</s>F31 MEMPHIS F31 ST LOUIS 3322PMURGENT 4-21-63 MJD TO DIRECTOR (444-38861), KEMPHIS, KANSAS CITY, CHICAGO, LITTLE ROCK, LOUISSVILLE, SPRINGFIELD. FROM ST. LOUISE (44-775) MURKIN. RE SL TELEPHONE CALLS TO BUREAU, CHICAGO, SPRINFIELD, LOUISVILLE, LITTLE ROCK, AND MEMPHILS, THIS DATE. JAMES DAVID DAILY, JORN WARDELL, MO ., WHITE MALE, FIVE NINE AND ONE HALF, ONE HUNDRED FIFTY FIVE LESS, BROWN HAIR AND EYES, FBI NUMBER FOUR NINE NINE THREE FIVE FIVE ZERO, ALLEGED FORMER FIREND AND ASSOCIATE OF SUBJECT RAY, WHO IS ALLEGOED TO HAVE HARBORED SUBJECT BRIEFLY FOLLOWING MISSOURI PEN ESCAPE, IS OPERATOR OF RESTAURANT, PORTAGE- VILLES, NO. HE IS ALlegED TO OWN FARM NEAR PORTAGVILLE OR WARDELL, MO ., UN BOOTHELL AREA AND TO BE TYPE OF INDIVIDUAL WHO WOULD HARBOR SUBJECT. HE DENIED CONTACT WITH SELECT OF INITIAL INTERVIEW. CURRENTLY BEING RE-INTERVIEWED IN EFFORT ON DETERMINTE IF HE HAS FARM AND ITS LOCATION, AS EFFORTS TO LOCATE SAVE NEGATIVE TO DATE, SURROUNDING OFFICES CONTACT SOURCES WITH KNOWLEDGE OF SOOTHEEEL AS TO ANY INFORMATION RE SUBJECT, DAILY DAILY FAMILY AND LOCA- END PAGE ONE 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary:  
The documents detail FBI investigations into potential associates of James Earl Ray, the alleged assassin of Martin Luther King Jr., and related individuals during April 19–22, 1968. Key figures include James David Daily, a Missouri resident accused of harboring Ray after his prison escape; William Jay Oglesby, a Memphis-based individual who stayed with Ruth Whichard during MLK’s assassination and was reported to possess firearms; and David L. Wilson, a former prisoner claiming knowledge of Ray’s movements and alleged involvement in a conspiracy involving ex-cons. Clarence Clark, another prison associate of Ray, is referenced in connection to Wilson’s statements. The FBI coordinated efforts across Memphis, Little Rock, Phoenix, and other offices to track suspects, verify identities, and investigate potential connections to the assassination. Ruth Whichard provided testimony about Oglesby’s activities on April 4, 1968, including his possession of a revolver and discussions about the murder. Investigations also focused on Ray’s possible locations in Mexico or Missouri, with inquiries into Thomas Crews’ harboring by Ray and interactions with Homer Townsley. Additional reports mention suspects like Bruce Cochran, George Wilburn Strength, John Willard Wray, and Eric Starvo Galt, with some linked to MLK’s assassination. The FBI tracked license plates, motor vehicle records, and interviewed individuals resembling Galt, including Alfred Wagar in Montana and Sam Masey in Nebraska. In Nashville, Earl Smith, a former Air Force technician, claimed an unidentified man approached him in a tavern seeking grenades for plans to kill MLK.  

