</s>JAMES EARL RAY; MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR ., - VICTIM On March 26, 1969, a representative of the FBI contacted Harry Pope at Columbia, Mississippi, concerning the above letter. Mr. Pope advised that he does the above Letter. Mr." Pope advised letter and dental recall having written the above with Doctor Bush concerning the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. On March 28, 1969. Tom Rayney, Chief of Police, Columbia, Missouri, advised a representative of the FBI that Harry Pope suffers from a mental disorder and frequently makes unfounded allegations and complaints concerning various citizens and their activities in Columbia, Mississippi. Chief Rainey advised that Doctor Bush referred to Mr. M. Pope's letter would be Doctor Russell Bush, 911 Main Street, Columbia. Mississippi. Chief Bush, advised that Dr. Bush is a retired dentist Rainey and advised that Director Bush is one of extremely active in religious affairs and is a one of the most respected citizens in Columbia. Mississippi. Chief Rainney advised that in his opinion, Doctor Bush would be the least likely person in Columbia Mississippi, to have made any remarks concerning the possible assassination of Martin Luther King, JR. This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI is loaned to your agency; and it is contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. 2+ 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
On March 19, 1969, Harry Pope submitted a letter to the FBI alleging he overheard Dr. Russell Bush, a retired dentist in Columbia, Mississippi, discuss an assassination plot against Martin Luther King Jr., which Pope claimed occurred one week prior. The FBI contacted Pope on March 26, 1969, but he denied writing the letter and stated no conversation with Dr. Bush took place. On March 28, 1969, Tom Rainey, Chief of Police in Columbia, Missouri, informed the FBI that Pope suffers from a mental disorder and frequently makes unfounded allegations. Rainey noted Dr. Bush was a respected citizen in Columbia, Mississippi, and unlikely to have made statements about King’s assassination. The document does not include recommendations or conclusions from the FBI.  

Additional content includes FBI teletypes and reports from March 1969 related to investigations into MLK’s assassination. These documents reference inquiries by journalists Don Downey (Time Magazine) and others regarding James Earl Ray’s involvement, interviews with Ray’s brothers John and Larry Ray, and discussions about potential conspiracies. Ray, incarcerated in Tennessee, wrote a letter to Senator James O. Eastland’s Senate Subcommittee denying direct involvement in MLK’s assassination but claiming partial responsibility for his death. The FBI notes Ray’s guilty plea was influenced by legal pressures and financial agreements with attorney Mr. Foreman. The documents also reference Roy Irwin and Richard Erwin, individuals linked to thefts in Georgia and Tennessee around the time of MLK’s assassination.  

A separate section includes a letter from Roy Erwin dated April 4, 1968, describing driving a 1965 Mustang from Memphis, Tennessee, to Atlanta, Georgia, with references to events in Memphis on that date. The document also contains regulations from the Georgia Board of Corrections regarding inmate correspondence and package restrictions. FBI efforts to identify James Earl Ray as the suspect in MLK’s assassination are noted, including discrepancies between two photographs of Ray taken in 1960 and 1968, with a comparison of facial features suggesting they may not depict the same individual. A letter from D.J. Johman critiques the FBI’s use of photos, arguing they represent different people. Additional content includes administrative records, telegrams about unrelated legal matters, and references to Judge V. Preston Battle’s sudden death in Memphis on March 31, 1969, though no direct link to MLK’s assassination is established.  

Key People  
- **Harry Pope**: Claimed to have overheard Dr. Russell Bush discuss an assassination plot against MLK Jr.  
- **Dr. Russell Bush**: Retired dentist and lay preacher in Columbia, Mississippi; described as a respected citizen.  
- **Tom Rainey**: Chief of Police in Columbia, Missouri; assessed Pope’s mental state and Dr. Bush’s credibility.  
- **James Earl Ray**: Accused of assassinating MLK; incarcerated in Tennessee; wrote a letter to Senator Eastland denying direct involvement but claiming partial responsibility.  
- **Don Downey**: Time Magazine reporter seeking information on Ray’s involvement in MLK’s assassination.  
- **William Bradford Huie**: Author who wrote about Ray and MLK’s assassination.  
- **Robert H. Strader**: Individual who claimed to have information about MLK’s murder.  
- **Roy Irwin, Richard Erwin**: Linked to thefts in Georgia and Tennessee; referenced in FBI investigations.  
- **D.J. Johman**: Analyzed FBI photographs of James Earl Ray, arguing they depicted different individuals.  
- **Judge V. Preston Battle**: Died suddenly in Memphis on March 31, 1969; no direct link to MLK’s assassination established.  

Key Locations  
- **Columbia, Mississippi**: Where Harry Pope resided and where Dr. Russell Bush lived (911 Main Street).  
- **Columbia, Missouri**: Home to Tom Rainey, who provided information about Pope’s behavior.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of MLK’s assassination; Ray’s incarceration location.  
- **Atlanta, Georgia**: Linked to Irwin and Erwin’s activities; referenced in Roy Erwin’s letter.  
- **St. Louis, Missouri**: Ray’s stated residence.  
- **Nashville, Tennessee**: Tennessee State Penitentiary where Jerry Ray visited.  
- **Colton, California**: Sender’s location for Roy Erwin’s letter.  
- **Quincy, Illinois**: FBI resident agency; mentioned in Don Downey’s inquiries.  

Key Events  
- **March 19, 1969**: Harry Pope submitted a letter to the FBI alleging an assassination plot against MLK Jr.  
- **March 26, 1969**: FBI contacted Pope in Columbia, Mississippi; he denied writing the letter and having conversations with Dr. Bush.  
- **March 28, 1969**: Tom Rainey informed the FBI about Pope’s mental health and Dr. Bush’s credibility regarding assassination claims.  
- **April 4, 1968**: MLK Jr.’s assassination; referenced in Roy Erwin’s letter describing events in Memphis on that date.  
- **James Earl Ray’s letter to Senator Eastland**: Denied direct involvement in MLK’s murder but claimed partial responsibility.  
- **FBI interviews with Ray’s brothers John and Larry Ray**: Provided no information on conspiracies.  
- **Legal proceedings involving Ray’s guilty plea**: Influenced by legal pressures and financial agreements with attorney Mr. Foreman.  
- **Senate Subcommittee consideration of Ray’s case**: Investigating potential conspiracy in MLK’s assassination.  
- **FBI tracking of Roy Irwin and Richard Erwin**: Linked to thefts in Georgia and Tennessee.  
- **Discrepancies between photographs of James Earl Ray**: FBI compared 1960 and 1968 images, noting facial feature differences.  
- **Judge V. Preston Battle’s death in Memphis on March 31, 1969**: No direct link to MLK’s assassination established.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations into MLK’s assassination, including inquiries into James Earl Ray and photo analysis.  
- **Senate Subcommittee on Internal Security** (chaired by Senator James O. Eastland): Considered further investigation into Ray’s case for potential conspiracy in MLK’s assassination.  
- **Georgia Board of Corrections**: Regulated inmate correspondence and package restrictions.  
- **Tennessee State Penitentiary**: Where James Earl Ray was incarcerated.  
- **Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)**: Mentioned in telegraphic messages as an organization associated with James Bevel, who allegedly discussed a letter about MLK’s assassination.  
- **Time Magazine, Look Magazine**: Media outlets involved in reporting on the case.

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_25-01-part_5_of_7.pdf

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