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The documents detail FBI and law enforcement investigations into potential threats against Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) in 1968, focusing on individuals with alleged ties to organized crime, the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), and other extremist groups. Key figures include Pearl R. Miller (aka Kathy Lawton), who allegedly claimed knowledge of MLK’s assassination and corresponded with Geraldine Marie Tanner, a prostitute linked to her. Investigations also targeted Eugene Smith MANSFIELD, suspected KKK member connected to organized crime in Alabama and Louisiana, as well as Lowell Ray Kincade and Ray H. Cline, whose employment records and vehicle histories were scrutinized. L.E. Matthews, an electrical contractor in Florence, Mississippi, was linked to the White Knights of the KKK and alleged violent acts. The FBI sought to verify claims through interviews, fingerprint checks, and SSN tracking, including references to a 1968 letter from Miller to Tanner suggesting awareness of threats against MLK. Separate inquiries involved Woody G. Conway, an Oklahoma man with a history of violence who allegedly planned to assassinate MLK using a .22 caliber rifle, and PFC H.H. Craddock, a U.S. Marine Reserve member who reportedly expressed intent to kill MLK during conversations with David Parrish. These investigations spanned multiple locations, including Oakland, Portland, Birmingham, Montgomery, Florence, Grand Isle, Roland, Arkansas hospitals, Fort Belvoir, Charleston, Memphis, and Fairfax, Virginia.  

Key People  
- **Pearl R. Miller (aka Kathy Lawton)**: Alleged knowledge of MLK’s assassination; connected to Geraldine Marie Tanner.  
- **Geraldine Marie Tanner**: Prostitute who received a letter from Miller claiming whites would kill MLK.  
- **Eugene Smith MANSFIELD**: Suspected KKK member linked to organized crime in Alabama and Louisiana; affiliated with United Klans of Tuscaloosa.  
- **Lowell Ray Kincade**: Employed at Kershaw MFG. Co.; employment records checked for ties to MLK assassination.  
- **Ray H. Cline**: Associated with a 1959 Ford vehicle; investigated for potential connections.  
- **L.E. Matthews**: Electrical contractor in Florence, Mississippi; linked to White Knights of the KKK and alleged bombings.  
- **Woody G. Conway**: Alleged plotter against MLK; described as mentally unstable with a history of violence.  
- **Clyde G. Conley**: Informant in Oklahoma who reported Conway’s intent to assassinate MLK.  
- **PFC H.H. Craddock**: U.S. Marine Reserve member who allegedly expressed intent to kill MLK; investigated for potential involvement.  
- **David Parrish**: Reservist who reportedly overheard Craddock’s threats against MLK.  
- **Ruby Dansey**: Owner of The Belvoir Grill in Fort Belvoir, Virginia; provided suspect description linked to MLK’s murder.  
- **Corporal J. E. O’Connor**: Fairfax County Police officer who relayed information about the suspect to the FBI.  

Key Locations  
- **Oakland, California**: Address where Miller was interviewed; postmarked location for her letter to Tanner.  
- **Portland, Oregon**: Home of Geraldine Marie Tanner; referenced in FBI correspondence.  
- **Birmingham, Alabama**: Center for FBI investigations into KKK activities and suspects like MANSFIELD.  
- **Montgomery, Alabama**: Location of Ray H. Cline’s residence and employment records.  
- **Florence, Mississippi**: Home of L.E. Matthews, linked to KKK operations.  
- **Grand Isle, Louisiana**: Where MANSFIELD allegedly worked as a welder; associated with Andrew Adams and Percy Crosby.  
- **Roland, Oklahoma**: Where Clyde G. Conley provided information about Woody G. Conway.  
- **Sparks Memorial Hospital, Arkansas**: Site of Conway’s treatment for a hand injury.  
- **Holt-Crock Clinic, Arkansas**: Medical facility where Conway was seen prior to the alleged plot.  
- **Fort Belvoir, Virginia**: Site of The Belvoir Grill where Ruby Dansey provided suspect descriptions.  
- **Charleston, South Carolina**: Craddock’s workplace and residence during March 1968.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Home of Edward Grantthan and International Schools, Inc., linked to recruitment activities.  
- **Fairfax, Virginia**: Location of a Volkswagen license plate linked to a suspect in another investigation.  

Key Events  
- **April 12–13, 1968**: FBI investigations into Pearl R. Miller’s claims about MLK’s assassination, including verification through interviews and records; tracking of SSNs and fingerprint data.  
- **April 12, 1968**: Clyde G. Conley reported Woody G. Conway’s intent to assassinate MLK, including his rifle purchase and previous failed attempts.  
- **April 10–13, 1968**: FBI inquiries into suspect descriptions from The Belvoir Grill and tracking of Edward Grantthan; examination of vehicle records (e.g., 1959 Ford) and employment histories for individuals like Ray H. Cline and Lowell Ray Kincade.  
- **December 1966–March 1968**: Craddock’s active duty service and subsequent release to inactive duty; conversations with Parrish about his intent to kill MLK.  
- **April 11–12, 1968**: FBI teletypes coordinated efforts to locate Conway through medical records and interviews at Arkansas hospitals.  

Key Organizations  
- **Ku Klux Klan (KKK)**: Mentioned as a potential network involved in threats against MLK; associated with individuals like MANSFIELD and L.E. Matthews.  
- **White Knights of the KKK**: Organization linked to L.E. Matthews, who was considered heir apparent to leadership after Sam Bowers’ incarceration.  
- **United Klans of Tuscaloosa**: Alleged affiliation of Eugene Smith MANSFIELD.  
- **Kershaw MFG. Co.**: Employed Lowell Ray Kincade; investigated for potential ties to MLK assassination.  
- **FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)**: Conducted surveillance, teletype communications, and interviews to track suspects.  
- **U.S. Marine Corps Reserve**: Involved in Craddock’s military service and subsequent release from active duty.  
- **International Schools, Inc.**: Linked to Edward Grantthan’s alleged recruitment activities in Memphis, Tennessee.

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_75-05-part_1_of_3.pdf

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