</s>4/8/68 AINTEL AM TO: SAC'S CINCINNATI (157-1893) LITTLE ROCK (187-1313) FROM: SAC, MEMPHIS (44-1987) P MURKIN Cincinnati furnished Memphis by mail copy of teletype sent to Bursau under caption "Assassination of MARTIN LUTTER KIND, JR ., which dealt primarily with Racial Matters in Cincinnati, J.R ., while they were in the information in MARTin LUTTerer There are no information in the MARTINS LUTTEYPE which is handled by Memphis Division under caption 'MURKEN', KING This investigation deals only with an effort to locate the murderder's investigation deals. The various Racial Matters and disturbances which are outgrowers of the assassination of Dr. KING are on the specific interest to Memphis unless they have a bearing on the identity of the suspect in instant case. LITTle Rock submitted under caption (UNSUNS): ASSASSINATION OF DR. DR. ROCK submitted to Memphis, Tenn. (NM) CO: ME, an Airline which dealt mainly with marches in memory of Dr ., MARTIN LUITER KING in Little Rock and Payetteville, Arkansas. MARTin Luther KING in little rock and Payettesville, in medical matters in Little Rock territory unless they are a specific hearing on the solution of the murder of DR. KING. 2 CINCINATI (AM) LITTL ROCK (AM] (RJ) 3M (5) 44-1917-Sulb-8-33 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on cross-jurisdictional coordination among SAC offices in Cincinnati, Memphis, Little Rock, and Birmingham. Key elements include forensic evidence such as latent fingerprints collected from Room 34 of the Rebel Motor Hotel in Memphis (April 9, 1968), registration cards from the Rebel Motel with handwritten notes, and comparisons of handwriting samples between suspects and Birmingham evidence. Suspects like Vincent Paul DePalma (previously considered by Boston Office), Richard Case (arrested in Jackson, Tennessee for carrying a concealed weapon), and John Webster De Shazo (NRA member providing rifle serial numbers) were examined. John H. Willard’s employment records at Day Brite Lighting in Tupelo, Mississippi, and movements in Tupelo were reviewed as part of unrelated investigations but linked to broader FBI activities. The FBI also analyzed laundry tape markings from Thermoseal machine serial number 3173 (Macon, Georgia) and conducted fingerprint comparisons involving individuals like SHERIDAN and Willard. Administrative directives referenced Executive Order 14176 for information releases, with coordination between field offices and headquarters.  

Key People  
- Vincent Paul DePalma (suspect considered by Boston Office)  
- Richard Case (arrested in Jackson, Tennessee; fingerprints checked against evidence)  
- John Webster De Shazo (NRA member, gun enthusiast providing rifle serial numbers)  
- SA Harley E. Gyle (FBI agent involved in case)  
- Billy Glen Dowdy (witness in Tupelo, Mississippi)  
- Watson Marlin (supervisor at Day Brite Lighting, Tupelo)  
- John H. Willard (subject of employment and movement investigation; linked to Memphis connections)  
- Roscor Smith (Birmingham resident with credit records reviewed by FBI)  
- Mrs. Marjorif ALEN (linked to Congressman George Rider’s office in Tennessee; referenced Willard’s alleged ties to King’s assassination)  
- Mr. Kuthner/Kutter (analyzed connections between King’s activism and U.S. foreign policy)  
- Doralld William Branch (ME file 1.57-313)  
- William J. Simons (ME file 1.97-257)  
- Darrell Reserve ([SSN REDACTED])  
- Victor Edward Jenihoms (ME file 1.52-1le)  
- James Edward Brown Sr. (MB file 187-803)  
- Lindsay Hughes (MB file 187-76)  
- Herbert Adams (MB file 187-76)  

Key Locations  
- Memphis, Tennessee (Rebel Motel, Rebel Motor Hotel; FBI SAC office)  
- Cincinnati, Ohio (FBI SAC office)  
- Little Rock, Arkansas (FBI SAC office)  
- Birmingham, Alabama (FBI SAC office; Roscor Smith’s residence)  
- Tupelo, Mississippi (Day Brite Lighting, employment records; John H. Willard’s residences)  
- Macon, Georgia (Blum's dry cleaning; Thermoseal machine serial number 3173)  
- Chicago, Illinois (James Andrew Mauledin’s DOB)  
- Dyburgburg, Tennessee (DOB references for multiple individuals)  

Key Events  
- April 8–9, 1968: FBI SACs in Cincinnati, Memphis, Little Rock, and Birmingham exchanged information on suspects, forensic evidence, and witness accounts.  
- April 4, 1968: Richard Case arrested in Jackson, Tennessee; latent fingerprints collected from Rebel Motor Hotel Room 34.  
- April 1, 1968: John H. Willard’s employment records reviewed at Day Brite Lighting, Tupelo, Mississippi.  
- April 5–6, 1968: Interviews with Billy Glen Dowdy and Watson Marlin regarding John H. Willard’s work schedule.  
- FBI Laboratory compared laundry tape markings from Thermoseal machine serial number 3173 (Macon, Georgia) with evidence submitted by the Memphis Office.  
- FBI received newspaper clippings from Memphis, Tennessee, dated April 5, 1968, related to civil rights activities.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Central to investigations; field offices in Cincinnati, Memphis, Little Rock, Birmingham, and others.  
- Special Agent in Charge (SAC) offices: Coordinated cross-jurisdictional efforts.  
- Day Brite Lighting, Tupelo, Mississippi: Employment records reviewed for John H. Willard.  
- Rebel Motel/Rebel Motor Hotel, Memphis, Tennessee: Sites of registration cards and latent fingerprints.  
- Ku Klux Klan (KKK): Names listed in Klan files for comparison with fingerprint records.  
- Thermoseal machine manufacturer (Model I.S.I.L.): Source of thermos-seal marking tapes analyzed by FBI.  
- Blum's dry cleaning establishment, Macon, Georgia: Operator of Thermoseal machine serial number 3173.

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_69-03-part_3_of_4.pdf

Document Summary

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