</s>CE 44-1365 MP 44-1987 CFW-lrf1 1 RE: ERIC STARVO GALT Office of the FBI advised as follows: By communication dated April 13, 1968, the Columbia Office of of the FBI advised as following: GLARENCE SHAKELORD from New York City, while traveling by Groundhound Bus from Jacksonville, Florida, noted at Walterboro, South Carolina from New New York city, Florida. noted by Groundhound bus on April 12, 1968. A new passenger also boarded at Waterloo and sat by a new driver boarded the bus at approximately 11 A.M. on April 13. 1968. The new bus is a new passengeralso boarded at Waterboro and sat at ShAKELFORD in passenger who boarded at Warnerbrooke and sat and sat on the way ressembled at approximately 10 A. M. on april 12, 1969. A New individual who assassinated Martin Luther King, JR. was individual who assessed MARTIN LUTHER KING, Jr. was ressemblled the profile of the artist's conception of the hair with a widow's peak with receding hair line or side. The 170 pounds, ruddy appearance, sandy-colored or light brown hair with widow's peaks with receded hair line and sides. The hair was also covered with recessed hair line on the complexion wearing long nose nose with high bridge, pale boots, and no socks. long nose nose and no coat, Army-type high At Raleigh, North Carolina, the bus driver, who was described as being heavy and heavy, feet tall, wanted to the back of the bus and gave this individual a ticket to the bus that seemed something that the bus gave this Individual a ticket and mentioned the individual left the bus was returned a short time later with a khaki, rolled, Army blanket, which was loosely rolled and the man's shoes covered with dried mud and light color. with a kaki. The bus was covered with a lot of light color, and the driver's shoes were covered with drizzled mud and the bus until it reached Richmond, and the bus were covered. This individual stayed aboard the bus till it reached Richard, Virginia, where we were disassembled. SHAKELFORD advised he believes this man had some prior conversation with the bus he was concerned the blanket and is certain to the driver under coming him. On April 13," 1968, D. R. BOUNDS, Manager, Greyhound Bus Terminal, the driver was concerned, South Caroline, advised the description of the driver fitted the description of R. T. HODGENS, who drove one of the two buses which left Waldridge at Raleigh, north Carolina, 12, and can be reached through R. P. WELLS, Superintendent, Greyground Bus Terminal, Morgan <loc_866>R.P. W.R. Raleigh, North Carolina, North Caroline, and then reached through R.S.

Summary of Declassified Government Documents Related to MLK Assassination Investigation (1968):  

The documents consist of FBI investigative reports from April 1968 detailing efforts to track individuals suspected of ties to Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination on April 4, 1968. Central figures include James Earl Ray, convicted of the crime, and Eric Starvo Galt, a name frequently associated with conspiracy theories. The FBI investigated suspects linked to Ku Klux Klan activities, segregationist groups, and potential involvement in the assassination. Reports focus on vehicle tracking (e.g., grey Volkswagen with Alabama plates, 1962 Cadillac), witness accounts of Ray’s movements, forensic analysis of laundry markings and coded materials, and administrative records from Arkansas, North Carolina, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Memphis. The text contains OCR errors, fragmented data, and references to internal FBI procedures, reflecting the agency’s post-assassination investigation into potential conspiracies.  

Key People:  
- **James Earl Ray**: Convicted assassin of MLK; described by witnesses as wearing white Bermuda shorts and black hair.  
- **Eric Starvo Galt**: Name linked to conspiracy theories; reports mention a white male resembling Galt with ties to Louisiana and Arkansas.  
- **Leonard Spears** & **Robert D. Pike**: Associated with a Volkswagen tracked in Louisiana, though no direct connection to the assassination was confirmed.  
- **Sharon Allison** (Texas) & **Howard Stafford** (Florida): Witnesses who reported sightings of Ray at hotels in Concord, Texas, and Dallas.  
- **Mrs. Schuster**: Operator of a rooming house where Ray may have stayed, according to Stafford’s account.  

Key Locations:  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of MLK’s assassination; the Lorraine Hotel was scrutinized for potential connections to suspects.  
- **Concord, Texas** & **Dallas, Texas**: Hotels where Ray was allegedly seen by witnesses.  
- **West Memphis, Arkansas**, **Jacksonville, North Carolina**, and the **Mississippi River bridge area**: Locations tied to suspect movements and Klan-related investigations.  

Key Events:  
- FBI tracked a grey Volkswagen with Alabama plates linked to Leonard Spears in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  
- Witness accounts described Ray’s appearance and behavior, including his alleged stay at a rooming house operated by Mrs. Schuster.  
- Forensic analysis of laundry markings (e.g., *Thermocol olakane*, *20R-3*) and coded messages was conducted to trace connections between suspects, vehicles, and the assassination.  
- The FBI sought to verify if Ray had stayed at the Lorraine Hotel or frequented locations like the Holiday Inn in Dallas.  

Key Organizations:  
- **Ku Klux Klan (KKK)**: Suspected involvement of individuals like Jon Dennis Cowell and David Jeff Crowell, who were linked to Klan literature and segregationist activities.  
- **FBI Laboratory**: Analyzed coded materials and laundry samples for forensic comparisons with evidence from the case.  
- **Southern Bell Telephone Company**: Associated with David Jeff Crowell’s alleged ties to Klan networks.  

Note: Social security numbers or 9-digit identifiers present in the text are noted but not included in this summary.

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_70-03-part_4_of_5.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search