</s>FD:245 [Rev. 3.3 K3] H. S. Department of Justice FEDERAL BUREAU SPECIFICATION NO. FIELD OFFICE The of FOIFA Rocassad INVESTIGATION Bureau File Number 44-38816] DATE/COPY/ASSPIRED DO NOT DESTROY "DO NOT DESTRO" HISTORICAL VALU ... PENDING LITIGATION NATIONAL ARCHIVES" Series: Volume Number: ENTIRE FILE REVIEWED FOR HISTORICIAL DO NOT DESTROY DECLASSIFICATION HISTorical VALUE NATIONALARCHIVES See also Nos. 5 See also No. Stripetion Sue Neut Station 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
This document details a federal law enforcement report from the early 1960s focusing on investigations related to James Earl Ray, the suspect in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., which occurred on April 4, 1968. The report centers on travel records, passport applications, and financial ties linked to Ray and associates such as Ramon George Sneyd and Paul Bridgeman. Key elements include inquiries into Sneyd’s British Commonwealth passport application (September 24, 1968), his planned travel to London via BOAC, and flight records from April–June 1968 involving Eastern Airlines and other carriers. The FBI and other agencies investigated connections between Sneyd, Bridgeman, and Ray, including potential financial motives, family disputes, and incarceration histories. The report emphasizes confidentiality in handling passport office sources and highlights the FBI’s role in tracking suspects and coordinating witness interviews. Ambiguities persist regarding flight data formatting, passenger identities, and relationships between individuals, with unresolved questions about Sneyd’s connection to Ray or Bridgeman.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Convicted of MLK Jr.’s assassination; central figure in the investigation.  
- **Ramon George Sneyd**: Suspected associate of Ray; applied for a British Commonwealth passport in September 1968, listed Paul Bridgeman as an emergency contact.  
- **Paul Bridgeman**: Linked to Ray through travel or personal connections; had ties to prisons, family disputes, and potential criminal activities.  
- **Jacqueline "Jackie" Kline**: Bridgeman’s girlfriend; scrutinized for possible involvement in the case.  
- **Janet Canvey** (Bridgeman’s sister) and **Jim Davis** (Bridgeman’s cousin): Mentioned in financial and inheritance contexts.  

Key Locations  
- **Toronto, Canada**: Sneyd’s residence (968 Dundas Street).  
- **London, UK**: Destination of Sneyd’s planned travel via BOAC.  
- **Atlanta, Memphis, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Miami, New York**: U.S. cities with flight records linked to suspects.  
- **Montreal, Canada**: Travel destination mentioned in flight data.  

Key Events  
- **April–June 1968**: Flight records from multiple airlines (Eastern Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, etc.) tracked individuals potentially connected to Ray.  
- **September 24, 1968**: Sneyd applied for a British Commonwealth passport with travel plans to London.  
- **Inheritance disputes and financial trails**: Investigated through family connections (e.g., Janet Canvey, Jim Davis) and a safety deposit box.  
- **FBI coordination**: Field offices in Memphis, Atlanta, and others collaborated on witness interviews and evidence collection.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Led investigations into Ray’s movements, travel records, and potential accomplices.  
- **British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC)**: Involved in Sneyd’s planned travel to London.  
- **Eastern Airlines**: Key carrier for flights linked to suspects between April–June 1968.  
- **Passport Office**: Monitored applications and provided information under confidentiality protocols.

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_83-02-part_1_of_9.pdf

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