</s>ME 44-1987 The following is subject's identification record as furnished by the FBI Identification Division on April 23, 1968, under FBI # 405 942 G: CONTRIBUTOR OF NAME AND ARRESTED CHARGE DISPOSITION FINGERPRINTS NUMBER OR RECEIVED Army James Earl 2/19/46 Ray Sheriff's James Earl 10/11/49 suspicion Office Los of burglary Angeles, Ray #B-119908 Calif. PD, Los James Earl 10/10/49 suspiction 8 months County Angeles Ray #139648 459 Penal Jail suspended; Califif (burglar) 2 years probed; tion served; first 90 days County Jail. 146 12/30/49 C1234938 SO Cedar Rapids, Iowa James E. Ray 4/18/50 vagrance #3937 PD Alton, James Earl 7/23/51 no opera- released released to pay 111. Ray #7514 tor's lic- later ense - no City License PD Chicago James Ray 5/6/52 Robbery Grand Jury 111 #D090696 (Gun) $3000 Cook County James Ray 5/9/52 robery 6/13/52 sen- Jail Chicago #131165 tentiary 1 to 2 111 tentarial 1 to years State Peni- State E.Ray 6/13 /52 tentitary #32419 Joliet, 111. 1 to 2 years 91<loc_473><loc_889><loc_497><loc_904><loc_473><loc_904>2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into alleged assassination plots targeting prominent civil rights figures, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and connections to broader extremist activities. James Earl Ray (also known as Eric Starvo Galt) is repeatedly referenced as a suspect in the 1968 assassination of MLK in Memphis, Tennessee, though no direct evidence is provided. The FBI’s records include Ray’s criminal history from 1946 to 1968, involving burglary, robbery, forgery, and other offenses across multiple states. A section notes an association between Ray and the assassination investigation via "KING, DR. MARTIN LUTHER, JR. - SHOOTING 22, 34," referencing a potential link to violent acts. The FBI also documented threats from militant black organizations against white political candidates as retaliation for MLK’s death, including warnings about dynamite attacks on the Empire State Building or poisoning White House attendees. Taylor Caldwell, a novelist and activist, is mentioned as reporting interactions with an unnamed "Negro businessman" in New York City who allegedly planned to harm prominent Negro individuals, including King. Caldwell described receiving anonymous threatening letters and claimed her husband, Marcus Reback (a former U.S. Immigration official), was attacked by individuals linked to Earl Warren’s associates in March 1967, resulting in his severe physical and mental decline. The FBI Buffalo Office reviewed Caldwell’s communications, noting her history of providing information to government agencies. References to the Poor People's Campaign and Robert Watkins/Watson (alleged plot participant) are included. A separate section mentions a "Black Book" subscription list and a connection between Ray and a Philadelphia subscriber. The documents also reference the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas, as part of broader context for extremist activities.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray (also known as Eric Starvo Galt)  
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (KING, DR. MARTIN LUTHER, JR.)  
- Taylor Caldwell (novelist and activist)  
- Marcus Reback (Caldwell’s husband, former U.S. Immigration official)  
- Robert Watkins/Watson (alleged plot participant)  
- Earl Warren (implied connection to attackers)  
- William Kunstler (lawyer mentioned in correspondence)  

Key Locations  
- Memphis, Tennessee (assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.)  
- New York City, New York (alleged plot planning location)  
- Dallas, Texas (assassination of President John F. Kennedy)  
- Andover, Massachusetts (Internal Revenue Service Center referenced)  
- Syracuse, New York (mentioned as a fan’s location)  

Key Events  
- Assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Memphis, April 4, 1968  
- Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Dallas, November 22, 1963  
- Attack on Taylor Caldwell’s residence by individuals linked to Earl Warren’s associates (March 20, 1967)  
- FBI investigation into alleged assassination plots targeting prominent Negro leaders  
- Threatening letters received by Taylor Caldwell, including anonymous threats linked to her husband’s attack in March 1967  
- Correspondence between Taylor Caldwell and an unidentified individual discussing assassination plots against civil rights leaders, including MLK  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS)  
- United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)  
- Poor People’s Campaign  
- Black Book (subscription list)

MLK Declassified Files

44-ny-1609_sec_005_ser_601-620-part_6_of_6.pdf

Document Summary

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