</s>FD-350 (Rev. 7-16-63) (Mount Clipping in Space Below) Ray-Will Be Transferred Into a Federal Prison WASHINGTON (UPT) James Ray. Confessor assassin of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin (Indicate paper, name of assassin or Dr. William Luther king, Jr.'s newspaper, city and state.) esse State Penitentiary newspapper, city, and state). ten, the Federal Bureau deserted by the federal Bureau day. I-5 Los Angeles Times I.S Los Angeles, Ca. director of the Federal Bureau director of director of a federal Bureau Carlson was asked to re- said Norman A. los Angeles, CA. rection into a Commissioner involved into a federal prison moved into the federal prison. Lattrell made the Lattrel made the of drawing up formal pre- skekeman's federal re- skekeman's federal pre- of formal formal pay- of drawing formal pay. permission of the transfer. court filed in Nashville Thurs- court filed on the transfer- court filed for a federal trial- Initial plans call for Ray court filed by the Federal center for federal trial. center for Federal Per- Observation plans for trial- Observation for any health- 12/29/73 center for the federal per- Date: of Under the terms of this contract Editor: Saturday Final author: enter into a contract with Editor: enter into the contract with William F. Thomas transfer, the state of the enter into an agreement with Title: enter to pay all costs to agreeance. agreeance, to pay to pay a cost of $1,000 for character: lay was being moved for or may was being honored for would not be elaborate why Classificatior <loc_760><loc_778><loc_760><loc_788><loc_667><loc_788>loy was not responsible for <loc_38><loc_788>susiness, Los Angeles. Los Angeles neese medium security <loc_38><loc_790><loc_213><loc_790><loc_213><loc_801><loc_38><loc_801>sundance, Incorporated.

Summary:  
The documents detail James Earl Ray’s legal challenges regarding his transfer from state to federal prison, including court filings and appeals between 1973–1974. Ray, convicted of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, argued concerns about safety and procedural legality. The FBI and Department of Justice (DOJ) are referenced in surveillance activities related to King’s security, including electronic monitoring and informant files. DOJ task forces reviewed FBI investigations into the assassination, assessing thoroughness and potential involvement. Documents reference FBI field offices in Los Angeles, Memphis, Kansas City, and coordination with local law enforcement. A separate review by FBI task force attorneys, including James Kiekhefer, William White, and Joseph Gross, examined security files on King, seeking threats to U.S. internal security. The task force requested Xerox copies of newspaper clippings and interviewed witnesses such as Dr. Mark Freeman (successfully located), Charles and Rita Stein, Marie Martin, Allen Thompson, and others. Concerns were raised about prioritizing King’s personal life over community connections in intelligence operations. Files were to be reviewed across multiple FBI field offices, with a deadline of August 9, 1976, and forwarded to the FBI’s Intelligence Division. Alfred William Martinez, interviewed in Sacramento on December 7, 1976, reported associating with William Simpkins during incarceration at Salt Lake County Jail (late 1966–early 1967) and mentioned letters written for Simpkins to James Ray and Earl Ray. The FBI concluded no connection between James Earl Ray (convicted of MLK’s murder) and Jimmie W. Ray, dismissing further inquiry based on Martinez’s information.  

Key People:  
- James Earl Ray (convicted of MLK’s assassination)  
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (assassinated in 1968)  
- Norman A. Carlson (FBI director)  
- J. Clure (U.S. District Judge)  
- William F. Thomas (editor/author of documents)  
- James Kiekhefer, William White, Joseph Gross (DOJ task force attorneys)  
- Alfred William Martinez (interviewed in Sacramento, 1976)  
- William Simpkins (associated with Martinez during incarceration)  
- Dr. Mark Freeman (located by the task force)  

Key Locations:  
- Los Angeles, California  
- Memphis, Tennessee  
- Nashville, Tennessee  
- Kansas City, Missouri  
- Salt Lake County Jail (Utah)  
- Sacramento, California  
- Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Chicago, New Orleans, New York, Springfield, St. Louis (planned review locations)  

Key Events:  
- Ray’s legal appeals to block transfer to federal prison (1973–1974)  
- FBI surveillance of King, including electronic monitoring and informant networks  
- DOJ task force review of FBI investigation into MLK’s assassination (June 1976)  
- Task force request for Xerox copies of newspaper clippings and witness interviews  
- Martinez’s interview detailing letters to James Ray and Earl Ray  
- FBI conclusion of no connection between James Earl Ray and Jimmie W. Ray  
- Review of historical files, informant records, and security assessments across FBI field offices  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR)  
- U.S. District Courts (Nashville, Memphis)  
- Los Angeles Police Department  
- FBI field offices (Los Angeles, Memphis, Kansas City, Salt Lake County)  
- Civil Rights Division (U.S. Department of Justice)

MLK Declassified Files

44-la-1574_742142_004-06-part_7_of_7.pdf

Document Summary

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