James Earl Ray Frank Libreto
Content
4-744 (2-28-78)
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
WASHI NGTON , D.C. 20535
NOV 1 6 1978
Mr. A. J. Weberman
R t N
74,282
eques o.
Independent Research Associates
6 Bleecker Street
Re: Specific Documents -
Frank Li berto,
New York, New York 10012
et al.;
Dear Requester:
This is to acknowledge receipt by FBI Headquarters
of your recent Freedom of Information-Privacy Acts (FOIPA)
request and to advise you of our determination to comply
with your request pursuant to Title 5, United States Code,
Section 552 (a) (6) (A) (i) and other applicable Federal
statutes and regulations. Additional information, if
needed by us in this matter, will be requested of you
by separate letter.
A search of the indices to our records will be
made in an effort to determine i f we have the information
you seek. If the search fails to indicate the existence
of any r e cord(s) pertaining to the subject matter of your
r e quest , you will be notified. In the event the search
reveals the existence of any record(s) which may be responsive
to your request, it will be retrieved and processed pursuant
to the provisions of the FOIPA at the earlies t possible
date .
Your request has been assigned the number
indicated above, which you are requested to use in any
f urther correspondence with this Bureau in this matte r .
Very truly yours,
Freedom of Information-
Privacy Acts Branch
Records Management Division
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535
Mr. A. J. Weberman
Independent Research Associates
6 Bleecker Street
New York, New York 10012
Dear Mr . Weberman:
December 26, 1978
This is in response to your letter dated November 3 ,
1978, regarding documents in the Murkin files pertaining to
Frank Llberto and Samuel J. Recile.
Documents pertaining to Frank Liberto have been
located and consist of 93 preprocessed pages .
Pursuant to Title 28 , Code of Federal Regulations,
Section 16.9 and 16.46, there is a fee of ten cents per
page for duplication. Upon receipt of your check or
money order, payable to the Federal Bureau of Investigation
in the amount of $9.30, these documents will be forwarded
to you.
These documents may be reviewed at no cost during
the hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Room 1060, J. Edgar Hoover
F.B.I. Building, Tenth and Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington,
D. c. 20535. We require 48 hours advance notice from indi-
viduals who desire to make an appointment to review material .
To set up such an appointment, you may contact us at tel ephone
number (202) 324-3762.
Please advise this Bureau of any action you seek
to take concerning the aforementioned.
Please be advised that the three references
pertaining to Samuel J. Recile in the Murkin New Orleans
files are not retrievable through our indices; therefore,
.....
Mr. A. J. Weberman
I am referring this part of your request to our New Orleans
Office and they will correspond directly with you.
yours,
u JJ, e1P.<t?
Allen H. McCreight, Chief
Freedom of Information-
Privacy Acts Branch
Records Management Division
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6 BLEECKER STREET . NEW YORK CITY 10012 p H ASSOCIATES
. . HONE. AJ WE BERMAN (212) 477-6243
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NOV 31978
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Date 4/ll/68
s tated had
concerning the shooting of
KING, .JR.
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ndviscd thnt on the of
A ril 4, s, he trom to
::cmphis, Tennessee, to pick up his supplies f
store. . from the
' nt npp
P.:.t. ly to the .. ,crs
loc::.tc<! on Scott and :lfter :lrrivin:
of froitl n man, name unknown, the market.
then to the where he normally buys his produce
be docs not know he of this rti lnr f
but it wns possibly the
Ec s:&id this business is ope
who weighs :lp!)roximatcly 300 pounds
,
nnd is of possible
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B£erto F.ican extrnction
teeth set from e:&ch other.
this ho wall,cd up
d his
after
office noticed that the heavy seb man w:&s
with his back to the- doDr .and _t:llking
to
sittin:; at his
the telephone.
stated the heavy set man did not see
him that tl.me. He stated he he:lrd the hcnvy set man s:&y,
"::ill thc·-s.o.B. on the You
'i-1 11 get your $5 " · According to a white
is thin in build Q on his rig
::.bcut time asked him he
replied he to pick up produce and t
man told him to go on to the Qnd belp himself.
said he went to rear portion of
this office and shortly thereafter heard tbe telcpho
phone was by the man with the and
On ·4/8/68 at 1 4enncssee
File II
!.:emphis
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-------Dat.o dictated
Thi • c-onlaina n•ilher • "!>' eonelua i,on• or.the FBI. It ia \h1 prop«tJ' of the FDl antJ ia lu..• ..
)'01.11' a&ei\CY, i\ Md ala oont.enu at• be d••l.tab(lt•c£ "uhodt Yowl •
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aiid to could not this man said.
the phone to tho heavy set and
board this say, come out here.
and get your money. _ You a_y bJ:"othcr."
by that he his prod
f apples. He
but they referred
could get b
lieves that he only at
approximately ten an
4:45 P .. M. and 5:.15
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he saw apples at
hilll to anothor
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pril 4, 19GB, he at
at time the set the man with
, other white were in ---
·a talking. He said the heavy
this time, "They ought to shoot
that after this set
, n!dfsaid, "What do . YOU think and his mess?"
old the heavy set man that he tended to his own
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he arrived at his store in
SoC\ervill I:c said im:ncdiately
ly_ ady is.cd .!'l i i that -
bad been • s on the dny his wife
- tQld him about of the person who possibly
sh6t he said to this description the
ir.dividu:.l was 5 ' 6" tall. He said hP. sa._, the
sketch which in the Appeal ond .. which
to be a likeness of unknown individual who
shot and when he comp:.red the furnished by
his wife the paper and the sketch which a e .
he thou t of a person employed at
sometime last sumcer. · Ho
al to the who shot KING and
st:ted that this individual is a c between an I,ndian, a
Cut;an, or a t:exican. According to this person
bas a very yellow complexion, has • on his neck,
and definitely gi vos the iapression of being caD -
or Cuban and definitely not an American. l so ,
said, ''This person is not 5 teet 6 like they ···
but he is real tall. Be is at least 5 feet 9."
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th::tt the person who he th.inks mit::ht be
the person who shot KING weit::hs 140 pounds,
bas ci slender build, ::tnd is ::tpproximntely 25 years old. Ee
co'uld furnish no further description this person or.
further information of vnlue to identify him.
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111
Ill ta ted that he d what he bad
henrd on the ::tfternoon of April 4, 1968, with his wife ::tnd
nlso discussed with his wife the possibility that hq knows the
of the person who shot KING, He snid he was afraid
to.tcll any person and did not mention
it to anyone except whom be advised at
approximately 7:00
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fEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
D•te _ _ . ._ __
Somerville,
a business, SODervllle,
at which tiac he furnished the inforaation coocernina
the sbootinc of MARTIN LtrrHER ICING, JR:
OD the •orning of April 4, 1968, at 8:00 a.a. ,, be
traveled to Memphis, Tennessee, from Somerville to pick up bis
•upplies for his crocery store in Somerville. Before obtainina
these supplies he went to his brother's house
tax returns to be filled out by his brother,
Be called his wife at home at
tiae thereafter, at approximately 3:00 p.a., be hia
brother's place of business to co to a "chicken place" near the
Station oo Front Street to purchase some aeat. Be
arrived at tbe"chicken place"a little before 3:15 p.a. and
thereafter departed to 10 to Fineber& Meat Company, 2875 Starlin&
Koad, Kemphis, Tennessee, arrivin' there at 3:45
P·•· Be $72 worth of aeat at this place and a white
fe11ale waited on hia. Be left Fineberc Meat Company at approzl-
4:15 p.a. enroute to the Farmers Mtrket located OD Scott
Street and arrived there approxiaately · 4:25 to 4:30 p.•. .
t7pon arrivin, at the Farmers Varket, be went to the east abed
to purchase a sack of potatoes frat a Negro aale, name unknown.
Be se otatoes and then eeded
Ve is
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Be atated ' that as be passed this door he heard a white
aale 7ell, "Kill the • n-ot -a-ll i tch on the ba lcooy" "I •
-c8 • how you pt ·tbe job dooe, just aet lt done." the tiae
be beara ttiis re11ari le did not know Just what it aeanf.
Be stated is operated a
larce bea.vy-5et wb1 e e • o we approxim.atelJ 250-300 ·
pounds, bas atrai,ht bair, 18 ··· tall, .baa capped
te.tb, was wearinc a red sport ehirt and aittinc la an
•Somerville,
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eootaiu aefthet reeocaaeMetlon. DOr cooclM ioct olU.. FSl. • a.. PI'OPti'Q ol.._ P'Bl_.le • te
JI'IC*r IICUCT. k _. .... coac.eau ... 8JOt &o be ocuide JOQr ·.,.-q. .
