Document date: 00/00/0000

## Page 1

Heleased under the John F. Kennedy

Assassination Records Collection Act of

1992 (44 USC 2107 Note). Case#:NW

58262 Date: 09.22-2022

File #:

625L-5097

Serial Scope:

10, 13, 14, 16-19, 21,23, 30-32,

35-55, 57-62, 69-73, 75-78,

80-148,150-157

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 1

---

## Page 2

FD-350 (Rev. 11-11-75)

(

(Mount Clipping in Space Below)

Panel Focuses On South St. Louis

As Scene Of Plot To Kill Dr. King

44-776*

42-5097*

(Indicate page, name of

newspaper, city and state.)

Front Page,

St.

Louis Post-Dispatch,

St. Louis, Missouri

win hanDopyrigh: 19/3, St: Load Post-Dhopatch

WASHINGTON - The House Assassi-

nations Commiltee is focusing on a small •

group of southySt. Louis segregationists'

- most off them now dead - in its

investigation of the murder of the Rev.

Dr. Martin/ Luther King, committee

sources say.

Committee investigators say the group

may have been the link. between James

Earl Ray, who pleaded guilty of the

murder, and a St. Louis lawyer who may

have wanted King killed.

Crimittee sources, say they consider

this avenue of investigation the most

prymising explanation of a conspiracy

theory in the assassination of the civil

rights leader in Memphis in April 1968:

But they. acknowledge that thus.far they

have little hard evidence to prove it.

The theory revolves around St. Louis

members of the Citizens Council and the

George Wallace for President campaign

of 1968. Investigators have learned that

members of those groups lived and

worked in the vicinity of the former

Grapevine Tavern in the 1900 block of

Arsenal Street. The tavern; which went

out of business in December 1968, was

operated: by. John Larry Ray, a-brother

of James Earl Ray.

Investigators believe that John H.

Sutherland, a St. Louis patent lawyer

This article was prepared by

William Freivogel, Gerald M. Boyd

and Louis J. Rose of the 'Post-Dis-

patch Staff.

and segregationist, contacted a south St.

Louis man involved with him in several

right-wing groups conveying a money

offer for King's murder..At the time the

man was canvassing businesses in the

neighborhood.of the Grapevine for the

wallace campaign.

The committee's theory is that the

man could have mentioned the offer to

John Larry Ray, who could have passed

it on to his brother. John Larry Ray

denied to the Post-Dispatch that any

such proposal was-made. Sutherland and

the other man are dead.

Gordon Baum, of St. Louis, field

director of the Citizens:Council, has been

subpoenaed to testify before the commit

tee, and sources said other subpoena.

are likely.

Baum, who was active in the work of

the council and the Wallace campaign in

1968, confirmed in an interview that the

committee appears to be scrutinizing

persons who were connected with both

groups in that period

Date: 10/1/78

Edition: 5 Star Final

Author:

Editor:

Title:

Character:

or

Classification:

Submitting Office:

• Being Investigated

1C615.0.47-1577

OCT : : 8378

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 2

---

## Page 3

He accused the committee of

"a

systematic purge of right-wing groups in

St. Louis."

The committee has held hearings on

the King assassination and plans to

continue them. in November. The panel

has heard testimony from Russell G.

Byers of Rock Hill that Sutherland and

another man offered him $50,000 in 1967

to arrange for King's murder. Byers said

he turned down the offer.

Investigators believe that Sutherland

then contacted his acquaintance with the

Wallace campaign, who was canvassing

around the Grapevine.

The committee also has learned that a,

woman who was a top official of the

Citizens Council and the Wallace cam-

paign lived in the 2100 block of Arsenal

Street, within 100 yards of the Grape-

vine.

The woman, who also is dead, often

had planning meetings of the twa groups

at her home. The Wallace canvasser was

a good friend of hers and together the

two shouldered most of the responsibili-

ties of the Wallace state headquarters.

The woman generally ran the office

near Gravois Avenue and Morganford

See KING, Page 12

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 3

King

• FROM PAGE ONE

aRoad, in the day and the man ran it at

a nigh

FOr John Ray acknowledged in an inter-

view Friday that he had often gone to.

this headquarters to pick up Wallace

6.3

, literature for himself and friends, but

said he did not remember meeting the

e"man or the woman there or anywhere

else.

• He said he recalled seeing Wallace

RHUMPINGG

signs on the woman's home down the

street from the tavern, but did not

remember going in the house. He said

"that Wallace workers who had been at

the house often came into his tavern, but

said he could not remember their names.

SHe said he did not remember to whom he

had given his contribution for the Wal

lace campaign.

Ray said he had never been proposi..

tioned on the King assassination by

anyone he met in the Wallace campaign.

The committee believes that the Wal-

• lace Canvasser may have conveyed an

/offer from Sutherland to Ray for these

treasons, sources say:

az. The man, an engineer, had a cordial

relationship with Sutherland. Both were

*active not only in the Citizens Council

and the Wallace campaign but also in the

John Birch Society.

The man was one of the most radical

"participants in the Citizens Council meet-

mgs. He often brought right-wing movies

Showing blacks rioting in the streets. He

would make provocative speeches link-

G. C

1062.01

the meetings described him as a shrewd,

well-educated man who knew how to

manipulate a crowd.

*=* Sutherland was the driving force be-

hind the formation in 1964 of the Citizens

Council in St. Louis, a race-oriented

organization opposing civil rights laws.

He was its first president. In 1968 he was

active in the Wallace campaign, serving

as an elector.

Some Citizens Council members told

the Post-Dispatch that they

did not:

believe that Sutherland was well ac,

quainted with the man and woman who

The first meeting of the council was

Oct. 10, 1964 in the Electrical Workers

Hall on Elizabeth Avenue. Sutherland

presided and 125 attended. A news

account says Sutherland condemned the

Supremé Court and Congress for deseg-

regation actions.

At the second meeting, Sutherland

brought his friend Thurman Sensing to

town to speak. Sensing, was executive

director of the Southern States Industrial

Council on which Sutherland served as

board member.. The group; now. called

the 'United States Industrial Council,

opposed civil rights laws in addition to

lobbying for industry legislation.

Sensing was an ultra-conservative who

said in a speech after King was assassi-

nated that the resulting rioting was the

civil rights leader's fault.

Well known segregationists Sheriff

Clark of Selma, Ala., and

Lester Maddox of Georgia, followed

Sensing to town to speak to the Council.

Baum says that Sutherland began

dropping out of Citizens Council. affairs

' in 1965, but committee sources say he

A police intelligence source. supports

Baum's version. The initial meeting of

the Council in 1964 had been composed of

middle-and upper-class persons, the po-

licemen said, but by 1967 and 1968 most

of the membership was working class

Sutherland did not feel as comfortable

'But Sutherland was deeply involved in

the Wallace campaign in 1968. Most of

the top positions in the Missouri Wallace

campaign were held by Citizens Council

some: of whom also were

members of the Birch Society.

---

## Page 4

VZCZCHQO113

• RR KC SL SI:

DE HQ 0113 2720034

ZNY EEEEE

R 292146Z SEP. 78

FM DIRECIOR, FBI

TO FBI ST. LOUIS ROUTINE

FBI SPRINGFIELD ROUTINE

FBI KANSAS CITY ROUTINE

UNCLAS EF TO

HOUSE SELEÇT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA), U.S. HOUSE OF •

• REPRESENTATIVES ..

REBUTEL TO ST. LOUIS AND SPRINGFIELD DATED AUGUST

1978;

ENTITLED. "JERRY RAY; POSSIBLE 00J."

ALSO REBUTEL. TO ST. LOUIS, SPRINGFIELD AND KANSAS CITY

DATED AUGUSI 4, 1978, ENTITLED "JERRY RAY; NELSON STONEY, AKA;

UNSUB, AKA; BANK ROBBERY SUSPECTS:"

ON :SEPTEMBER 27, 1978, THE DIRECTOR RECEIVED A LETTER FROM

ROBERI BLAKEY, CHIEF COUNSEL AND DIRECTOR OF CAPTIONED

COMMITTEE ALLEGING THAT THE BUREAU IN HANDLING INFORMATION FUR-

NISHED BY, THE COMMITTEE ENDANGERED. THE SOURCE. WHO FURNISHED THIS

67 - 1097-150

7x-88

9-24-78

SEP 3Q 1978

FDI-ST. LO'10

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 4

---

## Page 5

• PAGE TWO DE HQ D113 UNCLAS EF I O

INFORMATION TO THE COMMITTEE:

- THE NECESSARY BACKGROUND INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER

WILL BE FOUND IN THE REFERENCED TELETYPES.

• SACS SI. LOUIS, SPRINGFIELD AND, KANSAS CITY ARE REQUESTED

TO INTERVIEW ANY SPECIAL AGENTS WHO HAD ACCESS IO THE INFOR-

MATION FURNISHED IN REFERENCED TELETYPES AS- TO ANY MEDIA

CONTACIS REGARDING THIS INFORMATION. ANY EMPLOYEE HAVING SUCH

CONTACI WITH THE MEDIA CONCERNING THIS INFORMATION IS TO FURNISH

AN AFFIDAVIT AS IO THE DETAILS OF THE CONTACI. •

SACS SI. LOUIS AND SPRINGFIELD ARE REQUESTED TO HAVE

AFFIDAVIIS SUBMITTED BY THE SPECIAL AGENIS WHO CONTACTED (OLIVER.

PATTERSON) AND CLARENCE HAYNES REGARDING ANY CONTAGI WITH MEDIA

REPRESENTATIVES. THESE AFFIDAVITS SHOULD ALSO COVER WHETHER

DURING THE INTERVIEW WITH PATTERSON AND HAYNES THE COMMITTEE WAS

IDENTIFIED AS THE SOURCE OF THIS INFORMATION. THE INTERVIEWING

AGENTS ARE ALSO REQUESTED TO COMMENT ON WHETHER PATTERSON'S NAME

•WAS MENTIONED AS ALSO BEING IN DANGER DURING THE INTERVIEW WITH

HAYNES AND DURING THE INTERVIEW OF PATTERSON WHETHER HAYNES

NAME WAS MENTIONED. IF SO, REASON FOR DOING SHOULD BE FURNISHED.

IT IS TO BE NOTED THAT THE COMMITTEE ADVISED PATTERSON THAT

/7-)

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 5-

---

## Page 6

PAGE THREE DE HQ DI13 UNCLAS EF T'O

THE BUREAU WOULD CONTACT HIM, PRIOR TO HIS CONTACT BY THE

INTERVIEWING SPECIAL AGENTS. THESE INTERVIEWS ARE IO BE GIVEN

EXPEDITIOUS HANDLING.

ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS MATTER ARE TO BE HANDLED

TELEPHONICALLY WITH SA GEORGE KEENAN, CRIMINAL INVESTIGA-

TIVE DIVISION, EXTENSION 4195.

.

BT

D113

NNNN

HOLD

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 6

---

## Page 7

2D:86 (Rev. 3-21-77)

TRANSMIT VIA:

D] Telctype

• Facsimile

Airtel

PRECEDENCE:

DJ Imnediate

• Priority

• Routine

FBI

•

CLASSIFICATION:

I TOP SECRET

O SECRET

O CONFIDENTIAL

DEFTO

D CLEAR

Date

9/19/78

TO :

DIRECTOR, FBI

(62-117290)

(ATTN :

CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT,

RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION)

FROM:

SAC,

ST. LOUIS

(62-5097)

SUBJECT: HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE

ON ASSASSINATIONS

BUDED: 9/21/78

!

Re Bureau teletype dated 9/14/78 and Bureau

telephone call on 9/18/78.

Enclosed herewith are xerox copies of all serials

(total of 7) in St. Louis file captionea " INTERFERENCE BY

ACTION WITH VEILED PROPHET PARADE, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI,

10/2/65; RACIAL MATTERS, SI file 157-1513".

Serial 2 of this file is an LHM dated 10/4/65 which refers to

a release on page 2 of the LuM.

That release is not completely

legible and, accordingly, there is also enclosed a typed copy

of that release.

Also enclosed are xerox copies (total of 12) of all

serials in file captioned "DEMONSTRATION BY ACTION AT VEILED

PROPHET BALL, 10/6/67, AND PARADE, 10/7/67, ST. LOUIS,

MISSOURI, RACIAL MATTERS, BUfile 157-6-42,

SI file 157-5823."

St. Louis indices contain no information concerning

the Veiled Prophet. The only such references are to the

Veiled Prophet Ball. (SL 157-1513) and the Veiled Prophet

Parade and Ball (SL

157-5823).

2 - Bureau

(Enc - 24)

JES: Kmt

(3)

SUMMED

FISALIZED

Bull:

INDEXED

FLED

62-5097-153

Approved:

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 7

Transmitted

Per _

(Number)

(Time)

FBI/DOJ

---

## Page 8

SI 62-5097

St. Louis files contain no rosters of igents

assigned to the office for the years 1967, 1968, and 1974

nos support personnel for the year 1974.

At the request

of the Bureau, a compilation of such information from data

available to the St. Louis Office has been made and, noting

that this compilation may not be all inclusive, there is

enclosed :4 lists titled as follows! "Special Agents

Assigned to the St. Louis Field Office During the Calendar

Year 1967", "Special Agents Assigned to the st. Louis Flelo

Office During the Calendar Year 1968", "Special Agents

ine calendar

Assigned to the St. Louis Field Office During the Calendar

Year 1974", and "Support Personnel Assigned to the St. Louis

Field Office During the Calendar Year 1974"

# NW. 68262 Doeld:32989797 Page 8

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## Page 9

SPECIAL AGENTS ASSIGNED TO THE ST. LOUIS

FIELD OFFICE DURING THE CALENDAR XEAR 1967

THOMAS J. GEARTY (Special Agent in Charge)

EDWARD J. KRUPINSKY (Assistant Special Agent in Charge)

EDMUND C. WELTON

GEORGE M. PEET

CLETIS B. BIDEWELL

WILLIAM K. BOCK (retired, effective 8/25/67)

PATRICK W. BRADLEY

EARL E. BROWN

JOHN J. BUCKLEY

LOUIS F. CAPUTO

HAROLD R. DOBSON

KENNETH N. DELANOY

JAMES A. DUFFEY

JACK J. FISHER

KELLY E. GIBBONS

WILLIAM G. HARRY (resigned, effective 11/9/67)

WALTER A. HILGENDORF

RICHARD T. HRADSKY

S. T. JOHNSON

WALTER C. JOHNSON

HARRY C. JUNG

HOWARD C. KENNEDY

JAMES E. LINDSAY

J. ROBERT MEIGS

EDWARD M. MORELAND

DONALD R. NORIE

AUBREY D. PARK

SPURGEON J. PETERSON

DOUGLAS ROSENBERGER

ALBERT J. RUSHING

CLARK S.

SMITH (departed 6/13/67, transferred to Seattle)

BAILEY M. STANFIELD (resigned, effective 12/29/67)

ROBERT S. STEWART

JAMES A. TALLEY (retired, effective 6/16/67)

FRANKLIN J. WALLS (departed 6/17/67, transferred to San Diego)

ROBERT J. WILKISON

KENNETH A. WILLIAMS

WILLIAM R. BURTON

JACK A. FRENCH

ROBERI A. HESS

THOMAS JOHN DONOHUE (departed 6/7/67, transferred to Columbia)

RALPH J. ESPOSITO (departed 8/19/61,

transferred to WFO)

A. JAMES FISHER (departed 9/2/67, transferred to Dallas)

JEROME S. MURPHY (departed 5/8/67, transferred to Indianapolis)

JAMES M. PAIGE (departed 11/17/67,

transferred to Detroit)

PHIL K. WALTER (departed 12/20/67, transferred to Sacramento)

62-5097-1574

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 9

INDEXED

FLED

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## Page 10

SPECIAL AGENTS ASSIGNED TO THE ST. LOUIS

FIELD OFFICE DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR 1967

(CONTINUED)

JOHN K. ROSS (departed 1/4/67, transferred to Boston)

PAUL D. GIAMANCO (resigned, effective 3/18/67)

BERNARD W. CASHDOLLAR (retired, effective 3/24/67)

ALLEN H. SMITH (retired, effective 3/24/67)

GERALD J. WOLTEMATE (departed 3/31/67, transferred to Memphis)

TOM E. CHAPOTON, JR. (departed 4/6/67, transferred to San Antonio)

MELVIN E. DE GRAW (arrived 4/24/67, transfer-in)

WILLIAM R. DUNCAN (arrived 5/15/67, transfer-in)

HOWARD G. SLACK (arrived 5/24/67, transfer-in)

WILLIAM H. WARFIELD (arrived 5/24/67, transfer-in)

THOMAS L. BUCKLEY (arrival date unknown, transfer-in)

WALDEN I. GREEN (departed 7/3/67, transferred to Dallas)

MARVIN R. DORAN (arrived 6/19/67

MARTIN JOHN WEBER (arrived 7/24/67, transfer-in)

JAMES I. DEARBORN (arrived 10/5/67

transfer-in)

LAWRENCE B. CURTIN (arrived 10/19/67, transfer-in)

PETER J. STANKOSKI (arrived 10/30/67, transfer-in)

ALAN E. MC ELWAIN (arrived 12/1/67, transier-in)

JOHN O. TRETHEWEY, JR. (arrived 12/9/67, transfer-in)

JOSEPH A. DUBYAK (arrived 12/27/67, transter-in)

MICHAEL M. WILLIAMSON (arrived 12/27/67, transfer-in)

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 10

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## Page 11

SPECIAL AGENTS ASSIGNED TO THE ST. LOUIS

FIELD OFFICE DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR 1968

JOSEPH H. GAMBLE (Special Agent in Charge:

arrived 8/19/68,

transfer-in)

THOMAS J. GEARTY (Special Agent in Charge: retired,

effective 8/26/68)

EDWARD :J. KRUPINSKY (Assistant Special Agent in Charge)

EDMUND C. WELTON

GEORGE M. PEET

ROBERT L. BENDER

CLETIS B. BIDEWELL

PATRICK W. BRADLEY

EARL. E. BROWN (resigned, effective 7/12/68)

JOHN J. BUCKLEY

LOUIS F. CAPUTO

KENNETH N. DELANOY

HAROLD R. DOBSON

MARVIN R. DORAN

WILLIAM R. DUNCAN

JAMES A. DUFFEY

JACK J. FISHER (resigned, effective 6/28/68)

KELLY E. GIBBONS.

RICHARD T. HRADSKY

S. T. JOHNSON

WALTER C. JOHNSON

JAMES E. LINDSAY

J. ROBERT MEIGS

EDWARD M. MORELAND

DONALD R. NORIE

AUBREY D. PARK

•SPURGEON J. PETERSON

DOUGLAS ROSENBERGER

ALBERT J. RUSHING (resigned, effective 7/5/68)

RICHARD BOYD. SMITH

ROBERT S. STEWART

ROBERT J. WILKISON

KENNETH A. WILLIAMS

THOMAS L. BUCKLEY

WILLIAM R. BURTON

DONALD S. DE FONCE

MELVIN E. DE GRAW

JACK A. FRENCH

ROBERT A. HESS

LAWRENCE B: CURTIN

JAMES T. DEARBORN

JOSEPH A. DUBYAK

i

CHARLES S. DUKE

62-5097-153

INDEXED.

- NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 11

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## Page 12

SPECIAL AGENTS ASSIGNED TO THE ST. LOUIS

FIELD OFFICE DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR 1968

(CONTINUED)

ALAN E. MC ELWAIN

HOWARD G. SLACK

JOHN O. TRETHEWEY, JR.

WILLIAM H. WARFIELD (departed 7/10/68, transferred to Los Angeles)

PEMBROKE WASHINGTON

MARTIN JOHN WEBER

F. JACK WILLIAMS

MICHAEL M. WILLIAMSON

PETER J. STANKOSKI (resigned, effective 1/24/68)

EAN R. SHUMWAY (reappointed, effective 3/6/68

OHN M. DUNAY (arrived 7/3/68, transfer-in

LEO T. CONNOLLY (arrived 8/6/68, transfer-in)

LEO R. MORRIS (arrived 8/2/68, transfer-in)

ROBERT I. COLEMAN (arrived 11/25/68, transfer-in)

JOHN S. WILLIS (arrived 11/26/68, transfer-in)

HARRY C. JUNG

HOWARD C. KENNEDY

THOMAS

I. BUCKLEY

WALTER A. HILGENDORF (retired, effective 2/28/68)

_NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 12

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## Page 13

SPECIAL AGENTS ASSIGNED TO THE ST. LOUIS

FIELD OFFICE DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR 1974

WESLEY T. WHALEY (Special Agent in Charge)

ROBERT J. MC CARTHY (Assistant Special Agent in Charge)

ROBERT I. BENDER

LOUIS F. CAPUTO

JACK A. FRENCH

WILLIAM R. BURTON

C. JAMES CHRISTY

LEONARD V. DAHL

DONALD S. DE FONCE

MELVIN E. DE GRAW

MARVIN R. DORAN

WILLIAM R. DUNCAN

DOUGLAS A. DUNNAM

JOSEPH T. FOX, JR.

JOHN R. HAWKEN

ROBERT. A. HESS

RICHARD T. HRADSKY

WALTER C. JOHNSON

DONALD E. JONES

HOWARD C. KENNEDY

EDWARD M. MORELAND

AUBREY D. PARK

MARVIN R. PENNINGTON

DOUGLAS ROSENBERGER

JAMES E. SNIEGOCKI (departed 11/21/74, transferred to Louisville)

ROBERT S. STEWART

ROBERT J. WILKISON

DAVID F. CUNNINGHAM

JOHN M. DUNAY

JAMES T. HAGGERTY

JOSIAH L. HUGHES

JAMES R. LUMMUS

DEAN R. SHUMWAY (departed 11/8/74, transferred to Milwaukee)

MARTIN JOHN WEBER

F. JACK WILLIAMS

WILLIAM J. AHLER, JR.

LARRY B. BEAN

BENJAMIN L. CAGLE

JOHN N. CAMPBELL

MICHAEL S. CLAPP

MICHAEL E. CROWLEY

WILLIAM A. DEAL

MARSHALL P. GORHAM

JOHN C. HALL

RICHARD W. HERMAN

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 13

62-5097-152

SEARCHED

INDEXED

PLED Prai

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## Page 14

SPECIAL AGENTS ASSIGNED TO THE ST. LOUIS

FIELD OFFICE DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR 1974

(CONTINUED)

KEVIN R. ILLIA

BARRY A. JONES

REGINALD J. JOSEPH

STEPHEN D. KETTNER

THOMAS T. KUBIC

JAN A. LINDSEY

GEORGE A. MILLER

JEFFREY D. MOSS

MICHAEL N. MURPHY

HERMAN S. NICHOLS

RUSSEL JAY NIELSEN

RONALD W. PARKER

THOMAS R. PARKER

JAMES J. REINAGEL (died 8/6/74)

PAUL E. RITZ

ALIAN J. ROGERS

CARL A. SCHULTZ

JOHN W. STRICKLAND, JR.

PETER B. SYMONDS

T. RICHARD O. VAN MATRE

WARREN B. WYMAN

LEON J. CANTIN (departed 8/27/74, transferred to Minneapolis)

PHILIP GRIVAS

STEPHEN M. LARGENT

ROBERT J. LA VERE (departed 10/12/74, transferred to New York Office)

JEFFREY A. MEYER

DOUGLAS B. MOKE (departed 7/1/74, transferred to New York Office).

MICHAEL E. NEZ

RICHARD W. RITTER

IVIAN C. SMITH

MICHAEL E. STAPLETON

MARSHALL C. WELDY

THOMAS F. WESTBERG

S. T. JOHNSON

KENNETH A. WILLIAMS

JOSEPH E. GERBER (arrived 1/9/74, transfer-in)

GEORGE E. BLOUNT (departed 1/14/74, transferred to San Francisco)

LARRY D. CORDELL (departed 1/19/74, transferred to Detroit)

JOSEPH T. WOODALL (departed 1/2/74, transferred to Washington Field

CLAUDE H. HILDRETH (departed 1/30/74, transferred to Los Angeles) Office

DONALD H. TAYLOR (arrived 3/11/74, transfer-in)

MICHAEL J. IRWIN (resigned, effective 2/8/74)

JOANNE E. PIERCE (departed 2/22/74, transferred to Pittsburgh)

LEON RAY FUTRELL, JR. (departed 3/4/74, transferred to Chicago)

2

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 14

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## Page 15

SPECIAL AGENTS ASSIGNED TO THE ST. LOUIS

FIELD OFFICE DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR 1974

(CONTINUED)

JOSEPH G. A. GLOVER (departed 2/28/74, transferred to Chicago)

FLOYD W. RATLIFF, JR. (arrived 4/22/74, transfer-in)

HERBERT NORTHCUTT, JR. (arrived 7/15/74, transfer-in)

DONNA LYN PRICE (arrived 10/21/74, transfer-in)

3

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 15

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## Page 16

SUPPORT PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO THE ST. LOUIS

FIELD OFFICE DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR 1974

KEITH D. CONWAY

RICHARD E. BUTTON

JOSEPH N. HURST

SHIRLEY E. GEISLER

MARK C. NIPPER

WILLIAM J. EBERT

JOSEPH O. ELDER, JR.

GLORIA M. FRIGO

ROBERT IVAN HARSH

, GEORGE T. JENKINS"

NORMA 1. NELSON

LENORE H. CAMPBELL

MICHAEL I. HOLT

ANTHONY E. MEADOWS (reinstated March 25, 1974)

JOHN I. SINGLETON.

DAVID R. SKELTON

KAREN I. BUB

JOAN T. CLAUS

TERRY LEE COFF

WILLIAM R. FARHAT

JEAN ANN

GOEBEL

ROSEMARY C. GRUBB

BRUCE. G. HORSFALL

VIRGIL JOHNSON, JR.

BEVERLY A. KAIMAN

PEGGY R. KERNER

ANN THERESE LA VERE (departed October 12, 1974, transferied to

New York Office)

MARY JEAN LENTZ

SHARON M. SEDOVIC

VICKI L. SIMPSON

WANDA B. SUKOVSKY

PAMELA DIANNE PIERCE

JANET E. TUCKER

SHIRLEY F. WAGNER

CHRISTINE A. WANGLER

CAROL S. KLEMME (departed July 5, 1974, transferred to Belleville,

Illinois, Resident Agency)

GREGORY J. DIFANI

KATHERINE M. FRIGO

JANICE M. GODEFROID

LOIS ANN JOHNSON

62-5097-151

SEARCHED

NDEXED

PILED

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 16

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## Page 17

SUPPORT PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO THE ST. LOUIS

FIELD OFFICE DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR 1974

CONTINUED

MARGARET E. LUEPKER

KATHLEEN C. MC VEY

PATRICIA J. MEADOWS

ETHEL LEE MIX

DIANE M. NEWBY

TERRY JOHN OLLIGES

JOYCE L. RUDD

CHARLES F. SCHALLER

GLORIA A. SHIDLER (entered on duty, January 7, 1974)

DIXIE L. SLAZINIK (departed October 5, 1974, transferred to Springfield

KATHLEEN M. THOMAS

DEBORAH LYNN VOELKER (entered on duty, March 25, 1974)

MARSHA K. BARGE

BOBBIE JEAN BLUM

LYNDA J. BUCHER (entered on duty September 30, 1974)

PAMELA C. BAKER (entered on duty September 30, 1974)

CONSTANCE M. ANTOFF (entered on duty October 21, 1974)

ROBERT J. FARHAT (entered on duty June 23, 1974)

JOHN M. HOCHSTATTER

CYNTHIA A. KRIER (resigned March 29, 1974; reinstated July J, 1974)

LINDA L. SCHVARTZ (entered on duty, March 18, 1974)

MARY ANN TUCKER

VIRGIL D. WOOLLEY, JR. (entered on duty March 4, 1974)

M. SUSAN MURABITO

MARY CLAIRE KORTE

JUDITH M. STEWART (resigned February 1, 1974)

MARSHA K. HALLEMANN (entered on duty

LINDA S. LINDSEY (resigned August 2, 1974)

so gust Ey 10rc) 23, 2974)

MARY LOU LAGEMANN (resigned August 21, 1974)

JANIE LEE WARD (arrived December 2

, 1974, transferred in)

KATHLEEN A. MC HUGH (entered on duty November 25, 1974)

2

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 17

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## Page 18

l',T7947.

VZCZCHQO 106

AR SL

•DE HQ @186 2580150

ZNY EEEEE

• R. 142052Z SEP 78

FM DIRECTOR. FBI (62-117298)

TO FBI ST. LOUIS ROUTINE

BI..

UNCLAS EF TO

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA)

BUREAU DEALINE SEPTEMBER 21, 1978.

THE HSCA, 'HICH IS INVESTIGATING THE ASSASSINATIONS OF

PRESIDENT JOHN. KENNEDY ANJ MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.: BY LETTER

DATED SEPTEMBER 3, 1978, REQUESTED ACCESS TO ALL AVAILABLE

REFERENCES AND FILES, BUREAU FILES AND FIELD OFFICE, ON A .

SI. LOUIS ORGANIZATION NAMED THE VEILED PROPHET. THE LETTER

ALSO REQUESTED ACCESS TO ANY ROSTERS OF AGENTS FOR THE ST. LOUIS

FIELD OFFICE FOR THE YEARS 1967, 1968 AND 1974.

• PARTIAL SEARCH• OF BUREAU. INDICES REVEALS THAT THE VEILED

PROPHET APPEARS TO BE A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION MADE UP OF

INDIVIDUALS IN THE HIGHER SOGIAL AND FINANCIAL STRATA OF THE

SI: LOUIS AREA:

62-5092-150

.. 1

95y 1

1973

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 18

---

## Page 19

PAGE TWO DE HQ CIES UNCLAS EFT O

IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE REQUEST, SI. LOUIS SHOULD REVIEW

INDICES TO IDENTIFY ALL RETRIEVABLE INFORMATION IDENTIFIABLE

WITH THE VEILED PEOPHET AND FURNISH FBI HEADQUARTERS (FBIHA) ONE

LEGIBLE COPY OF EACH SERIAL.

ST. LOUIS SHOULD ALSO FORWARD ANY RETRIEVABLE ROSTERS OF

AGENTS FOR THE REQUESTED YEARS.

ALL. MATERIAL SHOULD BE FORWARDED BY COVER AIRIEL IO FEINQ

ATTENTION: CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT, RECORDS MANAGEMENT

DIVISION•

BT

2126

WINN

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 19

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## Page 20

Indices" Search Slip

FD-160 (Rev. 3-23-71)

TO: CHIEF CLERK

Subject

THE VEILED

Date

Social Security Account#

PROPHET

Allases

Address

Birth Date

Birthplace

Race

J Exact Spelling

_Main Criminal Case Files Only

Restrict to Locality of

All References

Criminal References Only

Main Subversive Case Files Only

J Main Subversive (I{ no Main, Ilst all Subversive References)

_Subversive References Only

_Main Criminal (If no Main, list all Criminal References)

File & Serfal Number

Remarks

File & Serial Number

Remarks

THE VEILED PROPHET PARADE

157-1513

THE VEILED PROPHETPARADE + BALL

157-5823

Sex

Male

_ Female

Requested by

Searched by

Consolidated by

Revlewed by

Squad

Extension

File No.

File Review Symbols

ủ :

• Not Identifiable

Unavallable reference

(date)

(date)

(date)

#G.P.O. 1972--471-961

= Not Identical

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 20

---

## Page 21

VZCZCHQ0.106

RR SL

DE HQ D106 2580150

ZNY EBREE

. R 142050Z SEP 78

FM DIRECTOR FBI (62-117290)

TO FBI ST• LOUIS ROUTINE

• BT

UNCLAS EFT O

62-5097

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA)

BUREAU DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 21, 1,978:

THE MSCA, WHICH IS INVESTIGATING THE ASSASSINATIONS OF

PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY AND MARTIN. LUTHER KING, JR., BY LETTER

DATED SEPTEMBER.8; 1978, REQUESTED ACCESS TO ALL AVAIL'ÁBLE

REFERENCES AND FILES, BUREAU FILES AND FIELD OFFICE, ON A

ST. LOUIS ORGANIZATION NAMED THE VEILED PROPHET. THE LETTER

ALSO REQUESTED ACCESS TO ANY ROSTERS OF AGENTS FOR THE SI. LOUIS

FIELD OFFICE FOR THE YEARS 1967, 1968 AND 1974.

PARTIAL SEARCH OF BUREAU INDICES REVEALS THAI THE VEILED

• PROPHET APPEARS TO BE A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION MADE UP OF

INDIVIDUALS IN THE HIGHER SOÇIAL AND FINANCIAL STRATA OF THE .

ST. LOUIS AREA.

9/14/18

6225097-150

1979

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 21

---

## Page 22

PAGE IWO DE HQ DIDE UNCLAS E F TO

IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE REQUESI, SI. LOUIS SHOULD REVIEW

INDICES TO IDENTIFY ALL RETRIEVABLE INFORMATION IDENTIFIABLE

WITH THE VEILED PROPHET AND FURNISH FBI HEADQUARIERS (FBIHQ) ONE

LEGIBLE COPY OF EACH SERIAL:

SI. LOUIS SHOULD ALSO FORWARD ANY RETRIEVABLE ROSTERS OF

AGENTS FOR THE REQUESTED YEARS.

• ALL MATERIAL SHOULD BE FORWARDED BY COVER AIRIEL IO FBIHO

• 'ATTENTION: CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT, RECORDS MANAGEMENT

DIVISION.

BI •

$ 106°

NNNN

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 22

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## Page 23

AIRTEL

XX

9/7/78

TO

: DIRECTOR, FBI (62-1:17290)

FROM

: SAC, ST. LOUIS (62-5097)

SUBJECT : HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE

ON ASSASSINATIONS - MURKIN

Enclosed herewith are four copies of an LHM

setting forth the results of a telephone interview

between former SA ChEIIS B. BIDEWELL and MICHAEL EBERHARDT,

Staff Attorney, House Select Committee on Assassinations,

Washington, D. C.., on 8/31/78.

Former Agent BIDEWELL had previously been advised

in late July, 1978, by SA JAY ALDHIZER, FBIHQ, that

former Agent BIDEWELL might be contacted telephonically

by Mr. EBERHARDT of the House Select Committee on

Assassinations.

Former Agent BIDEWELL, on 8/31/78, received a

telephone call at his home, 1116 Culverhill Drive,

Webster Groves, Mo.

63119, telephone #962-0972, from

an individual who identified himself as MICHAEL EBERHARDI,

- requesting an interview by telephone:

2 - Bureau (Enc.. 4)

K - St. Louis

CBB-kan

13) pom

SEARCHID

EMMIZED RAA

INDEXED.

62-5097-148

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 23

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## Page 24

St. Iouis, Missouri

September 7, 1978

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE OT ASSASSINATIOS

Former Agent Cletis B. Bidewell advised on

questioning that he had on at least one occasion inter-

viewed Carol Pepper, sister of James Earl Ray, suspect

In the assassination of Doctor Martin Luther King in

Memphis, Tennessee. At that time, Carol Pepper was

Fait an a

residing in Maplewood, Missouri, and the unlawful flight

to avoid confinement case against James Earl Ray,

resulting from his escape from the Missouri State

Penitentiary, Jetferson City, Missouri, was assigned to

Special Agent (SA) Bidewell in the St. Louis Division.

At this time, no information had been developed indicat-

ing that James Earl Pay was a suspect in the murder of

Doctor Ring.

The interview with Carol Pepper was most

frustrating since it appeared she was completely un-

cooperative in furnishing any information concerning the

possible whereabouts of James Earl Ray.

To the best

of his rccollection, SA Bidewell advisod that no other

Agent accompanied him on this interview and two or three young

children, presumably children of Carol Pepper, were in the

homc at the time of the interview.

With respect as to how the lead to interview

Carol, Pepper was obtained, it was recalled by SA Bidewell

that the lead was developed as a result of background

information furnished by the Kansas City Division,

office of origin in the unlavful flight to avoid confinement

case.

To the best of his recollection, SA Bidewell advised

that no information was obtained through the interview of

This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions

of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to

your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed

outside your agency.

4 - Bureau

J=- St. Louis (62-5097)

CBB: kam

152ccm

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 24

SEARCHED.

SEMALZED KAM

INDEXED."

63-5097-147

---

## Page 25

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS

Pepper as to the possible whereabouts of her brother

John Ray. Forner SA Bidewell advised that investiga-

tion conducted by him failed to develop any information

indicating that James Earl Ray had been in the St.. Louis

area subsequent to his escape from Hissouri State

Penitentiary in Jefferson City, Missouri.

SA. Bidewell further recalled that shortly

after his interview with Carol Pepper, James Earl Ray

became the prime suspect in the Doctor ring murder and.

the case on James Earl Ray was reassigned to an Agent

who could give full time to this matter and no further

investigation was conducted in this matter by SA Bidewell,

other than to cover an occasional minor lead which was

developed during the course of the investigation,

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 25

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## Page 26

FD-350 (Rev. 11-11-75)

(Mount Clipping in Space Below)

Carl

Rowan's

CARL ROWAN -

JAMES EARL RAY, the FBI and DR. KING

WASHINGTON. Attorney Mark Lane's verbal blasts

at Rep. Louis Stokes (D.-Ohio) and other members of 62-5097*

the House Select Committee on Assassinations might

lead you to think thät Lare really considers his client,

James Earl Ray, to be the greatest victim of political

oppression since Anatoly Shcharansky:

But don't be misled by Lane's frequent cries of

"McCarthyism" or his assertions that House members

were heaping onto the confessed killer of Dr. Martin

Luther King Jr. the worst abuses "in

the history of

Understand that

Mark Lane's

recent

has-been devoted to imagining, and writing about, evil

conspiracies. He took Ray before-this. committee in the

hope of convincing the American public, if not the

time.

Congress, that Ray was coerced into confessing, that he

murdered

fing and into accepting a 99-year term in

person, and that Ray was a pawn in an FBI plot to kill

the noted Black civil rights leader.

There was a stormy suspension of Ray's testimony

partly because,

for all of Lane's voluble interruptions;

he and his client were faring badly.

Lane arrived at the hearings surely feeling that

millions of Americans, especially the Blacks in

Congress, were predisposed to believe that former

FBI director J. Edgar Hoover was somehow behind

King's killing. After all, hadn't the Rev. Jesse Jackson

just stated publicly that he didn't think Ray pulled the

trigger?

But under intense questioning from Stokes, 'Ray

and his testimony dealt a blow to any notion that he

was an innocent patsy in a government conspiracy tó

kill King.

Ray said he had lied deliberately to newspaper

reporters, TV interviews, book writers and even his

own lawyers. But now he wanted the committee and

the world to believe him when he

said that his

mysterious partner in crime, "Raoul," probably shot

Đt. King:

St. Louis Argus

St. Louis, Mo.

Date: 8/31/78

Edition:

Author:

Editor:

Title:

Character:

or

Classification:

Submitting Office:

•Being Investigated

ian:

SE? 1:11

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 26

---

## Page 27

The problem was, Ray left many who believe in a.

conspiracy thinking that he was lying through his

"Raoul" had smuggled

arcotics across the U.S. borders, that they had run

ross those borders. He said he had bought, at th

If' Lane's theory was to be that "Raoul" was the

hired killer of the FBI, Ray gave him a blow because it

takes almost no. skepticism to conclude from Ray's

testimony that there is no "Raoul."

Yet, there is the ragging. documented fact that at

the behest of Hoover' the FBI launched at least 25

separate campaigns to destroy Dr. King as a nationa

force. The FBI tried, with futility, to prove him

fináncial crook, a tax cheat; a tool, of the Communists.

The FBI bugged his hotel rooms, his office, tapped his

telephone, cooked up dirty schemes to alienate him

from other Black-leaders,. or to break up his marriage.

The FBI even tried tô induce Dr. King to commit

suicide,"

This, and.a lot more, will surely come out when the

Assassinations Committee gets around to probing the

FBI's work in finding, the killer of Dr. King. We may

get answers as to why, with Ray's fingerprints all over

the gun and other things found near the scene of

the murder, it took

so long for the FBI to establish

the involvement of Ray.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 27

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## Page 28

FD-350 (Rev. 11-11-75)

(Mount Clipping in Spoce Below)

Jesse Jachson, Coretta King Agree

Conspiracy

In King

Killing

Suspected.

(Indicate page, name of

FRONYeT PA& and state.)

St. Louis argus

St. Louis, Mo.

CORETTA KING.

M/I

JESSE JACKSON

8/31/78

Date:

Edition:

Author:

Editor:

Title: HOUSE SELECT

COMMITTEE ON

ASSASS INATIONS

Character:

or

Classification:

62-5097

Submitting Office:

• Being Investigated

62-5097445

towr

pipir

-NW-68262-Đoeld:32989797-Page 28-

---

## Page 29

•i BY KARL

* ANZZ

ARGUS Washington

forrespondent

Washington--"With all the

, plots, all the continuous sur-

, vellance and all the sophisti-

• cated methods used by the

CIA and the FBI,"' the

widow of the Rev. Dr. Martin

¿ Luther King said Monday, "I

cannot believe that they had

ti about to be assassinated jas

Thus, Mrs. Coretta

Scott

tHing joined the list of other

prominent civil rights lead-

'ers, including Rev. Jesse

Jackson, who have publicly

expressed some doubt as to

whether they are convinced

'that James Earl Ray was.

involved at all, and that they

emphatically believe there

was a conspiracy to kill Dr.

King.

James Earl Ray appeared

'kefore the House Assassina-

tons Committee for three

i am to meis ars and the

public what he

Jackson in a letter one we-

before he testified: "I dilli

nọt • kill King."

- Mrs. King's opinion of the !

FBI was buttressed in recent i

weeks by a report concerning 1

an alleged plot to asgassinate l

King received by the FBI's!

St. Louis field office. The

report remained unchecked!

for five years because a St..

Louis FBI agent "disregard-

"ed" a basic regulation con-i

cerning the dissemination ca

criminal information, accorl!

ding to bureau officials.

The allegations, transmit-i

ted to the St. Louis bureau in

1973 by an informer, were

basically that Russell G..

Byers, -a former auto parts,

dealer in St. Louis, had said'

he was offered $50,000 in

1966 or 1967 to arrange for!

the murder of Dr. King.

The agent, whom FBI offi-

cials refused to identify, Ip-

portedly prepared a repot!

confan and Section Pana i :)

-Conspiracy

placing one copy in a file on

the informer and another on

Byers. Bureau officials said

the agent, however, failed to •

follow a regulation requiring

agents to forward any infor- •

mation about a specific crime

to agents working on the

The information remained

•buried in St. Louis FBI fles

until aboat four months ago

when an FBI agent checked

the theft!

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 29

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## Page 30

FD-350 (Rev. 11-11-75)

(Mount Clipping in Spaco Below)

Assassination Panel 'Spy' To

Meet With Congressman;

*****By JO MANNIES

'Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

Oliver Patterson, the Black Jack man

who contends that he was hired to spy

for the House Assassinations Commit-

see, will discuss his allegations tomor-

row, in Washington with a member of the

House Administration Committee.

• Rep. Mendel 3. Davis, D-S.C., con-

firmed on Monday that he will meet with

Patterson tomorrow. "But l'd rather not

say what we will talk about," he said.

Davis noted, however, that a subcom-

mittee of which he is a member is re-

viewing the Assassinations Committee's

i reemers contend is neel get, comice

rembers contend is needed to complete

¡ inquiries into the killings of President

John t. Kennedy and the Rev. Dr. Mar.

tin Luther King Jr.

evan

Last month,

the Administration

Committee decided to: postpone consid-

ation of the request until its accoupt:

committee has investigated Patte

son's allegations.

Patterson, 34, of 12350 Old Halls Fer.

y Road, said Monday that he had tele:

they wanted to meet withrhim.",

BORIGINAL

to is goo

9-6-78

•*NW 68262 Docld:32989797. Page 30

(Indicate page, name of

newspaper, city and state.

P9C

St. Louis Post-

Dispatch

St. Louis, Mo.

Date: 9/5/78

Edition: Final

Author:

Editor:

Title: HOUSE SELECT

COMMITTEE ON

ASSASSINATIONS

Character:,

Clasification: 62-5097

Submitting Office:

• Being Investigated

62-5097-144

- Fear

---

## Page 31

*"Patferson said" hé is* scheduleó to

"tions "without the prior knowledge of

1. meet with House investigators Sept. 15

the person whose conversation is being

in New York to discuss the allegations.

at the 'Assassinations Committee's ex-

recorded, " Wiretappirig and electrall

surveillance also are prohibited.

U pense.

in April, Patterson testified before

Patterson said he had once been an

the Assassinations Committee's investi-

informer for the Federal Bureau of In-

gative staff.

. vestigation and was employed in recent

He now contenus that Conrad Baetz, a

months by the Assassinations Commit-

staff investigator, handed him writter

tee to spy on Jerry Ray, a brother of

'answers' - some false — for his official

James Earl Ray, the convicted assassin testimony.

ọf King.

Patterson said his duties included

The news conference here was con-

tape-recording telephone conversations

ducted- by Mark Lane, attorney for

with Jerry Ray, sifting through Ray's.

te tenor mine ample eat be negate to get ban me.

to discredit Ray's contention that, de

Rules adopted by the committee last • * spite his guilty plea, he is innocent

year, forbid tape-recording conversa-

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 31

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## Page 32

DIRECTOR, FBI. (62-117290)

ATTENTION:

CONGRESSIONAI INQUIRY UNIT,

RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION.

8/31/78

SAC, ST. LOUIS (62-5097)

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE

ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA)

Re Bureau teletype to St. Louis 8/31/78.

Enclosed for FBIHQ are Xeroxed copies of serials and

lAs contained in St. Louis file 76-4797 captioned, "JOHN LARRY

RAY; EFP; 00:

Louis".

- Bureau (Enc.. 30)

- St. Louis

(1

- 76-4797

- 62-5097

CJC/sfm/1sn

(4)

SEARCHED

SERIALIZED

INDEXED -

FILED

62-5097-143

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 32

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## Page 33

SAC, ST. LOUIS (183-117) P

• SA ROBERT R. KAEMPFER

STEVEN FINER;

• MARTIN FINER;

RICO

8/31/78

On 8/30/78 SIDNEY FINER telephonically advised

viter that on 8/28/78 after noon he was contacted by .

MEL WAXMAN, Washington, D. C., and CONRAD BATES, Wooc

River, Illinois, investigators for the Select Committee

on Assassinations who stated they had information regarding

an incident between SID FINER and RUSSELL BYERS in 1974.

FINER advised them he had not known BYERS then

except to see him occasionally at Finer Metal Company when

BYERS apparently was visiting SID's brother ALBERT aka

ASH FINER (now deceased).

Investigators stated they were going to

see ALBERT's widow NORMA FINER.

The above is furnished for the information of

the file:

6 - 12-5097

62-5097

RRK : s fm

(3)

62-5097-142

SEARCHE SENDE

INDEXED_

AUG :3 1 1978

FBI-ST. LOUIS

SNW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 33

---

## Page 34

VIC 0H20113

RR EL

DE HQ

0113 2430249

ZNY BERDE

R 3E2217Z AUG 78

FM DIRECTOR FBI (52-117290)

TO FBI SI. LOUIS ROUTINE

PT

"UNCLAS EF I O

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON AOSASSIMATTONS dISEAS

• BY LETTER AUGUST 23, 1373, THE NSCA REQUESTED THAT THE FEI

FUENISH A COPY OF THE STO LOUIS FIELD OFFICE REACTIO HE

RECENT FUGITIVE CASE INVOLVING JOHN LARRY SATRABASE DETERMINE:

TO BE ENTIILED "JOHN LARRY RAY: EFP (A); 00: SI. LOUIS

(SL 75-4794)".

*

+67: 5097-143

ST. LOUIS IS REQUESTED TO SUPLICATE ONE COPY OF ABOVE-

PENTIONED FILE INVOLVING JOHN LARRY RAY AND PROVITE IT TO-FSI

HEADQUAZIERE, ATTSNIIONS CONGRESIDIAL LIQUEY, DUIT, RECOIS

RANGERENT BEVISION BY CLOSE OF SUSTYS SEP EVER 5. 1973.

2T

0113 •

67-5097-141

87 fir

142

AUG S 11978 Hair

H191

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 34

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## Page 35

FD-350 (Rev. 11-11-75)

(Mount Clipping in Spaco Below)

Roy says House group, press

fried to nail us to the cross

(Indicate page, name of

newspaper, city and state.)

P6A,

St. Louis

Globe-Democrat,

St. Louis, Mo.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - James EarkRay said ir

a letter that the House assassinations committee, aided

by reporters, distorted evidence and tried to "nail us to

.the cross."

• Last week, federal marshals took Ray to Washington

to testify before the committee about the killing of civil

rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

As he has for nearly a decade, Ray recanted his 1969

uilty plea, saying he was duped by a mysterious ma

amed Raoul, Ill-served by his former lawyer and c

erced by the rigors of his confinement.

NA LETTER written on Brushy Mountain Peniten

iary stationery and addressed to The Associated Pres:

here, Ray said: "Concerning the hearing, apparently

they had

everything layed out to, •quotating Cong

Mandel Davis, 'nail us to the cross' ... My assesment ol

he hearings are the same as Cong. Davis; and it seen:

that most of the -press.did their best to assist the com

mittee." The spelling and grammar are Ray'S.

.... . . .

Seiza questions and evidence presented duging Bayes

three days of testimony in Washington concerned his

- whereabouts just before Dr.-King was shot April 4, 1908,

'in Memphis. There were suggestions that Ray stalked

• Dr. King through Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee.

The committee produced a laundry ticket purported-

ly placing Ray in Atlanta April I, a day Ray says he

was driving through Mississippi toward Memphis to

meet Raoul.

"THEY CAN SURPRISE you with documents that

you have not viewed for years and thus give a false

impression of the evidence," Ray wrote in his letter. "I

: was in Mississippi April 1, 1968, but I may have a prob-

; lem proving it now.

Ray also alleged that the committee paraphrased a

, letter he wrote in 1968 about his inability to sleep in a

• Memphis jail cell, and turned its emphasis around.

The committee's investigation of Dr. King's death

resumes this winter.

;.w.

Date: 8/26-27/78

Edition: Sat. -Sun.

Author:

Editor:

Title:

Character:

or

Classification:

Submitting Office:

_ Being Investigated

62-5097-140

AUG 2 9 1978

5-2-1

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 35

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## Page 36

(Mount Clipping in Space Balow)

"TRay Won Battle,

Apparendly Lost Wor

1

WASHINGTON (UPI) - James Earl Ray was bach:

behind bars Saturday and, barring an abrupt timabout

whin his congressional "trial" resumes in November,

appears destined to serve his full 99 year sentence for

kining the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King.

The House Assassinations Committee took Ray but

of his Tennessee prison and gave him the public forum

i he has sought for years to plead his innocence despite a

formal confession of guilt. But it also disclosed new

evidence that Ray and his attorney, Mark Lane, found

"most damaging."

Two surprise developments Friday dealt severe

blows to Ray's contentions - a retired British police-

" That would conflict with Ray's claim that he ups

financed by a mysterious crony named "Raoul"

and

te page, name of

possibly explain where he got the money to buy a car

aper, city and state.)

und travel extensively.

- Agreement by Ray thạt he had been offered a deal

by a member of the committee for a lighter sentence if

he could name anyone involved in a conspiracy to kill !

King. No names came either from Ray or Rep. harold

• S. Bawyer, R-Mich., who said he made the offer.

- Finally, Friday's blockbuster, from Scolland

Yard's Eist, a sergeant on the famed Flying Squad who

guarded Ray while the prisoner was awaiting exttadi-

tion to the United States.

Pg. 6А

ST. "LOUIS

POST-DISPATCH

man's statement that Ray boasted of killing King short-

ly alter his arrest in London in 1968, and the admission

of another witness that his support of Ray's alibi was

fabricated.

Lane responded angrily to the written statement

from the policeman, saying he understood the officer

had been charged with corruption and fired in disgrlice.

That forced the delay until November in further cues-

tioning of Ray.

Scotland Yard later said the officer - Alexänder

Anthony Eist, now a pub owmer - was found innocent of

m,?

Rep. Samuel L. Devine, R-Ohio, read aloud the tran-

script of an interview with Eist that he said the commit-

te? obtained just two weeks ago.

'Of Ray's role in the King killing, Eist sid: "Duting -

the course of conversation, he definitely - he din't

actually come out with it — but it was there in the r'on-

versation that he done it. He was quite proud ofit."

Eist's statement concluded: "If you want an impres

sion of James Earl Ray, and from what he told me,

ST. LOUIS, MO

8/20/78

/ corruption in a trial earlier this year.

When Ray reappears before the committee in No-

vember, questioning is expected to focus on whether ne

"was part of a conspiracy rather than a lone killer. The

• committee holds hearings in September on conspiracy

theories about the killing of President John F. Kennedy.

The three days of hearings produced:

— Testimony that Ray left Los Angeles in 1968 and,

paralleling King's movements, went to Selma, Ala.,

Atlanta, and finally to Memphis, Tenn., where the civil

rights leader was killed by a bullet from the rifle Ray

admits he bought.

gentlemen, for what it is worth: I haven't any doubt in

ry mind that he did that on his own. For whatever

mason he did it, he did it on his own. If it had been any-

thing or anybody behind him on that particular job,

dring the days of many conversations that I had wilh.

him, it would have come out."

"It's false," Said- Ray. Both he and Lane said then:

statement was the most damaging evidence yet pre- :

sented.

an 'ai tre

Tite:

- Evidence that Ray was in Atlanta on April 1, 1968.

HSCA

In an outburst that made his attorney wince, Ray

told the committee that if anyone could show that he

was in Atlanta on April 1, "I'll just take responsibility

for the King case right here on TV." The committee

produced a woman, now 75, who said from a wheelchair

that she had made out laundry and dry-cleaning re-

ceipts to a man calling hiniself Eric Galt, an alias used

'by Ray, in Atlanta on that day.

— An admission of lying from the only living sup

porter of Ray's alibi that Ray was at a Memphis serv.

ice station when King was killed.

• "This story is completely false," said Dean Cowden,

Character:

or

Classification: SL 62-509.7

Submitting Office:St. Louis

• Being Investigated

62-5097-1391

who had first corroborated Ray's alibi. Cowden, a

commodity dealer, said he was more than 400 miles

away at his Port Neches, Texas, home at the timé and

had given false information to help a friend who was an

investigator for one of Ray's earlier attorneys.

T*11

- Fingerprints connecting Ray to a $600 bank rob.

bery in London June 4, 1968, shortly before his arrest,

ant committee indications that there is evidence link-

in, Ray to a stil unsolved 322,00 bank robbery at 4-

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 36

Fast: Bizai 8/21178.

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## Page 37

(Mount Clipping in Space Below)

- Ray broiher puts on show in Alton

James Earl Ray's younger brother, Jerry, came to?

Ray told reporters that he was working at a country

§ Alton with an entourage of television cameras Friday, in l

club in Northbrook, Ill. at the time of the robbery and

hopes of dispelling accusations that he was involved ing

has not been in Alton Since 1961.

the 1967 holdup of the Bank of Alton.

But he was given a cold shoulder by police and bank

officials, some of whom called Ray's visit a publicity

Stuntio

Ray arrived at the Bank of Alton about 10 a.m. and

said he would like bank employees who witnessed the

robbery to see if they could identify him.

"I didn't rob this bank or any other banks," Ray said.

14A

"I have been accused on national television of being a

robber, and I want to clear myself."

PAUL'UTTERBACK, president of the bank, told Ray

the witnesses were.no longer employees of the Bank of

Alton#

"I'Ras very surprised Mr. Ray came to the bank,"

Utterback said. "I really don't know why he did it, or

what he hoped to accomplish."

"The whole thing was a publicity stunt," said another

bank official. "The cameras were rolling, so it was a

perfect stage for him to say what he wanted."

Ray, was implicated in the July 13, 1967 robbery in

statements made by Rep. Floyd J. Fithian, D-Indiana,

during testimony'by James Earl Ray before the House

Assassinations Committee Thursday. Fithian said the

convicted killer of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

and one of Ray's brothers may have been the two

-stocking-masked men who robbed the bank of $36,000.

The congressman said Jerry and James Earl Ray had

met in Chicago shortly belore the holap, and evidence

from, the robbery was found 1½ blocks from their

uncle's Alton home.

ACCORDING TO ONE theory, James Earl Ray could

have-used the loot to elude authorities for more than a

• .

years That would discredit Ray's contention that he was

paid by a mysterious conspirator named Raoul.

After a brief stop at the bank, Jerry Ray and a

television crew went to the Alton police station to deny

his involvement in the robbery. Alton authorities told

The Globe-Democrat Thursday that the Rays were not

• suspects in the holdup.

