</s>Mr. Tolson Mr. Deloach U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Mr. DeLongh 5/2/2 FEDERAL PURSUAL OF INVESTIGATION: Mr. Bishops COMMUNICATIONS SECTION Mr. Mohr. MAY 2.2 1968 Mr. Bishop, Mr. Calahan Mr. Califan FBI WASH DC MAY 22. 1968 M. Felt. TELETYPE 0 Mr. Folt. Mr. Gale. Mr. Sullivan Mr. Sullivant Mr. Sullivant Mr. Trower 218PM URGENT 5-22-68 SMS Mr. Trotter Miss Rolmens Miss Rolfins Miss Gandy TO DIRECTOR (44-116661) & ST. LOUIS (444-775) FROM LOS ANGELES (4444-1574) MickiHann Mikin Mickin RE ST. Louis TEL TO BUREAU MAY SIXTEEN LAST AND Lokg LOS ANGELES TEL to BUREAU MAY SATEEN TAVERN, ST. louis, TO RE PHONE CALL TO BOREAU SAME DATE. LOS ANGELESS CALL FROM GRAPEVINE TAVERNE TAVERn, ST ., LOUis, ST .. LOUIs, TO ONE EIGHT ON MARCH FOUR LAST. LOS ANGELESA TELEPHONE NUMBER NUMBER SEVEN SIX ONE DASH ZERO NINE SUBSCRIBER TO ABOVE NUMBER IS CAROL SARACENO, FOUR THREE FIVE ZERO FARMABLE AVENUE, NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA. SACRACENCO INTERVIEWED THIS DATE AND ADVISED SHE RECEIVED TELEPLONE CALL FROM HER MOTHER IN ST. ST. LAUS MARCH FOUR LAST. SARACENCO STATED HER MOTHERS HER REC 3 CONSTANTLY FROM ST. SARCENO STATEO HER MATHER CALAIS HER 444 3.3616L63/14: NUMBER CHANGED BECAUSE OF NURSOUS COLLECT CALLEF FROM HER MOTHER. SHE DOES NOT KNOW WHEREABOUTS OF MOTHERIN MOTHER .. SHE DOESNOT KNOW WHEREBAOUTS of MOTHER INS MAY 28 1366 ST. LOUS. ARMED AND DANGEROUS. AIR MAIL COPY MEMPHIS. END 54 MAY 2 8 1968 <loc_836><loc_361><loc_836>54 MAY 8 1968 <loc_112><loc_890>FBI WISH DC

The documents detail FBI investigations into James Earl Ray’s activities surrounding Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, including communications, travel patterns, and forensic analysis of documents linked to Ray. A letter referencing Ray’s alleged hiring to kill MLK but failure to execute the act was analyzed for handwriting comparisons with his known signature. Travel tickets were examined showing Ray’s movements between Atlanta, Chattanooga, Mobile, Alabama; Dallas, Texas; and Memphis, Tennessee. A postmarked envelope from Dallas addressed to Memphis’ mayor was scrutinized for potential connections to the assassination. The FBI requested fingerprint and handwriting analysis of documents tied to Ray’s identity, including a signature card linked to his prior address in St. Louis. References to a locksmithing course and financial transactions involving Ray were also noted. Fragmented records mention coded entries, redacted social security numbers (marked as [SSN REDACTED]), and surveillance of Ray’s telephone usage, including long-distance calls from Texas cities like San Antonio, Houston, and El Paso. Investigations tracked Ray’s associations with individuals such as Walter Terry Rife, a prior offender linked to stolen postal money orders, and sought dental records for identity verification.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray (central suspect; referenced as "Murkin" in coded entries)  
- Barbara Ray (individual mentioned in phone calls)  
- Carol Saraceno (person who received a call from St. Louis)  
- Walter Terry Rife (associate of Ray with prior criminal record)  
- Inspector N. E. Zachary (Memphis Police Department)  
- Mayor Loeb (Memphis, Tennessee)  
- SACs (Special Agents in Charge; Memphis, Kansas City, San Antonio, Los Angeles)  

Key Locations  
- St. Louis, Missouri (Ray’s prior address, sister’s residence)  
- Memphis, Tennessee (mayoral office, police department)  
- Dallas, Texas (phone call origin, envelope postmark)  
- Atlanta, Chattanooga, Mobile, Alabama (travel routes)  
- Kansas City, Missouri (field office linked to Ray’s activities)  
- New Orleans, Louisiana (noted in travel context)  
- Jefferson City, Missouri (reference for document retrieval)  

Key Events  
- FBI analysis of a letter claiming Ray was hired to kill MLK but did not complete the act.  
- Examination of travel tickets linking Ray to Atlanta, Chattanooga, Mobile, and Dallas.  
- Investigation into a postmarked envelope from Dallas addressed to Memphis’ mayor.  
- Requests for fingerprint and handwriting comparisons to verify Ray’s identity.  
- Surveillance of Ray’s telephone usage, including long-distance calls from Texas cities.  
- Tracking of Ray’s financial transactions and associations with Walter Terry Rife.  
- Requests for dental records and x-rays for identity verification.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI; multiple field offices involved)  
- Memphis Police Department  
- United States Postal Service (linked to stolen money orders involving Walter Terry Rife)  
- Manufacturer’s Bank and Trust Company (St. Louis, Missouri)  
- Locksmithing Institutes (Balsaw Institute, Nelson-Ball, etc.)

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_13-06-part_4_of_6.pdf

Document Summary

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