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an at this warehouse-type butldinc at a desk with a
telepbooe and was into the produce department area.
He this individual had dark skin and
of Puerto Rican or some "foreign" extraction.
be walked up to the door of this office
the beav7 set • was at the desk with his back to
the d talki on the telephone. This aan did not notice
Ilia, at the tiae.
At this tiae another individual, whom he described
a• a white aalc, clear &kin, over 6' tall, 200 pounds, with
a bat OD wearin' casual cl scar on the right
ai to be another boss
at hill and asked hi a
wha •. this aan said, "Go
ahead and wait on yourself." advised that be then
went back to the rear arehouse and purchased
. $11 worth of produce.
Yben he was coming out of this warehouse-type
bu1ld1Dc, be beard the telephone which was answered
bJ the aan with the scar on his. throat and thia
individual aumble somethinc to the heavy set aan but be
could not bear what this aan bad said. The aan with tbe
aear then handed the telephone to the heavy set aan and be
beard the beavy set aan to YQ.Y!"
$5,000 and don't bring y9ur and d 't ca
know ay brother in •ew Orleans."
advised that be had already purchased $16 worth
d&cided be wanted to purchase apprax el t
les. Be bad seen the apples at
t stated the beavy set aan
ace acted very nervous a
Dext door and ,et your apples."
"to co
be was
fn the warehouse for approxiaate
tbe telephone call
es and to the best
took place about 5,-15 p.a.
-.-.advised that be bought
low on the west •ide of
to return to b1a baae li.ll
-. ·· : - dvised be arrived back
Bomer•111 p.a. and learned fr<D
frca a
and theD
a friend _of his, who telephonicallT ad • ING
bad been abot. Be stated that late that nicht. after talk1nc
ritla • .1.a wife and d1scuss1nc the deser1pt1oo of the perscm who
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possiblt shot XING, he figured the conversation he had beard
aa7 have bad scneth to do with the •urdcr of Dr. KING.
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stated that on the day be saw
a •ketch in 'l'he Cor.nacrcial Appeal which was supposed
to be a 1 ike ness of the unltDO'tl'n In'dfvTcfua 1-wbo shot KING and
be the description furnished by his wife from tbe
paper and the &ketch which appeared in the news
a person who was employed -it
·• 1 omet im.e in the late fall or e
o 7. e s ated this •an, described as a light tanned
or Puerto Bican type individual with lon& straight, coarse
black "jungle rot" on his neck, slender build, drop
• male, S'lO"- S'll", 160 pounds, not a da7
over 25, as being identical with the individual who shot
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XING. Be stated this individual was a cross between an Indian,
Cuban, and he could possibly identity this individual
apin. tated for approximatel7
one to n the late fall
or early winter time at the
produce ecapany. "
another reason for his suspicioaa
before .Aprir 4, 1968, be
which time the heavy set •an,
him, "r;bat do you think about
liilliilliil( aid he replied, "b"bo are you talkiAC
n then said, KART IN LUI'HER X "
"I tend to •Y own business."
said._ ought to
stated be again replied,
own business" and drove off.
atated this was the first time the heavy set aan had e
to b1a a racial aatter.
that he had ·dtscussed what.he bad
beard OD a erne>oo ot April 4, 1968, with Iris wife aDd had
also diScussed with his wife the possib111t7 be knew the 1dent1t7
of the ·individual who shot XING •
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.... stated · that on tbe .. •orninc of .April 18, 1961,
betfieD 1: a.•. a beiee, late •odel 1966 or 1987 · · . .:_i
Cadillac . ·with a colden embiea oo the front 1 se lace 'license · -
plate not_lced, drove into bia drivewaJ at
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.An individual,
as ife, .. •• approxiaatelJ
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twelve years a in
aDd thereafter ans, Louisiana, or that
vicinitr. _Be stated -this s
atop in Louisiana_at the junction
further stated individual bas
_ property._
and his wife cot out of the ear to
they were "clad to see
asked hia concerninc
that day and be·told them be was coinc to
at approximatelr 4:00 P·•·
stated that
and then
111 came out into Old
dumb" and after a while
he was ight or t
, 968). advised that
him in any an e was very
inc.ident ,rith. the telephone call at
because the "white aan shook·· ay hand." Ac
18 ver y uncommon for white aen to abake
Ilia part of the country.
stated be can tell when individuals are
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wearinc cuns and stated aany in the past he has aeen
people who appeared very suspicious to him and who, be tboucht,
:: were a threat to hill :· inas•uch as they stared at hia and acted "funn7. •
· ' Be advised be always looks at individuals to see whether cr not
they are weari bolsters or &idearas or "45'•" in their
back pockets. ointed out that be always duab
ao that people n c ve hi• a bard time when in reality be
· is actually very saart.
shown aix photographs, of were
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ella1Date4 the photoeraphs ot
closelJ at the three reaalni
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baeD arrested 1D .
iatelJ'
and looked
ed that tbe !' : ·
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of
bad aeeh 1D
winterrbut a
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the unknown individual be
in the late tall or early
abort."
did not desire to furnish a signed
this individual stating be "did not want
in trouble" if this should be the wrong person.
noted certain s\ailaritics in this photograph,
, hair style was the aaac, be had the same "Juncle
r ot" OD his Deck, and tbe profile was to that of the
aketeb by tbe Commercial ist in the ,.he
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individual picked out by was born 1943,
ta l'l"tall, wetehs 152 1ua but •
brown eyea, aDd was last be residtne
Louisiana. ...
was shown a photograph of JAMES
wbo was identified to also known as ARVO GALT
as betnc the 1nd1vidua
KING. tbia point,
at
ata •
y the FBI for · the
took the photograph of RAT
ua , . oo, resembled "the aan be aaw
in late fall or early winter, 1967. Be
honest, the hair 1s combed the aa.me
arity in the he was attempt1D&
as·· reminded that he had posit
and there was
to describe.
eli.alinated JtA
"was Dot
ee occasions and be thereafter stated be just
Durinc the interview wit an individual wbo
was known to be a Times repor was taking photographs
·. ot A,ents interviewing and durinc the interview it waa
_: felt that the di.Str by ·tbis 'J'i•es Kagazine reportet
Decessitated aovin o a aore secluded spot so that aD
elfect1Ye aDd pene rview with bia eould be accoap11sbed •
,.be followlD& descriptiOD of
throucb observation aDd 1n'terview:
Raee:
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was obtained
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f tte1ght:
...,..' Hair:
Eyes:
Social Sccurit7 #:
Occupation:
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Ae a resalt of tbe inforaation turnihed b7
tbe following interviews were conducted b7 FBI A1en
• and New Orleans Divisions:
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Date 4122/88
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OD April 4, 1968, be arrived · at work at approxi-
aately a.a. and stayed on the job, with the exceptiOD
of lunch and possibly eoine to see one of his busineaa
associates, until 6:00 p.a.
advised that in his capacity as
c ....... dealin& with the public and bus ness
associates over the telephone and, therefore, does not bave an
recollection of just what transpired on that day. tP
_the best of hiS knowledge, be does _!)ot remember discussinc
with anyone the possibility of &hootine XING and
- denied bavin& any knowledge, of the activity of the person
responsible for KARTIH LurHER KING, JR. 'a death •
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._.._. as shown a of .JA)&ES_EARL RAY ...:_also ,---
Jtnown:·. as vo and failed faent ify these -
as bein& identical with any individual be knew.
dvised it is not unc0111mon talk amon, co-vorkera
produce eaapany and other ind 1 viduala in tbe
J(emplliJI area to discuss the of KING while be was ill
• .· · the Jlcmphi.S Tennessee ,:area. dvi.sed be 11ay have aade
.'·\-- . -acme cenerai remarkS reprdinc , _ &ince be felt
'flle curfew in the ar-ea during KING 'a stay at ISeaphia,
• cost bia appr-oxraately $40,000 t"() $50,000 in lost sale•.
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advised that be receives and aakes numerous
telephone specifically denied any·telephone call aade
aentionine the &hoot1ne of Dr. KING or of any reference to KING.
Be atated that be bad no knowledp of the shooting of Dr. KDtG
while at work at the produce ca.pany.
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fti• e«Uiu Mltll.er recomaeM8Uoaa act ooaclulou .ol \be P'Bt. • La ol P'Bl _. Ia
.. uc,r.IL eD4 k.a COIIleiLt .. 110t to oaLaW. J'OW .. .-a;r.
