</s>0-20/Rev. 8-5-54) Assoc. Dir. Dep. AD Dep. Dif. Admin. Assoc ., Dif Admin. Ex. Afforda Ex. Attorneys Files & S& Files & Co. Ident. Inspection Laboratory Legal Coun. Plan & Eval. Training Telephone Rn. Director Scey- UP-134- R B A JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN, WASHINGTON (UP-050) A JUSTICE DERPARTMENT SPORTSMAN SAID WEISBERSON WAS WRONG IN THINKING HE GOT THE MATERIAL AS A RESULT OF HIS SUIT. HE SAID DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL HAROLD R. TYLER JR. MADE THE DECISION THREE DAYS BEFORE HE HEARNAL HAROLD S. TYLER JR. J. M. MADED THE DECISIEN THREE DAYSE BEFORE HE HEARNSBERG FILLED THE SUIT ON SUIT IN NOV. 28 BUT THE U.S. A. THE US. AITORNEY DID NOT CITIMINAL NOTICE OF THE SULT UNTIL DEC. 1 AND THE JUSTICE DEPARIMENT CITY NOTICE OF THIS SUIT UNTILL DEC. 2. THE SPOKESSMAN SAIDE. HE SAD TYLER WAS NOT TOLD UNTILS DEC. 3. THE SPORTSMAN SAD. HE SAYD TYLER WAS UPI 12-11-0552 PES memo Pishman to Raulgher 12/10-75 X/4/0/WL WASHINGTON CAPITAL NEWS SERVICE ENCLOSURE 4-38861-L09 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail an FBI investigation into allegations that Leon Owen Powell and his brother Claude Powell were approached in 1967 by Ray Godfrey to assassinate Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). The case involves interviews with the Powell brothers, their family members (including Wendell Sutton Powell and Annie Davis Compos), and associates like Pete Davis, a bar owner in Atlanta. Key elements include:  
- **Alleged Plot**: Godfrey allegedly offered $25,000 to assassinate MLK, using wrapped currency from a briefcase.  
- **Witness Accounts**: Annie Davis Compos claimed her ex-husband (Leon Powell) was intoxicated after the assassination and repeatedly discussed killings. Pete Davis, who died of cancer in 1975, was identified as the bar owner where the alleged meeting occurred.  
- **Investigation Scope**: The FBI coordinated with the Civil Rights Division (CRD) to conduct polygraph exams on Powell, Arnold Ray Godfrey, and others. Records indicated Godfrey may have been a country singer working for Atlanta’s water department.  
- **Case Status**: Despite findings, the case remained pending due to overlapping investigations by Charlotte and El Paso offices.  

Key People  
- **Leon Owen Powell**: Alleged to have been approached in 1967; claimed intoxication after MLK’s assassination.  
- **Claude Powell**: Brother of Leon; reportedly present during the alleged meeting with Godfrey.  
- **Wendell Sutton Powell**: Brother of Leon and Claude; had prior arrests for drunk driving.  
- **Ray Godfrey**: Alleged intermediary offering money for the assassination; later identified as Arnold Ray Godfrey, a country singer.  
- **Pete Davis**: Bar owner in Atlanta; died of cancer in 1975.  
- **Annie Davis Compos**: Former wife of Leon Powell; provided testimony about his intoxication and alleged involvement.  

Key Locations  
- **Atlanta, Georgia**: Home to Pete Davis’s bar (“Pete’s Place”), the water department, and the FBI office.  
- **Charlotte, North Carolina**: Involved in investigations related to the Powells.  
- **El Paso, Texas**: Conducted part of the investigation; lacked a Bureau-approved polygraph examiner.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Mentioned as a location for FBI coordination.  

Key Events  
1. **1967 Alleged Plot**: Powell brothers allegedly approached by Godfrey to assassinate MLK in exchange for $25,000.  
2. **FBI Interviews**: Conducted with the Powells, their family members, and associates like Pete Davis.  
3. **Polygraph Exams**: Requested for Leon Powell, Arnold Ray Godfrey, and others to verify claims.  
4. **Godfrey’s Identification**: Confirmed as a country singer working for Atlanta’s water department; records indicated his name may have been Arnold Ray or Raymond Godfrey.  
5. **Case Status**: Remained pending due to overlapping investigations by multiple FBI offices.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Led the investigation, coordinating with local and regional offices.  
- **Civil Rights Division (CRD)**: Collaborated on polygraph exams and case coordination.  
- **City of Atlanta**: Provided records on employment and phone numbers related to Ray Godfrey.  

Notes  
- Social Security Number (SSN) references were redacted as per guidelines.  
- The documents reference MLK’s assassination in 1968, confirming the timeline of events.  
- The case highlights the FBI’s efforts to verify claims about potential involvement in the assassination plot, though no conclusive evidence was found.

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_28-03-part_3_of_6.pdf

Document Summary

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