</s>BATTLE, W. PRESTON 10.10.68 TENN JUDGE CRIMINAL COURT, SHELBY COUNTY, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE MURKIN 44-38861-5228 ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS UNCLASSIFIED DATE. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary:  
The documents consist of multiple entries related to federal investigations, primarily focusing on individuals associated with Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. Entries include names such as James Earl Ray, Byron De La Beckwith, and others linked to states like Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Florida, and Missouri. Dates span from 1963 to 1968, with some records referencing the FBI's involvement in tracking fugitives accused of crimes against civil rights leaders. Specific mentions include informants, probation officers, judges, and law enforcement personnel. One entry references a "BIGGEST MANHUNT IN HISTORY" article detailing the FBI's identification and pursuit of James Earl Ray as a suspect in King's assassination.  

Key People:  
- James Earl Ray (linked to multiple records, including FBI file #368794A)  
- Byron De La Beckwith (Mississippi resident associated with MLK-related investigations)  
- W. Preston Battle (Tennessee judge involved in criminal court cases)  
- James Bevel (Illinois resident connected to the investigation)  
- Carlos Lee Billings (FBI file #368794A, linked to NC and other states)  
- Robert Billings (Maine resident with FBI records)  

Key Locations:  
- Memphis, Tennessee (central to MLK assassination and related court cases)  
- Greenwood, Mississippi (Byron De La Beckwith's residence)  
- Gainesville, Florida (Dr. Lawrence J. Benninger's address)  
- Denver, Colorado (Homer Lane Bigelow's informant location)  
- Old Orchard Beach, Maine (Robert Billings' address)  

Key Events:  
- FBI tracking of James Earl Ray as a suspect in MLK's assassination  
- Criminal court cases involving Tennessee judges and informants  
- Probation officer records related to Arkansas juvenile courts  
- Informant activities in Florida, Colorado, and other states  
- Mention of the "BIGGEST MANHUNT IN HISTORY" article detailing FBI operations  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Tennessee Criminal Court system  
- Arkansas Juvenile Court system  
- Probation offices in Union County, Arkansas  
- Informant networks across multiple states

MLK Declassified Files

fbi-indices_hs1-233652821_a-01-part_04_of_33.pdf

Document Summary

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