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dvised that be bad been in New Orleans,
, fore Christaas, 1967. Be adviiNt Is
al for him to travel tn his eapacit7 as
a produce company to obtain various pr uce t.D
• •ct ions of the South. Be left work at
1:00 p.m., April 4, 1068, and feels ccrtMin be beard about
the death ct M.ARTIN LurHER XING, JR., on his car radio
althou&b lt ts possible if bo stayed at work that da7 past
8:00 p.a. his sister or his wife aay have telephonically coD-
tacted hi• as it is common t to call these individuals
just prior to leaving wo.rk. dvised that he cannot be
his actions 4, 1968, inasmuch as be
cmtinually on the eo and is in constant contact with
• individuals, aany of whom are business people who are
co.in& to him for the first tiao. ..
Be reiterated be may have made disparagine remarks
. about JCIXG, both prior to the shooting and after the sbootinc
o1 KING, and stated he does not consider this to be uncocnmon.
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Tbe following of obtained throuch
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observation and interview: · ·
Jfar:1e:
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Race:
Sex:
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POB:
tt"eicht:
Bair:
Eye•:
Sears and aarka :
Vehicle:
Military ser!ice:
Weapons:
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200
Sandy bron
Bluish cray
Scar on r
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UNITED STATES .
.Memorandum
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auBJECT!.
JTS:sam
(2)
SAC . (157-10673)
AsAC SYLVESTER
MURKIN
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Race:
Sex:
j£e:
Complexion:
Characteristics:
Eyes:
Heieht:
·Weight:
Be described
Jlace:
Sex:
Cmplexion:
Ace:
Build:
li'ei.:ht:
Heicht:
Scars and aarka:
Bemarka:
•.
advised that
early and • available · for
Company were
described
t:hite
&tale
Approx1.11ately 35
Fair
Pug nose, casual dresser
Blue
6'1"
200
as follows:
White
Kale
Dark•
Heavy
325-350
6'10"
Scar 011 Deck
Jreat dresser.
had closed
at that time in Kew Orleans, Louisiana,
the produce aarket.
w and that
buylne straw
-
was &bOWD photographs of JAMES EAP.L llAY, al.ao
known as YO GALT and be failed to 1dentify .th1s in-
dividual as anyone be inc in and around bia place of business.
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4/18/68 a Xcopbls, Tenn"see
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File 1 ltemphia 44-1987
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NO 157-10673
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ADMINISTRATIVE:
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One copy this report is being provided to the
Houston and Antonio Offices for· ·'information purposes in
anticipation of assisting in any subsequent investigation;
The purpos& in submitting this report even though
it contains the results of negative investigation is because ·
information had been previously reported that allegedly the
subject was observed on the evening of 12/16/67, making a
telephone call from a coin box while being accompanied· on a
Angeles, California, to New Orleans, Louis1ana, by
during the period December 15- 17 , 1967. This
allegedly placed from a pay telephone in the are a
Texae.
It has also been alleged that the subjectmay have made
several telephone calls w Texas.
been further alleged that the subject had in-
purpose in traveling to New Orleans was on
business and the subject had mentioned an Italian sounding
name as the .person he was to contact • .
Reference Houston airtel, dated 5/2/68, contained
a list of 281 calls made 12/15- 17/67, from within the Houston
Division to Louisiana.
Referenced Houston airtel, dated 5/6/68, contained an
addit1onal 75 phone calls made 12/15- 17/67, from within· the
lluuston Division to Louisiana ..
Referenced San Antonio teletype contained a list or
made from within the San Antonio Division to Louisiana.
In view of the allegations previously set forth,
is reporting only the results of interviews of persons
in the New Orleans area.
The subscribers of the rest of the calls to part s
t>f Louisiana furnished by Houston and San Antonio Divis1cnA bavc
al eo been determined. These persons who still reside: in Louisiana
have been located and interviewed, and no pertinent infoJ·mat1on
relative to this investigation was developed. The of
B
COVER PAGE
ro.aoa CJiln. l•·U .. I)
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'-"':EOERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGA 'f "-.
4/23/68
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in
ac:Svised
. , . • ' · \ widow •:nd her maiden
n:..ml! wa"t- Sho 'W.ls born 3. .Tennessee,
and is 71 of $he and her husband cqme to New Orleans
r-about 39 yoc.rs ago she has seven· children, of which
three sons in New Orleans.
,- .
She sbe BuW her son last when be
in to h9r :..ttcr a trip to t a Louisiana,
a:-F:. !o:r: .pru-pcse ot purchasing lor his produce
Sbe him by in faot
called him a couple Ql after the KING AS5ussination purely
out ot concern fo:- the family and to inquire as to the local
situation.
She viewed a pboiograph of JAtiES EARL RAY and stated
·· that it looked howGver, she not identify it
specifically: She sha has of ihe KING
other what she has read in newspapers
and s6en on television.
SAS
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D•t• ------------
· 9p1Dymont,
into1·v1
1-n format ion:
-.-
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7
ty ot hia-
OrleaDa,
WiD'
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a .
There is only ono member of his te faa
. tbt· is tho produce busi"ness and that is tper
. ..
__ Tt)nnossce. .not to by te op
in at four He s t e o est of the
brothGrs 3Dd thore are two other. residing hero
al present. One is ho res·ides· at
is a a heart eond on,
The
-rr ue k s.nc
ousl - - - loyed by
is
and tor ma aro.
across the Mississippi Ri
address is on Matador . Drive.
ves n Town, ·
and he.believes the
, .
. ': .
He stated he born and :-aised in and his
the produee 1or .many none of
brotbGr w are in the produce business. Be
-knons that casionally to Louisiana, .; .
to purcha rries but be of no other business · · .
contacts of n the produce line in Nevr Orleans. · •· ·
A8 examined a ot EARL RAY,
and advised he has individual in the newspapers
and bas no ·knowledge ot the KING rssassination
-other than that gaineci from the news media. ! " ·
is gotber,
He stated
s made b7
Negro element.
. ' . .
. Tte ·-is ·-·description gained troal". observation
and 1ntervi6w:
--··. .
Sex
Race
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J.ta le
White
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4/22/68
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New Orle.ans, Louisiana NO 157-10673
21 File I-----------
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__ T_U; _ ·_: zn_a_h __ Dafe dictated __
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'niLe • • • • • eOOiteln• aeuur • • •01 oOAch•,OA• ot lila P'ltl. h •• ltlo prope"J' of lbo rar -4 le 1M••• 10
fCIW ••••rt• • oM Ito ooot•••• oro l!.oC lo lloe 1Uott&llowle• "1•&4• ,·.,.,-•••••r•
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Birth data
li:lir
Eyos
Occupation
2os1dence
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onncssco
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FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVE$TtGATION
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··.f 4
Date __ _
home
, ployed as
1111[814 Scott, Kcmphis, was
and be furnished the followine
To the best of bis knowledge, be was at his place
of business on April 4, 1968, and stated he did not recall
exactly what time be arrived but remembered leaving at any
tiae between 4:15 p.a. and 5:00 p.a. Be called his wife at
.·. )ac:ae just prior to leaving and she could probably verify tbe
fact be arrived homo sometime after 5:00 p.a.
denied having any knowledge at
the iden e person responsible for Dr. JU.P.'I'IN Lt.rrHEil .
KING, JR. 'a death on April 4, 1968. He also __
denied ever discussing with anyone the poss'ibi"lity of &hootln_c ____ _
KING he admitted be had aade the derogatory
remarks about KING's action in Tennessee, and also
about the fact XING was partly responsible for the curfew illposed .
