</s>DREV.T.E.R.P.O.L.D. m.n. mph H. S. Beyartment of Justice (MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILE) DO NOT DESTROY FEDERAL BUREAU ENTIRE FILE REVIEWED DO NOT DESTROY - ENTIRE HISTORICAL FOR HISTORYICAL DECLASSIFICATION PE.L LIRGATION DO NOT STRIP of INVESTIGATION Series: Volume Number: Bureau File Number 44-3186/ DO NOT DISTROY AAT. INFORMATION CONTAINED PRESERVE FOR SELECT ELEMATE UNICARISATIEN COMMITTEE ON ASSINATION See also Nos. 1A - A-8thlobe See also No. A - Ouy 3020 July B- Neuappen Chappenage July C- Infirmant Themes Home 4/15/68 MARK 18-32850 2023 RELEASE UNDEREO. 14/10

The documents detail FBI and Department of Justice investigations into potential connections between James Earl Ray, Clifford Edmondson, and Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on allegations of assassination plots, prison records, and anonymous communications. The first set of records from 1968 references an anonymous letter alleging Ray’s involvement in a plot to kill MLK, with claims about FBI agent "Gray" and credit card thefts linked to Ray’s associates. The FBI reviewed Missouri State Penitentiary records for visits by "Gray," examined movements of individuals connected to addresses like 621 Appleton Drive (Joplin, Missouri) and 506 Knell Avenue (Little Rock, Arkansas), and traced anonymous letters sent to Memphis county recorders. Discrepancies in the letter’s claims were noted, including no confirmed visits by "Gray" to Ray during incarceration.  

The second set of records explores Clifford Edmondson’s reversed 1963 murder conviction due to mental health concerns, with FBI inquiries into his location at VA hospitals in Topeka, Kansas, and Tokyo, Japan. A letter from Edmondson references "Long Luthr Cig" (possibly a misspelling of MLK) and mentions a group planning his assassination via river travel, including locations like Vicksburg, Mississippi, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Raymond Curtis is implicated in discussions about plotting MLK’s murder, with maps referencing houseboats and yacht club members. Investigations into non-existent addresses and transactions involving individuals like Willie Smith and Nell Willis are noted, though some sections contain redacted text or unclear information, including potential SSNs marked as [SSN REDACTED].  

The third set of records includes fragmented details about Curtis McSeit, a Whitfield County jailer who allegedly intercepted letters from Ray regarding MLK’s assassination. Curtis’ attorney, Ewin Hitchell, questioned the credibility of Ray’s claims. Law enforcement agents like Thomas A. Henry Jr. interviewed Curtis, who provided statements about his alleged association with Ray and other individuals. References to a bank robbery involving "Big Joe" and prison incidents involving Ray are mentioned, though details remain unclear. The text also notes administrative markings, including a 2005 release under EO 1478.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray (accused of MLK’s assassination; incarcerated at Missouri State Penitentiary in 1960)  
- Clifford Edmondson (reversed murder conviction due to mental health concerns; VA hospital records reviewed)  
- Raymond Curtis (alleged plotter against MLK, referenced in letters and maps)  
- Willie Smith (yacht club employee linked to houseboat "Neill Williess")  
- Nell Willis (spouse of deceased William Willis, connected to houseboat ownership)  
- Ewin Hitchell (Curtis’ attorney; former U.S. Congressman)  
- Curtis McSeit (jailer in Whitfield County, Alabama; intercepted letters from Ray)  
- Sheriff G.T. Sauldia (Whitfield County sheriff)  
- Thomas A. Henry Jr. (law enforcement agent)  
- "Big Joe" (individual mentioned in prison and bank robbery context)  

Key Locations  
- Missouri State Penitentiary (Ray’s incarceration; FBI reviewed records for visits by "Gray")  
- Jefferson City, Missouri (prison records reviewed; Missouri State Penitentiary location)  
- Kansas City, Missouri (FBI division involved in investigations)  
- Memphis, Tennessee (county recorder office; anonymous letters sent to)  
- Little Rock, Arkansas (investigations into 506 Knell Avenue)  
- Topeka, Kansas (VA hospital where Clifford Edmondson was located)  
- Tokyo, Japan (Veterans hospital referenced for Edmondson’s records)  
- Vicksburg, Mississippi (linked to river travel and houseboat plans)  
- New Orleans, Louisiana (destination mentioned in alleged assassination plot)  
- Whitfield County, Alabama (jail operations; Curtis McSeit’s location)  
- Scoutwest City, Illinois (bank robbery reference)  

Key Events  
- FBI investigation into James Earl Ray’s alleged involvement in MLK’s assassination plot, including prison records review and credit card thefts linked to associates  
- Review of Clifford Edmondson’s Air Force murder conviction and mental health reversal, with VA hospital inquiries  
- Examination of Raymond Curtis’ claims about plotting MLK’s assassination via river routes, including maps of Vicksburg and New Orleans  
- Investigation into houseboat "Neill Williess" ownership and its connection to alleged conspiracies involving Willie Smith and Nell Willis  
- FBI efforts to verify anonymous letters sent to Memphis county recorders and trace their origins  
- Curtis McSeit’s interception of letters from Ray, with interviews by law enforcement agents like Thomas A. Henry Jr.  
- Inquiries into non-existent addresses (e.g., 621 Appleton Drive, Joplin, Missouri) and yacht club members  
- References to a bank robbery involving "Big Joe" and prison-related incidents involving Ray  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Kansas City, Memphis, St. Louis divisions  
- Department of Justice – Bureau of Prisons  
- Missouri State Penitentiary  
- United States Senate (Senator Edward Kennedy’s office; forwarded anonymous letters to FBI)  
- Veterans Administration Hospitals – Topeka, Kansas; Tokyo, Japan  
- Yacht Clubs – Greenville, Mississippi; Memphis, Tennessee  
- Whitfield County Jail (operated by Sheriff G.T. Sauldia)

MLK Declassified Files

44-kc-760_404058_173-01-part_1_of_7.pdf

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