</s>FD. 248 (Rev. 4-13-60) H. S. Department of Justice (MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILE) ENTIRE FILE REVIEWED FOR HISTORICAL ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED 44 563 DECLASSIFICATION ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED HERE IS UNCLASSHED DATE IS UNLOCKSMILE FEDERAL BUREAU DO NOT DESTROY: of HISTORICAL VALUE, NATIONAL ARCHIVES INVESTIGATION Volume Number: Bureau File Number 49-38861 Serial: Rice 6/13/77 DO NOT DESTOY - PERMING LITIGATION DU NOT DESTRY - PRESERVE FOR See also No. Selec also No .: 1/15/19/18/17/1917/20/22/22 (Hobel No. 16/17-19/20) SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS DO NOT DESTROY - PENDING LITTIGATION youre 7-30-216 R.Bullet/1512/12/17 3 DO NOT RESTROY - FENDING LICITATION ge pay 9/15- yoh P. 1857 Pistain Enten Bill george 3323 Bearsign 37067 Pistan Enten bille p.e. 9/27/1907 44 567 H.O.L.Otur 18/68 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O ., 14176

The document contains FBI records from June 1968 detailing investigations into James Earl Ray, a suspect linked to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Ray was identified as residing in Canada under aliases including Paul Bridgman and Ramon George Sneyd. The FBI tracked his movements, noting he obtained a British passport using these names and planned travel to London via BOAC. Records indicate Ray had prior connections to prison facilities in Kansas City, Missouri, where he worked in the kitchen and was later discharged in 1968. The investigation also explores potential ties between Ray and Paul Osborn Bridgeman, another individual with similar aliases, though no direct link to MLK's assassination is confirmed. The FBI issued warnings to border authorities about Sneyd’s identity and cautioned against disclosing connections to the case. Additional records include administrative notes on correspondence club investigations in Florida, Texas, and other states, unrelated to the MLK case but included as part of the document set.  

Key People:  
- James Earl Ray (suspect in MLK assassination)  
- Paul Osborn Bridgman (individual with similar aliases to Ray)  
- Ramon George Sneyd (alias used by Ray for passport application)  
- Walter R. Koger (contacted regarding Bridgeman’s relatives)  
- Alta Hicks (identified Paul Bridgman’s relative)  

Key Locations:  
- Indianapolis, Indiana (FBI field office)  
- South Bend, Indiana (rental car records)  
- Toronto, Canada (passport application and residence of Sneyd)  
- Kansas City, Missouri (prison facility where Ray worked)  
- Louisville, Kentucky (Bridgeman’s relatives’ locations)  

Key Events:  
- FBI investigation into James Earl Ray’s movements in Canada (April–May 1968)  
- Passport application by Ramon George Sneyd using false identity  
- Search for Paul Osborn Bridgeman and his alleged connections to Ray  
- Border alerts issued for Sneyd’s identification  
- Administrative notes on correspondence club investigations (unrelated to MLK case)  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Lake Central Airlines, St. Joseph County Airport (rental car records)  
- Budget Rent A Car, Inc. (rental car records)  
- Correspondence Club Investigations (administrative records)

MLK Declassified Files

44-ip-563_404058_167-03-part_1_of_8.pdf

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