</s>1 - Mr. McDonough June 23, 1970 ASSASSINATION OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. On June 18, 1970, Assistant District Attorney General Clyde Mason, Memphis, Tennessee, made available the following documents filled in the Criminal Court of Shelby County, Tennessee. Made available Ray. One copy of each of these documents is the subject for the Department. 1. Motion to Produce, directing the Sheriff of Shelby County, Tennessee, to furnish of Shelby County, Tennessee to furnish structured and designed the quarters in the Shelley County Jail wherein the subject was incarcerated. This motion has been was incarcerated by this motion has also 2. Motion of Produce. Requesting that the Clients to the Shelby County Criminal Court produce date books, log books, or notebooks, or other personal data belonging to the late Judge Preston Battle. This is a motion late judge petition by Judge William. This 3. on a motion to declare the subject Ray indi- on a pending receipt of an affidavit from Ray stating that he is an indentant. 4. Motion to order to require the Shelby County Sheriff to permit psychiatrists to visit the Shelby CountY Jail quarters where the defendant, this motion hasn been denied by Judge Williams. -5886 EJM:js9 REC-100 (4) 19 JUN 25 1970 Ouy 4 CRD in 6/4 G.1/2/2-1/3/1-6.7-7-1-1 51 JUN.30.1970 TELETYPE UNIT 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail multiple facets of the investigation into Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, focusing on legal proceedings, administrative records, and inquiries into potential connections between individuals and events surrounding the murder. In Shelby County, Tennessee, Assistant District Attorney General Clyde Mason filed motions to obtain records from the Shelby County Jail and personal items belonging to Judge Preston Battle, as part of efforts to build a case against James Earl Ray, who was convicted of assassinating King. The Department of Justice and FBI managed document releases, including copies provided to Harold Weisberg, a civil rights activist seeking access to government files. Legal challenges arose regarding the release of documents, with the DOJ deciding not to defend a civil action by Weisberg. References also appear to individuals claiming knowledge about conspiracies, such as Mrs. Prischol in Wisconsin and Mr. Kenneth McBane in La Habra, California, though their claims lack substantiation in the text. The FBI received letters from various sources, including Mrs. Presabella Solwer, and some documents reference ongoing investigations into Ray’s activities.  

In Philadelphia, an abandoned 1965 white Ford Mustang was discovered in a garage, registered to Lois J. Floyd, a Georgia probation violator. The FBI investigated whether the car was stolen or linked to MLK’s assassination but found no evidence connecting it to his murder. The vehicle’s VIN and license plate were compared to records, including a 1966 Mustang owned by James Earl Ray, though no direct link was established. The Philadelphia Tribune’s editor, Laurence Geller, and SCLC leader Marzell Randolph sought FBI involvement to examine the car’s origins and potential ties to the assassination. The FBI concluded there was no connection between the abandoned vehicle and MLK’s murder, though the car remained under review for legal issues.  

George McMillan, a freelance writer from Frogmore, South Carolina, requested information about James Earl Ray for a biography he was writing for Little, Brown and Company. The FBI and Department of Justice declined to provide assistance, citing ongoing legal proceedings against Ray. McMillan’s prior interactions with the FBI in 1968 and 1969 are noted, including his authorship of articles on civil rights issues. Internal memos and administrative notes reference handling McMillan’s request, including referrals to Assistant Attorney General Jerris Leonard and discussions about Ray’s pending appeals under federal law.  

Key People  
- **Clyde Mason**: Assistant District Attorney General for Shelby County, Tennessee; filed motions for records related to the King assassination case.  
- **James Earl Ray**: Convicted assassin of Martin Luther King Jr.; central figure in multiple investigations and legal proceedings.  
- **Harold Weisberg**: Civil rights activist who sought access to government documents related to the King assassination investigation.  
- **Laurence Geller**: Editor of *The Philadelphia Tribune*; contacted FBI regarding a potential link between an abandoned Mustang and MLK’s assassination.  
- **Marzell Randolph**: Chairman of the SCLC Philadelphia chapter; sought FBI assistance in examining the abandoned vehicle.  
- **George McMillan**: Freelance writer from Frogmore, South Carolina; requested information about James Earl Ray for a biography.  
- **Lois J. Floyd**: Owner of an abandoned 1965 Mustang registered in Georgia; described as a probation violator with unknown whereabouts since December 1969.  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Central to the investigation, with Shelby County Jail referenced for record requests and Ray’s incarceration.  
- **Philadelphia, Pennsylvania**: Garage where an abandoned Mustang was found; Philadelphia FBI office involved in investigations.  
- **Atlanta, Georgia**: FBI Atlanta office recovered James Earl Ray’s 1966 Mustang but found no connection to the Philly car.  
- **Frogmore, South Carolina**: McMillan’s residence and correspondence address; location of prior FBI interactions.  
- **Chamberlin, Georgia**: Mentioned as a location tied to a different vehicle (not directly linked to MLK).  

Key Events  
- **June–July 1970**: Filing of motions by Clyde Mason to obtain records from Shelby County Jail and Judge Preston Battle’s personal items for the King assassination case.  
- **July 1970**: FBI received reports about an abandoned 1965 Mustang in Philadelphia, potentially connected to MLK’s assassination.  
- **August 1970**: FBI confirmed no evidence linking the Philly Mustang to MLK’s murder; vehicle remained under review for legal violations.  
- **August 14, 1970**: George McMillan requested information about James Earl Ray for a biography, which was denied by the FBI and DOJ due to ongoing legal proceedings.  
- **June 4, 1968 and June 4, 1969**: McMillan previously sought assistance from the FBI regarding Ray’s case, which was denied due to ongoing investigations.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations into James Earl Ray, handled document releases, and coordinated with officials like DeLoach and Jerris Leonard.  
- **United States Department of Justice**: Managed legal proceedings against James Earl Ray and coordinated responses to McMillan’s request.  
- **Shelby County Criminal Court**: Central to the judicial process involving Ray’s incarceration and evidence collection.  
- **Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)**: Philadelphia chapter sought FBI assistance in examining the abandoned Mustang’s connection to MLK’s assassination.  
- **Philadelphia Tribune**: Newspaper outlet that published articles speculating about the Mustang’s role in the assassination.

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_27-02-part_1_of_4.pdf

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