</s>ME 44-1987 2:1 those buildings during the late afternoon of April 4, 1968, when he was in the process of leaving the motel. PHILLIPS stated that as he was walking from the motel toward the bus stop, as indicated above, he did not see anything of an unusual nature. 46 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document contains FBI reports dated April 1968 detailing witness accounts of vehicles and individuals observed at *Jim's Grill* in Memphis, Tennessee, around the time of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination on April 4, 1968. Witnesses described cars parked near the grill, including a white Mustang, Cadillac, Lincoln Continental, and Rambler. Some accounts mention a white Mustang with unspecified details (e.g., color, stickers), while others note its absence after the shooting. Key individuals include Lloyd Jowers (grill owner), Gene Pearson Crawford (arrested but cleared of involvement), Steve Cuppies, David Wood, Kenneth Foster, Paul Gander, Barry Tubbs, Billy Hoard, and James Walker. Witnesses reported noise from shuffleboard, pinball machines, and a jukebox masking the sound of gunfire. No direct evidence of the shooting’s location or perpetrator was provided in these statements. Additional sections include forensic analysis of physical evidence (e.g., rifles, cartridges), medical reports on Dr. King’s injuries, license records for Eric Starvo Galt, dance studio enrollment records, latent fingerprint analysis, and laboratory findings. The documents highlight inconsistencies in witness accounts, discrepancies in name variations, and incomplete or unclear details about the investigation.  

Key People  
- **Lloyd Jowers**: Owner/operator of *Jim's Grill*; described his white Cadillac parked near the grill.  
- **Gene Pearson Crawford**: Arrested and later identified as not involved in the assassination.  
- **Steve Cuppies**: Witness who noted a white Mustang and confirmed its absence after the shooting.  
- **David Wood**: Reported seeing multiple cars, including Jowers’ Cadillac and a white Mustang.  
- **Kenneth Foster**: Described a white Mustang with unspecified details (color, stickers).  
- **Paul Gander**: Mentioned a white Ford Fairlane and other vehicles near the grill.  
- **Barry Tub, Billy Hoard, James Walker**: Witnesses who provided vehicle descriptions or observations at the grill.  
- **Eric Starvo Galt**: Subject of license records and physical evidence analysis; no direct link to the assassination was established.  
- **Frank De Simone, Connie Reddock, Jerry T. Francisco, Charlie Hartzell**: Witnesses or officials providing statements or documentation related to the investigation.  

Key Locations  
- **Jim's Grill (418 South Main Street, Memphis)**: Central location where witnesses reported observing vehicles and people.  
- **Fire hydrant near the grill**: Reference point for car parking locations.  
- **Fred P. Gattis Distributing Company parking lot**: Where some witnesses were located before or after visiting the grill.  
- **New Orleans (Continental Dance Studio)**: Site of witness statements related to Eric Starvo Galt’s potential involvement.  

Key Events  
- **Witnesses at Jim's Grill**: Multiple individuals reported being present at the grill around 5:00–6:00 PM on April 4, 1968.  
- **Vehicle descriptions**: Detailed accounts of cars parked near the grill, including a white Mustang (various color and feature speculations), Cadillac, Lincoln Continental, and Rambler.  
- **Noise from machines**: Shuffleboard, pinball, and jukebox noise reportedly masked the sound of gunfire.  
- **Arrest and clearance**: Gene Pearson Crawford was arrested but later cleared of involvement in the assassination.  
- **Post-shooting observations**: Some witnesses noted the absence of the white Mustang after the shooting, though no direct link to the crime was established.  
- **Forensic analysis**: Examination of physical evidence (e.g., rifles, cartridges, bullet fragments) and medical reports on Dr. King’s injuries.  
- **License records**: Eric Starvo Galt’s Alabama license and vehicle ownership history were reviewed.  
- **Dance studio enrollment**: Records from *Continental Dance Studio* indicated no record of Eric Starvo Galt attending the studio.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted interviews, compiled witness statements, and analyzed physical evidence as part of the investigation into Dr. King’s assassination.  
- **Remington Arms Company**: Manufacturer of rifles and cartridges found at the scene.  
- **Bushnell**: Manufacturer of binoculars and optics referenced in latent fingerprint analysis.  
- **Colgate-Palmolive Company**: Producer of toothpaste and soap items recovered from the scene.  
- **Taylor Paper Company**: Employed several witnesses who provided accounts of events at *Jim's Grill*.

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_65-02-part_2_of_3.pdf

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