Ray told Lt. Walter Conrad that he was willing to

waive the expired statute of limitations on the robbery

and submit to a polygraph test. Conrad said that if Rajy

Character:

did not intend to admit to the robbery, there was no

need to question him.

(indicate page, name of

newspaper, city and state.)

ST. LOUIS

GLOBE- DEMOCRAT

Date: 8/19-20/78

Edition:

Weekend

Author:

Editor:

Title:

HSCA

Classification: SL 62-5097

Submitting Office:St. Louis

• Being Investigated

матим томатноким

62-5097-138

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 37

Fart. Burer 8121718.

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## Page 38

(Mount Clipping in Spaco Below)

Ray alibi witness

edmits lying

(indicate page, name of

newspaper, city and state.)

ЗА

ST. LOUIS

GLOBE- DEMOCRAT

ST. LOUIS, MO.

-

Date:

8/19-20/78

Edition:

Weekend

Author:

Editor:

Title:

HSCA

James Earl Ray: "That's probably the most damaging state-

ment that's been made against me...admitting guilt on a mur-

„der chage...It is false."

— AP Wirephoto

Character:

or

Classification: SL 62-5097

Submitting Office:St. Louis.

Being Investigated

62-5099-139

file

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 38

Hud. Burke 8/21) 78

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## Page 39

N 68262. Docld:32989797

By DENNIS J. McCARTHY

I~Glober Democrat Staff Writer

WASHINGTON - An abili witness

for James Earl Ray admitted under

oath Friday that he had lied when

. he said he saw Ray at a Memphis

¿ service station at the time Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr. was Shot to

An

death.

Coy Dean Cowden testified before

the House assassinations committee

that. he was actually in Beaumont,

400 miles from Memphis,

wlien Dr. King was slain April 4,

¿* RAY, WHO IS serving a 99-year

. sentence for Dr. King's murder, has

-said that at the time of the shooting

he was at a Texaco station in

Memphis to liave a tire repaired on

his white Mustang.

Mark Lane, the attorney for Ray

at the committee hearings, had said

in a 1977 book titled "Code Mark

. Zorro" that Cowden claimed to have

seen Ray at the station at the time

of the assassination.

"This is completely false," Cow-

den testified during questioning by

: Cowden said his part of the alibi

story was rehearsed with Renfro

Hays, a private investigator, who

i gave the same story to the National

Enquirer newspaper last year.

ON THE WITNESS stand, Cow-

den; who testified that he was a

former mental patient, said Hays

had hoped to

"make' a million

dollars" out of the Dr. King case.

"I let Renfro lead me into this,"

* -Cowden-said. "I-didn't-have-to-go-

along with it, but I did."

Cowden was asked'by a commit-

tee member whether Lane had

f: realized that his story was false.

• "He bought it hook, line and

¡ sinker, " Cowden replied.

• "That seems like appropriate

equipment for Mr. Lane,

ed Rep. Harold Sawyer, R-wich.

LANE TOLD The Globe-Democrat

later, "I don't know when Cowden is

teiling the truth ... He lied before in

talking about the matter. Now he

says he's telling the truth."

Cowden's testimony dealt another

• blow to the 50-year-old Ray's claim

that he did not kill Dr. King. He

pleaded guilty to the shooting in 1969

but repudiated the plea several days

later. For years he has sought a new

Ray insists that he was framed by

a mystery man known only as

Raoul.

Other testimony introduced Fri-

Iday alleged that Ray had indicated

Shat he had killed Dr. King when he

Jalked with & Scotland Yard inspec

for shortly after his arrest in London

in June 1968.

Page 39

1*4463

→ RAY, HOWEVER, denied to the

committee that he had made such a

confession while awaiting, extradi-

tion to the United States.

"That's probably the most damag-

ing statement that's been made

against me ... admitting guilt on a

murder charge... It is false," Ray

declared.

His attorney contended that the

allegations by former Inspector Al:

exander Anthony Eist, who is now

retired, are unreliable.

Rep. Samuel L. Devine, R-Ohio,

read aloud a report on a recent

interview of Eist by the committee's

DEVINE QUOTED Eist as saying

that he was one of Ray's guards

during the weeks of his incarcera-

tion in London and that Ray often

confided in him.

Committee investigators asked

Eist, who now,has a pub in Cam-

bridge, England, whether. Ray had

admitted killing Dr. King.

"Oh, no, no, no," Eist replied. "He

didn't actually come out with it, but

it was there in the conversation that

At one point, Eist was asked, "Did

he express hatred for blacks?"

Eist replied., "There

wasn't any doubt at all ... He said

he was trying to get to Africa to

shoot some more."

EIST SAID Ray's ego was such

that he began describing the assassi

nation of Dr. King.

"He told me about a gun. He sail!

he threw it away. He told me he had

left this place (where the shooting of

Dr. King occurred); saw a police:

man, panicked and threw away the

Eist also said Ray boasted that he

could only be convicted of conspira-

cy — that authorities couldn't prove

that he had fired the weapon that.

killed Dr. King.

The former inspector quoted Ray *

as saying that he thought he would

be sentenced to one to 10 years in

prison on a conspiracy charge. Eist

said Ray was happy

prospect, and hoped that it would be

concurrent with a 20-year sentence

he had been serving in Missour.

RAY ESCAPED from the Missouri

State Penitentiary April 23, 1967. He

had been convicted of robbing a St.

Louis supermarkt of $191 in 1959.

Eist-also quoted Ray as saying

That "For him to have shot a black

man of note in. certain parts et

American would make him a nation-

al hern... He seemed absolutely

mad about publicity. He reafly

Ray predicted, according to Eist,

that he would receive $250,000 to

$500,000 for killing Dr. King because

---

## Page 40

-he would "have no shortage of

Irrents, no shortage of fund-raisers.

He would

After Davine read the interview

report, Ray charged that it showed

that the assassinations committee

: "intends to crucity me."

ABOUT THAT TIME, Lane re-

turned to the hearing room after

being away briefly and said he had

made a call to a British lawyer.

He said the lawyer described Eist

as corrupt and "a disgrace to the

English police force,"

and that he

had been forced to leave his job.for

unlawful conduct.

In London, a Scotland Yard

spokesman said later that Eist was

charged in 1976 with conspiracy to

- pervert justice in connection witis

jawel robberies but was found inno

cent of the charges earlier this year.

When Lane was asked after the

hearing how dependable the British

lawyer was, Lane replied, "How do

I know! I don't know the guy."

ACTING

COMMITTEE :

ChairmanRichardson Preyer, D-

N.C., promised that the committee

would explore the issue of Eist's

credibility. It was announced that

Eist would be called as a witness.

Walter Fauntroy, the District of

Columbia delegate, asked that Ray

"be excused indefinitely while other

witnesses were heard.

Preyer granted the request and

said it was likely that Ray would nol.

be recalled until November.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 40

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## Page 41

ED-350 (Rev. 11-11-75)

(Mount Clipping in Space Below)

П.

12Á 91. Enuis Globe-Demotral Aug. 19-20, 1978.

Kelley says nothing

new in Ray's testimony

KANSAS CITY (AP) - Former FBI

Director Clarence Kelley said testimony,

and that conspiracy theories were only

by James Earl Ray, convicted murdere?

speculation.

of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr,,

Kelley called the news conference to

had shown no new evidence of any coit-

announce he would not run for mayor of

spiracy in the 1968 slaying.

Kansas City. But he said he would ac

"He (Ray) did it. He did it alone. We

cept an appointment to the city's Police

have no showing of any conspiracy,"

Board if it were offered.

Kelley, whose agency investigated the

killing of the civil rights leader, said

"MY COMMITMENTS are so

Friday.

demanding I could not gire it the time

the job of mayor takes," Le said.

"I AM OF THE opinion that the story

Kelley said he was committed to

is as it was investigated by the FBI,"

Kelley said at a news conference. "If

work with a private management con-

additional leads come up, they tradition-

sulting firm, to lecture monthly at the

ally have been pursued. But there has

University of Alabama in Birmingham

been nothing to counter the original and

and to make other speeches around the

country.

• definite conclusion that Martin Luther

King was slain by James Earl Ray."

"I had hoped my lifestyle would level

off when I left the FBI, bit instead I am

. The FBI has been under fire in the

more deeply enmeshed than ever before

case, with civil rights leaders and Ray's

and cannot forsake commutments made

attorney charging the federal agency

long ago," he said.

was behind a conspiracy to kill Dr. King. ?

He said he sumed down offers if be

1 But kelley said Ray's testimony be.

police chief in four different citieg; in-

ore the House assassinations subcom-

cluding Los Angeles, atter he left; the

mittee had not supported those charges,

FBI.

Ray's brother

granted parole

WASHINGTON (AP) - John Larry Ray, a

brother of convicted assassin James Earl Ray,

has been granted a parole from a federal prison

in Marion, Ill., where he is serving a bank rob-

• bery sentence, the Justice Department said Fri-

day.

Ray was granted parole effective Sept. 18 by

the U.S. Parole Commission.

He was originally scheduled for parole June

14, but that was rescinded while the commission

looked into a complaint about possible perjured

testimony before the House assassinations com-

mittee.

The complaint was made by the committee.

which is investigating the assassination of civil

rights leader the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

James.Eari Ray; who pleaded guilty to the slay-

ing but later recanted, is the key witness in cur-

rent committee hearings.

John Larry Ray was sentenced to 18 years

prison in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in 1971.

He was convicted of robbing the Bank of St. Pe.

ters in St. Charles County on Oct. 26, 1970,

8/19-20/78

Weekend

Date:

Edition:

Author:

Editor:

Title:

HSCA

ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT

Character:

or

Classification: SL 62-5097

Submitting Office: St.Louis

• Being Investigated

62-5097-13%

-NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 41

Ferd, Buin o, 58,84

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## Page 42

(Hount Clipping in Space Below)

Witnesses Expected To Refute

Ray's Service Station Alibi. U

By GERALD M. BOYD

the London bank robbery and the rob-

(Indicate page, name of

A Washington Correspondent

bery of a Bank of Alton, Ili., to financel

newspaper, city and state.)

of the Post-Dispatch

tis travels and other activities from

WASHINGTON - The House Assassi-

Spril-1957 to his capture in connection

nations Committee has witnesses from a

with theKing killing about 15 months

1A

ST. LOUIS

later.

POST-DISPATCH

Memphis service station who are pre-

The committee members, through de.

pared to testify that James Earl Ray

¿tailed questions Thursday, suggestid

was not on the premises when the Rev.

Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinat-

that Ray not only murdered King but."

acted alone. However, the grilling, which:

ed, the Post-Dispatch has learned.

The testimony, considered crucial,

Continued today, gave no suggestion ast

would directly contradict both the alibi

te a motive for Ray to kill King.

Ray has used to contend that he was not

""A" môtive is the hardest thing to

involved in the murder of the civil rights

prove," one cmmittee staff attorney said

sleader and his testimony under oath ti

§f the end'of the hearing. "What we are

¡ the committee:

trying tổ:dò is to present the facts, and I

A source said Thursday that th

guess you will have to decide on the

witnesses were in Washington and would

testify if Ray completed his appearance

The day-long questioning of Ray was

before the committee today, when the

public hearing ends. If not, they are

Mark Lane. Lane, who has been critical •

expected to be called by the committee

of the committee's investigation, said at

• in November when it resumes its public

sessions on the King assassination.

imilar to the anti-Communist hearings

The witnesses, the source said, worked

• at the Memphis service station where

(fonducted by Sen. Joseph McCarthy ir

Ray says he was getting a tire repaired

In his first public statements on the

about the time-King was-killed-April 4,

1968.

assassination, Ray testified under oath

Wednesday that he did not kill King auld

His sworn statement to the committee

Wednesday said he was at. the station,

that he had been framed by a man whom

although he could not name it.

The witnesses, whom the source would

After the two men met in Montreal in

not identify, are expected to be a part of :

August I967, they engaged in several

the committee's attempt to discredit

smuggling ventures and in many south-

Date:

Edition:

Author:

Editor:

Title: HSCA

8/18/78

Bulldog

Ray's account of his role in the King

ern cities, the last time in Memphis the

assassination. Detailed questioning by

day of King's murder, Ray said.

the committee on Thursday raised sevir-

In relationship to the.King assassina-

ai doubts about May's story and left him

tion, Ray-said Raoul had on different

segmingly shaken. Committee members

occasions, instructed him to purchase a

appeared openly skeptical.

higa-powered rifle, a pair of binoculirs

and to register in the rooming house in

Evidence offered by. the committee

Meliphis from which the shot that killed

King is believed to have been fired. y

showed that Ray visited at least foul

Character:

or

Classification: SI, 62-5097

Submitting Office: St. Louis

• Being Investigated

dities where King was present in thi

Rep. Louis Stokes, D-Ohio, said neither

ponths before the assassination. Raji

clenied the implication that he yas

62-5097-136

stalking King.

The committee, for the first time,

presented documents that showed that a

Ray thumb print had been found on a

dote that was used in a robbery of a balik

in condon when Ray was in that country.

• s committee member, Rep. Flogs J.

Fithian, D-Ind., suggested while ques-

¡toning Ray that Ray might have used

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 42

Ewd, Bureau 8/18

---

## Page 43

*federal authorities nor committee inves

¡tigitors have ever been able to find"

anyone who might be Raoul. The com-

-mittee, through files, witnesses' state-

ments and other documents, then at-

tempted to establish that Ray's account |

of events was doubtiul or, in some

instances, false.

Ray's possible involvement in the

1. Alton bank robbery, raised by Fithian,

# drew a heated objection from Lane, and

a quick no from Ray about having a role

in the crime.

Through questioning, Fithian estab-

lished that Ray had been in Alton on July

14, 1967, the day the holdup occurred.

The bank was robbed of $27,000 by two

men, and the case has gone unsolved,.

Fithian said

Fithian said clothing and several items

used in the robbery were found by

• authorities about a block from the house

of a Ray relative living in Alton at the

"time. In addition, he said, one of Ray's

_brothers, Jerry, who was then working in

•Chicago, had been off work on the day of

the holdup.

Fithian noted that Jerry Ray ana

another brother, John, had been arrested

in 1970 for the robbery of another banli.

• Helsaid John Ray had been involved in

fout other bank robberies during 1969

and 1970.

Fithian's implication is that the bank

robbery could have given Ray money to

live on for several months. Fsllowing

that line of thought, he then iniroduced

evidence that showed that Ray might

nave robbed the London bank, when he

fled the country after King's death.

• Ray said he knew nothing about the

* London bank holdup, in which about $250

& was taken.

But Fithian said a note demanding

•Scotland Yard, the Federal Bureau of

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 43

But Ray noted that British authorities

had never charged him with the crime,

although he said two other charges were.

fied at the time of his capture.

"•It they had something, why didn'";

they charge me with it?" he asked.

Fithian said that authorities were

more concerned about hasing Ray extra-

dited to the United States to stand trial

for the King killings. And after his guilty

plea, no reason rxisted to pursue the

matter since he had been given a 99-yca?

sentence, Fithian said.

Earlier Thursday, the committe!

heard evidence that showed that Ray

Tas in at least tour cities at the safne

L'me as King. Ray said that fact wäs

only a coincidence.

• Stokes submitted evidence that showed

that Ray had been in Los Angeles,

Selma, Ala., Atlanta and Memphis dur-

ing the same time periods as King.

Lengthy questioning by Stokes attempted

to challenge accounts that Ray has given

• to the committee under oath and in

newspaper and television interviews

about his visits to those sites.

Stokes, at one point, asked Ray wheth-

er he had planned to go to Atlanta when

he left Los Angeles in February 1968.

Ray had told the committee Wednesday

that his original destination had been

New Orleans but. that he changed his.

plins when en route there.

After answering

"no" Thursday, Ray

seemed shaken as Stokes introduced into

evidence a change-of-address form filled

out by Ray in Los Angeles and showing

that his mail should be forwarded to

Atlanta general delivery.

The form said the mail should be

forwarded until April 25. It was signed

by an Eric S. Galt. Galt is one of several

aliases Ray has said he used during the

yuar he was free after escaping from the

Nissouri State Prison in Jefferson Cite

¿Stokes asked Ray whether he had

known that Kiig had been in Los Angeles

while Ray was there. He said that he had

кіа-іл..

I.d.

---

## Page 44

Angeles and Ray said that he had gone

to New Orleans and then to Birmingham

and finally to Atlanta. His statement

says that after leaving Los Angeles he

went to New Orleans, to meet the person

• named Raoul.

Ray said that he arrived late and was

instructed to go to Birmingham. After

meeting Raoul, the pair went to Atlanta,

Ray said.

Stokes, however, pointed out that on

the automobile trip from New Orleans to

Birmingham Ray had spent the night in

a hotel in Selma, Ala. A map offered into

• evidence showed that Selma is not on one

of two direct routes between the two

• cities.

, Stokes then showed newspaper articles

that pointed out King had been in

i; Canden, Ala., which is near Selma,

about the same time that Ray was in

• Selina.

Ray said, in response,

that he had

• taken a wrong road after leaving New

Orleans and had decided to spend the

night in Camden because it was dark.

In perhaps the most damaging evi-

dence offered, Stokes offered testimony

and a cleaner's receipt that indicated

that Ray was in Atlanta at leas until

April 3. The evidence contradicted Ray's

swom statement that he left Atlanta on

March 28 to drive to Memphis.

One document that Stokes offered was

a statement from the owner of a rooming

house in Atlanta that Ray had given him

a week's rent in advance on March 31. In

addition, Stokes showed the cleaner's

receipt indicating that articles of clothe

ing had been left by an Eric Galt or

April 1.

Ray has admitted picking up the

clothes the day after King was assassi-

nated and has said that he iled then to

Canada.

I rying to emphasize the significance of

Ray being in Atlanta in early April,

Stokes read from the transcript of a

television interivew with Ray in which

Ray said that such evidence would be

damaging.

"If I left Los Angeles planning to

return to the Deep South, then I will take

responsibility for the King assassination

right now," Ray said, in a "60 Minutes"

television interview. Ray told the com-

mittee that he could not recall why he

had made that assessment.

Stokes assailed Ray's statement to the

committee that-Raoul had never handled

the 30.06 rifle that is believed to haven

been the weapon used to kill King.

Ray said he had bought the weapon for

Raoul in Birmingham, Ala., for what hey

thought was a gun-running scheme.

_NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 44

---

## Page 45

(Mount Clipping in Spoco Below)

second day of his appearance before the

ommittee to give testimony about th

ssassination of Dr. Martin LutherfRing.

fr., on April 4, 195S, in Memphis.

1

Ray, 50, pleaded guilty in 1959 10

shooting Dr. King and is servingla 99.

year sentence for murder. But lie repu-

diated his guilty plea shorily after

making it and for years has been seeking

a new trial.

IN PREVIOUS testimony before the

committee, Ray said he supported him.

self by part-time jobs, by the $1,700

robbery of a pimp in Montreal and on

money paid to him by Raoul for the

smuggling of contraband

Ray has contended that he was framed

for Dr. King's slaying by Raoul.

Fithian and committee staff members

also produced evidence that Ray was

• involved in a London area bank robbery

June 4, 1968, a few days before his ,

capture.

THE CONGRESSMAN said a right

indicate page, name o

ewspaper, city and state.

1A

ST. LOUIS

GLOBE- DEMOCRAT

James Earl Ray

•during committee testimony

Ray accused

of robbing

Alton bank

- • By DENNIS J. MCCARTHY

Globe-Democrat Staff Writer

• WASHINGTON = A House investigator

tried to show Thursday that James Earl

Ray's travels for nearly a year after he

escaped from a Missouri prison were not

financed by a mystery man named

Raoul but by a bank robbery in which

Ray and one of his brothers allegedly

were involved.

Rep. Floyd J. Fithian, D-Ind., a

member of the House assassinations

committee, cited what he called a $27.000

robbery of a bank in Ray's birthplace,

Alton, IIl., on July 13, 1967, while Ray

was in the arca.

(Alton police records sholy that $36.60)

was taken in the robbery of the Bank of

Alton on that date.)

RAY TOLD Filian he did not partici-

Pite in the Alton robbery.

is exchange with Fithian came on the cut

committee

*•Ray's attorney Mark Lane objected

that such evidence was irrelevant.

Reterring to the allegation about the

Bank of Alton robbery, Lane told Fithian

"I would add that you shed your

congressional immunity for five minutes

so we might later settle this in court.

that was an outrageous statement."

AT THIS POINT, acting committee

chairman Rep. Richardson Preyer, D-

N.C., asked Fithian, "How is this

relevaNt?"

• Fithian replied, "In the course of this

investigation, this committee will pro-

vide substantial evidence of what 1 just

" said (about the Bank of Alton)."

(In Alton, Capt. John Light, assistant

police chief, said that after Ray was

implicated in Dr. King's slaying, police:

and FBI agents were tipped by informa

ar?s that Ray was involved in the bank

hollup there. But Light said no evidence

wai found to support the tips and the :

cast, is still carried on the records as

unsolved.)

Date:

8/18/78

Edition: Daily-Final

Author:

Editor:

Title:

HSCA

Character:

or

Classification:SL 62-5097

Submitting Office: St. Louis

I Being Investigated

SEAG

62-5092-1341

*9 * ME

1i1;

Enirl: Bureau 8118/18

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 45

---

## Page 46

Ray is accuseu

of robbing bank

AT ONE POINT in his questioning of

It also exhibited evidence aimed at ?

vy, Fithian asked, "Are you awark that

-showing shat Ray was in Atlanta, ust !

101) July 13 (1967), the Bank of Allo, was

before the murder.

robed by two masked gunmen, one

Carrying a shotgun, of $27,000, ang that

remains unsolved to this day? That the

robbers were two white males?"

"No, sir,'

" Ray replied.

1,

"Were you in the St. Louis area on

July 13?" Fithian asked.

'No," replied Ray.

I. FITHIAN established during the quas-

tioning that Ray met with one of his

brothers, jerry W. Ray, in Chicago alter

he escaped from the Missouri State

• Penitentiary April 23; 1967, and before

he Alton bank robbery.

"Are you aware the bank was roblied

¿n Jerry's day off in Chicago?" Fithian

reySked.

"No..

" Ray replied.

IN LATER questioning, 'Fithian asked

Ray, "Are you aware that some physical

evidence in the (Alton) bank robbery,

clothing and the shotgun, were found 1%2

blocks from your uncle's Alton home?"

-"My uncie's home?" asked Ray. "1

didn't know where he lived."

After the committee hearine was re-

cessed until Friday morning, Lane told:

reporters, "Ray's a crook, not a truthful

crook — he. lied about the crimes he's :

showed ''Eric S. Galt," the alias whien

Ray admitted using, had put clothing in

the Piedmont Laundry in Atlanta on

April 1.

Ray

said he was certain that he

checked the clothes into the laundry on

March 25. He said the laundry records

were either forged or the wrong date had

been written by a cierk.

Previously, the committee had pro-

duced a motel receipt showing that Ray

stayed in Selma on March 22, the day

after King was there.

RAY CLAIMED he merely got on the

wrong read while driving from New

Orleans to Atlanta, wound up in Selma

and spent the night in that city.

The committee also displayed a blown-

•up of a postal change-of-address card

proving that Ray was wrong when he

testified under oath that he thought he

was going frem Los Angeles only to New.

Orleans — not Atlanta.

eate cattornia on Maras Bax up

of a Liis Angeles newspaper was disg

played to show that King had been in

that city on the same date....

committed. Of course, he may be lying

before the committee, but what's at issue

is whether or not he pulled the trigger

(on the rifle that killed Dr. King)."

IN OTHER developments at Thurs- *

day's hearing session, the committee

produced evidence which suggested that •

• Ray stalked Dr. King through three

other cities before the Memphis slaying.

* Ray said the evidence was wrong.

Ray declared he would take the blame

for the assassination "right here on

television" if the committee could prove

he was in Atlanta on April 1, 1958, Three

¿ days before King was slain.

ON APRIL, 1, the civil rights leacter

wiis in Atlanta, his headquarters.

The committee submitted evidence :

that Ray was in Selma, Ala., the day

after Dr. King visited there two weeks

I before the assassination.

.....?

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 46

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## Page 47

(Mount Clipping in Space Below)

Rạy Recounts Travels.

Meetings Before,

After Dr. Kings Killing

• By a Washington Correspondent

Of the Post-Dispatch

Oct. 6, 1967-Reached by Raoul's ap. Chose the name of John Willard as an

it WASHINGTON- Here is the chronolo

Sparent representative. Left Birmingham

alies. Checked into the rooming house

to meet Raoul in New Orleans. After

the next day.

gy given by James Earl Ray. to the

making telephone contact en roule, was

7e&3House Assassinations Committee con-

told to instead travel to Nuevo Lared&

Apil 4, 1968Met Raoul at the room-

ing Mouse. Was told to bring soma

se Icerning his travels and his meetings with

Mexico, and was given a name and

personal items from the Mustang to the

-laviRaoul:

address of a motel to check into. Met

room and to buy a pair of binoculars.

‚beic" April 23, 1967-Escaped from the Mis-

Raoul at the hotel. With Raoul, smuggled! Followed both instructions. Went to a

iN resour State Prison in a bread box. Took a

Contraband across the Mexican-U.S. bog

• tavern, then to a restaurant and had a

w? freight train to St. Louis and later

cer, and returned to Mexico. Left Raohl

flat tire fixed. Returned, saw police in

boarded a bus in Edwardsville for

the next day and was given $2,000. Was

the area and fled in the car. Later

"i*Chicago. Worked as a dishwasher until

also given another New Orleans contant

learned that King has been assassinated.

Drslate June and drove to Montreal in a

number. Traveled through Mexico fdt/ Never saw Raoul again.

ai chewly purchased automobile after stop-

April 5, 1968-Drove to Atlanta. Tookja

is vping in several places. While in Mont-

the following weeks, spent most of his

sireal, robbed a pimp of approximately

bus; to Detroit, then went to Torontd,

timhe in Puerto Vallarta.

9:1! S1;700.

Mov. 15, 1967-Left Mexico for the l

Lo ter went to Luedon, Lisbon and back,

July 1967-First met Raoul at a tavern.

United States. Arrived in Los Angeles

to Landon; captured there. w

¿After a couple of meetings, was told that

Nov. 19. Sought several jobs there,

Raoul could get him a forged passport in

including employment with the Internal

return for his help in moving contra-

Revenue Service. Also tried to find ways

7A

band.

to leave the United States without a

ST. LOUIS

POST-DISPATCH

August 21, 1967--Smuggied three pack-

passport.

ages with Raoul across the Canadian

December 1967-Telephoned New Or-

. border to Detroit. Received $1,500 in

leans number given by Raoul and was

payment from Raoul instead of the

told to travel to the city in late

travel documents.

December. Met Raoul after arriying

August 28, 1967-Went by bus to

there and was told that Raoul warted

• Birmingham, Ala., to meet Raoul. Was

help in transporting rifles into Mexico

then traveling under the alias of Eris?S.

Received $500. After the meeting re-

Galt. Was told by Raoul to buy a kite

tumed to Los Angeles.

Date:

Edition:

Author:

Editor:

Title:

8/17/78

*** Final

nodel automobile. Found a white Mus

February 1968--Received letter from

rang, which was purchased the next day

HSCA

with $2,000 from Raoul. Gave Raoul a set

Raoul setting up a meeting in New

of keys to the car and received $500 for

• Orleans in March to plan a tripito

Atlanta. Arrived late and was told py

{living expenses and $500 for camira

equipment. Also received a telephone

number in Baton Rouge, La., where a

Emessage could be left for Raoul.

relephone contact to go to Birmingham.

Mel Raoul there and proceeded to

Atlanta. They rented a room there.

About a week later, drove back to

Birmingham with Raoul and bought a

rifle on Raoul's instructions. After the

purchase, was given the name of a

Memphis hotel to deliver the gun and

was told to meet Raoul there April 3,

les.

Character:

or

Classification: SI 62-5097

Submitting Office: St. Louis

< Being Investigated

62-5097-133

find

Kne

April 2, 1968-Arrived in Memphis ind

m1i:

checked into hotel. Raoul arrived anc

said'to take a room for a few days in a

rooming house near the Lorraine Hotel.

Drol. Buran 8/18/78.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 47

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## Page 48

FD-350 (Rov. 11-11-75)

(Mount Clipping in Space Bolow)

Ponel Puts Ray In Four Cities

By GERALD M. BOYD

A Washington Correspondent

of the Post-Dispatch

With King

WASHINGTON-The House Assassi-

•'by a Eric S. Gali. Galt is one of several

nations .Committee has submitted

evi-

Palias Ray has said he used duringi:the

- dence that shows that James Earl Ray

year-period he was free after escaping.

was in at least four cities at the same

Mfrom the Missouri State Prison in Jefferg

(Indicate page, name of

newspaper, city and state.)

time as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King

ison City.

Jr. in the months prior to the killing.of

Stokes asked Ray if he had known

King.

that King had been in Los Angeles while

1A

Testifying under oath today, Ray

Ray was there. He said that he had not.

ST. LOUIS

POST-DISPATCH

denied that the evidence was any more

Persisting, Stokes then asked Ray to

than a coincidence. The last city there

• trace his travels after leaving Los An- •

the two were in together was Meniphis,

gles and Ray said that he had gone to

Jenn., where King was assassillated

April 4, 1908

i reans Al thia. His stingman:

ind finally to Atlanta.

Ray, the confessed assassin of King,

came under slow and detailed question-

ing in an apparent attempt by commii-

tee members to dissect a carefully pre-

y pared 40-page statement that he had

cated him in the assassination.

• Ray said that he arrived late and was.

delivered Wednesday.

Ray

appeared nervous at several

• points in the questioning and his attor-

ney, Mark Lane, repeatedly objected to

the way some of the questions were

phrased.,

Committee chairman Louis Stokes,

D-Ohio, who did all of the questioning,

submitted evidence that showed that

Ray had been in Los Angeles, Selma,

• same time periods as king. Lengty

same time periods as King. Lengthy

questioning by Stokes attempted to chit-

¿ lenge accounts that Ray has given to te

committee under oath and in newspaper

and television interviews about his visits

to those sites.

Stokes, at one point, asked Ray'lf he :

shad planned to go to Atlanta when h3 left

• Los Angeles in February 1968. Ray had

told the committee Wednesday that his

original destination had been New Or-

leans but that he changed his plans when,

en route there.

After answering "no" today, Ray

seemed shaken as Stokes introduced into

evidence a change-of-address form filled

out by Ray in Los Angeles and showing

jat his mail should be forwarded o

Atlanta general delivery.

The form said the

mail should he

loswarded until April 25. It was signed

nel: + 4491-918-118

122.

Ray said.

Stokes, however, pointed out that on

the automobile trip from New Orleans to

Birmingham Ray had spent the night in

a hotel in Selma, Ala. A map offered into

evidence showed that Selma is not on

a cone of two direct routes between the two

97 Cities.

s" Stokes then showed newspaper arti-

cles that pointed out King had been i

Su,Camden, Ala.,

which is near Selma,

sabout the same time that Ray was in

1Selma.

soli. Ray said, in response, that he had ;

taken a wrong road after leaving New

wOrleans and had decided to spent the

S'night in

Camden because it had gbt

i dark.

* In perhaps the most damaging evi-

dence offered, Stokes offered testimony

nand a cleaner's receipt that indicated

Gothat Ray was in Atlanta at least until

*2 April 3. The evidence contradicted Ray's

sworn statement that he left Atlanta on

ic March 28 to drive to Memphis.

19' One document that Stokes offered

suwas a statement from a the owner of a

isrooming house in Atlanta that Ray had

'given him a week's rent in advance on;

March 3l. In addition, Stokes showed the

'Cleaner's receipt indicating that articles

o of Clothing had been left by an Eric Calt

•on April!.

a Ray has admitted picking up the

'elothes the day after King was assassi-

S'nated and has said that he fled then to

235 ye

Date:

8/17/78

Edition: *** Final

Author:

Editor:

Title:

HSCA

Character:

or

Classification: SL 62-5097

Submitting Office: St.

Louis

• Being Investigated

62-5097-121

Bit

Bul.

F NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 48

Faid Baren 818/78.

---

## Page 49

f. Canada.

Before 'fle could respond to Stokes'

questions about the Atlanta-related evi-

dence, the committee recessed for

Junch.

Trying to emphasisize the signifi-

cance of Ray being in Atlanta in early

april, Stokes read from the transcript of

a television interview with Ray in which

Ray said that such evidence would be

damaging.

"If I left Los Angeles planning to

• return to the Deep South, then I will take

• responsibility for the King assassination

right now," Ray said, in a "60 Minutes"

television interview. Ray told the com-

mittee that he could not recall why he

Thad made that assessment

Ray, who pleaded guilty to the mur-

ter of King in March 1969, has contended

since then that he did not commit the

crime.

Wednesday's testimony was the first

• time that he had given statements under

oath about the assassination. During

: that appearance, he said that he had not

* killed King and had been the victim of a

complicated plot that involved the mys-

terious Raoul. He said that Raoul had

steered him to Memphis under the guise

of smuggling guns and that he had left

Raoul at the rooming house from where

King is believed to have been killed

¡shortly betore the shots were fired. Dur-

ng his testimony today, Ray refused to

Stray from his story about Raoul. But

.. Stokes said the committee had been.

Last i soone indenta

8-48=470994

unable to find anyone who saw the pair

costokes assailed Ray's statement" co

the committee that his unfound and

never fubly identified accomplice had

never handled the .30-06 rifle that is be-

lieved to have been the weapon used t

sill the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

on April 4, 1968.

Ray said he had bought the weapon

for a man named Raoul in Birmingham,

Ala., for what he thought was a gun-

running scheme. Ray said he and Raoul

had worked together for months, from

Canada to Mexico, in various smuggling

deals.

Ray said that if he had killed King,

his fingerprints never would have been

found on the murder weapon.

"I would have wiped my fingerprints

off the rifle if I knew it was going to be

used in a serious crime," Ray said. He

insisted that even as a petty criminal he

was too smart to leave his prints behind.

It was suggested that he did not have

time to wipe his prints off the rifle be- ;

cause he was-in-a hurry to flee the scene

jof the shooting.

"Usually you do that (remove the

prints) beforehand - before the crime,"

JRay said. "There are several things you

can use to prevent your fingerprints

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 49

---

## Page 50

serious crime.

"I used flesh-colored Band-Aids (to

sayent fingerprints) in the past," he,

Ray's fingerprints were found on the

mile when it was recovered near the

shooting scene. Ray contends he had

given it the day before to the man he

knew only as "Raoul."

"When we think about the fact that

Raoul's fingerprints don't exist on that

• rifle at all, doesn't that indicate that

Raoul doesn't exist a! all?" Ray was

• asked.

"It doesn't to me," Ray replied.

Ray admitted earlier today that he

had given conflicting stories to House

investigators, but said these

"small

errors" do not dispute his denial that he .

shot King.

Ray said the initial testimony he gave

to.committee staff members at Brushy

Mountain Prisonin Tennessee was not

based on a thorough review of the case.

was my

intention to tell the

truth," Ray said. "I wanted to be as

factual as possible because of the prob

i lem of (my) credibility. There have been

some small errors in details. Some con-

fusion in dates."

Ray said in his opening testimony

Wednesday that he never shot King and

was several blocks away from the mur-

der scene having his car serviced at a

Agas station at the time King was killed.

3 Ray told investigators in Tennesseel

that he returned the first rifle to a sport;

ung goods store and bought a second one

nich Raoul inspected. But in his initial

testimony Wednesday, Ray said Raoul

• inspected the first rifle, but never ap

proved the second one.

"Where I had the problem was that: I

tought I had purchased the second rille

the same day as the first," he said.

"When I saw government documents

that I bought the second rifle the next

day, I realized I had made an error."

Ray had testified earlier that he

drove from Birmingham to. Memphis,

frun again.

Stokes noted that Ray had told tlie

Committee's staff in an earlier interview

rifle.'

that Raoul had in fact handled the 30-06

tO/68262: Docld: 32989797 Page 50

Ray conceded that he had said this.

'At first, at the stall interview,el

I thaught it was exchanged the same day,

and. Raoul would have been there," Ray

said.

Ray's faulty - if not selective

memory was attacked over, and over.

Why had Raoul never been found? Who

• could have seen them together? Why

couldn't Ray furnish more descriptive

information about Raoul, such as his

real name?

Ray had no hard answers. "Possibly

a barmaid in Birmingham.

Possibly a

waitress in Jim's Grill in Memphis" had

seen him in Raoul's company, he said.

•But.he couldn't be sure. And he men-

tioned no one in Montreal, where he al-

leged he had met the man. •

"Mr. Ray, ! say to you, this com

inttee has reviewed every FBl docu

« mient relative to this case, every other

investigative document, and nowhere ly

• there a reference to a man named

Raoul," Stokes said.

To that, Ray replied only that per-

hays not all documents had been fourid

, in the matter.

Stokes: "If we can't find Raoul, we

can't help you very much, can we?"

Ray:

"I think the only thing that

• could help me is a judge."

Q: Don't you think if we had more

information about Raoul, we might be

able to locate him?

A: If 1 had gone to trial in 1968, he

most likely would have testified against

me anyhow.

The proceedings were interrupted

and delayed over and over when Ray's

attor'hey, Mark Lane, a longtime postu-

lator of conspiracy theories in the King

and "John F. Kennedy assassinations,

objected to the course of the questioning.

Lane repeatedly complained of not

having transcripts and other documents

related to the interrogation. "This is not

an investigation by (the late) Sen. Jo-

seph R.) McCarthy's hearing," he cried.

"We demand the common courtesies due

any defendant in a court of law.'

The panel accorded Lane the papers

he asked for, but Rep. Richardson Prey. 1

er, D.N.C.,

the acting chairman, ap

peared to be losing patience with Lane's

tactics. "This is not a court of law." he

said.p" Your role as counsel is simply to

rights. your client of his constitutional

Bit Lane pressed on, accusing the

" committee of trickery and unfairness.

• Preyer threatened to have him ejectedit

he persisted.

---

## Page 51

1.14

STAR WITNESS: James Earl Ray (right) testifying before the

his attorney, Mark lone. Ray is serving a 99-year sentence for 1

¿House, Assassinations Committee on. Wednesday. Beside. bim is ir

the killing of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. (UP! Telaphoto)

-NW 68262-Docld:32989797 Page 51

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## Page 52

(Mount Clipping in Spaco Below)

How Roy escaped

Missouri prison

By DENNIS J. MCCARTHY

Globe-Democrat Staff Writer

WASHINGTON - James Eary Ray I

gave details Wednesday about his

1967

escape from the Missouri State Peniten-

tiary and told how he obtained a pistol

from a South St. Louisan known as the

"Cat Man" after the breakout.

In a statement which he read to the

House assassinations committee, Ray

identified the man first as "Jack Gor-

win" but later referred to him as "Jack.

Gowrin."

He said Gorwin got the pistol for $200

from "a fence in East St. Louis."

Ray, the star witness in the commit.

tee's hearings.on the April'4, 1968,

assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin

Luther King Jr., gave this account of his

escape from the penitentiary in Jefferson i

City:

G.

•§'SEVERAL DAYS prior to the escape,

I fashioned a board approximately 3x4

feet which would fit inside a box usel to

tränsport bread outside the príson."

He said that earlier he had used a

hammer and nails to punch holes in the

box.

"On April 23, 1967, I entered the prison

kitchen early - I worked afternoons —

at approximately 8 a.m."

Later, he said, he got into the box and

• covered himself with the board he had

prepared. Then another prisoner filled

the box with bread and the box was

placed on a truck, he said.

Ray said the truck was stopped at the

prison security gate and a guard looked

in the box but "all he would see was

bread."

"AFTER PASSING through the prison

sate, got out of the box. After the truck

crossed the Missouri River bridge near

the prison farm, it stopped before

tuning into a road leading to the farm.

When the truck stopped, Idisembarked."

Ray said he spent the night in a jink

car he found on a rural road.

At this time, he said, he had with him

several candy bars, some bread he lad

taken from the truck,

$250 in cash, a

radio and a Social Security car in the

name of John L. Rayns.

He said he began walking the next

night. His shoes finally fell off and he

"had to make a forcible entry into a

store to obtain another pair," he said.

Ray said he was heading in the general

direction of Kansas City, but on the sixth

diy after his escape, he hopped a freight

triin to St. Louis.

I made my way to South St. Louig, to

the residence of an individual who called

(himself 'Cat Man' (Jack Gorwin)," Ray

continued.

HE SAID GORWIN wasn't at home, so

ye took taxis to East St. Louis anj

Edwardsville and then a bus to Chicago

He arrived in Chicago April 30 and

worked there for two months as a

dishwasher, Ray said.

He said he bought a car and wound up

• on June 21 in East St. Louis where he

stayed in a rundown hotel.

Ray had been sentenced to 20 years in

he penitentiary after being convicted o

irst-degree robbery in December 195) i

connection with

a $191 holdup of a

Kroger store at 3417 Ohio Ave. ingSt.

louis on Oct. 10 that year.

Ray also was convicted Aug. 7, 1959, '%

robbery of Vincent's IGA Food Market,

1102 Park Ave., St. Louis. A seven-year

sentence for that robbery was to ruf

simultaneously with the 20-year term.

RAY, ONE OF 10 children, was born

March 10, 1928, in Alton, III.

Probation records show that his family

moved several times during his early

years, first to Quincy, Ill., and then to.

Ewing, Mo. He quit school after the ninth

grade.

• Ray joined the U.S. Army in 1946 and

pent much of his service in West

djermany. In 1948 he was discharged

'§bility to military service."

Indicate page, name of

newspaper, city and state.)

13A

SI. LOUIS

GLOBE- DEMOCRAT

Date:

Edition:

Author:

Editor:

Title:

8/17/78

Daily-Final

HSCA

Character:

or

Classification:

SL 62-5097

Submitting Office: St. Louis

_ Being Investignted

62-5097-131

Tent...

hand

THE 1. 168

Firt. Baüen 8/18/18.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 52

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## Page 53

(Mount Clipping in Space Below)

Judge issues order

to protect Ray

From Giobe-Democrat

News Services

• WASHINGTON - A court order to

protect James Earl Ray, the convicted

killer of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,

from prison abuse while he is waiting to

testify at sessions of the House assassi-

nations committee was issued Wednes-

day, his attorney said.

Earlier the attorney, Mark Lane, had

accused guards at the Federal Correc-

tional Institution at Petersburg, Va., of

beating Ray Monday night and putting

him• in a tiny punishment cell where

lights burned 24 hours a day.

"The lights will be out in Ray's cell

tonight so he can sleep," Lane said after

he won an order from U.S. District

Judge William 'B. Bryant here for Ray

"to be taken out of the hands of prison

officials and put in the hands of U.S.

marshals." .

LANE SAID government lawyers

Mark Lane

had opposed issuance of the order.

U.S. Marshal J. Jerome Bullock, in

charge of holding Ray for the. House

...Ray's.attorney

committee testimony,

said his under-

his feet and two prison guards grabbed

standing was that three marshals will

him.

now have to watch Ray themselves rath-

"One gave him a rabbit. punch in the

er than leave him under the care of pris-

back of the neck and another ripped his

on officials.

shirt," Lane said.

Bullock said this did not necessarily

The attorney said a federal marshal

mean that Ray would have to be trans-

pulled both guards away.

ferred from the Petersburg prison -

Lane quoted Ray as saying he had not

only that marshals must watch him di-

eaten in 24 hours because he feared that

rectly whether he is kept there or some.

officials would put something in his food

where else.

"to deter the function of his mind" in

• Ray was taken to the federal prison

advance of his public testimony Wednes-

from Brushy Mountain State Prison in

day before the House committee.

Petros, Tenn., where he is serving a 99.

THE ATTORNEY SAID Ray also

year sentence for the slaying of Dr. King

told him that he couldn't sleep because

on April 4, 1959, plus an additional one-

of the burning lights in his cell and a

to two year term for escape.

headache from being punched.

LANE SAID RAY told him that he

Bullock denied that Ray had been

was beaten at the Petersburg prison,

beaten. He said Ray resisted a routine

where he is being held under the name!

fingerprinting procedure and marshals

' "Michael Brewer,'

"" because he objected !!

insisted that he must submit to it.

to being photographed.

But there was no scuffling or beating

Ray balked at being photographed

1 during the incident, Bullock said.

because he was wearing old clothes at

Michael Aun, a spokesman for the

the time and didn't want photos of him to

• federal Bureau of Prisons, denied that

be "sold to the press," Lane said.

• Ray had been injured. Aun said an offi-

The attorney said that when someone

cer was kicked and another elbowed in

*tried to take a picture, Ray jumped to

the mouth during a struggle with Ray.

(Indicate page, name of

newspaper, city and state.)

I3A

ST. LOUIS

GLOBE- DEMOCRAT

Date: 8/17/78

Edition: Daily-Final

Author:

Editor:

Title:

HSCA

Character:

or

Classification: SL 62-5097

Submitting Office: St. Louis

7 Being Investigated

62-5097-30

SEARCHED

INDEXED

SERIALIZED PAL FILED

ANG T: 1978

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 53

Trod-Budan 8/18/78

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## Page 54

77

James Earl Ray takes the oath before the House assassinations

committee Wednesday.

—AP Wirephoto

Ray blames guilly plea

on pressure from lawyer

By DENNIS J. McCARTHY

•Globe Democrat Staff Writer

WASHINGTON - Convicted assassin

James Earl Ray swore Wednesday that

if he had been given a trial, he would

have testified that "I

did not shoot

Martin Luther King Jr."

Ray told the House assassinations

committee that he "could have offered

conclusive proot in support of the deni-

al."

He is serving a 99 year prison sentence

in Tennessee for the slaying of Dr. King

Ray's Missouri escape. . .13A

3

April 4, 1968, in Memphis. Three days

after entering a guilty plea in 1909, Ray

recanted - but his statement before the

committee was the first time he had

gutlined his case publicly under oath.

"In respect to the guilty plea... it is

not a difficult matter for an attorney to

maneuver his client into a guilty plea

• . . especially when the attorney has the

active cooperation of the judge and

prosecutor,

" Ray testified as eight feder-

al marshals stood around him.

The 50-year-old Ray, in a soft Southern

staccato, spent more than an hour

reading a 38 page prepared statement in

which he declared his innocence in the

shooting of Dr. King, but admitted his

guilt in a series of other crimes including

• robberies and smuggling.

HE OFFERED AS conclusive proof of

innecence his oft-repeated declaration

that he was at a service station in

Memphis, having a tire repaired, at the

time Dr. King was gunned down on a

balcony in front of Room 306 at the

Lorraine Motel.

Ray hinted in his statement that a mari

he identited as "Raoul" may have been

the killer of Dr. King, an allegation hey

has made before.

He said he and Raoul met in a tavern

in Montreal in July 1967, about three

NWV 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 54

(indicater, Cly and state.)

1A

ST. LOUIS

GLOBE-DEMOCRAT

Dale: 8/17/78

Edition:

Daily-Final

Author:

Editor:

Title:

HSCA

Character:

or

Classification: SL 62-5097

Submitting Office: St. Louis

I Being Investigated

62-5092-19

-Pri

---

## Page 55

Continued fröm Page LA * 3

months after Ray escaped from the

• Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson

City, where he was serving a 20-year

sentence for first-degree robbery.

Ray said Raoul indicated he could

obtain papers for Ray to leave Canada

for Europe or Africa. Bui first, Ray said,

Raoul asked for his help in smuggling

"certain items" of contraband which

Ray did not specify.

He said that he and Raoul smuggled

contraband from Canada into the United

States, and from the United States into

20420 57 590357

#42497779-801

Ray Said his first lawyer, Arthur J. •

Hanes Sr.,

"had me enter into a series of

literary contracts with him and William

Brod Huie. in order, ir. Afartes

said, to finance a Jury trial...

In November 1968, Ray said, his ,

brother, Jerry W. Ray, visited him in

prison and told him

that Huie had:

ofiered $12,000 "if I would not take thes

witness stand."

Ray quoted Huie as saying any trial

testimony (by Ray) would "destroy the

literary value of the book" on the King

slaying which Huie was writing at the

RAY SAID THAT early in 1968, Raoul

told him to buy a rifle as a sample for a

"Consequently," Ray said, "when Per-

gun-running operation into Mexico, and

cy Foreman, a member of the Texas bar,

that he bought a rifle in Birmingham,

appeared at the Memphis jail a few days

later and visited me, I agreed with Mr.

- Ala.

• This rifle, Ray testified, was later

Foreman's suggestion that l fire Mr..

exchanged by him for a 30.06 Remington

Hanes and hire Foreman."

rifle identified by authorities as the

Ray said Foreman "then promised me,

nurder weapon.

and later the trial judge, that if I

retained him in the case, he (Foreman)

Ray said he and Raoul met in Mem-

¿would not become involved with Huie."

phis the day before the assassination,

tand that Raoul took the rifle — saying he sus "short duration."

This promise, Ray said, was

• wanted to show it to possible Mexican

IN JANUARY 1969, Ray continued,

Foreman gave him a $5,000 check from *

That was the last time he saw the rifle,

Huie for endorsement and told Ray he

Ray testified.

needed the money to hire a lawyer to

He said Raoul instructed him to rent a

assist him.

room at 422/ S. Main St., the rooming

Ray said that in February 1969, Fore-

house from which Ray is accused of

man got another $5,000 check from Huie.

shooting Dr. King.

"This time," Ray said, "he did.not

Raoul was to meet him there at 3 or 4

bother to have me endorse it. He just

• p.m. April 4, Ray said.

forged my name to it and cashed it in

RAY SAID HE RENTED the room and

complicity with Planter's Bank of Mem-

•Raoul arrived sometime after 4 p.m.

phis."

April 4.

He said Raoul sent him to buy a pair of

binoculars the possible customers want-

ed to see and that he had a sandwich in a

restaurant, leaving for the service sta-

.. tion about 5:40 p.m. for the tire repair.

Dr. King was assassinated at 6:03 p.m.

by a shot from the rifle fired from :

bathroom window about 20 feet from the

room which Ray had rented, according

i to the FBI and Memphis police

- Is some a

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 55

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## Page 56

++8+997598911

155790 a

Pecause Be was concerted that yares

dea Ray wore a blue-and-tan plaid sport 7

jacket, shirt and tie, and tan slacks in

might burn the town down."

his appearance before the assassinations:

RAY SAID FOREMAN also told him

committee.

that Ray's brother Jerry might be'

Wednesday's hearing had been.sched-

arrested "under some type of conspiracy

uled to end at noon, but it was announcede

, charge."

that it would continue until 5 p.m. After

Ray also said Foreman told him the

a recess, Mark Lane, attorney for Ray, it

FBI '"would most likely arrest my

requested that the hearing not continue..

father, George Ray, who was then near

because Ray had been forced to sleep

70 years of age, and have him returned?

with lights on in his cell and his hands

to the Iowa state prison wherein he had,

escaped in the 1920s.

does."

... Foreman convinced me he would

were shaking, " something he never

Lane's request was granted and the n

'throw'. the case if I managed to force

him to trial."

morning.

moring was recessed until Thursday.

~ NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 56

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## Page 57

(Mount Clipping in Spoco Below)

Ray's Hawyer Says His Client

Was Beaten By Prison Guards

Complied From Mers Serries

hours because he feared that officials would put some-

WASHINGTON - James Earl Ray's lawyer charged

thing in his food "to deter the function of his mind" at

today that federal prison officials and guards beat his

the hearing. He said Ray told him he could not sleep

client and put him in a hot, tiny punishment cell with

because of the lights and suffered a headache from

the lights on 24 hours a day.

being punched

Attorney Mark Lane said the incident occurred

Lane said that a Memphis attorney would file a writ

Monday night at a federal penitentiary some distance

of habeus corpus today to have Ray removed from the

from Washington. A spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of

federal prison cell where he is being held.

Prisons acknowledged a struggle had taken place and

The writ, he said, will charge that Ray "is being held

said the lighting problem had been solved, but denied

in a punitive, solitary confinement cell with lights on

that Ray had been injured.

him 24 hours a day. Lane said the writ would also con-

Ray, who is serving a 99-year state prison term in

tend that "the temperature in the cell seemed to be

Tennessee for the slaying of civil rights leader Martin

excess of 90 degrees."

Luther King Jr. in 1968 and an additional 1- to 2-year

Lane said U.S. marshals had told Ray he would not

term for escape, testified today before the House assas-

have to be photographed but prison oflicials did so

sinations committce under high security.

anyway and Ray objected.

Lane said in an interview that he visited Ray at the

Michael Aun, a spokesman for the Bureau of Pris-

prison Tuesday night and that he was "pale and shak-

ons, denied that Ray was injured. He said that one offi-

ing and looked haggard, as if he had not slept at all."

Lane said Ray told him that prison officials and "

cer had been kicked and another elbowed in the mouth

during the struggle.

guards had punched him in the back of the neck,

The identity of the prison where Ray is being hells

knocked him to the ground and tore his shirt when he

i, has not been disclosed. That prison has a policy of phi

lobjected to being photographed, then put him in the

ographing and fingerprinting all inmates with a nists,

ry of escape, but the processing of Ray was halted afté

He said Ray also reported that he had not eaten in 24

the scuffle, Aun said

page, name of

er, city and state.)

15A -

ST. LOUIS

POST-

DISPATCH

Date:

Edition:

Author:

Editor:

Title: HSCA

8/16/78

*** Final

Character:

or

Classification: SL 62-5.097

Submitting Office: St. Louis

_ Being Investigated

-62-5097-128

Foul Buce 8/18/78.

NW 68262 Dold: 32989797 Page 57

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## Page 58

(Mount Clipping in Space Below)

Didm " Kil Kimg.

Was Framed,

Ray Testifies

BY GERALD M. BOYD

and PAUL WAGMAN

Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

WASHINGTON - Convicted assassin

James Earl Ray

has.told a House

committee that he did not kill the Rev.

Dr. Martin Luther King and that he was

the victim of a complicated web involv-

ing a mysterious man who apparently

i tramed Ray.

In his first public statement on the

case, Ray today recanted his March 11169

guilty plea at a public hearing of the

Fouse Select Committee on Assassina-

fions.

He said he had been pressed inti

pieading guilty by two attorneys wht

tepresented him, including one who said

that he would not present an adequate

defense if Ray pleaded not guilty.

Following closely a prepared state-

ment for more than an hour, Ray care-

fly laid open a complicated scenaño

that began when he escaped from the

Missouri Penitentiary in Jefferson City

in April 1967 and ended with his guilty

plea 2 years later.

In implicating the Raoul character ill

the assassination plot, Ray said he hail

left Raoul in a rundown boarding house

Jin Memphis. The house is in back of the

Lorraine Motel, where King was assassi-

nated.

Ray said that he had gone to dinner

leaving Raoul in a room he had rented

and that when he returned he noticed

scores of policemen in the area. Fleeing

-

¡ in a late-model white Mustang, Ray sai

he had heard about an hour later thai

King had been shot and that police weri!

looking for a man driving a car similar

ty his.

That was his first knowledge of the

assassination attempt on the prominent

Klack civil rights leader, who was killer

on April 4, 1968, Ray said

Ray, who was dressed in a blue and

brown plaid jacket, testified under un-

usually tight security. He was accompa-

nied by hi surprise; developmer

surprise development,

the

committee adjourned its hearing, sched-

uled to run all afternoon, shortly after

lunch. The hearing had

recessed fdr

lunch with Ray starting to answer que

tons from committee members, after

LAWYER SAYS Ray was beateriby

prison

15A

officials and guards. Page

his prepared statement.

• The adjournment came

after Laile

complained that Ray was tired and hid

not had any sleep over the last 48 hours.

During that period, he said, he had

assumed several false identities, trav-

eled to Canada, Mexico and several U.S.

cities, and had met a mysteriouss figure,

ramed Raoul who hired him for severa.

megal activities. It was Raoul who ulti-

mately led him to Memphis on April 31

ultser the guise of accompanying him on

a gun-purchasing mission.

At an impromptu press conference at

lunch, Lane said that federal marshals

had kept lights on in Ray's cell whill: he

wils being kept at Memphis (on his ivay

to Washington) and Ray had been!un-

• able to sleep.

Driginally, Ray had been scheduled:

(Indicate page, name of

newspaper, city, and state.

1A

ST. LOUIS

POST-DISPATCH

-

70649%014

dad: +79+1141120631090000

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 58

Date:

Edition:

Author:

Editor:,

Title:

8/16/78

*** Final

HSCA

Character:

or

Classification: SL, 62÷5097

Submitting Office: St. Louis

_ Being Investigated

62-50971276

SEARGNED

SEE: 1IZ0D FAT HILED

AIG 16 1978

Far-Si. Li

Zwid-Bueкu-8/18/781

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## Page 59

'to restify" until 5 p.m. The committee

him in the assassination. He said, for

held a quick meeting and decided to

example, that Raoul had asked him to

i adjourn.

buy a pair of binoculars on the day as-

"We didn't want it to be said that he

sassination, and also had him register

(Ray) was not fresh and able to testify,"

under a fictitious name at the rundown

said Rep. Walter E. Fauntroy, D.-Dis- - boarding house.

trict of Columbia.

