</s>UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Memorandum TO SAC (44-760) DATE: 4/12/68 FROM : IC JAMES W. WRIGHT (P) SURJECT: MURKIN Memphis and Kansas City, dated 4/11/69) Re Birmingham teletype to Bureau, Atlanta, On 4/12 /68, Miss CARMELA A6070, Clerk, Credit Bureau of Greater Kansas City. Inc. 110 Grand Avenue, made available file pertaining to/o/ D. WILLARD and wife GERALDINE. The file reflects last known address of 4/10 of 2928 Holmes and 2828 Cherry, Employment was listed as Sonken-Gambala. No credit report contained in file. Sonken, Kansas City., Missouri, 7/15/63, Bankruptcy File #2828, which was discharged 8/30/63. WILLARD'S Missouri, Kansas city, Missouri, 71/1563, attorney, bankruptcy reported to the Department account Hittman, Kansas, reported by ALLIED BOSCHERT, notice dated 12/27/60 reported by Allied Building Credits, No. 1-11 Temple Building, Kansas CITY, Missouri Account WILLAR, 2828 Cherry, Notice reflects original note was in amount of $2,295, with seen payments of $35.8 a month past due, balance of $200,000, charged to loss. Electric Credit Report dated 2/27,76/77/77,reported by General in the name of J. D. WILLARD, 298 Holmes, reflects account, opened 6/21/55 in an amount of 398.40. Balance not shown and installment repossessed. DATE File reflects the following inquiries: COMPANY INQUIRING 8/1/60 Pacific Finance Company 8/2/60 8/8/60 CIT 8/5/60 Reliable Discount Company 8/18/60 City National Bank of 760-14 JW/71 JH/1 INDEXED (2) SERIALIZED FED APR 12 1965 FBI-KANSAS CITY this greee vignetet Bay U.S. Savings Bonds Regulated on the Payroll Saving Plan

Summary:  
The document contains FBI memos from April 1968 detailing investigations into individuals linked to Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. Key elements include searches for J.D. Willard and his wife Geraldine, credit records, legal warrants, and inquiries into Eric S. Galt’s ties to the Locksmithing Institute. A suitcase containing red tape with black lettering and laundry marks associated with the assassination was examined, noting textile marking machine details. The FBI also investigated Thermo-Seal machines in Kansas City and other locations, highlighting discrepancies in code markings. Searches for names like GALT and LOWWEYER yielded no records. An official memorandum dated April 17, 1968, references a city warrant for D.J. Willard issued by the Kansas City Police Department on January 7, 1966/68 (likely a date formatting error). It notes Willard’s employment in Amherst and residence at 60th South Woodland, Missouri (Independence) or 1401 Benning, Kansas City. The document includes unrelated administrative content about U.S. Savings Bonds and Executive Order 14176.  

Key People:  
- J.D. Willard (and wife Geraldine) – Subject of credit checks, legal warrants, and residence investigations.  
- Eric S. Galt – Investigated for potential ties to the Locksmithing Institute.  
- Lloyd R. Hilburn, Lee Chapman – Officials confirming no records for Willard or GALT.  
- W. Mullins – Warrant Service Officer at Kansas City Police Department.  
- SAC 44-760 (Special Agent in Charge) – Recipient of the memorandum.  
- Special Agents: James W. Wright, F.Y. Lutterys Jr., Bertie L. Sapp, Leonard L. Ayres, George D. Adams – Conducted investigations and document reviews.  

Key Locations:  
- Kansas City, Missouri (central to credit records, laundry businesses, FBI offices, and warrant issuance).  
- Memphis, Birmingham, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Milwaukee – Cities mentioned in teletypes.  
- Lawrence, Leavenworth, St. Joseph, Dodge City, Springfield, Missouri – Sites of record checks.  
- Independence, Missouri; Amherst (location unspecified) – Willard’s alleged residence and employment.  

Key Events:  
- Search for J.D. Willard’s credit records and legal warrants (April 1968).  
- Examination of red tape with Textile Marking Machine Co. markings linked to MLK assassination investigation.  
- FBI inquiries into Eric S. Galt’s publications and potential subscribers.  
- Investigation into Thermo-Seal machines in laundry businesses, noting code discrepancies.  
- Issuance of a city warrant for D.J. Willard by Kansas City Police Department (January 7, 1966/68).  
- Investigation into Willard’s employment and residence in Amherst and Independence, Missouri.  
- Administrative mention of U.S. Savings Bonds via Payroll Savings Plan and Executive Order 14176 release.  

Key Organizations:  
- Textile Marking Machine Co., Inc. – Manufacturer of red tape examined in the MLK assassination context.  
- Credit bureaus (e.g., Kansas City, Lawrence) – Searched for Willard and GALT records.  
- FBI offices in Memphis, Kansas City, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc. – Conducted investigations and document reviews.  
- Kansas City, Missouri Police Department – Issued warrant for D.J. Willard.  
- Laundry businesses (e.g., Central Laundry Co., American Laundry, Pearl Nu-Tay Laundry) – Listed with Thermo-Seal machine details.

MLK Declassified Files

44-kc-760_404058_169-02-part_4_of_4.pdf

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