</s>OPTIONAL FORM NO. 10 MAY (MAY 1/2) EDITION: MAY 2/3/2014 MAY 3/4/2014: UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Memorandum SAC (44-696) : : DATE: 5/10/68 TO : SA JAMES F. POLATTIE FROM : SUBJECT: MURKIN The below listed informants were contacted on 4/30/68 and the IO and Wanted Flyer photos were exhibited to them. All stated if any information received, they would immediately contact the writer or the Knoxville FBI Office. XX 212-C XX 162-C XX 232-C XX 243-C XX 251-C XX 285-C XX 285 -C 1-44-996 = 137-15 1-137-1426 1- 137-1420 1- 157-2440 1- 127-2667 1- 1-137.2667 JFPIC:cc Buy U.S. Savings Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Savings Plan Flamiz 4/4 916-104 2026 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document comprises fragmented FBI/Justice Department records from 1968 detailing the investigation into James Earl Ray’s alleged involvement in Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination on April 4, 1968. It outlines Ray’s movements between Memphis, Tennessee; Belle Glade, Florida; and Kansas City, Missouri, including hotel stays at the Clark Hotel (Los Angeles) and a residence near downtown Kansas City. The FBI tracked Ray’s travel via bus tickets, credit card transactions, and phone calls, while investigating connections to Frank Brickley, Samuel Lewis, and informants like "Bob Unguote" and William Thomas of the *Los Angeles Times*. Key coded elements include references to internal FBI files (e.g., "KX 44-696") and classification codes ("2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14178"). The text reflects Cold War-era investigations, with mentions of Cuba and private aviation linked to Ray’s escape routes. Challenges include fragmented structure, typos, and incomplete records, complicating definitive analysis without additional context.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Convicted of assassinating MLK; tracked for movements between 1967–1968, including travel from Memphis to Belle Glade, Florida.  
- **Frank Brickley**: Suspect linked to Ray via prison records (both incarcerated at Terre Haute, Indiana); FBI verified his file status.  
- **Samuel Lewis**: Roommate of Ray in a Kansas City hotel; served time in Michigan and Indiana prisons.  
- **William Thomas**: *Los Angeles Times* journalist who provided details about Ray’s alleged hideout in Kansas City.  
- **"Bob Unguote"**: Informant (possibly pseudonym) who supplied information on Ray’s travel plans via bus tickets and flight records.  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: MLK’s assassination site; Ray’s last known location before fleeing to Georgia.  
- **Belle Glade, Florida**: Key stop on Ray’s travel route; phone calls from Memphis to this area noted.  
- **Kansas City, Missouri**: Suspected hideout for Ray, located near a moving company and grocery store; FBI used directions from William Thomas to locate it.  
- **Los Angeles, California**: Ray stayed at the Clark Hotel (April 17–18); FBI investigated his movements here.  
- **Chattanooga, Tennessee**: Frank Brickley’s residence; unclear whereabouts after leaving by bus.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: MLK assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee.  
- **April 17–18, 1968**: Ray stayed at the Clark Hotel in Los Angeles.  
- **May 18, 1968**: FBI coordinated efforts to verify Ray’s movements and connections.  
- **Prison Records Check**: FBI reviewed Terre Haute prison files to confirm Frank Brickley’s status.  
- **Latent Print Analysis**: Greyhound bus ticket (Memphis–Belle Glade) examined for fingerprints.  

Key Organizations  
- **FBI**: Conducted investigation into Ray’s movements, connections, and potential accomplices; collaborated with agencies in Memphis, Los Angeles, and Indianapolis.  
- **Justice Department**: Part of the broader U.S. government inquiry into MLK’s assassination.  
- **Los Angeles Times**: Provided information to FBI via journalist William Thomas about Ray’s alleged hideout.

MLK Declassified Files

44-kx-696_742347_01-02-part_7_of_8.pdf

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