</s>FEDERAL GARAGE OF INVESTIGE: Mr. Tolson Mr. DooLoch- U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE U. S. DEPARIMENT OF JUSTICE COMMUNICATION SECTION Mr. D.Bishop- Mr. Cappar Mr. Bishops- Mr. Campbell- Mr. Conrad Mr. Carpe Mr. Gale- FBI WASH DC TELETYPE Mr. Colle- Mr. Collin- Mr. Collins- Mr. Colin- Mr. T. Trott- FBI CHICAGO Mr. Trot- Mr . T. Toots- 42SPM URGENT 5/6/68 JSM Mr. Trout- Miss Holly - Miss Holly .- 4SPM UrGENT (44-38861), ATLANTA (444-3386) AND MEMPHIS (44+1987) Miss Candy - FROM CHICACO (44~3886) - ATLANZA (44)-33861) - ATLANTIA (44–33862) - Atlanta (44/-3387) MURKIN RE CHICAGE SUMMARY TEL MAY ONE LAST; ATLANTI TEL INSTANT. RE JAMES E. BODKER BOOKER'S SISTER, BROTHER-IN-LAW AND MOTHER PLACE HIM IN BOOKER PARK, ILL, ON DATE OF KING MURDER. BOOKER INTERVIEWED MAY TWO LAST, BEARS VERY LITTLE PHYSICAL RESEMBLANCE TO SUBJECT AND ELIMINATED. HE STATES RETURNED HERITZ CAR TO THEIR CHICACA OFFICE. IN VIEW OF FORGOING, CHICANGO, CHICAOGO WILL NOT PROCESS HERIT? VEHICLE AS SET FORTH IN RE ATLANTAIN TEL. UAC NINE AM MAY SEVEN NEXT. WILL CONTACT HERITA OFFICIALS TO RELEASE VEHICLE. ARMED AND DANGEROUS. REC-69 144-38661-3311 END WPK 6 MAY 14 1968 FBI WISH DC Q 7 O MAY 1 1968 00-1y 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document contains fragmented records from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) related to investigations into the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A memorandum dated May 12, 1968, references Clovis Zirnstein, who provided details about a hitchhiker encountered on Highway 71 near Missouri. The hitchhiker was described as approximately 5'10" to 6'10" tall, with brown hair and a heavy suitcase, and mentioned Dr. King during the ride. The FBI’s Kansas City Office was instructed to interview Zirnstein and determine if the hitchhiker matched James Earl Ray, a suspect in the assassination. Another memorandum from May 13, 1968, notes that FBI files did not link John Gavron’s claims of a $80,000 Southern bank robbery to Ray or others. A letter dated May 3, 1968, from Mrs. Mattie Sun Branch criticizes the FBI’s investigation into King’s assassination, alleging insufficient effort and suggesting the agency would blame an unrelated "fall guy" for the crime. The text also includes administrative records of phone calls, file references, and internal FBI communications regarding case tracking and document releases under Executive Order 14176.  

Key People  
- Clovis Zirnstein: Provided details about a hitchhiker encountered in Missouri.  
- James Earl Ray: Suspect in the assassination of Dr. King; referenced in investigations.  
- John Gavron: Alleged to have claimed involvement in a Southern bank robbery linked to Ray.  
- Mrs. Mattie Sun Branch: Sent a letter criticizing the FBI’s handling of the investigation.  
- J. Edgar Hoover: FBI Director, addressed in correspondence regarding the case.  

Key Locations  
- Missouri (Highway 71, near Kansas City)  
- San Diego, California (Mrs. Branch’s address)  
- Jackson, Mississippi (Truck Cafe mentioned in a memorandum)  

Key Events  
- May 12–13, 1968: FBI investigations into Zirnstein’s hitchhiker description and bank robbery claims.  
- May 3, 1968: Mrs. Branch’s letter to the FBI criticizing the investigation.  
- May 14, 1968: Internal FBI communications about case tracking and document releases.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- U.S. Department of Justice (mentioned in correspondence)

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_11-03-part_6_of_7.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search