</s>... RD-350 (Rev. 7-16-63) Mr. Tolson Mr. Deloach. Mr. Mohr. Mr. C. Campbell Mr. Campbell Mr. Central (Mount Clipping in Space Below) Mr. St. Staunton Mr. Smith Mr. S. Stumford Mr. Butler Mr. Lutter M. Sutter Miss Candy M. Candy A GUEST EDITORIAL A GUESTS EDITORial (indicate page, name of the newspaper, city and state). Abusing Judicial Power Buffalo (N.Y.) NEWS For those concern neither his guilt newspapers, city or state) for those concerned neither his guilty For those concerned whether his guilt for innocence, but the physical Page 6 m. Co.COTLAN for the innocent, but his physical James Earl Ray, awaiting trial on for those innocent, the physical The Clarion on Ledger them for the arrest of two men in for the arrest, the court's notice, however, than Luther King (Memphis) concerns not the court of its use of its newspaker has been ben- disciplinary powers against off- newspayer have been read- in Luther King, two Memphis concernes not the courts of its The Clarion, Miss. newspeaker's statement of the extension of these to the press for its and a more flagrant example of plain judicial tyranny was a during to exercise its proper role- Jackson, Miss .- By penalizing newsman, as during the press, let it be noted, was not By penalising the court is getting to the "frontier" as during the trial, but it is not a matter of the court is going to a frontier justice of the law. It is in frontier justice charged here, let is not noted, not was of the trial. the court of the court, it is a matter of ordinary trial trial. the law is in its frontier justice charged with trial trial nation wide of the jury. It was not a violation of of the laws. <loc_154><loc_593>of the courts. ordinary trial. But about a matter <loc_594>punish members of the press and <loc_154><loc_594><loc_154><loc_595>proper administration of justice,

Summary  
The documents detail legal proceedings and administrative records related to James Earl Ray’s trial for the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., primarily centered in Memphis, Tennessee. Key elements include court rulings by Judge W. Preston Battle restricting media access, contempt charges against journalists such as Arthur Hanes and Charles Edmundson for reporting on the trial, and surveillance measures implemented in Ray’s jail cell at Shelby County Jail. Legal motions addressed issues of evidence disclosure, witness testimony, and courtroom conduct. References to a scheduled trial date of November 12, 1968, appear across multiple entries. The documents also mention unrelated legal cases involving workplace injuries, electrical fires at correctional facilities, and administrative notes about FBI records under Executive Order 14178. Redacted numbers, including potential social security numbers, are noted in several entries.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray (accused assassin of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.)  
- Arthur Hanes (defense attorney; charged with contempt for media reporting)  
- W. Preston Battle (Criminal Court Judge overseeing trial)  
- J. Hanes (defense attorney, possibly same as Arthur Hanes)  
- Phil M. Canalle Jr. (defense attorney)  
- Robert F. Kennedy (mentioned in context of assassination plots)  
- Trower, Drahman (unrelated legal cases; unclear connection to MLK case)  
- Kathleen Gandy, George Bryan, Charles Holmes (other individuals referenced in unrelated matters)  

Key Locations  
- Shelby County Jail, Memphis, Tennessee (Ray’s incarceration and trial site)  
- Memphis, Tennessee (central to trial and investigation)  
- Birmingham, Alabama (legal proceedings and media restrictions)  
- Los Angeles County Jail (briefly referenced)  
- Martin County (mentioned in unrelated legal context)  
- Jail (site of electrical fire incident)  

Key Events  
- Contempt charges against journalists for reporting on Ray’s trial  
- Legal motions regarding evidence disclosure, witness testimony, and courtroom conduct  
- Media access restrictions imposed by Judge W. Preston Battle  
- Scheduled trial date of November 12, 1968  
- Surveillance of Ray’s jail cell using electronic equipment  
- Jail blackout incident caused by electrical fire  
- Unrelated legal cases involving workplace injuries and electricians  

Key Organizations  
- FBI (document headers reference FBI records; administrative notes under E.O. 14178)  
- Memphis Criminal Court (overseeing Ray’s trial)  
- Federal District Court (involved in legal proceedings)  
- U.S. Department of Justice (document classification under E.O. 14178)  
- Shelby County, Tennessee (jurisdiction for trial)  
- UPI (media outlet referenced in context of reporting restrictions)  
- PBA (Public Broadcasting Association; mentioned in unrelated context)

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_32-05-part_1_of_3.pdf

Document Summary

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