OD tbe city of resultine in loss of revenue by his
business establishment in Ue=phis area. Be advised be •a7
statements to the effect that KING should be killed
not recall any specific state.ents made by lit.
to this effect. Be atated · that because of tbe curfew, be
suffered approximately .$40,000 in lost the produce
- COCipaDy • •
--
.. be aa_kes trips to New Orleau,
··. · LQ.ui! ia • trawberries and other produce and also because · · -· ..
of his famil7 res ide in tbe New Orleans areJ. Be stated
aost of the co-workers, eaployees, and customers at his produce
company know of his travels to !few Orleans inas•ueh as .he
aentions bis trips to Kew Orleans.
tated that reeardine telephone calls alleeedly
aade b7. h or phone calla to hi• on April 4, 1968, be ·
apecifically denied receivine any call wh.c tiod was asde
of Dr. XING ar of Dr. KING 'a shootine. tated aost of
bia ·produce 1s purchased throueh telephone conversations &;DeS thla
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0. Ke..phis• 'tennessee P'Ue 1 • Xempb1s 44 .. 1187
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liE 44-1987
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involves talkin£ about larce suas of aoncy over
Be advised he did not receive any telephone
eall on .April 4,. 1968, XING -and sta'tcd he would
have remembered any conversation over the telephone or 1D
person which took place on April 4, 1968, involvinc
the death of XING. Be further stated he would have Do reasOD
for involved in of this aart.
dvised be frequently tnunts various !
individua ing racial aatters and have made
· reaarks to scae of his involvinc
i ,.:··xnrG but reiterated be does Dot consider this uncommon
a.monc vuious co-workers at his place of
dvised he bas bad no individual employed
recentlJ e all or early winter at bi s produce company
fittinc the description of the unknown individual described
as havinc straight, coarse, black hair, "jungle rot" 011
hia neck,- slender build, drop shoulders, tan
6'10"-5'11", 160 pounds, and a day over 25" years of
· ace. Be always employs 5egro males for help in tbe produce
department 8l d any unidentified white aa le seen in or around
bia produce eocpany would aQSt likely truck driver. or
an individual who bad cooe to hiS establishroent to purchase
produce.
be work between • :15 p .a. aDd
I :00 p.a •· ot a;-are of KING's death unt 11 after his
arrival at his bome. Be advised the first he beard of KING'•
. death .was fron bis wife or froa tbe news •edia which reported
OD television. ·
.. , -· -
shOWD pbotouaphs of JAMES EARL RAY, a lao
known as GALT and he stated be had never seln this
individual before. Be was furnished other aliases used by RAY
and stated he had never beard any of these names used in bla
presence. Be then 111ade a search of b_is records but could locate
DO record OD any individual by the nue of JAalES EARL JUT, DIC
ftARVO GALT, HARVEY L()t(){EYER
1
or JOHN WILLARD as ever beiDC
eaployed at bia establi.Sbmen't. ., ..... . .
•
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.... iterated that be did not receive an1 .. ·
call oa 68, where aade of shootinc KDfG •
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ltE 44-198?
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- any aade to XING and stated be felt sure· he would
aucb a telephone conversation if it bad, ln fact.
tak?A place.
dvised he has family members in
ana, and identified these ind1Yiduals aa
! .. .
... . .
r . - · • ·- .
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" Brothers
fro11 his
IJII advised an-.
around bis esta hment is
was faraerly Count
•
frequently la in aDd
38 years of a&e, who
ice deputy.
followine descriptiOD of
throueh observation and interview:
was obtained
. : .· .
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Jfaae
Jtace
Sex
285
GrayiSh blue
._, . . ;
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• • •' ' : ,. .... _:._\ ... , ...... .:.::. •; •• --:,.; o# •
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• lEOERAl. BUREAIJ OF INVE$TIGA. H
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4/23/68
D•t• -----------
•
and interviewed at his
New Orleans, and advised
. ·.
-as i'ollows ;
ne is currently retired and at this
address. He formerly worked for a 17 year p£riod witjl Viking
Lines, , but .tor· reasons was forced to retire. Be
stated be is a diabetic with a condition. For that
reason he cannot do strenuous labo:;;:o . Ue stated has
not · been in telephonic contact with his 1>r9ther, n
several years and the only member of his imme mily
resi New Orle:lns who may have ueh
_wi ould have been is mother, who ·resides
at
He viewed a photograh: ot JAMES EARL RAY stating
this individual looked familiar out he could not identify 1t.
lie stated that .bis brother
where on the West Bank ofJthe Mississ
nddre.ss unknown; his · to
.. He stated that both brother,
with and av
years. Ue stated no one in. his immediate
produce business in New Orleans. lie knows his brother
makes trips to Hammond, area
• pur:cha.:;.e · p;..rtic but bas no knowledge
of any other business contacts of his brother in New Orl?ans.
He stated he would have no knowledge of any disparaging remarks
m:ldG by his brother or any of his employees concerning or
• Negro element.
The following is a description gained
observation and interview:
N.:u!le -,
R-.ce ·
Sox
Jieight
Tleight
Hair · ·
5'8"
300
Brown, bald on top
___ , Oate di ctotH • _ __ _
. . . 18 .
'nile • • • • COft l•IA• .. rU••r rec- • • • doUOI\1 •• coacl••lol\e al ct.• ,..,, Jl ill c•• #Jfo,-rer el llle rat eMf ill loe••• le
l'...,, .. ,•'lcrl M aMI lie . ...... • •r• •et t e a,, •l•lr lhle4 e•l• ld r , .. , •c •
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Birth data
Occupation
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mpb1s
, tormerly .w1tb_Vikinc
Truck Linea ,_
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, JIEOERAL. BUREAU OF INVESTIG.A" H
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Date _._4_/2_3_/_6_8 ____ _
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Louisiana,
ccbt!r 18, ·
urrHER K
t o-lcphonica
, . .
- !"CSl.C.\?olGile
hi::;
l hs brothor,
mother's rcsi
a. t ::c·"'
d three
s bcon
Ot:lea.ns.
tha.t
·ssassina.tion, e cd, he
to his brotl1or n Ccr.phis
1
this s
this call was to borrow
not this call from his own
nt his spouse to know about tho loaJh
wired him $200 in care of his
leans.
on the with pis brother
..
him to visi Uomphis, · or to him
Springs, advised his brother
to llows :t ho . rae" no likes trac
I a.pd oot horses.
loses on tho tclo
docs not recall tbe
i..cwccf photo&raphs of JA11ES EARL RAY and
.......... ._..d advised that he did not know either of
and bo d.id not be 11ove that ho ba.d evor.
these individuals. · . .
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F i I• 1 __ N_O_..;l;;..5_7_-_l_O_G_7_3.;_,_ __ _
4/23/68
Till• .4C>C'w••at COI\Iel"• aellher r•c••I'HnfoUOIIa •« COftclaaloe• ef the rat. h •• ••• p;egett'f ef tu rat ••• &.. •-••• ••
,.,. •••••11 11 • .., ua •o••••S• •n .. a.c •• •• c .. u•••••• • ., ... ,.
, I f
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-_tJ ___ _
RE: James Earl Ray
. _. - - ·- . - -------..___
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: Investisation by bot
l31led to associate nny of the
Nostra, or to Car J.os &tlrce
I
-!
and New Orleans
ith the Mafia - La
. .J
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Earl Ray
the night be
· ta'tes
nd
this
allegedly 11et .James
his the day of or
has been saying
for "getting"
New ·orleans
he works for
James Earl Ra
informants, James
Pontotoc Hotel in
&booting.
Earl Ray was seen o cd at the
Memphis approximately three days before tb&
lso refers
erviewed by
sta
...
In connect
foregoing paragraph,
interviewed on Novem
as follows:
, .
to an individual
both FLannery and
-24-
effect that a or
t a Scrvlce
he shooting .
,
a me
and
ng to
Station
as
e·t forth
f Qf
c i. DLPARIMHIT Of IU':IIC[
SlCfiOf:
APR2 91968
,//1
FB 1 'NASH DC
F'SI NEW ORLS
l2:30PM URGENT 4-29•68 JK\1.'
1m' RECTOR 44-.38861 AND LI TILE ROCK
4 •
157-10673
, '_ .. . '
, · . I
00: MEMPHIS.
RE BUREAU TELETYPE TO NEW ORLEANS, APRIL TWENTYSIX,
SIXTYEIGHT, TWO
REFERENCED tELETYPE STATES OF' s·PR I NGHILL,
.J •
J '
ALLEGEDLY MADE _ A AGAINST KING ON
JANUARY EIGHTEEN, SI THE CHIEF' OF' POLICE OF'
SPRINGHILL DID NOT GIVE ANY CREDENCE TO THE REPORT.
\,r lt••t,.uu:h ·-
'Mr. M,,;.,, __
:\11 . n,,.•, :· r .. __
Jrh·. ·-· -
!\Jr. · -
Mr. f!•.on r:tli ·· -
Mr. F•·ll ..,... __ _L
&h. <;. ·;c -
MI . .r. ..
Mr.
-·-·
Mr. 1' r ·Jtla ···- - ·
'I"cle. R•:om. __
Holrwr_ __ _
GtmC::r.-
,,J /A(/
t}E; I,·
(i \ i
I!I''Db WAS
RES! PING IN
REPORTEDLY A GUN COLLECTOR OF' GOOD. REPUTA2IONf_!&/ ,_, 0
CULLEN, LOUISIANA. R£t;. 69 _ '/if j -- .
--· ... :;_ lUl
RECENT INVESTIGATION IN THIS CASE REVEALS ••
15 MAY 7 19G8
NOV.' RESIDES AT MAGNOLIA, ARKANSAS, AND HAS ·LIVED THERE
FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. LITTLE ROCK HAS CONDUCTED INVESTIGATION
TO ELI MI NAT
OF' THIS CASE BY
' . . ,.. -.
