According to the transcript of the MPD radio tapes | (MPD James Earl Ray Supplements, Attorney General's copy, Supplement 79, p.1714) Tact Unit 10 advised the dispatcher that Dr. King had been shot at the Lorraine Motel at 6:03p.m. By 6:06p.m., the dispatcher had ordered a circle formed around the Lorraine Motel and the buildings west of the motel on S. Main. Moreover, patrol cars and other Tact Units had begun to arrive on the scene. At 6:07p.m. Tact Unit 10 advised the dispatcher that the weapon was in front of 424 S. Main and that the subject ran south on S. Main. At 6:08p.m. the subject was described as a well-dressed, young, white male. At 6:10p.m. the dispatcher relayed information from Tact Unit 10, that the subject had left the area in a late model white Mustang. The men in the Tact Units and patrol cars kept the area sealed off, directed traffic, and checked out suspicious . individuals while detectives from the Homicide Squad investi- gated the scene. ‘Inspector Nevelyn E. Zachary of the MPD | Homicide Squad arrived at the Lorraine Motel at approximately 6:15p.m., and by 6:30p.m. he had taken custody of the bundle of articles found in the doorway of Canipe's Amusement. Zachary turned the bundle, except for a tee shirt and pair | of shorts, over to the FBI at about 9:30 or 10:00p.m. ‘The tee shirt and shorts were also tumed over to the FBI after the laundry marks were checked with local laundries (Interview of former Inspector Nevelyn E. Zachary, September 15, 1976, App. B). -46- | WW 55509 Docld:32199528 Page 55
B. The FBI Investig ation Of The Assassination 1. The Department of Justice Re e and FBI Perfomnance | a. The Murder. At approximately 6:00 p.m. on April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was standing on the balcony outside of his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Termessee. Moments later, Dr. King was shot by a high power rifle and then rushed to St. Joseph's - Hospital. At 7:05 p.m. he was pronounced dead. The | cause of death was a bullet wound which tore the major neck blood vessels and severed the spinal cord at the ; root of the neck (Memphis 44-1987 Sub sec. 1-13, and see autopsy report, App. A, Ex. 3). | | b. Top Priority Investigation Ordered. ‘The Memphis Police Department was immediately aware of the King assault and promptly notified the FBI Memphis Field Office headed by SAC Robert G. Jensen. SAC Jensen telephonically relayed the information to Washington where Director Hoover and Attorney General Clark were informed. The Memphis Field Office was directed on the evening of April 4, 1968 to immediately conduct. a full investigation of the matter as a possible violation of 18 U.S.C. 241, the civil rights conspiracy Statute (HQ 44- 38861-109) . -47- f | HW 55509 DocId:32199528 Page 56
| HW 55509 DocId: 32199528 Page 57 O | © This directive soon became national in scope with SAC's in all FBI Field Offices being ordered by teletype on April 7, 1968, to participate and conduct a top priority investigation under their personal supervision. This meant all leads were to be afforded immediate, thorough and imaginative attention and all possibilities from such leads exhausted. Also, 24 hours was set as the period after receipt of a lead within which the investigation and reporting must be completed. All SAC's were to bear personal responsibility for any failure to handle the investigation (HQ 44-38861-153). Cc. Progress of the Investigation. The breadth of this top priority investigation 1s repeatedly evidenced in the Murkin files. All informant sources - racial, security and criminal - were immediately alerted and contacted for information. The KKK and other hate groups as well as individuals known to have violent proclivities were checked. The files were checked for prior threats against Martin Luther King, Jr. (HQ 44-38861-2649). Name checks were continuously being made on Selective Service records, city and telephone directories, drivers license bureaus, motor vehicle divisions, financial institutions, credit records, criminal and civil records, marriage licenses, public utility rolls, unions, common carrier passenger lists and more (e.g. HQ 44-383861-233) . (1) Bessie Brewer's Rooming House. Key information was developed early at Bessie Brewer's Roaning House whence -48-
Q O e the shot was fired. Bessie Brewer, Charles A. Stephens and William C. Anchutz were interviewed and a physical description of a suspect was obtained. | | Bessie Brewer, resident manager of the roaming house, _ explained that a "John Willard" registered with her April 4, between 3:00 P. m. and 3:30 p.m. He was first directed to .Roon 8, but rejected it because it had a stove and refrig- erator. Instead, he asked for a sleeping room only and . accepted Room 5-B in the rear of the hostelry. This room provided a window with a view of Dr. King's room at the Lorraine Motel. Mrs. Brewer described the new tenant as a white male approximately 35 years of age, 5'11" to 6' tall, weighing 180 pounds with a medium build and presenting a neat clean appearance (Memphis 44-1987 Sub Sec. 1-15). Stephens, who was in his room on ‘the afternoon of April 4, remembers hearing footsteps between Room 5-B and the bathroom. He also remembers the bathroom being occupied for considerable periods of time - 20 to 30 minutes - without water running or the toilet being flushed except for the last visit. This last visit ended when he heard what he is certain was a gun shot. Interrupted by the shot, . Stephens opened his door to the hallway to see a man ruming down the hallway carrying a large wrapped bundle. As this man ran down the hall in the direction of Anchutz, Stephens -49- | WW 55509 Docld:32199528 Page 58° °
O me * recalls believing 4 that he had seen this person earlier | that afternoon with Mrs. Brewer. | Stephens described him as a white male of average build, in his 30's, 5' 10" to 11" tall, weighing 165 pounds and wearing a dark suit presenting a neat clean appearance (Memphis 44-1987 Sub A sec. 1). Like Stephens, Anchutz was a resident of the rooming _ house and in his room at the time of the shooting. Also like Stephens, Anchutz occupied a room adjacent to "John Willard." He recalls watching television in his room that 2 afternoon when he heard a gun shot. Inmediately, he went to the door and as he opened it saw a man running toward him. This man covered his face as he ran and carried a blanket wrapped bundle. Anchutz addressed the man, saying: "I thought I heard a-shot.'' The man responded: "Yeh, it was a shot." Anchutz described the man as 6" tall with a slim _ build and in his 30's (Memphis 44-1987 Sub A sec. 1). (2) Canipe Amusement Company. The Canipe Amusement . Company is located at 424 South Main Street and is just a short distance from Bessie Brewer's Rooming House at 422% | South Main Street. In the recessed entrance to- Canipe Company a blanket wrapped bundle (presumably the bundle Stephens and Anchutz saw) containing valuable pieces of Physical evidence was recovered shortly after the shooting. | AW 55509 DoclId:32199528 Page 59
The store omer, Guy W. Canipe, and | two customers, Bernell Finley and Julius L. Graham, were in . the store at the time of the assassination. Each was interviewed by the FBI and described hearing a "thud'' which drew their attention, and as they looked to see what had happened, they observed the blanket wrapped bundle in the entrance. At the same | time, they saw a man dressed | in a dark suit walking rapidly south on the sidewalk away from the bundle. A few moments later, they said, a white compact autambile ~- possibly a Mustang - proceeded north on South Main Street at a high rate of speed. The male was described as white, approximately 30 years of age with a medium build, 5°10" to 6' tall and weighing 160 to 180 pounds. (Memphis 44-1987 Sub A sec 1). The bundle, after being discovered at Canipe’s doorway by a member of a Memphis Police Department Tactical Squad, first came into the custody of Inspector Zachary of the Memphis Police Department's Homicide Bureau. Later in the evening of April 4, 1968, between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., Inspector Zachary delivered the ‘bundle to SAC Jensen who immediately had it flown by agent courier to Washington for ! laboratory examination (Memphis 44-1987-610). The bundle | contained a Model 760 Remington Canemaster rifle, 30-06 Springfield caliber, and a blue zipper bag. The bag contained various toilet articles along, with a pair of men's underwear. -51- | AW 55509 DoclId:32199528 Page 60
e | O with laumdry tags, a pair of binoculars, two cans of © beer, and a paper bag bearing an advertisement for York Arms Company, Memphis, Tennessee, with a York Arms Company cash sales receipt dated April 4, 1968 (Memphis 44-1987 Sub A sec l). (3) Information and Physical Evidence Tracked. The investigation contimued with emphasis on tracing all physical evidence and information received. To this end a search . of all Memphis area hotels and motels was initiated for the source of the blanket and bar of soap found in the blue zipper.bag. Also, registrations at area inns were exartined for the unknown suspect who fled the rooming house and who might be driving a white compact automobile. At the same time, the rifle, scope, binoculars, cans of beer, laundry tags and other items were tracked (HQ 44-38861-139) . The rifle and scope were quickly traced to the Aero Marine Supply Company in Birminghan, Alabama. The rifle was sold to a "Harvey Lownyer" March 30, 1968. The scope, along with a second rifle, was purchased March 29, 1968, but "Lownyer"’ exchanged this rifle the following day for “the one recovered at the Canipe Amusement Company. Accord- ing to the Aero Marine salesman, ‘‘Lownyer"’ explained that he talked with his brother and was advised a more powerful rifle was necessary for deer hunting in Wisconsin. However, -52- : fi | AW 55509 Docld:327199526 Page 61