A Ray fingerprint was also found on

Ray is scheduled to continue his testi..

the binoculars, and a man at the board.

mony tomorrow and Friday.

ing house identified Ray as having iled

Among the statements made by Ray

from the house shortly after King was

this morning in his prepared text were:

Shot. Ray said ne had left several per-

sonal items, including a blanket, in the

- That he had escaped from

rooming house with Raoul when he left

Missouri prison alone and without the

help of anyone outside. Ray said he had

for dinner.

Several black civil rights leaders and

hidden in a bread box and had left the

persons close to Ray who have sought a

prison in a truck that was making a de-

new trial have contended that Ray could

livery.

• not have fled from Memphis and jour-

— That he had $250 in cash when he

neyed to Canada, England and Lisbon

, escaped, and that after stopping briefly'

without outside help. His escape has

in St. Louis he had gone to Chicago

given rise to the possibility of a conspir-

where he worked as a dishwasher for

several months.

- That he purchased a car and drove

But during his testimony, Ray denied

having any assistance in his escape. He

to Canada from Chicago,

staying in

said after leaving Memphis he went to

Montreal. It was in Montreal that he

Atlanta, where he boarded a bus for

first met Raoul, who indicated that he

Detroit. He then took another bus to

could obtain for Ray illegal passport

Toronto, where on his own and using n

documments in return for Ray engaging

false identity, he managed to obtain

• in smuggling activities for him.

Canadian passport.

• — That the subsequent association

The passport, he said, enabled him t

with Raoul included meetings in several

fly to London and later to Lisbon. He.

U.S. cities including Atlanta, Birming,

unsuccessiully sought to journey to,

ham and New Orleans. The final meet-

Rhodesia, but could not obtain the neces-

ing, Ray said, took place in Memphis the

day before King was killed.

At that point, Ray said, he returned

Ray, who read rapidly from-the pre-

to London, where he was arrested.

pared statement, seemed to embrace a

Ray, during the 90 minutes of his tes-

conspiracy theory behind King's assassi-

timony, attempted to

explain why he

nation, in which he said he had no part.

had pleaded guilty by harshly criticizing

He said that Raoul had paid him to pur-

Chase a high-powered rifle in Birming-

After his arrest in London, he had

retained Arthur Haynes of Birmingham,

i ham, sure orle ans who were in rest tied rethis saynes of Brial date he

'ed in gun smuggling.

dismissed Haynes and retained Percy

Ray said after buying the rifle, he

Foreman of Houston, Texas. Haynes and

gave it to Raoul and never saw it again.

Foreman, Ray said, were involved in a

Ray's fingerprints were found on a high-

contract with a writer who was doing a

povered rifle, which is believed to have

book on the King assassination. Ray said

: bein the murder weapon.

Ray offered explanations for several

plea was desirable for the book.

, other elements that seemed to implicate

Ray said that Foreman had told hing

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 59

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## Page 60

that the press already had convicted

him and that the government had a wit-

. ness it had bribed who would say that

Ray had been seen leaving the boarding

house after the shot was fired.

Foreman argued also, Ray said, that

unless he pleaded guilty, Ray's brother,

Jerry, would be arrested on a conspira-

cy charge, and his father, George, would

have to return to prison. Ray's father,

who Ray said was 70 at the time, had

escaped from an lowa prison in 1930.

The testimony began in a verbal

exchange between Ray's lawyer, Lane,

and several committee members. Lane

has accused the committee of trying to

present evidence that would show Ray

guilty of the crime in an effort to cover

up involvement by the Federal Bureau

ff Investigation.

Lane said that Ray had been beaten

py federal marshals before leaving

Memphis for Washington yesterday. A

committee member, however, said such

charges were out of order and were not

related to Ray's testimony.

During his testimony, Ray said sever-

al times that he thought the FBI had

arranged

King's assassination. He of-

fered no evidence, however.

in another development, Lane, con-

tinued his attacks Tuesday on the HOuse

committee, calling for the disbarment of

its general counsel, G. Robert Blakey,

and of its deputy counsel, Michael

Oberhardt.

Lane told reporters that Blakey,

Eberhardt and Conrad Baetz, a staff

investigator who is based in Madison.

County,

Ill., had "suborned perjury,

criminally

received

stolen

property,

monitored and tape-recorded telephone

-conversations and violated their own

rules

The charges were similar to those

Lane made recently in St. Louis at a

news conference with Oliver Patterson,

a Black Jack, Mo., man who says that he

intormed on Jerry Ray, a brother of

Kay, for the committee. Patterson alleg. *

is that he secretly tape-recorded tele-

stole some letters sent to Jerry Ray by

James Earl Ray, and even stole strands

of Jerry Ray's hair — all at the behest of

Baetz.

The allegations prompted Blakey 1o•

- begin an investigation. Last week, he

announced that the preliminary finding

was that committee staff had done noth-

ing illegal.

But Lane said Tuesday that the

committee had not checked with the

[ersons making the allegations - Pat-

verson, himself or Susan Wadsworth, a

Florissant woman who says she partici-

pated with Patterson in some of his ac-

tivities. Therefore, Lane said he was

mystified by the clean bill of health. In

addition, Patterson said Tuesday he had

taken — and passed — a polygraph teb

• on all his statements. He said he hild

requested the test last week of Chis

Gugas, whom he identified as former

head of the american Polygraph Associ-

ation.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 60

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## Page 61

FD-36 (Rev. 3-24-77)

TRANSMIT VIA:

2y Teletype

7 Facsimile

FBI

6925

PRECEDENCE:

• Immediate

[ Priority

x] Routine

CLASSIFICATION:

• TOP SECRET

O SECRET

O CONFIDENTIALi

DEFTO

[ CLEAR

Date

8/16/78

FM ST. LOUIS (62-5097) P

FM DIRECTOR (62-117290) ROUTINE

-

UNCLAS EF TO

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA) •

RE ST. LOUIS TELETYPE TO BUREAU, AUGUST 8, 1978, AND BUREAU

TELEPHONE CALL FROM SA TRON W. BREKKE TO ST. LOUIS, AUGUST 14,

1978.

IN REFERENCED TELEPHONE CALL ST. LOUIS WAS ADVISED THAT BASED

ON A FOIA REQUEST, HOWARD C. KENNEDY'S MEMORANDUM DATED MARCH 19,

1974, AT ST. LOUIS, MO., WAS DESSEMINATED WITH PORTIONS DELETED.

ALSO, THAT PAGE TWO OF THE MEMORANDUM REFERRING TO OK NOVELTY AND

"SNITCH" HAD BEEN DELETED IN ITS ENTIRETY.

TO DETERMINE EXACTLY WHAT OTIS KING GREIF, JR. SAW IN THE

POSSESSION OF RUSSELL BYERS ON AUGUST 7, 1978, ST. LOUIS

RECONTACTED GREIF ON AUGUST 15, 1978. GREIF STATED THAT BYERS HAD

SEVERAL PAGES OF MATERIAL. GREIF ONLY READ THE PART OF THE

SENSED

NDEXED

MUK: 1jS:

62-5097-1266

Approved:

R$

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 61

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(Number)

2/33

(Time)

Per

FBI/DOJ

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## Page 62

FD-36 (Rev. 3-24-77)

TRANSMIT VIA:

• Teletype

7 Facsimile

FBI

PRECEDENCE:

• Immediate

0 Priority

• Routine

CLASSIFICATION:

• TOP SECRET

7 SECRET

7 CONFIDENTIAL

DEFTO

I CLEAR

•Date

PAGE TWO SL 62-5097 UNCLAS E FT O

MATERIAL WHICH CONCERNED BYERS BEING DESCRIBED AS TREACHEROUS.

GREIF SAID THAT HE (GREIF) HAD BEEN ASKED BY BYERS ABOUT RICH

O'HARA SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BUT HE HAD NOT SEEN ANY REFERENCE ABOUT

THAT IN THE MATERIAL IN BYERS' POSSESSION. GRETF SAID THAT HE DID

NOT SEE ANY REFERENCE TO OK NOVELTY OR "SNITCH" IN THE MATERIAL.

GRETF SAID HE WOULD CONTACT THE. FBI SHOULD BYERS CONTACT HIM

AGAIN.

ST. LOUIS FURTHER DETERMINED THAT NO DISSEMINATION WAS MADE

BY THE ST. LOUIS OFFICE UNDER A FOIA REQUEST CONCERNING THE

KENNEDY MEMORANDUM, MARCE 19, 1974.

BT

#

Approved: -

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 62

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## Page 63

FD-350 (Rev. 10-19-77)

(Hount Clipping in Spaco Below)

Will James Earl Ray

say anything new?

From Globe-Democrat

News Services

WASHINGTON - How much does

James Earl Ray really know about the

events leading up to and away from a

moment of violence in Memphis April 4,

1968? And will he talk?

Those are the most tantalizing ques

tions among many that will be on the

minds of

congressional investigaters

Wednesday when Ray is scheduled to

testify in public for the first time about

the 10-year-old murder of the Rev. Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

IN 1869, RAY pleaded guilty to the

murder and is serving a 99-year term at

the Brushy Mountain Penitentiary in

Tennessee. But he was brought to Wash-

ington under heavy guard for his public

appearance before

the House Select

Committee on Assassinations.

It is possible, however, that Ray's

testimony, which is scheduled for three

days, will be cut short. Since his plea of

guilty, Ray has been insisting on his

innocence and has been struggling des-

perately to reopen his case and obtain a

new trial.

* It Ray chooses only to make a state

ment defending himself and declines to

answer the detailed questions commit-

fee members have prepared, stallers

ONE LOCATION IS the second-filor •

•Fathroom of a rooming house in Mera-

•phis across the street from the motel

balcony where Dr. King was standing

when he was killed by a single rifle shot.

The other is a bushy area about 10 lect

Irom the rooming house.

Ray was in the rooming house bath-

• room at the time of the shooting, accord-

"ing to witnesses. Most law enforcement

officials who worked on the case have

concluded that the fatal shot came from

there.

• But Ray has now recanted his contes-

sion, and his attorney, Mark Lane, has

i suggested that the shot might have come

from the bushy area. Baden's testimon

i leaves open that possibility.

1. Accordisty, are was elated at the

end of Tuesday's hearing, where Baden

was the only witness.

"They've given

away their whole case," Lane told re-

porters. "They can't prove that the shot

came from the bathroom."

Some members of the committee and

the committee's counsel, G. Roberk

lakey, urged reporters after the se

sion not to emphasize the uncertainty,

rebout the source of the fatal shot. "We'll

• ilave more evidence proving this came

Irom the (bathroom) window later on,"

Said Rep. Samue! Devine, R-Ohio.

have indicated he many not be permit-

• ted to testify.

:, Tuesday, a criminal pathologist told

•the House committee that medical evi-

dence cannot determine precisely where

the shot that killed Dr. King was fired

from.

Dr. Michael Bader, a prominent

pathologist who examined medical re-

cords in the King case for the assassina-

tions committee, testified in public hear-

ings on the assassination that, based on

his findings, the assassin might have

Shot from one of two places.

# SUCH EVIDENCE apparently will.

not be forthcoming for at least thrive

months. Under the committee's scheil.

ile, the King hearings will run through

this week and then be reconvened jh

mid-November.

Testimony for the remainder of this

week should raise further questions

about the case because the only sched.

Wed witness is Ray. In Ray's testimory,+

which will be televised beginning at 8

a.m. St. Louis time Wednesday on public

bigadcasting, the convicted assassinsis

_ expected to argue that he was framed.,

(Indicate page, name of

newspaper, city and state.)

5A

ST. LOUIS

GLOBE-DEMOCRAT

ST. LOUIS, MO..

Dute:

8/16/78

Edition: Daily-Final

Title: HSCA

Character:

or

Classification: SI, 62-5097

Submitting Office: St. Louis

62-5097-196

NW 68262-Docld:32989797 Page 63

FBI

Frish, Bureas 8116/284

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## Page 64

*Ray has submitted a long statement

• to the committee for its approval. And

i Pane, who has made a career oui al

investigating the murders of Dr. King.

and President Kennedy, is insisting that,

he commitiee has ceen trying to dis

credit Ray and that Ray should be fres

• to testity however he chooses.

However,

Rep. Harold Ford,

• -committee

Democrat who represents

the Memphis district in which Dr. King

i was kitled, said Tuesday that he expects

Ray to testity extensively "no matter

, what Lane says."

Ford added, "It will be hard to keep

• Ray from talking for the whole three

days."

BUT THE QUESTION is whether

hours by the committee staff, will say

anything new.

Ever since Ray pleaded guilty and

persuaded that he was protecting others

a hand in the conspiracy.

Ray has told writers and investiga-

tors he didn't fire the shot that killed Dr.

name

"Raoul," whom Ray has said

name those who framed him.

The

most important question is

details that could lead to the conspira-

tors — if they exist at all.

RAY HAS WRITTEN to Dr. King's

closest friend, Dr. Ralph D. Abernathy,

offering to give him the names of those

from Memphis and his flight to Canadin

: Portugal and London, where he ways

arrested s

bargain said thay, bum we goons net

the possibility of helping him get a trial

it, during his testimony, he names those

a who helped him, his sin incis

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 64

---

## Page 65

(hount Clipping in Space Below)

Expert Reconstructs

Dr. King's Killing

By PAUL WAGMAN

. been instructed by investigators Conrad

Of the Post-Dispatch Stall

Baetz, a former Madison County, III.,

sheriff's deputy, and Melvin Waxman to

WASHINGTON - The shot that killed

tell Ray and the other man that he had

the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King could

been subpoenaed and that they would

have been fired from a bathroom win-

probably be subpoenaed, too. Lane said

dow of a rooming house across the street

the man flew to Atlanta to meet with the

from King's motel or from a bushy area

pair and to learn whether they would

in a yard behind the house, a pathologist

plead the Fifth Amendment, who their

told the House Select Committee on

lawyers were, and other information.

Assassinations today.

Lane, also an author, showed a re-

Dr. Michaei M. Baden, the patholo-

porter a copy of a check written to the

gist, said there were no medical tests

St. Louis man which carried the identifi-

which would be precise enough to rule

cation "U.S. House of Representatives."

out either site.

The bathroom window has been cited

Lane showed the reporter the check only

on the condition that the man's name not

by prosecutors of James Earl Ray,

be disclosed. He said that the man did.

King's convicted assassin, as the site

not want publicity.

from which Ray was alleged to have

The check was for $69. Lane said the

!

shot King as he stood on the second-floor

man was paid $50 plus $19 expenses.

balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Mem-

Earlier this month, Lane created a

phis, Tenri., on April 4, 1968.

small uproar when at a St. Louis press

However, according to some other

theories that have arisen

about the

conference he and Oliver Patterson of

Black Jack accused the committee of

murder, the fatal shot was fired by

commissioning Patterson to spy on Jer-

someone other than Ray from the back

y kay. The alleged spying include

yard of the rooming house.

alleged illegal taping of telephone con

In another development, Mark Lane,

versations.

Ray's attorney, raised new questions

The allegations led to an investiga-

about the Assassination Committee's

tion by the Assassinations Committee. %

investigatory techniques. Lane said he

Last week, chief counsel G. Robert Bla- /

• had evidence that a St. Louis-area man

key reported that "on the strength of a

had been paid by two commitee investi

preliminary investigation the committee i

: figators to lie to Jerry Ray, James Earl

categonically denies each and

every

Ray's brother, and to another man in an

allegation of wrongdoing."

effort to learn how they would respond

to a subpoena from the committee.

Loday, Lane said he was mystified by,

Lane said the St. Louis-area man had

Makey's statement, because, he said,

its asino canissess

the committee had never interviewel

any of the people making the alleg.-

Lions: himself, Patterson

Susan

• Wadsworth, an alleged participant in

* some of the improper activities.

Teday's testimony by

Dr. Baden

• came in the second day of the commit-

fee's public hearings into King's death

Rames Earl Ray is scheduied to testily

Comorrow. Ray arrived in Washingta

Monday night under tight security troyn

¡Brushy Mountain, Tenn., State Prison, *

Indicate page, name o

newspaper, city and state.

IA ST. LOUIS

POST-DISPATCH

ST. LOUIS, M0.

Date: 8/15/78

Edition: *** Final

Author:

Editor:

Title:

HSCA

Character:

ог

Classification: SL 62-5097

Submitting Office:St. Louis

_ Being Investigated

62-5092-134

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 65

Tavo. Bureau 8/16/18.

---

## Page 66

Baden, chiel medical examiner for

New York: City, was one of three pathol-

regists picked by the committee to an-

swer a variety of questions. Among

Them was whether King received proper

medical care in the ambulance and in

• the

hospital emergency room, and

whether the bullet wound could be used

to determine the origin of the fatal shot.

The other pathologists, Dr. John I.

Coe, chief medical examiner of Henne-

• pin County, Minn., and Dr. Joseph H.

Davis, chief medical examiner of Dade

•County, Fla., did not testify. Baden said

there were no disagreements among

Illustrating his testimony with draw.

ings and photographs, Baden said that

King had been killed by a single 30.06 -

l., Seed.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 66

rifle shot which entered his right cheek j

alout an inch from his mouth.

I The bullet then passed through King's

right jaw and exited from his body be-

fore re-entering it on the right side of his

neck. Then it passed through the neck

before lodging on his left side near the

collar-bone.

The high-velocity rifle blast fractured

the civil rights leader's jaw, two verte-

brae and two ribs. It also did major

damage to the spinal cord and large

blood vessels, including the carotid arte-

ry, which brings blood to the brain.

Death, Baden said, resulted from the

injuries to the blood vessels and the

spinal cord.

Baden said that he had been im-

pressed with the "vigorous medical at-

tention" that King received after reach-

ing St.

Joseph's Hospital emergency

room. He did not testify about the ambu-

lance care.

He said King's heart was still beating

when he arrived at the hospital at 6:15

ip.in. But that King's brain had already

been "irreparably damaged."

The pulse stopped within minutes, but

Baden said physicians continued to work

on King until 7:04 p.m., when they pro

nounced him dead.

---

## Page 67

1-350 (Rev. 11-11-75)

(Mount Clipping in Spaco Bolow)

Denies Illegal Methods

Were Used In King Inquiry

By GERALD M. BOYD

A Washington Correspondent

• of the Post-Dispatch

WASHINGTON - The stalf director of the House

Select Committee on Assassinations has denied a charge

that a committee investigator used illegal methods in

attempting to gain information for the committee's

inquiry into the assassination of the 'Rev. Dr. Martin

Luther King Jr.

But director G. Robert Blakey confirmed that Oliver

Patterson of St. Louis, who made the charge, had

testified to the committee.

"On the strength of a preliminary investigation, the

committee categorically denies each and every allega-

tion of wrongdoing," said Blakey, who is directing the

committee's s.5 million inquiry into the murders of

King and President John F. Kennedy, at a news

conference Thursday.

Facing criticism from members of Congress con-

cerned about Patterson's charge, Blakey broke a news

blackout that had been in existence since he became the

committee's chief counsel in June 1977. But after issuing

a-four-paragraph- statement, he refused further com-

ment and declined to answer questions.

At a news conference in St. Louis on Monday,

Patterson accused an investigator of attempting to gain

information about King's assassination by using Patter-

son's friendship with Jerry Ray, brother of James Earl

May, in prison for King's death. The charges generated

unusual attention, because Patterson said he had

worked for the committee for the last. few months.and

had once been an informant for the Federal Bureau of

Investigation.

"Blakey said Patterson had never been an employee of

the committee. He implied that Patterson and Rays

atiorney, Mark Lane,

who was also at the news

two-year inquonday, were attempting to discredit the

two year inquiry.

"The committee is determined that the American

people will not be misled by attempts to discredit the

committee and its investigation," he said.

Patterson, who had not been publicly linked to the

assassination investigation before Monday's news

conference, cited a series of questionable and possible

illegal actions that he said he had performed for the

committee. He said an investigator, Conrad Baetz, had

requested the acts.

Baetz, he said, asked that he illegally record Jerry

Ray's telephone conversations and sift through his

delongings for letters from his jailed brothe:. On

another occasion, be contended, Baetz attempted to

have him arrange a news conference to discredit Lane

sand to offer further evidence of Kay's guilt.

-- is. it

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 67

* Ray pleaded quilty of the April 1968 murder of King bage, name of

and is serving a 99-year term in Brushy Mountain State

r, city and state..

o testity for three days next syeel

source close to the committee said Thursday that h

witness. He said that although the subpoena would folce

Ray to be present he might not answer questions frum

11A

ST. LOUIS

POST-DISPATCH

ST. LOUIS, MO.

Date:

8/11/78

Edition: *** Final

Aulhor:

Editor:

Title:

HSCA

Character:

or

Classification: SL 62-5097

Submitting Office: St. Louis

_ being investigate

52. 5097-123

Two. Bureau 8-16-7811

---

## Page 68

A dispute could arise, he said, over the points on

attorney, Lane, has long contended that King's assassi-

nation was arranged by the FBI, for example. He has!

accused the committee of attempting to cover up that

fact and of attempting to use the investigation to

:

establish that Ray was the assassin.

i Ray retuses to answer questions, the source said,

the committee could release its file of about 28 hours if

• tabe-recorded conversations with him; transcribed, the

tapes fill about 1,500 pages. The source, for the first

tinke, confirmed that the committee has talked with Ray

and said that the interview would probably be made

• public with the committee's final report.

Jesse Jackson Doubts Ray Killed King

PETROS, Tenn. (UPI) - The Rev. Jesse Jackson

fin Bell on Tuesday of next week in a real effort to chal-

has emerged from a face-to-face talk with James Earl

Ray with a "profound doubt" that Ray is the killer of

lenge the Justice Department io take a new look at the

evidence," Jackson said.

the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Pointing to years of FBI harassment of King and

• Jackson, who was with King when he was killed by a

ray's contention that he was part of a conspiracy,

' sniper in Memphis in 1968, said he called the Justice

Jackson accused the agency of complicity in King's

Department on Thursday before he left Brushy Moun-

death.

tain Penitentiary to back Ray's demands for a new tri-

"The very thought of a conspiracy is what compels

me to file for a new trial," he said. "The FBI followed

Ray, who confessed to the killing and is serving a 99

Dr. King 24 hours a day. The motives of the FBI are far

, year sentence, now maintains that he is innocent.

greater than this man's (Ray's) motives."

Jackson, a civil rights leader from Chicago, said he

Jackson, president of Operation PUSH and one of

" America's most prominent black leaders, said he came

doubting that Ray fired the bullet that killed King.

assassination.

"We're seeking to meet with Attorney General Grif-

alone. It may very well be that Mir. Ray was a diversign

in a grander scheme," Jackson said.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 68

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## Page 69

(Mount Clipping in Space Below)

De. King Seemed To Expect

Assassination, Abernathy Says

unite.)

By GERALD M. BOYD

A Washington Correspondent

of the Post-Dispatch

WASHINGTON - The Rev. Dr.

Martin Luther King was probably aware

that he would be assassinated and un-

derwent severe periods of depression in

the months preceding his murder, the

Rev. Ralph D. Abernathy, his chief lieu-

tenant in the civil rights movement, has

testified.

Abernathy said that, over the last

four months of his life, King showed a

marked change in his mental state,

which seemed to indicate that he knew

that he would be killed.

He said that King had been harassed,

constantly by the Federal Bureau of

Investigation and that neither-the FBI

nor other police authorities provided

adequate security for King, even though

they had been told that King was con-

stantly receiving death threats.

The charges against the FBI and the

description

of

King's

last

months

emerged as the key elements of Aberna-

thy's remarks today at a public hearing

of the House Select Committee on Assas-

sinations.

Under continuous questioning from

the 1l-member committee, Abernathy

said he had no evidence to substantiate

his belief that King knew that he would

be killed. But he said that he was certain

that King did know.

the testimony of Abernathy, which

included a moving description of King's

last hours, came at the start of five days

of hearings on the civil rights leader's

death. King was assassinated in Mem-

phis on April 4, 1963. James Earl Ray

was later arrested and confessed to the ?

assassination.

Since his confession, Ray has denied:

committing the murder. He has sought ar

new trid and said that he would tell the

"real" story if a new trial ever was held.

Abernathy is the current head of the

Southern Christian Icadership

Confer-

ence - the group King founded. He had

been a constant companion and friend of

King since 1955 and was with King when

he was fatally shot.

Todaara yestimony represented lin

attempt by several committee members

to determine King's relationship with

the FBI and to determine whether the

agency knew about the assassination

plan in advance or failed to adequately

pursue leads in the case.

One committee member, Rep. Sa-

muel L. Devine, R-Ohio, said he hoped

the committee was not attempting to

dwell on the FBi at the expense of pursu-

ing other angles of the assassination.

Abernathy said that King was reluc-

tant to report death threats to the FBI.

He said that the slain civil rights leader

was aware, as early as 1955, that he was

a target of telephone tapping, electronic

bugging and other surveillance methods

of the FBI and other government agen-

cies.

"The FBI was aware of some of the

- threats," Abernathy said. "We did not

report all of them, because we believed

that are to He Bag son and :

were quite racist.

"Just because you take a person and'

put a badge on him doesn't change his

heart."

7

Abernathy said that King was aware

that then FBI director, J. Edgar Hoover,

had called him "the most notorious liar

in America."

On the day before the assassination,

Abernathy said, a plane King was riding

on was delayed for about an hour while

it was searched. Abernathy said he had

no idea who had ordered the precaution,

but that no special security had been

available after King's party reached

Mempnis, either from the FBI or frcm

local police.

Several committee members also

questioned Abernathy about a group of

Memphis blacks called the "Invaders.

Abermathy said they had been paid FBI

11A

ST. LOUIS

POST-DISPATCH

ST. LOUIS, MO.

Date: 8/11/78

Edition:

*** Final

Author:

Editor:

Title:

HSCA

Character:

"or

Classification: SL 62-5097

Submitting Office: St. Louis

_ Being Investigated

62-5097-172

troll Bureau 8/16/18.1

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 69

---

## Page 70

informants. He said that they had dis-

rupied & march led by King on March

18.

King had originally gone to Memphis

'at the invitation of local black leaders to

lead a non-violent march to aid striking

*ity refuse collectors. The first march

ended in violence, but King and other

Southern Christian Leadership Confer-

ence officers returned to Memphis a

week later to conduct a secord march.

He was killed on the return trip.

Abernathy Said that King had learned

on April 3, when he returned to Mem-

phis, that the Invaders were paid FBI

informants. Efforts were made, he said,

to shield King from them because of

concem for his safety.

"We were aware that they might

impose a threat to Dr. King's safety, and

that is why we insisted that he not see

them," Abernathy said. "Before he died,

he was aware that they were FBI infor-

The committee is apparently examin-

ipg the Invaders in an attempt to deter-

mine their relationship with the FBI.

One committee member said, for exan:-

ple, that some persons in the group nai

rented a room at the Lorraine Motel,

where King had been staying.

Abernathy's most dramatic testimo-

ny dealt with his relationship with King

and King's mental-condition during the

last four months of life. When asked how

he knew that King believed he would be

assassinated, Abernathy said that he

had no direct knowledge, but that after

January 1968 the civil

rights leader

seemed more concerned about his death.

"His attitude was altogether differ-

ent," Abernathy said. "He seemed more

troubled, more nervous and a more

worried person."

At one point, he said, the two took a

trip to Acapulco, Mexico, in an attempt

to get King to relax. But all the time,

Abernathy said, King seemed to be con-

cerned about problems.

During that period, Abernathy said,

King turned over to him more duties as

vice president of the Southern Christian

Leadership Conference than ever before.

And King authorized the organization's

pyraws to say that Abernathy should

replace him in the event of his death.

"Before 1968, he wasn't talking Ike

that," said Abernathy, who- noted that

the Southern Christian Leadership Con-

=.

ference was busy at that time organizing

aa national "Poor People's Rally.". in:

Washington. "Eut then he was a differ,

see is that he keels would re

NW 68262 Docid:32989797 Page 70

---

## Page 71

SAC, SI. LOUIS (137-16523) (C)

SA MARTIN JOHN WEBER

FORMER SI 3549-PCI

8/10/78

Former SI 3549-PCI telephonically contacted

the St. Louis FBI office 8/7/78 stating that he was

contacted on 8/7/78 by RUSSELL BYERS. BYERS had with

a copy of a "FBI memo which had portions inked

out", and which may be a copy of a memorandum.of

HOWARD C. KENNEDY dated 3/19/74. BYERS' copy said

that BYERS contacted someone at OK Novelty Co. in

St. Louis regarding an unnamed individual. The

unnamed individual was identified by BYERS as RICH

O'HARA. The memo further said that the person at

OK Novelty vouched for O'HARA as not being a "snitch".

Former SL 3549-PCI identified himself as

the person at OK Novelty contacted by BYERS about Q'HARA.

He had known O'HARA through O'HARA's past ownership of

the Pirates Cove Tavern, in which OK Novelty had a

vending machine. He said that BYERS was trying to

identify the source of the information in the same

memo who refered to BYERS as "A very treacheróus guy".

He said he told BYERS he could not identify whò may

have characterized BYERS in that manner.

He said he

had absolutely no knowledge of BYERS possible connection

in the assassination of Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., but

wanted to notify the FBI Of BYERS contact with him.

• GREIF is the owner of OK Novelty Co., a

St. Louis vending machine Company from 8/21/75 to 3/3/77.

Bureau 137-43581, SL 137-16523.

A review of SL 137-16523

fails to reflect any reference to Dr. KING's assassinatior

Or RUSSELL BYERS.

2 - (1-137-16523)

1-62-5097)

MJW/ pmg

(2)

if

62-5097-146

' сії

Aul: 9 1978

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 71

---

## Page 72

FD-350 (Rev. 11-11-75)

(Mount Clipping in Space Below)

Abuse Allegations Put

Cloud On King Inquiry:

By PAUL WAGMAN

• Patterson, 34, of 12350 Old Halls Fer-

Of the Post-Dispatch Staff.

• ry Road, said Monday that his duties as

an informant to the Assassinations

WASHINGTON - A House adminis-

tration subcommittee has held up con-

Committee had included tape-recording

telepone conversations. with Jerry. Ray,

• sideration of additional financing for the

House Assassinations Committee partly

James Earl

because of allegations by a Black-Jack,

through Jerry Ray's. belongings for let-

Mo., man that he engaged in illegal in-

ters from his, brother, and. acquiring

vestigatory techniques on behalf of the .

assassinations panel.

Patterson asserted also that he.had

Without the additional financing, the

been told by Conrad Baetz, a staff inves-

Assassinations.

Committee

maintains

tigator for the committee, to tell the

panel that "I had seen Jerry Ray carry

that it cannot finish its inquiries into the

a gun — whịch is not true.'

deans of President John. Kennedy

and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King

Under rules adopted by. the assassina-

The committee will run out of money

tions pane, last year. in the midst of, an-

by mid-September unless it'is allocated

other controversy,

"nor conversation of

about $800,000 more through the end of

committee members or staff with. any

the calendar year, Rep. Samuel L. De-

person shall be recorded without the

prior knowledge ard/or. written consen

vine, R-Ohio, maintained yesterday. The

of the person whose conversation is to b

committee's investigations into the as-

sassinations of Kennedy and King are

scheduled for completion by Dec. 31.

But the House subcommittee believes

that the assassinations panel has enough

money to last through September,

staff source said this morning. And the

subcommittee was also disturbed about

allegations made Monday. in St. Louis. by

Oliver Patterson; the Black Jack man,

and by Mark Lane, the attorney for

James Earl Ray, King's convicted kill-

er "The sultommittee wants to know it

they (the allegations)

are true or not

true," the source said.

• To find out, the source said; the sub-

committee plans to ask Rep. Louis

Stokes, D-Ohio, chairman of the assassi-

nations panel, to testify before it in Sep-

tember.*

If the allegations are true, the source

said, it would mean that "taxpayers'

i money had been used for illegal purpos-

Meanwhile, the assassinations panel

i plans to

conduct its own inquiry into

Lane's and Patterson's allegations. A

spokesman for the committee refused

today to say when the investigation

would start or make-any further com-

ment regarding the inquiry.

Baetz, à Madison County, Ill., sher-

iff's deputy who is reportedly on leave

for. a year, was said to' be closeted with

sentative of lie com mida quoted pre-

The assassinations panel was given

$2.5 million by Congress last spring to

conduct its work through the end.of the

year. The panel said at the time that

that was not enough and that it would be

asking for more. On July 18, it requested

an additional $790,000.

The subcommittee could still recom-

mend to grant. the committee the addi-

tional funds when it reconsiders the

matter, probably in September.

By that time, a staff source said, the

committee should have been able to

appraise the accuracy of Patterson's

allegations. In addition, it will have had

a chance to judge the quality of the

committee's entire effort, because the

committee will begin holding its public

, hearings Monday..

The hearings are

currently being held in secret.

"Then we may have the whole pieg.

ture," the subcommittee source said

Indicate page, name o

ewspaper, city and state

2A

ST. LOUIS

POST-DISPATCH

Date: 8/9/78

Edition:

*** Final

Author:

Editor:

Title:

HSCA

Character:

or

Classification: SL 62-5097

Submitting Office:

[Being Investigated

62-5092-120

TEARCHED _

_INDEXED

ERIALIZES PAL FILED Pine

AUG 10 1978

FBI-ST. LOUIS

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 72

---

## Page 73

(Mount Clipping in Spaco Bolow)

Charges House Panel Hired

By JO MANNIES

Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

the attorney for James Earl Ray,

convicted assassin of the Rev. Martin

Ray Case SPY

Luther King Jr., says House investiga-

tors hired a Black Jack man to spy on

Ray's brother.

(Indicate page, name of

newspaper, city and state.)

And, said attorney Mark Lane, inves-

tigators for the House Select Committee

on Assassination then gave the

"spy"

answers — some false — for his official

1A

ST. LOUIS

POST-DISPATCH

Lane was in St. Louis on Monday for

something of a three-ring circus of dis-

closures and allegations. In addition to

the charges about spying, Lane:

- Accused the committee staff of

using illegal means to gain evidence,

including wiretapping and thefts, all as

part of a "conspiracy" to prevent a fair

investigation into King's death.

- Engaged in a mild shoving match

with a New York Times reporter and

accused the Times of being an unwitting

"transmission belt" for false disclosures

about the, King murder. Lane main-

tained that committee investigators had

intentionally leaked the information to

the Times to discredit Ray's contention

that, despite his guilty piea, he is inno

cent.

Lane said he decided to make his alle-

gations public because,

"Members of

Congress have not the faintest idea that

they are being betrayed by their own

staff."

A spokesman for the committee sal

Monday night only that the staif is

aware of Lane's contentions and that

"we consider them serious. We will be

investigating." Ray is expected to testh

fy publicly before the committee late

his month, the spokesman said. •

U.S. Rep. Harold Sawyer, D-Mich., al

nyember

the committee,

denied

Lane's contention that Ray was offered

volved."""

Sawyer defended the proposal.

"Evs.

ery prosecutor in the country does this

at times to gain information," he said

• Such a deal is now almost impossible.

Sawyer said, because Lane "has just

deliberately blown it" by discussing it

publicly.

The news conference was held in St.

.,Couis at the Hilton Inn near Lambert

Field. its primary aim, Lane said, was

to explain the role of Oliver Patterson

34, of 12350 Old Halls Ferry Road, al

alleged undercover agent for the com-

•mittee who said he had become disen. •

chanted with his job.

Patterson said he had once been an

informer for the Federal Bureau of In-

vestigation and had been employed for.

the last few months by the House special

committee to spy on James Earl Ray's

prother, Jerry, a friend of Patterson's

for several years.

He said his duties included tape-re-

curding telephone conversations with

Jerry Ray, sifting through Ray's belong

ings for letters from his jailed brother

and even acquiring samples of Jeriy

In April, Patterson said, he appeared

before the

committee's investigative

staff to answer questions about his un-

dercover work.

. "During that testimony,

"I was asked questions by a lawyer for

•the committee named Michael Eber-

hardt, and on several occasions I was

handed written "answers' to the ques

• tions by Conrad Baetz, a staft investiga-

ST. LOUIS, MO.

Dale:

Edition:

Author:

Editor:

Title:

HSCA

8/8/78

*** Final

Character:

his freedom in exchange for an admis-

sion of guilt.

But he said Ray had been told that

authorities in Missouri and Tennessee

would be asked to consider a reduction

in Ray's sentence if Sawyer was given

"hard evidence that others were in-

Other staff members appeared to be

aware of what was happening, Patterson

said, but "the stenographer apparenty

took the answers down as my own."

Patterson said he was told by Baelz

to say that "I had seen Jerry Ray carry

a gun — which is not true" and "10 fay

I something niçe about" J.B. Stoner, an

ladvocate of white supremacy.

Baetz, who lives in Madison County

-und is'a sheriff's deputy there, could nos

| ¿ be reached for commeni.

Classification: SI. 62-5097

Submitting Office:

• Being Investigated

SEARCHED

62-5097119

if rain

ANG"

1978

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 73

Two-Bureau 8/9/7877

where o.

---

## Page 74

* • The spying continued, Patterson said

setil he was told by an FBI agent and

a aetz that Lane had somenow learned oi

• the undercover work. "I was toid that

Jane or Ray might take retaliatory ac

tion against me or my family," he said.

Patterson said he was advised by

* Baetz to hold a news conference Suncay,

, where he was to accuse Lane of being a

homosexual and contend that his under-

cover work had reinforced James Earl

Ray's guilt,

The conference was postponed, Pat-

• terson said, after he and Baetz learned

• of Pope Paul VI's death. After a meeting

;With Lane,

Patterson said he had a

change of heart and decided to "tell the

" whole truth about the secret operation."

Patterson said he was displeased

with the job, because the committee

¡owed him s9c0 and was "just going to

• dump everything on me - the illegal

wire taps,

the opening of

mail, the

thefts, everything. I'm willing to take a

* lie detector test, too," he said.

** To lend credence to Patterson's sto

ry, Lane displayed an armload of tapes,

• said to be recordings of conversations

with several persons, including Baetz

~ and a New York Times reporter. Lane

; said Patterson had been instructed to

*, "leak" false iniormation to the Times

for mond St. Louis interview schefuled

"pfor Monday.

But instead of a being given a private

nterview, Times reporter Anthony J.

arro found himself walking into a hotel

ja room full of news cameras and report.

ers. Marro pushed his way out of the

10om, saying that he was being used.

¡Lane followed Marro out into the hall,

Shouting,

"Don't you want to print the

ruth?"

Lane believed that the incident' sup-

ported his contention that "the staff of

the House

committee panicked when

they learned that I was aware of what

was going on. So they decided to set up a

secret meeting with The New York

Times and discredit me."

Patterson said he knew nothing of

recent reports by Russell E. Byers of

Rock Hill that Byers had been offered

• money by two Imperial, Mo., men to

arrange King's killing.

c Marro, whose newspaper broke.

' allegations, reported that Patterson

"hild never been reached by the Times

anc had never provided the paper with

any information

concerning

the King

assassination prior to Monday."

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Pagent

In a brief telephone interview, Marro

added, "We chase a lot of-leads. Some

are good - some aren't. I'm going to

Washington to chase a few more.

Lane said he was disturbed with his

findings. An assassination buf! who hits

written two books - "Rush to Judg.

ment" and "Code Name Zorro" - about

the murders of King and President John

F. Kennedy, Lane contended that "it

seems impossible for anybody to now

take the House Select Committee on

Assassinations seriously."

Patterson, a self-proclaimed gypsy

salesman who says he has sold every-

thing from real estate to geraniums,

says he now has other matters to worry

about.

Because he fears for his life, he said,

he was to leave the St. Louis area Mon-

day night. "I don't know where I'll go,"

he said. "But when it comes to knuckles,

I think mine are going to get slapped."

In a related development, FBI direc-

tor William H. Webster said Monday

that the 1974 FBI report containing an

informant's statement about a payoff

milde to Ray after King's killing was

never turned over to federal investig?

toi's because of "simple inadvertance."

*This document came to light last

March, along with an earlier documeri,

which was an FBI report that Byers had

told two lawyers that he had turned

down a $50,000 offer to arrange King's

• death. The FBI here had been checking

into Byers after he had become a prime :

suspect in the two break-ins at the St.

Louis Art Museum. Charges against

Byers were,subsequently dropped

The second document quoted an in-

former as saying he was told by Byers

that a Missouri businessman was "the

individual who

made

the payoff to

James Earl Ray after the killing" on

April 4, 1968.

Webster said that the second docu-

ment constituted "heresay three times

removed." In New York to address the

American Bar Association's national

convention, Webster said that although

• an investigation by his office concluded

that the report's misplacement was a

mistake, it was not overly signilicant

• because

"it has not yet been verified

tilat the informant spoke the truth."

Although the document, as censored

*hen it was made public, did not specily

who Byers said had paid off Ray. The

report contained the first allegation that

money was actually paid to Ray.

side en trade ses

---

## Page 75

Tues., August 8, 1978 ST.LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

"torney" Mark" Lane (entery"" Paterson of Block Jack ond Susan Wad.

making a joke at an otherwise serious press

sworth, a friend of Patterson's. (Post-Dispatch

taconference here Monday. With him are Oliver

Photo by Karen Elshout)

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 75

---

## Page 76

FD-350 (Rev. 10-19-77)

'Broker named

as conspirator

in FBI memo

WASHINGTON (AP) - An FBI agent was given a

second-hand account by an informant several years

after the 1968 assassination of Dr. Martin Luther. King

Jr. that a St. Louis stockbroker was "the individual who

made the payoff of James Earl Ray," according to the

agent's report released Thursday.

The stockbroker and a lawyer who also was impli-

cated in the claimed conspiracy have died. Their wives

deny their husbands had any such involvement.

• THE FBI AGENT, whose name has not been re-

leased, wrote a memo for his own files in March, 1974,

after a wide-ranging interview with an unnamed infor-

mant. Among the criminal matters they discussed was

the informant's claim that he had been told the previous

year by Russell G. Byers, a former St. Louis auto parts,

dealer, of a conspiracy by the lawyer and the stockbro.

ker to murder King.

According to the informant, Byers said he originally

was offered $10,000 to $20,000 by the lawyer, subse.

quently identified as John Sutherland, to kill King him:

self, but that Byers declined.

/ Byers said another man, subsequently named as !

stockbroker John H. Kauffmann, was present when the

,murder contract.was offered, and that he (Kauffmann)

was the man who later paid Ray an unspecified amount

for the actuaf'killing.

Ray is serving a 99-year sentence for King's killing:

He pleaded guilty,-but now says he had no part in the

shooting.

The agent did not forward his report of the interview

to FBI headquarters and it was not discovered until last'

March, during a review of St. Louis bureau files on an

unrelated matter.

THE AGENT'S report was dated March 19, 1974.

Kauffmann died less than three weeks before, on March

1, 1974.

Top FBI officials say that on learning of the episode,

'they immediately forwarded the document to the Jus-

tice Department and the House Select Committee on

Assassinations. The committee called Byers to testify

in closed session.

Some elements of the story were publicized last

week, when Byers. himself disclosed he had told the

committee he was offered $50,000, rather than the less-

er figure mentioned in the FBI report, to kill King:*

But in an.interview with The New York Times, By-

ers said nothing about a Kauffmann payoff to Ray, and

there has been no indication from official sources that

he offered any corroboration of that allegation to the

NW 68262 Docid: 3293979m pitige 76

Indicate page, name o

ewspaper, city and state

rg• 2A, St. Louis

Globe-Democrat

, St.

Louis, Missouri

Date: 8/4/78

Baition: morning

Title: "Broker named

as conspirator in

FBI memo"

Character:

or

Classification:

Submitting Office:

62-5097-1188

SEARCHED

SE MALIZED. FAT FILED

iNDERED

AUG 7 1978

"BiTSI. LOUIS

FBI/DOJ

---

## Page 77

3657

FD-36 (Rev. 3-24-77)

TRANSMIT VIA:

EX Teletype

7 Facsimile

FBI

PRECEDENCE:

• Immediate

• Priority

I& Routine

CLASSIFICATION:

• TOP SECRET

I SECRET

• CONFIDENTIAL

I CLEAR

Date

8/8/78

FM ST. LOUIS (62-5097)

TO DIRECTOR (62-117290) ROUTINE .

BT

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA) •

FOR THE INFORMATION OF FBIHQ, OTIS KING GREIF, JR.

TELEPHONICALLY CONTACTED THE ST. LOUIS FBI OFFICE AUGUST 7, 1978,

STATING THAT HE WAS CONTACTED ON AUGUST 7, 1978, BY RUSSELL BYERS.

BYERS HAD WITH HIM A COPY OF A "FBI MEMO WHICH HAD PORTIONS

INKED OUT" AND WHICH MAY BE A COPY OF A MEMORANDUM OF HOWARD C.

KEWEDY DATED MARCH 19, 197A. BYERS' COPY SAID THAT BYBES

CONTACTED SOMEONE AT OK NOVELTY COMPANY IN ST. LOUIS REGARDING AN

UNNAMED INDIVIDUAL. THE UNNAMED INDIVIDUAL WAS IDENTIFIED BY

BYERS AS RICH O'HARA. THE MEMO FURTHER SAID THAT THE PERSON AT

OK NOVELTY VOUCHED FOR O'HARA AS NOT BEING A "SNITCH" .

GREIF IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS THE PERSON AT OK NOVELTY CONTACTED

BY BYERS ABOUT O'HARA. GREIF HAD KNOWN O'HARA THROUGH O 'HARA'S

- ST. LOUIS

1

-62-5097

137-16523)

62-5097-117

SEARCHED

MJW: 1js

(2)

ERANZO PHL

WIDEXED. "

Approved:

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 77

Transmitted

2106

(Number)

(Time)

Per

вів

FBI/DO

---

## Page 78

FD-36 (Rev. 3-24-77)

FBI

TRANSMIT VIA:

• Teletype

= Facsimile

PRECEDENCE:

• Immediate

• Priority

• Routine

CLASSIFICATION:

• TOP SECRET

I SECRET

7 CONFIDENTIAL

JEFTO

7 CLEAR

Date

------

PAGE TWO SL 62-5097 SEE UNCHAS E TO

PAST OWNERSHIP OF THE PIRATES COVE TAVERN, IN WHICH OK NOVELTY

HAD A VENDING MACHINE. GREIF SAID THAT BYERS WAS TRYING TO

IDENTIFY THE SOURCE OF THE INFORMATION IN THE SAME MEMO WHO

REFERRED TO BYERS AS "A VERY TREACHEROUS GUY". GREIF SAID HE TOLD

BYERS HE COULD NOT IDENTIFY WHO MAY HAVE CHARACTERIZED BYERS IN

THAT MANNER. GREIF SAID HE HAD ABSOLUTELY NO KNOWLEDGE OF BYERS

POSSIBLE CONNECTION IN THE ASSASSINATION OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING,

JR. BUT WANTED TO NOTIFY THE FBI OF BYERS CONTACT WITH HIM.

GREIF IS THE OWNER OF OK NOVELTY COMPANY, A ST. LOUIS

VENDING MACHINE COMPANY. GREIF IS FORMER SL 3549-PGI OPERATED FROM

AUGUST 21, 1975 TO

MARCH 3, 1977, BUFILE 137-43581, ST. LOUIS FILE

137-16523. A REVIEW OF SL 137-16523 FAILS TO REFLECT ANY

REFERENCE TO DR. KING'S ASSASSINATION OR RUSSELL BYERS.

BT

Approved:

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 78

Transmitted

Per

(Number)

(Time)

FBI/DOJ

---

## Page 79

FD-350 (Rev. 11-11-75)

(Mount Clipping in Space Below)

Report on King

killing called

only hearsay

NEW YORK (AP) - A 1974 FBI report alleging a

onspiracy in the murder of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther

"king Jr. was filed away for four years instead of being

túrned over to federal investigators because of "simple

inadvertence,"' FBI Director: William H. Webster said

Monday.

However, Webster downplayed the significance off

the slip-up, saying the report contained "hearsay three

times removed" and that it was written long after they

original investigation was concluded.

The recently released document quotes an informer

as saving he was told a Missouri businessman was "the

individual who made the payoff to James Earl Ray

after the killing." Ray is serving a 99year term in

Tennessee for the 1888 murder of the civil rights leader.

The report "would normally have been filed with the

King investigative file. This was not done," Webster

said in an interview.

"It hasn't been verified that the informant spoke the

truth. It hasn't been verified" that the informant was

Indicate page, name

lewspaper, city and state

5A ST. LOUIS

GLOBE- DEMOCRAT

Date:

8/8/78

Edition:

Daily-Final

Author:

Editor:

Title:

Character:

HSCA

or

Classification: SL 62-5097

Submitting Office:

_ Being Investigated

SEARCHED.

62-5092-116

PERA FRED Dai

1978

FBI-ST. LOUIS

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 79

---

## Page 80

.* Ray is serving a 99 year sentence for King's killing.

He-pleaded guilty, but now says he had no part in the

shooting.

The agent did not forward his report of the interview

to FBI headquarters and it was not discovered until last

March, during à review of St. Louis bureau files on an

THE AGENT'S report was dated March 19, 1974.

Kauffmann died less than three weeks before, on March

1, 1974;

Top FBI officials say that on learning of the episode

they immediately forwarded the document to the Jus

tice Department and the House Select Committee on

Assassinations. The committee called Byers to testify

Some elements of the story were publicized last

week, when Byers himself disclosed he had told the

committee he was offered $50,000, rather than the less-

er figure mentioned in the FBI report, to kill King.

But in an interview with The New York Times, By-

rs said nothing about a kaufimann payoft to Ray, and

here has been no indication from official sources that

he offered any corroboration of that allegation to the

cgramittes

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 80

R4c2.1765.6225442012246 12090729

#REEEEER 733

---

## Page 81

FD-350 (Rev. 11-11-75)

(

(Mount Clipping in Space Below)

Broker named

as conspirator

in FBI memo

WASHINGTON (AP) - An FBl agent was given a

second-hand. account by anzinformant. several years

after the 1968 assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King

Jr. that a St. Louls stockbroker was "the individual who

made the payoff ot James Earl Ray," according to the

agent's report released Thursday:

The stockbroker and a lawyer who aiso. was implis

cated in the claimed conspiracy have died. Their wives:

deny their husbands had any such involvement,

THE FBI AGENT, whose: name has not beer re.

leased, wrote a memo for his own files in March; 1974,.

aiter a wide ranging interview with an unnamed infor.

mant. Among the criminal matters they discussed was:

the intormant's claim that he had been told the previous

year by Russell Ga Byers; a tormer St. Louis auto parts

dealer of a conspiracy by the lawyer and the stockbro

ker to murder. King:

- cred to do to 2a by and he or shal

quently. identified as John Sutherland, to kill King him

self; but that Byers declined.

Byers: said another' man, subsequently named; as

stockbroker John H. Kauftmann, was present when the

murder contract was offered, and that he (Kauffmann):

was the man ho later: paid Ray an unspecified amount:

for the actual killing,

St. Louis

Globe-Democrat,

St. Louis, Mo.

Date: Aug. 4, 1978

Edition:

Author:

Editor:

Title:

Character:

or

Classification:

Submitting Office:

Being Investigated

62-5097=115

2:30038

62-5097

NW 6825Z

Docld:32989797

Page 81

---

## Page 82

FD-350 (Rev. 11-11-75)

(Mount Clipping in Space Below)

Byers Knew Of Ray

Payoff, Informant

Told FBi In 1973

-PASHINGTON - The Federal Bureau:

of Investigation received information in

1973 that Russell G. Byers, a former autg

parts dealer and police character from,

Rock Hill, Mo., knew who "made the

payoff of James Earl Ray' after the as-

sassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin

Luther King, Jr

Byers' accusation, reported: by an

informant, is contained in an internal St.

Louts FBt office memorandum made

avallable Wednesday to the Post-Dis-

patch under the Freedom of Information

Act. !

The memorandum, which went un

noticed for four years in the wrong file in:

Ste Louis; does not give the name of the

man identified by Byers.' But it describes

the man as. "a shert, stocky man whe

walked with a limp."

This description, several sources have

told the Post-Dispatch, fits' John R.

Kauffmann, a one-time stockbroker of

Imperial, Mo. Byers has reportedly told

investigators for the House Assassina-

tions. Committee that Kaulfmann and:

John Hi Sutherland, both now dead,

asked Byers to arrange King's murder:

Byers refused to comment on the FBI.

memo when reached at his Rock Hill-

home Wednesday night. He' said the."

House: committee had asked, nim. not to

make public stetements,

Byers was beenly interested, Sawever.

in the new disclosures: He carefully

analyzed the copy of the FBi memo:

released: Wedhesday., And, while bum

ming a tune, he read through a New,

York Times story about the memo. S

Byers' allegations are currently undet

scrutiny by the House Committee on

Assassinationa A committee source told

the Past-Dispatch Wednesday night that

the committes. was still trying to assess

the signticance of Byers story.

(Indicate page, name of

newspaper, city and state.)

Front page, St.

Louis Post-Dispatch,

St. Louis, Mo.

Date: Aug. 3, 1978

Edition: 3 Star Final

Author:

Editor:

Title:

Character:

or

Classification:

Submitting Office:

[ Being Investigated. •

42-5097-114

17н

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 82

---

## Page 83

All names but that of Bupts, werg

deleted from the FBI memorandum by

the Freedom of Information Privacy

Acts Branchs, But the memorandum

discussed a meeting among, Byers and

two men in, which: Byers said he "had;

been offered either $10,009 or 320;000 to

kilf.Kingt

Sources have told the Post Dispatch

that Byers told House investigators that

Kaufmann ands Sutherland, a patent

Intormation for this story was

provided by Paul Wagman, Robert

Adams, Gerald:M. Boyd, William

Freivogel andy, Pulltzer, all of the

Post-Dispatch staff.,

lawyer, also from Imperialyasked him to

arrange King's murder.

The memorandum, dated March 19;

1974, was written by: a St-Louis agent.of

the. FBl.on.the basis.of.information,

supplied by an informant

"In the fall of 1973/, the memorandum

reads, "Beyers (the name is consistentiy.

misspelled in the memo) talked freely

about himselt arid his business; and they

later went to (short deletion by FBI)

where: Beyers told a story about visiting.

a lawyer in St. Louis. Comy, now

deceased, not further Identified, who had

offered, to give him a contract to kille

'Martin Luther King. He said that also.

present was a: Short, stocky man; who"

walked with ajlimp."

The membrandum then continues with

this sentence) enclosed in parentheses:

"(Later, with regard to the latter

individual, Beyers: commented that this

man was actually the individual who,

made the payoff of James Earl Ray. after

the killing:).

Several sources have told the Post-

Dispatch that Kauttmann was shorty

overweight and walked withsa marked

limp after being injured in an automobile:

accident several years, prior to the

events described by Byers.

one. source: said that accident also

seemed toxhaves impaired Kauffman

1. 25%

"mentally" He was, a completely differ:

ent man after that ith lact, when Kaur

mann was arrested In 1967 for selling

: 500:000 amphetamine: plisito,a federal

agent.he asked.his attorney. if.he could

plead innocent by, reason of insanity, the

source said, That idea was abandoned,

hawever, and Kauffmann was convicted,

Kauffmann, a stockbroker and bushess

man, died in 1973.

His wite Beulah G. Kauffmann testic

fied for about; three hours last week be

fore the House select committee.

The committee did not ask her about

the allegation that. a Short, stöcky man

who walked with a limp." had paid off

Ray the Post-Dispatch was-told by a

source familiar with her. interrogation

ipe hautmann refused to discuss-the

See BYERS, Page 8

-

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 83

---

## Page 84

Byers

"FROM PAGE ONE

matter; hanging up: on: a: reporter taking Byers' story. One committee

Wednesday night

source told the Post-Dispatch that:the

the memorandum largely jibes with

panel is undecided.

an account Byers gave, about the same

"We're just working on it," the source

* time.to a reputable St. Louisan:

said. "We haven't come: to any conclu-

In about 1914, the St: Louisan: told the

sions as to how serlously to takelt!".

Post-Dispatch, Byers told him that a

The source noted, however, that the;

stockbroker.whoihad.lost his license was

intensity:.Of the committee s, efforts

wlinyolved.in: offeringByers_$50,000;foґ

'shows that the panel considers. the story.

" King's murder.. The Stockbroker appar-

well worth investigation:

hiently was Kauffmann:

"Certain things appear to corroborate

The: 350,000 figure differs trom the

the story;"' the source-sald, without

$10,000 to $20,000 figure cited in the FE

elaborating: "But at this point, were;

memo. Byers said he never intended/to

just following up all anglesBasically,

goi through with the plot, but followed

we take anything like this seriously until:

along for awhile out of curiosity.

we prove otherwise."