ASCERTAJNGING HIS WHEREABOUTS ON PERTINENT
. . . ,
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PAGE TWO
REFERENCED TELETYPE STATES THAT, ALTHOUGH SlEJECT RAY
HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THE ASSAILANT IN THIS CASE,
I .
INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE IF" AJ ...
MIGHT BE IMPLICATED AS A CONSPIRATOR.
- . ·- ..
LITTLE RO.CK AT MAG NOLI ARKANSAS. CONDUCT
1"'\
INilVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE MIGHT BE IMPLICATED
AS A CONSPIRATOR.
END
LCC
ARMED AND DANGEROUS.
FBI WASH DC
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Date: 5/20/68
Transmit followino In
(TJ-pt Ia plairrtul 01'
AIRMAIL AIRTEL
Via---------
-1 ·-- -
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SUBJECT: · . .. . _ .. . . : _ • . : -l' • .•. . • _ ••
Re Kansas City teletype to New Orleans, 5/19/68.
RE
• . ....
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p· 1
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· · 1!.:&: , \res twego
1
I.a. h1rom lay to
1965, and this apartment ..
nlade no mention of the name . _ who is the individual
I
whom@} :£\Tt states be resided. _
. . t:
· be to ·
national Bar to meet a roan named or
It is felt that (FNU) FURIES or -PElUHES is -possibly identical vith
DAVID FERRIE, who vas a principal in DA
GARr.ISON's the assassination of PresiGcpt JOHN F. KENNEDY
In view of this information and history
of mental Or!eans no further investiga-
tion concerning. -h· • ..._
...,_
lRMED AND DANGEROUS.
(RM) ·
i-.Ka nsas City (44-760) (INFO) (RLl) RE.C· ' . ·· 3? 'j
1 - :&-:emphis (4-1-1987) (INFO) (lUl) L/
1
/-..3; r?."/' //- ·
2-New Orleans · . - - • · -· -'-
TED:sja _ . ·
(5) \
&<·
.. q
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••
t.¥-tt
:J25 MAY- 21 1958
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St>nt _____ _ v Per·--- ----
(
. . ... - - ..... . -. .. _
· FBI
....... Tolr·..,.L--
Mt DeLoael!__
Hr. Mob:r_-1
Mr. Bi£bop __
Mr. __
Mr. CallA han.._
• Conrad
r . Sul!lvan_
M.r. Ta'VPI .,.__
Mr. Trotter __
Room__
: ·- . ' · · · · · .. j ' ld:u Bolmee_
DGa '. ,· ·, '• ;.•cO. ' o·
..
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·' -...;- ' · ..;_. -: :-· ·. -·. .. ·. . -· ... :..... .. -
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.. : . . . - ' .. . .. -
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i
- .::_ • . • • .. .. . - - .. : -. · • • . ': . . . .. -· t." . •1 ._ ..:. - - ·'
. : .· ... _ : -. - ' ..... .
.
·RI TELETYPE TO BUREAU APRIL EIGHTEEN, LAST.
.
REVEALED IDENTITIES
OF INDIVIDUALS REFERRED TO BY
.. .:':.f'!''·' ... . ' .. : - - . ... -
AS
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t .az AND .... BY BUAGEN!S APRIL NINETEEN.
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. INS!_AST• AND EMPHATICALLY DENY HAVING ANY XPJO\t.'LEDGE OF 'THE
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· THE FACT tHAT XlP:G \JAS RESPONSIBLE FOR LOSS OF REVENUE
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BY BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE AREA.
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. AND ADVISED SIMILAR DISPARAGING STATEMENTS ARE PART
f . -
._.-;:: -·OF GENERAL CONVERSATION . AMONG CO-WORKERS IN AND AROUND .... 7
.
SIX PM AWD flAY HAVE REARD XING•s DEATH
REP,ORTED OW THE RADIO, ALTHOUGH HE IS NOT SURE. ·. : . ..
: ·: .. - . - ·.,. .. - EACH" DENIED RECEIVING ANY TELEPHONE CALL WHERE .·
THE
AND·OTHER INDIVIDUALS RESIDING AND EMPLOYED IN
AR·EA . - •·· :_.::_\ ·.· .• ·.·_<_ .. •.. .... ·-·· - . ·. ·: . .- - .. .
• - . · ... .- : .._ . . : - ::- . . _ . . :_, '
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) :;/ ' :; : EACH THEY AT • an !II!! jl 1i'rAoN
.· APRIL FOUR, · LAST, AND
. . : . . -' . :.. : .. _ . . '-.... "':
ADVISED HE DEPARTED FROM WORK
. i
AT FOUR THIRTY PM AND WAS NOT AWARE OF KING•s
-!.- .
. =:. - DEATH UNTIL AFTER ARRIVING HOME.
ADVISED HE DEPARTED
- . .
IS MADE OF OF liNG OR Of ANY REFERENCE TO
· 0- ' EACH -STATED THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF tHE SHOOTING
.•. .
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· · .- VHILE AT WORK ·At
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PAGE . THREE
. ;" , II STATED THIS IS COMMON AMONG mPLOYEES
Afm. CUSTOMERS AT····
TRIPS TO NEW ORLEANS. '
STATED
. : _ _. . ,
IS PURCHASED THROUGH
-· TELEPHONE AND THIS 'INEVITABLY INVOLVES
ABOUT lARGE SUMS OF MONEY OVER THE TELEPHONE.
l'1ENTIONS
DVISED HE HAS HAD NO INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYED RE-
. . , . - -
CENTLY AT
FITTING DESCRIPTION OF
r
DESCRIBED BY NOT IDENTIFIED TO
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AND STATED HE ALWAYS EMPLOYS NEGRO _FOR HELP
·_:_l .· .. ·' ·:: .. :· :> . ··: . .. : .. .- : ·. :· .. ,· _. : .. :.: .·;· ... ·.· .· . '
· . ... --
AND
STATED THEY. WOULD REMEMBER ANY
. '
- CONVERSATION, OVER THE TELEPHONE fOR IN WHICH
. . - ... . . ·- -.. _. .
ALLEGEDLY PLACE APRIL FOUR, lAST, AND INVOLVED iHE DEATH
! I NG• AND STATED f.HAT THEY WOULD HAVE NO REASON FOR BEl lOG
: -::· INVOLVED ·1 N ANY ACTION OF THIS SORt • . .. -.. ..• -: .
_ ·.· · ·· · .. - · LEADS BEl SENT TO NEW ORLEANS TO FURTHER
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STORY BY INTERVIEWING
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TO
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DATE:
April 22, 1968
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l1r. DeLoach
T ... • . "--
FROM
A. Rose 1 Mr. Rosen
SUBJ
l. Mr. Malley
1 ltr. ltcGowan
1 ldr. Long
J)f'{
). )!r. ltirtindale
1 Mr. 11cDonough
1
-
Mr. Bishop
This is the case concerning ;he murder of Martin
Luther King, Jr.
Attorney General's Office has furnished a copy
"Time" report setting forth information received from
- a Negr o -of .. SC?mer_ville, Tennessee. We .., .
=-: received information concerning this
=• report and furnished pertinent information concerning it .
:. to Attorney General in a memorandum dated 4/20/68 •
. t-Al though there does not appear to be any substance to "the
- -rinforma tion furnished by lJcFerren as set out in the ''Time"
I
report and the information furnished Bureau Agents by . ·
. on interview which is substantially the as
·. . tba t set forth in the ''Time" report, we are completel;y .
running the information out. has participated in
civil rights activities in and around Sornerville, Tennessee.
fOr a number of years. He has previously reported incidents _________
--- - __ .- to- our 1femphis Office; many: of 'Which were found to be without
any substance in fact. --
4
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In essence, llcFerren has reported that on the
afternoon of 4/4/68, the date of the shooting of
Luther King, overheard one end of a telephone ·
conversation· at and L Produce Co,mpany in
Tennessee. The substabXe of the telephone conversation _
...
_;·
and the of the individuals involved as well as
)1cFerren 's belief that an individual \Who was previously
employed at the produce market resembled Eric Starvo Galt,
now identified as being James Earl Ray, led: to
.
believe individuals -might be in the King_ _
murder. U REG- 69 . "LJ .
r:· .;., · _ 5'CI- 0< . , _
· / ·:j ,. 1 APR 29 1968 - - -. · -
EJ'lt:wjc A - ·· ...- _ __,_. ·
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t.o J4r. DeLoach
Re: lnJR.KlN
e
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_ In running out licFerren's information,
Agents shov.·ed him six random photographs, one of which · > --=-- _
included the 1968 photograph of Eric Galt and be definitely ::_:-
eliminated Galt as the individual he saw at the LL and L
Produce Company, and he thought was identical with the
sketch of the subject he saw in the
picked three photographs of individuals who are all
twentyfive years of age and do not resemble Galt at all.
