</s>FD-38 (Rev. 5-22-64) F.B.I Date. 5/17/68 Transmit the following in (Type in plantex or code) AIRTEL AIRMAIL Via (Priority) TO: DIRECTOR, FBI (44-38861) FROM: 1-4AC, KANSAS CITY (44+3886) SUBJECT: O.MURKIN -P- Re St. Louis teletype to the Bureau, 5/16/68, re Grapevine Tavern, St.Louis, Missouri. Kansas City Telephone Directory lists the subscriber to telephone number 9081-938 as the International Brotherhood of Boilerhead Number 908-931 as the international brotherhood City, Missouri, United States, and the International Board of Commissioners this office, and no information was obtained as to anybody connected with that union as being identical with subject. ARMED AND DANGEROUS R Bureau 1 - Memphis (Info) 1 - St. Louisville (Info). 1 - Kansas City REC-41 /11-1-3874 RHB: 1w (6) 10 MAY 28 1968 C. C. Bishop VAX Approved: 62 MAY 28 1988 Sent M Per 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into James Earl Ray (JER) and his alleged connections to criminal activities, including smuggling and potential involvement in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). Key elements include fingerprint analysis of an 1968 Oldsmobile linked to JER, telephone number inquiries in Missouri and Texas to track his movements, and interviews with incarcerated individuals like Cecil Clayton Lillibridge, who discussed JER’s plans to evade extradition by traveling to Mexico. References to "ARMED AND DANGEROUS" status for JER are noted, along with discussions of his alleged smuggling operations in Mexico and methods to alter his appearance. The FBI also considered collaborating with journalists to publish articles in *The Reader's Digest* to aid in locating JER, referencing past successes in apprehending fugitives like Joseph Corbett, Jr. Additional documents include telephone records from Texas locations linked to Ray’s movements, interviews with Delmar Levi Gay and Doris Andreotti, and investigations into the White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (WKKKK)’s alleged $100,000 reward offer for MLK’s assassination. Efforts to locate JER involved checking residency records in Panama City, Florida, and Las Vegas, Nevada, as well as coordination between FBI divisions in Memphis, San Francisco, and other locations.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray (JER)**: Central figure; investigated for potential involvement in MLK’s assassination, discussed plans to evade extradition by traveling to Mexico.  
- **Cecil Clayton Lillibridge**: Incarcerated individual who provided information about JER’s activities and alleged smuggling operations.  
- **Emma Johnson**: Mentioned as a person called during telephone number investigations.  
- **Jerry O'Leary**: Journalist at *The Evening Star* seeking to write an article on the MLK assassination investigation.  
- **Delmar Levi Gay**: Interviewed by FBI regarding potential ties to Ray; described as a Claims Examiner with a scar on his left shoulder.  
- **Doris Andreotti**: Connected to Delmar Levi Gay; provided information about him but denied being his girlfriend.  
- **Donald James Nissen**: Sought by the FBI for potential involvement in the alleged reward offer by the WKKKK.  
- **J.B. McMICHIGAN**: Mentioned as an informant or contact in investigations.  
- **Harold Edward Nichols (Hal Nichols)**: Suspect referenced in a San Francisco-related lead.  
- **Frank Milhatt and Ann Charles**: Editors of publications that agreed to publish photos of James Earl Ray.  

Key Locations  
- **St. Louis, Missouri; Kansas City, Missouri; San Antonio, Texas; Houston, Texas; Mexico (Campeche Bay area)**: Key locations tied to JER’s movements and smuggling activities.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of MLK’s assassination; central hub for FBI operations.  
- **San Francisco, California**: Location of interviews with Gay and Andreotti; headquarters for some FBI operations.  
- **Texas (San Antonio, Dallas, El Paso)**: Locations where telephone calls linked to Ray were recorded.  
- **Jackson, Mississippi**: Site of the alleged WKKKK reward offer for MLK’s assassination.  
- **Panama City, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada**: Locations investigated for Nissen’s residency and business ties.  
- **Canada**: Suspected location of Ray’s whereabouts during the investigation.  

Key Events  
- **FBI fingerprint analysis of an 1968 Oldsmobile linked to JER**.  
- **Telephone number investigations in Missouri and Texas** to track JER’s movements.  
- **Conversations between Lillibridge and JER about smuggling, property ownership in Mexico, and methods to avoid extradition**.  
- **FBI consideration of media collaboration**: Discussion about publishing an article in *The Reader's Digest* to aid in locating JER, referencing past successes with fugitive apprehensions like Joseph Corbett, Jr.  
- **Interviews with Delmar Levi Gay and Doris Andreotti**, with Gay denying knowledge of Ray.  
- **Investigations into the WKKKK’s alleged $100,000 reward offer** for MLK’s assassination, including checks on Donald James Nissen’s residency history.  
- **Coordination between FBI divisions (Jacksonville, San Francisco, Mobile)** on leads related to MLK threats.  
- **Efforts to locate JER through publications and informants**, including verification of residency records via the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Central agency conducting investigations into MLK’s assassination and tracking James Earl Ray.  
- **The Reader's Digest**: Magazine considered for publishing an article on the investigation, noted for its multilingual distribution.  
- **Social Security Administration (SSA)**: Mentioned in context of Delmar Levi Gay’s employment history.  
- **White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (WKKKK)**: Organization allegedly offering a reward for MLK’s assassination.  
- **Auto Safety Controls**: Company linked to Donald James Nissen in Nevada.  
- **Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)**: Used to verify residency and vehicle records during investigations.

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_14-03-part_1_of_4.pdf

Document Summary

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