</s>IN THE CRIMINAL COURT OF SHELBY COUNTY, TENNESSEE STATE OF TENNESSES VS No. 16646 (Murder) JAMES EARL RAY, alias MOTION PILED A. BLACKWELL J. A. B. BLACKWILL C. D. C. "Comes the Defendant in the above captioned cause, by and through his Attorney in Record, and respectfully shows unto this Honorable Court as follows: 1. Defendant has been incarcerated in the Shelby County, Tennessee jail awaiting trial in the Above captioned Cause since July 13, 1968 to the time of his arrest. 2. From the time and through the arrest, to and through the present, Defendant has seen constantly and continuously illu- minated by high powered lights and has been continuously air- veilled by television cameras and microphones which are received in the office of the Sheriff of Shelby County. Tennessee. 3. No other prisoner of Shelby Country or throughout the free world is so illuminated and surveillance. 4. The presence of said illumination and surveillance has deprived Defendant of the opportunity to roast and sleep and has a tendency to cause Defendant to be nervous or disturbed and constitutes an electronic form of cruel and unusual punish- mont- 5. The Presence of such illumination and surveillance further provides an unwarranted and undeglimate opportunity for illegal identification and/or input of Defendant for the pur- pose of redefining or suggesating collection of Defonc. potential material witnesses in this cause. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14/78

Summary:  
The documents detail legal proceedings involving James Earl Ray in Shelby County, Tennessee, related to a murder case. Ray was incarcerated awaiting trial for first-degree murder and carrying a dangerous weapon. He filed motions alleging that constant surveillance by television cameras, lights, and law enforcement officers violated his rights, causing him distress and preventing private consultation with his attorneys. The court issued orders addressing these concerns, including restrictions on media presence and allowing private meetings between Ray and his counsel. Additional documents reference other cases involving Ray, such as a motion regarding publicity restrictions and an appeal concerning contempt of court for non-compliance with judicial orders. A newspaper article from 1865 mentions "Ray security called danger to his sanity," though this appears unrelated to the MLK assassination context. Other content includes administrative forms, legal filings, and references to Robert Pratt, a Birmingham attorney linked to unspecified investigations, but no direct connection to MLK's assassination is established in these documents.  

The documents also contain fragmented and partially illegible records related to an FBI investigation into potential conspiracies surrounding the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). Key figures include James Earl Ray, identified as a suspect, and Bill Sartor, a reporter who allegedly provided information about a conspiracy involving Memphis police officers, organized crime groups like the Mafia (Costa Nostra), and individuals in New Orleans. The documents reference interviews with Sartor conducted by FBI agents on June 12 and August 22, 1968, detailing claims of a plot to assassinate MLK, including alleged involvement of police officers, Mafia representatives, and financial arrangements. Mentions include the Lorraine Motel in Memphis as the location of the assassination, interactions with individuals like Rev. A. Acker and Frank Leblecto, and discussions about Ray's movements and potential connections to fugitive status or organized crime networks. The text also includes administrative notes about document releases under Executive Order 14178 and references to case numbers (e.g., 44-38861).  

Additional FBI teletype transmissions and administrative records dated between September 1968 reference investigations involving individuals named Murkin, James Earl Eay, and others. A letter from James Earl Eay to his brother Jerry is noted, with mention of a car (1966 white two-door Ford Mustang, serial number 6707C190647) turned over to FBI agents in Atlanta on September 24, 1968. The document references tracking William Bradford Hute and interactions with SACs in Memphis, Chicago, Sacramento, and Manila. It includes notes about a farm community in Clement’s, California, and mentions of individuals like LON WILLIAM SKIRT and Mrs. MRKE BUDD. Some entries reference "SSN REDACTED" placeholders for social security numbers.  

Key People:  
- James Earl Ray (defendant in murder case; suspect in MLK's assassination)  
- Arthur J. Janes, Arthur J. Jones, Jr. (attorneys for Ray)  
- Charles Edmundson, Roy Hamilton, Renfro T. Hays, Arthur B. Hanes, Sr. (media and legal figures referenced in court orders)  
- Robert Pratt (Birmingham attorney mentioned in unrelated filings)  
- Bill Sartor (reporter who allegedly provided conspiracy details)  
- Rev. A. Acker (identified by Sartor as a New Orleans figure)  
- Frank Leblecto (allegedly associated with Ray and Mafia connections)  
- Claudette Cooksock (possibly linked to Memphis police or organized crime)  
- B. In. Redditt (Memphis policeman mentioned in context of MLK's assassination)  
- James Earl Eay (individual referenced in FBI teletypes; possibly a misspelling of Ray)  
- Jerry (Eay's brother)  
- William Bradford Hute  
- Robert Cochran, George S. Willis (FBI agents)  
- Mrs. MRKE BUDD  
- LON WILLIAM SKIRT  

Key Locations:  
- Shelby County, Tennessee (court proceedings)  
- Memphis, Tennessee (trial location; Lorraine Motel, FBI offices, police stations)  
- Birmingham, Alabama (references to Robert Pratt's activities)  
- New Orleans, Louisiana (Mafia connections, alleged financial arrangements)  
- Greenville, Mississippi (Sartor's residence)  
- Clement’s, California (small farm community with itinerant workers)  
- Sacramento, California  
- Stockton, California  
- Manila, Philippines  
- Atlanta, Georgia  
- Jackson, Mississippi (mentioned in administrative notes)  

Key Events:  
- Motion by James Earl Ray regarding surveillance and media presence during incarceration  
- Court orders restricting publicity and ensuring private attorney-client consultations  
- Contempt of court proceedings against individuals violating judicial restrictions  
- References to unrelated newspaper articles and administrative filings  
- Interviews of Bill Sartor by FBI agents on June 12 and August 22, 1968  
- Alleged conspiracy involving Memphis police officers and Mafia figures to assassinate MLK  
- Claims about financial arrangements for the assassination ($1,000 payment)  
- Ray's movements in Memphis and New Orleans prior to the assassination  
- Discussions of potential involvement of "Forever White," a segregationist organization  
- Transmission of a letter from James Earl Eay to his brother Jerry on September 24, 1968  
- Tracking of William Bradford Hute and interactions with FBI SACs in Memphis, Chicago, Sacramento, and Manila  
- Investigation into the whereabouts of LON WILLIAM SKIRT and Mrs. MRKE BUDD  
- Mention of a 1966 Ford Mustang serial number 6707C190647 linked to an FBI case  

Key Organizations:  
- Shelby County Criminal Court (Tennessee)  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Memphis Police Department  
- Costa Nostra (Mafia network, alleged involvement in conspiracy)  
- "Forever White" (segregationist group with Southern state affiliates)  
- Mississippi Department of Justice (Sartor's affiliation)  
- Sacramento Regional Office  
- Memphis Regional Office  
- Manila Liaison Section  
- San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_21-05-part_3_of_4.pdf

Document Summary

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