</s>VIA TELETYPE Mr. Deloach Mr. Mohr Mr. Bihap Mr. Calahan MAY 11 1968 Mr. Baloh M. Falc STATE 91 M. Fate M. Gale M. Salillo URGENT 5-11-68 ENCIPHERED Mr. Salilh Mr. Tritter TO DIRECTOR Mr. Salliv To DIRECTOR -44-366817) Miss Holmes Miss Gandy FROM LEGAT MEXICO CITY NO 229 MURKIN REMYGAB MAY MINE LAST. UNKNOWN DECEASED AT ACAPULCO, GUERRERO: UNKNOWN DECEASED AT A CAPULCO. GUERRERO: -Froms/9/01/2006 CHILIS BODY OF MAR BELIEVED TO BE AMERICAN DISCOVERED BURIED IN SAND ADV. NOLHON Funther ON BEACH AT ACAPEULCO WEAR PIERRE MARQUEL HOTEL MAY TEN INSTANT. POLICE CHIEF STATES AT ABOUT THREE ZERO YEARS OLD AND WAS APPARENTLY SHOT AND BEATEN, ABOUT THREE DAYS AGO. THREE PERSONS BELIEVEED TO BEEVEDTO BE AMERICANS AND WHITE CAR WITH TEXAS LICENSE PLATES REPORTEDLY SEEN NEAR SCENE AND THAT TIME. POLICIE CHIEF IS ATTENTING TO OBTAIN FINGERPRINTS AND WILL FORWARD TO THIS OFFICE IS THAT DETETINATION CAN BE MADE WHETHER ANY CONNECTION WITH THIS CASE. INVESTIGATION WITH MONTEREY, NEVO LEON. CHECK OF NOTELS AND HOTELS AT SALTILLO, COAHULA, MATEHUALA, SAN LUIS POTOST, MONTERREY, AND OTHER LOCAL SPOTS WITHINMONTERRY TERRITORY, OF MAIN HIGHWAY BETWEEN BORDER AREA A MEXICO-MEXICO-THAG TO DATE/COUGICREAT OF HIS TRAVEL AFTER SUBJECT HAS BEEN WITHTHS AREA RECEE OF ORSPORT OF HIS TRAVEL AFTER CROSSING BORDE BORDED ORCTOBER SEVEN LASI 70 MAM/80-1/00-1868 REC. MAY 14 1968 5/5-18-68 <loc_394><loc_933><loc_383><loc_934>X

Summary  
The document contains fragmented FBI investigative records and teletype messages from 1968 related to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). It includes details about James Earl Ray, a suspect linked via latent fingerprints found on an order coupon for a photography book connected to MLK’s murder. The FBI sought information on Ray’s movements, including alleged connections to Thomas Britton and Cooley’s Organization, a prison-based group with influence over guards and potential ties to criminal activities. Records also reference Robert William Ware Buckley as a suspect, noting his registration at the Carriage Inn Motel in Van Nuys, California, during April 1968, and discrepancies in his reported residence. A confidential source described Ray’s conversations about financial plans and references to "killing MLK" while incarcerated at Missouri State Penitentiary (1965–1967). The investigation involved fingerprint/handwriting analysis of documents tied to Carl Ray/James Earl Ray signatures, as well as coordination with the U.S. State Department and Rhodesian authorities regarding potential sightings of Ray. Mexican authorities checked fingerprints for connections to a body found near Acapulco, Guerrero, linked to Texas license plates. FBI records also detail Joseph Elmer Austin’s parole history, family members, and associates like Douglas Wolfe and Robert Reed, while James P. Gregory prepared a scrapbook on MLK’s assassination and communicated with the FBI and Attorney General Ramsey Clark.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Suspect linked to MLK’s assassination via latent fingerprint evidence; investigated for alleged connections to Thomas Britton and Cooley’s Organization.  
- **Thomas Britton**: Former inmate at Missouri State Penitentiary, allegedly connected to Ray through prison activities and Cooley’s Organization.  
- **Robert William Ware Buckley**: Suspect with motel registration in Van Nuys, California, during April 1968; discrepancies noted in his reported residence.  
- **Cooley’s Organization members**: Prison-based group with alleged influence over guards and capacity for arranging murders; linked to Ray and other inmates.  
- **Joseph Elmer Austin**: Paroled from Menard State Penitentiary; family includes brother Charles (Waverly, Illinois) and father Douglas Wolfe.  
- **James P. Gregory**: Prepared scrapbook on MLK’s assassination; contacted FBI headquarters and Attorney General Ramsey Clark.  
- **Eric S. Galt**: Correspondent who discussed immigration to Rhodesia and provided information on Ray’s movements.  

Key Locations  
- **Acapulco, Guerrero** (body discovery with Texas license plates linked to MLK case).  
- **Monterrey, Nuevo Leon** (Mexican investigation area; hotel checks).  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary** (Ray’s incarceration and prison activities).  
- **Van Nuys, California** (Buckley’s motel registration).  
- **Seattle, Washington** (Buckley’s address listed with Seattle Field Office).  
- **Washington, D.C.** (Buckley’s reported residence per registration card).  
- **Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)** (mentioned in correspondence regarding Ray’s potential sightings).  

Key Events  
- **Fingerprint evidence**: Latent fingerprint on an order coupon for a photography book matched to James Earl Ray, linking him to MLK’s assassination.  
- **Cooley’s Organization activities**: Alleged prison gang with influence over guards and capacity for arranging murders; linked to Ray and Thomas Britton.  
- **Buckley’s motel registration**: Investigation into his stay at Carriage Inn Motel in Van Nuys, California, during April 1968.  
- **Ray’s prison conversations**: Confidential source described discussions about financial plans and references to "killing MLK" while incarcerated.  
- **FBI document analysis**: Handwriting/fingerprint comparison of documents (e.g., Frontier Airlines receipts) to Carl Ray/James Earl Ray signatures.  
- **Mexican fingerprint checks**: Authorities verified connections for a body found near Acapulco, Guerrero.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations into Ray, Britton, Buckley, and related individuals; coordinated with U.S. State Department and Rhodesian authorities.  
- **Cooley’s Organization**: Prison-based group with alleged criminal influence; linked to Ray and Thomas Britton.  
- **Boeing Company**: Employed Robert William Ware Buckley as an engineering supervisor since 1956.  
- **American-Southern Africa Council**: Mentioned in correspondence regarding U.S.-Rhodesia relations, linked to Eric S. Galt’s immigration discussions.  
- **Menard State Penitentiary** (Austin’s discharge records).  
- **Credit bureaus in Chattanooga, Tennessee**: Detailed employment and legal history of individuals like William Marshall Felkins and Arlie Downey.

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_11-03-part_3_of_7.pdf

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