C © - a laboratory examination of this returned rifle revealed that it was clogged with cosmoline (a heavy grease firearm preservative) and could not be loaded and readied to fire (HQ 44-38861-432) . The salesman also provided a physical description of "Lowayer"" which matched those previously obtained (HQ 44-38861-180). | The paper bag and the sales receipt From York Arms Company led agents to the Memphis tore where the binoculars were purchased. The York Arms salesman explained that he sold the pair of binoculars at approximately 4:00 p.m. April 4, 1968, to a white male matching the descriptions previously obtained (Memphis 44-1987 Sub A sec. 1). By checking the manufacturer's can codes and distribution records, the two beer cans were traced to Southhaven Minnow Shop, Southhaven, Mississippi (HQ 44-38861-1360). The center of the investigation shifted from Memphis to Birmingham on.April 9, when the search of Memphis inns focused on the Rebel Motel and the April 3 registration record of an Eric Starvo Galt. It was already known that > the rifle and scope were purchased in Birmingham and the Galt registration also pointed to Birmingham. — The registra- tion record aroused interest because Galt registered for the night of April 3 only, listed a Birmingham address and drove a Mustang with Alabama license plates, (HQ 44-38861-1180) . © -53- i | HW 55509 Docld:32199528 Page 62
© © The possibility of a link between Eric Starvo Galt and the unknown subject was pursued in Alabama by the Birmingham and Mobile offices. In their pursuit they learned that on August 29, 1967, Galt purchased a 1966 white Mustang automobile. The Bureau agents also learned that the State of Alabama issued a motor vehicle operator's license in October 1967 to Eric Starvo Galt, 2608 Highland Avenue, Birmingham, Alabama. The physical description obtained from this license matched those previously received:. white male, born July 20, 1931, 5'1l'' tall, 175 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair (HQ 44-38861-1180). When the investigation moved to Galt's Birmingham address it was learned that Galt lived there in late August until early October 1967. Because of the length of this contact, emphasis was placed on developing information on Galt's background. Significantly, it was learned that during » his Birmingham sojoum Galt expressed an enthusiastic interest in dancing and attended dancing school there (HQ 44-38861-607). | . | (4) Los Angeles. Soon after the Birmingham comection was uncovered Los Angeles became a focal point in the investi- gation. The significance of Los Angeles became apparent | April 11, with the knowledge of four facts. . One, when on April 11, 1968, the Bureau located Galt's abandoned Mustang in Atlanta a search of it indicated that -54- | AW 55509) Docld: 3219952758 Page 63
, Galt had had it serviced twice in the Los Angeles area (HQ 44-38861-989) . Two, also incident to the search of the Mustang, a fragment of cardboard torn from a Kleenex box was found. On it were the names and Los ‘Angeles addresses of Anita . Katawinkel and Ginger Nance (HQ 44-38861-989). Three, laundry markings fram the recovered underwear were tracked to Home Service Laundry and Dry Cleaning, Hollywood, California (HQ 44-38861-885). The following day agents learned that the name Eric Starvo Galt appeared in the lamdry's records. Lastly, a pair of pliers recovered from the blue zipper bag were traced to the Rompage Hardware Store which is within five blocks of Home Service Laundry and Dry Cleaning (HQ 44-38861-1174). Since it was known that while in Birmingham Galt pursued an interest in dancing, all dance schools in the Los Angeles area were checked. Galt's name appeared in the records of the National Dance Studio, Los Angeles. (44-38861-1293) . | | Eventually, the dance studio contact proved to be most important because it was through an interview with the dance studio owner that a photograph of Eric Starvo Galt was finally obtained. The ower keyed the agents to an interest -55- | HW 55509 DBocld: 321995276 Page 64
—————— e o -was scoured for clues and although Galt's hotel and room were located the effort was fruitless (HQ 44-38861-1197). Stein also stated Galt made several telephone calls fran pay telephones along the way but an exhaustive search of countless telephone records, mmbers and subscribers produced nothing (e.g. HQ 44-38861-3857). Lastly, Stein -~explained that Galt conditioned the ride to New Orleans on Charles Stein, Rita Stein and Marie Martin joining George Wallace's American Independent Party. Each joined but again the ensuing investigation of this lead learned nothing (HQ 44-38861-1003). . (5) Atlanta. On April 11, 1968, a citizen call came through to the Atlanta Police Department reporting the missing white Mustang. According to this caller and another person, | both interviewed by the FBI, the abandoned Mustang was parked shortly before 9:00 a.m. April 5, 1968, by a lone man matching Galt's description. The discovery of Galt's Mustang immediately caused agents to seek out any additional contacts by Galt in Atlanta (HQ 44-38861-989) . Because Galt was believed to use low cost rooming houses all such establishments were contacted for any sign of him. Success was found at Jimmie Dalton Gardner's Rooming House where Galt registered ‘March 24, 1968. Although Galt was nowhere to be found, He had left evidence behind. Found | -57- $$ HW 55509 DBocld:321995276 Page 66
QO | OC in his room were a booklet, ‘Your Opportunities in Lock-. smithing'' and a collection of maps. One of these maps i. was of the city of Atlanta with the residence of Martin Luther King, Jr., amd the headquarters of SCLC circled (HQ 44-38861-967) . Other evidence of Galt's presence in Atlanta was received from the Piedmont Laumdry where records showed he picked up laundry April 5, 1968 (HQ 44-38861-3627) . (6) Galt Identified as James Earl Ray. Knowing that Galt returned to Atlanta after the assassination all co- ceivable modes of transportation in, around and out of Atlanta were checked (HQ 44-38861-907). However, Galt's trail was cold; there was no evidence as to where he fled | | from Atlanta. a . | . The Bureau became worried because with each passing : hour Galt's chances of avoiding capture became better and better. Therefore, the investigative emphasis shifted from’ following Galt's trail to identifying Galt. In an effort _ to accomplish this the Bureau initiated a camparative search : of three identical latent fingerprints believed to be Galt's (one fingerprint was recovered fram the rifle; a second from the binoculars; and a third from the map of Atlanta found | in Galt's room) against fingerprints of white male fugitives. To be sure, the limitation to fugitives was purely speculative. i -58- | | WW 55509 Docld:321995273 Page 67
However, the speculation paid off when on April 19, 1968, . James Earl Ray's fingerprint card compared identically CHQ 44-38861-1575) . With the discovery that Eric Starvo Galt was James Earl Ray, the investigation was redirected to a search of Ray's whereabouts since the time of his April 23, 1967, escape: from Missouri State Prison. Through the months of April and May the Ray-Galt steps were traced. '‘Evéntually, the Bureau was able to accomt for Ray's whereabouts almost continuously since his escape. Nevertheless, his trail remained cold beyond Atlanta on April 5, 1968 CHQ 44-38861-. 3509; and see Chronology infra). In connection with their search, Ray's family was identified, located, physically surveilled and periodically interviewed for information (E.G., HQ 44-38861-3987) . Also, prison inmates and associates were queried (e.g. HQ 44-38861- 3502) as well as his military record perused (HQ 44-38861-1616) . But, no clues developed. Ray's family said they knew nothing; they had not heard fran nor been in contact with James and did not know of his whereabouts (Chicago 44-1114-27). Prison | inmates and associates told tales of bomties offered for the death of Dr. King but exhaustive investigations could not substantiate their claims (e.g. , HQ 44-38861-3767). Frustrated, the Director prepared a memorandum for the -59- | ) HW 55509 DBocld:321995276 Page 63
O O Attorney General dated May 13, 1968 in which he explains . that extensive investigation has not resulted in any new developments beyond Atlanta, April 5. Therefore, the Director requested authorization for telephone and micro- phone surveillance on Ray family members. The request, however, was never acted upon (HO 44~38861-3509) . (7) Passport Search. From an interview with a former cellmate of Ray's at Missouri State Prison it was learned ~ that Ray appreciated the ease with which a person living in Canada could obtain a false passport (HO 44-38861-3889) . Though it is not clear that the cellmate's comments pre- cipitated a search of Canadian passports issued since Ray's April 23, 1967 escape, it is known that on the request of the FBI Legat in Canada such a search was conducted by the ae Royal Canadian Mounted Police. A passport search was also conducted in Mexico and the United States (HQ 44-38861-4445) . Though the search went through a staggering number of applications and was based on the comparison of Ray's photograph to those submitted with the application, it proved to be the necessary break in picking up Ray's trail. At 9:30 p.m. June 1, 1968, The Legal attache, Ottawa, ‘Canada, called the Bureau to advise that after reviewing | some 175,000 applications the RCMP located a passport issued | t | -60—- | AW 55509 Docld:321995276 Page 69