Byers' allegations have focused atten.

Byers allegations have led investiga,

,tors to, speculate that. his brother-in-law,

tion on Kauffmann and Sutherland;

John Paul Spica, might have conveyed

whose names: had:not: been:mentioned:

word, of the bounty to Ray at the

publicly in connection with the King case

Missourt Penitentiary, where both were.

until last week.

serving sentences at the time of the

The FBI memorandum went unroticed

alleged offer in late 1966 or early: 1967:

by investigatots looking into King's

Spica, who now runs a fruit stand in Sti

assassination for four years because it

Louis, has denied having any dealings

was filed under Byers' name and: not

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 84

---

## Page 85

C.

dicine.

test on statues from the St. Louis/Art

A well-placed source said.drug agents

suspected one of Kauffmann's co-defen-

Byers is described in the memoran-

dents, but no evidence was developed:

dum as a "very treacherous guy:" The

triking any co-defendant to the shooting:

description apparently came from an

associate of the FBE Informant, who,

In addition two, St. Louis County.

cautioned the informant "to,stay from

policemen who investigated said they

him if hệ wanted to stay out of troublest

and. federal: druggagents had questioned.

One of the investigators on the staff of

the.authenticity.ofLeap's story.

the: House committee: was the federal.

drug agent who if years ago led the

Leap told county police that, a car

investigation Into Kauffmann's Illegal:

blocked his path on Sulphur Springs

sale of amphetamines. Kauffmann was

Road on his way back home after a late

convicted in 1967.

night: meeting Sept 22, 1967, with:the:

The investigator Harold D. Leap; has

.informant;/who.had.helped/make: the

been on the committee staff since last.

case against kauf mann, The informant;

, year. That indicates that he was not just

Dallas Barr, had taken activer part; in:

hired to follow. up. on the Kauftman

Kauffmann's illegal amphetamine.opera.

angle, which was disclosed to. the.com:

tion:

mittee in March,

Leap said he struggled outside his car

While heading the successful'effort to

with two men from the other car before:

prosecute Kautimarn and seven co

being shot in the head by his own pistole:

defendants, Leaptwas wounded in a

The wound was. superficial and he: soon

shooting onsa! country road in St. Louts

regained consciousness,

•County.

Leapérefused to comment on his work

No arrests were ever. made in; the.

with the assassinations committee or ther

shooting:

Shooting;

NWV 68262 Docld: 32989797 Page 85

---

## Page 86

TO

FROM

SUBJECT:

OPTIONAL FORM NO. 10

JULY 1973 EDITION

GSA FPMR (41 CFR) 101-11.8

UNTED STATES GOVENMENT

Memorandum

: FILE (62-5097)

SAC ROY B. KLAGER, JR.

HSCA

DATE:

8/4/78

Attention is directed to two FD-302s in this file,

reflecting interviews conducted on 7/28/78 and 8/4/78,

respectively, by me, of former SA HOWARD C. KENNEDY.

Particular attention is directed to the interview with

KENNEDY on 8/4/78 as it pertains to dissemination of

information by him, which information is reflected in

serial 5 of St. Louis file 137-16185.

In this interview

Of 8/4/78, KENNEDY stated that he recalls with reasonable

certainty that certain information was disseminated by him

to the St. Louis Police Department.

In order to document such dissemination, this is to

record that I personally searched our dissemination control

file, 66-2340, for the months of April through July of 1974

and found no record of such dissemination having been made.

It should be noted that the volume of 66-2340 for the

month of March, 1974, and prior months are no longer maintained

as they have been destroyed under the file destruction program.

There is no FD-159 (dissemination form) concerning this

matter contained in 137-16185 or the related file 87-21859.

(4)

62-5091-113

÷ 19/3

Buy U.S. Savings Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Savings Plan

8010-110

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 86

---

## Page 87

X

AIRIEL

8/4/78

TO:

DIRECIOR, FBI (62-117290)

(ATTENTION: CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT,

RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION).

FROM:

SAC, ST. LOUIS (62-5097)

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS

Re St. Iouis telephone call to Bureau 8/4/78.

Enclosed herewith are three copies each of an FD-302

on interview of former SA HOWARD C. KENNEDY and a

menorandum from

SAC ROY B. KLAGER, JR.

Büreau (Encs.)

i,

St. Louis

RBK: niri

(4)

62-5097-112

SEARCHED

SERIALI

1OрN.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 87

---

## Page 88

FD-448 (Rev. 9-1-76)

Transmit attached by Facsimile - CLEAR

PRIORITY

Precedence

To:

DIRFITOR, CONCRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT,

Date:

8/3/78

From:

RM 8988

SAC, ST. LOUIS

162=5697)

Time: Transmitted - 1901

Subject: HSCA

Initials -

MD

0 Fingerprint Photo Fingerprint Record Map

→ Artists Conception

# Other

Special handling instructions:

SPECIAL - HANDCARRY TO ADDRESSEE

[X Newspaper clipping

Photograph

62-5097-181

SEARCHED

SERIALIZED

Sint

INDEXED

FILED

*FBI/DOJ

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 88

---

## Page 89

FD-302 (REV, 11-27-70)

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Date of transcription_ 8/4/78

MI. HOWARD C: KENNEDY resides at 55 Harneywold Drive,

Ferguson, Missouri 63136, residence, telephone number (314)

521-82.21.

Mr. KENNEDY is presently self-employed as a private

investigator and polygraph examiner.

He retired from FBI

service on February 28, 1977. Prior to his retirement he

was assigned to the St. Louis Division of the FBI from 1954

to the date of his retirement. During 1974 he was assigned

to general criminal matters and worked as a Special Agent

under the supervision of Field Supervisor ROBERT L. BENDER.

+ 0 в 2.

My. KENNEDY's recollection was refreshed regarding an

interview with him at the FBI Office in St. Louis, Missouri,

on July 28, 1978, by SAC ROY B. KLAGER, JR., concerning a

of that file. Mr. KENNEDY recalled having read this serial.

1978, concerning a notation appearing on the above serial

which states, "Notify locals of info re killing", and his

earlier reply thät in his recollection this cömment pertained

to a matter appearing on page 2 of the memorandum and unrelated

to the MARTIN LUTHER KING information.

Mr. KENNEDY was asked if he did in fact disseminate the

information in keeping with the above-cited handwritten

He related that he recalls with reasonable certainty

that he did disseminate the information appearing on page 2

to someone in the St. Louis Police Department whose identity

he does not now recall.

Mr. KENNEDY called further attention to the last paragraph

of page 3 of the memorandum in question which refers to another

killing, unrelated to the MARTIN LUTHER KING matter. He

volunteered that this additional unrelated information was also

disseminated, to the best of his recollection, to the st. Louis

Police Department; however, he similarly does not recall to

whom this information was given.

Interviewed on.

8/4/78

St. Louis, Missouri

File # SI 62-5097-111

Date dictated.

8/4/78

This document contoins neilher recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. Il is the properly of the FBI and is loaned to your agency:

it and its contents are not lo be distribuled outside your agency.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 89

---

## Page 90

FD-350 (Rev. 11-11-75)

(Mount Clipping in Space Below)

Byers Knew Of Payoff,

FBI Was Told

WASHINGTON - The Federal Bureau

f Investigation received information in

1973 that Russell G. Byers, a former auto

sarts dealer and police character from

Rock Hill, knew who "made the payoff of

ames Earl Ray" after the assassination

uf the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Byers' accusation, reported by an

informant, is contained in an internal St.

Louis FBI office memorandum made

•ivailable Wednesday to the Post-Dis-

patch under the Freedom of Information

Act.

The memorandum, which went un-

noticed for four years in the wrong file in

St. Louis, does not give the name of the

man identified by Byers. But it describes

the man as "a short, stocky man who

walked with a limp."

This description, several sources have

told the Post-Dispatch, fits John R.

Kauffmann, a one-time stockbroker of

Imperial, Mo. Byers has reportedly told

investigators for the House Assassina-

tions Committee that Kauffmann and

John H. Sutherland, both now dead,

asked Byers to arrange King's murder.

However, one source said that at least

one other man fitting the description

could not be ruled out as the person

described in the memorandum. The

second man was described by St. Louis

police sources as an avowed segregation-

ist and an acquaintance of Sutherland's.

Byers refused to comment on the FBI

memo when reached at his Rock Hill

home Wednesday night. He said the

House committee had asked him not to

make public statements.

Byers was keenly interested, however,

in the new disclosures. He carefully

analyzed the copy of the FBI memo

released Wedresday. And, while hum-

ming a tune, he read through a New

York Times story about the memo.

Byers' allegations are currently under

scrutiny by the House Committee on

Assassinations. A committee source told

the Post-Dispatch Wednesday night that

the committee was still trying to assess

the significance of Byers' story.

All names but that of Byers were

deleted from the FBI memorandum by

NW 68268 Deedom 2989formation Privacy

989797 Page 90

Acts Branch. But the memorandum

liscussed a meeting among Byers anc

wo men in which Byers said he "hac

been offered either $10,000 or $20,000 to

kill King."

Sources have told the Post-Dispatch

that Byers told House investigators that

auftmann and Sutherland, a paten

awyer, also from Imperial, asked him t

arrange King's murder.

The memorandum, dated March 19,

1974, was written by a St. Louis agent of

the FBI on the basis of information

supplied by an informant.

"In the fall of 1973," the memorandum

reads, "Beyers)(the name is consistently

misspelled in the memo) talked freely

about himself and his business, and they

later went to (short deletion by FBI)

where Beyers told a story about visiting •

a lawyer in St. Louis County, now

deceased, not further identified, who had

offered to give him a contract to kill

Martin Luther King. He said that also

present was a short, stock man, who

walked with a limp."

The memorandum then continues with

this sentence, enclosed in parentheses:

"Later,

with regard to the latter

individual, Beyers commented that this

man was actually the individual who

made the payoff of James Earl Ray after

the killing.)

Several sources have told the Post-

Dispatch that Kaufmann was short,

overweight and walked with a marked

limp after being injured in an automobile

accident several years prior to the

events described by Byers.

The other man fitting that description,

however, is known to have testified

before the subcommittee in April. Roy A.

Walther III, an attorney for Byers,

refused to say whether the other man

was implicated in Byers' testimony.

Walther said he had never heard of the

other man until the time of Byers'

testimony before the House committee.

St. Louis Police Department sources

ledicate page, y amd state.

ewspaper,

1A

ST. LOUIS

POST-DISPATCH

ST. LOUIS, MO.

Date: 8/3/78

Edition: Bulldog

Author:

Editor:

Title:

Character:

or

Classification: SL 62-5097

Submitting Office: St. Louis

Being Investigated

62-5097-110

3

---

## Page 91

said the man was an avowed segrega-

tionist, and had appeared in St. Louis

frequently to speak at segregationist

rallies during the late 1960s. He was also

known to have been acquainted with

Sutherland.

The man is further known to be closely

associated with Ray, who pleaded guilty

'of King's murder in 1969 and is serving a

99-yéar prison sentence in Petros, Tenn.

Since pleading guilty, however, Ray has

denied full responsibility for the shooting

and has sought a new trial.

Kauffmann, a one-time stockbroker

who was, convicted in the late 1960s of

i selling 500,000-amphetamine pills to a

Federal agent, died in 1973. His wife,

Beulah G. Kauffmann, testified for about

three hours last week before the House

Select Committee:

The committee did not ask her about

the allegation that a "short, stocky man,

who walked with a limp," had paid off

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 91

---

## Page 92

X AIRIEL.

7/31/78

TỌ:

FROM:

SUBJ:

DIRECTOR, FBI (62-117290)

(ATTENTION: CONGRESSIONAL, INQUIRY UNIT,

RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION).

SAC, SI. LOUIS (62-5097)

SL 3567-PC

ReButel call to St. Louis 7/28/7.8.

By way of retelcall, Unit Chief GEORGE J. FOSTER,

Congressional Inquiry Unit, Recoras Management Division,

directed that a Xerox copy of the entire St. Louis file 137-16541,

pertaining to captioned subject, be transmitted by mail to the

Congressional Inquiry Unit.

A Xerox copy of the file requested above is enclosed

herewith.

- Bureau (Enc.)

D-St. Louis (1 - 62-5097; 1 - 137-16541).

RSK : nim

(4)

ADDENDUM - SAC, SI. LOUIS:

on 7/31/78., Unit Chief FOSTER of

the Congressional Inquiry Unit was reminded by SAC ROY B. KLAGER,

JR. that the transmittal of an informant file through the mail,

identifying the informant with his symbol number and other

identifying data, is in violation of current Bureau regulations.

FOSTER instructed that the file be mailed anyhow.

62-5097-10.9

Xen

Im

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 92

---

## Page 93

AIRTEL

7/31/78

TO: DIRECIOR, FBI (62-117290)

FROM: SAC, ST. LOUIS (62-5097)

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE

ON ASSASSINATIONS

(ATTN: CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT,

RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION).

ReButel to St. Louis 7/23/78.

Enclosed herewith are three copies each of FD-302s

reflecting interviews at St. Louis, Missouri, on /28/78 with

ROBERT I. BENDER, former FBI Field Supervisor, and HOWARD C.

KENNEDY, former FBI Agent.

, Bureau (Encs.)

Dst. Louis

RBK:nIn

62-5087-108

NW 68262. Docld:32989797 Page 93

---

## Page 94

FD-302 (REV. 11-27-70)

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Date of transcription

7/31/78

Mx. ROBERT L. BENDER resides at Route 1, Box 388, Chesterfield,

Missouri

63017, residence telephone number (314) 391-6518.

Mr. BENDER is presently unemployed, having retired from FBI

service on 2/28/77•

Prior to his retirement he was assigned to

the St. Louis Field Division of the FBI from 1953 to the date of

his retirement. Additionally, he served in the capacity of

Field Supervisor in the St. Louis Division of the FBI for apprOx-

imately nine years prior to and until the date of his retirement.

He supervised general criminal matters.

MK. BENDER was interviewed at the St. Louis FBI Office, at

which place he voluntarily appeared.

Mr. BENDER was exhibited sufficient portions of a closed

St. Louis file 137-16185 to enable him to identify it as a matter

which was at one time under his supervision and assigned

to an

Agent under his supervision by the name of HOWARD C. KENNEDY.

The file in this instance pertains to one RICHARD F. O'HARA,

a former informant of the St. Louis Division of the FBI.

The attention of Mr. BENDER was directed to a memorandum in

this file dated 3/19/74 to the SAC, St. Louis,

from Special Agent

HOWARD C. KENNEDY. This memorandum is identified as serial 5 of

the file. Mr.. BENDER was 'permitted to read this memorandum in

order to refresh his memory concerning its contents. Although

he had no independent recollection of the memorandum or its contents,

after reading it he concluded that the memorandum had crossed his

desk on or about 3/19/74, as attested to by the appearance of his

handwriting on the memorandum. BENDER's attention was further

... $20,000

to kill KING."

Mr. BENDER related that he had no independent recollection of

memorandum dated. 3/19/74,

contained in the above-cited paragraph was either acted upon or

Interviewed on_

7/28/78

ar Ste Louise Missouri

_File #_SI, 62-5097-107

SAC ROY B. KLAGER, JR./n1n

_Date dictated.

7/31/78

This document contoins neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBl. Il is the properly of the FBI and is loaned lo your agency:

is ond ils contents are nol lo be distribuled oulside your agency.

---

## Page 95

SL 62-5097

disseminated beyond the file in which the memorandum is located.

He did note that there is a handwritten notation in his hand-

writing on page 1 of the memorandum which states, "Notify locals

of info re killing." Upon reading the memorandum in detail,

it was BENDER's conclusion that this handwritten notation did

not apply to the above-cited paragraph but, instead, applied to

an unrelated matter of interest to local authorities appearing

on page 2 of the memorandum.

Mr. BENDER stated that he has

absolutely no recollection

as to why the information contained in the above-cited paragraph

on page 3 of the memorandum in question was not disseminated

or acted upon. He can only assume that such failure was through

inadvertence

He can make no judgment whatsoever concerning

the credibility of the information as a possible reason for

not acting on it.

BENDER related, however, that because of

his long association with the FBI

• in St. Louis, he does recall

an individual by the name of RUSSELL BYERS as

a well-known

thief and fence.

At the conclusion of interview, Mr. BENDER stated that in

retrospect and in light of today's climate, the information

concerning MARTIN LUTHER KING in the memorandum of 3/19/74

should have been acted upon.

- 2* -

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 95

---

## Page 96

FD-302 (REV. 11-27-70)

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Date of transcription_ 7./31/78

MI. HOWARD C. KENNEDY resides at 55 Harneywold Drive,

Ferguson, Missouri 63136, residence telephone number (314)

521-8221.

MX. KENNEDY is presently self-employed as a private

investigator and polygraph examiner.

He retired from FBI service

on 2/28/77•

Prior to his retirement he was assigned to the

St. Louis Division of the FBI from 1954 to the date of his

retirement. During 1974 he was assigned to general criminal

matters and worked as a Special Agent under the supervision of

Field Supervisor ROBERT I. BENDER.

Mr. KENNEDY was interviewed at the St. Louis FBI Office,

at which place he voluntarily appeared.

Mr. KENNEDY was exhibited sufficient portions of a closed

St. Louis file 137-16185 to enable him to identify it as a matter

which was at one time assigned to him while he was an FBI Ägent.

The file in this instance pertains to one RICHARD E. O HARA,

a former informant of the St. Louis Division of the FBI. The

attention of Mr. KENNEDY was directed to a memorandum in this

file dated 3/19/74 from him to the SAC, St. Louis.

This memórandum

is identified as serial 5 of the file.

He was permitted to read

this memorandum in order to refresh his memory concerning its

contents..

KENNEDY related that from his review of

this memorandum

it reflects the results of a contact by him with O'HARA at which

time O'HARA furnished him several pieces of information.

KENNEDY's attention was further directed to paragraph 2, page 3

of the memorandum, which paragraph begins, "During the fall of

...," and ending with "..: $20,000 to kill KING."

MI. KENNEDY stated that upon having his memory refreshed

by reading the above memorandum, he vaguely recalls receiving

the information.

He has no recollection, however, of having

disseminated the information contained in the above-cited

paragraph or that the information was otherwise acted upon.

He cán cite no reason for such failure other than inadvertence.

To the best of his recollection, no action was, in fact, taken

concerning the information about MARTIN LUTHER KING, as contained

Interviewed on

47/28/78

at.

St. Louis. Missouri

File: #=

SL 62-5097-106

by

L SAC ROY B. KLAGER, JR./nIn

_ Date dictated..

7/31/78

This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It'is the properly of the FBI and is loaned to your agency;

it and ils contents ore

nol lo be distributed outside your agency.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 96

---

## Page 97

SL 62-5097

in the memorandum, and he shared this information with no

other personnel in the office.

Mr. KENNEDY was unable to provide an evaluation of the

information and he is sure that no other information concerning

KING was furnished to him by O'HARA. He can make no comment

with regard to the credibility of the information at this late

date. He does not believe, however, that credibility of either

O'HARA Or BYERS entered into any decision or lack of decision

with regard to dissemination of the information concerning KING.

KENNEDY recalls, however, from his many years of service

in the FBI at St. Louis that RUSSELL BYERS was a well-known

fence.

KENNEDY

reiterated that he has

no idea or reason for the

failure to disseminate the information contained in paragraph

2 of page 3 of the cited memorandum as it relates to MARTIN

LUTHER KING.

He noted that there is nothing written on the

memorandum to indicate such dissemination was made or action

taken otherwise.

Mr. KENNEDY's attention was further directed to a hand-

written notation on the first page of the memorandum which

states, "Notify locals of info re killing." He identifies

this notation as being in the handwriting of his former Supervisor,

ROBERT I.. BENDER.

Upon reading the memorandum in detail, it

was KENNEDY's conclusion that this handwritten notation

did

not apply to the above-cited paragraph but, instead, applied

to an unrelated matter of interest to local authorities

appearing on page 2 of the memorandum.

At the conclusion of interview, Mr. KENNEDY stated that

in retrospect, the information concerning MARTIN LUTHER KING

in the memorandum of 3/19/74 should have been acted upon.

- 2*

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 97

---

## Page 98

ED-448 (Rev. 9-1-76)

Transmit attached by Facsimile - CLEAR

Precedence

IMMEDIATE

To:

From:

Subject:

DIRAFINE, EUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE)

SAC, ST. LOUIS

(62-5097)

HSCA

7/26/78

Time: Transmittod - 2030

Initials -

SDF

_ Fingerprint Photo

Fingerprint Record

_ Map

XXNowspaper clippings Photograph

• Artists Conception

• Other

Special handling instructions:

SPECIAL - HANDCARRY TO MR. T. J. HARRINGTON, JR.,

SEr.

ROOM 1222, JEH

62-5097-105

for.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 98

Aprone: PAR

FILEU-

FBI/DOJ

---

## Page 99

VZCZCHQOB94

00 SL

DE HQ 0094 2091955

ZNR UUUUU

0 281910Z JUL 78

FM DIRECTOR FBI (62-117290)

TO ST. LOUIS IMMEDIATE

BT

UNCLAS

HOUSE SELECI COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA).

REBUTELCAL TO ST. LOUIS DATED JULY 28, 1978.

BY AIRTEL TO BUREAU DATED MARCH 13, 1978, ST. LOUIS ADVISED

THAT INFORMATION RE POSSIBLE CONSPIRACY IN MARTIN LUTHER KING,

JR•, ASSASSINATION HAD BEEN LOCATED IN ST. LOUIS FILE 137-16185.

INFORMANT (SL 3167-C) HAD BEEN CONTACTED IN MARCH, 1974, AND

INFORMATION RE CRIMINAL MATTERS, INCLUDING THE ABOVE, PLACED IN

CONTACT MEMORANDUM MARCH 19, 1974, AND APPARENTLY NEVER

DISSEMINATED OR ACTED ON.

SI. LOUIS IS DIRECTED TO IMMEDIATELY CONTACT AGENT AND

AGENT SUPERVISOR WHO HANDLED SL 3167-C (IDENTIFIED BY ST. LOUIS

OFFICE AS FORMER SPECIAL AGENTS HOWARD C. KENNEDY AND ROBERT L.

BENDER) AND THOROUGHLY INTERVIEW THEM RE THE ABOVE. ORIGINAL

68-5092-105

file cc

Destroyed

Fia: 1975

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 99

---

## Page 100

PAGE TWO DE HQ B094 UNCLAS

CONTACI MEMORANDUM MARCH 19, 1974, FROM SI. LOUIS 137-16185

SHOULD BE SHOWN TO FORMER SPECIAL AGENIS KENNEDY AND BENDER TO

FACILITATE COMPLETE RE CALL OF ALL CIRCUMSTANCES RE THIS

MATTER.

POINTS TO BE COVERED DURING INTERVIEWS INCLUDE, BUT ARE

NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING:

SPECIAL AGENT KENNEDY:

1. RECOLLECIION OF INFORMATION OBTAINED IN MEMORANDUM.

2. CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING RECEIPT OF THAI INFORMATION.

3. EVALUATION OF THAT INFORMATION.

4. ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ST. LOUIS

3617-6 RE MARIIN LUTHER KING, JR., ALLEGATION.

5. EVALUATION OF INFORMATION, I.E., CREDIBILITY.

6 EVALUATION OF RUSSEL GEORGE BYERS•

7. REASON FOR FAILURE TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION.

8. ANY ORAL DISSEMINATION TO OTHER SPECIAL AGENTS IN

SI. LOUIS, BUREAU OR OTHER FIELD OFFICES.

SPECIAL AGENT BENDER:

1. RECOLLECTION OF INFORMATION IN MEMORANDUM.

2. REASON FOR FAILURE TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION.

- NW 68262-Docld:32989797 Page 100

---

## Page 101

PAGE THREE DE HQ BD94 UNCLAS

RESULIS OF INTERVIEWS SHOULD BE TELEPHONICALLY PROVIDED

TO CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT (CIUS, FBI HEADQUARTERS (FBIHQ),

EXTENSION 3685, AND CONFIRMED IN FD-302 FORM BY AIRTEL TO

FBIHQ, ATTENTION CIU, RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION.

BI

0094

NNNN

209 1955Z SL 1

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 101

---

## Page 102

FD-350 (Rev. 10-19-77)

(Mount Clipping in-Space Below)

Area Man Allegedly

By J, PULITZER

Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

A 46-year-old Rock Hill man has told

the House Select Committee on Assassi-

nations that he was once offered $50,000

to kill the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King

*Jr., the New York Times reported today.

Russell G. Byers, a former auto parts

dealer who was implicated last January,

in the theft of several statues trom the

St. Louis Art Museum, said he turned

down the offer in late 1966 or early 195%,

according to the Times. King was shot to

(death on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tenn.

The Times story said Byers told the

committee that two men from Imperial,

Mo., had offered him the money in

behalf of a group of conservative busi-

Endssmen to kill King. Both are now dead.

Got Offer

To Kill

King

Sources said Byers' testimony has

spurred an inquiry by committee investi-

gators because his brother-in-law, John

Paul 'Spica, was then serving a life

sentence for murder at the Missouri

State Penitentiary with James Earl Ray,

short time worked together in the.prison

almosy a year betore the ari 29. 6.

who later pleaded guilty in the death cf

King.

An FBI spokesman in-Vashington told

the Post-Dispatch that the St. Louis

office of the FBI had received "certain

information" about the King assassina-

tion in 1973, but would not confirm" it

came from Byers.

He said the information was never

file, ard then was turned up by accident

last March.

The spokesman took pains to

suggest the information may not have

been considered reliable.

A Post-Dispatch reporter who attempt-

ed to interview Byers at his residence in

the 9300 block of Fredric Court was told

that Byers was out of town and was not

cavallable for comment.

The Times account of a three-month

investigation by the House committes

ndicated that investigators suspected

that word of a contract offer on King's

life had reached the prison through

Spica. But Byers said he had told Spica

of the offer only recently, according; to

the Times.

Records from the State -Penitentiary

indicate that Spica and James Earl Ray

shared the same cell block, and for. a

Dispatch Tuesday night.

Byers also told the House committee

that he had told an informer for the

Federal Bureau of Investigation about

the $50,000 offer to kill King, the Times

said.

Byers.said the FBI office in St. Louis,

had been given details of the offer, but

had never investigated, according to the

Times report.

A source ,close to the St. Louis FBI

Note eard ef Tone hitorich that he half

alleged approach to Byers.

I In Washington, FBI spokesman Homer

Boynton told the Post-Dispatch that

"certain information relating tothe mar-

itin Luther King assassination" was

furnished to the St..Louis FBI office in

1973.

(Indicate page, name of

newspaper, city and state.)

PIA, St. Louis Post

Dispatch,

St. Louis,

Missouri

Date:

7/26/78

Edition:

Bulldog

Title: HOUSE SELECT

COMMITTEE ON

ASSASSINATIONS

Character:

or

Classification: 62-5097

Submitting Office:

SL

JETARCIED-

SERIALIZED.

-INDEXED

FILED

AU9 2 1978

FBI - ST. LOY

104

FBI/DOJ

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 102

---

## Page 103

"We're not saying that it was reliable

thi it the committee would investigate

information," he said. "We're just say-

ing certain information was furnished."

sur i leads unless the panel asked three.

Fb 'lior help.

He declined to say whether the informa-

A f member of the House committee s

tion came from Byers.

stal lf in Washington said it was commit

Boynton said the

information was i

tee policy not to confirm or deny reports

never investigated by the St. Lou's

abor ut matters related to the King and

a flice: He said itwas not cross-indexed

Ken nedy

assassinations. He said the

under. the Martin Luther King file, as it

com: mitter's findings would be contained

should have been.

in it: s final report to Congress, which is

Last March, Boynton said, St. Louis.

duel sy the: end of the year.

FBI agents discovered the material

"I

just can't comment," the staff

more or less by accident.

mem

ber said:

"They were reviewing a file in connec-l.

The Tinies story said House investiga-

to a result or the in he sound the /

tors i earned that Byers believed the offer

as a. result of tht,

they found the

to hit p haid been an effort to recruit a

information and realized that it had

"fall

guy" who would not actually

never been properly indexed. And' they

comi. lit tihe murder, but who would be!

immediately advised FBI headquar-

arrest 'ed for it.

* ters."

•À St

Louis Police Department captain

Boynton said the T. Louis field office

who ir Ives tigated the Art Museum thefts

then sent the information to FBI head-

shid he had heard recently that Byers

, quarters in Washington. FBI headqua*-

testifie id before the House committee.

tersiin turn gave it to the. Department of

Othe r officers in the Police Depart-

ment's " int elligence unit said Byers was

ustice, and the Department of JuStice

turned i

over to the House Select

seen fi equiently at spica's fruit stand:

Committee on Assassinations, Boynton '

Byers

thadl been charged.in connection

sait was just put in the file," Boynton

with tle Art Museum thefts,

charge: s were later dropped by the st.

said.of the 1973 information.

"Nothing,

Louis ci ircu it attorney's office.

further was done with it," until it was

The u fidow of one of the men alleged to

found last March.

have ap pro ached Byers with the offer on

Asked whether the 1973 tip should have

King's

lift: denied such a thing had

been investigated, Boynton said he was

happened, the Times said. She was

not going to second-guess the judgment

quoted is saying. that Byers had proba-'

of the FBI agent in St. Louis who

bly conc octed the whole story, to

handled it.

himself 'ge't out of the art case," the

"It's kind of hard to tell what judg-

Times sa jid.

ment the agent and the supervisor made

The woman told the Post-Dispatch

. about the reliability" of the information,

Tuesday night that her husband knew

Boynton said. "In the Kennedy investiga-

tion, we checked out thousands and

thousands of these. Some of them were

very, bizarre. And many of them ended in

absolutely nothing. And it could have

The wislow of the other man from

been the judgment of the agents that this

Imperial refused to talk to the Post-

was hot worthy of following through on."

Dispatch

or

the New York Times be-

• Boynton said he could not discuss the

cause she is (o-operating with the House) :

specifics of the allegations as reported in

committee,, at cording to her attorney.

the Times.

The Times report said that Byers had

said the FBI is not currently,

been granted I'mmunity from prosecution

investigating the information that was

in' King's d'eat h'for his sworn testimony

funhisks in 1973. He said the agency had

efore the louise committee in Washing

an agreement with the flouse committee,

ton,

Russell G. Byers

Questioned in King inquiry

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 103

---

## Page 104

FD-350 (Rev. 10-19-77)

(Mount Clipping in Space:Below).

Byers Was Implicated In

By BECKY MCREYNOLDS

Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

Russell G. Byers has been in the news

* Museum Thefts'.

frequently in recent months in connec

Ition with the theft of seven statues in two

Byers' was charged in the art muse-

separate incidents from the St. Louis Art

um burglary aiter police said Crenshaw

led them to the first statue to be reco

Museum.

Byers was described by police = for

a while — as the "mastermind" behind

the first theft of four statues, including

Frederic Remington's "Bronco Buster!""

Jan: 29. Three other statues, all by the

French sculptor Francois Auguste Ro

din, were taken in a second burglary.

Feb. 20.

However, all charges against Byeis

vered and implicated Byers as a middle-

man. That Charge was dropped April 27

aiter Crenshaw'told St. Louis Circuit

Attorney George S. Peach that he would

nọt testify against Byers.

Byers was charged with receivin

stolen goods in connection with the litho

graphs found in the raid. That charge

were dropped after

the statues were

recovered. Police had received

anony-

mous phone calis leading them to the

locations of the missing statues.

Byers had been implicated by anothe

fer. suspect-in-the-thefts,, John A. (Cren-

shaw, 25. On Feb. 28, police raided the

Byers höme in the 9300 block of Fredric

Courts Rock Hill. None of the stolen stat-

fes was recovered, but 138 other items,

believed to be stolen, were confiscated.

and 22 antique objects police confiscated

as Stolen. Police said the all of the other

items taken in the raid were already

returned. An attorney for the Byers

amly said the police. had.no.right. t

elease the goods without a court deter-

Since the first burglary, two men be

lieved to be associates of Byers and

Crenshaw, and also believed to have

been involved in the first museum theft,

have met violent deaths.

On Feb. 17; the body of Charles H.

<0,"

Gunn, 29, was found behind the 5900

Nock of Hamilton Terrace. Gurin, who

han been identified by: Crenshaw as-an

accomplice, had been snot in the head.

On June ll, the body. of Samuel Ern-

est White, 42, was found in a field in

Madison, County. He had been shot three

times and his bouy was severely burned.

When Byers was arrested March 2,

he gave-his occupation-as a.vending-

machine dealer. Police records show

many arrests for him in St. Louis and St.,

Luis County since 1960.

He was convicted in U.S. District

Court here in 1965 of conspiracy to

commit auto theft. He was fined and

placed on probation.

In March, Byers' wife and, daughter

filed suit in St. Louis County Court Seeks

ing recovery of the items taken from

their home and, in addition, $75,000 in

damages from St. Louis Police Chief

Eugene J. Camp and County Police

Superintendent G. H: Kleinknecht to

compensate for the loss of the goods.*

The suit is pending..

NW 68262, Docld:32989797 Page 104

SEARCHED

SERIALIZED.

(Indicate page, name of

newspaper, city and state.i

P6A, St. Louis Post

Dispatch, st. Louis,

Missouri

Date:

7/26/78

Edition:

Bulldog

Title: HOUSE SELECT

COMMITTEE ON

ASSASSINATIONS

Character:

Classification: 62-5097-103

Submitting Office:

SL

-INDEXED_

VELLED

AUE 2 1978

BI - ST. LOUIS

Chio

---

## Page 105

FD-350 (Rev. 10-19-77)

(Mount Clipping in Space-Below).

Spica In Jail 10 Years, Paroled

John Paul Spica was paroled from the

State penitentiary in October 1915 at the

age.of 36 after serving 10 years of a life

sentence in the fatal shooting of an

In Killing

•Uplands Park real estate dealer in 1962,

John J. Myszak, 50, the real estate

dealer, was shot four: times from an

automobile as he stood in the drivery

of a friend and business associate in

Normandy, on the night of June 8, 1962.

Spica, then 25, was accused of arrang-

ing the killing after he was approached

(Indicate page, name of

newspaper, city and state.)

P6A, St. Louis Post

Dispatch, St. Louis,

Missouri

by Marie Myszak, the dead man's wife,

who wanted her husband murdered.

During the sensational case, which was

given much publicity here, the 48-year-

old widow admitted plotting the killing*of

her husband with Spica. However, she

said she told Spica to call off the deal

about three weeks betore.the murder

-

because-she couldn't raise the $3,000

Spica demander.

Mrs. Myszak_said she wanted her

husband killed because she was "fed up"

with the repeated beatings-he-had given

her. She also was the beneficiary of

about $165,000 in life insurance carried

by him.

-

. Spica, although never accused as the

actual killer, was convicted by a St.'

Louis County jury in

May 1963 pf

conspiring to murder Myszak and sen-

tenced to life in prison. Before his

conviction, Spica had been arrested In

investigations of several burglaries, but

had never been convicted of a felony.

But at the time of his arrest in the!

Date: 7/26/78

Edition:

Bulldog

Myszak case, police detectives described

him as a "well-known St. Louis hood-

Spica began serving his life term in the

State Penitentiary on July 1, 1963.

r! Mrs. Myszak was acquitted by a'St.

Louis County jury, in January 1964 of the

murder of her husband.

While Spica was serving his sentence,

he pleaded guilty to charges of second-

degree burglary in connection with-a

break-in at a Wellston jewelry store in

Title: HOUSE SELECT

COMMITTEE ON

ASSASSINATIONS

Character:

or

Classification: 62-5097-

Submitting Office:

SL

l0àn

1962, and stealing over $50 by deciet in

an automobile deal. He was sentenced to

two years on each conviation, the sen-

SEARCHED_

SERIALIZED BAL FILED

tences to run concurrently with his life

sentence

Spica is the son of Paul: Je Spica, &

clerk in the county magistrate courts

and former Democratic politician. Paul

Spica is a former Democratic commit-

teeman from Normandy Township. John!

AUG 2 1978

FBI -ST. LOUS

Spica lives with his father in. Normandy.

NV-68262 Docld:32989797 Page 105

FBI/DOJ

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## Page 106

(Mount Clipping in Space Below)

Confirms Byers Told Of King Offer

By WILLIAM FREIVOGEL

and CARTER STITI

Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

A reputable. St. Louisan confirms that

Russell G. Byers told him that he had,

been offered $50,000 by two Imperial,

Mo., men to arrange the death of the

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King.

Byers twice mentioned the plot, first in

generalities shortly after the assassina-

tion in 1968 and later in more detail in

about 1974, the St. Louisan told the Post-

Dispatch. He said that in the latter

conversation Byers told uf a stockbroker

taking him to the Imperial farm of a

patent lawyer to discuss the plot.

• Byers did not use naines, the promi-

nent citizen said, but he apparently yas

relerring to stockoroker John k. naull-

Emann and lawyer John H. Sutherland,

whom he has accused of the plot in

recent testimony to the House Assassina-

tions Committee.

Previous accounts of the alleged assas!!

sination plot have said that Byers haf

said that he told two lawyers and other

unidentified persons about it some years

ago. But this is the first direct confirma-

tion from one of those persons.

In another development, a Clayten

lawyer, who has been questioned by the

House Assassinations Committee staff,

bi revealed. One insisted that is dens

piper not even identify his . "uption,

apparently because he feared reprisis

itom Byers or other.

The House Assassinations Committee

is conducting an intensive investigation

into Byers' allegations. It held ciosed

hearings on them last week. Byers was

reported to have told the committee that

he turned down the offer from Suther-

land and Kauffmann, which he says was

made in late 1956 or early 1967. Suther-

land died in 1970, and Kauffman died in

1973.

The St. Louisan said that Byers told

him shortly after the King assassination

i 1968 that he might know somethin

about it, and that the Ku Klux Klan o1

some organization was behind it.

"That's all he said. I thought it was

just street talk," the St. Louisan said.

Later, in about 1974, Byers mentioned

the plot again. The St. Louisan gave this

account of what he said: A stockbroker

who had lost his license, apparently

Kauffmann, approached Byers with the

$50,000 offer. Byers asked him whom he

had to kill. Kauffmann took Byers i0 a

St. Louis patent attorney who lived on a

nearby farm in Imperial who said King

was the target. Byers said he never had

(Indicate page, name of

newspaper, city and state.)

1B

ST. LOUIS

POST-DISPATCH

ST. LOUIS, MO.

told a reporter he had seen Byers and

Kauffmanr meeting several times in the

had gone along out of curiosity.

late 1960s. The lawyer represented both

Date:

7/30/78

Edition: Sunday

smatters.

Kauffmarn and Byers on separate legal

The lawyers said Kauffmann hid

introduced him to Byers during a lunch

gin about 1966. He got the impression tit

Byers and Kauffmann knew each other

from

growing up in the same part ot

south St. Louis and that they nad some .

kind of business dealings in the 1960s.!

byers was particulariy close to Kauff-

mann's late brother Gil Kautimann, who

was a deputy St. Louis County coroner

before his death in 1962, the lawyer said.

Asked whether Byers had told him

about the alleged assassination offer, the

lawyer said he could not respond be-

cause the confidential relationship be-

tween ar attorney and his client. He said

he had give the same answer io the

House committee's staff.

The lawyer's account adds new detail

¡ Ipperial home. Sutherland was a segre-

zens Council in St. Louis,

group formed in 1964 that distributed

alti-black hrerature.

"The St. Louisan said his recollection of

• the conversation with Byers differed in

one way from the recently published

accounts of Byers' testimony to the

House committee.

"Froin what l read, Byers seems to be

saying now that he thinks Ray (James

Earl Ray, who pleaded guilty to the King

assassination) is a fall guy. But that!s

not the impression I got then. I thought

Russell thought they probably ap-

praiched Rüy through some friend/of

Kaufimann, a doctor who worked at she

prison."

Tille: HOUSE SELECT

COMMITTEE ON

ASSASSINATIONS

Character:

or

Classification: SI 62-5097

Submitting Office: St. Louis

62-5097-102

fabout Byers' relationship with Kaili-

mann.

Both sources agreed to talk with the

Post-Dispatch only after they were glen

JUL $ 1978 DI/DOJ

assurances that their names would not

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 106

Hush, Bureau =3 17:8

---

## Page 107

• Pr. Hugh W. Maxey, the former chiet.

physician at the Missouri State Peniten-

tiary, was a friend of Kaufmann.

The St. Louisan said Byers had not

mentioned his brother-in-law, John Paul

• Spica, who was serving a murder sen..

tence in the Penitentiary at the time Ray

escaped from the institution. Byers 100,

in his recent statements reportedly told

the House committee that Spica was not

involved. But press accounts have specu-

lated whether he could have transmitted

word of the $50,000 offer to Ray.

1. The St. Louisan said he believed Byers

in 1974. "I mean you do believe someon

if you don't have, any reason to think

ther lied," he said. But in the. wake of

Byers' arrest in connection with thefts of

statues from St. Louis Art Museum last •

winter, he said he wondered whether

Byers might then have been in trouble

too and put out the assassination story to!

get the Federal Bureau of Investigation i'

or the police to ease off him. Byers was!

not prosecuted for the museum thefts.

The St. Louisan refused to say whether

the House committee has questioned

him.

The Clayton lawyer knew Kauffmann

quite well in the late 1950s and early,

1960s when Kauffmann was a stockbrok-

er in Clayton and a client. Kauffmann

galso entertained the lawyer at his Jeffer-

¡son County home.

The lawyer said tht Kauffmann, long

yactive on the periphery of Democratic

politics in Si. Louis and Jefferson coun-

ties, had been involved in the presiden-

tial campaign of Alabama Gov. George

C. Wallace in 1968. Sutherland also was a

leader of the Wallace campaign here.

The lawyer said he thought only money

• or the

promise of it

would have

"John was not a racist." he said

""He was growing old and a little;

scared; maybe, and he wanted money,

• the lawyer said. He said the same fears

nay have led to Kauffmann's federal

conviction in 1967 for illegally selling

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 107

500,000 amphetamine pills. In the 19485,

by contrast, Kauffmann nad been in

aircraft executive, stock broker aid

member of the St. Louis Stock Ex-

change. But when he died his estate was

worth only $10,000.

Kauffmann made his living in the 1960s

by selling so-called "penny stocks," the

lawyer recalled. For example, Kauff.

mann would start a company with

capital of about one-cent per share and

then sell stock for $1 per share.

There was nothing illegal about that

when Kauffmann was involved, the law-

yer said, but changes in the securities

laws in later years put an end to penny

stocks and to Kauffman's main source of

income.

The lawyer said he always found Byers

to be truthful and could see no advantage

to Byers in telling about the alleged plot.

The lawyer said he thought the plot was

plausible. He represented Byers in a.

civil case about five years ago.

So far, there has been no corroboration

of Byers' allegation or any credible link

to lay. The wives of both Sutherland and

Kauffmann have told the House commit-

lecithat they knew nothing about suchia

plot and branded as incredible the idya

ahst their hussands could be involved in

a scheme to assassinate Dr. King.

---

## Page 108

+0-350. 4441. 10-19-271

(Mount Clipping in Spaco Below)

Byers, Spica have been

in the headlines before

Russell G. Byers and John Paul Spica,

whose names are now in the spotlight in

•connection with a House investigation

into the death of the Rev. Dr. Martin

Luther King Jr., have made front-page

headlines here in the past.

Byers was charged with burglary in

he theft of four statues from the St

couis Art Museum jan. 29. One of the

ptatues was the famous "Bronco Buster"

THREE OTHER STATUES by Auguste

•Rodin, the French sculptor, were stolen

in another museum burglary Feb. 20.

John A. Crenshaw, 25, a transient

laborer, was also charged in the Jan. 29

burglary and is now in jail awaiting

trial: •

Charges against Byers were dropped

April 27 by Circuit Attorney George

Peach after Crenshaw said he wouldn't

testily against byers,

Spica was sentenced in May 1953 to life

imprisonment-after-being-convicted-of-

first-degree murder in connection witn

the fatal shooting of John T. Myszak, 50,

a prominent St. Louis County real estate

dealer, in June 1962.

SPICA TESTIFIED during his trial

hat he made demands for money o

Virs. Marie Myszak, the victim's wife

but they represented attempted extortion

and not murder.

Mrs. Myszak was indicted on charge:

of arranging the death of her husban!

but was acquitted in January 1964.

but had changed her mind and told him

to drop the matter.

Mrs, Myszak died in October 1971 al,

the age of 56.

Spica was, paroled from the Missouri

•State-Penitentiary in October 1973. He

*ow lives in Normandy.

.**

(indicate page, name of

newspaper, city and state.)

P3A, St. Louis

Globe Democrat,

St. Louis, Missouri

Date:

Edition:

7/27/78

Tille:

HOUSE SELECI

COMMITTEE 0':

ASSASSINATIONS

Character:

or

Classification: 62-5097-

Submitting Office:

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 108

Jorwarded

" SLARGHED

ariginal

SERIAI I7 EI

Ton

to Bureau

1/21/18°

_ INDEXED.

PÍLED,

JUL 27 1978

---

## Page 109

FD-250 (liev. 10-12-77)

(Mount Clipping in Spaco Bolow)

Area men named

in King inquiry

The affairs of a convicted Jefferson

"tiary almost a year before Dr. King was

County drug dealer and a St. Louis area

shot in Memphis.

segregationist, both dead, are under

SPICA WAS sentenced to life imprison-

investigation by the

ment in 1963 after being convicted of

House Select Com-

first-degree murder in connection with

mittee on Assassi-

the fatal shooting of St. Louis County

nations looking into

real estate dealer John T. Myszak. Spica

the murder of the

was paroled in 1973.

Rev. Dr. Martin

Byers told the New York Times in an

Luther King Jr.,

interview that he turned down the $50,000

according to au-

offer to kill Dr. King and said he did not

thorities.

tell Spica about it. However, he said he.

The drug dealer

thought word of the offer might have

was John R. Kauff-

circulated through the penitentiary

visititio

mann, who authori-

grapevine.

Byers

ties say was about

One federal official described Byers as

73 when he died in

3974. The segregationist was John H.

a "very, very unreliable person."

Sutherland, a patent attorney, who was

However, an investigator for the House

64 when he died in 1970.

committee,

The

Globe-Democrat

learned, went to Sutherland's former

RUSSELL G. BYERS, 46, who was

allegedly involved in the theit of several

residence near Imperial, Mo., Wednes-

statues from the St. Louis Art Museum

day, seeking information on the late

attorney.

last January, has told the House Com-

mittee that Sutherland and Kauffmann

THE WIDOWS OF Sutherland and

Kauffmann could not be reached fos

offered him $50,000 in late 1966 or early

comment.

1967 to kill the Rev. Dr. King. Burglary

charges against Byers in the Art Mu-

According to the New York Times, the

House committee plans to give Ray a lie-

seum case were dropped.

detector test as a result of the Byers

Byers, of the 9300 block of Frederic

report to the committee.

Court, Rock Hill, is a brother-in-law of

Á Globe-Democrat reporter confirmed

convicted murderer John Paul Spica, 40,

a Times statement that probate records

I who for a short time lived in the same

in the Jefferson County courthouse con-

cell block with James Earl Ray in the

cerning Sutherland's estate contain a

I Missouri State Penitentiary.

note which reads: "Do not destroy this

Ray is serving a 99-year sentence in

file — may be subpoenaed by Congres.

Tennessee for the slaying of Dr. King in

sional Committee (Select Committee or

April 1968.

Assassinations.)" The note is dated May

He escaped Trom the Missouri penitej.

-29, 1978.

Indicate page, name of

newspaper, city and state.

P3A, St. LOUIS

Globe Democrat,

Ste Louis, Missour:

Date:

Edition:

7/27/78

Title:

HOUSE SELECT

. COMMITTEE ON

ASSASSINATIONS

Character:

or

Classification:

Submitting Office:

62-5097-

SL

100

_ INDEXED

SERIALIZED

ougenal

I on

Bureau

to

1/21/78-7a2

JUL 27 1978

FBI-ST. Le

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 109

---

## Page 110

L1)-356-4807- 11-11-75)

(Mount Clipping in Spoco Bolow)

Rays' Testimony Sought

In Alleged Plot On Dr. King

By GERALD M. BOYD

and I. PULITZER

Of tlie Post-Dispatch Stsfi

VASHENGION - A House commit-

s investigating the assassination of the

Sev. Dr. Martin Luther King is seeking

the testimony of James Earl Ray ay a

result of allegations by Russell G. Byers

: of Rock Mili that Byers was offered $50,-

OK to kil King, the Post-Dispatch has

icarned.

Sources ciose to tie investigation said

thai testimony this spring by Byers, 46,

of the 9300 block of Fredric Court, had

questions among

members of ons piracy to kil Kims

committe,

But Mark Lane, an attorney for Ray;

said Ray had never had any dealings

with Byers and that the Byers' allega-

tions were leaked to promote the idea of

a conspiracy anc-thus shift attention

from the Federal Bureau of Investiga-l

tion, which Lane contends is involved in

the King killing.

Rav is serving a 99-year prison sen-

tence alter pleading guilty. to the shoot-

ing death ot King on April 4, 1998 in

Memphis, Tenn. Since pleading guilty,

nowever,

Ray has denied responsiblity

for King's assassination and has asked

repeatedly for a new trial.

# Byers testified that he turned cowI

re olfer by two men from imperia.

No., in late 1966 or carly 1967,

SOurCes

stid. Byers said the men offered him the

money in behalf of a group of conservi:

tive businessmeg who wanted king si-

lenced as a civil rights leader, the sourc-1

es said. Boch men implicated by Byers

are dead

The Post-Dispatch was told that the

committee might never have heard tram

"Byers had he not become implicated in

last winter's burglaries at the St. Louis

Ait Museum. A routine check of his fije

atithe Si. Louis FBI office tumed up a

version of Byers' allegations written

five years ago and inadvertently mis-

filed, sources toïtrine Post-Dispatch.

MW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 110

The file search on Byers was request.

ed byfocal officials investigatmgshe Art

Museum burglaries,

sources told the

Post-Dispatch. An FBI spokesman in

Washingion said it was forwarded in

March to the Washington ofice for use,

•b the House Select Commitee on As-

sessinations,

King's death.

which is investigating

Lane, reached at his home in Venice,

Calif., said he was present last May

When four members of the House com-

mittee interviewed Ray at tie Tennes-

see state prison where Ray is incarcer-

ated. No questions were askrd at that

time, or at other, interviews were Lane

-was present, concerning Byersor other.

individuals implicated by Byes in the

• alleged offer to kill King, Lane said.

"I don't think James (Ear. Ray)

kilows anything about them,

" Lare said

"It's a deliberate selective leak'of al-

leged evidence to make it seen like

James got some money while trying to

cover up the fact that the FBI wa in-.

volved somehow in the morder."

flane said James i. Wolf, deputy

chief counsel of the House selèct cora-

mittee, had informed him Wednesday

• that Ray must take a lie-detector test (0

determine whether his statements weie

i true.

Woif, reached in Washington, would

inot comment on Lane's charges and

would not confirm or deny talking to

Lane. He said, however, that under pia

fedural rules of the select committee,

polygraph tests

were voluntary and

were not a condition for giving restimis

ny. Wott refused to confirm that Ray

would testify before the committed,

saying that the information was still

confidential.

Lane said that making Ray taise a lie-

detector test was an attempt to cast

doubt on Ray's credibility in the event

that his testimony should implicate the

FBI in King's assassination. .

Sources close to the select committed

gaid members were concerned about tha

-nye- year delay in obtaining the FBI

informant's account of the alleged offer

1o Byers...

regenal founded

to Bureau on

Man en

PIA,

Louis

Post Dispatch,

St. Louis, Missouri

Date:

Edition:

7/27/78

Bulldog

Author:

Editor:

Title: HOUSE SELECT

COMMITTEE ON

ASSASSINATIONS

Character:

Classification:

Submitting Office:

_ Being Investigated

62-509194

SERINNIZED

_INDEXED

CELLED

JUL 27 1978

FEU-SI.

LU

---

## Page 111

* Homer Bovnton, an FBI spokesman

in Wasntligion, told the Post-Dispatch

Wednesday that the bureau's St. Louis

plating rece Ved in ther King an.

sassination" in 1973.

But that information was filed onfy

under the names of the informant ard

Byers, sources said, and never cross-

incerer nger the King file. was. dis

'covered only by accident in checking

Byers' file on request from local au-

thorities investigating the Art Museum

thefts, sources said.

Boynton said that the agent who haj

thistlled the intormation had retired an 1

that no internal inquiry was planned. r

also refused to identify the agent.

• Other FBI sources told the New York

Times that the agent had violated bu-

reau rules by not notifying other agents -

or authorities investigating King's

death.

: 3

"He may have thought it was a frivo

i lous allegation, but that wasn't his deci-

sion to make," an FBI source told the

Times. "The information was supposed

to go to a supervisor or some agent wlio:

had worked that investigation for them

to evaluate.":

Byers' allegations have led House

"investigators to his brother-in-law, John

Paul Spica, who at the time of the al-:

leged offer to Byers was serving a life-

sentence for murder-at-the Missouri

State Penitentiary.

Prison records indicate that Spica:

and James Earl Ray were housed in. the

same cell block at that time, and that

. they worked in the prison bakery togeth-

er for. a period. Authorities have specu-

"¿lated that word of a bounty on King's lie.

may have reached the prison from Sth

Byers,

however,

told the House

committee that he had not informed

• Spica of the offer until recently, sources

said. But Byers speculated that word of:

tie. bounty on King's lifesnight have

nached inmates there from other sourc-

es) in his- testimony to the House select

conmittee, the sources said.

Spica, inho was paroled in 1973, nour

operates, a fruit stand at Vandeventer

and Shaw avenues. He said in an inter-

view Wednesday that he knew nothing of

à bounty on King's life.

"Byers is a liar," Spica said. "At no

•time did.I ever convey an offer of $50,000

to, James Earl Ray to kill Martin Luther

King Jr. Byers never told me abolit.

thát."

Spica said he and-Ray were prisoners

in the Missouri Penitentiary a! the same

time, "but we never worked together in

"the same sectlin.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 111

** "I did see him from tme to time, but

I didn't larow anything about any con-

tract to kill Martin Luther King," Spica

said.

"The investigators

in Washington

- knoly all about Byers' story and they

have checked it out and they know

thege's no truth in it," Spica said.

He said that a House investigator had

talked to him, but had informed him that

he would not be called io testify before

the House committee.

Spica appeared nervous and shaken

and said he was worried that news sto

ries about Byers' allegations would de.

stroy his present hite.

I| "You know I'm out on life parole or, a

murder case, and this'll blow it," Spita

said: jive-besn working in this stand 12

to 15 hours a day for twọ years without a

vacation. I've been going with a very

nice girl who doesn't know all my backy

'ground, and it'll blow that, too."

'I guess I'll just have to close uji

because I won't have any business any

more," Spica said.

In his testimony, Byers speculated

that he was offered the $50,000 to ar-

range King's death so that he would be a

"fall guy"

who would not actually

commit the murder, but who could be

blamed for it later because of the al-

leged offer, sources said.

Authorities familiar with Byers de-

scribed him as a "middle man" in crim-

inal dealings and generally believed thit

hel would not be approached as a hirtd

Xiller.

"eyers was charged with burglary in

connection with the theft of several stat.

ues from the Art Museum last January,

but the charges. were later dropped by

the St. Louis circuit attorney's office.

The New York Times account of

Byers' appearance before the House

committee said that he had been grant-

ed immunity from prosecution in King's

assassination in return for his sworn

- A widow of one of the Imperial, Mo.,'

men implicated by Byers in the offer to

kill' King said her husband knew Byers,

such offer. She said she believed tha

Byers had concocted the whole story "I

Times said.

...

* The woman told the Post-Dispatch

"Wednesday tat her husballt knew By:

"ers through a business associate, but

wguld not elaborate. She insisted that

"paring mist aeo- her husband /as a

"faring mistakie."

tify before the House commiuce. À

spokesman for.the committee would not

confirm or deny the report.

The widow of the other man implical-

ed by Byers has refused to grant inter-,

views to the New York Times or the

• Post-Dispatch because she is cooperat-

ing with the House committee, her attor-

ney said.

THer attorney said, however, that the

wisman told House investigators that the

allegations about her.husband were.a

complete surprise to her.

A spokesman for U.S. Rep. Walter E

Fauntroy, D-District of Columbia, chair-

man of the House subcommittee investi-

gating King's death, said neither he nor

other committee members or staff

members would have any comment on

(the New York Times story.

He noted that the full House Select

Committee on Assassinations is sched.

