</s>HO 44-1509 Airlines, He remained at the Hotel Bolivar, San Pedro Sula, Honduras from March 30, 1968 to April 7, 1968 at Which time he flew from Honduras to Mexico City, Mexico via Pan American arrival in Houston by Houston, Texas via Pan Am American arrival to Houston by April 7th, 1968. This was in Honduras from March 30, 1969 to April 1, 1968, The following description of CLAUDIE CHESTINE MC CLAREN, JR. was obtained through observation and inter- view: Race White Sex Date of birth Male Date of Birth September 12, 1936 Height Height of birth 5/15 Worth, Texas Weight 145 lbs. Height Brown Eyes Marital status Single Military service Army, Navy, August, 1954 - Military service September, 1958 Serial No. Tanned Tanned 45/57-24 Not ressemble the photograph of ERIC STARVO GAULT. It was noted from observation that MC CLARENN does 5. JOHN A. GAULT! After reviewing records from the Miami Office of the FBI 5. APRIL 12, 1968 the Miami Airlines determined that after reviewing records of Eastern Airlines determined the that a JOHN A, on April 1. 1969 associated Pipeline Contractors, Houston, Texas, had departed Greensboro, North Carolina on Eastern Flight 621 on April 4, 1968 in Atlanta, Georgia on Flight on Eastern Flights, Texas and was determined for 341 on April 9, 1968 appeared at Atlanta, Georgia on Flight was interviewed in Houston, TX and was determined that he is 24 years old and is in fact employed by Associated Pipeline Contractors and he in no way by themselves JAMES EARL AL/ also known as. 6. DON TURNER Information furnished by the Conroe Police Depart- ment, Conroe, Texas was the basis for investigation of DON TURNER, Mr. Texas was a representative, New York, advised the Conroe police Department that he was interested in advising while driving from Conroe to California, he picked up a person furnishing the name DON TANNER at Benson, Arizona, TANMER- was dressed in an Army uniform. Because of TANner's state- was dressed as an Army officer. Because at him. Miles ANDREWS became suspicious of him. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 141416

Summary  
The document contains fragmented FBI investigative records from 1967–1968 related to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) and associated inquiries into potential suspects, including James Earl Ray. The investigation spans multiple locations in Texas, Mexico, and Missouri, focusing on travel logs, witness statements, employment histories, financial records, and photographic comparisons. Key individuals include Claudie Chestine McClaren Jr., John A. Gault, Don Turner, Henry Richard Giles, G.L. Gallagher, Tom Roselli, Graham Robert Smith, Charles Ray Johnson, James J. Hammons, James Stedman, and Louise Casey. The FBI conducted interviews at restaurants, motels, dance studios, and police departments to verify identities and movements of suspects linked to MLK’s assassination or associated with James Earl Ray. Records also include prison files from Missouri State Penitentiary, telephone call logs, motel occupancy data, and checks on shipping manifests, airline passengers, and credit information. No conclusive evidence or positive identifications were found during the investigations.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Central suspect in MLK’s assassination; investigated for travel to Mexico, prison records from Missouri State Penitentiary (1958–1966), and alleged connections to Eric Starvo Galt.  
- **Claudie Chestine McClaren Jr.**: White male born September 12, 1936; observed but not identified with Eric Starvo Gault.  
- **John A. Gault**: Linked to Pipeline Contractors in Houston, Texas; tracked via flight records and interviews.  
- **Don Turner**: Described as an Army officer from Arizona/California; investigated for potential ties to MLK’s assassination.  
- **Henry Richard Giles**: Construction worker from Corpus Christi, Texas; traveled to Mexico but denied Cuba ties.  
- **G.L. Gallagher**: Houston oil company executive compared to photographs of James Earl Ray.  
- **Tom Roselli**: Beaumont, Texas barber noted for resembling James Earl Ray.  
- **Graham Robert Smith**: British student at Rice University with car rental records linked to suspect investigations.  
- **Charles Ray Johnson**: Employed by Heart of America Shows; checked against employment records.  
- **James J. Hammons**: Tracked via Louisiana license plates and gas station purchases.  
- **James Stedman**: R.R. Waldrop Company employee who claimed knowledge of MLK’s killer but denied involvement.  
- **Louise Casey**: Nassau Bay Hotel waitress compared to photographs of suspects.  
- **Neal Edgar Aery** (likely misspelled): Inmate at Missouri State Penitentiary who shared a cell with James Earl Ray; described his escape attempts and behavior.  
- **Judy Carol Peters**: Wife of Neal Edgar Aery, divorced in 1962 with no contact since.  
- **George William Russell**: Salesman claiming interaction with James Earl Ray in 1966.  

Key Locations  
- **Houston, Texas**: Central to investigations involving Pipeline Contractors, Heart of America Shows, R.R. Waldrop Company, and Hertz Rent-A-Car records.  
- **Mexico City, Mexico**: Travel records linked to Henry Richard Giles and car rentals for Graham Robert Smith.  
- **Corpus Christi, Texas**: Home of Henry Richard Giles; also referenced in travel investigations.  
- **Beaumont, Texas**: Location of Tom Roselli’s barber shop.  
- **Nassau Bay Hotel, Kemah, Texas**: Employed Louise Casey, who was checked against suspect photographs.  
- **Louisiana**: License plate tracking and Hertz Rent-A-Car records used for investigations.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary (St. Louis, Missouri)**: Site of James Earl Ray’s incarceration (1958–1966); Neal Edgar Aery was an inmate.  
- **Ramsey Unit, Texas**: Prison where Neal Edgar Aery was transferred in 1968.  

Key Events  
- **Travel tracking**: Suspects monitored via flight records, car rentals, and motel stays (e.g., Holiday Inn, Howard Johnson Motor Lodge, Cactus Court).  
- **Witness interviews**: Conducted at restaurants, motels, dance studios, and police departments to verify identities and movements.  
- **Photographic comparisons**: Used to identify potential suspects like Tom Roselli, G.L. Gallagher, and Louise Casey.  
- **Prison records review**: FBI examined James Earl Ray’s incarceration at Missouri State Penitentiary, including escape attempts in 1962 and 1966.  
- **Telephone call logs**: Tracked calls made by James Earl Ray from payphones along Interstate Highway 10 to New Orleans, Louisiana.  
- **Employment checks**: Reviewed payroll records for James Earl Ray and others; included labor union memberships.  
- **Financial record reviews**: Checked bank accounts and savings institutions for ties to suspects.  
- **Motel occupancy data**: Analyzed stays at Houston-area hotels during December 1967.  

Key Organizations  
- **FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)**: Conducted investigations across multiple offices, including Miami, San Francisco, and Houston; coordinated with local law enforcement.  
- **Heart of America Shows**: Employed Charles Ray Johnson; checked against employment records.  
- **Rice University**: Graham Robert Smith’s student status noted in car rental records.  
- **Hertz Rent-A-Car**: Provided car rental data for license plate tracking and suspect movements.  
- **Nassau Bay Hotel**: Employed Louise Casey, who was compared to suspect photographs.  
- **Texas Department of Public Safety**, **Houston Police Department**, **Corpus Christi Police Department**: Provided credit, voter registration, and telephone directory information.  
- **National Airlines**, **American Airlines**, **Barge Lines**: Reviewed passenger manifests for potential connections to suspects.  
- **U.S. Customs**: Checked shipping records for departures from Houston and Corpus Christi.

MLK Declassified Files

44-si-561_sec_012_ser_532-575-part_5_of_6.pdf

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