</s>3-19-69 Dear Director; Fast spring I was staying at a boarding home in Columbia. Mrs. Rawle on Church St. one Sunday about one week before Dr. King was killed. Jwoo sitting on the front porch talk- my to a retired Nautist. A. Thomas after dinner on a Sunday. he told me that they are going to hill Dr. thing this next week. a fees clays later hewass killed. Aited to JSN 3-24-69 RELIPA If you think this mouet any sull thing the elostors name was Brush! Lft sounded like he was in on the 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document contains FBI communications from March 1969 detailing investigations into the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) and related inquiries. A person named Harry Poye claimed to have overheard a retired naval officer, referred to as "Brush," discussing plans to assassinate MLK in Memphis around March 1969. The text references James Earl Ray (JER), who was later convicted of MLK’s murder, and notes ongoing FBI efforts to investigate potential conspiracies. Discussions include book proposals involving the Reader's Digest and author Gerold Frank, as well as internal FBI memos about interviews with JER, Rev. James Bevel (SCLC), and others. Administrative details about document handling and declassification under Executive Order 14176 are also mentioned.  

A New York Times article from March 17, 1969, referenced a letter allegedly discussing MLK’s assassination, which was claimed to have been turned over to Memphis police but denied by officials. Inspector N. E. Zachary and Inspector Don Smith of the Memphis Police Department stated they had no record of such a letter or prior knowledge of the plot. Postal Inspector Louis Peele confirmed no evidence of the described letter existed. FBI inquiries into Roy Clark, an Oklahoma man found with a notebook containing notes about MLK’s assassination (e.g., "4-4-68 Martin Luther King shot in the face and neck"), were conducted. Clark claimed the notes were personal records. Kent Courtney, publisher of the *Conservative Journal*, contacted FBI agents regarding Jerry Ray (JER’s brother), who allegedly sought legal counsel and mentioned a conspiracy. The FBI advised against further contact with Courtney due to his questionable credibility. Harry Pope of Columbia, Mississippi, claimed he overheard Dr. Russell Bush (a retired dentist) discuss an assassination plot against MLK weeks before the murder. However, local authorities noted Pope’s mental health issues and dismissed Dr. Bush’s involvement.  

Key People  
- Harry Poye: Claimed to have overheard discussions about MLK’s assassination involving "Brush."  
- James Earl Ray (JER): Convicted of MLK’s murder; mentioned in context of conspiracy theories and legal proceedings.  
- Rev. James Bevel: SCLC official cited in media reports about alleged conspiracies against MLK.  
- Gerold Frank: Proposed author for a book on the case, previously wrote about the Boston Strangler.  
- Inspector N. E. Zachary: Memphis Police Department official denying knowledge of a letter about MLK’s assassination.  
- Inspector Don Smith: Memphis Police Department official overseeing security for MLK’s 1968 visit to Memphis.  
- Roy Clark: Oklahoma man found with a notebook containing notes about MLK’s assassination.  
- Kent Courtney: Publisher of the *Conservative Journal* who contacted FBI regarding Jerry Ray.  
- Harry Pope: Claimed he overheard Dr. Russell Bush discuss an assassination plot against MLK.  
- Dr. Russell Bush (retired dentist): Allegedly discussed MLK’s assassination with Harry Pope, though no evidence was found.  
- Tom Rainey: Chief of Police in Columbia, Missouri, who assessed Pope’s mental state and provided information about Dr. Bush.  

Key Locations  
- Memphis, Tennessee: Site of MLK’s assassination; referenced in discussions about conspiracies and police responses.  
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Where Roy Clark was detained and his notebook examined.  
- Columbia, Mississippi: Home to Harry Pope and Dr. Russell Bush; subject of FBI inquiries.  
- New Orleans, Louisiana: FBI office involved in tracking Jerry Ray and Kent Courtney.  
- Washington, D.C.: Implied as headquarters for FBI operations and declassification processes.  

Key Events  
- March 1969: FBI interviews with JER at Tennessee State Prison; JER refused to discuss conspiracy allegations.  
- March 18, 1969: Media reports citing Rev. James Bevel’s claims of a conspiracy to assassinate MLK, prompting FBI investigation.  
- Investigation into a letter allegedly discussing MLK’s assassination, denied by Memphis police.  
- Examination of Roy Clark’s notebook containing notes about MLK’s murder.  
- FBI inquiry into Kent Courtney’s claims regarding Jerry Ray and potential conspiracy.  
- Evaluation of Harry Pope’s allegations about Dr. Russell Bush’s involvement in the assassination plot.  
- March 19, 1969: Harry Pope submitted a letter to the FBI reporting an overheard conversation with Dr. Russell Bush about MLK’s assassination.  
- March 26, 1969: FBI contacted Pope in Columbia, Mississippi, regarding his letter.  
- March 28, 1969: Tom Rainey provided assessment of Pope’s mental health and details about Dr. Bush to the FBI.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Central agency conducting investigations, coordinating with media, and managing documentation.  
- Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC): Mentioned in context of Rev. James Bevel’s statements about conspiracies.  
- Memphis Police Department: Provided statements denying knowledge of a letter or prior warnings about MLK’s assassination.  
- Oklahoma City Police Department: Investigated Roy Clark’s notebook.  
- Columbia, Mississippi, Police Department: Assessed Harry Pope’s mental health and Dr. Russell Bush’s credibility.  
- Reader's Digest: Proposed publisher for a book on the MLK assassination case.  
- Doubleday: Publisher associated with Gerold Frank’s previous works.  
- United States Department of Justice: Parent agency overseeing FBI operations, referenced in document headers.

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_25-01-part_4_of_7.pdf

Document Summary

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