April 24, 1968 under the name Ramon George Sneyd which | -contained a photograph very definitely similar to Ray (HQ 44-38861-4190) . The passport was filed by the Kermedy Travel Agency in Toronto, Canada. Incident to their investi- gation, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police contacted the - travel agency and obtained a hand printed note from Sneyd concerning his application. The note together with the passport photo and a latent palm print were forwarded to the Bureau for laboratory examination which concluded that Ray and Sneyd were the same person (HQ 44-38861-4262, 4263). (8) Ray Apprehended. The Kermedy Travel. Agency also provided information that sneyd purchased a round trip air ticket from Toronto to London departing May 6 and returning May 21, 1968. But New Scotland Yard determined that Sneyd turned in the return portion of the fare and received a May 7, 1968 ticket to Lisbon, Portugal plus a $14.60 voucher (HQ 44-38361-4319). | Inmigration authorities “in Lisbon were immediately contacted. It was learned that Ray had entered Lisbon May 7 but had exited for London May 17, 1963 (HQ 44-38861- 4725). . . Stops were issued by New Scotland Yard for Sneyd. At 11:15 a.m., Jume 8, 1968, Ray was apprehended by officers of -61- HW 55509 DBocld:321995276 Page 7O
© © New Scotland Yard while he was passing through British immigration offices in the London Airport. At the time he was planning a flight to Brussels, Belgium (HQ 44-38861- 4616). | 2. Alleged Conspiracies Literally scores of alleged conspiracies were commmnicated to the Bureau. Fron the date of the assas- sination in April, 1968, even up to this date, the FBI has been approached by mmerous persons with stories which purport to identify a conspiracy to kill King. These stories involved the widest range of perpetrators and participants as well as motives. To the extent that these leads were pursued, the Bureau was put in the rather difficult position of conducting an investi- gation which ranged far beyond the concrete evidence that: had already been obtained. When the leads were in fact bogus ones, the FBI was attempting to prove a negative in each reported case. With a controversial figure, such as Dr. King, the possibilities of conspiracy were numerous. Consequently, the Bureau's credibility would necessarily be strained, given its past relation- ship with the civil rights leader, unless each story was disproved. Yet the Bureau attempted to cover each lead. -62- HW 55509 DBocld:321995276 Page 71
O © As previously stated, each SAC was held personally responsible for an expedited and thorough review. — Based on our review of the files, the task force is satisfied that the FBI did a credible-and thorough job-in attempting to identify any possible conspiracy or persons who could have been involved in the murder. In each of the allegations received, the Bureau immediately interviewed the person who was the source of the allegation where this was possible (i.e. where the source was not - anonymous). In situations where the complaint was not an obvious hoax the Bureau then attempted immediately to identify the alleged participants and interview them. Where there was not a satisfactory explanation to dispel the allegation concerning such matters as whereabouts or fo associations, the Bureau then would check further. This , does not mean that every allegation was pursued to the | ultimate degree. Judgment based on experience dictated many of the decisions. These judgments were also tempered by a critical factor. Within fifteen days after the mirder, the FBI was convinced that Galt and Ray were the same person, | that this individual purchased the rifle, rented the room across from the Lorraine Motel, and fired the shot that killed Dr. King. While there were many other. people -63- a 55509 Docld:321995276 Page ?f2
who were antagonistic toward Dr. King and many who had apparently discussed killing him, any successful conspiracy would have to have involved Ray based on the evidence at hand. In all the years following the assas- sination, the investigation has failed to reveal any connection between any alleged conspirator(s) and James Earl Ray including those alleged by Ray himself. Indeed, the overwhelming evidence indicates that Ray was almost totally alone during the year after his escape fran the Missouri State Prison. We have not addressed here the Bureau's handling of particular conspiracy leads because of the large mumber of allegations involved. Bureau filés can be checked for each reported lead and the resulting investigation on that lead traced to its conclusion. HW 55509 DBocld:3271995276 Page 73
OO O C. The Story of James Earl Ray 1. Chronology of Ray's Activities On and After April 23, 1967 On Sunday, the 23rd of April 1967, after he had April 23, 1967 served seven years of a twenty year sentence for armed robbery in the Missouri State Penitentiary at Jefferson City, James Earl Ray escaped. When a truck appeared at the prison bakery where Ray worked, a. bread box was carried onto the truck to be delivered to a nearby prison farm. Ray had concealed himself inside the bread tox, end later fled from the prison truck at a stop prior to its * reaching the Renz prison farm. (3503; Huie, pp.24-27.) */ Ray allegedly headed first toward Kansas City April 24-28 (Huie, p.27). On the third day he burglarized a trailer sitting by the Missouri River taking a blanket and food (Huie, p.27). For the next three nights he made his way along the railroad in the direction of Kansas City */ Ray has provided varying accounts of his escape from prison and of his subsequent activities prior to apprehension. The task force's most credible view of his statements has been used here. These admissions of Ray are found in He Slew the Dreamer, Huie, William Bradford, Delacorte Press, New York, T1968 Chereinafter, Huie); All other citations herein are for serials in the Bureau's MURKIN file, HQ 44-38861. . The task force has obtained xerox copies of Ray's correspondence with | Mr. Huie which reflect the admissions cited by Huie. ~65- = | HW 55509 Docld:3219952% Page 74
ee to a city large enough so he would not be noticed and took a train to St. Louis. He then took a taxicab to East St. Louis, called a friend who drove him to Edwards- ville whence he caught a bus for Chicago (Huie, p.28). 4 On May 3rd, Ray secured work for the next eight weeks as a dishwasher and cook's helper at the Indian “ey Trail Restaurant in Winnetka, Illinois, and resided at 2731 North Sheffield in Chicago under the name Jotm L. . June 5 Rayns. He purchased a 1959 Chrysler automobile fran ‘a private ower on Jume 5th for $200 (5448). . June 9 June 9th, he failed a driver's test, but passed the June 12 test on June 12th (5394). Ray moved fram his Sheffield address to 1648 Lunt Street on Jume 17th . - June 17 where he paid one week's rent (5118). Ray was issued a driver's permit in the name of Johm L. Rayns for- the June 21 State of Illinois on Jume 21st (5394). During the week of June 19th Ray left his job, and requested that his final paycheck be forwarded to the Lunt Street address, which it was (5118). Thereafter, on July 14, Ray purchased a 1962 July 14 Plymouth automobile from a commercial dealer in East St. Louis, Illinois, and transferred the licensed _ | plates from the Chrysler to the Plymouth (5413; Huie, | p.39). Leaving East St. Louis on July 15, Ray proceeded HW 55509 DBocld:321995276 Page 745
eo on to Montreal, Canada, via Indianapolis, Detroit and Windsor (Huie, p.40). His prime objective was allegedly to secure a Canadian passport (idem p.4l). As John L. Rayns, he registered for an overnight stay at the Bourgard Motel in Derion, just west of Montreal (idem, p.43; 5437x). Next, Ray first used the alias Eric S. Galt | July 19 when he signed a six month lease for an apartment in the Harkay Apartments, 2589 Notre Dame East, in Montreal (2192; Huie, p.43). Ray then allegedly held up a food store stealing $1700 (Huie, p.47). The following day he spent $300 for new clothes at the Tip Top Tailors, 488 St. Catherine West, had his hair cut and a manicure at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel (Huie, fo p.48). He also ordered on July 21st a $75 tailor-made suit at the English and Scotch Woolen Company (4692). (A month and a half later, by a letter from Birmingham dated September 6, 1967, this tailoring company was, instructed by Ray to send the finished garment to him at his then Birmingham address.) Three days later Ray July 24 ordered three sex books from Futura Books, Inc., in Inglewood, California, (2192), and on July 28th, he July 28 enrolled in a correspondence course at the Locksmithing Institute, Little Falls, New Jersey (2068). Both matters were paid by Canadian money orders. -67- Docld:32199578 Page 76
Ray vacationed, beginning July 30th, at the July 30- August 5 Gray Rocks Inn on Lake Ouirmet in the Laurentian Mountains seeking, according to Ray, contact with a respectable woman to vouch for him on a passport applicetion. He was "picked up'' by a female Canadian Goverment employee and her girlfriend and spent the next few days with them before leaving on August 7th; The two women followed, stayed overnight with Ray in August 7 Montreel on August 7th, and then returned to their residences in Ottawa (Huie, pp.51-53; 5402). On August 9th, he purchased by money order a forma for August 9 making glass for a two-way mirror (2192). Then, on August 19 August 19th, Ray visited the government employee in Ottawa, but did not importume her to assist him on his : : passport application (Huie, p.54). : During the approximately two and one-half "Raoul" contact months of Ray's stay in Canada he relates meeting an —_ dates July 18- Aug. 8 & through underworld character named ''Raoul''. After negotiations, ‘Aug. 18 | Ray stated to author Huie, that he engaged in smuggling operations with ''Raoul" and then proceeded to Birmingham to meet. "Raoul" at the latter's direction. Meanwhile, Aug. 18-20 | he stayed at the Town and Country Motel, Ottawa, from | August 18th to August 20th (5502). Whatever may be | -68- HW 55509 DBocld:321995276 Page 7?
