</s>Drawn by City Editor WILLIAM THOMAS, "Los Angeles Times" 5/17/66, and Given to SAC WESLEY G. GRAPP and Supervision WILLIAMS JOHN NOLAN as to possible location of hideaway house allegedly utilized by RAY at Kansas city. (See Item 3, page 1) 0 0 vacant 2/4th Stubble Company 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 76 77 78 79 80 81 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 95 96 97 98 99 99 100 100 110 110 111 111 111 112 112 113 114 115 115 115 116 117 117 118 118 118 119 119 119 117 118 117 118 119 118 118 117 119 119 130 130 130 119 119 118 130 130 140 140 140 170 170 170 160 160 160 170 170 175 170 170 180 180 180 170 170 190 190 190 170 170 200 170 170 220 220 220 230 230 230 240 240 240 260 260 260 240 240 270 270 270 280 280 280 260 260 280 280 300 300 300 400 400 400 450 450 450 400 400 500 500 500 600 600 600 700 700 700 800 800 800 900 900 900 800 800 1100 1100 1100 1200 1200 1200 1100 1100 11 1200 1200 13 1476

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigative efforts into James Earl Ray’s movements and alleged connections to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on travel routes, financial transactions, and handwriting/fingerprint analysis. Ray is described as traveling from Athens, Alabama, to Memphis, Tennessee, where he stayed in a rooming house under the name Samuel Lewis and allegedly participated in an assassination plot at a rally. He later fled to Kansas City, Missouri, then flew to Belle Glade, Florida, via a private plane owned by William Pierce. Ray’s activities included staying near Cuba, acquiring a yacht in Key West through Ben Thompson, and using money orders linked to the name "Eric S. Galt." The FBI conducted comparisons of handwriting and fingerprints on documents such as checks, invoices, and handwritten notes, including a hand-printed note referencing "F.B.I." and "Big Stone Gap, Virginia," which was compared to George Robert Lettsinger’s handwriting. Investigations also explored financial transactions, travel routes, and associations with individuals like Eddie Wilburton, Frank Brockley, and Ronald G. Hewitson, who was linked to the Friends of Rhodesia organization. The FBI Laboratory analyzed evidence forwarded between field offices in Los Angeles, Memphis, San Diego, and other locations, with administrative notes referencing case management and investigative coordination.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray (alleged assassin of MLK)  
- Samuel Lewis (roommate in Memphis, alleged backup man)  
- William Pierce (owner of private plane used by Ray)  
- Eddie Wilburton (driver associated with Ray’s escape)  
- Ben Thompson (boat owner linked to Ray’s activities)  
- Frank Brockley (individual connected to financial transactions)  
- Eric S. Galt (name on money orders under investigation)  
- Ronald G. Hewitson (associated with Friends of Rhodesia organization)  
- George Robert Lettsinger (handwriting comparison reference)  
- John Wesley Rapord, Jr./John Wesley Tucker (names found on cardboard box)  

Key Locations  
- Memphis, Tennessee (Ray’s stay and alleged assassination planning)  
- Kansas City, Missouri (Ray’s overnight stay)  
- Belle Glade, Florida (Ray’s flight destination)  
- Cuba (suspected connection via plane and financial ties)  
- Los Angeles, California (FBI office and hotel connections)  
- San Diego, California (FBI field office reference)  
- Pasadena, California (bank location with cardboard box discovery)  
- Birmingham, Alabama (FBI field office reference)  
- Washington, D.C. (FBI headquarters)  

Key Events  
- Ray’s travel from Alabama to Memphis and subsequent movements to Florida and Cuba.  
- Alleged participation in MLK assassination plot at a rally in Memphis.  
- Use of private plane owned by William Pierce for travel to Florida.  
- Acquisition of a yacht in Key West via Ben Thompson.  
- Financial transactions involving money orders under the name "Eric S. Galt."  
- FBI handwriting and fingerprint analysis on documents linked to Ray, including checks, invoices, and handwritten notes.  
- Examination of a hand-printed note referencing "F.B.I." and "Big Stone Gap, Virginia" compared to George Robert Lettsinger’s handwriting.  
- Discovery of a cardboard box with handwritten names at a bank in Pasadena, California, linked to John Wesley Rapord, Jr./John Wesley Tucker.  
- Investigation into Ronald G. Hewitson’s correspondence and Friends of Rhodesia organization.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – conducted laboratory analyses, field investigations, and administrative case management.  
- FBI Laboratory – performed fingerprint and handwriting analysis on documents.  
- Los Angeles Field Office – handled evidence forwarding and investigative coordination.  
- Memphis Field Office – referenced in administrative notes and document analysis.  
- San Diego Field Office – involved in evidence forwarding for further investigation.  
- Friends of Rhodesia – organization associated with Ronald G. Hewitson’s correspondence.

MLK Declassified Files

44-la-1574_742142_007-01-part_6_of_7.pdf

Document Summary

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