</s>OFFICIAL FORM NO. 10 GEA PEPPER (GPO) GPO (GPO) 61414 USA PEPPPER (GPIO) 611414 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Memorandum TO : SAC, Memphis (44-1987) : SAG, Director, FBI (44 -38861) DATE: October 25, 1968 V FROM : Director, FBI (44)-388611) SUBJECT: MURKIN Enclosed you will find a Xerox copy of Legat communication to the Bureau under date of October 22, 1968, in relation to representatives of Mr. Phil M. Canale's office visit to Mexico. You should take the pertinent portions from this communication and submit them in an LIM suitable for dissemination along with your contacts with Mr. Canalle responding to their request. Enclosure/Jap Dore Hertin Scee-11-32/2/3/3) Hertu Scea SceE-11/32/1/2-3/2 SEARCHED, INOXED, SERIALIZED, FILLED, P.L.A. Causage Sce/Scee SEARCHER, F.LIM FILLed, PLL.A oct 2:1968 FB1-M.C.M.P.H.F.C/M.F/M/H/S/S Buy U.S. Savings Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Savings Plan. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI and RCMP investigations into the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on evidence collection, forensic analysis, interagency coordination, and witness testimony for James Earl Ray’s trial. Physical items recovered include debris from a 1966 Ford Mustang, clothing, soil samples, latent fingerprints, handwriting comparisons, and documents linked to suspects like Eric S. Galt. Evidence was collected across multiple U.S. locations (Memphis, Birmingham, Atlanta, New Orleans, Los Angeles) and internationally (Montreal, Portugal). The FBI coordinated with state officials, including Tennessee’s Phil M. Canale, Jr., and Canadian authorities, while the RCMP provided exhibits tied to a Canadian connection. Witness testimonies from international figures, such as Portuguese officials and embassy clerks, were secured for trial proceedings in Memphis, involving logistical arrangements for travel, financial support, and legal permissions. Forensic efforts included analysis of bank records, hotel registrations, and firearms procurement (e.g., Remington Model 700 rifle).  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Suspect linked to MLK Jr.’s assassination; central figure in evidence collection and trial preparations.  
- **Eric S. Galt**: Name associated with multiple documents, handwriting samples, financial records, and hotel registrations found across U.S. locations.  
- **Tommy Joe Morgan**: Interviewed regarding potential phone calls during December 1967; denied involvement.  
- **Phil M. Canale, Jr.**: Tennessee State Attorney General overseeing trial logistics and witness coordination.  
- **Robert Fitzpatrick**: FBI agent handling evidence delivery in Memphis.  
- **Mrs. Manuela Teixeira Lopes**: Portuguese clerk at the Canadian Embassy in Lisbon, requested to testify in MLK’s assassination trial.  
- **Inspector Jose Manuel Da Cunha Passo**: Portuguese police officer sought as a witness for testimony.  
- **W. Tapley Bennett**: U.S. Ambassador to Portugal, involved in securing witness permissions.  
- **Harold Shapiro**: Department of Justice official referenced in correspondence.  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Central to the assassination investigation, trial preparations, and evidence handling.  
- **Birmingham, Alabama**: Site of recovered financial records and witness contacts.  
- **Atlanta, Georgia**: Multiple locations referenced for documents, maps, and personal effects (e.g., Room 6, 113th Street).  
- **New Orleans, Louisiana**: Mentioned in context of evidence collection and witness statements.  
- **Los Angeles, California**: Linked to typewritten letters and maps found during the investigation.  
- **Montreal, Quebec**: RCMP reports reference exhibits tied to a Canadian connection, including documents linked to Eric S. Galt.  
- **Lisbon, Portugal**: Home to witnesses Passo and Lopez; location of Portuguese authorities involved in testimony arrangements.  

Key Events  
- **Evidence Recovery**: Items from a 1966 Ford Mustang (floor mats, clothing, tools) collected from Memphis, Birmingham, Atlanta, and other locations. Soil samples and latent fingerprints analyzed by FBI laboratories.  
- **Forensic Analysis**: Handwriting comparisons, soil analysis, and document examination conducted to link suspects to evidence.  
- **Interagency Coordination**: Communication between FBI offices in Memphis, Atlanta, New Orleans, and Canadian RCMP for evidence sharing and investigative findings.  
- **Witness Testimony Preparation**: Logistical arrangements for international witnesses (e.g., Mrs. Lopes, Passo) to testify in Memphis, including travel expenses, visa requests, and per diem support.  
- **Trial Logistics**: Coordination between FBI, Tennessee state officials, and foreign authorities to secure testimony from Portuguese witnesses and procure evidence like the Remington Model 700 rifle.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Central agency managing evidence collection, forensic analysis, and interagency coordination.  
- **Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)**: Provided exhibits and reports related to a Canadian connection in the investigation.  
- **State of Tennessee**: Involved in legal proceedings, witness testimony arrangements, and financial support for international witnesses.  
- **Portuguese Foreign Office**: Facilitated witness permissions for Inspector Passo.  
- **Canadian Embassy, Lisbon**: Assisted with passport issuance for Mrs. Manuela Teixeira Lopes.  
- **Aeromarine Supply Company**: Mentioned as a source for parts recovered from the Ford Mustang.

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_84-03-part_5_of_6.pdf

Document Summary

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