— Oo O the truth of the story, Ray left Montreal, met his . brother at Northbrooke, Illinois, gave his Plymouth car to his brother Jerry Ryan, (5413), proceeded from Northbrooke or Chicago to Birmingham, stayed | August 26th at the Granada Hotel, 2230 Fourth | _ Avenue as John L. Rayns (5400; Huie, p.61), and that sam2 day also took a room in the name Eric S. Galt at the Economy Rooms, 2608 Highland Averme. (2324). Two days later Ray, as Galt,. giving the Highland Avenue address, rented safety deposit box No. 5517 at the Main Office, Birmingham Trust National Bank (2323; Huie, p.62). The access record on this box shows entries at 2:32p.m. on August 28; from 1:52p.m. to 1:56p.m. on September 5; from 11:05 to 11:08a.m. on September 21; and from 10:16a.m. - ~ to 10:19a.m. on September 28 (2323). . The purchase of a white 1966 Ford Mustang was accomplished at the end of August by answering a newspaper ad on the 29th of August and paying $1995 in cash to William D. Paisley on the 30th (628). All this checks with the car purchase chronology Ray himself admitted to author William Bradford Huie | (Huie, pp.61-63; Ray's self-serving attribution of "Raoul" as the one who directed him to buy the car and who supplied the cash is uncorroborated). -69- August 26 August 28 August 29-30 HW 55509 DBocld:321995276 Page 73
e — Ray as Eric Starvo Galt, applied for and was issued Alabama driver's license No.2848947 (4143). The signature matches the other handwritings of the same name (4143). At some point during his stay in Birmingham, Ray purchased a .38 revolver which was found on his person on his arrest in Heathrow Airport, London, England (1422). On September 12th, Ray enrolled for 5 weekly dance classes at the Continental Dance Club Studios (2324). The Modern Photographic Book Publishing . Co. Inc., of New York City received a coupon order from Eric S. Galt for a photo book (633) and a letter | by Ray as Galt written September 26, asking that the book not be sent as he was moving and would give the changed address later (4143). ‘The handwriting was identical with Ray's (4143). Ray purchased a bank draft from the Exchange Security Bank, 5 points' South Branch, Birmingham payable to the Superior Bulk Film Co. of Chicago and this accompanied an order on that company for a Kodak Super 8 movie camera, a projector, a splicer anda 20 foot remote control cable; price $337.24 (1135). Then Ray typed a note to the film company. seven days -70- HW 55509 DoclId: 32719952768 Page 79 September 6 September 12 September 26 | September 28
CO O later in which he acknowledged receipt of the items he had ordered but returned the movie camera as the wrong one; he stated he was leaving for Mexico on October 7,: and would send a new address to which the correct movie camera could be forwarded (4143) . On September 30th, Ray paid only for his room (2118) - Ray, as Galt, was issued Alabama license tags October 6 No.1-38993 for 1968. He left Birmingham for Mexico on Oztober 6 (iuie, p.66). On the 8th of October, October 8 Ray surchased a 30 day Mexican auto insurance policy October 10 (1904). He reached Acapulco on October 10th, proceeded October 15 to Guadalajara on October 15th and left there on . the 18th for Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, October 18 arriving in Puerto Vallarta on the 19th (5496). He October 19 registered in Room 212 of the Hotel Rio at Morelos 86 on this date; his "Galt" signature and writings match October 22 his other Galt writings (4143) . Galt typed a letter a to the film company to ask for a refund to the Puerto Vallarta address in lieu of the Kodak movie camera which had been mailed meanmhile to his vacated Birmingham address (4143). Again the written signature . | on this note matched the string of "'Galt'' signatures. (4143). For sone reason (Suie says Ray said he wanted November 6-13 -71- DoclId:321995296 Page 60
O | O a week in a more expensive room in a hotel on the beach.) (Huie, p.81), Ray switched hotels, going from the Rio to the Hotel Tropicana (1219). He spent most of his time in the period from October 19 to November 13, 1967, with a girlfriend, Irma Morales, whose true name is Manuela Aguirre Medrano ( (1219), and possibly another female named Nina | (Huie, p.8). Ray left Puerto Vallarta and drove to Los November 14 Angeles where he rented an apartment at 1535 North Serrano Avenue on the 19th of November. (668; Huie, | p.85). He then wrote a typed letter to the Superior November 19 | Bulk Film Company, Chicago, to forward to his new address the refumd due him for the undelivered Kodak | movie camera; the signature on this letter matches the other "'Galt" signatures. (4143). In this second week of his stay in Los Angeles, November 27 | Ray began a series of six visits to a clinical December 14 : | | | | psychologist, Dr. Mark 0. Freeman, in hopes of November 27 | - overcoming his shyness, gaining social confidence, "November 30 learning self-hypnosis to gain relaxation, sleep and December 4, 6, 11, & 14 remember things better. - -72- | HW 55509 Docld: 32199528 Page 41
C | O Apparently, in a further self-improvement step, Ray enrolled in a course of dancing instructions with December 5 the owner of the National Dance Studio, 2026 Pacific Avenue , Long Beach, California (4143). On December 13th, Ray wrote his Birmingham bank to close his December 13 safety deposit box (2323). He paid $100 on the December 14 dancing lesson contract on the 14th of December, left laundry at the Avalon Cleaners & Laundry, Inc., 5662, Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, on the following December 15 day-ticket No.31053 and laundry mark "20R-3" made by a Thermo Seal marking machine (4143) ; and also on December 15th Ray, as Galt still, began a round trip drive with Charles J. Stein, 5666 Franklin Avenue, Los Angeles, to New Orleans in Ray's white Mustang to pick up Stein's sister's two small children (4143). Stein and Ray arrived in New Orleans on the December 17 17th, the latter registering at the Provincial Hotel, 1024 Chartes Street, Room 126 (5399). The "Galt" registration card signature matched the string of such signatures in Ray's odyssey and he further recorded that he was driving a Mustang with Alabama license No.1-38993 and gave his address as 2608 Highland Avenue, Binningham (4143). -73- 55509 Docld:321995276 Page 32
Ray checked out before the 1:00p.m. checkout December 19 time on the 19th and, with the two children and Charles Stein, made the retiun trip to Los Angeles arriving by the 21st of December when he took the . December 21 first of the series of dancing lessons he had December 22 signed up for. The next day he picked up his , , laundry. Four more dancing lessons are recorded December 25, 26 , 27628 next (4143). On December 28, 1967, Ray first indicated his interest in immigrating to Africa, and more particularly to a white ruled area, by writing a letter of inquiry to Mr. Jotm Acord, Chairman, American-Southern African Council, 800 Fourth St., S.W., Washington, D.C.; the signature of Galt matched up with the other Galt writings. (4143). Ray said he visited Las Vegas on New Year's Seuary 1,283 Day. (Huie, p.96) . Dance lessons are documented on the 2nd and 3rd days of 1968 (2325). Galt | January 8 bought Bank of America money order No.0799 18037 in the amount of $15 from the Hollywood Western Branch payable to the Locksmi thing Institute (2325) . The FBI lab made the usual writing match upon the Signature (4143). Meanwhile Ray showed up regularly _ January 9,11,15, . 16818 for dance lessons (2325). On January 19th Ray signed -74- | WW 55509 Docld:32199526 Page 63
C OO up for a bartending course at the International School of Bartending 2125 Sunset Boulevard (2325); his application signature fits his other Galt signatures (4143). “He left his laundry at the Home Service Laundry and Dry Cleaning Co. at 5280 Hollywood Boulevard (2325, cites laumdry list No. 3065 in E. Galt's name with Thermo Seal sticker 02B-6, the marking on the T-shirt and shorts in the bag abandoned at the front door of Canipe's Amusement Co. in Memphis, April 4 1968) . | On January 21, 1968, Ray changed his lodgings to Room 403 of the St. Francis Hotel, 5533 Hollywood Boulevard (2325). On the 20nd and on the 23rd, 25th, 29th, 30th, 31st, February 1, 5, 6, 8 and 12, Ray regularly attended dance lessons (2325). He attended o bartending school through to March 2, 1968. He bought January 29 | two Bank of America money orders on the 29th of January, : one to place an ad in the Free Press soliciting a female pen pal and the second to pay for a mail forwarding service (1500). Each transaction created a handwriting match as did a Bank of America money order No.0799 17281 payable to the Locksmithing Institute, January 31 Little Falls, New Jersey (2325). . . -75- HW 55509 DBocld: 3271995276 Page 64