• uled to begin public hearings .Aug. 1g

1le assassinations panel has two sub-

committees. The other subcommittee.is

• locusing on the assassinations of. Presi-

dent John F. Kennedy in 1963 and his

brother, IS Sen Robes F. Kegnedy, in

---

## Page 112

TO

:

FROM :

SUBJECT:

-

•SA FPMR (4

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

Memorandum

SAC, ST. LOUIS (62-5097)

DATE:

7/25/78

CLERK W.R. FARHAT

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON

ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA)

Instant date at 10:00 PM this office was contacted by

Bob Kelly, St. Louis Post Dispatch. Mr. Kelly was seeking

a comment from SAC Roy B. Klager in reference to Russell

G. Beyers, who is presently being questioned by the (HSCA) •

Mr. Kelly further stated that the New York Times Newspaper

would be carrying a front page story concerning this matter

on 7/26/78, and that Mr. Boyton, FBI, Washington, D.C., had

already made a comment concerning this matter.

'SAC Roy B. Klager was advised of the above information and

stated he wouldn't make any further comments concerning this

matter since Mr. Boyton had already commented on this issue.

Mr. Kelly was contacted by writer and advised that SAC Roy

B. Klager would stand on Mr. Boyton's comment.

Above being submitted for information purposes.

62-5092.98-

JUL 2,5 1978

FO,-OT. LOSES

11781

Buy U.S. Savings Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Savings Plan

5010-110

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 112

---

## Page 113

AIRTEI

7/25/78

TO:

FROM:

SUBJECT:

DIRECTOR, FBI

(62-117290)

(ATTN :

CONGRESSIONAI INQUIRY UNIT,

RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION)

SAC, SI. LOUIS (62-5097)

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS

(ESCA)

Re Bureau teletype to Chicago and St. Louis

dated 7/25/78.

Enclosed herewith is one copy each of Serials 1

through 34 in St. Louis file 137-16185, plus a copy of the

Criminal Informant Review Sheet (FD-237) for the same file.

A copy of instant communication will also be

added to 137-16185.

- Bureau

(Enc - 35)

62-5097).

3921037218725)

1-14740185

JFS: kmt

(4)

lin.

62-5097-97

Haggeste ste

- NW 68262. Docld:32989797 Page 113

---

## Page 114

-

VZCZCHQO098

00 CG SL

DE HQ 0098 2061946

ZNY EEEEE

0 251827Z JUL 78

FM DIRECTOR FBI (62-117290)

TO FBI CHICAGO IMMEDIATE

FBI ST. LOUIS IMMEDIATE

BT.

UNCLAS EF TO

-62-5097#

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA)

FOR INFORMATION OF CHICAGO, SI. LOUIS ADVISED ON MARCH 13,

1978, THAT DURING A FILE REVIEW OF SL 137-16185, FOR AN UN-

RELATED MATTER, IT WAS DETERMINED THAI SL 3167-C FURNISHED

INFORMATION REGARDING RUSSELL GEORGE BEYERS. BEYERS, IN THE

FALL OF 1973, MET WITH SL 3167-C AND TOLD HIM OF A MEETING WITH

• AN ATTORNEY IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, NOW DECEASED, AND ANOTHER

INDIVIDUAL, AND OF THEIR POSSIBLE INVOLVEMENT IN THE ASSASSI-

NATION OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. APPARENTLY, THIS

INFORMATION WAS NEVER DISSEMINATED OR ACTED ON.

THE ABOVE INFORMATION WAS DISSEMINATED TO THE ASCA. HSCA

REQUESTED, ON JULY 14, 1978, THAT THE INFORMANI REFERRED 10

6275097-96

JUL 8: 1978

For-ai. LEUIS

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 114

---

## Page 115

PAGE TWO DE HQ DD98 UNCLAS EF I O

(SL-3167-C) BE CONTACTED AND REQUEST BE MADE OF HIM TO

(1) SUBMIT IO INTERVIEW BY HSCA, AND, (2) THAI HE AGREE TO

EXECUTE WAIVER RELEASING ALL FBI HEADQUARTERS (FBINQ) ANZ FIELD

OFFICE (SL) FILES FOR REVIEW BY HSCA.

ON JULY 21, 1978, ASAC JOHN SHANLEY, SI. LOUIS, ADVISED

THAT FORMER SL-3167-C HAD MOVED FROM THE ST. LOUIS AREA TO

CHICAGO. HE IS CURRENTLY SUSPECT IN CASE ENTITLED "UNSUB,

THEFI OF $25D, DDD WORTH OF ARI OBJECTS, AMERICAN ARI GALLERIES,

LTD., 4828 NORTH SHERIDAN ROAD, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, NOVEMBER 6,

1976; ITSP-MAJOR THEFI; BB: CG (CG 87-45634)". HE IS ALLEGEDLY

OWNER OF CONNOISSEUR GALLERIES, 720 NORTH WELLS, CHICAGO,

. ILLINOIS, AND MAY RESIDE ABOVE HIS BUSINESS. FORMER INFORMANT

DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS:

NAME: RICHARD FRANCIS D'HARA

DATE OF BIRTH: DECEMBER 14, 1941

HEIGHT: 6°

WEIGHT: 190

HAIR: BROWN

•CHICAGO SHOULD CONTACT O'HARA AND OBJECTIVELY INQUIRE

AS TO HIS WILLINGNESS TO BE INTERVIEWED BY THE ASCA CONCERNING

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 115

---

## Page 116

PAGE THREE DE HQ D098 UNCLAS EFT O

THE ABOVE INFORMATION RELATING TO DR. KING. O HARA SHOULD

BE TOLD THAI HE HAS NO GUARANTEE FROM THE FBI OR HSCA OF

IMMUNITY OR CONFIDENTIALITY; THAT THE FBI IS NOT RESPONSIBLE

FOR WHAT RESULTING ACTION THE HSCA MAY TAKE FOLLOWING INTERVIEW;

THAT SINCE THE COMMITTEE MAY ALREADY KNOW HIS IDENTITY, HE

COULD BE SUBPOENAED TO TESTIFY; AND, THAT IF HE DOES NOT WANT

TO BE INTERVIEWED, THE FBI WILL DO EVERYTHING WITHIN ITS POWER

TO PROTECT HIS IDENTITY.

IF O-HARA AGREES IO ASCA INTERVIEW, HE SHOULD BE FURNISHED

NAME OF MSCA STAFF MEMBER MIKE EBERHARDI, (282) 225-8791, AND

TOLD TO CALL HIM COLLECT REGARDING MAKING ARRANGEMENIS FOR IHAT

INTERVIEW.

CONTACTING AGENT SHOULD ALSO INQUIRE WHETHER O'HARA WILL

EXECUTE A WAIVER ALLOWING FOR REVIEW OF ALL FBIHQ AND FIELD

OFFICE INFORMANI FILES BY HSCA. IF HE AGREES, WAIVER SHOULD BE

OBTAINED WORDED SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE FBI TO RELEASE ANY AND

• ALL FILES (FBIHQ AND FIELD OFFICE) CONCERNING THIS INFORMANT TO

THE HSCA, INCLUDING THOSE RECORDS PERTAINING TO ANY CONFIDENTIAL

RELATIONSHIP THE INFORMANT MAY HAVE HAD WITH THE FBI. THE

WAIVER SHOULD ALSO STATE THAT THE INFORMANT UNDERSTANDS THAT

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 116

---

## Page 117

PAGE FOUR DE HQ @D98 UNCLAS EF I O

THESE FILES WILL DISCLOSE TO THE HSCA ANY CONFIDENTIAL

RELATIONSHIP INFORMANI MAY HAVE HAD WITH THE FBI.

CHICAGO TELEPHONICALLY FURNISH RESULIS OF CONTACT WITH

O HARA TO SA TRON W. BREKKE, CONGRESSIONAL INQUIPY UNIT,

RECORDS MANAGEMENI DIVISION, FBIHQ, EXTENTION 3685, AND FOLLOW

WITH AIRTEL INCLUDING ORIGINAL OF WAIVER IF HE AGREES TO

DISCLOSURE.

SI. LOUIS SHOULD PROMPTLY FURNISH ONE XEROX COPY OF

ST. LOUIS 137-16185. ALL SERIALS SHOULD BE REPRODUCED IN THEIR

ENTIRETY. THIS MATERIAL SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BY COVER AIRTEL

TO FBIHQ, ATTENTION: CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT, RECORDS

MANAGEMENI DIVISION.

BT

0098

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 117

---

## Page 118

FD-350, (Rev. 10-19-77)

(Mount Clioning in Space Below)

Got Offer To Kill

King, County

Man Says

By J. PULITZER;

„Ot the Post-Dispatch Staff

A 16-year-old Rock Hill man has: told,

the House Select Committee: on Assassi

nations that he was once offered $50,000

at March. The spokesman took pains to

uggest the information may-not have

been considered reliable.

Byers refused to (alk to a Post)

Dispatch reporter who visited his house

Sto Kill:the: Rev, Dr. Martin-Luther King

If. the New York Times reported today,

Russell G, Byers, a former auto parts:

dealer who was Implicated last January:

In the theft of,several Statues from the:

St: Louls Arf Museum, sald he turned®

down the offer.in late:1966 of early. 190%

according to the, Times. King, was-shot

death on April 4, 1968, In Memphis, Tent

The Times story sald: Byers told the

committee that twd men trom Impertal,.

had; ottered him the-money In

behalf of a: group: of conservative: busl:

nessmen to kill King. Both are now dead,

Sources, sald: Byers' testimony has.

spurted an Inquiry. by committee investl.

•gators because.his:brother-n-aw,..onn

Paul- Spica, was then serving a life

sentence: for murder at the Missourk

tate Penitentiary with james Eati RA)

no later pleaded gulity-in the death.l

King: -an

ay: Is now serving a d9 year priso

term in Tentessee: Since pleading sulty,

Ray-has repeatedly: denied his gulit in

the King murder and has requested a

new trial:

An: FB1 spokesman: In Washligton told-

the: Post-Dispatch that the st

Louis,

office of the FBr had recelved "certain

Information" about the King assassina.

Hon In: 1975; but: would not confirm it

came.from Byers:

He sald the Information was hever

In an Intervlew with a Post-Dispatch

eporter today, Spica denied any knowl

edge of the matter.*

The Times account of a three month

Investigation by: the House committee.

Indicated that investigators suspected

that word:of a contract offer on Kings

* life had reached the prison through

Spica, But Byers said he, had-told Spica

of the offer.only recently, according to

the Times;

Byers said, however, that he suspected

intormation about the bounty on King's.

lite may have reached men inside, the

Missourl prison "through other routes,!'

Othe Times reportedl

According to the. Times, Byers said he

wat so shocked by the alleged otter that.

he told two lawyers and two other

unnamed persohs about it after King. was t

shot So fat, Byers has not provided any

documentary evidence to suppott. his

story, the Times said.

Records from the: State Penitentlary

Indicate that Spica; and James: Earl Ray

- shared the same cell block; and-tor.a

Investigated and was placed in the wron;

patile, and then was turned up by, acedest

Indicate page, name 01

ewspaper, city and state.

Post-Dis St. outs

Louis, Missouri

-

Date: 7/26/78

Edition:

***Final

Title:

"Got Offer To

Kill King,

County Man Says"

Character SI, 62-5097

Classification:

Submitting Office:

62-5097-95

JUL 27 1978

BI/DOS

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 118

---

## Page 119

SL 62-5097

short time worked together in the prison

bakery. Ray escaped on April 23, 1967,

almost a year before the fatal shooting of

King•

The Times said, investigators are now

concentrating on a theory of conspiracy.

by the conservative business group men-

V: toned by Byers in his testimony.

/ Spica, 40, interviewed by a Post-

Dispatch reporter this morning, said,

"Byers is a liar."

Interviewed at the fruit stand he

*operates at Shaw and Vandeventer ave-

nues, Spica said, "At no time did I ever

convey an offer of $50,000 to James Earl

Ray to kill Martin Luther King Jr. Byers

never told me about that."

Spica said he and Ray were prisoners

in the Missouri Penitentiary at the same

time, "but we never worked together in

the same section.

"I did see him (Ray) from time to

time but I didn't know anything about.

any contract to kill Martin Luther King,"

Spica said.

"The investigators in Washington know

all about Byers' story and they have

checked it out and they know there's no

truth in it," Spica said.

He said that an investigator had talked

to him but had informed him that he

would not be called before the House

Spica, who was paroled in 1973, ap-

peared nervous and shaken and said he

' feared news stories about Byers' allega-

tions would destroy his present life:

"You know I'm out on a life parole on

a'murder case, and this'll blow it," Spica

said. "I've been working in this stand 12

to 15 hours a day for two years without a

vacation. I've been going with & very

nice girl who doesn't

know all my

background, and it'll blow that, too.

"I guess I'll just to close up because I

won't have any business any more,"

Spica said.

Byers also told the House committee

that he had told an informer for the

Federal Bureau of Investigation about

the $50,000 offer to kill Ring, the Times

said.

Byers said the FBI office in St. Louis

had been given details of the offer, but

had never investigated, according to the

Times report.

A source close to the St. Louis FBI

office told the Post-Dispatch that he had

never heard of the information on the

alleged approach to Byers

In. Washington, FBI spokesman Homer

Boynton told the Post-Dispatch that

"certain information relating to the Mar-

tin Luther King assassination" was

furnished to the St. Louis FBI office in

"We're not saying that it was reliable

information," he said. "We're just say-

ing certain information was furnished."

He declined to say whether the informa-

Boynton said the information was

never investigated by the St. Louis

office. He said it was not cross-indexed

under the Martin Luther King file, as it

should have been.

Last March, Boynton said, St. Louis

FBI agents discovered the material

more or less by accident.

"They were reviewing a file in connec

tion with another matter,

as a result of that,

they found the

information and realized that it had

never been properly indexed. And they

immediately advised FBI headquar-

* Boynton said the St. Louis field office

then sent the information to FBI head-

quarters in Washington. FBl headquar

ters in turn gave it to the Department o

of the FBI agent in St. Louis who

handied it.

"It's kind.of hard to tell what judg

ment the agent and the supervisor madet

about the reliability" of the information;

Boynton said, "In the Kennedy investiga-

tion, we checked out thousands and

thousands of these. Some of them were

very bizarre. And many of them ended inj

absolutely nothing. And it could have

been the judgment of the agents that this

was not worthy of following through on:"

Boynton said he could not discuss the!

specifics of the allegations as reported ini

the Times.

He said the FBI is not currentlyl

investigating the information. that was!

furnished in 1973. He said the agency had

-an agreement with the House committee

that the committee would investigate

such leads unless the panel asked the

FBI for help.

A member of the House committee's

staff in Washington,said it was commit-

tee policy not to confirm or deny reports

about matters related to the King and

Kennedy assassinations, He said the

committee's findings would be contained

J in its final report to Congress, which is

due by the end of the year.

"I just can't comment," the staff

member said.

The Times story said House investiga-

tors learned that Byers believed the offer

to him had been an effort to recruit a

"fall guy" who would not actually

commit the murder, but who would be

arrested for it.

"It was just put in the file," Boyntor

said of the 1973 intormation

further was done with it u. iN it was

Other officers in the Police Depart-

ment's intelligence unit said Byers was'

Byers had been charged in connectior

with the Art Museum thefts, but the

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 119

---

## Page 120

SL 62-5097

The widow of one of the men alleged to

ave approached Byers with the offer on

King's life denied such a thing, had

lappened, the Times said. She was

quoted as saying. that:Byers had proba

bly concocted the whole story ta "help

himself get out of therart case," the:

Times said.

The woman told the:Post-Dispatch

Tuesday: night that:her husband knew

• Byers through a business associate; but

would not elaborate. She insisted that the,

allegation about her husband was.

slaring mistake."

The widow of the other man from

Imperial refused to talk to the Post

Dispatch or the New York. Times be:

cause she is co-operating with the House.

committee, according to her attorey.

Her attorney, said, however, that thet

woman told House investigators that the,

allegations about her husband were a

complete surprise to her and she was

dumbfounded by the charges

The Times reportisaid that Byers had

been granted immunity from prosecution

in King's death for his Sworn testimon;

fore the House commitee.ini asing.

i A spokesman föt Rep. Walter E.

Fauntroy, D-D:C. The chairman of the

House subcommittee Investigating the

King murder, sald neither Fauntroy nor

the subcommittee. would.have.any com-

ment on the New York. Times report:

"The committees policy is not to

comment on. the investigation:or.any

aspect of it," the spokesman said

He noted that the full House Select

Committee on Assassinations is sched-

uled to start-public.hearings. Aug' 14

James Earl Ray is to be one.of the

witnesses.

come out at.that, time

said.

The assassinations panel has two sub-

Hommittees. One:of. the subcommittees

which Rep. Fauntroy heads, is focusin

on the King assassination

_NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 120

Russell G. Byers

Questioned in King inquiry

---

## Page 121

-.

=

.

SAC, ST. LOUIS (137-16185)

(ATIN: SA JETTREY A. MEYER)

SA HOWARD C. KENNEDY

SL 3167-ICI

3/19/74

This informint, who was contacted in the area

o1 manchester and Chouteau, St. LOUiS HO 0n 3/10/18, LU

nished the following information, advising that he is do

ing so strictly on a contidential basis, and he would never

under any circumstances testily to any of this information.

UNSUBS;

Theft of sterling silver busts

CHARLES A. LINDBERGA, Sterling

silver bust of ANNE MARIE LINDBERGH;

IISP • MAJOR THEFT

SL 87-21859

In early 8/73, &s he was moving into & new busi

ness location in the area of Kingshighway and Mayland, St.

Louis, he and

an associate were engaged in setting up & bew

described

, who pio

seeded to walk through the shop examining various articles

and requesting information about a small broken item, in

quiring as to whether it was Dresden or Meissen.

They were

Informed that it was believed the item was a small piece of

Dresden, and that it was for sale for $10. They left the

shop within a few minutes. The man was described as 30-35;

6%.

170 pounds, handsome, wearing a businesssuit. The woman

described

as 30 years old, 5'6", and vell-dressed in a

dress and accessories.

Both were described as having a very

fine bright or goiden

brown complexion.

Pithin two or three days time, as the assedate

was alone

in the shop, she was approached by a mite man,

whose identity was later learned as RUSSELL LYORS. 9329

frederick, ladue, lo., an employee ot Ramice vending to

St. Louis, 110.

At the time, however, his identify was no

SEARCHED

SERIALIZED

St. Louis

(1 = 137-16185)

12

• 8721859)

13/-

631

SAINT LOUIS

HCK: prk

(3)

81.

7859

-21

1, 2,3,4,50

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 121

---

## Page 122

SL 137-16185

known, and he inquired about a suall item in the store

that had been priced at about $50, but purchased for $15

in the st, Charles area..

ile offered to pay $15 for the

Stem, exhibiting considerable interest in and knowledge

of antiques. He leit the store without buying anything,

but vithin a day or two returned to the store, also neeting

Informant, and still having interest in the plece he had

previously looked at.

formant. This individual brought with him a small pottery

dea set, described as golden brown, with a set of cups and

saucers, plicher, sugar, and creamer, having a gold brown

shiny glaze.

The set was believed to be worth about s100.

but he offered to sell lu for $300. He then identified him-

sell as RUSSELL BEYDRS.

He is balized to be & very intelli

gent, perceptive person. No business was transacted. On

that occasion, however, BEXERS "opened up" with informant,

advising

that he is personally represented by Attorney HURRAY

RANDALL Foxer attorney, USDI, and ZOrmer AUSA, CDHO) ≥ 2n0

he and RANDALL are very close personal friends. he sa10

he had inquired of an individual at OK Novelty Co., Sto L0U1S,

also inquiring o1 informant as to "what kind of guy" was the

Intormant. He said he had learned that he could talk to

Informant, advising lurther that it was his understanding

that informant was not a "snitch"

He also advised that he

had personally sent the aforementioned blaci couple into

Informant's shop to "have him knocked off",

but that arter

learning that he could be trusted, he had advised the black

couple against taking anything fron his. He asserted that

sI there was anything in St. Louis that informant wanied to

buy, he would have li stolen and sell it to him at the right

grace. He came into in omant's shop at least once or

trice

for the next several wekks, and shortly after the aforemen

Cloned second meeting in the shop, BEYERS told informant that

smellthe

he had a painting recently stolen, referring to it as che

"Norman Rockwell".

He said he intended "to have it on ice",

but would sell it

to informant for $5,000.

informant advised

he personally contacted his lawyer, inquiring as to whecher

It would be teasiblo to buy the painting and selt it to an

insurane company. Reportedly, this lawyer,

not identifjed

by informant, made sone inquiries and lound that the involved

insurance company was not interested in paying that amount

28

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 122

---

## Page 123

SL 137-16185

for same.

A Lew days later, BEYIRS agzin came to the shop

offering to sell the painting for $3,000, and then made

• final offer to sell it for $2,000.

BEYERS then said that

the painting was "going into cold storage" BEYERS has

never again mentioned this painting.

During the fall of 1973, live or six months ago,

date not recalled, BEYERS came to the shop inquiring as to

whether they could get together to talk, and they later did

so at Pizza and Crean, Clayton, M0., 20

the area of a Brod.

Dugan Paint Store, where informant

had traveled on business.

BEYERS talked freely about himself and his business, and

they later went to informant's house where BEYERs told a story

about visiting a lawyer in st. louis County, now deceased,

not further identified, who had offered to give him a contract

He said thai also present was

short, stocky man, who walked wich a limp.

(Later, with ac

gard to chemacter individual, BLYERS comnented that this

nan was antually the individuat who made the payori oi

JAMES.

EARL ReM aiter the killing.) BEYERS said he had declined to

chis contract.

He did remark thatshis lawyer had

Confederate flags and

other items about the house that might

indicate that he was "a real rebel"

• BEYERS also commented

that he had been oifered either $10,000 or $20,000 to kill

KING •

Sometime later, informant talled to JOSEPH "JOD"

OLIVESTRO, & known fence, with whom he is acquainted.

"This"

Indisidual advised informant that DESERs truly is a "very

treicherous guy", cautioning him to stay away froM him if

About two or three months ago, BEYERS telephoned

him at 7:00 on night, probably a Monday

night, date not re-

carded, advising that he was

, North St. Louis

He said

BEYERS could have said that the man had "snitched of drugs"

100PM. the Same night BEllS gain called aim c

vising that "the job is done"

The next day, hiormant read

about a man being killed at his home or in front of his house

in North st. Louis, further details not recalled.

3

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 123

---

## Page 124

SL 137-16185

At sbout that same time, informant recalled that

BEYERS inquired is to whether he knew anyone by the name

O2 EUGENG ZIGZIR who lives sonewhere in West st. Louis

County.

Bless reierred to him as an old men, believed

by him to nave stolen some paintings in florida.

BEYERS

said he intended to lind out whether the man had the paint

•inga and ii so, he intended to have them stolen fon hin.

About one nonth prior to the date of the reported

buxgiary of the Jefferson Memorial, St. Louis, in which sev

eral items of Lindbergh trophies were inken, exact dete not

recalled, BEVERS came to his shop asking him il he was in

cerested in buying uny articles from the jellerson Memorial,

commenting specilically that he had in mind some "commemore.

tive pieces" that were included in the Lindbergh trophies.

Informant said he told him this would be "too hot to handle"

WhereuDon BEYERS said they could be used to "get up enemies"

by "gtashing them in the trunk of somebody's car".

Informant

said he told BEYERS he was not interested in that kind of

job since he had been in trouble once (robbery of rour Seasong

Antique Shop) and did not care to get in that kind of trouble

again. Within several days, informant heard the news of the

breakin of the Jefferson Menorial and the theft of several

¿tens there.

A day or two alter that publicity, BEXERS came

¿o informant's shop, advising that "now live got my hands

full - l've got a lot of problens". intormant recalled that

Li appeared BEYERS had not shaven for several days. Ordin

RAXILY, BEYERS i9 & very conservatir, well-dressed person.

BEYERS never again nentioned the Jefferson Memorial

..Ltems, and he never mentioned same to BEYERS, despite the

recent publicity.

He Lirmly believes that BEYERS at one time had

both these tens and the Norman Rockwell painting &nd may

st11] have same.

He does not believe that BEYERS would ever

coness to anything, BEYERS having told him on one occasion

that the police would never get anywhere with him since he

absolutely would never talk, even if confronted with informa-

tion Iron other sources attributed to him.

BEYERS is curther described as follows:

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 124

---

## Page 125

SL 137-16185

Race

Sex

Age

Height

Weight

Build

Hair

• Clothing

White

Male

47-18 years old

5994 80 5810"

170 1b5.

slightly stocky

Black curly, graying

Usually dressed in sport

jacket and slacks or

sult with tie

Miscellaneous

Wearing dark horn-rinned

glasses

BEYERS is married to & siSter Of JDUN PAUS-SPICA

an ex-convict involved several years ago in the Malak murder,

and hasseveral children. BEYERS drives tvo different auto-

mobiles, including & 1972 or 1973 skyblue four-door Chevrolet

with dark blue vinyl top and a 1973 Oldsmobile two-door or

Pour door sedan, gray-brown with light cream vinyl top. BEYERS

gives the appearance of a successful jewelry businessman.

He

is believed to be engaged in contacting customers lor Raiffee

vending Co. equipment.

informant has not had any contact with BEYERS in

any way whatsoever for the past monüh of more. Most recently,

BEYERS was talking about pulling a burglary at the Hollander

Galleries, St. Louis County, where there are more than $200,000

worth of paintings stored.

Reportedly, BEYERS has been ar

"ested many times, Bexcis adising intorment that he had &

"Long Hoover sheet"

Informant advised he will imnediately furnish any

additional information received concerning these matters.

-

5

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 125

...

---

## Page 126

SAC, ST. LOUIS (137-16185)

3/19/74

SA HONARD C. KENNEDY

SL 3167-PCT

This informant, on 3/11/74, who was contacted on

3/5, E, T, 8, and 11/84, concerning this matter, advised

on those days that, to his knowledge, JEFFERY WOLFSON iS

operating daily & 1972 Cadillac El Dorado, bearing Missouri

license ZEI-910.

This automobile, he said, is usually parked

at sometime during the day in front of the

i1 Club, a night

club location that is currently being rebuilt by A.J.

CERVANTES, JI., Who intends to open it as a new club

in

about one

month.

on 3/11/74, informant advised that the estranged

girlfriend of VOLISON, ZIGRID LEE TUCCI, is now living with

her family in the Jennings, Mo., area.

Her former husband,

KIM TUCCI, a waiter now employed at the new Rich and Charlie's

place in Ballwin, M0., also lives in Jennings, h0.

WOL ESON

is an associate of A.J. CERVANTES,

jro, whose

is usually

parked in a bus zone directly across Maryland Ave. Irom Straub's

at the corner of Kingshighway and Maryland.

CERVANTES' car is

described as a 1973 Monte Carlo, gun metal gray, bearing Calif.

License lAJC.

Records of the Marriage License Bureau, St. Louis

County, Clayton, M0., disclosed on 3/11/14, that ZIGRID LEE

TILLEY, residing 5726 Mclaran, Jennings, Mo., & divorcee,

on 3/31/68, was married ai Clayton, Ho., by Judge WEINSTEIN

CO JOHN KIM (KIMBROUGH) TUCCI, 10555 Longlord, St. LOUiS, 100,

TILLEY waS born 5, 10/48.

The foregoing information was supplied on 3/11/74,

tO SA C. JAHES CHRISTY,

for use in investigation pertaining

to the aforementioned stolen Cadillac automobile.

26.38181

239

- Sto. Louis

137-16185)

2638787)

(2)

Christ,

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 126

---

## Page 127

FD-448 (Rev. 9-1-76)

Transmit attached by Facsimile - CLEAR

PRIORITY

Precedence

To:

From:

Subject:

DIRECTOR, FBI

Date:

7/28/78

(ATTN: CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT

SẠC, ST. LOCOPS MANAGEMENT DIVISION: Transmitted. 1600 (11:00 AM)

HSCA

Initials -

vys

I Fingerprint Photo Fingerprint Record

→ Artists Conception

[Newspaper clipping [J Photograph

I Other _ 2 St. Louis memorandums

Special handling instructions:

SPECIAL - HANDCARRY TO UNIT CHIEF, GEORGE J. FOSTER,

ROOM 8988, JEH

C2.22102.

filia are

Aproved: Coppo

F2228-

FBI/DOJ

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 127

---

## Page 128

-..

+=x.

XX

AIRTEL

7/27/78

TO:

DIRECTOR, FBI (62-117290)

(ATTN: UNIT CHIEF GEORGE J. FOSTER,

CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT,

ROOM 8988)

FROM:

SAC, ST. LOUIS (62-5097)

SUBJECT: HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS

3 - Bureau

1- - St. Louis

JTH: đmn

62-5097-93

JIH

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 128

---

## Page 129

TO

FROM

:

OFEY NAY FOIM NO. 10

EDITION

GSA FPMR (41 CFR) 101-11.8

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

Memorandum

SAC, ST. LOUIS

(62-5097)

SUPERVISOR JAMES T. HAGGERTY

DATE:

7/27/78

SUBJECT:

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE

ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA)

-

ASAC to interview retired Bureau supervisor ROBERT I. BENDER

and retired SA HOWARD C. KENNEDY.

Mr. FOSTER requested a xerox copy of the original

document (SA KENNEDY's memorandum) which was forwarded by

airtel on 7/27/78.

St. Louis

'I'H: kmt

(2)

68-5097-92

DED

JUL 27 1978

FE-ST. LOU

Buy U.S. Savings Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Savings Plan

5010-110

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 129

---

## Page 130

FD-36 (Rev. 3-24-77)

TRANSMIT VIA

XX Teletype

Facsimile

FBI

PRECEDENCE:

[] Immediate

XX Priority

• Routine

CLASSIFICATION:

• TOP SECRET

I SECRET

[ CONFIDENTIAL

XXIEFTO

D CLEAR

Date

7/26/78

4449

FM ST. LOUIS (62-5097)

TO DIRECTOR (62-117290) PRIORITY

BT

UNCLAS E FT O

ATTENTION: CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT, RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION,

ROOM 8988, FBIHQ

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON

ASSASSINATIONS

REFERENCE BUREAU TELEPHONE CALL TO ST. LOUIS, JULY 26, 1978.

ST. LOUIS FILE 137-16185 ON RICHARD FRANCIS O'HARA (SL 3167-C)

AND ALL FILES LOGICALLY RELATED THERETO, INCLUDING MURKIN MAIN FILE,

ALL FAIL TO REVEAL ANY INDICATION AS TO WHY INFORMATION PROVIDED BY

D'HARA CONCERNING MURKIN WAS NOT DISSEMINATED OR OTHERWISE ACTED

UPON.

BT

SPECIAL

- St. Louis

ChoKen rin

42-5097-94

SEARCHED

SERIALIZED

INDEXED

FILED

014

Approved:

cipr

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 130

Transmitted

2136

(Number)

(Time)

Mile 1 S

Per like

FBI/DOS

---

## Page 131

TO

FROM :

SUBJECT:

OSA MaNn ES 2791 1619.06

UNITED STATES GOVERMSIENT

Memoranaum

DIRECTOR, FBI (62-117290)

DATE:. 7/24/78

SAC, ST. LOUIS (62-5097)

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS -

MURKIN

Enclosed herewith are 4 copies of an IHM in which

the results of an interview of former SA HAROLD R. DOBSON

(1941 - 1972), who was case agent in captioned matter, by

staff employees of the House Select Committee on Assassinations

in Washington, D. C. on 6/28/78, are set out. The interview

was voluntary on the part of Mr. DOBSON, in accordance with

current cooperative Bureau policy and was conducted by MICHAEL

EBERHARDT, Assistant Deputy Chief Counsel to the Committee. An

unknown female in her mid to late 20s was in the room during

the interview. She was originally introduced by EBERHARDT but

no mental note as to her name was made as it was assumed she

was a stenographer.

She was later observed to be taking notes

in longhand, from which it was presumed she was another staff

attorney.

The interview was preceded by a conference with SA

JAY ALDHIZER, and a legal briefing by SA RON HELLER, at the

Bureau.

SA ALDHIZER was telephonically given a summary of

the interview immediately upon its completion.

No indication was given that Mr. DOBSON would be

requested to appear before the Committee in executive or

public session.

- Bureau

ERD St. I

- St. Louis

(3).

(Enc - 4)

copy / letto taHM

fouard to Hare Sha, 63123.

18831. Bracker Cerdo,

on 725778-7912

602-5097-90:

ST

1'6-

Finan

Buy U.S. Savings Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Savings Plar

$G10-110

MVL 68262-Docld:32989797 Page 131

---

## Page 132

In Reply, Ploase Refer 10

File No.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

St. Louis, Missouri

July 24, 1978

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS

Former Special Agent Harold R. Dobson (1941 - 1972),

residence: 8831 Bracken Circle, St. Louis, Missouri

63123 ,

who was St. Louis case Agent on the M. L. King - James Earl Ray

case in 1968, was interviewed, not under oath, by Mr. Michael

Eberharat, Assistant Deputy Chief Counsel to the House Select

Committee

on Assassinations, at the offices of that committee,

Room 3386, Second and "D" Streets, Southwest, Washington, D. C.,

from 2:00 P.M. to 2:45 P.M. on the afternoon of June 28, 1978.g.

at which time he furnished the following information in response

to direct questions:

Dobson served as a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau

of Investigation from October 20, 1941 to retirement on June 30:

1972, being

assigned to the Boston, Newark, St. Paul, and St.

Louis Divisions.

He was in St. Louis from 1947 until retirement.

He was assigned to the Security Squad from 1948 to retirement,

concerned primarily with investigation of the Communist Party

and

its members, nationalistic tendency, espionage, sabotage, and

He had comparatively

little knowledge or experience regarding New Left, racial ana hate

group cases.

He was an alternate supervisor but declined

authorization as supervisor for personal reasons.

Dobson was generally aware of the existence of the

Cointel Program in St. Louis, but was unable to recall any

specific activities, objectives, or accomplishments of same.

Dobson was unable to suggest why the case was assigned

to him, except that he had the first st. Louis lead in the case,

to trace the weapon used through officials of Browning Arms

Company, with whom he had continuing liaison, and for the further

reason he had been utilized in an administrative capacity on

This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of

the FBI.

It is

the property of the FBI and is loaned to your

agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside

your agency.

42-5097-89

SEABORES

fa".

Ira.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 132

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## Page 133

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS

virtually every major case of national importance in the St.

Louis Division beginning with the surveillance and apprehension

of St. Louis Communist Party leaders in 1952. Another Special

Agent since retired handled the Ray penitentiary escape-case

prior to the assassination.

Special Agent in Charge Thomas Gearty supervised the

King case in St. Louis.

It was Dobson's responsibility to

coordinate the investigation, handle the resulting "mountain of

paper"

, see that obvious, logical, reasonable, or merely

desirable leads or avenues of investigation were appropriately

assigned (with Special Agent in Charge approval), promptly and

adequately covered, and properly reported, and to keep the

Special Agent in Charge, Bureau, Memphis, and other interested

offices promptly advised of pertinent developments.

Until the true identity of Ray was established, every

Special Agent in the St. Louis Division was assigned exclusively

to the case.

Twenty-four hour coverage of all leads was

mandatory.

Developments of the day were discussed, and "brain

busting"

sessions were held at nightly conferences

of all

Special Agents, at which most new assignments were made. All

employees clearly gave of their best efforts.

Dobson was unable to recall specifically what efforts

were made to determine the whereabouts of John Ray on the day

of the assassination. He suggested the file would be the best

evidence in this regard. He believed the possibility of John

Ray's involvement was unãoubtedly recognized and that appropriate

steps were taken to resolve.

Dobson was unable to recall any surreptitious entries

to Ray's relatives' premises.

St. Louis had no technical

surveillances on relatives.

Requests for authorization for

same may have been made, but if so, were without his knowleage.

To the extent of his knowledge, the 'St. Louis Division

had never placed a technical surveillance on king..

Toll call records of relatives were obtained in

accordance with a then current Bureau policy subpoena process.

Relative bank accounts were monitored and results set forth in

reports with a statement that the information would only be

available after issuance of a subpoena duces tecum. Coverage of

relatives consisted of this, plus personal interviews and contacts

:.

2

- 68262_Docld: 32989797-Page 133

---

## Page 134

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS

with informants, sources, neighbors, and associates, and

available public records.

Relatives were initially uncooperative in varying

degrees, but subsequently became generally cooperative,

although Dobson never fully trusted any of them. He was unable

to recall any evidence developed that Ray was ever in St. Louis

territory, or in contact with any relatives there,

subsequent to

his penitentiary escape. He doubted financial contributions to

Ray by them, as their combined incomes and assets, in nis

estimation, were insufficient to support the life

style Ray

apparently enjoyed following his escape.

Dobson had no knowledge or any information as to the

source of Ray's income following his escape.

He conjectured

the same would have logically had to result

• from successful

criminal activity or be contributed by an unknown person or

He recognized Ray's record stamped him as a "loser",

but opined it was not beyond the realm of possibility access

to an excellent prison library and association with convicts

less unsuccessful than himself could have enhanced the quality

of Ray's thought processes to a point where he could have

conceived and carried out a successful supermarket or other

similar robbery.

At least his escape was successful.

He

considered Ray's technically proper preparation and filing of a

motion for a new trial, which was pending at the time of his

escape, as evidence of

as a Missouri prosecutor prior to entering the Bureau, he had

uniformly recommended alternative punishment for non-habitual

criminals, as the Missouri Penitentiary, even then, was generally

considered a "finishing school for criminals".

offered the possibility of being almost as lucrative as banks,

without the disadvantage of incurring Federal jurisdiction. He

feels sure major police departments in the St. Louis territory

had been contacted to determine if Ray could be a logical

suspect in unsolved supermarket robberies.

He recalled some

indication Ray might have been involved in a bank robbery in

Alton, Illinois and that the Springfield, Illinois Division had

been so advised, but he had no knowledge as to the outcome of

investigation there.

Dobson was generally aware of the existence of white

hate organizations, but was of the opinion members of such

organizations in St. Louis territory lack sufficient organization,

3

NW 68262 Docld:3298979Z Page 134

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## Page 135

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS

intelligence, and financial capability for significant

involvement in the king killing.

such organizatIons, In nis

estimation, should have been

able to reasonably forësee,

King's death would elevate him to the status of a martyr,

which would have been counterproductive to their aims and

purposes.

He was of the further opinion that any intelligent

co-conspirator would undoubtedly have eliminate Ray as a

security measure.

He suggested that, if then current rumors

that King had become a liability to the Southern Christian

Leadership Conference were true, that organization had the most

to gain from King's demise.

All St. Louis informants, potential informants and

sources regarding criminal, security, racial, hate group, or

other matters, were under continuing instructions to immediately

report even the slightest information which they could obtain

or which might come to their attention regarding the King case.

Dobson recalled John Gawron as an elderly, self-

confessed habitual criminal, who had lived with Ray's mother

several years until her death. He never met, saw, or talked

to

Gawron.

If Gawron was initially carried as a PCI, but later

appeared openly, Dobson was unable to recall why, but suggested

Gawron may have initially indicated some potential for

furnishing information regarding current criminal matters and

was later found incapable of doing so.

Having lived with Ray's

mother, Gawron was undoubtedly able to furnish some factual

personal history and background information as to the family

in the past, but it was Dobson's impression that Gawron was not

fully trusted by them and was capable of furnishing only

conjectural information as to their then current activities.

according to Agents handling Gawron, he would start with a half-

truth or conjecture, and embroider upon it, and therefore was

considered generally to be unreliable.

St. Louis Agents contacting released fellow inmates

were instructed to not only obtain all possible information as

to Ray's whereabouts, but all possible information as to their

degree of association with him, his sentiments, his plans, the

identities of any associates or friends either in or out of

prison, and the manner of his escape.

4

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 135

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## Page 136

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS

Dobson was unable to recall any telephonic contacts

with the Memphis case agent, although there may have been one

or two. He was in frequent telephonic contact with the

Chicago Assistant Special Agent in Charge, who was handling

the case there, as Jerry Ray made at least one trip to visit

St. Louis relatives.

Dobson never met, saw, or spoke with any Ray relatives,

with the exception of Jerry Ray who contacted him telephonically

on two or three occasions during a visit to St. Louis pursuant

to instructions from the Chicago Division.

Dobson had no idea as to the basis for any friction

which may have existed between Director Hoover and King.

Mr.

Hoover never confided in Dobson and never sought his advice.

5*

- NW 68262_Docld:32989792 Page 136

---

## Page 137

FD-36 (Rev. 3-24-77)

TRANSMIT VIA:

I Teletype

• Facsimile

FBI

PRECEDENCE:

• Immediate

[ Priority

Routine

CLASSIFICATION:

[ TOP SECRET

• SECRET

• CONFIDENTIAL

DEFTO

O CLEAR

Date

7/21

211!26

FROM ST. LOUIS (62-5097) (C)

TO DIRECTOR (62-117290) ROUTINE •

BT

UNCLAS E PT O

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA) •

RE BUTEL TO KANSAS CITY, LOS ANGELES, AND ST. LOUIS JULY 18,

1978.

PER RE BUREAU TELETYRE. FORMER SL 1215-C WAS INTERVIEWED AND

ADVISED THAT HE DID NOT DESIRE TO BE INTERVIEWED OR CONTACTED UNDER

ANY CIRCUMSTANCES BY ANYONE FROM HSCE. FORMER SL 1215-C WAS ADVISED

OF ALL OF THE CONTENTS IN RE BUREAU TELETYPE AND WAS NOTIFIED THAT

FBI WOULD DO ALL IN ITS POWER TO PROTECT HIS IDENTITY, HOWEVER HIS

FILE COULD BE SUBJECT TO CONGRESSIONAL SUBPOENA.

ST. LOUIS INDICES REVIEW AND FILE CHECK SHOWS ALL ST. LOUIS

FILES RE FORMER SL 1215-C HAVE BEEN DESTROYED.

BT

62-5097.88

DAM: m,t

(2) :

Fend

#

Approved:

RK g

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 137

Transmitted

(Number)

1914

(Timé)

Per

FBI/DOJ

---

## Page 138

T=.

Indices Search Slip

FD-160 (Rev. 3-23-71)

TO: CHIEF CLERK

subst Homey B. Gownsly

Allases

Date

7/19179

Social Security Account *

Address

Birth Date

Birthplace

Race

Sex

Male

Female

Exact Spelling

All References

¡Main Subversive Case Files Only

Subversive References Only

File & Serlal Number

Homes Brishn

137-6990-5

157-7136-15

_Main Criminal Case Files Only

_Restrict 1o Locality of

Criminal References Only

_ Main Subversive (If no Main, list all Subversive References)

- Main Criminal (If no Main, list all Criminal References)

Remarks

File & Serial Number

Remarks

Homer Buse Grayse

137-1328

Requested by

Searched by.

Consolidated by

Revlewed by

ates

NI : Nontent

- Not identical

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 138

File Revlew Symbols

¿ : Navaste reference

Squad

-

1/19/78

(date)

(date)

(date)

SC.P.O. 1 972-471-961

Extension

File No.

62-5097

---

## Page 139

VZCZCHQO133

RR KC LA SL

DE HQ 0133 2808324

ZNY EEEEE

R 182228Z JUL 78

FM DIRECTOR FBI (62-117290)

TO FBI KANSAS CITY ROUTINE

FBI LOS ANGELES ROUTINE

FBI ST. LOUIS ROUTINE

BT

UNCLAS EF TO

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS CHSCA 2-5097

BY LETTER TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DATED JUNE 2D, 1978, THE

HS.CA ADVISED II MUSI DETERMINE IF ANY ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL AS

INDIVIDUALS WERE INVOLVED IN THE ASSASSINATION OF MARTIN LUTHER

KING, JR. THE FBI IS ONE OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS. THE COMMITTEE

IS PROCEEDING ON THE ASSUMPTION THAI IF THE FBI WAS INVOLVED, IT

WOULD HAVE BEEN EFFECTED BY DIRECT AGENT OR INFORMANT CONTACI

WITH JAMES EARL RAY. THE ASCA ATTACHED TO THIS LETTER A 34-

PAGE LIST OF KNOWN, PROBABLE AND POSSIBLE CONTACTS OF RAY AND

REQUESTED THESE NAMES BE SEARCHED TO DETERMINE IF ANY OF THESE

62-1097-87

PERSONS IS A PRESENT OR FORMER INFORMANT, SOURCE OR OPERATIVE OF

gifts

GENALIZED -

JUL 19 1978

y-ST. LOUIS

Vien

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 139

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## Page 140

PAGE TWO DE HQ D133 UNCLAS EF TO

THE FBI. IF SO, THE MSCA REQUESTED THAI THE EBI DETERMINE IE

THAT INDIVIDUAL WOULD BE WILLING TO BE INTERVIEWED BY THE COM-

MITTEE AND THAT HIS INFORMANT FILE BE PREPARED FOR REVIEW BY

THE HSCA'S DIRECTOR AND CHIEF COUNSEL.

A SEARCH OF FBI HEADQUARTERS (FBIHQ) FILES DISCLOSED THAT

ONLY THREE INDIVIDUALS ON THE ABOVE-DESCRIBED LIST COULD BE

IDENTIFIED AS PRESENT OR FORMER FBI INFORMANTS. THESE THREE

INDIVIDUALS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. ALEXANDER GEORGE BEN EDMONDSON, FORMER KC 644-C, WHITE

MALE, LAST KNOWN TO BE AN INMATE OF THE MISSOURI STATE PENITEN-

ITARY, JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI. INFORMANI WAS OPERAIED DURING

1958-1959 AND REOPENED FOR A BRIEF PERIOD IN 1968. INFORMANT

IS SUBJECI OF BUREAU FILE 137-7738, KO FILE 137-4907. DURING

INVESTIGATION OF KING•S ASSASSINATION, INFORMANT FURNISHED

INFORMATION REGARDING THE MEANS ONE COULD UTILIZE IN GAINING

ENTRY INTO CANADA, PROCURING PASSPORIS, CONTACIS FOR PASSPORIS,

AND METHODS OF TRAVEL BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA WHILE

IN A FUGITIVE STATUS.

2. JOHN MARSHAL BEFFEL, JR., ALSO KNOWN AS JOHN R.

BONELLI, JOHN R. BONNELLI, FORMER LA 7932-PC, WHITE MALE, BORN

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 140

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## Page 141

PAGE THREE DE HQ B133 UNCLAS E F I O

DECEMBER 5, 1932. INFORMANT WAS OPERATED FROM 1972-73, BUREAU

FILE 137-30709, LA FILE 137-10611. FILE INDICATES INFORMANT

LAST RESIDED AT 2700 NEILSON WAY, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. IN

1967-68, ACCORDING TO HSCA, INFORMANT WAS EMPLOYED AT THE SULTAN

ROOM, RABBIT•S FOOT LOUNGE, LOS ANGELES.

3. HOMER B. TOWNSLEY, FORMER SL 1215-C, WHITE MALE, BORN

MAY 6, 1923. INFORMANT WAS OPERATED FROM 196D-66, BUREAU FILE

137-6583, SL FILE 137-7328. WHEN LASI CONTACTED, INFORMANT

OPERATED THE NEIGHBORHOOD BAR, 1929 HICKORY STREEI, SI. LOUIS.

FBIHQ FILES REVEAL NO KNOWN CONNECTION OF INFORMANT IN THE KING

ASSASSINATION INVESTIGATION.

FBIHQ FILES CONTAIN NO INFORMATION REGARDING CURRENT WHERE-

ABOUIS OF THE ABOVE THREE INFORMANTS•

RECIPIENTS LOCATE AND INTERVIEW ABOVE-LISTED INFORMANIS,

RESPECTIVELY, TO DETERMINE IF THEY HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO THEIR

IDENTITIES BEING DISCLOSED TO THE HSCA AND IF THEY WOULD BE

WILLING TO BE INTERVIEWED BY A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE HSCA.

INFORMANTS SHOULD BE OBJECTIVELY TOLD OF THE SCA INTEREST AS

OUTLINED IN PARAGRAPH 1. INFORMANIS SHOULD BE TOLD THAT IF THEY

AGREE TO DISCLOSURE, THEY HAVE NO GUARANTEES FROM THE FBI OR

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 141

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## Page 142

PAGE FOUR DE HQ B133 UNCLAS EFT O

THE HSCA OF IMMUNITY OR CONFIDENTIALITY; THAT THE FBI IS NOT

RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT RESULTING ACIION THE ASCA MAY TAKE; AND

THAT TO DATE THE FBI HAS NOT ADVISED THE HSCA OF THEIR FORMER

INFORMANI STATUS, AND THAT THE HSCA MAY HAVE INFORMANIS IDENTI-

TIES BASED ON A REVIEW OF THE FBI'S ASSASSINATION INVESTIGATION

FILE.

IF INFORMANIS ARE AGREEABLE TO DISCLOSURE, A WITNESSED,

SIGNED WAIVER SHOULD BE OBTAINED, WORDED SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE

FBI TO RELEASE ANY AND ALL FILES (FBIHQ AND FIELD OFFICE) CON-

CERNING THEMSELVES TO THE HSCA, INCLUDING THOSE RECORDS PERTAIN-

ING TO ANY CONFIDENTIAL RELATIONSHIP THEY MAY HAVE HAD WITH THE

FBI.

IF ANY OF THE INFORMANTS DESIRES HIS IDENTITY NOT BE DIS-

CLOSED, HE SHOULD BE TOLD THAT THE FBI WILL DO ALL IN ITS POWER

TO PROTECT HIS IDENTITY: HOWEVER, HIS FILE COULD BE SUBJECT TO

CONGRESSIONAL SUBPOENA.

RECIPIENIS SUTEL RESULIS OF CONTACTS WITH INFORMANTS AND

FORWARD WAIVER, IF OBTAINED, BY SEPARATE COMMUNICATION. IF ANY

INFORMANI HAS RELOCATED, SEI FORTH APPROPRIATE LEADS TO EFFECT

INTERVIEW.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 142

---

## Page 143

PAGE FIVE DE HQ B133 UNCLAS EF I O

IN ADDITION, RECIPIENTS FURNISH FBIHQ ONE LEGIBLE XEROX

COPY OF THESE FILES. ALL SERIALS SHOULD BE REPRODUCED IN THEIR

ENTIRETY ANY SERIALS OR ENCLOSURES WHICH CANNOT BE REPRODUCED

SHOULD BE DESCRIBED IN DETAIL IN THE COVER PAGES TRANSMITTING

THIS MATERIAL TO FBIHQ. THIS MATERIAL SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BY

COVER AIRTEL TO FBIHQ, ATTENTION: CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT,

RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION. IF ANY FILES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED,

SET FORTH DATE AND BASIS OF DESTRUCTION.

BT

B133

NNNN

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 143

----—

--

---

## Page 144

--

Airtel

7/13/78

TO

: DIRECIOR, FBI (62-117290)

(ATTN:

CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT

RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION)

FROM : SAC, ST. LOUIS (62-5097) (RUC)

• SUBJECT: HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE

ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA).

BUDED: 7/18/78

Re: Bureau teletype dated 7/12/78•

Enclosed for the congressional Inquiry Unit are

twọ copies of four serials which comprise entire st. Louis

file 157-4529 entitled "RHONDA GIBSON, RM-NSRP".

Review of St. Louis indices reflect only reference

to RHONDA GIBSON Or VERONICA STROTHERS is enclosed main file.

Review of St. louis destruction record reveals

that St. Louis file 91-5121 destroyed 11/19/77 bursuant to

file destruction program.

3-BureaU

ast. Louis

(Encl. 8)

(4)

602-5097-8840

NW 68262 Docid:32989797 Page 144

SEARCHED

SERIALIZED

INDEXED

FILED

---

## Page 145

VZCZCHQ0071

RR SL CG SI

DE HQ 0B71 1932203

ZNY EEEEE

R 121840Z JUL 78

FM DIRECTOR FBI (62-117290)

TO FBI SI. LOUIS ROUTINE

FBI CHICAGO ROUTINE

FBI SPRINGFIELD ROUTE

UNLAS EF T

HOUSE SLECT COMMITEE ON ASSSSINATIONS (HSCA) 62-5097*

BUDED JULY

8 18, 1978.

THE HSCA WHICH IS INVESTIGATING THE ASSASSINATIONS OF

JOHN F. KENNEDY AND MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., IN A LETTER DATED

JULY 5, 1978, REQUESTED PRIORITY ACCESS TO ALL INFORMATION IN

BUREAU FILES AND RELATED FIELD OFFICE FILES PERTAINING TO

RHONDA GIBSON, AKA VERONICA STROTHERS, DATE OF BIRIN JULY 19,

1947, FOR THE PERIOD 1965 TO THE PRESENT. BUREAU FILES CONTAIN

ONLY ONE REFERENCE TO A RHONDA GIBSON AND THAT IS A TELETYPE

FROM ST. LOUIS TO THE BUREAU, CHICAGO AND SPRINGFIELD DATED

02-5097-85

JUNE 11, 1970, AND CAPTIONED "UNSUBS; TWO, LADDONIA STATE BANK,

11018

peo

A

SERIALIZI-

JUL 1%, 1978

FBI-ST. LOUIS

Nontrutt

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 145

---

## Page 146

Charli

151-452945

PAGE TWO DE HQ DOTI UNCLAS EFT O

LADDONIA, MISSOURI, JUNE 11, INSTANI, BANK ROBBERY, OFFICE OF

ORIGIN SI. LOUIS." SI. LOUIS FILE NUMBER IS 91-5121. A

RHONDA GIBSON IS MENTIONED IN THE LAST PARAGRAPH OF THIS

TELETYPE. NO OTHER RETRIEVABLE INFORMATION IN BUREAU FILES.

RECIPIENT OFFICES ARE REQUESTED TO REVIEW THEIR FILES

FOR ANY INFORMATION REGARDING RHONDA GIBSON, AKA VERONICA

STROTHERS, DATE OF BIRTH JULY 19, 1947.

FURNISH FBI HEADQUARTERS (FBIHQ) TWO COPIES OF ANY SERIAL

OR SERIALS REGARDING GIBSON. ALL COPIES SHOULD BE CLEARLY

LEGIBLE AND SENT REGISTERED MAIL TO THE ATTENTION OF THE

CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT, RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION.

RECIPIENT OFFICES HAVING NO INFORMATION REGARDING GIBSON

ARE TO SO NOTIFY FBIHQ.

BT

DD71

destined

111411)

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 146

---

## Page 147

XX

6/30/78

TO:

DIRECTOR, FBI (62-117290)

(ATTN: CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT

RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION).

FROM:

SAC, ST. LOUIS (62-5097)

RUC

SUBJECT: HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA)

BUDED: 7/6/78

Re Bureau teletype, 6/28/78.

Enclosed for Congressional Inguiry Unit are two.

copies of serials 46-73 of SL 157-582 which is entitled

"White Citizen Council, RM."

It is noted that sérial 71 does not appear in the

file and, therefore, has not been provided.

A search of

St. Louis files

has failed to reveal fate of this document.

It is also noted that not all of enclosed serials

fit criteria set forth in referenced teletype, but are being

furnished to provide continuity.

Búreau (Encs. 54)

Ist. Louis

HN: itc

(4

62-5097-84

E SARCHED

SERIALIZED

INDEXED

FILED.

File Stripped

7/1/28

b-

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 147

---

## Page 148

VZCZCHQO 146

RR. NO SL

DE HQ 0146 1780005

ZNY EEEEE

R 272127Z JUN 78

FM DIRECTOR FBI (62-117290)

TO FBI NEW ORLEANS ROUTINE

FBI SI. LOUIS ROUTINE

BT

UNCLAS EF TO

62-5097.

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA)

BUDED JULY 6, 1978.

THE HSCA, WHICH IS INVESTIGATING THE ASSASSINATION OF

JOHN F. KENNEDY AND MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., REQUESTED BY

LETTER DATED JUNE 19, 1978, ACCESS IO ALL BUFILE MATERIAL, NEW

ORLEANS AND SI. LOUIS FIELD OFFICE FILES PERTAINING TO THE WHITE

CITIZENS COUNCIL FOR THE PERIOD 1966- L968.

NEW ORLEANS AND ST. LOUIS FURNISH FBI HEADQUARTERS TWO

COPIES OF ANY COMMUNICATIONS MEETING ABOVE CRITERIA. ALL COPIES

SHOULD BE CLEARLY LEGIBLE AND SHOULD BE SENT REGISTERED MAIL,

MAILED TO THE AITENTION OF THE CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT,

RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION.