One individual in the photographsis known to be in prison
at this time, and the other two are not known to have been
in the JJempbis area at any time. -9
Investigation disclosed that the individuals
referred to in connection with telephone
at the _LL and_ L Produce __ Company/are, Frank
an President -- and Vice-President
respectively of this company. · They have -denied ever- __
discussing the of shooting King or having
knowledge of the person responsible. They stated they may
have made derogatory remarks about King because of the loss
of revenues caused-by his activities. Mr. Liberto advised
that he makes frequent trips to New Orleans for produce.
has relatives in New Orleans and discusses large sums of
when making produce purchases over the telephone.
11r. Liberto stated he always employs Negro males as helpers
in the produce department and has not bad in his employment
any individual fitting the description of the unknown
---- individual previously described by JJcFerren.- -:-- · · - --- - --=-- ---- ---
ACTION:
-:- - .. . . -- - . .,... _,: .. - --··· .... - - - . - - ..
1. Although basic facts of JJcFerren's·
allegations ' have been run out and there appe ars to be no
substance to them, we are to completely
these allegations.
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A SOURCE WHO WANTS US TO SEND [VERY EFFORT TO
PROTECT HIS IDENTITY tiAVE THE fOLLOWING LEADS JW tHE
ASSASSJr!ATIOt: OF DR. KUma
le £RIC STARVE GAlT WHATEVER HIS REAL lAME JS)
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IS HAS • 'JUNGLE rwr•• OR SOME Xllro Of "'-.., T
• SCARS OR POCK f'IARKS ON HIS AND, P:ORE JM?ORlANlLY, VAS
"£NPH1S LAST fALlJ HE WORJ<ED AT A PRODUCE COI".?APIY THERE.
-
2 • THE PRODUCE COMPANY SEEMS TO BE A BASE FROM WHICH
THE CONSPIRACY Pl.OT VAS HATCHED OR CARRIED OUT OR BOTH.
3. liNG VAS fOR DLRS5,000 BY A PROFESSIONAL
HOODLUM.
TH! PAYOFF •· OR AT LEAST THE ri RAL ARRANGEMEITS • - .. ,:
fOP. JT •• VAS ARRAr:GED IN C
IIIJG'S DEATH VAS PART OF A CONSPIRACY UNOLVIVG AT I
LEAST THREE MEN CTHE t:ILLER, HIS t-1EI?HIS CONTACT AND A _
••eROTHt:R•• VHO tlADE THE PAYOFF JN llDi A!:D POSSIBLY
SZVERAL OTHERS.
TACT J CAL HEADQUARTERS FOR THE PLOT SEC:MS TO SE
_ _c:RRIED _OUT . ____ - --- - __ .(( -_- ·- -- :-
THERE JS AR UNINVOLVED WITNESS TO PART OF TKE
NSPlP.ACY, WHO OVERHEARD JHI ORDER TO KILL OVERHEARD
RAt PA'YOFF ARRArlGEMEtlTS.
8. THIS JS CONJECTURE, BUT IT SEEMS PROBABLE tHAT
:t:;REGATIOt1lSTS lf.ITIATED THE PLOT AtlD ASS.lGtlED tHE
SASSlnATlON TO PROFESSIONAL HOODLUMS tO CARRY OUT.
S. tP.ERE IS SlROr:G J tiD I CATION tHAT LAW OFFICERS
EITHER LOCAL, STATE OR OR EX•l.AV OFF!CEP.S ARE
lr1VOLvtD.
fROM ROGER ·- ARE YOU tH£1
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•• •• PAG£ !
Rt:AL
AS FULlY AS VE THEM, OF THE CHI.RACTERS
lOCAllONS
1
BUT VE ARE ASSUMING THAT •• fOR OBVIOUS
-· YOU VILt VSE ANY OF THEM. REAL DR lOT,
y '>----... .
Jd:l.lOSrltflY OF THE PRODUCE COl"'J>AtiY AND ITS
THAT DAY WILL THIS STORY ON OUR SOURC£
1
SO
ElY AU tlEAllS -lET US Dl SCUSS THESE DETAILS AFTER YOU HAVI
THE PIECE.) •
THE STORYI
-c>tl APRIL 4
1
AS HE HAD DOnE EVERY THURSDAY fOR SIX ·
tthP.S, _:oHN l'lCF£RRlN DROVE INTO TO BUY .PRODUCE FOR
}US SHt.Ll COUtlTRY GROCERY STORE. THE STORE IS LOCATED II
tHE EAST OF tJEr:PHIS, .JUST "OUTSIDE THE TOWti OF -
S{)Nl•iERVIlL£, lESS THAll I'UL£S FROM tlEHPHIS. ..,CF£RRII
r.ADE SEVERIJ. UrlEVEITIFUI. STO?S U I".EM?HIS. AT ABOUT .t:30
fel'2. HE DROVE It.'lO THE PARXIflG LOT AT II AUD J PRODUCE COMPAIY
1
STOPPED IN US OPEN-AIR PRODUCE: SHED, THErl \-1£flT ltilO THE ••
WAREHOUSE BUILD! r;G TO I'IAKE HIS PURCHASES.
AS tiE WALKED THROUGH !HE t>OORVAY HE HEARD A flAG'S
FROl-1 AN OFFJCE JUST OH THE HALL. ••tHE PlAN VAS
SCREAT1Il:i; AND J COULD HEAR HIS VOICE BEFORE J GOT Jr2SID£,••
SAYS l'lCFEP.RlfJ. - ••1 STOPPED .ruST Il:SJD£ THE
:)ISTEUED fOR A f'A)MENT • J VAS STAtlDIUG. lfl THE HALL, .JUST
OUTSIDE THE OFFJC£ WHERE tHIS WAS SCREAMltJG.•• _
THE (\;}t•lt CALL HIM RED AlJD tRY TO fHID OUT HIS
f7Ar"£) VAS Sll1IIIG BEHlllD A DESX IN A TillY ,, eY 6•
9;-FIC£.
• •HE ltEPT SCREANit:G OVER THE f}{OriEs.,. •ntt HIM. CLL
. .
"· J Dou•r CARE HOW YOU DO IT. JILL tHE SOU OF A elTCH
THE BAl. COllY • • • •
L!S!EfJ!D Ot:l.l' FOR A I"A>MEUT • • •tHEN A IIA11
DO'JR THE HALL •• I t>ou•r INOIJ WHERe JiE CAt·! £ FROt·l, •cAUSE
/,iAS SO BUSY LJSTENitG TO f.AN 1& THE CFFICE •• ACD
Ll) tO GO Oll IUSIDE: tt:E fOOt' LOCKER At;D HELP tfYSEl.Fe••
fl1CFERR1N
1
WHO 1S A t;EGRO, Pl.AYED THE ACQUIESCEUT
•• A ROLE AOO?TEO AGO fOR SEI.F-PRDTECTlOI
Sn2DS EASILY At;ot:u PEOPLE HE TRUSTS •• ACD OBEDlEVTl.Y
SHUFfLED OFF • AS \'AS tEAVHIG THE LOCtiER FOUR ?R FIVE
tllllU7ES LATER THE Pl(O!!E IN THE LITTLE OFFICE RAt:G /.GAll
l.!lD A SLEfiDER \11!21 A SCAR HIS PICKED UP tHE
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•• PAR);ER •• PAGE I
- FHOnE, •'YEAH, ME'S •• OR tO
THAT £frtct •• AllD PASSED THE PliOIIE to lED.
SlED WAS JR IX> F'OR FURTHER TALK. HE SAT YITH 80TH
THE DESK AUD GROWLEOt ,:. 'DON'T CALL 110 MORE•
I>Ofi'T COt:r fiEAR MY PLACE. YOU lrlO\i l'iY BROTHER Jl
DRltAriS -- JiE'L.l GIVE YOU THE lll..RS5
1
000e DON't 8RIIG
toUR tEAR PlACE AGAl&,•• SLAMMED THE PHONE DOVI
WiTHOUt WAITING FOR A REPLY.