O me Ray's 1966 white Mustang with Alabama license No.1-38993 registered in Alabama under the alias Galt was serviced on the 13th at a Chevron Station, 1506 North Normandic Avemue, Los Angeles with mileage at 34,185. Another undated servicing some 200 miles later occurred at Cort Fex Ford Co., 4531 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles (2325). . Ray attempted to increase his social life by February 17 writing and sending his photograph to a woman listed by ''The Local Swinger" which listing was secured for 91.00; Ray in fact wrote 5 such letters (4143). The Galt signature was added to the FBI's matchups and February 26 Ray's photograph secured. For reading material Ray ordered books fron Futura Books paying by money order No.0799 19430 on the 26th. | (1500). The Signature matchup was made (4143). On this same day Ray made a money order payment No.0799 19701 to the | Locksmithing Institute (2325). He sent another , No.0799 19704, for the "Locksmith's Ledger" with matching signature (2325); he sent two money orders, Nos.0799 19702 and 0799 19703, and a letter order to Tiffany Enterprises, 8512 Whitworth Drive in Los Angeles, a mail order house, for one pair of Japanese handcuffs (1500), with signatures matchable on two of the three documents (4143). -76- | HW 55509 DBocld:321995276 Page 65
At intervals in his stay in Los Angeles, Ray had plastic surgery done to change his appearance (author Huie puts this treatment. as on March 3, 7 and 11, 1968, Huie, pp.107-8); he visited a psychologist- hypnotist, Reverend Von Koss on January 4, 1968 (Huie, p.102), and allegedly some seven other | psychiatrists, hypnotists or scientologists.: According to author Huie, he frequented a bar knewn as the Rabbit's Foot Club and on one night became involved in a racial argument followed by a mugging in which he had his wallet stolen and lost his suit’ jacket, car keys and driver's license (Huie, p.96-98). According to author Huie citing Ray as his source, Ray telephoned Alabama and had a duplicate license issued; this was forwarded fran his former Birmingham address to California and received there about March 10, 1968 (Huie, p.98). "Galt" was graduated from the bartending school March 2 on the 2nd of March. His picture was taken with the school operator and Ray closed his eyes to make recogni- tion more difficult (4143; Huie, p.104). A postal money order No.1,916,211,078 was sent March 8 to the Locksmithing Institute as a periodic payment on | the correspondence course Ray was taking (1428). The signature matchup was made. (4143.) - -77]- i — , WW 55509 Docld:321995276 Page 36
OC O Ray listed a change of address on March 17 with the St. Francis Hotel, giving his forwarding address as General Delivery, Main Post Office Atlanta, Georgia (4143). Presumably he left Los Angeles in his white Mustang on this date, proceeding to New Orleans where he left a box of clothing for Marie Martin's little daughter, Marian de Grassee, at Charles Stein's cousin _ Theresa Stone's residence, 4019 Royal Street (4143; Huie, p. 108). | Fran New Orleans, Ray drove to Selma, Alabama March 22 (5502), (where Ray began to stalk Dr. King according to Huie's statement of Ray's admission on this) and, March 23 after an overnight stay there, he went on to Montgomery, March 24 to Birmingham and finally to Atlanta, Georgia (Huie, p. 112). | In Atlanta, Ray rented room No.2 in a rooming March 24 house at 113-14th Street, N.E. from the operator, Jimmy Delton Garner (1033). He stayed there wtil - March 28 March 28 on which day, while still in Atlanta, he | purchased U.S. Postal money order No.5,615,057,923 pay- | able to the Locksmithing Institute (1428). The Galt signature was a matchup (4143). -78- HW 55509 DBocld:321995276 Page 6?f
( On the 29th Ray appeared at the Aeromarine Supply Company, 5701 Airport Highway in Birmingham, Alabama, and using the alias Harvey Lowmyer purchased a Remington .243 caliber. rifle, Model 700 with a 2x-7x Redfield | telescopic sight mounted on it (432). Almost certainly - because the breech-of the .243 caliber-weapon was: caked with a hardened preservative (cosmoline) and could not be loaded, Ray returned it the following day (not having Fired it). He explained that his "brother" didn't like it, and exchanged the .243 rifle for a Model 760, 30-06 caliber Remington. The scope was transferred to the . latter rifle. Throughout these transactions the package ae for either rifle was a Browning shotgun carton which was ; large enough to hold the scope-equipped Remingtons (432). The Atlanta rooming house operator, Jimmy Delton March 31 Garner stated he had Ray print his name (Eric 5. Galt) on an old envelope at Garner's request so that Garner could transfer the name properly to his official records; the handprinting is a matchup with other Galt-Ray printing samples (1033). | -79- {| HW 55509 Docld:321995298 Page 66
Using che name Eric Galct, Rav left his laundry april 1 and dry cleaning at the Piedmont Laundry pickup station, 1168 Peachtree, N.W. in Atlanta (4143). ‘Two April 3 days later, as Eric S. Galt, Ray on April 3 registered into Room 34 at the Rebel Motor Hotel, 3466 Lamar Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee (the distance between Atlanta and Memphis by the most convenient route is 398 miles); he gave 2608 Highland Avenue, Birmingham as his address” and he noted on the registration card that he was driving ' a Mustang with Alabama License No. 1-38993 (4143). His signature was a match to the other identified Galt signa- tures (4143). ‘On this same day, Ray purchased a safety April 3 I razor and shaving supplies at the Rexall Drug Store in | the Whitehaven subucb of Memphis (enphis 44-1987 Sub A- ; co Sec. 1; Huie, p. 129). . Ray left the Rebel Motel before the lp.m. April 4, checkout time on April 4th (4143). At some point -  3-3:30p.m. between 3p.m. and 3:30p.m. on the 4th, a man | generally answering Ray's description rented Room 5-B at 422 1/2 South Main Street, Memphis, in the name of John Willard (idem. 33). Ray admits to having been in the room with "Raoul" whom he first said rented the room using the 'Willard'' alias he, Ray, supplied (Huie, p.115). In another letter to Huie, Ray states he himself 4:00p.m. -80- HW 55509 DBocld:321995276 Page 69
C O rented the room using the alias Jom Willard (Huie, p. 30). Ray went out to the York Arms Company Store then located at 162 South Main Street and purchased a pair | of Bushnell binoculars for a total of $41.55 (4143); Ray was identified by the salesman at York Arms and Ray admits to having been to the sports store and to having made the purchase of the binoculars (Huie, p. — 115). By Sp.m. at the latest, Ray had returned to. the rooming house, parked his Mustang and had taken . his zipper bag and bedspread to Room 5-B (Huie, p.115); by necessary inference, because it was adnittedly brought down from there and dropped on the sidewalk, the 30-06 rifle had been taken up to Room 5-B at this - time or just before Ray's trip to the York Arms Co. Store (See Huie, p.114 and p.131; 4143). As detailed in the discussion of the course of the FBI investigation ante at pp. 48-50, the assassin Fled from the common bathroom at the rear of the rooming house after firing the shot that killed Dr. King. The assassin could have cleared and undoubtedly did clear — 6:03:50p.m. the corridor and the stairs to the street in about 45 seconds. In another 15 seconds at the outside he could have reached and undoubtedly did reach Ray's white -81- HW 55509 DBocld:3271995276 Page 90
O oO Mustang after dropping Ray's bag, the rifle Ray bought and bearing only his fingerprints and the bedspread which Ray admits taking up to Room 5-3 (Staff reenactment; Huie, p.115). According to a post-conviction statement. by Ray to then Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Field Office, Robert Jensen, roomer Charles Stephens had a good look at Ray in the rooming house (5622; Interview-of Robert Jensen, July 7, 1976, App. B). - | On the street Guy Warren Canipe, Jr.,; in his place of business, Canipe Amisement Co., at 424 South Main Street heard a thud near the front door of his store, looked up to see a white male walk rapidly past his store ‘going a south (right to left to someone inside the store) and, with the two customers in his store, went to the front | door where they observed a small white car, a Mustang 6:04p.m. according to the two customers, pull away going north : (left to right) from a curb side parking place just south of Canipe's store (Memphis 44-1987 Sub A-Sec.1; cf. Huie, p.131). According to Ray's admission to author Huie, Ray April 4, drove south into Mississippi and then tumed east through 1908 Birmingham reaching Atlanta about 6a.m. on April Sth. April 5, (Huie, p.132). He abandoned the white Mustang. On the ee -82- | AW 355509) Bocld:321995276 Page 91
