</s>5-22-68 PLAIN TEXT TELETYPE URGENT TO SAC LOS ANGELES FROM DIRECTOR FBI MURKIN REC. 25 REURTEL MAY TWENTY-ONE LAST. ADVISSE MR. COHEN, LOS ANGELES TIMES, THAT ALTHOUGH HIS ADVISEE APPRECIATED, NOT POSSIBLE FOR FBI TO BE OF ASSISTANCE RE HIS PROPOSED STORY. FURTHER ADVISSE HIM THAT STATISTICAL INFORMATION RE LICENSE PLATE CHECKS, NUMBER OF LEADS COVERED, ET CETERA, NOT READILY AVAILABLE. IF COHEn DOES PREPARE WRAP- UP STORY BASED ON ARTICLES PREVIOUSLY IN PRINT, SUGGEST HE HIGH- LIGHT THE FACT THAT ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN REWARDS PRESENTLY OUTSTANDING FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO RAY'S ARREST. 1-1 - Mr. DeLoach 1- Mr. Roosen 1-Mr. McGowan 1-mr. Jones NOTE: The Los Angeles Times has not evidence any particular support of the Bureau's activities in the recent past. HIPVARI TLETYPE 1-MAY 22 1968 T8B EnCIP HEREDLED OFFICE 66M/M/J/1968 -MALL ROOS-TYPE UNIT- 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary:  
The document contains multiple teletype messages from the FBI Director to field offices (Los Angeles, Birmingham, Chicago, Kansas City, Newark) dated May 21–22, 1968, regarding the investigation into James Earl Ray, suspected in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The FBI declined to provide specific statistical details about license plate checks or leads covered but noted $100,000 in rewards was outstanding for information leading to Ray’s arrest. The Los Angeles Times requested approval for an article highlighting the FBI’s investigative efforts, including tracking out-of-state vehicles and occupants. The Bureau also discussed placing advertisements in publications frequented by Ray to locate him, referencing his correspondence with Patricia K. Anderson through "The Local Swinger," a Los Angeles correspondence club. Additional messages outlined plans for field offices to determine Ray’s reading habits by interviewing associates, including Cecil Clayton and Thomas Britton, to identify publications he habitually read. The FBI also sought information on merchandise orders placed by Ray via mail, linking potential purchases to advertising in specific publications.  

Key People:  
- James Earl Ray (suspected assassin of MLK Jr.)  
- Jerry Cohen (Los Angeles Times staff writer)  
- Patricia K. Anderson (individual corresponded with by Ray)  
- Cecil Clayton (interviewee for publication research)  
- Thomas Britton (interviewee for publication research)  
- FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover (implied through references to "DIRECTOR FBI")  

Key Locations:  
- Los Angeles, California  
- Memphis, Tennessee (mentioned in context of Ray’s correspondence and rewards)  
- Birmingham, Alabama  
- Chicago, Illinois  
- Kansas City, Missouri  
- Newark, New Jersey  
- Little Falls, New York (Locksmithing Institute referenced for merchandise inquiry)  

Key Events:  
- FBI declined to provide detailed statistical data on investigative efforts to the Los Angeles Times.  
- Request for approval of an article by the Los Angeles Times highlighting FBI’s tracking of vehicles and occupants.  
- Discussion of placing advertisements in publications frequented by Ray to locate him.  
- Investigation into Ray’s reading habits via interviews with associates (Cecil Clayton, Thomas Britton).  
- Inquiry into merchandise orders placed by Ray via mail, linking purchases to potential advertising in specific publications.  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Los Angeles Times (newspaper seeking article approval)  
- "The Local Swinger" (correspondence club in Los Angeles)  
- Locksmithing Institute (Little Falls, New York; referenced for merchandise inquiry)

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_13-06-part_6_of_6.pdf

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