</s>(REV. 413-60) H. S. Department of Justice: MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILE) DO NOT DESTROY FEDERAL BUREAU FOR HISTORICAL FOR HISTORYAL DECLASSIFICATION DO NOT STRIP of INVESTIGATION Volume Number Bureau File Number Schools DO NOT DESTROY - Bureau LITIGATION DO NOT DETROY- 88-9449 PENDING LITICATION See also No. 88-9448 DO NOT DESTROY PENDINE FOR SELECT ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS UNCLASGIFTER PRESERVE FOR SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSINATION DATE: 5/22/2012 BY-09/20/20 BARW WILIEE 10-25260 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary:  
The documents detail FBI investigative efforts into the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on suspects linked to the Minutemen organization. Key figures include Vincent De Palma, a Minutemen member suspected of involvement in the plot, and Dwight D. Mathias, a man under mental health care in Missouri who was identified as a potential suspect due to his public criticism of Dr. King and President Lyndon B. Johnson. The FBI coordinated with local law enforcement to monitor travel plans of suspects departing from multiple cities, including Philadelphia, Newark, New York City, and Wilmington, Delaware. Surveillance efforts included verifying employment records (e.g., John Bryant Jr.'s postal work), tracking individuals' movements, and requesting photographs or fingerprints for identification. De Palma was assigned a code name ("Willard") and may have been connected to Robert De Pugh, a Minutemen leader wanted by federal authorities. The FBI sought photos of De Palma for confirmation and requested interviews with informants like Edward Baumgardner and Robert Bagwell, who provided details about Minutemen activities. Administrative records reference FBI personnel movements, case file management, and investigative priorities, including tracking suspects such as Lawrence G. Henry (armed, described as 5'8", medium-dark complexion) and Clifford Nathaniel Hyman (5'7", slender build, black hair). The Memphis Police Department provided information on suspects and local activity related to the assassination, while Delta Airlines was monitored for flight records of individuals suspected in the plot.  

Key People:  
- **Vincent De Palma**: Minutemen member suspected of involvement in the assassination plot; assigned code name "Willard."  
- **Dwight D. Mathias**: Individual under mental health care in Missouri, described as a critic of Dr. King and President Johnson; driving a red Ford pickup truck.  
- **Lawrence G. Henry**: Suspect described as 5'8", medium-dark complexion, armed.  
- **Clifford Nathaniel Hyman**: Suspect described as 5'7", slender build, black hair.  
- **John Bryant Jr.**: Former veteran with employment records verified by FBI (postal work).  
- **Robert De Pugh**: Minutemen leader wanted by federal authorities; potential rescue operations planned if arrested.  
- **Edward Baumgardner**: Informant with ties to Minutemen, provided details on De Palma's activities.  
- **Robert Bagwell**: Former Minutemen member who gave information about De Palma.  
- **SA Booth**: New Haven FBI agent involved in initial reports.  
- **SA Nehrass**: Memphis FBI agent coordinating investigations.  

Key Locations:  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of MLK's assassination; central to the investigation and FBI operations.  
- **Kansas City, Missouri**: FBI office involved in suspect interviews, file management, and tracking De Palma.  
- **Philadelphia, Pennsylvania**: Location from which suspects were monitored for travel plans.  
- **Newark, New Jersey**: City where suspects departed for potential flight routes.  
- **New York City, New York**: Location of suspect departures; referenced in FBI surveillance efforts.  
- **Wilmington, Delaware**: City with suspected travel connections to the assassination plot.  
- **Bristol, Connecticut**: De Palma's mother's residence.  
- **Newport, Rhode Island**: Alleged residence of De Palma.  
- **Independence, Missouri**: Where Dwight D. Mathias was arrested.  
- **Columbus, Ohio**: Secret Service involvement in Mathias' case.  

Key Events:  
- **April 4, 1968**: MLK's assassination in Memphis; FBI and local authorities launched an investigation.  
- **February 21, 1968**: Investigation into Vincent De Palma's movements on the day of the assassination.  
- **Flight monitoring**: Delta Airlines flights from Memphis to Houston and other destinations were scrutinized for potential suspects.  
- **Surveillance efforts**: Verification of employment records (e.g., John Bryant Jr.'s postal work), tracking individuals' movements, and coordinating with airlines/airports to intercept suspects.  
- **Informant interviews**: Edward Baumgardner and Robert Bagwell provided details about Minutemen activities and De Palma's connections.  
- **Photographic requests**: FBI sought photos of De Palma for identification; Memphis agents were instructed to disregard prior directives on releasing a photograph.  
- **Administrative records**: Documentation of FBI personnel arrivals in Memphis, Kansas City, and Cincinnati, along with case file management and investigative priorities.  

Key Organizations:  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Central to the investigation, coordinating efforts across offices in Memphis, Kansas City, Houston, San Francisco, and Cincinnati.  
- **Minutemen**: Organization suspected of involvement in the assassination plot; linked to Vincent De Palma and Robert De Pugh.  
- **White Knights of the KKK**: Group mentioned as an assassination squad by informants.  
- **Secret Service**: Involved in Dwight D. Mathias' case, including his mental health care and tracking.  
- **Memphis Police Department**: Provided information on suspects and local activity related to MLK's assassination.  
- **Delta Airlines**: Monitored for flight records of individuals suspected in the plot.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary**: Referenced in evidence inventory logs (Walter Rife, prison number USP-L #724997).

MLK Declassified Files

44-kc-760_404058_169-01-part_1_of_3.pdf

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