</s>AL 44-493 ALL OFFICES PLEASE NOTE: BUREAU teletype to All Continental Offices, 4/9/68, stated that all laundries should be contacted in an effort to identify the tape on the shorts and tees-tested in an office that identifies the tapes on the short Textile Marking Machine Company that advised that the above are the only machines known to be in the above listed the only machine known that company has advised that it is in the work on the garments. This company advised that that the tapes are on the garments are their tapes exclusively and that there is no other marking machine in the word which could have produced the tapes. Further note, the following are names and addresses with telephone numbers of sales representatives of Textile Marking Machine company covering the above territories: DICK BRISTON 3452 N. 13th Ave. Gainsville, N.Y. Telephone Number of sales representative of Textiles Telephone Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Southern Mississippi. JOE COMBS 5232 Devonshire Oxon Hill, 5242 Maryland 246-6127 Covering Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania. W. Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Eastern Tennessee and Eastern Kentucky. FRED WEBER 33 Skylark Lane 33 Skylar Lane Telephone 751-2135 Covering Metropolitan New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Main, New Hampshire and Vermont. Ustate New York requires New Jersey. Textile Marketing Machine Company, Syracuse, N ., Y ., Telephone 145-8110 JACK CODY 2929 Chaucer Drive Sherwood Village North Canton, Ohio North Cantone, 2-24/97 Telephone Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. -40- 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document details an FBI investigation into the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., emphasizing forensic analysis of laundry marks found on clothing linked to the crime. It outlines the identification of a textile tape used for garment marking, manufactured by Textile Marking Machine Company (Syracuse, N.Y.), and its unique characteristics, including type sizes and code systems. The FBI compiled a national list of locations where these machines were sold or used, including laundries and cleaners in California, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and other states. Serial numbers for specific machines and associated businesses are noted, alongside directives from the FBI regarding handling sensitive case information.  

Key People  
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (assassinated on 4/4/68)  
- Textile Marking Machine Company representatives: DICK BRISTON, JOE COMBS, FRED WEBER, JACK CODY  
- FBI agents and offices: SAC Albany, FBI Detroit, FBI Kansas City  

Key Locations  
- Syracuse, N.Y. (Textile Marking Machine Company headquarters)  
- California: Santa Barbara, San Jose, Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Diego  
- Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Southern Mississippi  
- Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Eastern Tennessee, Eastern Kentucky  
- Metropolitan New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont  

Key Events  
- FBI forensic analysis of laundry marks associated with Dr. King’s assassination  
- Identification and characterization of textile tape from Textile Marking Machine Company  
- Compilation of a national list of textile marking machine locations for investigative purposes  
- FBI directives on handling sensitive case information and dissemination restrictions  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Textile Marking Machine Company  
- Laundries, cleaners, and dry-cleaning businesses in California and other states (e.g., serial number-linked operations)

MLK Declassified Files

44-om-310_763633_15-03-part_3_of_4.pdf

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