</s>OPTIONAL FORM NO. 10 3010-194 CAT. 8/1/18/68, 18 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Memorandum Tolton DELORADO Cortez United States Government To DATE: April 25, 1968 To: Mr. Deloach 1- Mr. DeLoach 1- 1- 2- Mr. DelOach 3- 4- Rosen Tales Room Tales. Room 5- MURKIN 1- Mr. Melley M. McCowan Tales, Room SUBJECT MURKEN (THE KING MURDER CASE) 1- 1 M. Melkey PERSONNEL MATTER 1 1 1 M. M. Moler M. Mohr PERSONNELL MATTER 1- 1 This is the case involving the murder of Marian Tather King, Jr. 9 Tulip Drive. 1 1 King, Mr. Peter Paul Kasper, President of Ford's New Jersey. at 8:45 p.m ., 4//8/88, telephonically contacted by New Jersey: 2- Office to complain relative to actions of SA Peter G. Lattus Office to comply relating to actions by SA Peter C. Lewis SA Lotus was acting within FBI jurisdiction when Kasper was being checked out as suspect in the King murder case. application for Bureau employment on 1/1/(68, and 1/2/68. He failed to applications for Bureau Employment on 1 /1/1/.68, was failed to was taken on his application. The New York files on Kasper filed indicates he had two previous arrests, files filed on Kaspar 34,000 to various banks and credit associations and during 1-4,000 years ago, and he was able to keep a job for a period longer than nine months. SAC, New York feels actions of Sa Lotus in this assistance appear to be proper and no administrative action is recommended. REC 8 44-3/8-34/8.34/28 DETAILS: REC 8 <loc_570><loc_639>4-3-3/.8-3.4/843/28.3.3/28

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into potential connections between James Earl Ray and Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, alongside related inquiries into vehicle theft, prison interactions, and international alerts. On April 25, 1968, FBI agent SA Lotus checked Peter Kasper’s vehicle registration in New Jersey after complaints about a stolen car; Kasper became confrontational during the encounter. Discrepancies in vehicle registration records suggested potential theft from New York to New Jersey. A 1964 Chevrolet with a dead body was found at Atlanta Airport on May 7, 1968, and latent fingerprints were collected. Hong Kong police issued an alert for a suspect linked to MLK’s assassination, referencing James Earl Ray, while the FBI requested fingerprint comparisons of latent prints from the Atlanta vehicle to Ray and others (e.g., Robert Joseph Dunaway, identified as unrelated to the case). The FBI also sought to publish Ray’s photograph in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, with approval granted for the June 1968 issue. In Guatemala, authorities were alerted to Ray’s presence and would deport him if found. Ray was described as a loner, heavy drinker, and blue-footed, with alleged ties to a "Business Mens Association" offering $100,000 for King’s assassination and Cooley’s organization allegedly paying $10,000 for his death. Prison records from Kansas City and Jefferson City, Missouri, referenced interactions between Ray and Johnnie Valenti in 1963–1964, including discussions of escape plans, robberies, and anti-Catholic/anti-Black sentiments. James V. Brown alleged Ray mentioned a plot to kill MLK, referencing "Colley" as the payer, though discrepancies in Brown’s accounts were noted. FBI requests included verifying Valenti’s connections, his wife’s whereabouts, and potential involvement in an Atlanta oil company robbery.  

Key People  
- **Peter G. Lattus** (FBI agent involved in vehicle registration checks)  
- **Peter Kasper** (New Jersey businessman subjected to scrutiny)  
- **James Earl Ray** (suspect in MLK’s assassination; referenced in fingerprint comparisons, Guatemalan alerts, and alleged ties to criminal organizations)  
- **Robert Joseph Dunaway** (identified body at Atlanta Airport; unrelated to MLK case)  
- **Johnnie Valenti** (prisoner linked to Ray; discussed escape plans and robberies with Ray)  
- **James V. Brown** (individual who claimed Ray discussed a plot to kill MLK)  
- **Colley** (alleged payer for Ray’s actions against MLK)  
- **John Edgar Hoover** (FBI director, referenced in context of investigations)  

Key Locations  
- **New Jersey** (Kasper’s residence and business location; vehicle registration checks)  
- **Atlanta Airport** (site of 1964 Chevrolet with dead body; latent fingerprints collected)  
- **Hong Kong** (police alerts for suspect linked to MLK assassination)  
- **Guatemala** (immigration and judicial departments involved in Ray’s alert)  
- **Memphis, Tennessee** (linked to MLK assassination investigation)  
- **Kansas City, Missouri** (prison interactions between Ray and Valenti)  
- **Jefferson City, Missouri** (prison records referenced)  
- **Birmingham, Alabama** (mentioned in context of prison records)  

Key Events  
- April 25, 1968: SA Lotus checks Peter Kasper’s vehicle registration; Kasper becomes confrontational.  
- May 7, 1968: A 1964 Chevrolet with a dead body is found at Atlanta Airport; latent fingerprints collected.  
- April 26, 1968: Hong Kong police alert issued for suspect linked to MLK assassination, referencing James Earl Ray.  
- May 8–10, 1968: FBI requests fingerprint comparisons of latent prints from Atlanta Chevrolet to Ray and others (e.g., Robert Joseph Dunaway).  
- 1963–1964: Prison interactions between James Earl Ray and Johnnie Valenti in Kansas City and Jefferson City, Missouri; discussions of escape plans, robberies, and anti-Catholic/anti-Black sentiments.  
- FBI efforts to track Ray’s movements post-assassination, including Guatemalan alerts for deportation and publication of his photograph in the FBI Bulletin.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**  
- **Hong Kong Police Force** (involved in suspect alerts)  
- **New York City Police Department** (mentioned in Kasper’s background checks)  
- **McDermott International, Inc.** (Musgrove’s employer; referenced in context of Ray’s alleged ties)  
- **"Business Mens Association"** (alleged organization offering $100,000 reward for MLK’s assassination)  
- **Alabama State Department of Public Safety** (provided documents for handwriting comparisons)  
- **Kansas City Police Department (KCPD)** (referenced in prison records)

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_11-04-part_4_of_4.pdf

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