</s>FBI LOUISVILLE FBI BIRMGHAM 1006PM IMMEDIATE 4-10-68 HEP TO DIRECTOR AND ALL SACS FROM BIRMINGHAM (44-1740) 1P MURKIN ERIC STARVO GALT, TWO SIX ZERO EIGHT HIGHLAND AVENUE SOUTH. BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA. REGISTERED OWNER OF WHITE NINETEEN SIXTYSIX MUSTANG. VIN SIX T ZERO SEVEN C ONE NINE SIX FOUR SEVEN. BEARING INTERNETEEN SIXYEIGHT ALABAMIA LICENSE ONE - THREE EIGHT NINE NINE THREE PRIME SUSPECT IN THIS CASE. ALL OFFICIES CHECK ABOVE VIN FOR POSSIBLE RE-REGISTRATION. NO INDICATION TO BE GIVEN THAT THIS LEAD IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH MURKINS CASE. END JBR FBI LOUSVILLE Mun Kellen 49-972-50 JARCHED INXED Jn APB, 9/10/18 SERIALIZED FIELD 4111/68- APR1068 LOUIS. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document contains FBI records related to an investigation into the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which occurred on April 4, 1968. It includes details about a suspect, Eric Starvo Galt, registered owner of a white 1966 Mustang in Birmingham, Alabama, with VIN 6T07C1N9647. The FBI requested verification of this vehicle’s registration and noted its potential connection to the case. A thermoseal machine used for textile labeling was identified as part of the investigation, as laundry marks found on clothing at the crime scene matched a specific machine model manufactured by Textile Marking Machine Co., Inc., Syracuse, N.Y. The machine produced 5-character tapes with unique coding patterns, which experts analyzed to determine possible connections to the case. The document also lists numerous laundries and textile machines across multiple states as part of a broader effort to trace evidence or suspects. A separate entry references a suitcase found during a search containing items with laundry marks from Textile Marking Machine Company tapes, linking these machines to the investigation.  

Key People  
- Eric Starvo Galt: Suspect linked to the case, registered owner of a white 1966 Mustang in Birmingham, Alabama.  
- Donald Broton: Representative of Textile Marking Machine Company.  
- Textile Marking Machine Company employees/experts: Analyzed coding patterns on tapes potentially tied to the assassination.  
- Unsub (unknown suspect): Linked to MLK assassination and associated with laundry marks found at the crime scene.  

Key Locations  
- Birmingham, Alabama: City where Galt was registered and where the assassination investigation focused.  
- Syracuse, New York: Location of Textile Marking Machine Co., Inc. headquarters.  
- Memphis, Tennessee: FBI field office involved in the search linked to the unsub.  
- Fayetteville, Arkansas: Listed as a location of textile machines under investigation.  
- Multiple cities across 20+ states (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin) listed as locations of laundries and textile machines under investigation.  

Key Events  
- Investigation into the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., including analysis of laundry marks from a thermoseal machine found at the crime scene.  
- FBI efforts to track down textile machines and laundries that could be linked to the case, including verification of vehicle registrations and machine codes.  
- Search of premises linked to the unsub who assassinated Dr. MLK on April 4, 1968, resulting in the discovery of items with laundry marks from Textile Marking Machine Company tapes.  
- Analysis by Textile Marking Machine experts indicating unusual coding patterns on tapes potentially tied to the assassination.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Conducted the investigation into the assassination and related evidence.  
- Textile Marking Machine Co., Inc.: Manufacturer of the thermoseal machine implicated in the case, producing 5-character tapes with unique coding patterns.  
- Local laundries and dry cleaners across multiple states: Listed as part of the FBI’s broader investigative efforts.  
- American Drive-In Cleaners, Barry Cleaners, Barton & Roy, Cedar Cleaners, Clean Land, USA, Clothing Care Cleaners, College Laundry, Inc., Darien Laundries, Darien Lavery, Home Laundromat, Laurel Laundrome, One-Hour Martinizing, Pride Cleaners®*, Prosperay Dirt, Inc., Puritan Laundrys, Rainbow Cleaners, Sanitary Cleaners’: Businesses listed in an administrative directory-style document with no direct connection to the assassination investigation.  

*Note: The document includes a line referencing "RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176," indicating it was made public under Executive Order 14176. No social security numbers or other sensitive identifiers are present.

MLK Declassified Files

44-ls-947_sec_001_ser_1-75-part_4_of_9.pdf

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