</s>FD-36 (Rev. 5-22-64) FBI Date: 5/20/68 Transmit the following in (Type in planter or code) AIRTEL AIRMAIL (Priority) Via TO: DIRECTOR, FBI (44-388661) (Priorit) FROM: SAC, NEW ORLEANS (157-106783) SUBJECT: MURKIN Re Kansas City teletype to New Orleans, 5/19/68. RE: CARLOS LEE BILLINGS NORRIS CARRIDGELLER, Owner and Manager of the Canal Bank Inn has previously advised that BillINGS resided in Apart- ment 6, 315 Lauruscott St ., Westwego, LA, from May, to December- 1965, and this apartment was rented by ENIS HEAD. (CARRIDGELLE with whom BillINGS states he resided. with whom billINGS states resided. BILLINGS advised he was to take BARBER to Guy's Inter- national Bar to meet a man named (FNU) FURIES, or FURRIES (phonetic). It is felt that (FNW) FURRIES is possibly identical with DAVID FURREES (FNV) FURLIES is possible identification with GARRIERSON, probe of the assassination of President JOHN F. KENNEDY. In view of this information and BILLINGS past history of mental illness, New Orleans is conducting no further investiga- tion concerning CARLOS LEE BILLILLINGS. ARMED AND DANGEROUS. 2-Bureau (RM) 3-Kansas City (44-(77-760) (INFO) (RMO) REC-12 3-Memphis (44)-7760) (RM)(RM) REG-12 3113 2-Memphis (44~7760), (RM(RM) TBD-59a (5) 15 MAY 21 1994 K. E. B. Bissonius. SENT M Per 35MAY2-Speci-Room in Charge 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into potential connections between Carlos Lee Billings and James Earl Ray, a suspect in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. Billings, residing at Canal Bank Inn in Westwego, Louisiana, was linked to an individual named "Furries" (possibly David Furrees or Garrisons), with ties to the JFK assassination probe. The FBI noted Billings' history of mental illness and concluded no further investigation was warranted. Dental records and X-rays of James Earl Ray were processed for fingerprint comparison, finding no matches to known prints. Rewards totaling $100,000 were offered for information leading to MLK's killer. Memphis requested latent fingerprints from Rome, Georgia, which did not match Ray's files. Oklahoma City reported no unidentified deaths since April 1968.  

The FBI also reviewed Gerald Dutton’s activities in Georgia, finding no direct link to MLK. Dr. Herman B. Jones, Georgia state crime laboratory director, confirmed no unidentified bodies were recorded since April 1968. Large cash withdrawals ($10,000+) from banks in Atlanta, Birmingham, Memphis, and New Orleans during April 1968 were noted as potentially occurring around MLK’s assassination. Ray Tolson was referenced as a suspect in potential plots but no direct connection to MLK was established. Communications between FBI offices highlighted ongoing inquiries into individuals linked to civil rights activities, including James Daily and Andrew Wilson DeCure.  

Key People  
- Carlos Lee Billings (linked to Furries, JFK assassination probe)  
- James Earl Ray (suspect in MLK assassination)  
- Frank William Brickley (former federal prisoner, escaped 1963)  
- Dr. Herman B. Jones (Georgia state crime laboratory director)  
- Ray Tolson (suspected assassin referenced in financial inquiry)  
- James Daily (individual under investigation for potential ties to MLK assassination)  
- Andrew Wilson DeCure (alleged associate of suspect)  

Key Locations  
- Westwego, Louisiana (Canal Bank Inn)  
- Memphis, Tennessee (FBI division)  
- Rome, Georgia (fingerprint comparison requests)  
- Atlanta, Georgia  
- Birmingham, Alabama  
- New Orleans, Louisiana  
- Chattanooga, Tennessee (Brickley’s parents’ residences)  
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma  

Key Events  
- FBI investigation into Billings' ties to Furries and JFK assassination probe  
- Dental records and X-ray analysis of James Earl Ray for fingerprint comparison  
- Reward offer for information on MLK’s assassin ($100,000 total)  
- Request for latent fingerprints from Rome, Georgia, to compare with Ray’s files  
- Confirmation of no unidentified bodies in Georgia since April 1968  
- Financial inquiry into large cash withdrawals ($10,000+) from banks during April 1968  
- Ongoing FBI communications regarding potential assassination plots and civil rights-related activities  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- U.S. Department of Justice  
- Georgia State Crime Laboratory  
- Local law enforcement agencies (e.g., Memphis Division FBI, Atlanta Division FBI)

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_13-06-part_1_of_6.pdf

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