</s>CG 44-1114 RJD/1aj 3 HAROLD E. RAINVILLE, Administrative Assistant to Senator E. E. RINVILLE. Administrative Assistant Illinois, advised as follows: 1. RALPH KUNSTADTER, Pediatrician, home 900 North Michigan, office 664 North Michigan, office telephone DE 7-4545, Chicago, Illinois, sometime in the past past had advised that he at one time North Michigan office telephone advised that he ate at one more employment, a man as a chauffeur man had been required to carry large sums of money in his a bag for KING and this man was scared that someone would a bag of KUNSTER to carry him to carry his large sums in this Doctor has been required and to carry many sums of this man failed to contact RAINVILLES. Doctor RALPH KNUNSTADEK, 664 NORTH Michigan, Chicago, Illinois. advised that for several years, his family had employed to contact KUNSTEINVILLE and has been advised by family had enjoyed an elderly colored male, KELLY this man had been released from his service as a this man and been releasedfrom his service to KUNSTDADTER because of his physical condition which Doctor KUNSDADTER recalled as being syphilis of the brain. Doctor KUnSTADTTER stated as 65 and on Social Security. was over 65 on Social Securty. Doctor KNUNSTEADTER stated that he later heard this man went to work for KING but he had no recollection of hearing anything over the effect that this black man was required to carry anything over $200,000 in cash in this black bag at all times for KING. KUNSTADAER stated that approximately one year or so ago this man had managed contacted his family and allegedly had some knowledge of threats which had been made against Senator DIRKEN. Doctor KNUSTADER accordingly attempted to have WILLIAMS contact Senator DIRKENS'S' office concerning this matter. the Chicago is to be noted in September, 1966, the Office conducted extensive investigation con- cerning a similar story concerning a person who allegedly worked for Doctor KING as a chaureur and who formerly worked for doctor KING as this chauffeurer and who formally developed the identity of the individual as KELLI WILLIANS, full details of which were furnished to the Bureau, No further investinvestigation was conducted at that time due to the really apparent mental problems on his WILLIAM's, coupled with the serious doubles which were cast on his veracity. - 142 - 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into potential connections between individuals and the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on license plate tracking, look-alike suspects, financial records, and witness accounts. On April 18, 1968, Clarence Peterson of Amalgamated Bank reported an individual resembling Eric Galt (linked to MLK’s assassination) attempting to open a savings account, claiming membership in the unverified "National Association of Ballroom Dancers." Subsequent inquiries into William Ferber and similar names yielded conflicting information, with some individuals ruled out due to mental health concerns or lack of evidence. A Tennessee license plate (BK 1897) was linked to a vehicle seen near Chicago on April 18, 1968, described as driven by a man matching James Earl Ray’s physical description. An anonymous caller in Gary, Indiana, mentioned Dale Baxter and others allegedly possessing information about the assassination, but they denied knowledge upon FBI contact. A postcard from R. Taylor in Oak Lawn, Illinois, referenced J.E. Ray and expressed support for his actions, though no direct connection to MLK’s assassination was established. Credit card transactions at Pure Oil Company were reviewed for potential ties to suspects, but no purchases matched the timeline of the assassination. Investigations into Troy Earls and other individuals yielded no conclusive links to MLK’s murder.  

The FBI also investigated James Earl Ray as the primary suspect, with records from Hertz Rental Car Company indicating that a white male named James B. BOKER rented a car with license plate 8J3039 on April 19, 1968, which was not returned by May 1968. An Hertz employee noted BOKER bore a resemblance to photographs of Ray. The FBI reviewed BOKER’s background, including his parole status for voluntary manslaughter and prior convictions for burglary and auto theft. Contacts with the Dolton, Illinois Police Department revealed BOKER used an address as a mailing location but did not reside there. Donna Millar stated BOKER was at a family birthday party on April 4, 1968, the day of King’s assassination. Delta Airlines records noted ALVIN SHARP observed a man resembling Ray at O’Hare Airport in April 1968. Investigations included fingerprint checks with Chicago Police Department and coordination with federal agencies to track potential connections.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray (subject of investigation, identified as MLK’s assassin)  
- Clarence Peterson (Amalgamated Bank employee, reported suspicious individual on April 18, 1968)  
- Eric Galt (linked to MLK’s assassination; resembled individual at Amalgamated Bank)  
- William Ferber/WILLIAMS FARBER (look-alike subjects investigated by FBI)  
- Troy Earls (Rockford, Illinois, suspected look-alike)  
- Dale Baxter, Shirlene Mackowak, Jack Weisbuck (Gary, Indiana, alleged informants)  
- R. Taylor (Oak Lawn, Illinois, postcard sender referencing J.E. Ray)  
- James B. BOKER (individual linked to car rental with license plate 8J3039; possibly alias for Ray)  
- Larry Millar and Donna Millar (relatives of BOKER, Dolton, Illinois)  
- Alvin Sharp (Delta Airlines passenger, reported sighting of suspect at O’Hare Airport)  

Key Locations  
- Chicago, Illinois (bank, residences, car sightings, Hertz Rental Car Company)  
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin (license plate investigations)  
- Birmingham, Alabama (license plate BK 1897)  
- Gary, Indiana (anonymous caller and informants)  
- Rockford, Illinois (Troy Earls investigation)  
- Pascagoula, Mississippi (E. M. Ray and Gerald Hultgren)  
- O’Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois (Delta Airlines sighting)  
- Dolton, Illinois Police Department  
- Albany, Georgia (Hertz Rental Car Company)  

Key Events  
- April 18, 1968: Clarence Peterson reported suspicious individual at Amalgamated Bank resembling Eric Galt.  
- April 23–25, 1968: FBI investigated William Ferber and similar names; no conclusive evidence found.  
- April 18–28, 1968: License plate BK 1897 linked to Chicago car sighting matching James Earl Ray’s description.  
- April 20–22, 1968: Bernice Thomas reported man in Tennessee license plate BW 2739; postcard from R. Taylor referenced J.E. Ray.  
- April 25–29, 1968: Pure Oil Company credit card transactions reviewed for ties to suspects; no matches found.  
- April 26–29, 1968: FBI interviewed Oak Lawn residents linked to postcard referencing J.E. Ray.  
- April 19, 1968: James B. BOKER rented car from Hertz Rental in Albany, Georgia; license plate 8J3039 not returned by May 1968.  
- April 29, 1968: ALVIN SHARP reported man resembling Ray at O’Hare Airport.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Amalgamated Bank (Chicago)  
- Pure Oil Company (Palatine, Illinois)  
- Hertz Rental Car Company (Albany, Georgia)  
- Chicago Police Department (Identification Division)  
- Delta Airlines (O’Hare International Airport)  
- Dolton, Illinois Police Department  
- United States Customs and Narcotics Bureau

MLK Declassified Files

44-sl-775_742351_04-04-part_4_of_4.pdf

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