• ' ] t1ADE OUT Ll K£ I DIDN't HEAR VHAT HE SAID •• tHEY
J'M DEAF ANYUAY
1
•cAUSE I-GO IN THERE J
fLAY LUtE l'ff HARD Of HEARUG
1
•• SAYS t-JCF'ERRIII, _ .. 1 WElT
tJP At;D PAID MY BILl LEfle •'
..JOHN HAS 11r_j BEEN -sACK TO THE PRODUCE COMPAIY
SIDCEe
BUT f'OR SEVERhl. YEt.RS •• ABOUT SIXt SAYS "CFERRIIl -
)!!: HAD GCllE THERE EVERY THURSDAY • PlCf'ERRl SAYS THE PRODUCE
C:Of-lPAtn' lS A.. .HA!!GOUT FOR POLl C£
1
COUUTY OF'f"l CERS AND SOME
STATE LIQUOR OffiCERS, USUAllY THEY SIT AROUt:O lC RED•s
OFFIC£
1
\lATCH TV At:D GOSSIPJ THEY OGLE RED'S PICTURES OF
6ATHit:G WHICH HArlG Jtl FRAf·lES OH THE WAlL. tHEY .-.
ARE SrlAJ>SHOTS
1
USUA!.L' SHO'JI flG RED ArlO SEVERAl. GatS J&
BATHU;t; SUllS AT A BEACH OR POOle "£VERY tiME
i 60 Ifl THERE, liE'S GOT A IJE\l SEt OF PICTURES ON 1HE Wltl.L···
- SAYS MCFE:RRII. . - - ·- ·
· flED TRAVELS A LOT t SAYS
1
IS OF1ER SOnE FOR
1\10 OR tHREE AT A TIME AND IR THE SIX. \'EARS THAT
BEEfi TRADir.G THER£
1
HAS HEARD RED
I.SOUl IUS TRIJ>S. RED IS A BIG MAN -· WEIGHS ABOUT
)o POUtiDS
1
OVEfi' SIX YEET \liTH A SALLOli COi":FLEXIOG AID · - ·
IDE•S?ACED TEETH, r.CFERRIN SAYS THERE AP.E GAPS IN HIS
FETHe Sl'T J DoN•t ttn::r. ;.tE I':EA:iS Tiit: t!Afl IS •
• Ot:l.Y I. F£\1 WEEKS BEFORE THE RED
COME OU1 tO THE PARXlr.G LOT WHERE t.CFERP.IN LOADIEG
\
1s PICKUP TRUCK AtlD SAID, ''WELL·, ARE YOU GOtHJA »O
YOUR euDOY?••
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BUDDY?''
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.. YOU J:r:OV YOUR BUDOY •• t'.ARTI !l LUTHER JCU:a • WHAT
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DO YOU THINK A90Ul tHAT TROU3LEMAKER?'• __
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t:YK191VASH •• PARJ<E:R •• PAGE 4
••J TOLD JUM
1
•1 .nJST TEND TO In' OWR BUSUESS
1
• ••
SAYS fliCFLRRU. • •1 DIDN•r VAUT TO GIVE HIM A CHANCE TO
START IOTHlr.G VITH ME.
F£W OCCASIOUS
1
.,Cfl:RRI JtAS OVtRHEARD RED AND HIS
FRIEUDS
1
tJSUALtY COPS, SI!TitlG IR THE OFFICE AVD TALKIRG
POLITICS. OfTEN Jtr.NAS HEARD THEM SAY THE USUAL SOUTHERN
THH:GS ABOUT lBJ, THE CIVIL RIGHTS tlOVEMEIT,
ETC. ()f!CE HE OVERHEARD RED SAYS ABOUT LUTHER XIRGI
• 'SOl·EBODY OUGHT TO liLt THAT SOU or · A BITHc.••
,- tlCFERRI S SAYS ERIC STARVO _GALT - A PlAN CLOSELY
GALt•s DESCRIPTION •• VORKED AT THE PRODUCE
LAST FALl FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS. VASH•J THE
ICIIID OF l'lAN WHO USUAU.Y :YORKED THERE,•• SAYS P:Cf£RRUI
1
'AND flE DID&•J TALK LIKE THE OTHER Y.EN WORKED THERt.••
T -· JF THAT'S WHO JT VAS •• WAS A DARK-HAIRED
UliG AAN HI HIS LATE liE HAD A .JAUL'DICED COMPU:XlOII,
RASH OR POCK MARKS OR HIS flECK <HCFERRIN CAl.tS lt •
••l -rm HE DrtESSED ••cttAN AUD • •
S Jif\RI \fAS BLACK AflD STRAIGHT • Jf£ sn:fliED. TO BE FRJERDl.T
TH RED.
WHEN THE FBI SH0\:1£1> MCITRRU tlUG PICTURES YESTERDAY
1
OlE
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THE FIVE l'lEN THE PICTURES ltAD •.rutlGL[ ROt• ON ){lS
IDE fRON THAT • HE LOOKED VERY flUCH LI X£ THE MAN l'lCFERRII
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SEEN \IORKifm AT THE PRODUCE LAST FALL. •tHEY • · .. - .?, · · - ·, - - •
VE A SIDE or JfiM"', SAYS MCrERRlm fi!EANS tHREE QUARTERS · . ·- _
EV> l COUl..D HAVE lOLD FOR SURE. BUT MIS FACE LOOKED .
OUT RIGHT
1
HE MAD SLENDER Sl.OPI r.G SHODLDERS AND JUCGLE ROT
!
HIS flECK. I PICY.ED HIM OUT AS MY FIRST CHOICE.• . · · ·
HAS VAY or If THE 1'1Ali \IHO VORitED AT
"' · PnODUCE COl!? AnY IS GfiULT • Ji! HAS ODLY A GUT fEEL lAG THAT
HIS tlAR \lAS AN ll'liJERAtJT HOOD, PROBABLY LAYING FOR AVHll.E
rm USltG THE AT THE PRODUCE AS COVER, PLUS THE
THAT THE RES£r.3LES OF
l. 'tHE FBI JfAS t:OT Dr:ta Eb THAT THE 1'1AN PlAY P-AVE BEEN GAULT •
t>iCFEP.RUI LEFI THE PRODUCE .COl7ANY HE PUZZlED ABOUT THE
RAr.GE PHOn£ COUVERSATtOnS liE HAD OVERHEARD. •t DIDtl•t XP!OW
r. \'HAT THEY tl£ANT ArJD I DIDW•t \'At:T TO STAY APOUSD THERE
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•• PARKER -· PAGE,
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FinD OUT BECAUSE It SOUUDED flSHY 1'0 ME. VHER J 601 MOlliE
AND REARD THAT DR. IIr.G HAS BEEN SHOT, 1 lNOW RIGHT TH£1
tAl.lC!tlG ABOUT • MY VlfE tOLD tiE THE RADIO 11AD
. .
DR. liNG HAD THAT AFlERrJOOila 1 tOLD HER HE •
COUl..Dfl•t llAVE BEEN SHOT THEil • tHAT IT HAD 1'0 HAVE HAPPENED
AROUtro OR 6 BECAUSE J HAD HEARD THESE r£H ON THE PHONE AT
FIVE 0 •ct.OCK.•
FOR FOUR DAYS, t!CFERRlll POfWERED VHAT TO DO WITH THE
• JNFORHATIOR. HE WAS SCARED I SCARED H£ WOULD MIS LIFE
2Y t:OT TELttr:G; SCARED THkT HE \IOULD EtlDAt:GER A BUSltiESS
HAD YORY£D MIGHTY HARD TO DEVELOP IF HE DID tELl AKYOBE.
__ f'lNAlLY ON SU!lDAY £VENU1G HE I'IADE UP IUS lUND.
13AX'ION (Pl.EASE PROTECT lAME lJSE flC!lOUS iAMD J . BRYABT
CF THt.._ STATE COUNCIL ON HUMA!1 REl.AtlOflS I':ADE A CltA!!CE TOUR OF
(PLEASE tJSE flCTIOUS lAME> AND DRtv lllK
iSiDE tO T£Lt HIM THE STORY • HE }(AS INOWN SAXTON FOR YEARS ARD
13A'XT0fl IS OU£. OF THE FE\1 WHIT£ MZG PlCFERRlN CON?l..ETELY
. .
: .f tR'tfstS. (MCFERRU IS A • 9Ar.t0tl VEfiT BACK TO 1'1£r.PHIS•
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totiTitCTED AN ACUJ t.t:'w'YER IIAMED DAVID CAYIJOOD <PROTECT I{IS -
IIAI'iE tOO> AtlD tHE TWO I'IE:TI VEfiT BACJ<: tO SOI'iERVlLlE, tALitED VITH
F,CrERRifi AGAlli t.m:> ;.nRA!lGED f. l'lEETitiG lB I'IEM?HIS • JV BAXTOJ•.s
M:>TEL ROOM AT SHERATOPl P£ABODY • ' -.
