</s>CE 44-1365 PAGE THREE THAN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH. . HE HAD A LONG, NARROW, POINTED NOSE THAN I IN THE PHOTOORAPH. HE HADE A LONG. NARROV, POINTO NOSE AND LARGE EARS. FACE WAS LESS FLESHY THAN PHOTOGRAPH OF GALT. HE DESCRIBED DRIVER ASGE ASGE ABOUT THIRTY, NOT LARGE FRAME, BROWN HAIR, NOT DARK, WHICH WAS SHORT, RECEDING AND MUCH SHORTER THAN IN PHOTGRAPH AND BRUSHED STRAIGHT BACK. DRIVER WAS VERY COMPOSED AND RESERVED DURING CONVERSATION. DID NOT VOLUNTEER, INFORMATION AND, BUT ANSWERED QUESTIONS. GAVE INPRESSION OF BEING PRECISE AND IMMACULATE. WE WELL GROOMED AND INPRESSAT. TROOPER MARVIN WRIGHT, NCHP, WAS PRESENT AT THE ROAD CHECK AND DESCRLED CAR AS FADED GREEN. HE DID NOT TALK WITH CHECK AND RECREASED TROOPER WILLIAMS, MENTIONING THE CAR HAD R.A. LICENSE BEGINNING WITH ONE ZERO W AND DRIVER HAD AN EXTREMELY SHORT NAME. RICHMOND, AT WYTHEVILLE, VA ., AND PITTSBURGH, AT CHARLESTON AND BLUEFIELD, W. VA .- CONTACT LOCAL AUTHORITIES FOR ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING AUTOMOBILE FITTING DESCRIPTION. JACKSONVILLE, AT TALLAHASSEE, FLA ., WILL AT DMV DETERMINE FEASIBILITY OF CHECKING REGISTRATION RECORDS FOR FIFTY-FIVE END PAGE THREE 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary:  
The documents detail FBI investigations into potential suspects linked to Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination and related threats in April 1968. Eric Starvo Galt is a central figure, described as a white male with physical traits including a long narrow nose, large ears, and reserved demeanor. He was observed driving a black Ford with an Alabama National Guard license plate (2691) near Memphis, Tennessee, and later associated with a Florida-licensed Ford station wagon with Texas plates ("A M" or "AC"). The FBI traced the vehicle to William D. Willis of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, a U.S. Navy sailor on leave who admitted carrying firearms but denied involvement in threats against MLK. Investigations also referenced Maurice Joseph Galt, a Canadian with a criminal record (false pretenses, theft, fraud) and no confirmed U.S. presence, as well as James Earl Ray, whose brother was allegedly located in East St. Louis, Illinois. A suspect named Richard Galt was linked to maritime records, including a 1961 voyage on the S.S. Hudson. The FBI coordinated efforts across Memphis, San Antonio, Birmingham, and Philadelphia to verify license plates, conduct interviews, and track suspects flagged as "ARMED AND DANGEROUS." Additional inquiries involved local authorities in Richmond, Jacksonville, and Tallahassee for license plate checks and media assistance (e.g., Newark Star-Ledger).  

Key People:  
- **Eric Starvo Galt** (central suspect; described physically, linked to multiple vehicles, flagged as dangerous)  
- **William D. Willis** (U.S. Navy sailor in Jacksonville Beach, Florida; associated with truck stop incident and firearms possession)  
- **Maurice Joseph Galt** (Canadian with criminal record; no confirmed U.S. presence)  
- **James Earl Ray** (linked to East St. Louis, Illinois; brother inquiry initiated)  
- **Richard Galt** (seafarer records, 1961 voyage on S.S. Hudson)  
- **Elder S. Barrow** (reported sighting of suspect resembling MLK in Selma, Alabama)  
- **Curtis Way** (Neighborhood Youth Corps deputy director; involved in tracking Galt’s activities)  
- **Gloria Way** (spouse of Curtis Way; tracked Galt’s movements)  
- **MRS. BOYD G. SMITH** (former ELLEN GAULT, sister of PANSY GAULT; referenced in records)  
- **Eric E. Winter** (California resident; no direct MLK connection)  

Key Locations:  
- **Memphis, Tennessee** (FBI field office, Texaco station, investigation hub)  
- **Jacksonville Beach, Florida** (Willis’ residence, Navy assignment)  
- **South Seventeen, North Carolina** (truck stop incident with Willis and phone call to Philadelphia)  
- **Selma, Alabama** (incident involving MLK’s photo in *Jet Magazine*)  
- **East St. Louis, Illinois** (James Earl Ray’s alleged brother)  
- **Mobile, Alabama** (seafarer records for Richard Galt)  
- **Newark, New Jersey** (YMCA 600 Broad St., "Flower Man" residence)  
- **Richmond, Virginia; Jacksonville, Florida; Tallahassee, Florida** (license plate and registration checks)  

Key Events:  
- April 12, 1968: Observation of a white male resembling Galt driving a Florida-licensed Ford near Memphis.  
- April 15–16, 1968: Truck stop incident in South Seventeen, North Carolina, involving Willis and a phone call to Philadelphia discussing potential violence against MLK.  
- April 17, 1968: Elder S. Barrow reported seeing a photo of MLK in *Jet Magazine* (Page 43 and 47) during an incident in Selma, Alabama; FBI requested magazine copy for verification.  
- April 18, 1968: FBI initiated fingerprint comparison for Maurice Joseph Galt via RCMP and sought information on James Earl Ray’s brother.  
- April 19, 1968: FBI coordinated efforts across Memphis, San Antonio, Birmingham, and Philadelphia to verify license plates and suspect identities.  
- License plate investigations linked Florida-licensed Ford (prefix "A M" or "AC") to Galt and Willis; Mississippi-licensed 1955 Ford (AB-551) tied to a fugitive named Galt.  

Key Organizations:  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)** – Memphis, San Antonio, Birmingham, New York, Buffalo, Seattle, Miami, and Mobile field offices involved in tracking suspects and coordinating investigations.  
- **U.S. Navy** – USS SARATOGA (Willis’ assignment)  
- **Seafarers’ International Union** – Richard Galt’s union membership records  
- **U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)** – Maurice Joseph Galt’s Canadian criminal record  
- **Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)** – Indirectly referenced through MLK’s scheduled speech in Wilmington, North Carolina  
- **Local law enforcement agencies** – Richmond, Jacksonville, Tallahassee; requested for license plate and registration checks  
- **YMCA** – Newark, New Jersey; linked to "Flower Man" residence

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_84-04-part_2_of_3.pdf

Document Summary

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