</s>FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64) FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION 1 Date 5/1/68 GIL MARTIN, Owner, Sultan Room, St. Francis Hotel, 5533 Hollywood Boulevard, was interviewed and furnished the following information: MARTIN stated that RAY FERNANDELL is unknown to him. He stated that he does not employ anyone by that name at the Sultan Room and that he doesn't do not employ any try cooks. He advised that there were no fry cooks employed at the St. Francisco Hotel. 4/27/68 Los Angeles, California Los Angeles 44-1574 On at File # SA THEODORE J. A'HEARN: jmk 5/11/68 by Date dictated This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. 45 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents consist of multiple FBI FD-302 forms and investigative reports from January–May 1968 detailing interviews with individuals in Los Angeles regarding potential connections to James Earl Ray (also known as Eric Starvo Galt) and his associations with nightlife establishments, correspondence clubs, and hotel stays. Interviews focused on individuals such as Helena Vlahos (a Greek-descended belly dancer at venues like the Seventh Veil and Arabian Nights), Melody O'Brien (a topless dancer who reported unsolicited phone calls), and Martin Villaire (her roommate). The FBI also investigated "The Local Swinger," a correspondence club linked to Eric S. Galt, including letters sent to Patricia Schubert. Records noted Ray’s residence at 1535 North Serrano Avenue in Los Angeles from November 1967–January 1968 and his travel to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, in late November 1967. No direct references to Martin Luther King Jr., his assassination, or related investigations are present in the text.  

Key People  
- **Helena Vlahos**: Greek-descended belly dancer employed at the Seventh Veil (Los Angeles) and Arabian Nights (Fresno).  
- **Melody Margaret O'Brien**: Topless dancer who reported receiving unsolicited phone calls linked to an unknown male caller.  
- **Martin Edward Villaire**: Roommate of Melody O'Brien, also reported suspicious phone calls.  
- **James Earl Ray (Eric Starvo Galt)**: Subject of multiple inquiries; described as an unknown individual associated with correspondence and phone call activities.  
- **Patricia Schubert**: Recipient of a letter from Eric S. Galt through "The Local Swinger" correspondence club.  
- **James E. O'Dowd** and **Ann L. Meyers**: Co-owners of "The Local Swinger," a correspondence club operating from Post Office Box 3802, Downey, California.  
- **Patricia Anderson**: Recipient of correspondence from the club.  
- **Allan O. Thompson**: Manager of St. Francis Hotel (Los Angeles).  
- **Florence Thompson**: Occupant of hotel room 42/1 at St. Francis Hotel.  
- **Mrs. Alvin Rowe**, **John Dous**, **Louise Lakson**, **Vince Scaduro**, **Thomas A. Carr**, **Norman Cox**, **Murray Rosenman**, **Diane M. Di Genova**, **George B. Snelling**, and **Elsie Snelling**: Individuals interviewed or referenced in hotel, club, and residential contexts.  

Key Locations  
- **St. Francis Hotel** (Los Angeles): Mentioned as a location for telephone number documentation and hotel occupancy records.  
- **Seventh Veil** (Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles): Nightclub where Helena Vlahos performed.  
- **Arabian Nights** (Fresno, California): Venue where Helena Vlahos worked prior to Los Angeles.  
- **The Fat Club** (Western Avenue, Los Angeles): Referenced in employment records.  
- **Local Swinger** (P.O. Box 3802, Downey, California): Correspondence club linked to Eric S. Galt’s letters.  
- **Hotel Rio** (Puerto Vallarta, Mexico): Room 212, noted as Ray’s stay from November 6–7, 1967.  
- **Hotel Tropicana** (Puerto Vallarta, Mexico): Room 417, referenced in travel inquiries.  
- **Alhambra, California**: Mail forwarding service associated with Eric Galt.  

Key Events  
- FBI interviews with hotel staff, club managers, and residents to investigate Helena Vlahos’s connections to James Earl Ray and unsolicited phone calls.  
- Examination of "The Local Swinger" correspondence club’s activities, including letters from Eric S. Galt to Patricia Schubert.  
- Investigation into Ray’s residence at 1535 North Serrano Avenue (November 1967–January 1968) and travel to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, in late November 1967.  
- Review of hotel occupancy records at St. Francis Hotel for potential links to the club or its members.  
- Inquiry into associates of Eric S. Galt/James Earl Ray during October 19–November 13, 1967, with no confirmed sightings or connections reported.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted interviews and investigations into James Earl Ray’s associations, correspondence club activities, and hotel stays.  
- **Los Angeles Police Department**: Implied through references to hotel staff and residents’ interactions.  
- **"The Local Swinger" correspondence club**: Operated from P.O. Box 3802, Downey, California, linked to Eric S. Galt’s letters.  
- **St. Francis Hotel** (Los Angeles): Center for telephone number documentation and occupancy records.

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_81-03-part_2_of_9.pdf

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