</s>HAY 13 3 06 PH 7A MISTICE 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14178

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into James Earl May (PEI #403942G) and associated individuals linked to potential connections with Martin Luther King Jr. A latent fingerprint on a Photo Bookstore coupon bearing Eric S. Call’s address in Birmingham, Alabama, matches May’s left thumbprint. The coupon is returned separately. Investigations also involve Eric Ray (aka Earl Ray), a friend of Shelby Jean Baldridge, and inquiries into her marital status and movements. Mrs. Lena Faucett of Clarksville, Virginia, confirms her daughter Shelby Jean Baldridge has never traveled to Florida or left Virginia, with no recent contact since December. The FBI seeks information on May’s whereabouts and potential associations, noting he is "ARMED AND DANGEROUS." Other sections reference unrelated cases, including a bank robbery investigation in Southern State (1967) and inquiries into John Larry Ray’s prison records and associates.  

The documents also detail FBI investigative activities related to James Earl Ray (JER) and Eric S. Galt during May 1968. Key elements include: Eric S. Galt received three books from Canada (Futura Books Inc., Torrance, CA) in July 1967, including "Sixty Anatomy" and others, along with a catalog request. A phone call was traced to the St. Francis Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona, where an unknown caller allegedly asked about MLK’s assassination ("SHOW'S THE MURDER COMING") before hanging up. The FBI investigated the caller’s identity, considering Woody Lunsford as a possibility. James Earl Ray was observed at Los Angeles establishments like "Pampered Pup" and "Rabbit’s Foot." A liquor store manager in Boston (Pennell & Co.) noted a man matching Ray’s description on 4/16/68, though no conclusive evidence was found. Arnold P. Thomas reported encountering snowstorms while traveling to New Orleans for his brother’s burial and mentioned a phone call from Tucson to El Paso, Texas, involving Galt. Surveillance efforts in Boston included checking hospital records (Boston City Hospital) and liquor stores for individuals matching Ray’s description, with no confirmed matches.  

Key People  
- **James Earl May** (PEI #403942G): Suspect linked to fingerprint evidence on a coupon.  
- **Eric Ray** (aka Earl Ray): Friend of Shelby Jean Baldridge; subject of FBI inquiries.  
- **Shelby Jean Baldridge**: Subject of investigations into her marital status and movements.  
- **Mrs. Lena Faucett**: Mother of Shelby Jean Baldridge, providing details on her daughter’s whereabouts.  
- **John Larry Ray**: Suspect with prison records in Illinois and Indiana; linked to potential connections.  
- **Eric S. Galt** (Canadian recipient of books and catalog requests).  
- **James Earl Ray** (subject of surveillance and alleged assassination plot).  
- **Arnold P. Thomas** (individual who reported travel details and phone calls).  
- **Alan Thompson** (St. Francis Hotel manager, Phoenix, Arizona).  
- **Norman Gilbertson** (liquor store manager in Boston).  

Key Locations  
- **Birmingham, Alabama** (Eric S. Call’s address).  
- **Clarksville, Virginia** (Mrs. Lena Faucett’s residence).  
- **St. Louis, Memphis, Chicago, Kansas City, Indianapolis**: FBI field offices involved in investigations.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP)**: Site of prison records reviewed for John Larry Ray.  
- **Los Angeles, California** (establishments like "Pampered Pup," "Rabbit’s Foot").  
- **Phoenix, Arizona** (St. Francis Hotel, phone call origin).  
- **Boston, Massachusetts** (Pennell & Co. liquor store, Boston City Hospital).  
- **El Paso, Texas** (phone call location mentioned by Thomas).  

Key Events  
- **Fingerprint analysis** linking James Earl May to a Photo Bookstore coupon.  
- **Investigations into Shelby Jean Baldridge’s marital status and movements**.  
- **Bank robbery inquiry** in Southern State (1967) involving John Gawron.  
- **Prison records review** for John Larry Ray, including disciplinary actions and mental health evaluations.  
- **Warrants and alerts** for James Earl May, labeled "ARMED AND DANGEROUS."  
- **Phone call to St. Francis Hotel** in Phoenix on May 9–10, 1968, referencing MLK’s assassination.  
- **Surveillance of James Earl Ray** at Los Angeles bars and liquor stores.  
- **Investigation into Eric S. Galt’s activities** (book orders, catalog requests).  
- **Liquor store checks in Boston** for individuals matching Ray’s description.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducting investigations into suspects and associates.  
- **U.S. Department of Justice**: Oversight body for FBI operations.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP)**: Source of prison records for John Larry Ray.  
- **Futura Books Inc.** (Canadian entity linked to Galt’s book orders).  
- **Pennell & Co.** (Boston liquor store involved in Ray-related inquiries).

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_10-03-part_7_of_9.pdf

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