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Summary:  
The documents detail FBI and local law enforcement investigations into James Earl Ray’s movements and potential connections to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). Key elements include interviews with Russell Griffin, a man linked to MLK’s murder suspect through driver’s license records and alleged sightings in Memphis, Tennessee. Griffin was checked for fingerprints against James Earl Ray’s, but no match was found. Law enforcement also sought information on unidentified deceased individuals from April 1968 onward, contacting state vital statistics offices. Informants such as Ben Black in Charleston, West Virginia, reported a barber who may have cut the hair of a man resembling Ray. The FBI coordinated with agencies like the Pennsylvania State Police and Uniontown Police Department to verify records and track potential leads. Multiple memos reference Ray’s possible presence in Memphis, his alleged criminal record, and his association with Florida. The documents also include administrative forms, teletypes, and requests for information on Ray’s activities, including his alleged stay at flophouses and lower-class lodging.  

Key People:  
- James Earl Ray (suspect in MLK’s assassination)  
- Russell Griffin (individual linked to Ray through driver’s license records and sightings)  
- Ben Black (Charleston, WV police officer who reported a barber’s sighting of Ray)  
- John J. Nell (Vice President of W.W. Norton & Company, mentioned in connection with John Willard)  
- William T. Dougherty (FBI agent involved in the investigation)  
- Robert J. Carroll (FBI agent coordinating inquiries)  

Key Locations:  
- Memphis, Tennessee (center of MLK assassination investigation)  
- Point Marion, Pennsylvania (Griffin’s alleged residence)  
- Charleston, West Virginia (barber reported sighting Ray)  
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (FBI SAC office)  
- Uniontown, Pennsylvania (police department involved in record checks)  

Key Events:  
- Interview of Russell Griffin at Fort Martin Power Plant on April 4, 1968, regarding his ties to Memphis.  
- Fingerprint comparison between Griffin and James Earl Ray on May 6, 1968, revealing no match.  
- Investigation into unidentified deceased individuals from April 5, 1968, onward, including checks with state vital statistics offices.  
- Report by Ben Black about a barber (Everett Plin) who may have cut the hair of a man resembling Ray in Charleston, WV.  
- FBI coordination with local and state agencies to track Ray’s movements and verify driver’s license records.  
- Requests for information on Ray’s activities, including his alleged stay at flophouses and lower-class lodging.  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Pennsylvania State Police  
- Uniontown Police Department  
- Memphis Police Department  
- U.S. Census Bureau and Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (involved in checking unidentified deceased records)

MLK Declassified Files

44-pg-578_763522_02-03-part_5_of_7.pdf

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