Key People:  
- James Earl Ray (alleged assassin of MLK)  
- James David Daily (alleged associate of Ray, operator of a restaurant near Portageville/WardeLL, MO)  
- William Jay Oglesby (Memphis resident who stayed with Ruth Whichard on April 4, 1968; reported to possess firearms)  
- Ruth Whichard (individual who hosted Oglesby and provided testimony about his activities)  
- David L. Wilson (former prisoner claiming knowledge of Ray’s movements and alleged conspiracy involving ex-cons)  
- Clarence Clark (prison associate of Ray, referenced in connection with Wilson’s statements)  
- Thomas Crews (allegedly harbored by Ray)  
- Homer Townsley (suspected harboring informant)  
- Bruce Cochran (suspect in Florida)  
- George Wilburn Strength (accused liar with no information on MLK’s assassination)  
- John Willard Wray (investigated as a possible suspect)  
- Eric Starvo Galt (suspect linked to MLK’s assassination)  
- Earl Smith (former Air Force technician, informant)  
- Don Maddox (alleged associate of Ray in Florida)  
- N.E. Zachary (Memphis Police Inspector)  

Key Locations:  
- Memphis, Tennessee (sites of Oglesby’s residence, Whichard’s sister-in-law’s home, FBI office)  
- Portageville/WardeLL, Missouri (alleged location of Daily’s farm)  
- Phoenix, Arizona (investigation involving David L. Wilson and Clarence Clark)  
- Flagstaff, Arizona (location of David L. Wilson’s interactions with informants)  
- Little Rock, Arkansas (FBI coordination efforts)  
- Atlanta, Georgia (FBI office involved in tracking suspects)  
- Birmingham, Alabama (FBI office receiving telegrams)  
- San Antonio, Texas (investigation into Alfred Wagar’s sighting)  
- Denver, Colorado (hotel incident involving Sam Masey)  
- New Orleans, Louisiana (motor vehicle records check)  
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Dora KC Donald Vectors’ involvement)  
- Florida (Crystal River, Broward County; Eastern Airlines flights from Atlanta)  
- Nashville, Tennessee (Earl Smith’s tavern encounter)  

Key Events:  
- April 4, 1968: MLK’s assassination; Oglesby stayed at Ruth Whichard’s sister-in-law’s home in Memphis during this period.  
- April 21, 1968: FBI inquiries into Daily’s potential harboring of Ray and verification of farm ownership.  
- April 21, 1968: David L. Wilson’s statements to Phoenix-based agents about Ray’s possible location in Mexico or Missouri and alleged ex-con conspiracy.  
- Investigation into Clarence Clark’s identity and connection to Ray and Wilson.  
- FBI efforts to locate James Earl Ray and verify his connections to MLK’s assassination.  
- Investigation into Thomas Crews’ harboring by Ray and Townsley’s alleged knowledge.  
- Tracking of license plates (e.g., serial number 20427372) and motor vehicle records.  
- Interviews with individuals resembling Eric Galt, including Alfred Wagar in Montana and Sam Masey in Nebraska.  
- Assessment of George Wilburn Strength’s unreliability regarding MLK’s assassination.  
- FBI coordination across multiple offices to share leads and verify suspect identities.  
- Tracking of Eastern Airlines passengers for potential connections to MLK threats.  
- Investigation into Ray’s alleged residence with Don Maddox in Crystal River, Florida.  
- Verification of vehicle registration and driver identity linked to Los Angeles sightings.  
- Inquiry into “Galt”’s automobile registrations and possible ties to Ray.  
- Interview of Earl Smith regarding a tavern encounter involving grenade procurement and MLK assassination plans.  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Memphis, Little Rock, Phoenix, Atlanta, Miami, Birmingham, Los Angeles offices involved in tracking suspects and coordinating with local law enforcement.  
- U.S. Immigration and Border Patrol – mentioned for monitoring entry/exit points related to suspects.  
- Local law enforcement agencies (e.g., St. Louis Police Department, Flagstaff Police Department, Memphis Police Department) – provided information on suspects and informants.  
- Broward County Tag Agency (Florida) – referenced in inquiries about vehicle registrations linked to “Galt.”  
- American Trade Magazines (ATM) – mentioned in context of informant activities.  
- Eastern Airlines – tracked passengers for potential connections to MLK threats.

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_63-03-part_2_of_3.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search