</s>4-572 (Rev. 7-18-63) OPTIONAL FORMS NO. 16 2010-194 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Memorandum May 20, 1968 TO : The Director DATE: FROM : N. P. Callahan SUBJECT: The Congressional Record Pages 5850-5851. Senator Long, (D) Louisiana, requested to have printed in the Record an article from the May 3, 1968, issue of Life magazine entitled "The Story of the Accused Killer of Dr. King." Original File 44-38861- NOT RECORDEL 47"W: 29"3848 In the original pla a memorandum captioned and dated as above, the Congressional Record for May 17, 1968 was reviewed and pertinent items were marked for the Director's attention. This form has been prepared in order that portions of a copy of the original memorandum may be clipped, mounted, and placed 62 JUN-23-1908 case or subject matter files. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document contains multiple entries from May 1968 involving FBI investigations related to Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, including requests for information on individuals such as "MURKIN" and "RAY," safety deposit box checks in cities like Dallas, Houston, Memphis, and New Orleans for April 1968 records. A laboratory examination report compares evidence from Miami and Philadelphia communications, noting questioned handwriting and signatures. Captain Ray is mentioned discussing Dr. King's assassination with Major McAden, including claims about Eric Starvo Galt being the assassin. Robert Edward Byrne in Denver denies involvement in MLK's assassination, referencing interactions with Mrs. Homer Bigelow and oil ventures. The FBI seeks to verify connections between individuals in Acapulco, Texas, and potential planning for King's death. Additionally, a fragmented communication references an unidentified white male body found in a shallow grave near Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, on May 8, 1968. X-rays of James Earl Ray’s skull were compared with the deceased’s lower jaw by Dr. Joseph E. Conrad and Dr. Thomas Buckley at Good Samaritan Hospital in Pottsville, PA, ruling out identification. The case is referenced in FBI records, with mentions of the Philadelphia Field Office and Memphis Division. A form FD-36 (Rev. 2-22-64) dated May 28, 1968, details evidence from a bank robbery in Alton, Illinois, including items like a Van Hausen shirt and brown trousers, submitted for comparison with the Memphis Division’s investigation. Encrypted text and administrative notes reference FBI case numbers (e.g., 44-38861), personnel names (Deloach, Tolson, McDonough), and dates spanning March–May 1968.  

Key People  
- MURKIN (investigated)  
- RAY (James Earl Ray; fugitive, subject of comparison with unidentified body; discussed Dr. King’s assassination with Major McAden)  
- McAden, Henry J. (Major, interviewed about racial issues and predictions)  
- Byrne, Robert Edward (Denver resident denying involvement in MLK’s assassination)  
- Bigelow, Homer (Mrs., involved in oil ventures with Byrne)  
- Galt, Eric Starvo (named by Ray as assassin of Dr. King)  
- Dr. Joseph E. Conrad (radiologist)  
- Dr. Thomas Buckley (pathologist)  
- Sergeant George Durilla (Pennsylvania State Police)  
- Mr. Deloach, Mr. Tolson, Mr. McDonough (FBI personnel)  
- Attorney General (referenced in administrative notes)  

Key Locations  
- Memphis, Tennessee (center of investigation; FBI Division)  
- Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, and other cities (safety deposit box checks)  
- Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania (site of grave discovery)  
- Good Samaritan Hospital, Pottsville, PA (comparison conducted)  
- Philadelphia Field Office, FBI  
- Alton, Illinois (bank robbery evidence submission)  
- Denver, Colorado (Byrne’s residence and interviews)  
- Fort Eastis, Virginia (Ray’s military connections)  
- Acapulco, Mexico (mentioned in oil ventures and alleged planning)  

Key Events  
- FBI requests to check safety deposit box records for April 1968 entries.  
- Laboratory comparison of evidence from Miami and Philadelphia communications.  
- Captain Ray’s claims about Dr. King’s assassination and Eric Starvo Galt as the perpetrator.  
- Robert Edward Byrne’s denial of involvement in MLK’s assassination, referencing Mrs. Bigelow’s alleged connections.  
- FBI investigation into potential planning for MLK’s death involving Acapulco and oil ventures.  
- Discovery of unidentified white male body in Mahanoy City, PA, on May 8, 1968.  
- Comparison of James Earl Ray’s skull X-rays with the deceased’s lower jaw by medical experts on May 27, 1968.  
- Submission of bank robbery evidence (Alton, IL) to FBI for comparison with Memphis Division investigation.  
- Administrative notes referencing FBI case numbers and personnel interactions from March–May 1968.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Philadelphia Field Office, Memphis Division  
- U.S. Department of Justice  
- Pennsylvania State Police (PSP)  
- Good Samaritan Hospital (Pottsville, PA)  
- Military units (e.g., Fort Eastis, Fort Bragg)  
- Oil companies (New Drilling Company in Denver)

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_15-01-part_5_of_6.pdf

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