</s>FD. 245 (REV. 4:15-80) H. S. Department of Justice (MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO T-1:15 FILED) FIELD OFFICE FILE Challen Sten. Tulipstone Calles FEDERAL BUREAU DO NOT DESTROY PENDING LITIGATION 0778 3/65 of INVESTIGATION Bureau File Number 4/4-3/16/1 Vodou Number Schedules DO NOT STROY LIST RICAL VALUE NATIONAL ARCHIVES ENTIRE FILE REVIEWED See also No. FOR HISTORICAL SEE YOU 1. FOR HISTORYICAL FOR LITICATIONS DECLASSIFICATION ALL INFORMATION DON'TAKED HEREIN IS UNASSASSED) DARELIY-9/20/19-377072 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
This document details an FBI investigation into telephone calls made by James Earl Ray during his travel from Los Angeles to New Orleans in December 1967, focusing on identifying individuals who may have received long-distance calls from payphones in Houston, Texas, and Louisiana. The inquiry includes telephone numbers associated with residents in Lake Charles, Starks, Monroe, Houma, and Houston, as well as international phone numbers in Mexico. The investigation involves FBI field offices in Memphis, New Orleans, Houston, Dallas, and Salt Lake City, with efforts to locate individuals such as Tommy Joe Morgan, Sybil Johnson, Bill T. Veibell, and Reverend Mike Murdock. A confidential source abroad provided information on Mexican phone numbers linked to Ray’s alleged calls. No conclusive evidence or suspects were identified during the investigation. A separate FBI teletype message from November 25, 1968, references a telephone call made by Ray Uvale from Texas to New Orleans on December 16, 1967 or 1968, with no connection found. The document cites prior investigations in Houston, El Paso, and San Antonio, including Bureau teletypes dated February 28, 1968, and April 25, 1968, which referenced telephone calls related to the MLK assassination.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray (subject of investigation)  
- Tommy Joe Morgan (Monroe, Louisiana; moved in May 1968)  
- Sybil Johnson (Starks, Louisiana; later resided in Orange, Texas)  
- Bill T. Veibell (Houma, Louisiana; moved to Corinne, Utah in 1961)  
- Reverend Mike Murdock (Beeville, Texas; conducted revival at First Assembly of God Church)  
- Ray Uvale (telephone call from Texas to New Orleans on December 16, 1967 or 1968)  
- LOMAK and STEIN (referenced in teletype message)  
- Special Agents in Charge (San Antonio and Memphis)  

Key Locations  
- Houston, Texas (payphone locations; telephone numbers 477-4851, 436-6483, etc.)  
- Lake Charles, Louisiana (telephone numbers 477-4851, 436-6483)  
- Starks, Louisiana (telephone number 473-6264)  
- Monroe, Louisiana (telephone number 325-5765; associated with Tommy Joe Morgan)  
- Houma, Louisiana (telephone number 42-70-56)  
- Mexico (Sabinas, Coahuila; Nueva Rosita, Coahuila; Monterrey, Nuevo Leon; Mexico City; Enco, location of coin telephone)  
- Memphis, San Antonio, New Orleans, El Paso  

Key Events  
- FBI investigation into long-distance calls made by James Earl Ray from payphones in Houston and Louisiana during December 1967.  
- Interviews with residents of Lake Charles, Starks, Monroe, and Houma to identify potential recipients of the calls.  
- International leads provided by a confidential source abroad regarding Mexican phone numbers linked to Ray’s alleged activity.  
- Efforts to locate Reverend Mike Murdock and verify his recollection of December 1967 calls.  
- Documentation of telephone number ownership in Mexico, including connections to families like the VELZ family and Lara Zamora.  
- FBI teletype message from November 25, 1968, referencing a telephone call made by Ray Uvale from Texas to New Orleans on December 16, 1967 or 1968, with no connection found.  
- Reference to Bureau teletypes dated February 28, 1968, and April 25, 1968, which mentioned telephone calls related to the MLK assassination.  
- Emergency call investigation conducted by San Antonio with negative results.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) field offices: Memphis, New Orleans, Houston, Dallas, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, El Paso.  
- Local police departments in Sabinas, Coahuila; Nueva Rosita, Coahuila; and Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.  
- Southwestern Bell Telephone Company (involved in a 1968 inquiry related to a phone call).  
- Confidential sources abroad providing information on Mexican phone numbers.

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_84-06.pdf

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