OQ QO - table in the room at the Atlanta rocmine house, he left a letter about South Africa from the John Birch Society in California and a copy of the Free Press fran Los Angeles to divert the FBI's attention to California © April 5, . 1968 while he fled to Canada (Huie, p.133). Ray picked up . between 9:00a.m. & his laundry at the Piedmont Laundry pick-up-station at 10:00a.m. - 1168°Peachtree N’E. in Atlanta on thé Sth of April (4697). He then took a bus departing Atlanta just after noon on approx. ” ' 1:00p.m. 1 “ the 5th and arrived in Cincimati at about 1:30a.m. on the 6th of April. After a one hour layover which he . April 6, stated he spent in a tavern near the bus depot, Ray 1968 1:30a.m. continued by bus to Detroit where he arrived at about: * - 2:30a.m. 8a.m. (tuie, p.135). He crossed by taxi into Canada between 10 and lla.m. arriving in Windsor an hour or so before noon and proceeded from there to Toronto by train arriving at - about 5:00p.m. (Huie, p.135). He rented a room at approx. 5p.m. 102 Ossington Avenue without giving his name (5502; approx. Huie, p.135). an 6p.m. . ! On the 8th of April Ray began the process of April 8, 1968 securing a Canadian passport. He picked two names, Paul Edward Bridgman and Ramon George Sneyd, from the | armouncements of births in newspapers for the year 1932 at the public library (Huie, p.137). He made an April 10, 1968 -83- Docld: 32199528 Page 92
O Oo application for a amlicate dirth certificate in each o rth these names on April 10 and on the following day had April 11, . 1968 a passport picture taken in the name of Bridgman and then to provide a separate mailing address for the © expected replies as to Sneyd, he rented a room at April 16, — 1968 962 Inmdas Street in the name of Sneyd on April 16th (5502; Huie, p.141). On the same day he executed an application in the name Paul Bridgeman with his, Ray's 102 Ossington Avenue address as the person to be notified in case of emergency (Huie, p.143). The Kermedy Travel Agency of Toronto handled the processing of the application for Ray (5502). On the 19th Ray ' April 19, Oe 1968 eo moved to the Dmdas Street address (5502). The fingerprints of "Eric S. Galt" were found to April 19, roy 7 1968 os, be a match with those of James Earl Ray after a search of the print file on Fugitive Felons. | According to author Huie he gleaned from Ray that Ray visited four bars on the 2lst in order to watch the TV show ''The FBI'' (Huie, p.147). He found the show tumed in at the fourth place he tried and leamed that he had : made the Ten Most Wanted List with an international ''look- out''as to Ray (Huie, p.147). He checked out of the Ossington Avenue room on the 19th (Huie, p.147). -84- HW 55509 DBocld:321995276 Page 93
C O On April 24 the Canadian passport in the name of Ramon George Sneya was issued to Ray (Huie, p.148). Ray purchased a round trip ticket to London and departed | on May 6, 1968 (Huie, p.149). Fram London Ray took a plane to Lisbon where he spent. 10 days looking for a passage to Angola (Huie, p.150). When he was unable to do so he retiumned to London after first getting his passport replaced at the Canadian Embassy in Lisbon to correct the spelling of the name Sneyd (instead of Sneya) (5502; Huie, p.150). | Ray returned to London and spent his time trying ’ to find a way to join a mercenary force (Huie, p.150). To this end he bought a plane ticket to Brussels and was when he was apprehended on June 8, 1968, by detectives from New Scotland Yard (4346,4368; Huie, p.150-151). The arrest was made on the basis of use of a fradulent passport and carrying.a concealed weapon, i.e., the loaded .38 caliber Japanese-make revolver found on his person at Heathrow (4246, 4368; Huie, p.151). This chronology has been canpiled from data in FBI reports and Ray's letters to author William Bradford Huie. It was hoped by the task force that we would have an -85- HW 55509 in the process of meeting his plane at the Heathrow Airport — April 24, 1968 May 6, 1968 May 16, 1968 May 17, 1968 June 8, 1968 DoclId: 32719952768 Page 94
CO © Oppercmizy <9 go over the facts with James Earl Ray himself. Accordingly, after the United States Supreme Court denied his petition for a writ of certiorari, on December 13, 1976, a verbal request was made to Ray's Attorney, James H. Lesar, for an opportunity to interview Ray. Lesar stated that he was writing Ray a letter that day and would advise him of our desire to interview him and leave the matter up to him (Interview of James H. Lesar, December 14, 1976, App. B). Also, the task force sent Ray a letter on December 15, 1976, via his attorney requesting an interview (See letter to James Earl Ray, December 15, 1976, App. A, Ex.14). While no answer to our letter was received, Ray sent the task force a copy of a letter addressed to his attorney. Ray attached a copy of a complaint he recently filed in a civil action and stated in the letter to his attorney that: "I agree with your advice opposing the interview. It would appear that this would only be in the interest of the J.D. and their book writing collaborators, e.g., Gerold Frank, George McMillian, et al." (See letter to James H. Lesar, December 20, 1976, App. A, Ex.15). Absent a statement to us fran Ray, four existing Ray explanations were compared and are here briefly noted. -86- | AW 55509 Docld: 32719952768 Page 95
on O ‘First, no one, other chan his attorneys talked with Ray before the plea bargaining resulted in his conviction of the First Degree mmrder of Martin Luther King, Jr., and sentencing in open court on March 10, 1969, before Judge W. Preston Battle, (Criminal Court’ of Shelby County . Tennessee (See Transcript App. A, Fx.16). “At that. time, cm voir dire, Judge Battle asked Ray: "Are you pleading guilty to Murder in the First Degree in this case because you killed Dr. Martin Luther King under such circumstances that would make you legally guilty of Murder in the First Degree under the law as explained to you by your lawyers?" Ray answered: "Yes." — / Ray then acknowledged that he was pleading guilty freely, voluntarily and umderstandingly. He and his | | \ attorney, Percy Foreman, initialed the copy of these questions and answers. Ray also signed a detailed stipulation confessing that he fired the fatal shot (5506). The task force observes that the only way one can be "legally guilty" of first degree murder is when one accomplishes, or aids or assists in the accomplishment, of | the wrongful killing of a mman being with premeditation and malice aforethought. Thus, Ray has judicially confessed that he intended to and did kill Dr. King. -87- , y WV +--+ — - = ,¥ AW 55509 Docld:321995276 Page 96
O Oo _Seconc, Ray related in writing to auchor Hute a story of his odyssey fron Missouri State Prison to Memphis which acknowledged that he bought the murder weapon, made his way to Memphis, rented the room there at 422 South Main on April 4, 1968, using the alias "John Willard," waited in the white Mustang, and drove ''Raoul" away fran the crime scene after the murder wholly unaware of the killing of Dr. King. In this version "Raoul", or "Roual'', is the mysterious killer whom Ray thought to be an international gum-rurmer; Ray bought the murder weapon for "Raoul" thinking it was to be displayed to prospective Mexican buyers in Room 5-B of the ''flop house" on South Main Street (Huie, p.130-131). Third, in a statement read on a progran of Station KMOX-TV St. Louis, Missouri, in August of 1959 by his . brother Jerry, James Earl Ray was quoted as alleging that _ he was the innocent victim, "the fall guy'' of a scheme by the FBI (Memphis 44-1987 Sub M-665). This description of the crime contains no reference to Raoul. Fourth, the most recent story available to the task force is reported as the result of a four hour interview by Wayne Chastain, Jr., for the Pacific News Service, October 20, 1974. It is to the effect that Ray was "'set up -88- HW 55509 DBocld:321995276 Page 9f