SEANCE

CRIALIZEL

BB T

0146

usfic

JUN R$ 1911

FBI-ST. LU

MORTIFCNTTEL

62-5097-83

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 148

---

## Page 149

x

x

. 6/16/78

FM

CHICAGO (62-7385) (RUC) (SQ 15)

TO DIRECTOR (62-117290)

ROUTINE

KANSAS CITY

ROUTINE

ST. LOUIS (AIRMAIL)

BT

UNCLAS E F T O

68-50%>

ATTN: CONGRESSIONAL, INQUIRY UNIT, RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS

RE BUREAU TELETYPE IO CHICAGO AND SI. LOUIS, JUNE 2, 1978,

AND CHICAGO TEICALIS IO BUREAU AND KANSAS CITY, JUNE 16, 1978,

REGADING FILE CAPTIONED "JAMES EARL RAY - FUGITIVE; UFAC -

ROBBERY FIRST; 00: KC."

CHICAGO INDICES NEGATIVE REGARDING ABOVE CASE. INQUIRY OF

KANSAS CITY DETERMINED CG FILE NUMBER WAS 88-11505 AND CHICAGO

FILE DESTROYED IN APRIL, 1978, UNDER FILE DESTRUCTION PROGRAM.

BT

Ist. Louis (AM)

RWG: jk

(2)

62-5097-82

Nashutth

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 149

---

## Page 150

FD-36 (Rev. 3-24-77)

TRANSMIT VIA:

I Teletype

• Facsimile

FBI

PRECEDENCE:

• Immediate

[ Priority

Routine

CLASSIFICATION:

• TOP SECRET

O SECRET

• CONFIDENTIAL

DEETO

E CLEAR

Dato 6/15/78

99a€.

TEM ST. LOUIS 762-50975 P

TO DIRECTOR (62-117290) ROUTINE

BT

UNCLAS

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA) •

REVIEW OF THE GENERAL INDICES OF THE ST. LOUIS FIELD OFFICE

FAILED TO LOCATE ANY REFERENCES TO THE "SOUTHERN STATES INDUSTRIAL

COUNCIL. "

BT

42-5097-81

SEARCHED

SERIALIZED

INDEXED

FILED

0

Approved: _ RBK12H

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 150

Transmitted

(Number)

2010

(Time)

Waster th

Per.

bip.

FBI/DOS

---

## Page 151

VZCZCHQ0D85

00 AT BH JN KX LS ME MM NO SL WF

DE HQ 0085 1652235

ZNY EEEEE

0 142026Z JUN 78

FM DIRECIOR FBI (62-117290)

TO FBI ATLANTA IMMEDIATE

FBI BIRMINGHAM IMMEDIATE

FBI JACKSON IMMEDIATE

FBI KNOXVILLE IMMEDIATE

FBI LOUISVILLE IMMEDIATE

FBI MEMPHIS IMMEDIATE

FBI MIAMI IMMEDIATE

FBI NEW ORLEANS IMMEDIATE

FBI SI. LOUIS IMMEDIATE

FBI WASHINGION FIELD OFFICE IMMEDIATE

BT

UNCLAS EF TO

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS CHSCA)

HSCA, BY LETTER. DATED JUNE 12, 1978, REQUESTED THAT THE

FIELD OFFICE FILES ON THE SOUTHERN STATES INDUSTRIAL COUNCIL®

FOR THE PERIOD 1956-1978 FROM ATLANIA, BIRMINGHAM, JACKSON,

12-5097-80

bye.

!ї 1 1978

Nantity ss

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 151

---

## Page 152

PAGE TWO DE HQ 0085 UNCLAS EF TO

KNOXVILLE, LOUISVILLE, MEMPHIS, MIAMI, NEW ORLEANS, SI. LOUIS,

AND WASHINGTON FIELD OFFICE, BE PROVIDED ON A PRIORITY BASIS.

RECEIVING OFFICES ARE REQUESTED TO SEARCH FOR ANY FILES

OR REFERENCES ON THE SOUTHERN STATES INDUSTRIAL COUNCIL FOR THE

PERIOD 1956-1978. ANY MATERIAL LOCATED ON THIS SUBJECT SHOULD

BE DUPLICATED AND ONE COPY FURNISHED TO FBI HEADQUARTERS,

ATTENTION: CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT, RECORDS MANAGEMENT

DIVISION, BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS JUNE 19, 1978.

BT "

0085

NNNN

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 152

---

## Page 153

x

6/9/78

1.

TO:

DIRECTOR, FBI (62-117290)

ATTENTION: CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT,

RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION

FROM: •

SAC, ST. LOUIS (62-5097) (P)

SUBJECT: HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE

ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA)

BUDED: 6/12/78

Re Bureau teletype 6/5/78.

' Enclosed for the Congressional Inquiry Unit are

62 (two copies each of 31) serials from the following

St. Louis files pertaining to request in captioned Bureau

teletype:

105-4027-53

157-5839-3 and 4

157-5818-1 through 28

Not enclosed are the following St. Louis files

relating to DI. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., or the S.C.I.C.:

"MURKIN", SI 44-775, Bufile 44-38861;

"MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., 'SM - C"; SL 100-17801,

Bufile 100-106670;

"Communist Infiltration of Southern Christian

Leadership Conference; IS - C", SI. 105-4027,

• Bufile 100-438794.

It is suggested that the Congressional Inquiry

Unit review the enclosed serials in order to determine if

each serial meets the requirements in referenced Bureau

teletype.

62-5097-78

SEARCHED

2 - Bureau (Enc. 62). (RM)

2 - St. Louis

DÁM/ 1sn

(4)

SERIALIZED

INDEXED

FILED

+873

6/9.178

0174

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 153

---

## Page 154

6/5/78

FUL CHICAGO (62-7385) (P) (SQ. 5)

TO DIPECTOR (62-117290) ROUTINE

SI. LOUIS AIRMAIL

BT

UNCLAS

RITU CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT AND RECORDS MANTAGENENT

DIVISION,

LOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE: O1 ASSASCINATIONS.

RL BURLAU TELETYPE TO CHICAGO IND ST. LOUIS, HAT 30.

1973.

CHICAGO INDICLE ILFLICIS ALI RIFEFLNCES TO CAROL

PLPPLA, JOHN RAY AD/OR JERRY RAY ARE CONFAIIDD IN

HICAGO FILE 14-1114 LEINED, "HUER REVIET OF

DUIS FILL DOLS NOT RELECT AUY IVIDECE OF SURTIPTITIOUS

EITRY AT WY OF THE ILSIDLUCES OR PRELIGES ONUND OR LEASED

Di TL AbOVE PERSONS.

ENC/sji:

st. Louis (Il)

62-5097-77

Gin use

6/9/78

to

Kulue

Nanteeth

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 154

---

## Page 155

=

PAGL: TWO CG 62-7385 UNCLAS

THERE WIS AT FD-302 IN TIIS FILE WIICH REFLECTED

THAT PAYROLL RECORDS WERE LEGITINATELY OBTAINED FROM RAY'S

EMPLOYER, HARVEY A. KLINGHAN, WINNETKA, ILLINOIS, ON

AUGUST 23, 1968. COPIES OF THIS FD-302 BEING FURNISHED

TO THE BUREAU AND ST. LOUIS BY SEPARATE AIRIEL.

ST. LOUIS ADVISED AM COPY.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 155

---

## Page 156

6/5/78

TO

: DIRECTOR, FBI (62-117290)

(Attention:

Congressional Inquiry Unit

Records Management Division)

FROM : SAC, CHICAGO (62-7385) (SQ. 5) (RUC)

SUBJECT: HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE

ON ASSASSINATIONS

ReButel to Chicago and St. Louis dated 5/30/78, and

Chicago teletype to Bureau and St. Louis dated 6/5/78.

Enclosed for the Bureau and St. Louis is one copy of

FD-302 of HARVEY A. KLINGEMAN of Winnetka, Illinois.

- Bureau (Encl. 1)

St. Louis (Encl. 1)

Chicago

CHC: jeo

(5)

62-50.97-7168

Go wile

Nonihutt

NV0 66262 Docld:32989797-

Waye-196

---

## Page 157

FD•302 (Rer, d-15-64)

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

8/30/68

Date.

On August 23, 1968, Mr. HARVEY A. KLINGEMAN and Mrs.

were interviewed jointly in the conference room at the Winnetka,

Illinois, Police Department, after being introduced to the

interviewing Agents by Chief DON DERNING (NA), Winnetka,

Illinois, Police Department.

who is the author of "Three Lives For Mississippi"

was accompanied by Mr. (First Name Unknown HANSEN, who is

a photographer for "Look" magazine. Mr. HUIE exhibited

letters which he claimed were from JAMES EARL RAY and were

addressed to a Mississippi attorney. These letters

were

purportedly given to HUIE by the attorney.

HUIE told them

that he had obtained all conmercial rights to RAY's story

and for

this he has agreed to underwrite the costs of RAY's

detense in the forthcoming murder trial in Memphis, Tennessee.

The aforementioned letters were writted on half sheets of

yellow legal toolscap and both of the KLINGEMANs stated that

they recognized the handwriting on these papers as that of the

subject ral, whom they knew under the name of JOHN RAYNs. At

this point, the KLINGIMANs were exhibited several photographs

of the subject, JAMES EARS RAY, along with other photographs

and they both positively identified JAMES EARL RAY as a man

employed by them from May 3, 1967, to June 24,1967,

as a

dishwasher and cook's helper. The KLINGEMANs verified the

foregoing statement by furnishing to the interviewing Agents

their payroll ledger sheet. A review of the ledger sheet

reveals the foliowing information:

Name

JOHN L. RAYNS

Address

2731 Sheffield, Chicago, Illinois

Occupation

Cook's helper

Social Security

318-24-7098

Number

Rate

$2.10 per hour

On_

8/23/68

• Winnetka. Illinois

SA RAMON

W. STRATTON

_File # 44-1124 - 37

SA RENE

J. DUMAINE

RJD/mr

8/28/68

by-

_Date dictated-

• This document contoins neither recommendalions nor conclusions of the FBI.Il is lho property of the FBl and is loaned in your ogency:

ll and its contenis are not to be distribuled outside your agency.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 157 . ÷

---

## Page 158

CG 44-1114

Number of

1

Exemptions

Marital Status

Single

In addition, the KLINGEMANs also made available the

Imployee's Withholding Exemption Certificate made out in the

same name and address and Social Security Number as set forth

above, dated May 10,1968.

They also made available the following listed

payroll checks all drawn on the Winnetka Trust and. Savings

Bank bearing the identification in the upper left-hand

corner of Indian Trail Restaurant, Inc., 507 Chestnut Street,

Winnetka, Illinois, 60093, made out to either JOHN I. RAYNS

Of JOHN RAYNS and signed by HARVEY A. KLINGEMAN. The checks

are endorsed by JOHN I.. RAYNS or JOHN RAYNS, two of which have

the address 1648 Lunt,

_Chicago, underneath the signature.

These checks are as follows:

NUMBER

AMOUNT

4838

$57.69

4913

$84.89

4987

$84.89

5058

$84.89

. 5130

$89.63

5283

$95.19

5357

$77.53

DATE

May 7, 1967

May 14, 1967

May 21, 1967

May 28, 1967

June 1i, 1967

June 18, 1967

June 25, 1967

The foregoing checks total $664.34.

Mr. KLINGEMAN advised that to the best of his

recollection at this time, the last check, Not bro, was

mailed to RAY's brother,

name unrecalled,

Illinois, at RAY's request since he left his employment

prior to receipt of the check, stating that he was going to

work on boats with his brother. As Mr. KLINCHMAN recalls,

he received a letter from RAY requesting that the pay due be

sent to his brother.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 158

....--.

---

## Page 159

CG 44-1114

Both of the KLINGEMANs characterized JAMES EARL

employment.

believe that they would recognize this person's voice if they

heard it again.

In conversation with Mr. HUIE, the KLINGEMANS

received the following information on a confidential basis and

advised that they were rather reluctant to divulge it,

but felt that it was their duty as citizens.

that this information bemintained on a confidential basis within

the FBI.

They advised that they contacted Chief DERNING

because of his reputation and are now following his advice in

furnishing this information to the FBI:

Mr. HUIE sowed the KLINGEMANs letters from RAY in

which RAY listed employment at the Indian Trail Restaurant.

(It should be noted that this restaurant is an old, large,

upper class restaurant, of excellent reputation. Chief

DERNING advised that the KLINGEMANs themselves have an

excellent reputation within the community and that he holds

them in very high regard). HUIE told them that RAY had

which one.

12 hersey bars in anticipation that he would have to go

without food for, some time.

RAY also had $300 in his shoe.

He escaped in abed truck and walked to Chicago, Illinois,

from Jerterson City,

; Missouri, which took him about eight

days. (The KLINGEMANs do recall that when the subject first

appered at the restaurant, his feet were swollen and that

their sister-in-law gave him two Ace bandages to use which he

returried three or four days later... This supposedly was

mentioned in the letter in HUIE's possession).

Thereafter, RAY read the advertisement in the

Tribune wherein the KLINGEMANs had advertised for help in the

restaurant.

HUIE said that the subject in the letter

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 159

---

## Page 160

CG 44-1114

mentioned that the employment at the Indian Trail Restaurant

was the "high point of his life".

HUIE mentioned that RAY had had only three jobs

in his life, one of which was in a shoe factory outside of

East St. Louis, Illinois, which is prior to his going to

prison the last time.

was employed at the restaurant, he was "tapped on the shoulder"

by an individual who recognized him and who threatened to

reveal his identity to the policè and cause RAY's return to

Prison if he, RAY, did not work for this person. HUIE said

that RAY was given $1,200 during the initial contacts, by the

alleged conspirators, and was ultimately paid $15,000, but

was due to receive more.

Again, according to HUIE, RAY was told to go to

Canada to investigate the difficulty of crossing the border.

Supposedly RAY made two trips through the Detroit Tunnel into

Canada. He also made a

third trip to Canada, date and

sequence not given, and "was instructed' to obtain a 40-year-

old newspaper, get

the names of the males born that dte,

and search the current phone directory for similar names.

He was then to surveil the individuals with similar names to

determine whether or not his physical description was

similar to theirs.

Thereafter he telephoned persons of his

like description,

utilizing a pretext, and thereby found a mai

who had never applied for a passport. RAY then applied for a

passport in this name.

The KLINGEMANs advised that they were not sure that

they were furnishing this information in its proper

sequence, but that to the best of their recollection, the

information preceding and following was given to them in this

order by HUll.

Thereafter, RAY was given more money to

purchase a Mustang which was to be driven to Acapulco, mexico,

for the purpose of obtaining a tourist

sticker.

le then.

drove through Mexico to the West Coast and hid out there to

receive further instructions from the other individuals in

the alleged conspiracy. HUIE stated that RAY was flown to

ts no atin the let sen bat the came or not tents theo

told to be in Mississippi at a certain time and plaçe.

Supposedly Reverend MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. was at a. Holiday

Inn Motel in Atlanta, Georgia, when RAY was flown there.

TW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 160

---

## Page 161

CG 44-1114

subsequently, RaY was given money to obtain binoculars

and a shotgun and was to go to Memphis to be somewhere at

3 p.m. in room 312 or 313.

Sapposedly there were other

individuals who also came to this room and there was a

Negro male who purportedly called KING out to the balcony.

According to HUIE, the actual murderer of KING was not RAY,

although RAY was present and at a later time (probably the trial)

RAY will identify the murderer. RAY did pick up the rifle, ran

to his car, and sped to a rendezvous in Atlanta, Georgia.

He was supposed to pick up a "bundle of money", however,

the

conspirators did not appear. RAY allegedly spent several days

or hours at this apartment in Atlanta, Georgia, awaiting the

arrival of his "fellow conspirators"

According to HULE, the plan was for RAY to go to

Mexico, but immediately fly north to throw off pursuit and

to steer all investigation to Mexico.

However,

since

the conspirators did not appear in Atlanta, RAY fled to. Calda

thereater utilizing his knowledge to obtain a passport and

fled to England.

The KLINGEMANs advised that the rest of HUIE's story

substantially follows the newspaper accounts which appeared

after subject RAY's arrest in England. They did note that

HUlE stated that RAY did rob a bank in London because he

HUTE at no time identified the

alleged fellow conspirators of RAY. He did swear the KLINGEMANS

to secrecy and told then that he would nail. the "Look"

November 10,1900,

Both Mr. and Mrs.

KLINGEMAN advised that they would

make these proofs available to

te interviewing Agents for review.

The KLINGEMANs advised that RAY began working for

them as a dishwasher and because of his excellent attitute

was advanced to cook's helper.

During the time ha was in

their employ, they did not observe him in a car, nor did they

know him to own, an autonobile. He had no visitors, he did

not wear glasses, he had no women friends, nor did he make

any advances toward the female personnel employed at the

restaurang and they noted that his hair was "less bushy" during

the time he was at the restaurant than shown in the

photographs.

They are not sure how he came to work from his

apartment, but believe hemight have beenimet at the Eden's

Expressway by WILLIE PERRY and FRED BURNS, who were also

employees at the restaurant.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797* Page 161

---

## Page 162

CG 44-1114

His conduct was excellent and they cannot recall

him making any comments ona way or another about members of

the Negro race and specifically no comments whatsoever con-

cerning MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. RAY made no referénce to his

previous employent, but did mention that he

was in.

Brimerhaven, Germany, during World War II.

They advised that

when RAY received the phone call's during his last week of

employment he seened to be disturbed and that his

concentration on his work was not as good as it usually was.

They then recalled that according to HUIE, that when

JAMES BAR' RAY left England, he was going to Lisbon to get to

Africa, however, he was unable. to do so which is when he returned

to England and held up a bank receiving about $200 in loot.

They again stated that the information furnished to them by

HUTE came from letters which RAY had written to his attorney, who

in turn turned them over to the author.

Also Mr. KLINGEMAN

i stated that in one of the letters which he

believed was to

the attorney from RAY, while he was in London, England, there

Diversey Street and sheffield avenue in chicago, ritinois.

At the conclusion of the interview, the Klingemans

again requested that this information be maintained in

confidence and expressed a willingness to co-operate with

the FBI in ay way possible.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 162

---

## Page 163

Airtel

6/6/78

TO

: DIRECTOR, FBI (62-117290)

FROM : SAC, ST. LOUIS (62-5097) (P)

SUBJECT: HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON

ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA)

Re Bureau teletype dated 0/2/78.

A review of St. Louis indices and files re JAMES EARL

RAY determined St. Louis has no file

"JAMIES EARL RAY - FUGITIVE;

UFAC - ROBBERY FIRST, 00:KC, BUFILE 88-41730."

St. Louis has two serial references to RAY in addition

to the following two main files:

"MURKIN" - SL 44-775; Bufile 44-38861.

"JAMES EARL. RAY; UFAG - ESCAPE, 00:KX" - SL 88-10663.

rogarding ACB, St. Louis will not furnish any copies of files

2 - Bureau

2 - St. Louis

DAM: edr

(4)

getr

73

62-5097-10

SEARCHED

SERIALIZED

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 163

---

## Page 164

FD-36 (Rev. 3-24-77)

TRANSMIT VIA:

E Teletype

• Facsimile

FBI

PRECEDENCE:

• Immediate

O Priority

L Routine

CLASSIFICATION:

0 TOP SECRET

• SECRET

• CONFIDENTIAL

DEFTO

R CLEAR

Date

6/6/18

5614

FM ST. LOUIS (62-5097) ₽

TO DIRECTOR (62-117290) ROUTINE

BT

UNCLAS

ATTENTION: CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT, RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA)

RE BUREAU TELETYPE, MAY 30, 1978.

MAY 30. - JUNE 2, 1978, REVIEW MADE OF ST. LOUIS MURKIN FILE

AND FILES RELATING TO CAROL PEPPER, JOHN RAY, AND/OR JERRY RAY, AND

THE GRAPEVINE TAVERN REVEALED NO INFORMATION PERTAINING TO

SURREPTITIOUS ENTRY OF RESIDENCE OR PREMISES OWNED OR LEASED BY

AFOREMENTIONED INDIVIDUALS.

ST. LOUIS ELSUR INDICES CHECKED BY SA THOMAS T. KUBIC WERE

NEGATIVE REGARDING THIS MATTER.

BT

JLH: kyw

(1)

62-5097-722

SEARCHED

SERIALIZED

INDEXED

BILED

SEARCHED

SERIALIZED

INDEXED.

FILED.

JUN

g19/8

FBI-ST.

LOUIS

Kubic Th

017

RK

Approved:

NW 68262 Docld:32989797

Page 164

Transmitted

(Number)

0121

(Time)

Per

KICe

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---

## Page 165

as so in.

VZCZCHQ0 119

00 CG SL.

DE HQ 0119 1532140

ZNY EEEEE

0 022114Z JUN 78

FM DIRECTOR FBI (62-117290)

TO FBI CHICAGO IMMEDIATE

FBI ST. LOUIS IMMEDIATE

BT

dating

J. E.RAY

88-10463

UNCLAS EFT O

662-5097.

HOUSE SELECT COMMITIEE ON ASSASSINATIONS

(HSCA)

HSCA, BY LETTER DATED MAY 25, 1978, REQUESTED THAT FBI

HEADQUARTERS (FBIHQ) FURNISH THE COMMITTEE WITH A COPY OF THE

CHICAGO AND SI. LOUIS FIELD OFFICE FILES CAPTIONED, "JAMES - 88-10663

EARL RAY - FUGITIVE; UFAC - ROBBERY FIRST; DO KC" (BUFILE

44-775

87-21859-27

88-41730). ALL MATERIAL REGARDING THIS FILE AT FBIHQ WAS CON-

P3

SOLIDATED INTO THE MURKIN FILE (BUFILE 44-38861).

91-7597-

ADDITIONALLY, THE COMMITTEE REQUESTED THAT THE SI. LOUIS

23

OFFICE PROVIDE THE NAMES OF ALL SPECIAL AGENTS WHO HANDLED

COVERAGE OF THE MISSOURI STATE PENITENTIARY, JEFFERSON CITY,

MISSOURI, BETWEEN JANUARY, 1960, AND MAY, 1967.

RECEIVING OFFICES ARE REQUESTED TO SEARCH FOR THEIR FILE6Y-5097-71

• * St ouis diregard per FBIAQ

I SEARCHED DA

¡ SERIALIZED

Supervisor Tom

Brekke,

fist pm 6/0/18

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 165

JUN

≥ 1978

Niller

BI-ST. LOU!

•See ASAte

---

## Page 166

PAGE TWO DE HQ D119 UNCLAS EF TO

ON ABOVE-MENTIONED UFAC CASE INVOLVING JAMES EARL RAY. ANY

MATERIAL REGARDING THIS MATTER SHOULD BE DUPLICATED AND ONE

COPY FURNISHED TO FBIHQ, ATTENTION: CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY

UNIT, RECORDS MANAGEMENI DIVISION, BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS

JUNE 12, 1978.

ONLY THE FIRST PAGE OF ANY SERIAL PREVIOUSLY

FURNISHED FBIHQ IN THIS MATTER SHOULD BE PROVIDED.

THE ST. LOUIS OFFICE SHOULD ALSO PROVIDE THE NAMES OF

THOSE SPECIAL AGENTS WHO HANDLED COVERAGE OF THE AREA WHERE

MISSOURI STATE PENITENTIARY, JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI, IS

LOCATED FOR PERIOD SET OUT ABOVE.

BT

0119 * See note page 1.

(including)

NNNN

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 166

---

## Page 167

VZCZCHQ0085

RR AL AT BA BH BS BU CE CG CI CV DN DE HO IP JN JK KC LA

ME MM MI MP MO NK NH NO NY OM PH PX PG PD RH SC SL SD SF SE SI

IP WF

DE HQ 0085 1562356

ZNY EEEEE

R @52105Z JUN 78

FM DIRECTOR FBI (62 117298)

TO FBI ALBANY

FBI ATLANTA

FBI BALTIMORE

FBI BIRMINGHAM

FBI BOSTON

FBI BUFFAL O

FBI CHARLOTTE

FBI CHICAGO

FBI CINCINNATI

FBI CLEVELAND

FBI DENVER

FBI DETROIT

FBI HOUSTON

FBI INDIANAPOLIS

FBI JACKSON

62-5093-70

FBI JACKSONVILLE

SERIALIZED_

6/5/18

lutt

JUN 5 1978

BIMST, LOUIE

ITaler

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 167

---

## Page 168

PAGE TWO DE HQ

FBI KANSAS CITY

FBI LOS ANGELES

FBI MEMPHIS

FBI MIAMI

FBI MILWAUKEE

FBI MINNEAPOLIS

FBI MOBILE

FBI NEWARK

FBI NEW HAVEN

FBI NEW ORLEANS

FBI NEW YORK

FBI OMAHA

FBI PHILADELPHIA

FBI PHOENIX

FBI PITTSBURGH

FBI PORTLAND

FBI RICHMOND

FBI SACRAMENTO

FBI SAN DIEGO

FBI SAN FRANCISCO

0085 UNCLAS EF I O

---

## Page 169

PAGE THREE DE HQ 0085 UNCLAS E FT O

FBI SEATTLE

FBI SPRINGFIELD

FBI SI. LOUIS

FBI TAMPA

FBI WASHINGTON FIELD OFFICE

BI

UNCLAS E FT O

62-5087

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA)

BUDED JUNE 12, 1978.

RE: BULET TO ALBANY, ET AL, AUGUST 25, 1967, CAPTIONED

157-58187

"COUNTERINTELLIGENCE PROGRAM, BLACK NATIONALIST-HATE GROUPS, >

INTERNAL SECURITY" AND "BUAIRTEL IO ALBANY, ET AL, MARCH 4,

1968, CAPTIONED "COUNTERINTELLIGENCE PROGRAM, BLACK NATION 157-58187

ALIST-HATE GROUPS, RACIAL INTELLIGENCE"•

THE HSCA WHICH IS INVESTIGATING THE ASSASSINATION OF

JOHN F. KENNEDY AND MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., NOTING THAT

REFERENCED COMMUNICATIONS ASKED RECIPIENT OFFICES TO MAKE

PERIODIC REPORTS TO THE BUREAU, HAS REQUESTED THAT RECIPIENT

FIELD OFFICE FILES BE SEARCHED AND ALL REPORTS, LETTERHEAD

MEMORANDA, AIRTELS, LETTERS AND TELETYPES CONCERNING

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 169

---

## Page 170

PAGE FOUR DE HQ DO85 UNCLAS E F I O

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., OR THE SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN

LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE (SCLC) SUBMITTED PURSUANT IO REFERENCED

COMMUNICATIONS UP TO AND INCLUDING DECEMBER 31, 1968, BE

PREPARED FOR DELIVERY.

THE ASCA REQUESTED THAT OUR RESPONSE IN THIS MATTER BE

GIVEN TOP PRIORTY OVER ALL OTHER ASPECIS OF KING INVESTIGATION.

FBI HEADQUARTERS (FBIHQ FILES HAVE BEEN PARTIALLY.

PROCESSED IN RESPONSE TO A SIMILAR REQUEST, BUT TO INSURE

COMPLETENESS AND THOROUGHNESS, EACH RECIPIENT OFFICE FURNISH

FBIHQ TWO XEROX COPIES OF ANY COMMUNICATION MEETING ABOVE

CRITERIA. COPY SHOULD REACH FBIHQ BY JUNE 122 19782

ALL COPIES SHOULD BE CLEARLY LEGIBLE AND SHOULD BE SENT

REGISTERED MAIL, MAILED TO THE ATTENTION OF THE CONGRESSIONAL

INQUIRY UNIT, RECORDS MANAGEMENI DIVISION, ANY QUESTIONS CAN

BE RESOLVED BY CONTACTING SUPERVISOR RICHARD C. BUSCHING,

EXTENTION 3685.

RECIPIENT OFFICES HAVING NO COMMUNICATION MEETING CRITERIA

ARE TO SO NOTIFY FBIHQ.

0085

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 170

---

## Page 171

ins

VZCZCHQOD38

00 CG SL

DE HQ

ZNY. EEEEE

0038 1501918

0 301838Z MAY 78

FM DIRECTOR FBI (62-117290)

TO FBI SI. LOUIS IMMEDIATE

FBI CHICAGO IMMEDIATE

BT

UNCLAS E F

62-50974

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA)

HSCA, BY LETTER DATED MAY 17, 1978, REQUESTED THAI A

DETERMINATION BE MADE AS TO WHETHER THE SI. LOUIS OR CHICAGO

FIELD OFFICE "MADE ANY ATTEMPIS AI SURREPTITIOUS ENTRY, OR IN

FACT SUCCEEDED AT SURREPTITIOUSLY ENTERING THE RESIDENCES OR

JERRY RAYY.

THE PREMIERE ONNED OR LEASED BY CAROL REE UOM SO AMB/OR

88-10663-3, 416,9

ON MAY 24, 1978, MIKE EBERHARDI, STAFF MEMBER, HSCA,

ADVISED THAT THE COMMITTEE IS INTERESTED IN RESOLVING AN

ALLEGATION THAT ENTRY WAS MADE TO OBTAIN FINANCIAL RECORDS OF

JAMES EARL RAY'S FAMILY OR TO INSTALL ELSUR OR MISUR. PREMISES

MENTIONED REFERS TO GRADEVINE TAVERN, SI. LOUIS.

602-5097-109

÷x.

и

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 171

MAY 8 0 1978

di-ST. Loug

res

---

## Page 172

PAGE TWO DE HQ D038 UNCLAS EFT O

RECEIVING OFFICES ARE REQUESTED TO REVIEW RESPECTIVE

MURKIN OR APPROPRIATE FILES FOR ANY INFORMATION REGARDING ENTRY

BY FBI OF RESIDENCES OF ABOVE THREE INDIVIDUALS OR THE GRAPEVINE

TAVERN. ANY PERTINENT INFORMATION SHOULD BE DUPLICATED AND ONE

COPY SHOULD BE FURNISHED TO FBI HEADQUARTERS, AITENTION:

CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT, RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION, BY

CLOSE OF BUSINESS JUNE 9, 1978.

BI.

0038

NNNN

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 172

---

## Page 173

163-95*

Destropa

RAY, JOHN

ÜUL 64

b. $ 6-9-15, Budapest, Hungary

RAY, JOHN

JUN

1977

1982 Arsenal, St. Louis, Mo.

Brother of James Earl Ray

00: KX

RAY, JOHN

APR 66

...."

aka Fred Wi1l1ams

FBI# 1 617 279

88-10663-2

26-28118*

Distop

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 173

---

## Page 174

Lanton

Tit

105-1564-563

RAY, JERRY

NO DESC

RAY, JERRY

5/71

APR

FBI 862 651 A

white male D^3: 7/16/35

5'9" tall weightin 160 Ibs.

91-5279%

1971

:

RAY, JERRY

6/77

88-10663-2, 6,

Orchard Country Club, Longerove, Il1.

or 591 Cherokee, St.

Louis,

Mo.

00: KX

RAY, JERRY

6/77

88-10663-4

father of James Earl Ray

2025 Bellview, Mapleded, Mo.

00: KX

NW 68262 Docld:32989797_Page-174

---

## Page 175

4/5/78

TO

: DIRECIOR, FBI (62-117290)

(ATTN:

CONGRESSIONAI INQUIRY UNIT,

RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION)

FROM

:SAC, ST: LOUIS (62-5097) (RUC)

SUBJECT: HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE. ON ASSASSINATIONS

(HSCA)

Re Bureau. teletype to St. Louis 3/31/78.

St. Louis telcall to Bureau 4/5/78.

A review of the St. Louis Murkin file (SI 44-775)

cevealed that all information re financial and/or ban)

cecords pertaining to JERRY RAYNES was forwarded to the

Bureau in St. Louis réports of SA HAROLD R. DOBSON dated

5/10/68 and 6/25/68.

it would not be necessary for St. Louis to forward duplicate

material.

- 3t. souls

GPW: mt

N(3)

Stripped

S/18.

- 62-5097-622

SEARCHED

STRiALIZED-

CILED

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 175

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## Page 176

-",=

VZCZCHQO 132

RR SL

DE HQ 0132 0910644

ZNR UUUU

R 312210Z MAR 78

FM DIRECTOR FBI (62-117290)

TO FBI SI. LOUIS ROUTINE

BT

UNCLAS

62-5697

HOUSE SELECI COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA).

RE INVESTIGATION INTO ASSASSINATION OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.,

HSCA BY LETTER DATED MARCH 27, 1978, REQUESTED BANK AND/OR FINANCIAL

RECORDS WHICH WERE OBTAINED BY SI. LOUIS OFFICE FOR JERRY RAYNES,

JAMES EARL RAY'S FATHER, IN CONNECTION WITH MURKIN INVESTIGATION.

ST. LOUIS SHOULD SEARCH THEIR MURKIN FILE (SL 44-775) FOR

FINANCIAL AND/OR BANK RECORDS PERTAINING TO JERRY RAYNES AND FURNISH

COPY OF THESE RECORDS TO ATTENTION OF CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT,

RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION, BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS APRIL 7, 1978.

SEARCHED (RAS

BT

A IN'CEXED

9132

sent leg 4/5/78

Re O

SERIALIZECC

Ellies

APR 1 1978

FBI-ST. LOUIS

A. W/LIAMS T

62-5097-41

MW 6a26 Dockd 12289797 Page 17

---

## Page 177

FD-36 (Rev. 7-27-76)

TRANSMIT VIA:

[XI Teletype

• Facsimile

• Airtel

FBI

PRECEDENCE:

• Immediate

I Priority

• Routine

CLASSIFICATION:

• TOP SECRET

O SECRET

• CONFIDENTIAL

O CLEAR

Date

9967

3/23/78

FM ST. LOUIS (62-5097)

TO DIRECTOR (62-117290) PRIORITY

BT

UNCLAS E FT O

ATTENTION: CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT, RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA)

REBUTEL CALL TO ST. LOUIS, MARCH 23, 1978; ST. LOUIS TEL TO

BUREAU, DECEMBER 22, 1975, CAPTIONED "SL 3567-PC; TECIP"; ST. LOUIS

LETTER TO BUREAU, MARCH 31, 1976; ST. LOUIS LETTER TO BUREAU, JULY

29, 1976; ST. LOUIS LETTER TO BUREAU, NOVEMBER 22, 1976.

SL 3567-PC OPENED OCTOBER 3, 1975, AS PCI. ON OCTOBER 30,

1975, INFORMANT PROVIDED INFORMATION ON FOLLOWING CASES:

"UNSUB; THEFT OF 68 CASES OF CIGARETTES, JUNE 8, 1975; TFIS;

ST. LOUIS FILE 15-18872 (CLOSED)"; "UNSUB; BURGLARY OF RESIDENCE

OF MRS. KING; ITSP; ST. LOUIS FILE 87-21548 (CLOSED)"; "RICHARD

O'HARA; ITSP; ST. LOUIS FILE 87-23087 (CLOSED)"; "RAY SCHARF;

BENJAMIN GOINS; AR - HOBBS ACT; MF; ST. LOUIS FILE 92-2104

(PENDING)".

62-5097-60

SEARCHED

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INDEXED_

FILED

JTH : pdp

(2) polo

cE placed m

137-16541

008

Approved:

X AR

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## Page 178

FD-36 (Rev. 7-27-76)

a...

TRANSMIT VIA:

• Teletype

• Facsimile

• Airtel

FBI

PRECEDENCE:

• Immediate

• Priority

• Routine

CLASSIFICATION:

O TOP SECRET

• SECRET

CONFIDENTIAL

EFTO

• CLEAR

Date

PAGE TWO SE 62-5097 UNCLAS E FIO

ON DECEMBER 17, 1975, INFORMANT PROVIDED INFORMATION ON

THE FOLLOWING CASES: "ST. LOUIS AREA CRIME CONDITIONS; ST. LOUIS

FILE 92-702"; "RAY SCHARF; ET AL; RICO; ST. LOUIS FILE 92-2104

(PENDING)"; "JOHNNY TOLIVER; AR - HOBBS ACT; ST. LOUIS FILE

92-2828 (CLOSED)".

ON FEBRUARY 11, 1975, HE PROVIDED INFORMATION ON THE FOLLOWING:

"RAY SCHARF; ET AL; RICO; ST. LOUIS FILE 92-2104 (PENDING)".

ON MARCH 8, 1976, HE PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING: "RAY SCHARF;

ET AL; RICO; ST. LOUIS FILE 92-2104 (PENDING)"; NORMAN OWENS, AKA;

ET AL; ITSP - MAJOR THEFT; CONSPIRACY; RICO; ST. LOUIS FILE

87-23091 (PENDING)".

ON MARCH 26, 1976, AND JUNE 29, 1976, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

PROVIDED REGARDING RAY SCHARF; ET AL; RICO.

INFORMANT CLOSED BY LETTER TO BUREAU, NOVEMBER 22, 1976.

ADMINI STRATIVE:

COPY OF PREVIOUSLY SET FORTH MEMORANDUM DATED MARCH 19, 1974,

IS SHOWN IN INFORMANT FILE VIA CORRELATION MEMO DATED OCTOBER 7,

1975. INFORMANT FILE REVIEWED MARCH 16, 1976, BY INSPECTION STAFF.

BT

Approved:

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## Page 179

xX

3/13/78.

TO:

DIRECTOR, FBI (62-117290)

(ATTN: CONGRESSIONAL. INQUIRY UNIT,

RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION)

FROM:

SAC, ST. LOUIS (62-5097) C

SUBJECT: HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA)

Re St. Louis telêtype to FBIHQ, 3/13/78.

Enclosed for FBIHO are the original and three

copies of LHM captioned as above.

action being tag ning furnished for information and no

2- Bureau (Encs. 4):

X- St. Louis

JTH: jto

(3). te

• NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 179

U25O979

SEARCHED

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INDEXED

FILED

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## Page 180

Saint Louis, Missouri

March 13, 1978

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA)

In the couse of a file review in an unrelated

137-36945. 315 evere iS lee tale a contrite

This file contained a contact

memorandum dated March 19, 1974, which contained information

relating to several criminal matters and also contained the

following paragraph:

"During the Fall of 1973, five or six months ago,

date not recalled, Beyers came to the shop inquiring as

to whether they could get together to talk, and they later

did so at Pizza and Cream, Clayton, Mo., in the area of a

Broad-Dugan Paint Store, where informant had traveled on

business.

Beyers talked freely about himself and his

business, and they later went to informant's house where

Beyers told a story about visiting a lawyer in St. Louis

County, now deceased, not further identified, who had

offered to give him a contract to kill Martin Luther King.

He said that also present was a short, stocky man, who

walked with a limp. (Later, with regard to the latter

individual, Beyers

commented that this man was actually

the individual who made the payoff of James Earl Ray after

the killing.) Beyers said he had declined to accept this

contract.

He did remark that this lawyer had confederate

flags and other items about the house that might indicate

that he was 'a real rebel'. Beyers also commented that

he had been offered either $10,000 or $20,000 to kill King."

Extensive further research in the St. Louis indices

and files failed to reveal this information was

If any way

aisseminated and the information simply reposes in the informant

file.

4- Bureau

X- St. Louis

(62-5097)

JTH: jtc.u{5)

This dodument contains neither reconnendations nor conclusions

of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your

agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside.

your agency.

62-5097-58

SEARCHED

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NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 180

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## Page 181

FD-36' (Rev. 7-27-76)

TRANSMIT VIA:

XI Teletype

• Facsimile

• Airtel

FBI

PRECEDENCE:

• Immediate

[X) Priority

• Routiné

CLASSIFICATION:

O TOP SECRET

O SECRET

• CONFIDENTIAL

O CLEAR

Date

3/13/78

1051

EM ST. LOUIS (62-5097).

TO DIRECTOR (62-117290) PRIORITY •

BT

UNCLAS E FT O

ATTENTION: CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT, RECORDS MANAGEMENT

DIVISION

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA)

RE ST. LOUIS TEL CALL TO BUREAU, MARCH 13, 1978.

IN THE COURSE OF FILE REVIEW IN AN UNRELATED MATTER,

SL 3167-C, ST. LOUIS FILE 137-16185, BUFILE 137-36945, WAS REVIEWED.

THIS FILE CONTAINED A CONTACT MEMORANDUM DATED MARCH 19, 1974,

WHICH CONTAINED INFORMATION RELATING TO SEVERAL CRIMINAL MATTERS

AND ALSO CONTAINED THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH:

"DURING THE FALL OF 1973, FIVE OR SIX MONTHS AGO, DATE NOT

RECALLED, BEYERS CAME TO THE SHOP INQUIRING AS TO WHETHER THEY

COULD GET TOGETHER TO TALK, AND THEY LATER DID SO AT PIZZA AND

CREAM, CLAYTON, MO., IN THE AREA OF A BROAD-DUGAN PAINT STORE,

WHERE INFORMANT HAD TRAVELED ON BUSINESS. BEYERS TALKED FREELY

62-5097-557

= 62-50.97

- 137-16185

1

- 44-775

JTH: pap

(3)

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FILED

QUOrA

Approved:

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GPO: 1977 0 - 225-539

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 181

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## Page 182

FD-36' (Rev. 7-27-76)

TRANSMIT VIA:

[ Teletype

• Facsimile

[ Airtel

F B.I

PRECEDENCE:

[J Immediate

• Priority

@ Routine

CLASSIFICATION:

• TOP SECRET

SECRET

CONFIDENTIAL

EFT O

• CLEAR

Date

PAGE TWO SL 62-5097 UNCLAS E FT O

ABOUT HIMSELF AND HIS BUSINESS, AND THEY LATER WENT TO INFORMANT'S

HOUSE WHERE BEYERS TOLD A STORY ABOUT VISITING A LAWYER IN

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, NOW DECEASED, NOT FURTHER IDENTIFIED, WHO HAD

OFFERED TO GIVE HIM A CONTRACT TO KILL MARTIN LUTHER KING. HE SAID

THAT ALSO PRESENT WAS A SHORT, STOCKY MAN, WHO WALKED WITH A LIMP.

(LATER, WITH REGARD TO THE LATTER INDIVIDUAL, BEYERS COMMENTED

THAT THIS MAN WAS ACTUALLY THE INDIVIDAL WHO MADE THE PAYOFF OF

JAMES EARL RAY AFTER THE KILLING.) BEYERS SAID HE HAD DECLINED TO

ACCEPT THIS CONTRACT. HE DID REMARK THAT THIS LAWYER HAD

CONFEDERATE FLAGS AND OTHER ITEMS ABOUT THE HOUSE THAT MIGHT

INDICATE THAT HE WAS 'A REAL REBEL'. BEYERS ALSO COMMENTED THAT

HE HAD BEEN OFFERED EITHER $10,000 OR $20,000 TO KILL KING. "

EXTENSIVE FURTHER RESEARCH IN THE ST. LOUIS INDICES AND FILES

FAILED TO REVEAL THIS INFORMATION WAS IN ANY WAY DISSEMINATED AND

THE INFORMATION SIMPLY REPOSES IN THE INFORMANT FILE.

ABOVE IS BEING FURNISHED FOR INFORMATION AND NO ACTION BEING

TAKEN UACB. LETTER AND LHM FOLLOW.

BT

Approved:

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## Page 183

12/2/77

TO

: DIRECTOR, FBI (62-117290)

FROM : SAC, ST. LOUIS (62-5097) (P)

SUBJECT : HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE

ON ASSASSINATIONS,

U. S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Enclosed for the Bureau are four copies of an LHM

reflecting interviews of SA WILLIAM R. DUNCAN, St. Louis

Division, by Committee staff members on 11/21

and 29/77

and his testimony before the Sub-committee on 11/30/77.

2 - Bureau (Enc. 4)

52'= St. Louis

VRD: kam

(4)

SEANCHED

SERIALIZEO ClA

INDEXED

62-5097-55

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 183

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## Page 184

St. Louis, Hissouri

December 2, 1977

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS,

U. S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

INTERVIEW OF SPECIAL AGENT WILLIAM R. DUNCAN,

ST. LOUIS DIVISION, BY STAFF INVESTIGATORS

ON NOVEMBER 21 AND 29, 1977, AND HIS

TESTILONY BEFORE THE SUB-CO-MITTEE

ON LOVEBBER 30, 1977

At approximately 3:00 p.M., November 21, 1977,

Special Agent (SA) William R. Duncan was interviewed by

Ars. Sheila Lee and lic. Michael Everhart, Attorneys for

the House Select Committee on Assassinations, at the U. S.

House of Representatives, Annex lumber Iwo, Washington, D.C.

SA Duncan was told his name came up as having made an

offer in the Louisville Police Department to kill Dr. Martin

Luther king in 1965. Duncan told them he was assigned to the

Louisville Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

'Fron February, 1952, until May, 1967, and had responsibilities

as Liaison Agent with the Louisville

Polioc Department during

most of this period.

The allegation involved an incident which allegedly

took place at a roll-call time in the First District Office

sonetime in the fall of 1965. Reportedly making the allega-

tion was Clifton Baird, white male, 50, a retired Louisville

police officer who retired in 1975 after 27 years of service.

Also present was Chief of Dotcctives, Major Robert Gregory,

Captain Priest !1. Fry, formerly Chief of Detectives and possiblY

the Captain of the First District; Lieutenant James Bibb, a

uniformed First District Lieutenant; Sergeant Brent Hardin, a

Third District Sergeant; possibly Herman Mitchell, Homicide

Squad; Licutenant Vernon Austin;

and possibly Robert E. Peters

(SA), formerly of the Louisville Division of the FBI.

Duncan sas asked what he knew about the allegationad

he related that in late llarch or early April, 1977, he received

in the FBI mail an Associated Press clipping about a Clifton

Baird naking an allegation that FBI Agents and police made him

This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions

of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to

your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed

outside your agency 62-5097-54 iNCHED

4 - Bureau

one clas

: DEXED

= St. Louis (62-5097)

THE CRA

NW 68262 Docld: 52088792 Page 184

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## Page 185

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS,

U. S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

INTERVIEW OF SPECIAL AGENT WILLIAM R. DUNCAN

an offer to kill Dr. Martin Luther King.

The clipping came

in the regular FBi mail and Duncan stated he did not know who

sent it to him.

A few days later, while on the phone to ex-FBI Supervisor

Robert E. Peters in Louisville regarding a social engagement,

Duncan asked him about the clipping and who Clifton Baird was

and what the clipping referred to.

Peters said Baird was a

tall, heavy-set man who was in the Vice Squad for a while and

that Duncan should have known him from seeing him in the Vice

Squad while Duncan worked with the Detective Bureau in Louis-

ville.

Approximately April 25, 1977, FBI Headquarters sent a

communication to Louisville and St. Louis FBI Offices request-

ing the present locations of former Special Agent in Charge of

Louisville, Bernard C. Brown; Supervisor Robert E, Peters;

and SA William R. Duncan as they were named by former Police

Officer Clifton Baird alleging improprieties in the Martin

Luther King assassination case.

SA Duncan initially had no recollection of the incident

and he called former SA Peters at Louisville and asked him if

he knew anything about this.

Peters replied that he haû no

idea.

Duncan later called

retired Police Captain John Hampton

of Louisville, a close personal friend, to determine it he

Knew anything about this.

Hampton advised he did not know

but would ask and find out what he could and call Duncan.

later called back and gave the namos. of some police officers

who had been interviewed and named former Major Priest M. Fryi

former Major Robert Gregory; Lieutenant James Bibb; Sergeant

Brent Hardin and Lieutenant Vernon Austin. Hampton apparently

talked to Austin and advised that he had learned that the event

was supposed to have taken place in the First District Offices

sometime in 1964 or 1965. Duncan called Lieutenant Vernon

Austin, whom he had known for 25 years, and asked him about the

matter. Austin related to Duncan who the Committee had asked

about and generally who was supposed to be present when the

alleged offer took place.

Duncan told the investigators that he had no recollection

concerning this matter and that he had in fact not slept and

walked the floor a number of nights for approximately ten days

to two weeks. At this time he recalled one night that Sergeant

William Baker of the first District Vice Squad met him in the

- 2 m

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 185

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## Page 186

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE OT ASSASSINATIONS,

U. S. HOUSI OF REPRESENTALIVES,

INTERVIEW OF SPECIAL AGENT WILLIAM R. DUNCA!

second floor hallway sometine in the afternoon and asked

Duncan to help him, with a joke with a couple of officers

at the First District. Duncan was told to go to the roll-call

at roll-aall time and say that he had heard that there was a

$250,000 or $500,000 reward for the death of Di, Martin Iuther

King and was to add to or verify something that had already

Duncan recalled going down to the area and making

the general statenent that he had heard that there was a

$250,000 or $500,000-price on DI. Martin Iuther Fing from

either the Ku Klux Klan or the Connunist Party.

Duncan added

if verification was wanted, one should contact Bob Peters or

B. C. Brown of the FBI.

Duncan did not Iccall who was there except several

uniformed officers who were coming and going and that there

were several in the area.

There were a number of questions

regarding whether It was a big 10ll call area or the Captain's,

Sergeant's, Lleutenant's offices or a hallway. Duncan was

asked whether or not there were three or a dozen people present

and Duncan replied that there could have been between three

and twelve people, exact number unrecalled.

Duncan was asked whether Eob Peters was there. Duncan

said he did not rocall his being there, otherwise he would

not have made the statement that "if you want to verify the

price on Dr. Martin luther King contact Bob Peters or B. C.

BrOWn.*

Duncan identified one person he thought was there as

Arlie Blaire (because Duncan had heard that he was supposed

to

have been there from the questions asked). Duncan recalled a

younger, red-haired officer with a crew-cut or brush-cut.

Duncan said he had talked to Bluite and possibly his partner

in connection with a fugitive nuider case that duncan was

working.

Duncan was asked about his relationship with Robert Peters

and also with Fry, Hardin, Gregory, Bibb, Austin, Herman

Mitchell, John Mitchell and B. C. Brown of the FBI.

The Committee Investigators apparently could not under-

stand why Duncan could not remember who was at the meeting.

They asked Duncan about an attempted bombing of Sergeant Brent

Hardin's car and if Duncan worked on the case.

buncan recalled

a bomb being placed on Hardin's car but that it apparently did

not go off.

Duncan recalled it was possibly in connection with

= 3-

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 186

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## Page 187

HOUSE SELICE COSITETEE OU ASSASSIANIONS,

U. S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

INTERVIE OF SPECIAL AGENT WILLIA'I R. DUNCAN

an clection regarding some of the police organizations.

Duncan did not recall whether the ril worked on the case

at all other than to offer the FBI Laboratory facilities;

however, Duncan did not work on the borbing of the car.

Duncan was asked about the cuisville Chapter of the

Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and if it was a racist or a

white-hate grouy. Duncan replied he did not know, but he

did roceive a plague and an honorary life-timo nonbershi?

in the Louisville Chapter of the FOP for cooperation with

the Louisville Folice Department when he transfcried from

Louisville in 1967 anJ that this plaque was signed by Licu-

tenant Ico Joseph, then secretary and also scoretary to the

Chiet of Detectives.

Duncan was asked If the fu Klux Flan vas active in

Louisville and if any ISI Agents or Louisvillo Police Officers

balonger.

Duncan replica that he has little knowledge of tho

Fu Klux Flax at that time.

He heard in later years after he

loft Louisville that it did become active in Kentucky.

At this point the Investigators requestod Duncan to wait

a while. Subsequently they cano back and took Duncan to

another room and introduced Duncan to lI. Edward 1. Ivans,

Deputy Chief Counscl for the Committee.

They thon asked sore

of the same questions, including tao was at the allegod meeting.

lix. Ichner said that the Louisville Police Officers were

"stonewalling" the issue and maybe when they were put under

oath they would Iccall some of the incident.

questions asked of Duncan such as did Duncan know black officor

Virgil White anl a John litchell. Duncan recalled that he vas

acquainted with Virgil Thito, who was a Vice Squad Detective,

but did not recall John Mitchell, but did recall Detective

Ferman Mitchell.

Duncan was asked if he knew Di. King and lit. loover's

relationship and Duccan said no, excopt what he had heard in

the neuspaper and other nedia sources.

Duncan was asked if he knew Di. lartin Luther king and

Duncan replied that he nover recalled sceing hin in person.

Durcan was asted if he knew King's brother, the Reverenl A. D.

Williams King who livel in Louisvilld. He was told that Duncan

=4 =

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 187

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## Page 188

HOUSE SELECT COMITTED ON ASSASSINATIONS,

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESEUTATIVES,

INTERVIEN OF SPECIAL AGIT MILLIAM R. DUNCAN

met him in 1963 with the then-Special Agent in Charge when Duncan

was to drive then and Attorney General Robert I. Rennedy, when

Kennedy came to Louisville to speak to a group on the 100th

Anniversary of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Duncan met Rev. A. D. Millians King with the Special Agent in

Charge at his church as he met everyone else who was to appear

on the platforn with Attorney General Kennedy as Duncan wanted

to be personally acquainted with everyone on the platforn.

Duncan was asked if he knew Aaron Duke, Arlic Blaire's

partner, and Duncan replied that he did not recall hin.

Duncan was asked if he had been the subject of any dis

ciplinary action as a result of this natter and he replied

that he had not.

Duncan was asked if he had brought this incident to the

attention of any of his supervisors and, if so, when. Duncan

replied that it was brought to the attention of SA Danny O.

coulson, FBIll, when he knew that he was to be called to the

Committee for interview.

Duncan was asked if he ever surveilled br. King and if

he knew of any telephone taps regarding DI. King. Duncan

replied that he did not surveil him and

he had no personal

knowledge of any telephone taps.

Duncan was asked if he thought the matter was a joke

and if he could see anything funny in it and Duncan replied

that at the time it was meant as a joke, but at the present

time it was a nost serious and stupid thing, particularly in

light of events subsequent to 1965.

Duncan stated he would

taxe a polygraph cramination to verify that what he was saying

was true.

Duncan was asked if he knew that DI. King was a frequent

visitor in Louisville during the racially troubled period.

Ile advised that he recalled the racially troubled times rcally

clinased after 1967. Duncan was asked if he would know Arlie

Blaire's voice and

Duncan replied he did not think he would.

Duncan was then told that he was to appear before the

Sub-Conmittee to give sworn testinony on November 30, 1977,

and would a subpoena be necessary. Duncan advised a subpoena

would not be necessary.

Duncan was given the phone number

of the Committee and told to contact fir. Everhart should he

recall anything else.

- 5 -

NW 68262-Đocld:32989797 Page 188

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## Page 189

LOUSE SELECT CONRIITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS,

U. S. HOUSE QE REPRESEZIATIVES,

INTERVIEI OF SPECIAU AGENI WILLIAM R. DUNCAN

On November 29, 1977, Duncan again contacted Committee

Staff Members Mrs. Sheila

Lee, Mir. Michael Everhart and Mr.

Hilliam Hebb.

Duncan told them that he had recalled that he might have

knoin Aaron Duke, Arlic Blaire's partner.

Duncan recalled a

person described as a white male, in his

late 30's or early

10's as of 1965 or 1966, stocky, not fat, with gray cropped

hair, approximately 5' 10" and 180-185-190 pounds.

Duncan advised that he had no first-hand knowledge of

DI. King and Mr. Hoover's difficulty but that he had heard

runors about it and had a faint collection that he may have

mentioned this at the time he told of the fu flux Rlan and/or

the Comunist Party rumor in the First District Police area.

Dincan told them that he did not tell soneone of his

recollection as a joke earlier because when the communication

was received fron the Burcau, it was pointed out that he would

be contacted regarding the matter by the Committee Investiga

tors and that he would at that time be briefed by legal personnel

fIon FBIHQ.

Duncan was asked if

he had discussed this matter with

anyone outside the Bureau and his family. Duncan told them

he had talked one time with Lieutenant Vernon Austin by phone

and he did not discuss the joke other than ask if it coula

have been a joke.

Duncan told then he had discussed it with

Robert Peters at

lcast on three occasions. Once when it came

to his attention fron a newspaper clipping, once when he re-.

ceived a communication from FBI Headquarters, and one time after

he realizod that it was & joke, at which time he told Peters

(Peters) and B. C. Brown had nothing to do with it.

Duncan was asked about their get-together for the football

gamc on Lovember 11-12, 1977. Duncan told them that Duncan

and Peters seriously considered not getting together for this

year's football game but decided

since they had known each

other for 25 years and had plans to attcud this football gaue

for over a year, that they would go ahead and get together.

They agreed not to discuss the matter, however.

Duncan also told them that when he realized that it was

a joke and that he was involved, he contacted a long-time

personal friend and lawyer to assist in the analysis and action

regarding the entire matter.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 189

---

## Page 190

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS,

U. S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

INTERVIEW OF SPECIAL AGENT WILLIAM R. DUNCAN

The Investigators asked if Duncan would be represented

by Counsel before the Committee and Duncan replied he would

not.

On the night of November 29, 1977, Duncan went back to

the Washington Mational Airport to pick up his luggage.

While there, a flight from Louisville came in and he saw

his long-time friend, P.M. Fry, with whom he shook hands.

