</s>OFFICIAL FORM NO. 13 9/14/08 GSA-1-00-00.00-0.00 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Memorandum TO : SAC, LOS ANGELES (144-15741) DATE: 5/28/68 FROM : SA DENNIS C. LE MASTER Deth SUBJECT: MURKIN Re Phoenix tells to Bureau 5/13/68 and 5/16/68; and Cincinnati radiogram to Bureau 54/14-68. Investigation to the St. Francis Hotel, Los Angeles, California, determined that neither the Bob MERRIEN, California, and the Bureau that neither other St. Francis Hotel, or HAWK, were currently at weekends. Contact with HAWKE-HARVE been in bars frequently at LUNFORD have established that LUNSFORD is not in the area of Hollywood and Western. In view of the above, the leads as set out in the referenced communications are being considered covered, UACB. 44-1574-1/2/2 SEARCHED SEARCHERED, INDEXED, SEARCHING, INDXED, MAY 3 1968 FBI-LOS ANGELES DCL/dls (1) dea 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents include FBI records from May 1968 detailing investigations into James Earl Ray, a suspect in Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. Key elements involve a car theft in Covina, California, linked to Allen Krause and an accident involving W. L. De Luca. A stolen 1967 Plymouth was recovered near Covina. FBI inquiries focused on Greyhound bus routes between Tulsa, Oklahoma; Dallas, Texas; and San Antonio, Texas, with no reported incidents. Hotel records from the St. Francis Hotel in Los Angeles noted interactions between an unnamed individual (possibly Ray) and staff. Financial transactions tied to Bank of America money orders included purchases of handcuffs and a book titled *The Sexualty Responsive Woman*. Requests for further investigation included checks on phone booth numbers, airline flight records, and comparisons of RASO/FRATS to Ray’s physical description, which did not match.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray (suspect under investigation)  
- Allen Krause (involved in car theft and accident with De Luca)  
- W. L. De Luca (driver involved in accident)  
- Harold O’Clair (Greyhound bus driver from Tulsa to Dallas)  
- Maggie Powers, Rita Swein (individuals shown photos of Ray for identification)  
- James C. Harden (also known as James Wilbourn Ashore, FBI No. 4869529; subject of separate FBI inquiry)  
- Norma (wife of James E. Harden)  

Key Locations  
- Covina, California (car theft and recovery, hotel occupancy checks)  
- Dallas, Texas (Greyhound bus route destination)  
- San Antonio, Texas (bus destination)  
- Los Angeles, California (St. Francis Hotel, Kings Four in Hand Restaurant)  
- Tulsa, Oklahoma (bus origin)  
- New Orleans, Louisiana (police records on James E. Harden)  
- Huntsville, Alabama (residence of James E. Harden)  

Key Events  
- Recovery of a stolen car linked to Allen Krause and De Luca’s accident near Covina.  
- FBI investigation into Greyhound bus routes for potential sightings or connections to Ray.  
- Examination of hotel records, phone booth numbers, and financial transactions tied to Ray.  
- Request for recent photographs of James C. Harden for St. Francis Hotel manager review.  
- New Orleans police records confirming no identifiable information on Harden but noting his residence in Huntsville, Alabama.  
- Reference to a film containing Southern Conference Educational Fund (SCEF) subscriber photos sent to Louisville in 1966.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Greyhound Bus Company  
- Bank of America  
- St. Francis Hotel (Los Angeles, California)  
- Kings Four in Hand Restaurant (Los Angeles)  
- Southern Conference Educational Fund (SCEF)  
- Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company  
- New Orleans Police Department

MLK Declassified Files

44-la-1574_742142_004-03-part_1_of_4.pdf

Document Summary

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