Key Events  
- Purchase of rifles and scopes by HARVEY LOWEYER at Aeromarine Supply Company (March 20–30, 1968).  
- FBI investigation into Loweyers’ identity and movements, including interviews with residents, hotel staff, and taxi drivers.  
- Review of classified advertisements and rental records to trace potential connections.  
- Identification of a passenger matching the artist’s sketch by JOE B. GILLIAND on March 28, 1968.  
- Sale of 1966 Mustang between ERIC S. GALT and WILLIAM D. PAISLEY (August 29–30, 1967).  
- Meetings at First National Bank in Birmingham to finalize payment for the Mustang.  
- Observations of the car parked near a rooming house on Highland Avenue in Birmingham after its sale to Galt.  
- GALT’s stay at the rooming house (August to October 1967), including receipt of a package from Chicago and interactions with a Ford Mustang.  
- Interview of HILL HARDY regarding boarding house residency (April 11, 1968).  
- Sale of previous boarding house building in July 1967, prompting relocation.  
- Mention of E.S. GALT’s alleged residence at the boarding house from August 26, 1967.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Aeromarine Supply Company  
- Birmingham Airport authorities  
- Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office  
- Birmingham Police Department  
- First National Bank (Birmingham, Alabama)  
- Maring Crawford Ford Company (formerly O.Z. Hall Ford Company)  
- Ingalls Boat Corporation/Pascagoula, Mississippi (possibly referenced as company GALT worked for)  
- Nifty Paper Company (Birmingham, Alabama)

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_07-01-part_2_of_7.pdf

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