</s>FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION 1 Date: 4/23/68 LARRY MC GRATH, bartender, The Blue Dolphin, Foot of Marina, San Leandro, California, advised that at approx- matety 7:00 PM to 7:30 PM on April 15, 1968, two men came into the bar. He did not know their names, and one of them was subsequent to the police department. ALLEN. One of the men was MC GRATH has seen ALLEIEN on one of his apprenticeship three previous occasions in company on one HAL NICHOLS and he believes ALLEN works with NICHOIS. He believes he has also seen the other man with NIGHOLS on a prior occasion and believes also works for NICHols. He believed he has alsos the har. NC GRATH said that there is a lot of hopeplay in the man. He also worked for NIGHOS. He believees he has a newspaper sketch of ERIC STAVO GALI, who just had not looked at a newspaper sketched ressemblance to the sketch. Kiddingly, he asked ALLEN, "How did you get out of Memphis? To this surprise, ALLEN replied something to the effect, "That was no trouble, but if he had a hell of a good shot." "GRATH formed the opinion that could be ERIC STARVO CALI, and got got on contact with Secret Service Agent LARMY NICHOLD, who was able to locate him. He said that KATHY NICHOV, who had a waitress, was present and heard the above conversation. NC GRATH admitted that there are considerable kidding between employees of the Blue Dolphin and HAL NIGHols and his employemployees, since all of the latter appear to be supporters of GEORGE WALLACE, and are generally believed by the restaurant employees who have anti-negro sentiments. to be 30 he described ALLEN as appearing about 26, but believed to be 32, he described allen, as well as 510, 170, and light brown hair combed back, but believed to be parted and definitely not short or crew cut. The ex-examined artist conception drawings apparently made from recollection of Memphis and Birmingham witnesses. He SARAHID-H.FELD. SEARCHED-H-MEMPHIS. MAY 1G 1968 On: 14/16/68 ., at. San LEANDRO, Calif. Calif.ornia. FEB 1-6/68. 73-65 SAS RICHARD J. MC MULLEN and WILLIAM HUTTON, JR. I.M.B. Date dicloted by <loc_97><loc_876>This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusion of the Fbi. It is the property of the FBI is the FBI and is loaned to your agency. <loc_97><loc_900>This document is not to be distributed outside your agency,

Summary  
The declassified documents detail FBI investigations into potential involvement of Harold Edward Nichols and others in activities related to Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. From April 1968, agents tracked Nichols’ movements in San Leandro, California, and Montgomery, Alabama, noting his connections to the American Independent Party (AIP) and political ties to George Wallace’s campaigns. Nichols provided alibi details for April 4, 1968, including travel to Orville, California, supported by gas station receipts, phone records, and business contacts such as Russell Townsend and Cyril Stevenson. The FBI also investigated Dale C. Allen, described as resembling an artist’s sketch of the assassin, and Thomas George Misiagi, a suspect linked to right-wing groups like the National States Rights Party. Witnesses, including Larry McGrath (a bartender at The Blue Dolphin in San Leandro) and Joseph Meadows (who reported seeing a white Mustang with Alabama License 52-25871 in South Carolina), provided accounts of Nichols’ interactions and alleged anti-Black rhetoric. Investigations included license plate tracking, fingerprint comparisons, and verification of financial records to confirm alibis. The FBI also referenced internal communications about Aaron Isaac Lofton’s involvement in the "Dance School Project," though details remain unclear.  

Key People  
- **Harold Edward Nichols**: Suspected conspirator linked to George Wallace’s campaigns; provided alibi for April 4, 1968, including travel to Orville, California.  
- **Dale C. Allen**: Described as resembling an artist’s sketch of the assassin; associated with Nichols and anti-Black sentiments.  
- **Thomas George Misiagi**: Suspect linked to right-wing groups (National States Rights Party, Minuteman-Patriotic Party); resembled the artist’s sketch of the assassin.  
- **Larry McGrath**: Bartender at The Blue Dolphin in San Leandro; reported interactions with Allen and Nichols.  
- **Joseph Meadows**: Witness who reported seeing a white Mustang with Alabama License 52-25871 in South Carolina.  
- **George Wallace**: Political figure associated with the AIP and anti-Negro sentiments.  
- **Russell Townsend** and **Cyril Stevenson**: Business associates of Nichols; mentioned in phone records and travel plans.  

Key Locations  
- **San Leandro, California**: Site of The Blue Dolphin bar where Nichols and Allen were observed; home to Nichols’ residence and business activities.  
- **Orville, California**: Location of gas station receipts linked to Nichols’ travel on April 4, 1968.  
- **Montgomery, Alabama** and **Tennessee**: Mentioned in context of AIP political contacts and Nichols’ travel routes.  
- **South Carolina**: Site of reported sightings of the white Mustang with Alabama License 52-25871.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee** and **Birmingham, Alabama**: Involved in license plate tracking, fingerprint comparisons, and FBI investigations.  
- **Baltimore**: Reference to internal government communication about Aaron Isaac Lofton’s "Dance School Project."  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: Date of MLK’s assassination; Nichols provided alibi details including travel to Orville, California.  
- **March 28–30, 1968**: FBI investigated Nichols’ whereabouts via phone records, gas station receipts, and business contacts.  
- **License plate tracking**: Efforts to identify the white Mustang with Alabama License 52-25871, including interviews with Joseph Meadows.  
- **Fingerprint comparisons**: Attempted to link suspects to latent prints from the assassination scene.  
- **Witness accounts**: Including testimony from McGrath and others about Nichols’ associations and derogatory remarks about MLK.  
- **Internal FBI communication**: Reference to Aaron Isaac Lofton’s involvement in the "Dance School Project," though details remain unclear.  

Key Organizations  
- **American Independent Party (AIP)**: Political group associated with Nichols, Allen, and George Wallace; linked to anti-Negro sentiments.  
- **National States Rights Party** and **Minuteman-Patriotic Party**: Right-wing groups connected to Thomas George Misiagi.  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted primary investigations into Nichols, Allen, and other suspects.  
- **U.S. Department of Defense**: Mentioned in context of DD Form 398 (Statement of Personal History) related to Aaron Isaac Lofton.

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_76-04-part_1_of_5.pdf

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