O- O as a patsy" for "Raoul." It proceeds along the seme lines as the tale told by Ray to author Huie that there was to be a meeting at the rooming house at 6p.m. with ar. international gun runner. Ray was instructed by Raoul to have the white Mustang at the curb for "Raoul's" use that evening. Ray, however, drove away from the area at about 6:00p.m. to get air in a low tire and found police swarming all over the place when he tried to return at 7:05p.m. He could not park, was turned back by police and learned only after driving 100 miles into Mississippi that he had been associated with the men who killed Dr. King (The Assassinations, Dallas and Beyond, Edited by Peter Dale Scott, Paul L. Hock and Russell Stetler, Random House, 1976, pp.315-317). ‘The task force views the exculpatory content of these \ varying and patently self-serving tales to be unbelievable. | The varying details are materially self-refuting. Ray first admits full guilt. He then says he waited innocently at the | curb and took off after the shot with "Raoul" as a passenger. He next says he was the catspaw of the FBI. And finally, he and the Mustang were not in the area when the shot was fired and he never saw "Raoul"’ after the event. The eye witmesses to the "'get away'', saw only one man who resembled Ray. The man left ina hurry in a white Mustang as Ray admitted doing in version mmber two. We concluded Ray was lying about the existence of a "'Raoul''. ~89- , WW 35509 Doocld: 321995276 Page 98
O oO ‘Ray's stipulated judicial confession comports in detail with the facts disclosed by the investigation and the failure of the self-serving stories persuasively undermines the likelihood of any conspiracy. -90- = — — HW 55509 DBocld:321995276 Page 99
2. Motive James Earl Ray, born 1928, was raised under difficult circumstances. His parents were poor, unedu- cated and generally resided in areas surrounded by criminal activity. Ray did not achieve a high school education, nor did he attend any vocational institution* After enlisting in the amy in 1946, Ray did not meet the military's standards and was discharged in 1943 for lack ‘of adaptability. (HQ 44-38861-3333, 3987). thus, at the age of twenty-one, he had a very limited | education, was not trained or skilled at any particular job, and was a reject of the military establishment. Thereafter, he proceeded to participate in and be apprehended for a number of criminal actions for which he would be incarcerated for fourteen of the next eighteen years until his escape from the Missouri State Penitentiary in April 1967. Ray's criminal activities included robbery, forgery and burglary (HQ 44-38861- 4143). He was not known to have been involved in crimes where victims or witnesses were physically harmed. *FBI files disclosed that James Earl Ray has an IQ of 105 (HO 44-38861-3503). -91-
In March 1968, James Earl Ray was forty years old and was never known to have had a serious relation- ship with a man or woman during his adult life. Although he was about to commit a very infamous crime of assassina- tion, neither his childhood, his military years nor his adult life of crime and imprisonment signaled such action. His criminal activities were not those of a hired or self- accomplished premeditated murderer. Why then would James © Earl Ray murder Dr. Martin Luther King, 5r.? An analysis of Ray's prison records and interviews with his prison inmates reveals some probative facts with respect to a motive. For example, in 1955 Ray was incar- cerated in the federal penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas, for forgery of post office money orders. On September 12, 1957, Ray was approved for the honor farm at Leavenworth, but was never transferred there because he refused to live in the integrated dormitory at the farm (HQ 44-38861-1678).. Thus, he was supposedly willing to sacrifice this benefit and its accompanying privileges to avoid association with black prisoners. | An inmate with Ray at Missouri State Penitentiary for approximately three years, stated that Ray hated Negroes. He further stated that Ray had said that all the Negro prisoners inside the penitentiary should -92- By y WW 55509 Docld:321995276 Page 101 ,
e O be killed. He also responded that on several occasions - Ray had said he.would kill Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., if the price were right. In 1966, there was a riot at the penitentiary. Three blacks were killed. The inmate would not state whether Ray had participated in the killings. He did say that, if Ray had not, he would definitely know who had killed the prisoners. He also said that he would not be surprised if he acted without being paid for the killing. It should be noted that another . prisoner who was a chef at MSP and Ray's boss for six years, stated that this inmate was a good friend of Ray and he also hated Negroes. (HQ 44~-38861-4443). | A second inmate with Ray at the Missouri State Penitentiary from 1960 until 1965, claimed that he recalls that Ray was glad when President Kennedy was killed and stated "that is one nigger-loving S.0.B that got shot". The prisoner also advised that Ray disliked Negroes. During the time period when King was leading demonstrations and ‘marches Ray would became aggravated and upset when reading this information in newspapers. to the point that he would curse King and the Negroes. He further stated he had heard prison rumors that Ray was supposed to have killed three black prisoners at the penitentiary. Finally, he related -93- HW 55509 DBocld: 321995276 Page 102
O O cnat in 1963 Ray mace the remark that he was going to get Martin Luther King when he got out of prison. (HQ 44-38861~-2678, 2791). | | A third inmate at MSP from 1962 until 1965, described Ray as a "lone wolf" who never trusted anyone. He stated that Ray was a racist and.was heard many times discussing his dislike of Negroes. Another prisoner became acquainted with Ray in 1965 and said that- Ray commented if he ever got out of jail he was going to make himself a "bunch of money," and Ray further said a "Businessmen's Association" had offered $100,000 for killing Martin Luther King. This prisoner said that Ray did not know what the "Businessmen' s Association" a : ; was, but he intended to find out. (HQ 44-38861-4143). i A cellmate with Ray in 1955 at Kansas City who later served prison time with Ray at Leavenworth, Kansas, was also incarcerated with Ray at MSP. He stated that during the period when President Kennedy was assassinated the movements of Dr. Martin Luther King became the topic of conversation at the penitentiary. Many prisoners heard that businessmen had raised a considerable amount of money, about one million dollars, as a bounty on King's head. He further stated that Ray mentioned a dozen times that had he known about the bounty on John F. Kennedy's head and had he been free he would have collected it; and, if he -94- ( HW 55509 Docld: 32199526 Page 103
CO O got out in time and King were still alive, he would get the bounty on King (HQ 44-38861-4143). A prisoner who was at MSP from 1958 through 1965 stated Ray did not like Negroes and was capable of killing Dr. Martin | Luther King, Jr. (HQ 44-38861-4143). Ray's psychological background is also 4 very important avenue of review. As a result of a voluntary psychiatric examination in 1966, Ray was described as having a sociopathic personality, antisocial type with I, anxiety and depressive features (HQ 44-38861-3505). In 1954, a prison sociologist stated that Ray's delinquencies seem due to’ impulsive behavior, especially wher drinking (HQ 44-38861-3335). These characteristics and comments a about Ray support the opinion of psychologist Dr. Mark Freeman. While Ray was in Los Angeles he was a patient of Dr. Freeman. Dr. Freeman believes that Ray was potentially capable of assassination, was a self-motivated person who could act alone, and likely fantasized on being someone important. There were two matters involving Ray and blacks while outside prison which shed. some light on whether his hatred of blacks and need for importance and profit could have motivated him to murder. While in Mexico in the fall ~95— ) HW 55509 Docld:32199528 Page 104
