</s>May 23, 1968 GENERAL INVESTIGATIVE DIVISION This case involves the murder of Martin Luther King, Jr. Local Judge John C. Casey, St. Louis sentenced Ray to 20 years in 1959 for armed robbery. A motion to set aside the conviction was filed before Ray's escape and is still pending. Judge Casey believes in view of recent Supreme Court decisions Ray would stand a good chance of reversing his con- viction and contemplates filing order on 5/24/68 for Ray to appear by 6/3/68 or his action will be dismissed. Judge Casey has asked Bureau advice as to whether he should delay until after Poor Peoples Campaign as he feels publicity of his order could cause widespread disorder. Casey is being advised we cannot advise him but if he feels publicizing his order would cause disturbance he should take necessary steps to alert law enforcement agencies after his order is entered and before advised publicized. Department being REL/rl ENGLOSURF 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document contains multiple entries from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and U.S. Department of Justice detailing investigations into Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, other criminal activities, and related legal proceedings. Key elements include FBI tracking of James Earl Ray, a convicted armed robber sentenced to 20 years in 1959 for robbery, with a pending motion to vacate his conviction. A Greyhound bus passenger from Tulsa, Oklahoma, claimed involvement in MLK’s assassination, naming Ray as part of a 20-person group. Investigations also focused on Eric Galt, linked to Tulsa, and Gene Bradley, who allegedly met with Ray and stated he “knocked over King, Jr.” FBI units coordinated efforts across Memphis, Birmingham, Dallas, and Fort Smith, Arkansas, to locate suspects, review phone records, and monitor connections. Forensic analysis of an unidentified body found near Mahaney City, Pennsylvania, revealed the deceased had been in the grave for six months; dental records from James Earl Ray were compared to the remains by Pennsylvania State Police. Separate inquiries included tracking Frank Brickley, a convicted felon with ties to Tennessee and Georgia, and investigating James L. Owens’ reading habits in St. Louis. FBI communications referenced anonymous threats and efforts to locate suspects via Greyhound bus tracking.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Convicted of armed robbery in 1959; central figure in MLK assassination investigation; dental records compared to unidentified body found in Pennsylvania.  
- **Judge John C. Casey**: Sentenced Ray for armed robbery in 1959; considered vacating his conviction due to potential Supreme Court rulings.  
- **Eric Galt**: Linked to Tulsa, Oklahoma; associated with James Earl Ray in assassination plot investigations.  
- **Gene Bradley**: Allegedly met with Ray and claimed involvement in MLK’s assassination; reported to have lived in Tulsa with Galt.  
- **Frank Brickley**: Convicted felon with ties to Tennessee and Georgia; tracked for criminal history and relatives.  
- **James L. Owens**: Investigated in St. Louis for habitual reading materials.  
- **Dr. Wilson, Krogman**: Archaeologist/pathologist involved in forensic analysis of unidentified body.  

Key Locations  
- **Tulsa, Oklahoma**: Associated with Galt and Bradley; Ray’s alleged activity location.  
- **Dallas, Texas**: Site of Greyhound bus incident involving suspect claiming involvement in MLK’s murder.  
- **Fort Smith, Arkansas**: Mentioned as a possible location for Bradley’s activities.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: FBI office coordinating assassination investigation.  
- **Mahaney City, Pennsylvania**: Location of unidentified body discovery; forensic analysis conducted here.  
- **St. Louis, Missouri**: Jurisdiction of Judge John C. Casey; site of James L. Owens’ investigation.  
- **Terre Haute, Indiana**: U.S. Penitentiary referenced in Frank Brickley’s record.  

Key Events  
- **Pending motion to vacate James Earl Ray’s 1959 armed robbery conviction**: Considered by Judge John C. Casey due to Supreme Court rulings.  
- **Greyhound bus passenger’s confession**: A man on a Tulsa-to-Dallas bus claimed involvement in MLK’s assassination, naming Ray as part of a group.  
- **Forensic analysis of unidentified body**: Pennsylvania State Police compared dental records from James Earl Ray to remains found near Mahaney City, Pennsylvania.  
- **FBI coordination across regions**: Agents in Memphis, Birmingham, and Dallas tracked suspects, reviewed communications, and monitored connections to MLK’s murder.  
- **Investigation into Frank Brickley**: Tracked for criminal history, relatives, and ties to Tennessee and Georgia.  
- **Tracking efforts for Gene Bradley**: Included inquiries into his alleged connection to Ray and activities in Tulsa.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations into MLK’s assassination, other crimes, and coordinated regional efforts.  
- **U.S. Department of Justice**: Oversaw FBI operations and legal proceedings related to James Earl Ray’s conviction.  
- **Pennsylvania State Police**: Involved in forensic analysis of the unidentified body and dental record comparisons.  
- **Greyhound Bus Company**: Referenced in tracking suspect movements via bus routes.

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_14-04-part_3_of_8.pdf

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