P.D .- 2AB (REV. 415-80) H. S. Department of Justice PENDING LITIGATION PENDINO LITICATION (MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILED) D.O NOT DESTROY D.P.PAPER CLIPPINGS H.S. 1981-Sub-C-C FIELD OFFICE FILE FOIPA PROCESSED FEDERAL BUREAU FEDERAL BUREAU ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED ENTIRE FILE REVIEWED HEREIN IS LINCLASSIED DATE 10/2/01/19/01-SL-1 Cuffi of of FOR HISTORICAL DECLASSIFICATION INVESTIGATION Volume Number: Bureau File Number 44-38861 DO NOT DESTRY Satellite DO NOT ESTROY HISTORIC VALUE HISTIONUN: VALUE, NATIONAL ARCHIVES' NATIONALARCHIVES' 8-0-173 NATIONAL Archives' See also No. SEE YOU 1 FOR LITILIGATIONS See nept Section MADE IN U.S .- 37-7972

Summary: The documents detail James Earl Ray’s extradition from London to the United States for trial in connection with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination on April 4, 1968. British authorities, including Bow Street Magistrates and Chief Magistrate Frank Milton, oversaw his transfer, implementing security measures like a "sow line" to prevent escape. Ray was detained in London’s police station and transported past landmarks such as Big Ben for a hearing. His defense attorney, Arthur J. Hanes, contested extradition, citing potential unfairness in U.S. judicial processes. The FBI investigated Ray’s financial activities, including luxury expenditures and travel to Europe (Portugal, Belgium, Canada), noting ties to the Alton Bank in Missouri and alleged criminal connections in California. Ray’s movements between 1967–1968 included stays in Toronto, Lisbon, and London, with claims of RCMP involvement in Canada. A witness reported seeing him near Atlanta on April 5, 1968, though this individual died in a car accident, complicating direct links to the assassination. Leroy Wilkins Jr., another suspect, was separately convicted of conspiracy charges. The documents reference unrelated RCMP investigations involving Ramon George Snyder and passport disputes tied to Ray. Legal debates over extradition highlighted tensions between international law enforcement cooperation and domestic legal systems. While Ray’s activities were scrutinized, no conclusive evidence directly linking him to the assassination is presented in these records.  

Key People:  
- James Earl Ray (accused of MLK’s assassination)  
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (assassination victim)  
- Arthur J. Hanes (Ray’s defense attorney)  
- Frank Milton (Chief Magistrate overseeing extradition)  
- Carl R. Dayne (Canadian law enforcement official)  
- RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police)  
- Judges Ben L. Hooks, Arthur Faquin, F. Kennedy (involved in Ray’s legal cases)  

Key Locations:  
- London, England (extradition process, police station)  
- Memphis, Tennessee (MLK assassination site)  
- Toronto, Canada (Ray’s alleged residency, RCMP involvement)  
- Lisbon, Portugal (Ray’s travel destination)  
- Birmingham, Alabama (cash transaction linked to Ray)  
- South London, Wandsworth, Bristol (prison locations mentioned)  

Key Events:  
- Extradition proceedings for James Earl Ray from London to the U.S.  
- FBI investigation into Ray’s financial activities and travel patterns  
- Legal trials in Tennessee and Kentucky involving Ray  
- Passport application attempts by Ray for Canadian entry  
- RCMP surveillance of Ray and unrelated investigations (e.g., Ramon George Snyder)  
- Witness testimony about Ray near Atlanta on April 5, 1968  

Key Organizations:  
- FBI (investigated Ray’s movements and finances)  
- RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police, involved in passport checks)  
- British courts (Bow Street Magistrates, Chief Magistrate Frank Milton)  
- U.S. criminal court systems (Tennessee, Kentucky)  
- Newspaper clippings (FD-350 forms, "Mount Clipping" references)

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_72-04-part_1_of_5.pdf

Document Summary

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