HW 55509 on O 1967, Ray associated with 3 Mexican woman, Ima th a) < Morales, in the City of Puerto Vallarta. Morales admitted spending considerable time with him and recalls an incident that took place on Sunday, October 29th. She and Ray were seated at a table in a bar and were drinking when four blacks and several white persons arrived and were seated at another table. She stated that Ray kept goading the blacks for some reason. Thereafter, Ray left his table to go to his car, and when he returned he asked her to feel his pocket: Morales did and felt a pistol in his pocket. Ray stated to Morales that he wanted to kill the blacks. He then continued to be insulting and when the blacks left he stated he wanted to go after them. Morales, however, told him it was time for the police to arrive to check the establishment and Ray stated he wanted nothing to do with the police, thereby terminating the incident (HQ 44- 38861-2073) . A second incident took place during Ray's stay in Los Angeles. James E. Morrison, a bartender at the Rabbit's Foot Club there, identified Ray as a frequent customer. Morrison said that on one occasion Ray became engaged ina political discussion with him regarding Robert Kennedy and George Wallace. Ray became rather incensed-and vehemently supported Wallace. On another occasion, Ray had had a -96- Docld: 327199576 Page 105
om O discussion with Pat Goodsell, a frequent female custcter, concerning blacks and the civil rights movement. Ray became very involved and began dragging Goodsell towards the door saying, ''I'll. drop you off in Watts and we'll see how you like it there’ (HQ 44-38861-3557). Ray then supposedly went outside and had to fight two persons, one being black (Huie, pp. 96-98). Thus, it seems clear that Ray openly displayed a strong racist attitude towards blacks. While in prison, Ray stated he would kill Dr. King if given the opportunity and Ray was prepared to threaten or attack black persons in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with a weapon for apparently a racial reason. These events and occurrences leading to the assassination of Dr. King and the assassination itself certainly do not illustrate a single, conclusive motive. Yet, Ray's apparent hatred for the civil rights movement his possible yearning for recognition, and a desire for a potential quick profit may have, as a whole, provided sufficient impetus for him to act, and to act alone. 3. Sources Of Fimds _ Shortly after the search for Ray began, it was recognized that he had traveled extensively following his escape from the Missouri Penitentiary. Moreover, in addition ~97- — HW 55509 Docld: 32199526 Page 106
e O to mormal living expenses, Ray nad mace several sub- stantial purchases, e.g., cars, photo equipment, dance lessons (See, List of known expenditures, App. A, Ex. 4). These expenditures suggested that he had financial assist- ance and hence possible co-conspirators. Therefore, the Bureau was particularly interested in determining his sources of income. On April 23, 1968, the Director advised all field divisions to consider Ray as a suspect in any i unsolved bank robberies, burglaries or armed robberies occurring after April 23, 1967. The results were negative. On April 29, 1968, the Director in a teletype to all SAC's ordered that all law enforcement agencies which i maintained unidentified latent fingerprints be contacted and requested that fingerprints of Ray be compared in order | to determine his past whereabouts and possibly establish | Oo his source of fimds. Again, negative results were obtained. The Director, on May 14, 1968, reminded all field divisions that Ray had spent’ a considerable amount of money from April 23, 1967 until April 4, 1968, and advised that a source for these monies had not been determined. The Director ordered that photographs of Ray be displayed to appropriate witnesses in unsolved bank robberies and bark burglaries. These efforts and all others to date, with one exception, have proved | fruitless . ~98- | HW 55509 DocId:32199528 Page 107 —
As a result of one of Huie's Look articles, the Bureau. did ascertain that Ray had been employed at a restaurant in Winnetka, Illinois, for approximately eight weeks. As a dishwasher and cook's helper, Ray had received checks totaling $664 from May 7, 1967 through June 25, 1967 (See, List of known income, App. A, Ex. 5). ‘This is the only known source of income for Ray following his prison escape. Reports from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police indicated no known robberies or burglaries which could be connected with Ray, nor did Mexican authorities notify the Bureau of any criminal activity which could be associ- ated with Ray. The Bureau investigated the possibility ' that Ray participated in a bank robbery at Alton, Illinois, in 1967, but it was established that he was not.a partici- an pant. | : Ray related to author Huie that he robbed a food ‘ store in Canada, and that an individual named "Raoul" furnished him fimds on a continuous basis for various undertakings. These matters were actively pursued by the Bureau but have never been corroborated by them. Nor have they been corroborated by private inquiries of writers and 7 jounalists. It is the Bureau's opinion that Ray most likely . committed on a periodic basis several robberies or burglaries during this period in order to support himself. Ray's criminal -99- HW 55509 DBocld:321995276 Page 106
background does lend credence to this theory. The task force interviewed Ray's brother, Jerry Ray (See, Interview of Jerry Ray, December 20,1976, App. B). He stated that to his knowledge family members did not provide James with any fimds. Jerry admitted he met with his brother two or three times during his employment at the Winnetka restaurant and advised that he, not James, paid for their eating and drinking expenses. However, | when Jerry again saw his brother on his return from Canada in August, 1967, James did have some money because it was he who paid for their expenses which included a motel room. | Jerry added that James also gave him his car commenting that he would purchase a more expensive car in Alabama. Jerry stated he was unaware of where his brother had an obtained his money as well as the amount of money he had ~ at this time. | Accordingly, the sources for Ray's fimds still renain a mystery today. . : - -100- ~ 1 WW 55509 Docld:32199528 Page 109 —
4. Family Contacts and Assistance - Our review of the files indicated that the FBI had no hard evidence linking James Ray to any conspiracy to kill Dr. King. Absent such evidence, the Buceau apparently discounted the significance of any contact ' between Ray and his family. As the Chicago case agent told us, it is not unusual for a fugitive or a person who has committed a given crime to be in touch with family members. While such contact may render the actions of the family member criminally liable, it is not generally pursued absent some evidence of direct participation in the | However, in light of the fact that a good deal of mystery still surrounds James Ray and the assassination, particularly the means by which he financed his life style and travels, we concluded that on the basis of the infor- mation which was uncovered, the Bureau should have pursued this line of the investigation more thoroughly. The connection of the Ray family to the crime against Dr. King may have been nonexistent. This does not alter the _ fact, however, that the FBI discovered that the subject of the largest manhumt in history had been aided in his fugitive status by at least one family member. This and other facts suggestive of family assistance became clear as the Bureau's investigation progressed. -101- | HW 55509 DoclId: 32199526 Page 110
O O fay 2=st, Jonmn and Cerry Ray nad Signirzicant contacts with James while he was in Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) at Jefferson City, Missouri. Jerry Ray visited James three or four times and had borrowed money fran James on at least one occasion during his confinement (Chicago 44-1144 Sub G-17). John Ray visited or attempted to visit James Ray while at MSP on at least nine occasions. The last visit took place on April 22, 1967, the day before Ray escaped (HQ 44-338861-4503). The Bureau also dcliscovered that while in prison at MSP James Ray had a fellow inmate send a money order to a Fictitious company (Albert J. Pepper Stationary Co. ) in St. Louis, Missouri. The money was sent to the address of Carol Pepper (sister and business partner of John Ray) where she resided with her husband Albert. James Ray had told the inmate who sent the money that it was a way of getting money out of the prison (HO 44-38861-2614) . Second, James Earl Ray was seen by several people in both the St. Louis and Chicago areas during the period immediately after his escape. In St. Louis (where John Ray was living) two former inmates at MSP, stated that they had seen James Ray on separate occasions. One stated that he had seen Ray three times between May 10 and 17, 1967 (Kansas City, 44-760-786). The other saw Ray entering a bank with Jimmie Owens and spoke briefly with Ray as they entered -102- | HW 55509 DBocld:32199526 Page 111