Accompanying Fry was Ileutenant James Bibb whom Duncan did

not recall for a minute, and former Police Officer Arlie

Blaire came up to Duncan and at this time was

recognized as being a former Louisville Police Officer. At

this time SA DUNCAN realized BIAIRE was not the red-headed

person he thought that he had remembered at the First District

office.

Blaire volunteered to Duncan that he knew Duncan only

professionally and that he had been discharged

for being an

alcoholic, that he had cured himself without going to Alço-

holics Anonymous and he was there at the request of the

Committee. He was asked by Duncan if he ever recalled working

on the Nashan Lane murder case.

He did recall this.

He was

asked what his partner, Aaron

Duke, looked like and he gave

a description meeting the one Duncan had recalled. He also

advised that they rode in car 102 rather than car 101.

On November 30, 1977, Duncan brought the atorementioned

airport meeting to the attention of Mr. Michael Everhart and

Mr. Edward Evans of the Committee staff.

Duncan appeared before the House Sub-Committee on

Növember 30, 1977. The Committee members present part or

full time were Mr. Louis Stokes; Mr. Walter E. Fauntroy;

Brathwaite Burke; and possibly Harold I. Ford.

Mr. Michael Everhart of the Committee staff questioned

Duncan.

At this time Duncan asked Mr. Fauntroy if he would be

out of order if he asked when this incident was supposed to

have taken place and who was present. Mr. Fauntroy advised

that he would be out of order.

Duncan was asked how long he had been in Louisville,

Kentucky, and if he knew P. M. Fry, Robert Gregoryr James BiDD,

- 7-

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 190

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## Page 191

LOUSE SELECT CONCITERE CU ASSASSINATIONS,

U. I. ROICE OF REPRESEUTATIVES,

INTERVIE ON SPECIAL AGITI WILLIA! R. DUNCA!

Brent lardin, Arlic Plaire, Clifford Baird, Eernan Mitchell,

Robert E. Peters, E. C. Brown and Harron Walsh.

lie gave :

then a similar reply as he had given tha Investigators.

Ile

told then that ko did not recognize or know Clifton Baird

for sure until he saw him coming out of the cormitted room

on November 30, 1977.

le was asked if he know a sergeant Millian Baker and

if he was lanown to pull jolos.

Duncan said "yes". He was

asked 11 no knew any of the jorcs pulled by baxor..

lated one of baker's pranks that he allegelly pulled on sone-

one trith the louisvillo Ministerial Allianco.

Duncan was asked if he ever pulled any jokes and the

anster was "on occasion", and he gave one example. Ic was

asked in great detail about where the meeting or joke was

pulled and how he was to know who he was to tell the story

to. Duncan did not rocall except that he thought there were

two officers fron the district and unloubtedly one of then

would have boen Baird, otherwise Baird would not have told

the story. He was asked how the statement was maic and if

there was

anything else sais.

Duncan replied that there could

have been a question asked and he could have replica something

about Mi. Hoover and DI. King's rolationship.

He was asked about the racial climate in Louisville anl

toplied that he thought it was fairly calm until after 1967.

He also pointed out that the Louisville City School System

was one of the fow in the United states that was integratca

without incidont kut that the County School Syaten several

ycars later hau difficulty.

He was asked about Dy. lartin

Iuther Fing and A. D. Millions Fing again. He again gave the

roply except that he had checked the newspaper accounts ad

found that bi. King, according to the newspaper accounts, vas

In Louisville three times between 1903 and 1965 and they

were

he spoke to the Rentucky MAACe GrOup on civil Iights.

He was again asked about Dr. King and Mr. Hoover's trouble

and if DI. Fing was. surveilled every time he came to a town

and who put the telophone taps on hin. Further, if they hau

people fron louisville or people that wont around the couatry

putting on tolephone taps on DI. Ring.

Duncan replied that

he had no knowledge of any survoillances or any telephone tags

On DI. King.

-3-

NW.68262 Docld:32989797 Page 191

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## Page 192

HOUSE SELECT COMITETTE OX ASSASSINATIONS,

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESSHENNIVES,

INTERVIDMT OF SPECIAL AGENE MILLIA: R. DUNCAN?

He was aslied if he ever was a supervisor, citacr in

Iouisville or St. Iouis,

if he had worked on the bonbing

of Sergeant brent lardin's car, and it he worked on a civil

rights case concerning Clifton Baird. Dancan replica neiga

titely to all these questions.

Duncan was given a statenent which allegedly was a trans-

cription of a recording botwen Arlie Blairc and Clifton Baird

which discussed blacks and ring in derogatory teras, and there

vIe sono Icorences made to an offer.

He was asked if this

was typical of the Louisville police feelings at that time.

He alvisal that he did not know and that he had never heara

this discussed. The transcription was signcd by Clifton Balrd

on November 30, 1977, and the recoriing was supposed to lave

taken place on Septerber 29, 1965.

Danean was asked if he know about the assassination of

Malcolm x and he roplied that he had probably hoard about it.

Ke thought it was a Black Muslin killing in Chicago.

NIC 115

toll that it was a black Muslin killing in New York.

Ho was asked about the Iouisville Division's participa-

tion in the Cointolpro.

Duncan advised that he had no know

leige of any program, pointing out that he was a Criminal In

vestigative Agent.

He was asica who handled racial type invos.

tigations in Louicville anl if he hal informants. Duncan zd-

vised hin that Warren Halsh formerly handled these kini of

matters and

he vas then askel if George llutcaison also rorkod

those cases.

Duncan replied "yos", but that he did not know

Walsh's informants but undoubtedly he did have informants.

Duncan vas questionel by Commitice menbors ani askei

generally what guilclines ho hal bech given by the FBI to

questions. He roplied that he was given complete alcarance to

discuss any matter concorning the DI. Martin luther Ring natter.

Le was asked concerning the description of sergeant Bill Baker.

Duncan told the committec menbors that he was instructed by

the FBI to toll tho truth at all costs.

Duncan was asked how many times he wade the "offor" or

the statement and was it nade on more than one occasion and

on two different dates. Duncan roplicd that he only recallel

the ose timo and the one date. lt. Savyer nade the ronari: that

he had the unpleasant experienzo to be present to hour the late

Dircator J.. Edgar Hoover say some vory bitter things Icgarding

DI. King.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 192

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## Page 193

HOUSE: SELECT COMITTEE OI ASSASSINARIONS,

U. S. HOUSE OF REPRESENRATIVES,

INTERVIEN OF SPECIAL AGIRIT WILLIAN R. DUNCAU

Dancan was asked if he thought that the incident was

an offer by the FBI to kill DI. King.

Duncan replied that

it definitely was not. However, it vas in poor taste and

something that should not have occurred.

He was asked his

definition of a joke and duncan gave his definition of a joke

as sonathing nade in fun. He was asked several times regard-

ing the anonymous muspaper clipping suddenly appearing in the

FBI mail, and was this not a crack-pot way of doing things.

He added that Congressmen frequently receive anonymous itens

in the mail also.

Mr. Stokes asked if SA DUNCAN knew that Di. King had won

the lobel Peace Prize and that he preached peace wherever he

went. Duncan replic he did know, but did not know the date.

NI. Stokes stated that he thought the American public should

hear and judge this matter.

Duncan was asked where he was assigned and where he was

physically the date that Dr. King was killed. He replied he

was assigned to the St. Louis Division and at the Mexica,

Missouri, Residont Agency.

Mr. Everhart of the staff summed up the questioning by

asking if it was possible that P.M. Fry, Vernon Austin,

Robert Gregory, Brent Hardin, Herman Mitchell, Arlie Blaire,

and Robert Peters could have been present when the matter was

discussed regarding DI. King.

Duncan replied that it was pos-

sible, but he had no recollection of any of them, especially

Peters.

SA Duncan acknowledged linited participation as described

in instant incident, but stated this was done on his own ini-

tiative spontaneously and wanted it known the IBI as an organi-

zation had no involvement whatsoever.

Further, that he would

cooperate fully in resolving this matter satisfactorily.

Ar. Lehner requested Duncan not to contact any of the

police officers or discuss his testimony with any of them.

- 1:0 -

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 193

---

## Page 194

2/10/78

TO:,

DIRECTOR, FBI (62-117290)

(ATTN:

CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT,

RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION)

FROM:

SAC, ST. LOUIS (62-5097) (6)

SUBJECT: HOUSE SELECI COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA)

Re Bureau teletype to St. Louis,

2/10/78, captioned

as above.

Enclosed under separate cover för Headquarters.

is a Xerox copy of each serial in SL 170-1767 and sI 170-1767

Sub A as was requested in retel.

Also enclosed is destruction

memoranda concerning SL 1495-E (former) substantive file.

Case closed in St: Louis.

3- Bureau

(1 - via package) (Enc. 1)

@ St. Louis

62-5097)

(I- 170-1767)

JIV :jtc

(5) • Tw

Close -4

File Stripped

3/14/1

s. NW 68262. Docld:32989797 Page 194

SEARCHED

SERIALIZED

INDEXED-

•'D

42-5097-53

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## Page 195

HQOD77 0410225

RR SL

DE HQ

R 100D45Z FEB 78

FM DIRECTOR (62-117298)

TO ST. LOUIS ROUTINE

BT

EFTO

62-5047

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA)

REFERENCE BUREAU TELETYPE TO ST. LOUIS DATED

JANUARY 25, 1978; ST. LOUIS TELETYPES IO BUREAU JANUARY 27,

1978, AND JANUARY 31, 1978.

ON FEBRUARY 8, 1978, G. ROBERT BLAKEY, CHIEF COUN

SEL. AND DIRECIOR, HSCA, ADVISED HIS STAFF HAD CONTACIED

FORMER SL 1495-E, WHO HAS AGREED TO COOPERATE WITH THE

HSCA. ON FEBRUARY 9, 1978, STAFF ATTORNEY MICHAEL

EBERHARDT, HSCA, ADVISED THAI SL 1495-E HAS EXECUTED A

• SIGNED WAIVER AUTHORIZING ISCA ACCESS TO ALL FBI INFORMA-

TION CONCERNING HIM, INCLUDING THAT PERTAINING TO HIS

INFORMANT ACTIVITIES.

or 110))

-til sel

62-5097-521

219/18

WAK

Verniernely.

No 68262-Doeld 13184747-Page 195

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## Page 196

PAGE TWO 62-117290 EF I O

SI. LOUIS PROMPILY FURNISH FBIHQ ON XEROX COPY

OF EACH SERIAL IN INFORMANT'S MAIN FILE AND SUB A FILE

(170-1767) AND ONE COPY OF ANY VOUCHER OR DOCUMENT WHICH

CONCERNS ANY ASPECT OF SOURCE'S OPERATION AND ANY PAY-

MENT WHICH WAS MADE TO HIM. ADDITIONALLY, PROVIDE FBIHQ

WITH ONE COPY OF ANY MAIN FILE OR REFERENCE IN YOUR

OFFICE WHICH MAY BE IDENTIFIABLE WITH INFORMANT.

THIS MATERIAL SHOULD BE FORWARDED BY COVER AIR-

TEL TO FBI HEADQUARTERS, ATTENTION CONGRESSIONAL

INQUIRY UNIT, RECORDS MANAGEMENI DIVISION. UPON RECEIPT AT

FBIHQ, THE MATERIAL WILL BE PROCESSED FOR ACCESS OF EIF STAFF

MEMBERS OF HSCA, PROVIDED THE WAIVER DESCRIBED AS ABOVE

IS RECEIVED.

BT

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 196

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## Page 197

FD-36 (Rev. 7-27-76)

TRANSMIT VIA:

Teletype

• Facsimile

• Airtel

FBI

PRECEDENCE:

[ Immediate

0 Priority

Routine

9467

CLASSIFICATION:

0 TOP SECRET

• SECRET

• CONFIDENTIAL

GEETO

D-CLEAR

Dato 2/31/25

FM ST. LOUIS 762-5097) €

TO DIRECTOR ROUTINE

BT

CLEAR

ATTENTION CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT, RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION.

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA) •

RE ST. LOUIS TELETYPE TO BUREAU, JANUARY 27, 1978, CAPTIONED

AS ABOVE.

BY LETTER RECEIVED THIS DATE AT ST. LOUIS OFFICE FROM

SL 1495-E (FORMER), SOURCE ADVISED HE HAS "CHANGED HIS MIND" ABOUT •

BEING INTERVIEWED BY HSCA. SOURCE NOW UNWILLING TO BE INTERVIEWED

AND WANTS "TO BE KEPT OUT OF IT."

CASE CLOSED BY ST. LOUIS.

BT

File Stripped

2/3/78.

DJIV: edr

(1)

#spote 11e

ect0 170-1767

2/31

dove

842-6097-51

SEARCHED

SERIALIZED

whe

INDEXED

FILED

Approved: HC4 1741

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 197

Transmitted

(Number)

0430

(Time)

Per

СРОГ: 1977 0 -225-539

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## Page 198

FD-36 (Rev. 7-27-76)

• TRANSMIT VIA:

enteletype

• Facsimile

[ Airtel

F B.I

9665

PRECEDENCE:

• Immediate

• Priority

Routine

CLASSIFICATION:

• TOP SECRET

E SECRET

CONFIDENTIAL

• CLEAR

Date

17728

FM ST. LOUIS (62-5097) (C)

TO DIRECTOR ROUTINE

BT

EFT O

ATTENTION CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT, RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION.

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA)

RE BUREAU TEL TO ST. LOUIS, JANUARY 25, 1978, CAPTIONED AS

ABOVE.

SL 1495-E (FORMER) CONTACTED THIS DATE. HE WAS ADVISED OF

HSCA'S EXISTENCE AND ITS DESIRE TO INTERVIEW HIM CONCERNING CONTENTS

OF LHM DATED MAY 28, 1971, CAPTIONED "NATIONAL STATES RIGHTS PARTY,

RM = NSRP".

SOURCE (FORMER) WAS ADVISED THAT HSCA HAS INTERVIEWED OTHER

INDIVIDUALS IN CONNECTION WITH THIS MATTER AND WILL BE ISSUING SUB-

POENAS. INITIAL REACTION OF SOURCE WAS THAT HE HAD NO STRONG

OBJECTION TO BEING INTERVIEWED BY HSCA.

SOURCE (FORMER) WAS THEN ADVISED THAT CONFERÈNCES WITH

File Stripped

2/1/28

HSCA

ot.

Louis

IV : cw

(1)

cc.to170-1767

come 130/262

SEARCHED

SERIALIZED

INDEXED

FILED

62-5097-50

0

Approved:

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 198

Transmitted

2150

(Number)

(Time)

Gile

: 1977 0 - 225-539

---

## Page 199

FD-36 (Rev. 7-27-76)

, TRANSMIT VIA:

/E Teletype

• Facsimile

• Airtel

FBI

PRECEDENCE:

• Immediate

• Priority

• Routine

CLASSIFICATION:

• TOP SECRET

• SECRET

I CONFIDENTIAL

EF TO

• CLEAR

Date

PAGE TWO SL 62-5097 E F T 0

AND DOJ WOULD BE UNDERTAKEN TO WORK OUT DETAILS RE PROTECTION,

CONFIDENTIALITY, LOCATION AND SCOPE OF INTERVIEW.

IT IS NOTED THAT SOURCE (FORMER) UNDERWENT MAJOR HEART AND

ABDOMINAL SURGERY DURING OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER, 1977, IS CURRENTLY

RECOVERING AND UNDER DOCTOR'S CARE. HE RESIDES 12350 OLD HALLS

FERRY ROAD, FLORISSANT, MO., (314) 355-1500 AND IS UNEMPLOYED.

BT

Approved: -

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 199

Transmitted

Per

(Number)

(Time)

GPO: 1977 0 - 225-539

---

## Page 200

aginal +0 170-1767 1131174e

274-10267

62-5097-49

JAN 3 1 1978

ra-dr. LOUIS

1Ж4

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 200

---

## Page 201

12350

Old Hell, Kery

Florianow?", 110.€3035

feminer 88,1778

Si. Lori, M..

Dear Trin-

Do peer orse

about whe the

concanction it the

Banks

355-15700

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 201

---

## Page 202

ator

....

HQ0067 D252212

RR SL

DE HQ

R 252151Z JAN 78

FM DIRECTOR

TO SI. LOUIS (ROUTINE)

+8562-5097%6

HOUSE SELEÇT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA)

REFERENCE SIT. LOUIS AIRTEL AND LHM TO BUREAU DATED

555

MAY 28, 1971, CAPTIONED, "NATÍONAL STATES RIGHIS PARTY, RM-

NSRP."

THE HSCA IS CURRENTLY CONDUCTING INVESTIGATION INTO THE

ASSASSINATION OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. IN THAI CONNECTION,

VARIOUS DOCUMENIS, INCLUDING REFERENCED COMMUNICATION, HAVE

BEEN MADE AVAILABLE FOR HSCA REVIEW.

• ON JANUARY 23, 1978, G. ROBERI BLAKEY, CHIEF. COUNSEL AND *

DIRECTOR, HSCA, ADVISED THAT THE HSCA DESIRES TO INTERVIEW THE

FBI INFORMANT WHO PROVIDED INFORMATION IN REFERENCED LHM.

BLAKEY REQUESTED THAT INFORMANT BE CONTACTED AND ADVISED OF

THE HSCA'S INTEREST IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT •

INFORMANT HAD ANY OBJECTIONS TO BEING INTERVIEWED BY

Ted 1/77/78

Dateri

Resides: 11350 01d Hell Zery Rd.

62-5097-48

siniatu le

71or, mo

sil

355<1500

JAN 2 & 1978

NNA/-68762

Dock:2989797

Page 202

---

## Page 203

PAGE. TWO EF I O

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MSCA.

INFORMANT IS SL 1495-E (FORMER), WHO WAS OPERATED FROM

JANUARY, 1978, IO APPROXIMATELY SEPTEMBER 1971. INFORMANT

WAS PRIMARILY TARGETED AGAINST WHITE-HATE GROUPS AND WAS

SUBJECT OF BUREAU FILE 134-19686 AND ST. LOUIS FILE 170-1767.

ON JANUARY 24, 1978, SUPERVISOR JAMES HAGGERTY DETERMINED

THAT INFORMANT IS LISTED IN THE CURRENT ST. LOUIS TELEPHONE

DIRECTORY AND THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CONTACI WITH INFORMANT

SINCE HE WAS CLOSED IN 1971.

ST. LOUIS PROMPTLY CONTACI FORMER SL 1495-E. ADVISE HIM

OOF THE HSCA'S EXISTENCE, AND IS DESIRE IO INTERVIEW HIM

APPARENTLY CONCERNING THE CONTENTS OF REFERENCED LHM.

ADVISE HIM THE. HSCA HAS INTERVIEWED OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN

CONNECTION WITH REFERENCED LHM AND WILL BE ISSUING SUBPOENAS

IN CONNECTION WITH THIS MATTER. DETERMINE AT THIS POINT ONLY

HIS INITIAL REACTION IO BEING INTERVIEWED BY REPRESENTATIVES

•OF THE HSCA. IF HE HAS NO OBJECTIONS TO AN INTERVIEW, HE

SHOULD BE TOLD THAT CONFERENCES WITH THE HSCA AND DEPARIMENT

OF JUSTICE WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO WORK OUT ADDITIONAL DETAILS

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 203

---

## Page 204

PAGE THREE E F I O

REGARDING THE EXTENT OF PROTECTION AND CONFIDENTIALITY

THE HSCA IS WILLING TO EXTEND AS WELL AS DETAILS REGARDING

THE LOCATION AND SCOPE OF INTERVIEW.

SUTEL RESULTS IO FBIHQ, ATTENTION CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY

UNIT, RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION.

BT

DR 52216Z SL 2

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 204

---

## Page 205

FD-36 (Rev. 7-27-76)

TRANSMIT VIA:

Go Teletype

• Facsimile

@ Airtel

FBI

PRECEDENCE:

• Immediate

0 Priority

KX Routine

CLASSIFICATION:

• TOP SECRET

• SECRET

• CONFIDENTIAL

JEFTO

XX CLEAR

Date.

1/10/78

4287/9282

• -----

FM ST. LOUIS (62-5097) (RUC)

TO DIRECTOR (62-117290) ROUTINE

BT

CLEAR

ATTENTION: CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT, SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE

DIVISION

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA); BUDED JANUARY 13,

1978.

REFERENCE BUREAU TELETYPE DATED JULY 27, 1977.

(1) FORMER SPECIAL AGENT HAROLD R. DOBSON WAS CASE AGENT AS -

SIGNED TO MURKIN INVESTIGATION, ST. LOUIS FILE 44-775, BUREAU FILE

44-38861, IN ST. LOUIS DIVISION. FORMER SPECIAL AGENT DOBSON WAS

ASSIGNED TO SECURITY SQUAD AND HANDLED SECURITY TYPE CASES PRIOR TO

HIS INVOLVEMENT IN MURKIN INVESTIGATION.

(2) ST. LOUIS FILE 157-5818 ENTITLED "COUNTERINTELLIGENCE

PROGRAMS, BLACK NATIONALISTS, HATE GROUPS, RACIAL INTELLIGENCE" WAS

OPENED AS A PENDING INACTIVE STATUS CONTROL FILE ON AUGUST 29, 1967.

SEARCHES

SERIALIEr"

INDEXED

FILED

1) - St. LouIs

RSS: cms

(1) Oms

- 4

sill

Stunt Be

62-5097-47

005

Approved: / Clya

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 205

Trated an 1950 por lil

---

## Page 206

FD-36 (Rev. 7-27-76)

TRANSMIT VIA:

Teletype

• Facsimile

@ Airtel

FBI

PRECEDENCE:

• Immediate

Priority

Routine

CLASSIFICATION:

• TOP SECRET

O SECRET

CONFIDENTIAL

EF TO

CLEAR

Date

PAGE TWO SL 62-5097 CLEAR

ON FEBRUARY 27, 1968, THROUGH JANUARY 8, 1969, WAS ASSIGNED TO

SPECIAL AGENT JACK A. FRENCH OF SECURITY SQUAD AT ST. LOUIS DIVISION.

HIS ASSIGNMENT IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THIS CASE ASSIGNMENT WAS TO

HANDLE SECURITY TYPE CASES.

ST. LOUIS FILE 100-17801, BUREAU FILE 100-106670, ENTITLED

"MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.; SECURITY MATTER - C" WAS ASSIGNED TO

FOLLOWING AGENTS: FORMER SPECIAL AGENT RICHARD B. SMITH, JANUARY 15,

1965, THROUGH JANUARY 19, 1965, FEBRUARY 3, 1965, THROUGH APRIL 10,

1965; SPECIAL AGENT ROBERT S. STEWART, APRIL 28, 1965, THROUGH

APRIL 28, 1965; FORMER SPECIAL AGENT WALTER A. HILGENDORF,

NOVEMBER 11, 1965, THROUGH NOVEMBER 12, 1965, AND JUNE 14, 1966,

THROUGH JUNE 17, 1966; FORMER AGENT RICHARD B. SMITH, OPENING DATE

UNKNOWN THROUGH JULY 6, 1966, AND MARCH 25, 1967, THROUGH MARCH 27,

1967.

ST. LOUIS FILE 105-4027, BUREAU FILE 100-438794, ENTITLED

"COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE;

RM; IS - C" WAS ASSIGNED TO FOLLOWING AGENTS: FORMER AGENT WALTER A.

HILGENDORF, SEPTEMBER 23, 1964, THROUGH DECEMBER 10, 1964, AND

MARCH 21, 1965, THROUGH APRIL 19, 1965; SPECIAL AGENT JACK A. FRENCH,

JUNE 3, 1965, THROUGH JUNE 16, 1965; FORMER AGENT WALTER A.

Approved:

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 206

Transmitted

Per

(Number)

(Time)

GPO: 1977 0 = 225-539

---

## Page 207

FD-36 (Rev. 7-27-76)

TRANSMIT VIA:

[ Teletype

• Facsimile

[ Airtel

FBI

PRECEDENCE:

• Immediate

• Priority

• Routine

CLASSIFICATION:

• TOP SECRET

• SECRET

O CONFIDENTIAL

EFTO

• CLEAR

Date

9282

PAGE THREE SL 62-5097 CLEAR

HILGENDORF, FEBRUARY 24, 1966, THROUGH DATE UNKNOWN; SPECIAL AGENT

JACK A. FRENCH, JUNE 6, 1969, THROUGH JULY 23, 1969. THE ABOVE

AGENTS AND FORMER AGENTS WERE ASSIGNED TO ST. LOUIS DIVISION SECURITY

SQUAD DURING PERTINENT PERIOD.

A REVIEW OF ABOVE FILES DISCLOSED NO INSTANCES WHERE COUNTER-

INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES WERE CONSIDERED OR CARRIED OUT AGAINST KING

OR THE SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE.

BT

Approved:

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 207

Transmitted (Number)

Per

(Time)

GPO: 1977 0 - 225-539

---

## Page 208

sai.

HQOD24 3612154

RR AT BH CG LA LS ME MM NO SL

DE HQ

R 272010Z DEC 77

FM DIRECIOR (62-117290)

TO ATLANTA (ROUTINE)

BIRMINGHAM (ROUTINE)

CHICAGO (ROUTINE)

LOS ANGELES (ROUTINE)

LOUISVILLE (ROUTINE)

MEMPHIS (ROUTINE)

MIAMI (ROUTINE)

NEW ORLEANS (ROUTINE)

SI. LOUIS (ROUTINE)

EF T•O

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA), BUREAU

DEADLINE JANUARY 13, 1978.

THE ASCA IS CURRENTLY CONDUCTING INVESTIGATIO

INTO THE

ASSASSINATION OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, MR. (MURK-STORY-LETTER

DATED DECEMBER 13, 1977, THE HSCA REQUESTED THE

ALTEN US

PROVELE

THE FOLLOWING:

DEC 8 T 1977

Soonie at tickle

- 1175781

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 208 fo

---

## Page 209

PAGE TWO EF TO

(1) IDENTIFICATION OF FIELD OFFICE CASE AGENT (S)

ASSIGNED TO THE MURKIN INVESTIGATION IN ALL ABOVE LISTED

OFFICES (EXCEPT LOUISVILLE). INCLUDED SHOULD BE THE

DIVISION, SECTION OR SQUAD OF ASSIGNMENT AND THE NATURE OF

THE AGENT•S ASSIGNMENT IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO HIS INVLVEMENT

IN THE MURKIN INVESTIGATION.

(2) IDENTIFICATION OF FIELD OFFICE CASE AGENT(S)

ASSIGNED TO COUNTERINTELLIGENCE (COINTELPRO) EFFORTS DIRECTED

AGAINST KING AND THE SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

(SCLC) DURING THE PERIOD 1965-1968 IN ALL ABOVE LISTED

OFFICES. AS ABOVE, INCLUDED SHOULD BE THE DIVISION, SECTION

OR SQUAD OF ASSIGNMENI AND THE NATURE OF THE AGENT'S

ASSIGNOPT IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THE

COINTELPRO, KING AND SCLO INVESTIGATIONS..

BECAUSE MOST COUNTERINTELLIGENCE ACTIVITY AGAINST KING

AND SCLC WAS HANDLED IN THE SUBSTANIIVE INVESTIGATIONS, YOU

SHOULD IDENTIFY THE CASE AGENT(S) INVOLVED IN THE SECURITY

INVESTIGATIONS OF KING AND SCLO, AS WELL AS THE COINTELPRO.

THIS REVIEW SHOULD INCLUDE INSTANCES WHERE COUNTERINTELLIGENCE

ACTIVITIES WERE EITHER CONSIDERED OR CARRIED OUT AGAINSI

KING AND SCLE.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 209

---

## Page 210

PAGE THREE EFT O

RESPONSES SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BY TELETYPE TO THE

ATTENTION OF THE CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNII, SPECIAL

INVESTIGATIVE DIVISION, BY JANUARY 13, 1978.

UNDER CURRENT OPERATING PROCEDURES EXISTING BETWEEN

THE DEPARIMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE HSCA, DISCLOSURE OF ABOVE

AGENT INDENTITIES IO THE HSCA CANNOI BE PREVENTED. HOWEVER,

THE LEGAL COUNSEL DIVISION OF FBIHQ IS NEGOTIATING WITH THE

HSCA IN EFFORT• TO LIMIT PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF NAMES OF ANY

AGENT PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN THE COINTELPRO ACTIVITIES. SUCH

AGREEMENT WOULD FOLLOW PRECEDENT OF THE SENATE SELECT

COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE WHICH IN ITS REPORT DURING 1976

DID NOT LIST THE NAMES OF ANY FBI PERSONNEL' BELOW THE POSITION

OF SECTION CHIEF•

BT

---

## Page 211

St. Louis, Missouri

October 25, 1977

The Honorable Griffin R. Bell

Attorney General of the United States

U. S. Department of Justice

Washington, D. C.

Dear Mr. Bell:

By letter dated October 7, 1977, Mr. G. Robert

Blakey, Stafi Director for House select committee on

Assassinations, requested Mr. Robert I. Keich, Special

Assistant to the Attorney General, authorize my inter-

view by Committee Staff personnel.

I understand this

interview will concern alleged improprieties on the part

of Bureau Agents with regard to the assassination of

DI. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I am requesting that the Department authorize an

attorney of my choice at Departmental expense to repre-

sent ny interests and the interests of the FBI during

this interview.

Very truly yours,

Milliam R. Duncan

Special Agent

FBI, St. Louis, Mo.

:

2 - Addressee

-St. Louis

WRD: n1n

(3.).

(62-5097)

til

62-5097-445

MANCHE

SERIALIZEO CRE

INDEXED

¡ NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 211

---

## Page 212

10/25/77

AIRTEL

AIR MAIL

TO: DIRECTOR, FBI (62-117290)

ATTENTION;

DANNY O. COULSON, LEGAI, COUNSEL DIVISION)

FROM:

SAC, ST. LOUIS (62-5097)

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS

* U. S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Re Bureau phone calls to St. Louis 10/19/77.

Enclosed are the original and copy of a letter from

SA WILLIAM R. DUNCAN, St. Louis Division, to the Honorable Griffin

• R. Bell, Attorney General of the United States, requesting that

the Department of Justice authorize an attorney of his choice to

be paid for by the Department to represent him during an interview

by Committee Staff members.

2

• Bureau (Encs.)

~ St: Louis

WRD:n1n

(3)

He Stripp

62-5097-44

SEARCHED

SERIALIZED"

INDEXES

'FILED

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 212

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## Page 213

10/5/77

TO:

FROM:

SUBJECT:

9/22/77.

DIRECTOR, FBI

(ATTN: CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT,

SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE DIVISION)

(ATTN: SUPERVISOR J. T. ALDHIZER)

SAC, SI. IOUIS (62-5097)

RUC

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE

ON ASSASSINATIONS

Re Bureau teletype, 8/18/77, and St. Louis airtel,

Enclosed for Bureau are two copies of serial

44-775-483.

•

3- Bureau (Encs. 2)

Ist. Louis

THIN: jtc

•

62-5097-4433

NEIT

Do Nor Destig

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 213

---

## Page 214

XX

9/22/77

TO:

FROM:

SUBJECT:

DIRECTO FIERESSIONAT INQUIRY tHIS,

CATIN:

SPECIAL INVISTIGATIVE DIVISION)

SAC, ST. LOUIS (62-5097) (RUC)

HOUSE SELECI COMMITTEE

ON ASSASSINATIONS

BUDED: 9/23/77

Re Bureau teletype, 8/18/77-

Enclosed undér separate cover for Bureau are two

boxes each containing a sèt of documents prepared as out-

lined in referenced teletype conceming Si 44-775 entitled

"HURKIN".

4 - Bureau

(2 via packages)

J-St. Louis

(5)

62-5097-42

MARCHED

Donatdestoy

• Tr.

File Stripped

9/23/27

_ NW 68262-Docld:32989797 Page 214

---

## Page 215

Following is list of items contained in SI 44-775-1A.

Items with asterisk are attached.

1A (1)

Photographs of tee shirts and slacks bearing laundry

mark.

1A (2)

1A (3)

Photographs of artist conception of assailant:

Antist mingeption photos from description of Memphis

1A (4)

Photos of artist conception furnished by witnesses

at Memphis, Tennessee.

1A (5)

iA (6)

*IA (7)

Composite of UNSUB, aka ERIC STARVO GALT.

1960 photos JAMES EARL RAY.

Guest. Registration Card #5737, Allstate Ins.,

Columbia, Missouri.

iA (8)

1A (9)

Photo WALTER T. RIFE.

Photo JAMES, EARL RAY with WALTER T. RIFE.

1A (10)

Photo JAMES EARL RAY.

1A (11)

Photo copy Death Certificate LUCILLE MARY RYAN.

IA (12)

1A (13)

Photo RUSSELL LEE MARTIN, MSP #08014.

Photos JAMES EARI. RAY, 1966 MO. Dept. of Corrections.

1A (14)

Photos JAMES EARL RAY taken 1967 Mexico.

1A (15).

Photos GEORGE FREDERICK BRASS.

1A (16)

*1A (1.7)

Photos ROBERT DALE PORTER.

Copies of 12/8/67 Mo: State Penitentiary Release

Fingerprint Card re ROBERT DALE PORTER.

1A (18)

IA (19)

Photos ROY EUGENE WARREN.

Photo LEE HOLLAND PARKER.

1A (20)

MSP Photo JAMES EARL RAY.

1A (21)

Photo JACK EUGENE GAWRON.

-I-

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 215

---

## Page 216

*IA (22.)

*IA (23).

*1A (24)

*IA (25)

1A (26)

1A (27)

1A (28)

1A (29)

1A (30)

Copy: of Mo. Dept. of Liquor Control license for

CAROL PEPPER.

3 Registration Cards of McArthur Hotel.

Xerox copies Application for Tenancy at 1982

Arsenal St., St. Louis, Mo.

Xerox copy of lease for 1982 Arsenal St., St.

Louis, Mo.

Photo ROBERT DALE PORTER.

Photos JAMES EARL. RAY (taken 1968 in Calf.)

Photos JAMES EARL RAY.

Photos JAMES EARL RAY and JAMES OWENS.

Photo JAMES EARL RAY.

1A (31)

1A (32)

Photos of laundry marks on shirt and bed linen.

Photo JAMES LOMA OWENS.

1A (33)

Photo JAMES LAONA OWENS.

*1A (34).

*IA (35)

Signature card of JAMES CARI, O'CONNOR.

Application for rental of 1912 California (10/9/67).

*1A (36)

Copy of rental check from JOHN RAY.

*IA (37)

Copy of bank record re checking account of JOHN RAY.

*IA (38)

Copy of bank record re account of JAMES CARL O'CONNOR.

1A (39)

Photo of KENNETH LEE WADE.

#IA (40) Telephone toll tickets re CARMEN PATTON.

*IA (41)

Telephone toll tickets re phone JERRy RAYnES.

*1A (42)

Telephone toll tickets re phone J. D. DAILY.

*IA (43)

Xerox copy toll tickets. JERRY RAYNES.

*IA (44)

Xerox copy toll calls from PR 6=3540

-2-

: NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 216

---

## Page 217

• .

*1A (45)

*IA (46)

IA (47)

1A (48)

1A (49)

1A (50)

*IA (51)

*IA (52)

*IA (53)

1A (54)

Toll tickets on LaFonts Service Station.

Toll info on phone J. D. DAILEY #379-3136.

Photo of OWEN I. FOX.

1967 Photo of JAMES H. CARPENTER.

Photo of JAMES DAVID DAILEY.

Photos of VINCENT JOSEPH WALKER.

Exemplified copy of armed robbery sentence of RaY.

Xerox copy of toll calls re TO 5-0449.

Copies of invoices.

List of members and non-members of National Institute

of Dry Cleaners furnished by Baltimore Division.

-3-

* NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 217

---

## Page 218

HQ0&77 2300204

RR AI BH. CG LA MM NO SL

. DE HQ

R 180110Z AUG 77

FM DIRECTOR

TO ATLANTA (ROUTINE)

BIRMINGHAM (ROUTINE)

CHICAGO (ROUTINE2

LOS ANGELES (ROUTINE)

MIAMI (ROUTINE)

NEW ORLEANS (ROUTINE)

SI. LOUIS (ROUTINE)

CLEAR

• 62-5247*

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS; BUREAU DEADLINE

SEPTEMBER 23, 1977

THE HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA),

WHICH IS INVESTIGATING THE ASSASSINATIONS OF JOHN E. KENNEDY

AND MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., HAS REQUESTED ACCESS TO INVESTI-

GATE FILES OF THE ABOVE FIELD OFF CE FILES CONCERNING OUR

62-5097-41

BERIALIZED

I TILED.

-INDEXED.

A03 1: 197

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 218

БрАШКЕк

37R

---

## Page 219

PAGE TWO CLEAR

MURKIN INVESTIGATION (ASSASSINATION OF KING) .

AT A MEETING WITH HSCA OFFICIALS ON AUGUST 16, 1977,

CHIEF COUNSEL ROBERI G. BLAKEY AGREED THAI, IO AVOID DUPLICATION,

IT WOULD BE NECESSARY FOR HIS STAFF TO REVIEW ONLY THE

FIRST PAGE OF ANY FIELD OFFICE DOCUMENT WHICH WAS DIRECTED

TO OR RECEIVED FROM FBI HEADQUARTERS OR THE MEMPHIS FIELD

OFFICE (FBIHQ FILES HAVE BEEN PROCESSED AND MEMPHIS FILES

ARE CURRENTLY BEING PROCESSED FOR THE HSCA). THIS FIRSI PAGE

WILL PROVIDE THE MSCA A CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNTING OF ALL

SERIALS IN THE FILE. ALL SERIALS NOT DIRECTED TO OR

RECEIVED FROM FBIHQ. OR MEMPHIS WOULD HAVE TO BE REVIEWED IN

THEIR ENTIRETY.

THE HSCA

ALSO DESIRES TO SEE ALL NOTATIONS IN THESE

FILES

JNLESS

THE NOTATIONS ARE FOR INDEXING PURPOSES OR

GRAMMATICAL CORRECTIONS. THEREFORE, IF A FIELD NOTATION

APPEARS IN OTHER THAN THE FIRST PAGE OF A SERIAL THAT

EXISTS IN THE FBIHQ OR MEMPHIS FILE, COPIES OF THAT PAGE

WILL HAVE TO BE REPRODUCED AND FORWARDED TO FBIHQ

EACH RECIPIENT, EXCEPT MIAMI, USING THE ABOVE CRITERIA,

FURNISH FBIHQ TWO XEROX COPIES OF YOUR MURKIN INVESTIGATIVE FILE.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 219

---

## Page 220

PAGE THREE CLEAR

FILES SHOULD REACH FBIHQ BY SEPTEMBER 23, 1977. IF YOUR

FILE CONTAINS ANY EXHIBIT, PHOTOGRAPH OR DOCUMENT WHICH. CANNOT

BE REPRODUCED, SET FORTH A DESCRIPIION AND LOCATION OF THAT

ITEM IN THE COVER PAGES OF YOUR COMMUNICATION TRANSMITTING

THE FILES IO FBIHQ.

ALL COPIES SUBMITTED SHOULD BE CLEARLY LEGIBLE AND

SHOULD BE SENT REGISTERED MAIL, MARKED TO THE ATTENTION OF

THE CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT, SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE DIVISION.

ANY QUESTIONS CAN BE RESOLVED BY CONTACTING SUPERVISOR

J. 1. ALDHIZER, EXTENSION 3685.

• SINCE MIAMI PREVIOUSLY FURNISHED A COPY OF ITS MURKIN

FILE DURING REVIEW OF THE KING CASE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF

JUSTICE TASK FORCE, IT WILL NOT BE NECESSARY TO REPRODUCE

YOUR FILES IN LINE WITH THE ABOVE. HOWEVER, FILES SHOULD

BE REVIEWED FOR PAGES NOT PREVIOUSLY FORWARDED FBIHQ

WHICH MAY CONTAIN NOTATIONS• ADVISE FBIHQ RESULTS OF YOUR

REVIEW, FURNISHING TWO COPIES OF ANY PAGE CONTAINING NOTATION

AND CLEARLY IDENTIFYING SERIAL INVOLVED.

BT

i .

L NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 220

---

## Page 221

PD-350 (Rev. 11-11-75)

(Mount Clipping in Space Below)

Brother 'Goes Public' With Detaily/

What Ray Told

Indicate page, name of

Assassinations Panell

lewspaper, city and state.)

P1=8, St. Louis

JPost-Dispatch,*

St. Louis, Missouri

Jeh

* James "wanted to be cleared"

By JAKE McCARTHY

0f the Post-Dispatch Staff

Copyright 1917, 51e Lonela Post-Dispatche

James Earl Ray and his brothers

have decided to "go public" with the

story of how they say Ray was

drawn into the events surrounding

the assassination of the Rev. Dr.

Martin Luther King, Jr., In Mem-

phis, Tenn., on April 4, 1968.

Jerry Ray, 42 years old, of Long

Grove, Ill. told the Post-Dispatch

vesterday that he and another broth

er, John Larry Ray, now an In-

Parentary, Marlene swederal

reveal to the Post-Dispatch what

James Earl Ray has told the U.s. i

House of Representatives Select

committee on'Assassinations. A

spokesman for the committee yes.

Date: 6/28/77

Edition:

Author:

Editor:

Title:

62-5097

Character:

or

Classification:

Submitting Office:

SL

Being Investigated

62-5097-40

SEARCHED

SERIALIZED.

J:: 50: 1977

F2:- 3r. L6JiS

Preten

ITAT

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 221

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## Page 222

Jarday refused any comment on the

Lage.

¿ A number of the assertions have

never been made public befora,

including the contention that James

Earl Ray possesses the telephone

numbers In Now Orleans that were

his link to a mysterious figure called

"Raoul."

But some of the information sup-

piled the Post Dlapatch by Jerr

Ray is diametrically opponed to.

previous statements attributed to

film on the subject.or James Barl

Kay's involvement in the Rev. Dr.

King's murder:

Jerry Ray was praylowed ust

as saying that "Racal"' was

story Jimmy made up for (William

Bradford) Hule," James Earl Ray'g

Ilographer, And Jerry Ray. has

provtously been quoted as saying,

"The whole thing about Raoul and

ruining drugs from Canada was a ®

lie.".

-The quorations are contained In a

now book on the King assassination

written by George MeMilan. BRe

cents from the book "The Making of

an Assassin," appeared in the Host.

Dinpatch earller this month. Jerry

Ray filed suit In January against

Melillan, charging him with libel in

the boor:

Raoul and James Earl Ray'a

involvement in complicated smug.

gitig oparations are central parte of

the story jerry Ray told the lost.

Dilipatch yesterday.

Raoul'! involvement in the events

surrounding the Rev. Dr. King'a

murder firat was alleged in lettere

Ray wrote to Hule while Ray was in

• Jail in Memphie. Raoul's Identity

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 222

and indeed, his very existence, have

leen debated for more than eight!

Mpars:

Ray has maintained that he

bought the gun that killed the Rev.

Dr. King and rented the room from

which the fatal shot was fired at

Raoul's direction. The phone num-

bers purportedly linking James Earl

Ray to Raoul have been copied by

Jerry Ray and sre in two safety

deposit boxes belonging ta jerry

Ray and his sister, a St. Louls

reaidens, Jerry Ray now pays,

"He (James) gave us the numbere

and said even. If something hap

penod to him in prison, he wanted t

da cleared someday,". Jerry sal

James Barl Ray, according to his

brother, sald that the day of the

Rey. Dr. King's killing he discoy.

ered a bustness card stuffed Into the

beat of the white Mustang in whicky

he fled from Memphis, an automo

bile to which three people including

Ray and Raoul had keys.. The

bualness card bore the penciled

name.of one

Randy

R

(the last name is

known to:the House panel) wha,

says Jerry Ray, has dropped out of

sight. James Earl Ray's attorneys

have been unable to track him down

without the power of subpena.

They have met a similar deaderd

In trying to trace two telephone

numbers that Ray says he used to

reach Raoul In New Orleant.

Jimes Earl Ray, says Jerry Ray,

way Involved with Raoul in deliver-

ing cars to cities in varous parts of

---

## Page 223

the United States and Mexico "at $1000 to

$2000 per trip." Said Jerry Ray: "James

assumed he was delivering dope or some

other kind of contraband."

"James is a crook," said Jerry Ray.

"He's been one since he got out of the

Army, to make money without working.

He thinks being a thief is an honorable

profession, but he never wanted to be

known as a murderer."

Now, says the brother of the man

convicted of assassinating the Rev. Dr.

King, James Earl Ray fears that if he is

transferred to federal custody after his

• short-lived escape

from a Tennessee

state prison recently, "he will be sent to

the federal medical facility. at Spring:

field (Mo.), given shock treatments, die

Pot a heart attack in three years, and the

case will be closed."

Here is the story Jerry Ray told. the

Post-Dispatch of how James Earl Ray

" found himself in Memphis at the time the

Rev. Dr. King was killed:

"After he escaped from the Missouri

Pénitentiary in 1967, he came to Chicago

and called me," said Jerry Ray. "He

later told me he didn't escape in a bread

truck as the story goes. He climbed over

the wall on somé pipes, like he did in

they found he was missing,

, they thought he was hiding inside the

prison as he had done on a previous

attempt. This gave him some valuable

time to walk along the railroad tracks

and get away. They put out the bread

truck story because James was working

in the bakery and they just figured that

•"I met him in Chicago when he got

there. He never once mentioned King or

other political

doesn't give a damn about politics. He

never cared who was governor or who

running the country. If you're

racist in prison, where he was, you're in

carried around pictures of Hitler and

stuff, that's a lot of bunk. He's not

violent. When he was arrested

armed robbery charge in St. Louis in

1959, he had a gun but didn't use it. Even

the black prisoners in Tennessee think he

When Ray arrived in Chicago, said his

rother, "he took a job as a dishwasher

a restaurant in Winnetka. After a

couple of days he was promoted to the

Cafeteria

line.

He worked there six

seeks until he got enough money to get

out of the country, because he was 'hot.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 223

"He went to Montreal and started

Hanging around some sleazy bars and le!

t be known that he was a thief and wa

That's where he met Raoul.

looking for a way to make some moneyl

"He knew Raoul was a phony name

'bụt he was using one, tco.

He used last

names like Willard, Lohmyer, Eric Galt

and finally Sneyd. If you're a crook, you

don't ask, 'What's your name' or: 'what's

in the car?' They'll think you're a cop or

a stool pigeon and they wouldn't hire

-"After a while, James came back to

Chicago and I could tell he had some-

thing good. He asked me to come to

Chicago by-train because he wanted to

give me his car. He said I should get new

•license plates because the old ones were

hot. He said he was going to take a bus

•to Alabama for "a good job.' He said

Raoul told him to establish residence in

Birmingham and gave him $2000 to buy a

cat. He bought a Mustang.

* "Raoul operated out of New Orleans.

From there he started sending James out

,across the country and into Mexico to

deliver cars. All over — Puerta Villarta,

Acapulco, the West Coast, New Orleans.

He was getting paid $1000 or $2000 a trip.

He figured the cars might be full of dope

but he didn't ask any questions. All he

cared about was that he had a job and

was getting paid good. It was better than

being in Jeff City, he told me. James told

me Raoul never talked politics, either."

•James Earl Ray has said that a gun he

purchased was probably the one used to

kill Dr. King. This is his brother's

explanation:

"James tells me that one day Raoul

asked him to buy a gun in Alabama and

bring it to Memphis. At this point James

thought Raoul might also be in the gun-

running business. He brought the gun to ai

Raoul. He said it wasn't the right kind.

So James went back and bought another

ine: Raoul said that was the right kind.

He picked it up from James at the new

Rebel Motel just across the Mississippi

Ene from Memphis.

"Then Raoul told James to move into a

boarding house in Memphis. In this job

James was always doing what he was

told. The money was good. James had

only been to Memphis once before in his

life. He kept getting lost there. He rented

the room in the name of Willard.

"Raoul came to the boardinghouse and

sent James out on several other errands

- to buy some binoculars and other

things. The afternoon Dr. King was shot,

Raoul told James he wanted to use the

Mustang that night.

"There were three keys to it. James

had one, Raoul had one, and he (James)

didn't know who had the third one.

- James told him he would have to go get

a tire fixed because he had had a flat

"He drove to a service station nearby

and they were busy. He talked to two

attendants for awhile. When he was

driving away he saw all this commotion,

police cars everywhere. He heard on the

radio that Dr. King had been killed.

When he heard they were looking for a

white Mustang, he realized he had been

In the Mustang, James Ray discovered

a card stuffed into the seat, says Jerry

Ray. The front part was crossed out. The

back bor a name, Randy R-, with a

"Only James and my sister and myself

have known this name up to now,"' said

"Plus the Assassinations

Committee. James kept this card.".

It was discovered by attorneys for

James Earl Ray that Randy R--

had homes in Miami and Gulfport, Miss.,

and that he was subsequently apprehend-

ed in New Orleans and convicted on a

dope charge, says Jerry Ray. '

whether he ever served any time.or not;

we can't find out, and after that he

dropped out of sight. He is said to have

been an informant for the FBI," Jerry

James Earl Ray drove to Atlanta,

abandoned the Mustang, and took a train

to Montreal. "He knew he was hot. The

people born around the same time he

was.

---

## Page 224

•"One was named Ramon George

Sneyd. James found him in the phone

book, called him-up, said he was from

Immigration, and asked-in he had ever

y had a passport. When the man said, 'No,"

James:took out a passport in:his name.

He still had plenty of money from:

driving cars across country for Raoul.

He flew.to.,England.

"From there he went. to Portugal, but

he couldn't speak the language and he

was beginning to run out of money. He

wanted to-get a.ship.somewhere.toa

place like: Rhodesia. Butthe had to wait.

Now he: was down to'$200. He.has told me

if he had still'had his contacts, he would

still be going.

"But meantime the U:S: had asked

Mexico and Canada to check passports

for somebody. that looked like James,

Eart Ray. They had-a picture: of him.

Canada saidithey had one named Sneyd

that looked like James. When James

flew: back to:London, they arrested him.

While Ray was:on the run; things wére

happening in Memphis. In the:boarding-

house from which the fatal shot was

fired; a woman resident-saw the fleeing

killer: Her pame, said Jerry Ray; is

Grace Walden: She was shown a picture

of James Earl Ray; he said, and

declared that it: was not the man. Grace

paid:the man.who ran had fair.hair, not

dark hair like James.

James EArl, Ray

has described Raoul as a blond Latin:

Says Jerry Ray: "They took her arid

James Eärl Ray

NW 68262

Docld:32989797 Page 224

put her in a nuthouse where no one could

find;her. In. case:she was:ever. called to

testif, they could. say she was mentally

'ill.?

A spokesman for attorney Mark: Lane

who.has recently,written a.book.about

the Ray case, told the Post-Dispatch

yesterday, that the woman, under the

name Grace.Stephens, was.committed.to

¿a mental institution in Tenriessee in 1968

dunder suspicious cifcumstances" and

was still confined. Her attorney, C. Mi.

Murphy of Memphis; has: charged that,

she is "being sedated and her mind is

being destroyed," according to Lane's

spokesman:

"She was living in the rooming:house

with a guy named Charlie Stephens:?

Jerry-Ray told the Post-Dispatch: "This

is a flophouse and he was a liquor head.

He was supposed ito see the killer

running down the steps. This is :their:

other:witness. the.facts wehave. found

lout are that.a'half.hour before.Dr. King

was-killed; this man called a cab to take

Chim to the liquor store. He was so drunk!

the gabble refused to-take him. This is

the key witness."

When the killer ran out, says Jerry

Ray, he placed a bundle in a park near

the, rooming house. "He didn't put itin a

trash barrel: or in his car. It: contained:

the "gun, 'some beer cans,

and the

binoculars wrapped in .a.bed spread:

They all had James's fingerprints con

them.

"Well, James doesn't drink beer. He

doesn't smoke either. They, found ciga

rette: butts in the ashtray of his Mustang:

They found clothes in the car that didn't

fit,him.

This is the car Raoul and

somtebody.else.had keys to."

Said: Jerry. Ray: "When James was

apprehended in London, he wanted Ar.

thur Hanes, a former major of Bir-

'mingnam, Ala., to represent him. Hanes

went there and said it would cost money;

• butshe brought contracts-with him for.a

book to be done by, William: Bradförd

Hule, and if James would sign the

contracts, the proceeds would pay for his

defense.

"James signed them, then had me fly,

to Huntsville, Ala., to meet:Huie. Huie:

told me that if James told him his story,

ne.Idn/t.want to.get. called to the stand

because.he.wouldchave.to.tell-the stor

andyt.would.ruin.the.book sales.

"He offered $12;000 from the, proceeds.

to-either me or my sister or anybody

---

## Page 225

James wanted if I would go to James

ind tell him not to call Huie on the

stand, Huie told me, 'I control Hanes.'

"I saw James two days later and told

Thim about this. I said "You oughta get rid

of Hanes.' He told me to look around for

another lawyer.

"I asked another lawyer,

Richard.

Ryan, and he said, 'It's too big for me."

So 1 decided to call Percy Foreman. I'd

read his name a lot. Nobody told me to.

He said, 'Tell James to write me a letter

asking me to be on the case.

"But James said he'd rather have a

Tennessee lawyer so he could talk to him

every day. I called Foreman again

He asked if I had copies of the contracts

with Huie. I did. He flew to Memphis. Me

and John Ray met him and he said, 'T

can break these contracts.

"He took the

case. He has admitted

that he was

in

touch with Attorney

General Ramsey Clark all through this

time. He wanted James to plead guilty,

telling him

he would get

the death

penalty if he didn't. James didn't wart

to. Foreman wanted me and John to talk

him into it. We wouldn't.

Two days

before the trial, James said he wouldn't

plead guilty. The night before, Foreman

himself said he didn't think James would

plead guilty. as

"The judge knew James wanted to fire

Foreman but he told him it he did, he

would not get any more continuances

and would have to use a public defender.

The day of the trial, Foreman got up and

began to praise the FBI and said there

was no conspiracy.

"James stood up. Everybody thought

he was going to fire Foreman but instead

he agreed that he would enter a guilty

plea. But he said he would not agree that

there was no conspiracy. The next day

he wrote a letter asking for a new trial."

James Earl Ray has subsequently flec

several motions seeking a new trial. All

have been denied.

Jerry Ray visited James Eart Ray in

the Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary

Tenn., four days before his

"James told me, 'All my appeals have

run out. If they abandon the Assassina

dons Committee, I don't have any hope

left. I'll have to get out a different way.' I

"When I heard about the escape, I

thought either it was legitimate or he

was tricked into it. James usually works

by himself or with one other person. We

were scared he might be killed when he

escaped. It he was tricked, he would

probably wind up dead. We were thank-

ful one of the prison guards captured

him. There are a lat of people whe would

like to see him silenced,"

Jerry Ray has been employed since.

1973 as a night watchman at Twin

Orchard Country Club in Long Grove,

Ill., outside Chicago, but was laid off

after his brother's escape "because of

the notoriety.

Said Jerry Ray: "Critics are always

saying to me, "Why don't you finally put

up or shut up But we don't have

subpena power to find out about those

telephone numbers. We have given our

information to, the House assassinations

group but it's a one way street. We tell

them what we know, but they won't tell

us anything. But one of its members;

Waiter Fauntroy from Washington, D.C.,

told me,

'Before this is over, we will

solve this case."

"James is pretty rational about it all;

He doesn't make any wild charges. If the

ind out what really happened. He juit

and that they hadn't learned anything

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 225

---

## Page 226

FD-350 (Rev. 11-11-75)

(Mount Clipping in Space Below)

"Conspiracy' Talk Is Mush

James Earl, Ray's latest escape caper

was engineered by agents who wanted o

should prove to the satisfaction of everyone,.

mow him:down and silence him forever has

Doubting Thomases included; that the talk of.

been proved equally, silly. Ray is a daring:

him: being.a victim or.beneficiary.of "con

man who will take chances to gain liberty. He

spiracy'" Is so much mush:

may try the same-stunt again, given the

Quite likely there. was laxity on the part of

opportunity:

some Individuats in charge of security at the

The mindless: "conspiracy." chatter from

Tennessee, state prison.from which Ray and,

some sources merely-serves to undermine

his-pals fled. There may even have been

confidence of citizens in their government

payoits to guards to look the other. way while

and in law enforcement authorities

the fugitives went over the wall: That's a

Based. on what is known, there is no

matter.for Tennessee authoritles. to Investl.

evidence of a plot linking, anyone else to

gate thoroughly.

Ray's activities:

The. quick capture:of Ray, andsthe.other

The unfounded rumors about plots sur-

convicts: shows that they were not aided in

rounding. the assassinations of. Dr. King;

any meaningful way by anyone from the

President John E. Kennedy and Senator

outside.

Robert. E. Kennedy cause suspicion and.

If the confessed slayer of Dr. Martin Luther

distrust between races and between: govern.

