</s>OPTIONAL FORM NO. 1 MAY 18, 2015 (E.O. 14176) UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Memorandum UNITED STATE'S GOVERNMENT TO : SAC (44-760) : SA JOHN M. GATTIS DATE: 4/20/68 P FROM : SA JOHN m. GATTS SUBJECT: MURKIN On 20/68, WILLIAM NOLAN, Los Angeles Office, telephone(s) contacted the SAC and advised that one CHARLES telephone/s/y/2068, WILLIAM NOLLAN, LOS ANGELES OFFICE, CALVIN BOOOMAN, FBI #9293525, presently residing in Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA. Office of the Los Angeles Police Department, City of Los Angeles Office of The Los Angeles Department of the Police Department RAY had contacted him 8/2/292525, formerly referred to him by some money. He had contacted that the Los Angeles Police Department contacted him by telephone He had had contacted his 8/22/292925, recently requesting him to borrow some money- time is supposed to be in the San Pedro, California area. BOOKMAN stated that he and RAY were in the Federal Pentitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas together during 1956. Both worked on prison farm and during this time time gone gone. into worked on the prison farm during this TIME RAY got transmitted back inside the prison walls. BOOKMAN indicated he knew RAY by the name of RALPH RAY. SA NOLAM advised that the los Angeles Division attempted to locate the subject that the San Pedro area with negative RAY to the subject of the SAN Pedro area conducted at Leavensworth to see if BOOKMAN was telling them the truth. agent, SA MAX RICHARDSON, Leavenwell, Kansas Resident Agent, 4/20 /68, advised he had contacted Mr. CARL ZARTN 2/40/69, advised him to contact Mr. 4/28/68 and PEDERAL PENTENTIALY, LEAVENWORTH, Kansas on an intimate in in mission during the same time as BOOKMAN by the number of RALEH Mr. ZARTN also advised that BOOKMAN had the name OF RALFH Mr. R. ZARTHR also advised him that BOOKMAN had prison 377515. he had contacted officers at the BOOKMAN and the name he would not recall an incident between subject RAY and a colored officer, that <loc_786><loc_208><loc_786>REALED in his prison sentence. he had contracted officers at a disciplinary and they could not RAY while in the federal Pentitentiary would definitely be reflected in his Prison file. L.LZ-2603 JMG-Gak <loc_205>

Summary:  
The documents detail FBI investigations into James Earl Ray (JER) following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968. Key points include:  
- On April 20, 1968, SAC John M. Gattis and agents reviewed records indicating JER had been incarcerated at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary from March 8, 1956, to September 3, 1957, working on the prison farm. His file noted no employment on the bakery during this period.  
- Agents contacted Charles Bookman (FBI #9293525), who claimed JER and Raymond "Ralph Ray" were inmates at Leavenworth in 1956. A search of JER's prison file confirmed he was assigned to the bakery from March 8, 1956, to September 3, 1957, but no record linked him to the farm during that time.  
- FBI agents in Kansas City and Chicago pursued leads on JER’s whereabouts post-release, including inquiries into his employment as a painter, bartender, and laborer, and his alleged drug trafficking activities involving amphetamines (Bennies).  
- JER was described as "armed and dangerous" with escape propensities. His associates included Jerry Ray (brother), Robert Crawford (alleged ex-wife Jean Ray’s brother-in-law), and James Bond (prisoner at Jefferson City Penitentiary, Missouri, 1965–1967).  
- Records indicated JER may have used the alias "Ralph Ray" during incarceration. A handwritten letter from JER to Dr. Earl C. Kelper dated October 24, 1966, was forwarded to FBI for comparison.  

Key People:  
- James Earl Ray (JER) – central suspect in MLK’s assassination; incarcerated at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary (1956–1957).  
- Charles Bookman (FBI #9293525) – claimed to have known JER during incarceration.  
- John Ray, Jerry Ray – brothers of JER; provided information on his activities and associates.  
- Robert Crawford – alleged ex-wife Jean Ray’s brother-in-law; contacted by FBI regarding JER’s whereabouts.  
- James Bond – former inmate at Jefferson City Penitentiary (1965–1967); described JER’s drug trafficking and antisocial behavior.  

Key Locations:  
- Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary, Kansas – site of JER’s incarceration (1956–1957).  
- Jefferson City Penitentiary, Missouri – where James Bond was incarcerated (1965–1967).  
- St. Louis, Kansas City, Memphis, Birmingham, and Chicago – cities where FBI agents conducted inquiries into JER’s movements and associates.  

Key Events:  
- April 4, 1968 – Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee.  
- April 20, 1968 – FBI review of JER’s prison records at Leavenworth; confirmation of his bakery assignment but no farm work during incarceration.  
- April 20–30, 1968 – FBI agents in Kansas City and Chicago pursued leads on JER’s whereabouts, including drug trafficking activities and associations with Jerry Ray and James Bond.  
- Ongoing investigations into JER’s alleged drug dealings, escape propensities, and potential connections to antisocial behavior.  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – conducted nationwide inquiries into JER’s movements, associates, and criminal history.  
- Missouri State Penitentiary (Jefferson City) – site of James Bond’s incarceration; provided details on JER’s prison activities.  
- Los Angeles Police Department – initially contacted by William Nolan regarding Charles Bookman’s claims about JER.

MLK Declassified Files

44-kc-760_404058_169-03-part_4_of_4.pdf

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