</s>RECID-CIV RIGHTS RECEIVED FBI L1 WOCH RECEIVER TELETYPE UNITMAY II 7.56 AM 56 OVISION STREET MAY 10 7 36 PH '68 May 10 6 4 4M 88 SEO-10- EAD U.S. DEPT. 3.00STREET FIVEI AODEL CHICAGO BE SELCEE EXITJ8 EC-87 IMLIVENCE IC V SREO* In DE MOWI LET' LOUB LOMBIA AAS V2 CHIOP. PHICH I A EVCH LOU IHE LOBIN NEEES' VTT OLLICIERS' IV CHECKIA LICKER FRIED HICHL LOTTOMING IDEMILIARO'S EVT. IREELIAR S VEN MAY 12 (10.35 AM TO) RECO-VACUINS IEN MINNES ITICKER? AHA VN VITIGINE REES IHN MES MES BOUE FBI I8 BE HAVI LEF WHNE OL VISITINE IREBLED IN MATE OL DU CHICIGO IET IN DREENO NVA IEN TRIVIVA VAD MIMI LEFT 10 LEON MIVI (V4-1-20) MEWELTIC'S MEA AUOK VAD CHICGEO (VV-1110) 10 DIGIOUS (C)+2-5(S)D) VITIAM (V9-5C2O) C2B6E1 2NICKE FV2 H1 WOLI WIL AUGH DC LEFELIABE NO TO ROO CAMERICIOUS HICHICH 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents contain fragmented FBI teletype communications from May 1968 detailing investigations into potential threats against civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr., Senator Robert Kennedy, H. Rap Brown, and Stokely Carmichael. Key elements include tracking flight records of individuals such as John Willard, who made reservations on Eastern Airlines and Delta Airlines flights around April-May 1968, with discrepancies noted in his travel itinerary. The FBI monitored Billy Mack Wisdom, a convicted felon with a history of armed robbery, though no direct link to MLK was established. William B. Lee of Spokane, Washington, is referenced as a suspect who allegedly offered $10,000 to kill MLK in 1968. Japanese authorities were alerted to the possibility of an individual (possibly James Earl Ray) traveling to Japan after the assassination of King. Fingerprint analysis of a letter signed by "Eric S. Galt" was discussed as part of investigations into threats against civil rights figures. The FBI also referenced Circuit Judge John C. Casey’s consideration of overturning James Earl Ray’s 1989 armed robbery conviction, which could have implications for his involvement in the MLK assassination. Separate inquiries included tracking Sgt. Elbert Baldridge and his wife Shelby Jean Baldridge, who were reported missing after residing in Texas and North Carolina, with potential connections to Eric Ray (possibly JER). The FBI sought to verify contact between Baldridge and Ray during a 1957 trip to Tampa, Florida, through interviews with family members. Unrelated investigations included locating John Paul Velanti in Bossier City, Louisiana, and verifying the whereabouts of his ex-wife Bettye Velanti.  

Key People  
- John Willard (tracked for travel movements)  
- Billy Mack Wisdom (convicted felon under surveillance)  
- William B. Lee (suspect in alleged plot to kill MLK)  
- James Earl Ray (subject of investigation; linked to MLK assassination)  
- Eric S. Galt (signature on letter under scrutiny)  
- Sgt. Elbert Baldridge (missing person with potential connection to JER)  
- Shelby Jean Baldridge (wife of Baldridge, reported missing)  
- Patsy Ovens (friend of Shelby Jean Baldridge)  
- Daniel Colley (Airman, father of Shelby Jean Baldridge’s child)  
- John Paul Velanti (subject of unrelated FBI inquiry)  
- Bettye Velanti (nee Pritchard, ex-wife of Velanti)  
- Circuit Judge John C. Casey (handled Ray’s 1989 conviction case)  

Key Locations  
- Atlanta, Georgia  
- Memphis, Tennessee  
- Spokane, Washington (Lee’s residence and employment)  
- Tokyo, Japan (Japanese authorities’ involvement in tracking suspects)  
- El Paso, Texas  
- Fayetteville, North Carolina  
- Bristol, Tennessee  
- Bossier City, Louisiana  
- St. Louis, Missouri  
- Jefferson City, Missouri  

Key Events  
- FBI monitoring of John Willard’s flight records and travel patterns  
- Investigation into William B. Lee’s alleged offer to kill MLK  
- Japanese authorities alerted to potential suspect traveling to Japan after MLK’s assassination  
- Fingerprint analysis of a letter signed by "Eric S. Galt" linked to civil rights threats  
- FBI verification of contact between Shelby Jean Baldridge and Eric Ray (possibly JER) during 1957 trip to Tampa, Florida  
- Search for Bettye Velanti (nee Pritchard) in Bossier City, Louisiana, following John Paul Velanti’s disappearance  
- Legal proceedings regarding James Earl Ray’s 1989 armed robbery conviction  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- U.S. Department of Justice  
- National Police Agency of Japan (NPA)  
- Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (TPMD)  
- Spokane Police Department and County Sheriff’s Office  
- Local law enforcement agencies (e.g., Memphis, Knoxville, Bossier City)

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_11-03-part_5_of_7.pdf

Document Summary

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