</s>817 NE 5TH ST City PRECIPA State, Ariz. Reporter of LANAZTAZARS INC. INC. Make of Car-weryly License No.58 1449 State ANZ. Date No.in.in No.1 Date Tax Affluent Paid in 12/22/27 2 103 17:00 17/24/17.18.99 X28Dec. 140 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into hotel guest records linked to James Earl Ray, a suspect in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. In New Orleans, Louisiana, the Provincial Motel’s registration records from 1968 include entries for guests such as David Simmons (Southern Bell Telephone employee), Benjamin Duke (motel clerk), Chew Wing Lee (laundry owner who recognized James Earl Ray in photographs), and Raymond G. Hays (noted as "Raul"). FBI inquiries focused on toll call records at a payphone located at 1024 Chartres Street, interactions with motel staff regarding potential connections to Hays, and verification of guest identities through photographic comparisons. In Birmingham, Alabama, the FBI requested guest registration cards from the Granada Hotel for August 22–28, 1967, identifying a booking under the name "RAYNS" (possibly James Earl Ray) in Room 210 on August 26, 1967. The hotel manager, Charlie Troncale, and clerk Adrian M. Koonce confirmed the registration but could not definitively identify the guest due to lack of photographic recognition. Additional records from October 23–31, 1967, were reviewed for names like John L. Raynes without conclusive results. The FBI forwarded copies of these records to Memphis offices and the FBI Laboratory for further analysis.  

Key People  
- **David Simmons**: Southern Bell Telephone employee with motel registration entries.  
- **Benjamin Duke**: Provincial Motel clerk involved in staff interactions.  
- **Chew Wing Lee**: Laundry owner who recognized James Earl Ray in photographs.  
- **James Earl Ray**: Suspect in MLK’s assassination; referenced as "RAYNS" in Granada Hotel records.  
- **Raymond G. Hays**: Noted as "Raul" in Provincial Motel records, linked to potential connections.  
- **Charlie Troncale**: Owner-manager of Granada Hotel, Birmingham, Alabama.  
- **Adrian M. Koonce**: Desk clerk at Granada Hotel, confirmed guest registration details.  

Key Locations  
- **Provincial Motel**, New Orleans, Louisiana: Central location for guest registrations and FBI inquiries.  
- **1024 Chartres Street, New Orleans, Louisiana**: Payphone location referenced in toll call records.  
- **830 Chartres Street, French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana**: Laundry business associated with Chew Wing Lee.  
- **Granada Hotel**, 2230 Fourth Avenue, North, Birmingham, Alabama: Hotel where guest registration records were reviewed.  

Key Events  
- FBI investigation into toll calls at Provincial Motel’s payphone (December 1967–December 1967).  
- Inquiry into James Earl Ray’s potential stay at Provincial Motel and associated activities.  
- Verification of guest identities through photographs and staff interviews at Provincial Motel.  
- FBI review of Granada Hotel guest logs (August 22–28, 1967) to identify connections to James Earl Ray.  
- Attempted photographic identification of "RAYNS" at Granada Hotel.  
- Submission of guest registration records from Granada Hotel to Memphis FBI offices and the FBI Laboratory for analysis.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations into hotel records and suspect connections.  
- **Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company**: Mentioned in relation to David Simmons’ employment.  
- **Provincial Motel management and staff**: Provided guest registration data and facilitated FBI inquiries.  
- **Granada Hotel**: Supplied guest registration records under FBI request.

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_23-01-part_4_of_4.pdf

Document Summary

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