</s>Volume Number Serials 0088-Lo-228 BUREAU- FBI - CENTRAL RECORDS CENTER LATION File in closed Bisto L.O .- LONDON Class: Case # Sub Vol. Serial # 0683 228 1 1 OPEN II. Department of Justice 4/11/15/17910 RRP0037E7 *0.054 Free 3.5 KB/s) See also No. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail U.S. and British authorities' investigations into James Earl Ray’s activities in 1968, focusing on his travel to England, passport discrepancies, firearm possession, and potential connections to revolutionary groups. Ray arrived in London on May 7, 1968, and was questioned about his identity, with inconsistencies noted between his claimed name (Ray/Galt) and official records. He carried a British revolver with five rounds of ammunition and faced a $1,000 fine for unlawful gun possession. Scotland Yard reports include witness statements from Anna Elizabeth Thomas and Janet Elizabeth Nassaul, details about Ray’s travel documents, currency exchanges, and classified ads. The FBI sought to cross-check flight manifests between Toronto, Lisbon, and London and investigated potential links to South African revolutionary elements via contacts like Major Alistair Wicks. Financial records note expenses for HSCA staff during a 1978 visit to London, including cash-subvouchers for hotel stays and transportation. Legal disputes over document disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) are referenced, involving Harold Weisberg’s lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice. British authorities advised on exemptions for releasing certain materials.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Accused of assassinating Martin Luther King Jr.; investigated for firearm possession and travel activities in 1968.  
- **Anna Elizabeth Thomas** and **Janet Elizabeth Nassaul**: Witnesses providing statements about Ray’s activities in London.  
- **Major Alistair Wicks**: Contact linked to South African revolutionary groups, referenced in FBI inquiries.  
- **Harold Weisberg**: Lawyer involved in FOIA litigation against the U.S. Department of Justice.  
- **Dennis R. Dickson** and **Robert A. Keane**: U.S. Embassy London Assistant Legal Attaches who interviewed Alexander Eist in 1978.  
- **G. Robert Blakey**: HSCA Chief Counsel requesting police assistance regarding Ray’s extradition.  
- **Ed Evans**: HSCA Chief Investigator planning a 1978 trip to London for interviews with Metropolitan Police.  

Key Locations  
- **London, England**: Site of Ray’s 1968 arrival, Scotland Yard investigations, and U.S. Embassy interviews.  
- **New Scotland Yard (Metropolitan Police)**: Central to extradition proceedings, fingerprint analysis, and forensic inquiries.  
- **Fulham Branch of Trustee Savings Bank**: Location where a demand note with latent fingerprints was recovered.  
- **Toronto, Canada** and **Lisbon, Portugal**: Points referenced in flight manifest checks for Ray’s travel history.  
- **South Africa**: Implied through FBI inquiries into potential revolutionary connections.  

Key Events  
- **May 7, 1968**: James Earl Ray arrived in London and was questioned about his identity and activities.  
- **1968 FBI Memorandum**: Details New Scotland Yard’s investigation into Ray’s travel documents, luggage items (e.g., silencer manuals), and currency exchanges.  
- **1978 HSCA Visit to London**: Ed Evans conducted interviews with Metropolitan Police regarding Ray’s extradition and forensic evidence.  
- **Extradition Proceedings for James Earl Ray**: Requests for details on dates/times of his removal and custody at Wadsworth Prison.  
- **FOIA Legal Dispute**: Harold Weisberg’s lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice over document disclosure related to MLK’s assassination.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted cross-checks on flight manifests, investigated South African connections, and coordinated with British authorities.  
- **House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA)**: Led investigations into MLK’s assassination, including international inquiries and witness interviews.  
- **Metropolitan Police (New Scotland Yard)**: Conducted forensic analysis, extradition-related investigations, and fingerprint comparisons.  
- **Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)**: Provided documents to the FBI regarding James Earl Ray’s activities.  
- **U.S. Department of Justice**: Involved in FOIA disputes over document disclosure.

MLK Declassified Files

88-lo-228_sec_001_ser_1.pdf

Document Summary

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