</s>Gipson & Tucker Page Two September 25, 1973 have no intention of anticipating that eventuality. Yours very truly, Thomas F. Turley, Jr. United States Attorney TFT:ew 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail legal proceedings and investigative activities related to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on Charles Q. Stephens’ lawsuit against state and federal entities in Shelby County, Tennessee. Stephens’ attorneys, Harvey L. Gipson and Robert A. Tucker, filed an amended motion for discovery in 1973 seeking access to records from the FBI Memphis Office, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Memphis Police Department, and other agencies. The motion requested documents, photographs, statements, and electronic recordings related to the assassination, reward offers, and investigative activities. U.S. Attorney Thomas F. Turley Jr. declined to engage with the lawsuit unless it met specific criteria, while the FBI restricted distribution of its records to non-agency recipients. Additional filings reference James Earl Ray as the accused, including his legal actions in Tennessee courts regarding alleged mistreatment during incarceration and jurisdictional disputes. FBI communications from 1973 note Ray’s petitions and complaints, alongside references to reward offers for information about the assassination, documented in newspaper clippings and organizational records. Redacted sections and administrative notes indicate declassification under Executive Order 14176. A fragmented legal proceeding involving Percy Foreman, an attorney accused of misconduct, mentions alleged suppression of information provided by a plaintiff (possibly MLK) to prosecutors and associates like John J. Hooker. The text also references prison conditions in Tennessee, including segregation, medical neglect, and transfers between facilities from 1968–1972, with interactions noted between correctional officials such as Harry Avory and Vernon Piussell. Mentions of MLK’s reported public support for the Palestine Arab cause are included, suggesting potential ties to investigations into threats against him.  

Key People  
- Charles Q. Stephens (plaintiff in lawsuit seeking records related to MLK’s assassination)  
- Harvey L. Gipson (attorney for Stephens)  
- Robert A. Tucker (attorney for Stephens)  
- Thomas F. Turley Jr. (U.S. Attorney, Memphis, Tennessee)  
- James Earl Ray (suspect in MLK’s assassination; referenced in legal actions and FBI communications)  
- Percy Foreman (attorney accused of fraud and misconduct; linked to alleged suppression of information)  
- Mark H. Luttrell (Commissioner of Corrections for Tennessee; named as defendant in legal proceedings involving Ray)  
- John J. Hooker (legal associate of Foreman; mentioned in context of suppressed information)  
- Harry Avory (Tennessee Corrections Commissioner; referenced in prison conditions and treatment records)  
- Vernon Piussell (successor to Avory at Tennessee Department of Correction)  

Key Locations  
- Memphis, Tennessee: Central location for law enforcement agencies, courts, and media outlets like the Commercial Appeal.  
- Shelby County, Tennessee: Site of Chancery Court where legal motions were filed.  
- Nashville, Tennessee: Location of federal district court proceedings involving James Earl Ray’s petitions.  
- Tennessee State Penitentiary (TSP): Mentioned as a place of incarceration for James Earl Ray and referenced in prison conditions and legal disputes.  
- Shelby County Jail, Tennessee: Noted in context of plaintiff’s incarceration and treatment.  

Key Events  
- Filing of an amended motion for discovery by Charles Q. Stephens on October 5, 1973, seeking records related to MLK’s assassination, reward offers, and investigative activities.  
- U.S. Attorney Turley Jr.’s refusal to engage with the lawsuit unless it met specific criteria.  
- FBI restrictions on distribution of its documents to non-agency recipients.  
- Legal actions taken by James Earl Ray, including petitions and complaints filed in Tennessee courts regarding alleged mistreatment while incarcerated and jurisdictional disputes.  
- FBI communications referencing Ray’s claims of federal jurisdiction over his case and allegations of negligence by state authorities.  
- References to reward offers for information leading to the arrest and conviction of MLK’s assassin, documented in newspaper clippings and organizational records.  
- Alleged fraudulent motions by Percy Foreman to influence court proceedings, including false claims of a guilty plea agreement with the plaintiff.  
- Medical neglect, segregation, and transfers of the plaintiff between Tennessee correctional facilities from 1968–1972.  
- Testimony from correctional officials regarding treatment of the plaintiff, including interactions with Harry Avory and Vernon Piussell.  
- Mention of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s reported public support for the Palestine Arab cause, suggesting potential ties to investigations into threats against him.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Involved in monitoring legal actions related to James Earl Ray and the assassination investigation.  
- Shelby County Sheriff’s Office: Referenced in requests for records related to MLK’s assassination.  
- Memphis Police Department: Mentioned as a source of investigative materials.  
- Chancery Court of Shelby County, Tennessee: Site of legal motions filed by Charles Q. Stephens.  
- U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee: Refused engagement with Stephens’ lawsuit.  
- Tennessee Department of Correction: Involved in prison conditions and legal disputes over James Earl Ray’s incarceration.  
- Memphis Publishing Company/Commercial Appeal: Newspaper referenced in documents related to reward offers and public dissemination of information about the assassination.  
- National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees: Mentioned as an organization involved in discussions about reward offers for information related to the assassination.

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_87-02-part_6_of_7.pdf

Document Summary

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