King Jr. was depending on anyone, to whisk

ment and the people:

him off to safety, he certainly was let down

here Snould be a'stop: to all, the nonsens

with a thud. After 55 hours of roaming. in

ical assassination inquiries.and theories.abou

rattlesnake infested country,-Ray probably

James Earl Ray: A blocdhound named Sandy

welcomed the bloodhound that tracked him.

and an expert handler have proved that Ras

(eddown:

Ils.no.Superman,.nor isibe:a tool of siniste

The other conjecture that Ray'S escape

agents...

indiato pay and stato.)

P14A, St. Louis

Globe-Democrat,

St. Louis, Missouri

6/16/77

Date:

Edition:

Author:,

Editor:

Title: 2-509 7

Character:

or

Classification:

Submitting Office:

SL

_ Being Investigated

42-5042

_INDEXEI

S 17 1977

Hang one

NW 68262 Docld:32989797-Page-226-

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## Page 227

• FD-350 (Rev. 11-11-75)

(Mount Clipping in Space Below)

Kay Conspiracy Theories Tenuous,

BY WILLIAM FREIVOGEI

Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

PETROS, Tenn., June 16 - Little evi-

dence supports the notion so popular last

Saturday that James Dark Hay's escape

from Brushy Mountain Penitentiary in

Tennessee was the resuit of an elaborate

conspiracy aimed at allencing him,

Rather the escape Eriday evening

appears to have been an old-fashioned

"over-the-wall" jailbreak planned by a

few convicts with expertise in unsched

uled exits from prisons.

Ray did receive outside help. The Post-

Dispatch earned yesterday that the 5290

found on Ray when he was captured

Monday included a $100 bill and two $50

bisde the penitentia bad lo come from

outside the penitentiary.

But prison officials believe that fri

news analysis

has tried to escape from authorities pat

least seven times in the last 20 years.

The evidence supporting the conspir

theory was considerably more com

pelling just after the break Friday

evening.

It was well known that Ray had spoken

five times-in recent weeks to investiga-

tors of the House Select Committee on

Assassinations, which is investigating

whether others were involved in the

assassination.

* Int addition, the escape itself was

ingenious, some aspects of it initially

defying explanation. How did the con-

victs construct and conceal the make-

shift ladder. used to scale the wall? And

how could Ray and the others have

scaled the 14-foot prison wall, avoided

two lengths of electrified barbed wire

and jumped to the other side before ever

drawing a shot from prison guards.

Five of the seven men who tried to

escape already were in the woods put of

sight of guards when the first shots were

fired, wounding the last man trying to

escape. That man was returned to the

prison with minor wounds.

(Astion of why the telephones in the

fuestion of why the telephones in

rison town of Petros went dead for

veral minutes alter the prison break

it seemed to some, like just the kind of

(Indicate page, name of

newspaper, city and state.)

PI-6, St. Louis

Post-Dispatch,

St. Louis, Missouri

or relatives could have got the money to

: Ray through the mail, which is uncen-

sored, or during visiting periods.

The officials note also that little else

about the prison break supports the

theory of an elaborate conspiracy. They

note that:

(1) There was nothing elaborate about

Ray's desperate 53-hour attempt to es-

cape by foot from the densely wooded

Tennessee mountains that surround the

i prison. Clever conspirators could have

extricated Ray from the woods, they say,

(2) The curlous occurences that coin-

cided with the escape, such as the loss of

site if

telephone service in the prison town of

Petros, have been explained satisfactor?

y. These occurrences fueled speculation

hat the Federal Bureau of Investigation

or the central intelligence Agency wa

Involved In the escape, just as there had

been suspicion that one or both of those

agencies was involved in the assassina-

tion of the Rev: Dr. Martin Luther King

for which Ray was in prison.

(3) Ray was not killed as supporters of

the conspiracy theory had suggested he.

would be. it had been suggested that

because Ray was implicating others in

the killing of the Rev. Dr. King, he would

(4) Ray and three of the five prisoners

who escaped with him had tried pre-

*viously to escape from jails, Ray himself

tactic the FBI or the CIA would use:

perative explained it this way:

Immediately after the escape a huge

steam whistle at the prison sounded the

warning that there had been an escape.

• A large number of the town's inhabitants

picked up their telephones to see what

had happened. The circuits were imme-

diately overloaded and the main breaker

in the telephone office opened just as a

circuit breaker opens in a house with an

overload.

THE R

The Petros office of the telephone

company is unmanned so there was a:

delay while a serviceman from a nearby

town was sent. The serviceman closed

the circuit breaker but it immediately

popped again because the lines stil weje

overloaded. At that the seryicemem

arbitrarily disconnected some of u

telenhones in Petros to remove the

overload. Service was restored.

Date:

Edition:

Author:

Editor:

Title:

6/16/77

62-5097

Character:

or

Classification:

Submitting Office: SL

• Being Investigated

62-5097-38

GEARCHED

INDEXED

JUN 17 1977

Katri

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 227

---

## Page 228

rew reporters. doubted the explan

ion. On Sunday, when reporters were

alling in their stories, the same: think

)appened. The Highland company is an

independent telephone firm not connect

ed with American Telephone & Tele-1

graph Co.

How thesprisoners.had: circumvented

the electrified barbed wire proved a

above it, a feat that appeared to require

gymnastic:talent.

But later officials said that:scratch

marks showed that the men escaped

where there.is:a five-foot section of wall

with no barbed wire..One.of the walls: of

the.prison.yard meets.a sheer.rock.cliff

in this: section, the cliff forming the

fourth side of the prison yard. Over the

years the rock on the cliffhas, worn away

from. the end of the:barbed wire; leaving

an area without coverage:

Prison officials still have not fully

explained how all seven convicts scalec

the wall-before.guards.fired at them.

Of course, other prisoners: staged: a

right to distract. the guards and another

prisoner taked'a leg.injury. But attention

focuses on guard. Floyde Hooks, who was

responsible for the corner of the wall

over which the convicts escaped:

A/fellow guard; Lemwood, Butler has

criticized Hooks for reacting too slowly

It was Butler who fired the first shots at

the escapees.

Warden Stonney: Lanersaid yesterday:

that he knew Hooks personally and tond

it unbelievable that Hooks had intentially

"permitted the-convicts to escape. Lane

NW 68262-Doeld:32989797-Page-228-

said: Hooks might have been negligent

The ladder used to scale the wall

tured out,to have been made of piece

of pipe taken from a prison renovation

project.by:one. of the men-who escaped

with 'Ray. Officials still. do not know

where the ladder was concealed just

before the escape.

It the escape trom the prison was

elaborate, the escapees next actions

were not. Tennessee mountain-men say

they themselves would have trouble

finding. their.way.out of the mountains on

foot as Ray‹and-the.others-tried:to dog

Ray,was.capfured only seven miles from

theyprison. But the authorities noted that

if Ray-hadibeen supported:by-powerful

conspirators, one:of two things would

have happened:

-A helicopter could have landed. at a

fire station on top of the mountaing

behind the prison and whisked Ray away

before the search, for him was under

sway.

=A four wheel drive vehicle coutd

have been hidden in the mountains with

-which Ray, could, 'have escaped by

following old:roads:built:by.coalicompa

pies. The roads. lead:all the way. to the

Kentucky border, the.men said:

There stillare investigalions into the

Ray-escape.so.new.information may.be

mcovered

• .

---

## Page 229

*FD-350 (Rev. 11-11-75)

(Mount Clipping in Space Below).

No evidence found

Ray got outside aid

By Associated Press:

there was any aid from the outside,"

WASHINGTON- House Assassinas

Robert: Lehner, deputy chief: counsel:

tions committee investigators said:

of the King assassination investiga-

tion, told: the committee:

Monday, they, did not know it James

"No evis.

' Earl Ray.received/outside help in

dence:of aid from the outside..has:

His prison escape during the weeks

been found."

"One possibility is that he acted

They reported that: Ray's brother,

alone!?" Lehner said: "Another possi-

Jerry, visited the prisoner the week,

bility is that there was outside help.

end before the escape but that

There iseven a possibility he was a

James Earl Ray apparently.had.no

latecomer to the escape.?""

"money or weapons on him when he

The chief investigator for. the

was captured Monday:

committee's King assassination in-

Chairman: Louis Stokes, D-Ohio,

guiry,

Edward. Evans told the

said Tennessee Gov. Ray, Blanton

committée Ray's brother visited:at

told him-that a. full investigation.of

the prison the weekend before the

prison security will be, made, partic

escape:

ularly whether "there was any

But; Evans, said "there is: no:

laxity in the security! for Ray:

evidence he (James Earl Ray) had:

Two committee investigators went.

any: funds or arms."

to Tennessee's Brushy. Mountain.

Evans said the investigators tried:

State Prison Saturday because of

to find out it there, was any previous

the committee!s. interest. in the

association between. Ray and the

convicted killer of civil rights leader

the: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

other escapees..He said they found:

none except that one was Ray's

"T cannot report to you whether

Indicate page, name o

lewspaper, city and state.

P9A, St. Louis

Globe-Democrat,

St. Louis, Missouri

Date:

Edition:

Author:

Editor:

Title:

6/14/77

62-5097

Character:

or

Classification:

Submitting Office:

SL

_ Being Investigated

62-5997-37

- SANCHED _

SERIALIZEBAI

_FILED_

JUN 16 1977

Yearlen

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 229

---

## Page 230

FD-350 (Rev. 11-11-75)

(Mount Clipping in Space Below)

Gregory's suspicions aroused

By MILES CORWIN.

before the killing of the: Rev..Dr. King.

Globe Democrat Stäff Writer

"This: is a man who has never been

James Earl Ray?siescape from Brushy

smart: in regards.to crime.and now.he

Mountain State Prison, Tenn., is linked

escapes.from a nearly inescapable pris

to a conspiracy. surrounding. the assassi-

on. There had to be

other people

nation of the Rev. Dr. Martin, Luther

About 200-inmates staged a fight to

King, said Dick Gregory at a press.

conference Sunday at:the Bel Air Hilton

enable Ray and five others to escapé,

Hotel.

Gregory said.

Gregory, an entertainer who frequent-

"IT'S IMPOSSIBLE for só many peo-

ly is involved in political and soclal.

ple to be involved without the warden

issues, recently.co-authored.a.book ex-

knowing aboutrit. And, 'how many.con

ploring the King assassination.

victs in their right mind wouldsescape

"There is no way the escape could:

"with a man as famous as Ray?"

'have,been successfül unless there were-

Gregory believes Ray was aided in.his

outside forces who could benefit from

escape from the Missouri State. Peniten

Ray's disappearance;" said Gregory,

who:was reared in:St. Louis.and attended

tiary, by persons involved in a conspiracy

to assassinate King and place the glame

Sumner. High School:

on Ray. It's: suspicious, he said, that the

RAY ESCAPED from the Missouri;

Missouri prison warden andithe:FBI sent

State Penitentiary in Jetterson, City io

out the wrong fingerprints immediately

yéar's go. Anyone who has.ahistory.of"

after' Ray's escape;

escape attempts, Gregory said, would be

under close surveilance.

Ray hadina histoky of violenticrime:

With Ray's notoriety, it?s hard to

Itsunlikely he would have.committed

believethe was able to'slip out of prison.

one of the most notorious: murders of ther

Gregory added:

century, Gregory, said: Suspicious inci

• Ray was an incompetent criminal;

dents after the assassination point toa

cover-up, he added:

agcording to Gregory. While: doing re-

search. for his. book,

'Gregory learned

Ray had been caught in less than 30*

minutes after every crime he committed

(Indicate page, name of

newspaper, city and state.)

P13A, St. Louis

Globe-Democrat,

St. Louis, Mo.

-

Date:

Edition:

Author:

Editor:

Title:

62-5097

6/13/77

Character:

or

Classification:

Submitting Office: SL

• Being Investigated

SEARCHED

SERIA: 175Đ 4

JUN 1 4 1977

62-5097-36

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 230

---

## Page 231

Ray's brother was arrested on a phony

bank robbery charge, Gregory said,

perhaps to keep him quiet,

A young man who overheard a plot to

assassinate King a week before it hap

pened and talked to the Justice Depart.

ment, was recently given a six-year jail

term. Gregory said a shipment of heroin

had arrived at the young man's house,

indicating somebody wanted the man

discredited and jalled.?

GREGORY'S THEORY Is that agents

of the FBI, Justice Department and

possibly the CIA were involved in the

King assassination. 2r

. "They thought if King was killed, riots

and killings in 50 or 80 cities would have

resulted. In order to regain order,

martia. law would have been declared

and the Constitution could have been

suspended. Certain forces could have.

tried to overthrow the government under

the guise of protecting the people."

Gregory believes the King killing nas:

connections to the assassinations of

President John F. Kennedy and Sen.

Robert F. Kennedy:

"The authorities better keep a close

eye on Sirhan Sirhan. "

There had to be other people involved./

-e.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 231

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## Page 232

FD-350 (Rev. 11-11-75)

(Mount Clipping in Space Below)

Ray didn't seem to be

racist, ex-warden says

•By: Associated-Press

looking into the King assassination as

JEFFERSON CITY = A former war-

well as the assassinations of President

John F:Kennedy and his brother, Robert.

đen sàys lie told congressional: investiga-

tors he had no reason to believe:that

In: an interim report, the. panel quoted

James.Earl Ray, convicted of assasst-

Ray's fellow inmates as saying Ray told

them he intended to kill King:"if the

nating. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was a

- price is right."

racist while he was an inmate at the

Missouri State Prison:

The report quoted the inmates: as

Ray. escaped from the prison in April,

saying-Ray claimed he-would look for a

"businessmen's association." that he had

1967, one year before the civil rights

leader was gunned down in Memphis.

heard was offering: $100,000 for King's

"Inever had any reason to believe that:

death: The report said the panel, intende

he was a racist but there are some things

-to determine.the validity. of those:statt

you may not know,

of course.x said:

merits....

Harold Swenson, warden-at the time.of

Ray's escape.

Swenson met with two investigators

•from the U.S. House Assassinations

Committee Tuesday:

The current warden, Donald Wyrick,

said. the investigators were starting

interviews. Wednesday with people who

knew. Ray, before he escaped: from the

penitentiary where heswas serving.a 20-

year term for robbery. Wyrick said.he

had identified eight to:10 inmates for the

pair to interview as well as six prison.

employes.

'We're not allowed to make any;

comment," said Shelai Lee, ore of the

investigators

The congressional panel has beer

Indicate page, name of

newspaper, city and state.

P3A, St. Louis

Globe-Democrat,

:St. Louis, Mo.

Date: 6/9/77

Edition:

Author:

Editor:

Title:

62-5097

Character:

or

Classification:

Submitting Office: SL

• Being Investigated

62-5097-35

SEARCHED

JUN 1 0 1977

BLINT. LOW!

dousent

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 232

---

## Page 233

PD 350 (Rev. 11-11-75)

(Mount Clipping in Space Below)

State To Give

Details On Ray

JEFFERSON CITY, June: 6 (UPI) Investigators

from the House Assassinations Committee: plan to:

interview inmates and employe's, at the State, Peniten-

mary this week.concerning: James-Ear Ray's- escape

Prison warder: Donald: Wyrick said he was asked-last:

week' to set up interviews with those who knew Ray,

during his seven years in the prison.from 1959-1967

Ray is the convicted assassin of the Rev. Dr. Martin

Luther King Jr. The committee is conducting secrets

investigations into the

April 4, 1968. King slaying in

Memphis: and the 1963 assassination of President. John

F. Kennedy In Dallas.

Ray escaped from the Jefferson City prison on April

23, 1967; almostione year before the King assassination.

According tora state investigation, Ray escapedaby.

hiding-in a bread truck that left the main penitentiary,tO.

deliver supplies to a nearby.prison farm..

Former warden Harold:Swenson, who was in charge

when Ray escaped; was the only, specific-person: the

Investigators asked to interview, Wyrick said;

"They said they wanted to: interview several inmates

and employes;" he said: "I don't have a specific,

number. They said if they talked to some they-might

need to talk to some others.

"They sald they'd be here about a week, beginning the

early part ot this week;"

The committee staff in

Washington refused to

comment on thesinterviews, except ta say no members

of the committee would attend.

*Committee Investigators have interviewed Ray.on

four separate occasions recently in the Brushy Mountain

State Prison in Tennessee, where he is serving a 99-

year sentence for thesassassination. Those interviews:

have:also been secret.

Swenson in 1968 described Ray as a loner who

presented no. special problems; although. in 1966 he

éscaped from: his celliand spent several chilly nights

hiding in the prison's ventilating system before he was

found:

A book by freelance author George McMillan pub-

*lished last year said Ray. had financedithe assassinatmn

the Reve Dr. King by selling drugs. when in the

tissouri prison:.Former.prison system:director. George

Camp said he investigated and could: findino evidence o

Indicate page, name of

newspaper, city and state.

P12B, St. Louis

Post-Dispatch,

St. Louis, Missouri

-

Date:

Edition:

Author:

Editor:

Title:

6/6/77

62-5097

Character:

or

Classification:

Submitting Office: SL

_ Being Investigated

62-5017-32

PEARCHED_

-INDEXED.•

SERIALIZED AT FILED SL

JUN Y 1977

-NW-68262-Doeld 32989797-Rage-233

---

## Page 234

•*2.

HQO 041 1152240

PP AT BH LR LS NY SL IP

DE HQ

0 25215BZ APR 77

FM DIRECIOR (62-117298)

IO: ATLANTA (IMMEDIATE)

BIRMING HAM (IMMEDIATE)

LITTLE ROCK (IMMEDIATE)

LOUISVILLE (IMMEDIATE)

NEW YORK (IMMEDIATE)

ST. LOUIS (IMMEDIATE)

TAMPA (IMMED ATE)

CLEAR

PERSONAL ATTENTION

HOUSE SELECI COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS (HSCA)

REFERENCE FBIHQ TELETYPE TO ALL SACS AND LEGAIS DAIED

NOVEMBER 24, 1976.

RECENTLY THE HSCA, RELATIVE TO THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO

THE ASSASSINATION OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, REQUESTED THAT FBIHQ

FURNISH THE PRESENT WHEREABOUTS OF THREE FBI PERSONNEL WHO WERE

ASSIGNED TO THE LOUISVILLE DIVISION IN 1965. THESE INDIVIDUALS

ARE BERNARD C. BROWN, FORMER SAC RETIRED; SA WILLIAM ROBERT

62-5097-31

SA Duncan adried of

Contents. KRI

fw.

i:

Duncani

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 234

---

## Page 235

PAGE TWO

CLEAR

DUNCAN, CURRENTLY ASSIGNED IN THE ST. LOUIS DIVISION;

ROBERT EDWARD PETERS, FORMER SA RETIRED.

THE COMMITTEE HAS INDICATED THAT. THIS REQUEST IS RELATED

TO THEIR RECENT RECEIPT OF INFORMATION FROM A FORMER LOUISVILLE

POLICE OFFICER WHO ALLEGED THAT HE HAD RECEIVED AN OFFER FROM

UNNAMED FBI AND POLICE PERSONNEL TO KILL MARTIN LUTHER KING.

FBIHQ HAS REQUESTED THAT THE DEPARIMENI OBTAIN FROM HSCA ALL

INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THIS ALLEGATION, BUT TO DATE THE

COMMITTEE HAS NOT ACCEDED TO THIS REQUEST.

ADDITIONALLY, HSCA HAS REQUESTED THE IDENTITIES OF ALL

SACS WHO SERVED IN THE BIRMINGHAM DIVISION BETWEEEN DECEMBER,

1962, AND DECEMBER, 1969. THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE: RAYMOND L.

FAISSI, FORMER SAC RETIRED; EVERETT J• INGRAM, FORMER SAC -

DECEASED; JAMES L. MCGOVERN, FORMER SAC RETIRED: GEORGE W. HALL,

FORMER SAC RETIRED; JOSEPH H. GAMBLE, FORMER SAC RETIRED; RALPH. J•

MILES, FORMER SAC RETIRED. EACH OF THESE SURVIVING FORMER

EMPLOYEES IS TO BE CONTACTED IMMEDIATELY BY SAC OR ASAC WHERE

FEASIBLE, AND ALERTED THAT HE MAY BE APPROACHED

BY HSCA

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 235

---

## Page 236

PAGE THREE

CLEAR

REPRESENTATIVE FOR INTERVIEW. EACH SHOULD BE ADVISED THAT IN

THE EVENT HE IS CONTACTED HE MAY DESIRE TO CONTACI THE BUREAU'S

LEGAL COUNSEL DIVISION BY COLLECI CALL FOR FULL INFORMATION

PERTAINING TO HIS OBLIGATIONS AS TO CONFIDENTIALITY OF

INFORMATION ACQUIRED AS AN FBI EMPLOYEE.

SA DUNCAN, ST. LOUIS DIVISION, SHOULD BE INSTRUCTED TO

IMMEDIATELY ADVISE SAC, SI. LOUIS, AND FBIHQ, ATTENTION

CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT, SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE DIVISION, IN

THE EVENI HE IS CMNIACTED BY THE COMMITTEE.

THE INFORMATION REQUESTED BY HSCA IS BEING MADE AVAILABLE

THROUGH THE DEP ARIMENT.

IN THE EVENT A FORMER EMPLOYEE NO LONGER RESIDES IN YOUR

TERRITORY, SET OUT LEADS TO OTHER OFFICES WITH A COPY IO FBIHQ.

ATLANTA: JAMES L. MCGOVERN, 26:89 CANNA RIDGE CIRCLE,

ATLANIA, GEORGIA •

BIRMINGHAM: RALPH J. MILES, 1126 MOUNTAIN OAKS DRIVE,

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 236

---

## Page 237

!

_"PAGE FOUR

EAR

LITTLE ROCK: RAYMOND L. FAISST, 113 CAMBRIDGE PLACE,

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS.

LOUIS VILLE: BERNARD C. BROWN, 6904 WYTHE HILL CIRCLE?

PROSPECI, KENTUCKY; ROBERT EDWARD PETERS, 412 IRINITY HILLS LANE;

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY •

NEW YORK: JOSEPH H. GAMBLE, 24 GREYSTONE ROAD, ROCKVILLE

CENTER, NEW YORK..

ST. LOUIS: SA WILLIAM ROBERT DUNCAN.

IAMPA: GEORGE WO HALL, 5598 TRELLIS LANE, FORT MYERS,

FLORIDA.

BT

1152248Z SL 1

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 237

---

## Page 238

+701-511

FD-350 (Rev. 11-11-75)

(Mount Clipping in Space Bolow)

"Let The Congress Act;

Let The Truth Be Known

*Dr:

Martin:

Luther tin

Luther, King,

Ur, the (greatest Mark Lane and Dick,Gre-

consider the

April: 4,1968: James Earl revidence

Ray-was arrested, chara

same explosive, informa

iged rand pleaded guilty to tion:-that prompted..Con

the crime:

gress:

in September of

In the nine years since-

1976: to form

a special:

the: brutal assassination, commitee to investigate

andk.profoundly.dis=

the murder:of:Dr. King:

turbing;

evidence:

-hàs:

Mark

"Lane

come to light. evidence

Grevory reconstruct the

that

poses frightening events.

proceeding

questions aboutithe mus

murder ofDr. King and

der,

and- subsequent in- softer a slep-by. -step

vestigation.

analysis ofthe/crime.and

3n: CODE:NAME ZOR-, sils

,Chilling. aftermath

NO: : The Murder of Mar-_

Ther

Fadings

raise

NW 68262- Docld:32989797 Page 238

(Indicate page, name of

, newspaper, city and state.)

P6, St. Louis

American, St. Louis,

Missouri

Date: 4/21/77

Edition:

Author:

Editor:

Title:

Character:

or

62-5097-30

Classification:

Submitting Offico: SL

Being Investigated

SARCHED

---

## Page 239

nany

unanswered ques

Tuanding the adassina.

ton? And why didhe Jus

cumstances led Dr. King: tice Departmentassigni

daiMe Motit? Why Lore Investigate Pemried do

ten.. man

security force, Do King:. (whott

they

assigned to Dr. King by

code my named "Zor-

the Memphis Police De TO'") that, fuEdgar

artment suddenly strip-

Hoover had

priviously

ed to two? Why was. Eds selected ta. desoy" Dr

Redditty one of there ines Veteran. Hill agent

maining, two Memphis Po- Arthur, Murtaug

steriously removed from, versation he hachad with

in Atlanta

before the fatal shot? Whyr the day King, we shot,

were twe potential eye we heard the anounce

itnesses, black tremen ment that King wis shot

ewsun and Wallace, de,

this agent junked for

ailed to other fire sta- Joy nterally leed i

tions on the day of the

e air yelling;

murder li

And

why was

Zorrob They got. tie

son.

Grace - Stephens, one of

of a bitch. hope hedies.

the , few eyewitness, in:

Did James Ein.

the casch

illegally:

taken, ther

RRY.

really

murder. Maitin Lu:

to, hat home by Mena use selle conpiracy?.

phis' a anthorities.

pet ot a.

placed in a mental insti

lar-reaching.

From; tan jextraordinary

The official. Investiga- assemblage of eidence,

tion - into the, murder of

documents; and exclusive

Dir. King was far from sa-?

taped interviews includ

istactory. Why: has

no ing Hours of in-depth in

ine pirsued the iny-

terviews with Janes Earl

Raoul, perhaps Ray). Land and Gregory

the key to many of the un

move inexorably.towards

answered questions sur a singular apd prim con-

clusion,

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 239

....saa

---

## Page 240

FD-350 (Rev. 11-11-75)

(Mount Clipping in Space Below)

Ássassinations committee |)

to check on Ray's activities

escaped until he was identified as Dr. King's assassin a

By EDWARD W. O'BRIEN

Globe Democrat Washington Bureau Chiet

WASHINGTON - The House assassinations commit-

tee plans to investigate whether anyone helped James

Earl Ray escape from Missourt State Penitentiary or

elude recapture before he killed Dr. Martin Luther King:

The committee also told the House it must ascertain

the source of the money for Ray's spending from the

time of his escape from the Jefferson City prison until

his arrest in Europe 13 months later. s

MYSTERY STILL engulfs severat such key questions

despite previous investigations by federal, state, and

local agencies, the committee said in a 14-page report to

the House eted

The embattled committee, seeking a renewed House

charter and a $2.8 million appropriation, promised a

"horough, professional investigation" of the assassina-

tilns of Dr. King, the civil rights leader, in Memphis on

April 4, 1968, and of President John F. Kennedy in

Dallas on Nov. 22, 2963.

In the report summarizing its findings so far, the

committee claimed to have "new information" in both

investigations. It said it has made contact with

witnesses who were never interviewed or did not testify

previous y

In the King case, the committee recalled tliat Ray in

his escape from the Missouri prison on April 23, 1967,

"allegedly concealed himself in a large bread box which

was carried onto a truck from the prison bakery and

driven out of the prison."

«THE COMMITTEE intends to investigate whether

anyone aided Ray in his escape and whether this

assistance was connected to the assassination of Dr.

King," the report went on.

"It should be noted that a fellow Missouri inmate

related that Ray allegedly said while in prison that he

would kill Dr. King 'it the price was right and that Ray

intended to find a 'businessmen's association* which

allegedly had offered $100,000 for Dr. King's murder.

"Whether Ray ever made contact with such a group,

either during or after his imprisonment in Missourt, is a

question which has never been resolved.

*The committee intends to resolve it.

"The committee must investigate how Ray, who

fllegedly had made unsuccessful escape attempts in the

past, was able to escape, remain at large more that a

Year, and travel thraughout the United States and four

preign countries.

*The committed also will investigate what officgal

actions were made to apprehend Ray from the time he

year later, and. whether any official agencies deviated

(Indicate page, name of

newspaper, city and state.)

from their normal practices for pursuing a fugitive."

A RECENT JUSTICE Department task force report;

• the House committee said, "relied heavily on state-

ments by Ray's former prison cellmates (at Jefferson.

P4A, St. Louis

City) and acquaintances that he hated blacks generally,

Globe-Democrat,

Dr. King in particular, and intended to collect a bounty

St. Louis, Mo.

for killing him."

""The department report, however, fails to note that

almost every one of these statements points at the same

time to the existence of a conspiracy," the committee

said.

Another "significant" mystery, the committee said, is

the source of the money — estimated at between $5,500

and 59,500 - which Ray spent as a fugitive from the

Missouri prison.

The only known source of cash was the $664 which Ray

earned as a dishwasher in a Chicago suburb during the

first eight weeks after his escape, the committee said.

The committee "has uncovered evidence that suggests

that Ray, between April 1967 and June 1968 "received

assistance from a person or persons presently un-

known," the House was told.

THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT report said. Ray was

helped as a fugitive by "at least one family member."

Within 15 days of the King murder, the committee

said, the FBl made up its mind that Ray was the kille

Thereafter, the committee said, the FBl failed to check

out every allegation of conspiracy "to the ultimale

degree."

Date:

Edition:

Author:

Editor:

Title:

3/29/77

62-5097

Character:

or

Classification:

Submitting Office: SL

Being Investigated

62-5092-23

'FARCHED

2_ INDEX

RIALIZED CAL MILD EF

MAR 3 0 1977

FBI-ST. LOUIS

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 240

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## Page 241

FD-350 (Rev. 11-11-75)

(Mount Clipping in Space Below)

Ray Contends He Was Set Up To Take

Blame For. Dr. King's Assassination

•WASHINGTON, March 16: (AP)= James

Earl Ray: contended. in-an interview broad.

cast. nationally. last.night: that:he had.been

sent.to.have a-tire fixed.when the key..ur.

Martin Luther King. Jr. was assassinated,

Resister, cly ame late.)

(setting him. up to take the blame:

Ray, convicted of killing the Rev. Dr. King,

said: "investigations.by people.representing

me" were producing evidence that he thought

would clear him in.a.new.court.proceeding

But Ray: shed no rew light on:who killed the

P16A, St. Louis

Post-Dispatch,

St. Louis, Missouri

Rey. Dr. King if he did-not, or why. He said;

as he has before; thathis only contact with

the murder was througha Latin named

Raoul: He said: he thought Raoul was

conducting a, gun-running operations.

Ray, -appeared on the CBS TV program

Whots Who." It was his first television

interyiew, since the assassination: April 4,

1968, in Memphis,

Ray's attorney, Jack Kershaw, saiditoday;

that Ray would give preliminary depositions

-to-the House: Assassinations: Committee next

Week. Kershaw said the session would be

conducted by the committee's deputy chief

counsel and two court reporters, at the

Brushy Mountain State Prison In Petros,

Tenn. Ray is serving a 99-year sentence

there.

Last night; Dan Rather, a: CBS, reporter

told Ray that many viewers obviously would

think he was just making.up:a.story to get

3/16/77

himself out or prison, and Ray repled that h

had always thought people. would not belie

anything he said in an interview

Giving new: details: about. his story about

Raoul: and a conspiracy, Ray said he deliv-

eredi a

rifle to Raoul shortly before the

assassination in what he thought was part of

the gun-running operation. He Said Raoul

then sent him to have a tire fixed.

He said the: atfendants at a servicé station

told him they were too busy to fix the tire

because of the hour. The Rey. r. King was

killed shortly before 6 p.m., the traffic rush

Date:

Edition:

Author:

Editor:

Title:

62-5097 + 21

Character:

or

Classification:

Submitting Office:

Being Investigated

SL

pRay said in the inlerview that he was

certain he was not in the rooming house from

which the rifle was fired at the Rev. Dr. King

*ACHED

IND XED.

after 5:30 p.m.

Ray-said: Raoul lad been directing. him in.

gun-running activitles for a year. He-said.

there was nothing to distinguish-RaouLexcep

that he had auburn hair, not black-hair like

most: Latin people he knew:

MAR 1 7 1977

FBI-ST. LOUIS

But Ray, said he and Raoul had neve

discussed killing the Rev. Dr. King and so he

udid not know. the reason for the assassination.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797

Page 241

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## Page 242

FD-350 (Rev. 11-11-75)

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 242

(Mount Clippina in Space Below)

Rep. Gonzalez, Fiery Texan,)

Is Classic Capitol Hill Story

By LYNN ROSELLINT

lez was best known for his long.

1.797% W09119104Star

winded crusades and "conspira-

cy" theories on San Antonio-relat-

WASHINGTON

IT WAS 1963, and Represen-

ed matters. He used the Congres

simal Record us a forum, auce Mediate preg, and states!

ative Henry B. Gonzalez

inserting 50 separate items on the

Dem.), Texas, was shaking

failure of the Sharpstown Bank of

vith rage as he walked onto

• Houston.

P3. St. Louis

he House floor and ap.

"He focuses in on conspiracies,

the weird angles of things," said a

Post-Dispatch,

roached a colleague.

source familiar with Gonzalez's

St. Louis, Mo.

"I might pistol-whip you,"

career. "He can't see the public

le loudly told Representative

issues.

Once he gets involved in

logar F. Foreman

(Rep.),

something, he shakes it by the

exas.

throat until it's dead."

"Why don't you get about

But his biggest interest was

:?"' Foreman replied calmly.

assassinations.

Gonzalez took a swing at Fore-

san's head, Foreman ducked and

GONZALEZ WANTED a con-

onzalez hit his shoulder. "Hent

gressional investigation. And he

11" replied Foreman in amaze-

wanted to chair it.

lent. "I think you have lost your

"Some people had reservations

lind. I can't imagine an intelli.

Rep. Henry B. Gonzalez

but they never spoke them," sail

Int adult pulling this kind of

"focuses in on conspiracies."

a committee member. "There is i

induct in the halls of Congress.".

reluctance to violate a traditiond

vendettas, "This man can scream

This week — 14 years later - a

louder and get in more controver-

courtesy." So the hot-tempered

of people were saying the same

Texan took control of one of the

ing about Henry B. Gonzalez,

sy than anyone you've ever seen,"

most sensitive congressional in

said Jim Demept, a San Antonio

As the l'exas Democrat lay ill

ith the fiu in his San Antonio

businessman knowledgeable about

vestigations since impeachment..

As everyone knows by now,

local politics.

me, his colleagues on the House

inherited a

"night.

sassinations Committee mut-

'Gonzalez has been unavailable

Gonzalez

for comment for more. than a

mare," clashing immediately with

Date:

3/4/77

red angrily over the chairman's

Sprague, whose arrogant,

take

Edition:

cision to quit the beleaguered

week. But the story of Henry B.

Charge manner had already alien-

Gonzalez, as pieced together by

Author:

ated much of the House. "He

"It's been an embarrassment

those who know him, is a classic

treats me like dirt," Gonzalez

Editor:

all of us," said one stunned

tale of Capitol Hill.

used to confide to committee col-

Title:

Gonzalez was elected in 1961 as

mmittee member, who didn't

leagues.

nt his name used. "Another

a fiery Mexican-American liberal,

mmittee member, who

a crusader for human rights. But

also

IN REACTION, Gonzalez dealt

quested anonymity, said: "It

when he got to Washington, he

with Sprague just as he deals with

Character: 62-5097

ikes the entire. committee look

never quite lived up to that poten-

San Antonio politicians that he

or

ompetent. It's made us an ob

t of ridicule

He was the kind of Congress

dislikes. To the mortification of

Classification:

mbers."

among other;

his committee colleagues, he pub-

man who would periodically intro

Submitting Office:

Ifcly called his chief counsel a

SI

But nobody who knows Gonza-

duce legislation to bring back the

"rattlesnake" and a "scourdrel."

~ Being Investigated

was surprised by his recent

penny postcard. He pushed for a

"It's sort of vintage Gonzalez,"

ions, In fact, they call it "vin-

world's fair for San Antonio in 1968

e Gonzalez," starting with the

- aided by Lyndon B, Johnson,

said Douglas Harian, a political

62-5097-19

science professor from San Anto

LARCHED

INDEXED

d with chief counsel Richard A.

whose home was in Gonzalez's

nio. "The Assassinations Commit-

district.

ague, the public name-calling,

tee thing is made to order for him

SERIAUZED

_FILED _

firing and finally Gonzalez's

GONZALEZ'S 1963 QUARREL

It's combative and spectacular."

fer

I resignation

with Foreman erupted when Gon-

Friends

say Gonzalez was,

MAR 7 1977

zalez claimed that the conserva-

stunned When the committee

IFTER 15 YEARS in Congress,

tive Texas Republican had called

turned against him on the issue of

try B. Gonzalez, 60 years old, is

him a "pinko." Afterwards, he re-

Sprague's firing, "I think he took)

BI-ST. LOUI

wn as a quick tempered, stub-

fused to shake hands with Fore-

it as a personal matter," said a

Kewher

I, combative man who loves

wan,

committee member. "Apparently

But on the House floor, Gonza-

he was deeply hurt and angered."

---

## Page 243

FD-250 (Rov. 11-11-75)

(Mount Clipping in Spaco Bolow)

Mrs. King Challeng

Groups To Furthei

Probe Husband's

Slaying

Meanwhile

the

BY LILYANN J. MITCHELL,

Apparently disillusioned

and still firmly convinced that

her late husband's brutal.

murder on April 4, 1968 in

Memphis, Tenn. was the plot

of a well planned conspiracy,

Mrs. Coretta Scott King said

of the recent committee's

report that, James Earl Ray

acted alone:

"I have no knowledge as to

how comprehensive this re-

port was. Therefore, I can

draw no firm conclusion. I

would still like for some

agency, group or organization

to research and disclose what.

the task force was doing and

how it was conducting this

investigation, so that others

may judge for themselves

how the Justice Department

conducted their investigation

- and in 'what manner they

drew up their conclusions,"

aMrs. King stated from

prepared press statement to

the ARGUS from her office in

• Atlanta.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 243

the Martin Luther King fr

slaying case, and said he

would like

"personal to conduct e

richie pain of tho late civi

• murder, but the convicted

inmate claims he is taking. the

fuil rap in a conspiracy to

murder Dr. King. His appeals?!

for a hearing to re-open the

erase have been denied.

arias.

Indicate page, name of

neispaper, city and sinte.)

P1.- St. Louis

Argus, St. Louis,

Missouri

Date:

Edition:

Author:

Editor:

Title:

3/3/77

Character: 44-775

or

E2091

Classication: e

Submitting Office:

L Being Investigaled

62-5097-X

• MISCHED

_ INDEXED

MAR 4 1977

31-ST. LOU

Lawhen TikN

---

## Page 244

sent:

MRS. CORETTA KING

A special report from the

Department of Justice to the

media this week reads in

part:

The purpose of the study

was to examine FBI activities

involving Dr. King

and to

evaluate the effectiveness of

the assassination

investiga-

tion. ""The report concluded

that the FBI had conducted a

painstaking and successful

investigation of the 1968

assassination in Memphis,

'Tenin. The task force

also

found no evidence of FBI

complicity in the murder,"

the statement to the ARGUS

said.

However, the report further

stated,

"The

FBI's

COINTELPRO - type harass-

,.ment of Dr. King

and

efforts to drive him out of the

civil rights movement were

(found to have been clearly

improper. The task force re-

commended no disciplinary

action because the chief FBI

-NW-68262-Docld:32989797_Page 244

officials responsible for the

harassment are dead or re-

tired, but proposed outright

prohibition of COINTELPRO-

type

activities

against

domestic

intelligence

subject."

Dr. King's widow, his

father,

the

Rev.

Martin

Luther King Sr., other family

members and civil rights

leaders have called the latest

report from the house com-

mittee "unacceptable'' to

them,

Shortly after this re-inves-

tigation into the King slaying

officially opened, it

was re-

ported by the media that

numerous documents perti-

nent to the King slaying case

were missing

from

government's file.

Last week human rights

activist

Dick

Gregory,

announced that he will

resume his hunger fast until a

"thorough and true" investi-

gation into Dr. King's slaying

is initiated - which should

include the necessary FBI and

other legal government and

official documents on the

King case.

• In addition to this, the U.S.

District Judge John Lewis has

ordered the FBI to file with

the National Archives all of

its tapes and documents

growing out of buggings and

wiretaps of Dr. King. Accord-

ing to the judge's previous

records, these materials could

not be made available to the

public for at least 50 years,

except by court order.

A couple of months ago, Ed

Redditt,

ex-police

detective in Memphis told the

National Inquirer Magazine in

s: interview that he and

another Black officer,

W.E.

demons, signed to police

delail on April 4, 1968. Fle

stated that when police

officials in Memphis learned

of the many threats against

Dr. King's life they "slashed

security from 10 men to two

men, instead of beefing it up.

"When Dr. King

was

murdered I was miles away -

and another officer on duty

with me that day (W.B.

Richmond) was missing from

the scene," Redditt said.

Redditt said despite his

protests that he had •a job to

do, he was ordered home and

Holloman (then the director

of the Memphis Police and

Fire Department) called in

two burly police officers ti

escort him there and standi

guard over him.

Redditt further stated that

it appeared, "as if the guards

were trying to keep me in the

house, rather than protect

me."

Attorney General Bell said

at a recent news conference,

although the report found no

evidence of FBI involvement

in the 1968 inurder case of

Di. King, the case was not

closed for the Justice Depart-

ment.

He said a final decision wi

be made when the House

Select Committee completes

its investigation of the killings

of both Dr. King and Pre-

sident John F. Kennedy.

Of a possible meeting with

Ray, Bell stated: "I'd either

go or send someone in whon!

I have absolute confidence."

---

## Page 245

FD-350 (Rev. 11-11-75)

King Family

Dissatisfied With

Report Findings

BY LILYANN J. MITCHELL

"Not satisfied,"

is,a two-

word summary of the state-

ments made by those close

the the late Black Prophet,

the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther

King, Ji., relative to the

recent. concluding report from

the House Select Committee

on Assassination's that, "Ray

apparently acted alone,

thus;

tient inquing to the mint

flaying case.

Mrs: Coretta Scott King;

dow of the slain civil rights

leader, and his father, the

Rey. Dr. Martin Luther King,

"St.,

both stated in a

news

announcement this week that

the: investigation was not.

thorough enough and said

they would "not accept this

(Indicate page, name of

newspaper, city and state.)

1 (Second Section)

St. Louis Argus

Date: 2/26/77

Edition: Vol. 66, No.

Author: LILYANN J.

Editor:

MITCHELL

Title:

haracter: <62=5097

or

4-775

Classification:

Submitting Office: SL

Being Investigated

62-5097-17

FEB 28 1977

fourte

DICK GREGORY:

(Mount Cli as the final answet." Mis.

King, Dr. King Sr., the Rev.

Dr. David Abernathy, Hon:

Andrew Young, Rev. Dr.

Dick

Gregory, members of the

Congressional Black Caucus,

and a long list of other

notable. Black and white

citizens and organizations,

have pushed över the past

years for a complete re-

investigation into Dr. King's

brutal slaying.

"There is no doubt in my.

mind that a

conspiracy

existed;"

said Mrs. King.

U:S. Ambassador to the UN,

Andrew Young, said he would.

do all he could to have Dr.

King's documents on the

slaying case reviewed more

thoroughly...

"If the true story was told

forger. blow the dd you had

better be ready to face what

the outcome

investigation

of this re-

will bring,

human rights leader, Gregory

told members of the CBC and

some 4,000 dinner guests

during their last annual event

in Washington,

D:C. about

six months ago.

Shortly after

this

re;

investigation into the King

slaying officially opened, it

was reported that numerous.

documents pertinent to the

King case were missing from

the government's file.

week;

Gregory

announced that he will

resume his hunger fast until a

"thorough and true" investi

gation into Dr. King's slay-

ing is investigated - which

should include the necessary

EBL, and other legal govern-

ment documents on the King

slaying.

ments 05 at developl

John Lewis has ordered the

MVL68262_Docld:32989797_Page 245

---

## Page 246

FBi to file with the National

Archives all of its tapes: and..

-2-

-=

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 246

---

## Page 247

FD-350 (Rev. 11-11-Ÿ5)

(Mount Clipping in Space Below)

Attorney general wants

to see James Earl Ray

By GLENN ELSASSER.

said: he.probably stole it, but-Bell said

Globe-Democrat

there is no evidence of this.

Chicag Tribune News Service

FURTHERMORE; Bell questioned

WASHINGTON - Attorney: Geñeral.

whether Ray was:knowledgeable. enough

Griftin B: Bell wants to talk: personally

to get the passports: he used to:traye

with James:Earl: Ray to clear up doubts

abroad after the assassination.

Ray, who is serving: a 99-year state.

that Ray. acted

prison term in Tennessee, has contended:

alone in the slaying

since the assassination thatshe was "a:

oi Dr Martin Lu-

talliguy" in a conspiracy to murder Dr.

ther King Jr., Bell

King. The US. Supreme Court in Decem

said Thursday.

ber refused to revlew his guilty plea.

Bell said he

Asked whether he thought somergov-1

"lead carefully" a,

ernment agency might: have been. in.

special Justice De

•volved; in the assassination; Bell replied:

I partment täsk; force•

reportion the King

"Oh, not at all."

assassination, is-

When.asked-whether-hezas attorney,

sued last-week; and

general would give Ray, any: "special'

puzzled over the:

consideration"" if he believed. Rays

case."

Bell

story, Bell said this would have to be

THE REPORT found no evidence G

worked out with Tennessee officiats

FBi involvement in the 1968 murderf

because Ray is a state prisoner.

NESSE

Dr. King; but Bell said the case: was nit

Closed for the Justice Department:

A final decision will be made, he said;,

once the House Select Committee: on:

Assassinations has completed Its investi

gation. of: the killings.of Dr. King and

President Kennedy.

"I had-it.way.in the back of.my minde

to do a little more;" Bell toldia:breakfast.

meeting of reporters.

Speaking otta possible meeting with

Ray, Bell said:

"I'd either go or

someone I have absolute confidence in

wollld."

he attorhey: general.mentoned tha

helas.troublediby.the problem.of wher

Ray got. his money after the: Kin!

slaying: The Justice Department report

(Indicate page, name of

newspaper, city and state.)

15 A

St. Louis Globe-

Democrat

Date: 2/25/77

Edition:

Author: GLENN ELSASSER

Editor:

Title:

Character:

<62-5097

or

44-775

Classification:

Submitting Office: SL

• Being Investigated

62-5097-16

FEB 28 1977

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 247

---

## Page 248

RD. 350 (Rev. 11-11-75)

(Mount Clipping in Spaco Below):

.....

New Policies

Restrain FBI,

Kelley Says

Compiled From News Services

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 - Federal Bureau of Investi

gation Director Clarence M. Kelly Jr. said Friday that

!!

Kelley expressed great satisfaction that a Justice

Department task force found the FBI had made a cred-

"table and thorough investigation of the King assassina-A

tion in 1S68.

"There are portions of the report which described |/

objectionable.actions on the part of the FBI," Kelley

said, referring to the task force's criticism of the FBI's

'tempt to "neutralize" the, Rev. Dr. King's role as a

civil rights leader.

A Justice Department task force investigating the

death of the Rev. Dr. King says evidence that James

Earl Ray was a lone assassin is convincing, although

his motive remains elusive.

In the report made public Friday, the task force

praised the FBI's original investigation of the Rev. Dr.

King's death in 1968, but said the Justice Department

failed to exercise proper supervision over the agency's

work.

The report said also that former FBI Director J.

Edgar Hoover inspired an improper and at times illegal

harassment campaign against the Rev. Dr. King in the

Hast five years of his life. But it recommended against

prosecutions in the campaign because Hoover and his

top aids are dead or retired.

Ray was acting alone on April 4, 1968 when he

gunned King down on a motel balcony in Memphis, the

report concluded. It said that FBI agents checked out I

conspiracy theories but found them groundless.

"The task force is satisfied that the FBI did a credi-

ble and thorough job in attempting to identify any possi-

ble conspiracy. In all the years following the assassina-

tion, the investigation has failed to reveal any connec-!

-tion. between any alleged conspirator and James Earl

Ray..

7.

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 248

ndicate page, name o

erspaper, city and state

12A

ST. LOUIS

POST-DISPATCH

SIMO.

Date: 2/20/77

Edition: Sunday

Author:

Editor:

Title:

44-775

Character:

or

62-5097-14

Classification:

Submitting Office:

7 Being Investigated

SEARCH

FERER TI

Finch O

---

## Page 249

But the report's authors list two loose ends, lack of a

clear motive for the shooting and an inabilty to learn

how Ray supported himself for a year before the Reva

Dr. King's death.

"Ray's apparent hatred for the civil rights move.

"ment, his possible yearning for recognition and a desire!

•for a potential quick proft may have, as a whole, pro

vided sufficient impetus for him to act and act alone,'

the report said.

Imprisoned in the Missouri State prison until his

escape in 1967, Ray took part in inmate speculation

jabout a bounty on the Rev. Dr. King's head. But the

report found no evidence proving that a bounty pay-

ment was actually offered.

Meanwhile, an attorney for Ray accused the Justice

Department of attempting to whitewash the investiga-

tion-of the killing. Robert I. Livingson of Memphis,

• Tenn., also charged the Justice Department with trying

to thwart a planned investigation of the assassination

by a House committee.

Livingston said he knew of two persons willing to

estify before the panel, but that they could not because

the committee was having iniernal problems. Robert I

¡Kennedy, while serving as attorney general, failed

badly by mantaining FBI surveillance on the Rev. Dj-

King, the task force said.

The report found that during Ray's imprisonment in

Missouri he told inmates he "hated Negroes." It said he

vowed on several occasions to kill the Rev. Dr. "if the

price was right.".

Livingston said he never had placed any faith'in the

investigation.

"Since that investigation started, I felt they would

approve everything the FBI has said and done in con-

Anection with the Dr. King murder. I knew they would

find:no fault whatever with (late FBI director). Mr.

John' Edgar Hoover, I knew they would find no fault

with anyone remotely connected to it.

"The only thing I'm surprised at is that they haven't

recommended Hoover for sainthood."

"The forces behind the assassinations are working

full time to see that nobody anywhere investigates these

¡assassinations," he said. "There are forces at worl!

trying to destroy the select committee of Congress t

investigate the assassinations.

"There are people in this world who don't want any

¿of these investigations continued."

NW 68262* Docld:32989797 Page 249

---

## Page 250

FD-350 (Rev. 11-11-75)

(Mount Clipping in Space Bolow)

Tip from Missouri inmare

led to Ray's arrest

(Indicate page, name of

newspaper, city and statc.)

ВАРТОЇ

By EDWARD W. O'BRIEN

Globe-Democrat Washington Bureau

Chief

WASHINGTON - A tip from a former

Missouri Penitentiary cellmate of James

Earl Ray provided the crucial clue that

led to Ray's arrest for the assassination

. of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a

Justice Department report has disclosed.

The cellmate remembered that Ray, as

a prisoner at Jefferson City, had talked

" about "the ease with which a person

living in Canada could obtain a false

passport," the report said.

• UNTIL THE interview with the uniden-

;tified prisoner, the FBI had been able to

• follow Ray's trail only as far as Atlanta,

*where he had driven immediately after

• the Memphis murder April 4, 1968.

- As then-FBI Dírector J. Edgar Hoover

admitted in a memorandum for then

Attorney General Ramsey Clark, the

trail was cold beyond Atlanta, despite a

massive manhunt.

By then, the FBI had zeroed in on Ray

as the probable killer and had obtained

photographs of him. But their man had

vanished.

The

Missouri tip triggered. a new

search. At the FBi's request, the Royal

Canadian Mounted Police in Ottawa

began searching passport application

files since Ray's escape from the prison

April 23, 1907.

"THOUGH THE search went through

a staggering number of applications and

was based on comparison of Ray's

photograph to those submitted with the

application, it proved to be the necessary

* break in picking up Ray's trail," the

report said,

"At 9:30 p.m. on June 1, 1968, the Filt

attache in Ottawa called Washington to

advise that after reviewing some 175,000

applications, the mounted police located

a passport issued April 24, 1968, under

the name Ramon George Sneyd which

contained a photograph very definitely

similar to Ray.

The passport application was traced

back to a Toronto travel agency. From

there, Ray leit a trail of ticket purchases

to London, Lisbon, and back to London;

where he was. apprehended June 8 as lie

sought to take a plane to Brussels.

The disclosure about' the Missouri tip,

as well as many other inside details, •

came in a 149-page report by a Justide

Department task force of five attorneys

and two analysis on their study of they

King case.

AFTER REVIEWING more than 200,-

000 documents from FBI headquarters

and field offices in St. Louis, Springfield, -

Il., and other cities, and interviewing 40..

witnesses, the team concluded:

—Ray, who had served seven years of

a 20-year sentence for armed robbery

• when he escaped from the Missouri

prison, acted alone in assassinating Dr.

King, the civil rights leader.

-There is no evidence of a conspiralis

between Ray and anybody else. "Inderd"

i the overwhelming evidence indicates

y that Ray was almost totally alone durug

6B

ST. LOUIS

GLOBE-DEMOCRAT

ST. LOUIS, MO.

Date: 2/19-20/77

Edition:

Weekend

Author:

Editor:

Title:

Character:

or

Classification:

Submitting Office:

a Being Investigated

62-5097-13

SErs.

SERE

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 250

-7177!

---

## Page 251

J. Edgar Hoover

. the trail was cold

the years after his escape from (pris-

-There was no complicity in the

murder by the FBI or the Memphis

Police Department.

_FBI INVESTIGATION of the killing

"was thoroughly, honestly, and success

fully conducted:

The task force also found that FBI

harassment of Dr. King for several years

James Earl Ray

. •

false. passport

before his death was "clearly impro

per."

The FBI had conducted what it called

a "no-holds-barred" campaign to dis-

credit Dr. King and drive him out of the

civil rights movement. The FBI's rea-

sons were its belief that Dr. King was

*being influenced by Communist advisers

and that he had unfairly criticized the

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 251

---

## Page 252

or living expense

The FBI speculated that Ray commit

future narassment of domestic intelli-

i gence targets.

Much of the report focused. on Mic • Swere always negative.

HE DID EARN $664 as a dishwasher in

souri, through Ray as a prisoner at

i a Chicago suburb, and at least once sert •

Jefferson City, his movements in the

i money out of the Missouri prison by

state, and family associations.

money order to a fictitious company. But

Through interviews with cellmates and

nothing else could be established about

...other prisoners, the FBI pieced together

how Ray obtained several thousand

Ray's motive as hatred of blacks.

dollars, which he spent between his

• "It' seems clear that Ray

openly

escape and his arrest.

displayed a strong racist attitude toward

One expenditure was $269 on July 14,

blacks," the report said.

1967, for purchase of a Plymouth automo

"While in prison Ray stated he would

kill Dr. King if given the opportunity.

bile in East St. Louis.

The FBI was criticized for allegedi

failure to follow a lead which the report:

"RAY'S APPARENT hatred for the

Civil rights movement, his possible

described as "suggesting that one ori

both of Ray's brothers were in contacti

ycarning for recognition, and a desire for

with him after, and in aid of, his escape

a potential quick profit may have, as a

in 1967 from (prison)."

whole, provided sufficient impetus for

The lead was not unearthed until after

him to act - and to act alone.'.

Ray's arrest, and the FBI downgraded

There were widespread rumors at the the information as. "made sterile by

Missouri prison that a group of business-

intervening events,"' the report said. The

men had raised $100,000 to $1 million "as

tip was that Jerry Ray may have seen

a bounty on King's head," the report

his brother James "at a pre-arranged

said, and there were also rumors that

meeting place in St. Louis shortly after

"Ray was supposed to have killed three

his escape," the reports said.

bla major mystery remains to this day.

"By hindsight, the task force helieves

Neither the FBI nor the Justice team

was able to discover the source of the

[money for Ray's extensive travel after

his prison escape; for purchases of cars,

photo equipment, and dance lessons, and

repon sat him alter King's death, e

report said.

•EA1S429245

NW 68262 Docid:32989797 Page 252

warnes?

---

## Page 253

FD-36 (Rev. 7-27-76)

TRANSMIT VIA:

E] Teletype

• Facsimile

• Airtel

FBI

PRECEDENCE:

• Immediate

• Priority

[X Routine

5594

CLASSIFICATION:

• TOP SECRET

• SECRET

• CONFIDENTIAL

DEFTO

• CLEAR

2/8/77

Date

FM ST. LOUIS (62-5097) (P)

TO DIRECTOR (62-117290) ROUTINE

BT

CLEAR

ATTENTION: GENERAL INVESTIGATIVE DIVISION, CIVIL RIGHTS SECTION,

CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNIT.

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS, BUDED: FEBRUARY 11, 1977.

REBUTEL, FEBRUARY 4, 1977.

ST. LOUIS FILE ON MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ASSASSINATION

(MURKIN), ST. LOUIS FILE 44-775, HAS NOT BEEN DESTROYED.

BT

-

62-5097-10

1- St. Loui

JRH / C

(1) UN

SEARCHED

INDEXED.

FILED_

→wik

00l

Approved:

NW 68262 Docld:32989797 Page 253

1723 г

(Number)

(Time)

Per

bih

---