</s>UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION In Help, Planer Koffer to WASHINGTON, D.C. 2055 File No. JAMES EARL RAY April 20, 1968 James Earl Ray, a Missouri prison escape who has sought under the alias Eric Starvo Galt in connection with the gunshot slaying of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr ., is one of the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives." FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover ordered the special addition to Ray to the "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives' list, which already contains captions to fugitives, to insure the widest possible dissemination of Ray's already described and description to help effect his prompt location. Ray has been the subject of a massive search since the gunshot slayings of Dr. King on April 1, 1968, as she stood on the balcony of a Memphis, Tennessee, motel. An exhaustive FBI fingerprint search, comparing latent fingerprint uncovered in the Dr. King against fingerprints over 53,000 persons on whom FBI wanted notices have been posted. Based on the FBI search, Alabama, on April 17, 1968. A Federal warrant issued by Birmingham, Alabama on April 19, 1966, charges Ray, under the alias Eric Starvoo Galt, are conspiring to interfere with a Consti- tutorial Right of a United States Eric Rray, who escaped on April 21, 1967, from the Missouri State Penitentiary, is also sought for unlawful interstate flight to avoid confined- ment after conviction for armed robbery. Possessing an arrest record dating back to 1949. Ray may be seen convicted of burglarly, armed robbery and record United Postal Money Orders. A 40-year-old white male, reportedly born in Illinois in Ray is approximately 5'10" tall, while weighing 163 of 174 pounds, has blue eyes and short brown. hair. He has a nervous habit of tugging at an ear lobe and left ear protrudes noticeably. Describe a "loner of drifter," and "a "natural" quality" in speech, Ray has worked as a baker, labor and color match. He was taken dancing lessons and completed a course at a school of bartending. Consider Ray armed and extremely dangerous. Report any information INDRED CONCERING him to the nearest FBI office. SERIALIZED: APR20-1858 FBI-JACKWACKWICKETE 44-769-1688 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents consist of fragmented FBI records from the mid-1960s to early 1970s, primarily detailing investigations into fugitives, criminal activity, and inter-agency communication. Central figures include **James Earl Ray**, a suspect in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) in 1968, and other individuals linked to civil rights activism or alleged conspiracies. The records reference FBI case identifiers such as *FD-36*, *44-769*, and internal codes like "CYB" for redacted sections. They also include contact information for FBI offices, law enforcement agencies, and media outlets like UPI (United Press International). The documents highlight the FBI’s surveillance of Ray and others during the civil rights era, noting his aliases (*Eric Stavo Galt*, *W.C. Herron*, etc.), physical description (5'10", scar on left ear), and criminal history involving robbery, escape from jail, and convictions in Florida, Texas, Arkansas, and California. The text contains typographical errors, fragmented sentences, and incomplete entries, possibly due to transcription issues or intentional obfuscation.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray** (FBI No. 405342): Suspect in MLK’s assassination; listed with multiple aliases including *Eric Stavo Galt*, *W.C. Herron*, and *Harvey James McBride*.  
- **FBI Agents/Offices**: Mentioned through internal codes (*FD-36*, *44-769*) and contact details for FBI field offices.  
- **Local Law Enforcement**: References to agencies like the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) and unspecified jurisdictions.  
- **Media Outlets**: UPI (United Press International) noted in context of public statements or leaks.  

Key Locations  
- **Florida, Texas, Arkansas, California**: States where Ray faced arrests, convictions, or incarceration.  
- **Tallahassee** (Florida): Mentioned in relation to a "Union" article, possibly tied to media coverage or misinformation.  
- **Interstate Flights**: Noted as part of Ray’s movements linked to MLK’s assassination investigation.  

Key Events  
- **Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.** (April 4, 1968): Ray was the primary suspect but later acquitted due to evidence tampering.  
- **Fugitive Surveillance**: FBI records detail tracking Ray and others suspected of civil rights conspiracies.  
- **Arrests and Convictions**: Ray’s criminal history includes robbery, escape from jail, and a 1965 conviction in Alameda, California.  
- **Interagency Communication**: FBI collaboration with local law enforcement and media outlets, including "ARMED AND DANGEROUS" alerts.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Central to the records; referenced through case identifiers, internal codes, and operational procedures.  
- **Local Law Enforcement Agencies**: Including Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) and unspecified jurisdictions.  
- **Media Outlets**: UPI (United Press International) noted in context of public information dissemination.  

Notes on Document Integrity  
- **Redacted Sections**: Indicated by terms like "CYB" or fragmented entries, possibly to obscure sensitive details.  
- **Incomplete Records**: Typographical errors, missing words (e.g., "FNU" = First Name Unknown), and fragmented sentences suggest incomplete or poorly transcribed files.  
- **Historical Context**: Reflects FBI surveillance of civil rights activists and fugitives during the 1960s, with implications for Cold War-era domestic intelligence practices.

MLK Declassified Files

44-jk-769_739798_01-03-part_2_of_3.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search