</s>OFFICIAL FORM NO. 16 510-124 USA. GMA. NO. 17 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Memorandum DATE: August 8, 1968 To Mr. DeLoach 1 - Mr. Deloach Tower FROM : A. Rosen 1- Mr. Roosen 1 - Mrs. Malley Tower M.P. McGowan SURJECT: MURKIN 1 - M.P . Long This is the case involving the murder of Martin Luther King, Jr. Captain J. Ray, Memphis Police Department, who is in charge of the security of subject Ray, has confidential- tally advised that that Judge J. Preston Battle, Shelby County advised that Judge D. PrestonBattle, Shelby Marya and Laska Laskan Dooren, Bellflower, California, This letter was dated August 3, 1963, and requested the letter in part stated attorney, Arthur J. Hanes, the letter in part started a number of things we would like to tell the defense. Bureau indices have a negative regarding Marya and Laska Van Dooren. Our Memphis Office has requested Los Angeles Office to directly determine identity of the Van Doornens, and if possible, to determine what, if any, connection they might be necessary, they would be advised to the contrary these Memphis also stated, made to interview these persons except possibly under a suitable pretect as we do not desire to invite charges of interferring with the subject's defense. interfering with the subjects' defense. interview the Los Angeles Office has been advised to proceed to determine them under the circumstances, but to and established sources. REC-76-3886-5027 RECOMMENDATION: EX-106 RECOMMENATION: If approved, the attached communication is sent to Los Angeles, with copy to Memphis, confirming Bureau. Instructions. Enclosure REL:cs (6) 59 AUG 14 1968 8-68 R 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI and RCMP investigative efforts related to the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on coordination between agencies, financial records, telecommunications data, and hotel-related inquiries. An August 8, 1968, FBI memorandum references Captain J. Ray of the Memphis Police Department and Judge D. Preston Battle of Shelby County Tennessee investigating Marya and Laska Van Dooren in Bellflower, California, with potential links to MLK’s assassination. The FBI Memphis Office sought assistance from Los Angeles to verify identities and assess connections while avoiding interference with legal proceedings. RCMP exhibit reports from Montreal, Quebec, include Bell Telephone forms, credit vouchers, phone numbers (e.g., 95957, 95967), and financial records such as taxes and treatment logs, some of which are coded or partially redacted, including placeholders for social security numbers ([SSN REDACTED]). A fragmented text references telephone records, long-distance calls, and investigative procedures involving RCMP and FBI, with mentions of phone numbers linked to "KIMBLE," "SUZ," and other individuals. Administrative directives under Executive Orders 14176 and 14178 relate to debt collection and telecommunications data tracking. A separate FBI report from August 1968 details an investigation into Vincent Walker (PBI #5265) and Lawrence Rand’s hotel stay at the William Len Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4-5, 1968, noting discrepancies in identification, conflicting witness accounts, and missing records. The FBI notes efforts to verify information across multiple locations, including Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City, with administrative details on document transmission and redactions for sensitive data.  

Key People  
- Martin Luther King Jr. (subject of assassination investigation)  
- Captain J. Ray (Memphis Police Department)  
- Judge D. Preston Battle (Shelby County, Tennessee)  
- Marya and Laska Van Dooren (Bellflower, California)  
- Vincent Walker (PBI #5265)  
- Lawrence Rand  
- Robert L. Stanton  
- Miss Ruby Wiggins (William Len Hotel desk clerk)  
- Miss Martha Brannan (William Len Hotel desk clerk)  
- Rose Fratini (switchboard operator, William Len Hotel)  
- Mrs. Bee Albright (cigar stand operator, William Len Hotel)  
- KIMBLE, R. KIMMEL, JULK K. KILLI (referenced in RCMP records)  
- SUZ (linked to a phone number at St. Germain St., Montreal)  
- BARRIE HORTON (lawyer in New Orleans, Louisiana)  

Key Locations  
- Memphis, Tennessee (FBI coordination, William Len Hotel)  
- Shelby County, Tennessee (judicial involvement)  
- Bellflower, California (Van Dooren residence)  
- Montreal, Quebec (RCMP exhibit reports)  
- New Orleans, Louisiana (BARRIE HORTON’s location)  
- St. Germain St., Montreal (SUZ’s phone number)  
- Memphis Metropolitan Airport  
- Kansas City, Missouri  
- Chicago, Illinois  
- St. Louis, Missouri  

Key Events  
- FBI investigation into MLK’s assassination and potential connections to Marya and Laska Van Dooren in California.  
- RCMP monitoring of phone numbers, financial transactions, and telecommunications records linked to suspects like KIMBLE and SUZ.  
- Coordination between FBI Memphis and Los Angeles offices for investigative verification.  
- FBI inquiry into Vincent Walker and Lawrence Rand’s hotel stay at the William Len Hotel on April 4-5, 1968, with discrepancies in identification and witness accounts.  
- Administrative procedures for debt collection under Executive Orders 14176/14178 and tracking of telecommunications data via Bell Telephone Company.  
- Storage of RCMP exhibits in a "Strong Box" within the GI Section.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)  
- Bell Telephone Company  
- POLYCREDIT COLLECTION SERVICE LTD  
- U.S. Department of Justice  
- Memphis Division (FBI)  
- Kansas City Division (FBI)  
- San Francisco Division (FBI)

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_21-01-part_2_of_6.pdf

Document Summary

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