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THERE•s THE PlYSTERIOUS ESPlSOl>E Of THURSDAY l'lORNifGa
TH£ APPEAL IN ITS fiRST
-•JDfJESDAY N.iGHT HEADLitJEDz· •rnz CHARGES ERIC S!IIRVO GALT ll 4
SASSiriATIOri M:D COtJSPIRACY
1
Ltrnrs SUSPECT AfJD •sROTHER•• •
T lrJFORMATION Jf!T STREETS AT ABOUT I J Pl'l
NO PRESUlMBLY VAS BR0ADCAST£D OVER THE RADIO fVEfJ £ARLIER
....
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HAN THAT • ·- '- __ ,
SHORTLY Af"TER SEVEfJ AYEM THURSDAY
1
A MAN IIAMED ROBERT ;:;?- _
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1LEAsf: DSE f"ICTIC!ODS lAUE AGAIN> BEGAN IIAK!IG ' . .:_ • (_
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I1QOEP.IES A 'lOUT l'lCF!:RRIW l SO Y.I1£RVIUE • HE STOPPED FIRST AT _ _ --• J
·e[£RR IN • S STORE - A CO 1'3 Ill A !I 0 U GROCERY, FILl! NG ST A Tl 0_1 . 0
AUD • AlJO THErl WEflT DIRECTLY TO ftlCFERRiti"S
JJE I>ROVE DP 11 A WHlfE CADILLAC A&D l'l£! tlCFLRlliS lB HIS FROU . 0. ,
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fi¥r.t9/'.tASH ... PARKER •• PAGE 7
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YARD.
•t•vr GOT SOI"'.E URGEr:t BUSifiESS JlERE J" SOMMERVILlE BUT J
IT CLEARED UP toniGHT OR TOMORROW ,• POWERS
TOLD Y,CFERRIN. HE REALlY JflS PURPOSE FOR
SAID ONLYJ •J JUST TO SEE YOU.
l'OU JfhV£ CHAflGED SOME JN THE LAST EIGHT OR 10 YEARS. YOU ARE
AS TALL AS J REMErr.3ERED YOU Atm YOU ARE IIOT AS Sl..lfll AS YOU
VSED T 0 EE • • l HE ASKED MCFERRIN A30Ul A Lt JTLE•US£0
COUNIR¥ ROAD THAT RUNS IN BACK OF MCrERRlfPS HOUSE. •1 tOLD
lill'i WHAT HE TO IWOW BECAUSE J FIGURED HE WOULD GET IT-
FROr. KIN fOLKS IF HE WOULDNT GET It FROM r.E. (POVERS
1
RELATIVES LIVE IN i DIDN•t WANT tUI'I tO t _Hlll
THAT I VAS SUSPICious.• KCFERRIN SAID.
VAS WEARitJG IlEAl SPORTS CLOTHES 1 ){£ \'AS lOT DRESSED
ft>R A OR FlSHJr;G tRIP OR FOR A PICNIC AND, SAYS
THERE IS 50 OVE POWERS WOULD BE LIKELY TO VAIT tO
YISIT WHO LIVES ON tHE DIRT ROAD BEHIND fllCFERRII'S HOUSE.
flmS. JllCrERRlN WATCHED THE S1RM1GE I'IEETit:G fROM HER VlNDOV.
• tHAT STRIKES f£ AS STRANGE IS JfE (POWERS) SHOOI
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ft;t.'DS WITH JOHU. AIN'T ItO VHITE PiAN IN THIS COUNTY EVER PUT
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lflS HAfiD TO A llEGRo,• SAID f.RS. fllCfER.RU. •As fAR AS 1 I&OV
REASON TO BE JOHN OR TO BE ACTING LliE tHAT
CAUSE HE AND JOHN HAVEN't EVER BEEN fRIE6DLY.• <THIS DOESI•t
t't!:AN tHAT THE¥ HAVE BEEN ENEMIES • TH::Y JUST HAVEN't BEEI
fRI EP:DLY .-,
CALLED AFTER THE ME VAS
.. ZZLED, \!ORR! ED AfJD SCARED. •tHE ONLY 1 COULD FJEiURE OUT
THAT PO\tERS WAfaED JO SEE I'IE, PECAUSE ME WANTED TO kNOW VHAT
LOOMED LIKE SO HE COULD POINT OUT TO SOME TRIGGER "AI.•
!S OF AND MAS A RECORD OF
.CF:APES VlTH THE LAW. ME HAS lfl THE .PENITENTIARY Jl
-
ErWESSEE <A90UT 1935) AND HE LOST A BEER LICENSE BECAUSE OF
\
'ft:t_GAt: VHISY.EY 1958 OR 1959. 8££1 .
JJI BOOTLEGGUG AND IN OTHER SHADY DHLS Af2D 1S
i lf:VED TO liAVE MURDERED AT LEAST OflE fllAtl YEARS AGO.
fOIJERS LIVES IN NEW ORLEANS AND OPERATES A G\TI.F' STATIOI __
._At;D TRUCK STOP THERE AND It S!::EMS CLEAR TH.,'\T_ JfE !S UP_
IN THE RACKETS. MOONSHINE t.ND DOPE lf;IO f!l.EM?HIS AMOfJG OTHP.R
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•- PARKER •• PAGE 8
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· HHGS. C\'E ARE CHECK! POWERS OUT THRU OUR iEW ORl.EAIS
DAVID. SUYDER) •
IT SEEMS A VERY FAR fETCHED THAT A S!RA&GE MAl
- OF' ALL PLACES • SHOULD SHOW UP OR
DOOR STEP THE AFTER THE IEWS STORY CAME OUt ••
• lY BELIEF' lS THAT AT THE PRODUCE COMPANY APPARENTLY
PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER • THEY SAW OVERHEAR THEIR
TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS, BUT AT THE TIME THEY THOUGHT tHAT
WAS DEAF AND DIDN't HEAR THEM TALX ABOUT A •aROTHER•
ltJ W£\.7 ORLEANS. THE APPEAL STORY - THE FACT
tHAT t lCFERRU BUY PRODUCE . THERE lAST THURSDAY
Y liAS CONVINCED SOfliEONE THAT I'ICFERRI N ISH'I' OEAF
AF1ERALL. · "1
IS A BADLY I'IAN, BUT HE REMAIIS
nm, IN HIS STOP.Y AND ME BELIEVES THAT HE MUST TELL ll. • Jt'S
K)j RlCHl TO LET A MAD DOG 60 LOOSt.•
THERE'S YET ANOTHER INDICATION THAT tlCFERRIN SEEMS OS TO .
som:THING SOLIDI
A PAP.T Tlr.E IN THE PRODUCE COMPANY-IS A VHO lS
OR tAS BEEN A lAW OFFICER. f!lCrERRitl DOESN'T IWOW WHAT
THE HAS WORKED tilTH CVE ARE TO FIND THAT
OUT,- AS \JELL AS THE MAN •s !JAM£) BUT HE . HAS SEEN THE MAD DRlVlllG
(11flCIAL CARS, WITH RADIOS AUD \'ITH ANTENNAS AND HAS lfiOWII tHE
PiAN TO l'lt.KE Ll QUOR AP.RESIS fOR ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF LIQUOR. ··
HE .ALSO JWOWS THE P1Atl - AND OTHER SOURCES VERIFY THIS • TO JfAVE
OPERATED A BOOTLEGGIVG BUSINESS OU THE SID£ •. HE IS THE IISD OF
A MAN \fHO WILL SHAY.£ DOIJN COr?EllflG AND VJlt l.tt
OFF THE HOOK If THEY AGREE TO CUT HIM. IR A PERCENTAGE
THEIR BUSUIESS. liE IS ABOVE lAKifJG BRIBE f!lO!lEY EII'HER,
SOURCES SAY SHORT, HE IS A COP Arm A CROOK, •ot
CESSARILY IN THAT .
THIS IS CONJECTURE, BUT THIS IS THE liND OF' VHO
D lUO:i HOW TO TAt-."£ THE RADIO MESSAGES TtiAT SO
MPHlS POLICE LAST WEEK. HE JS ALSO THE IIrm OF MAR WHO
D Ht.VE THE EQUIPf·l:NT Ar.D, PRESUNASLY, THE OPPORTUUITY
0 DO IT •
t',OJE TO Tl.
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The Attorney General
Aprll 25, 1968
·t - Mr. McGowan
1- Mr. Long
1 - Mr. Martindale
1 - Mr.
l8 made to my memorandum dated AprU 20,
1968, setting forth pertinent details relative to ln!ormation furnlshed
by Mr • .John McFerren regarding his suspicions that circumstances
which occurred at the LL and L Produce Company 1n Memphis,
Tennessee, on Aprll 4, 1968, might be related to the kfllhlg of
• Martill Luther King, Jr.
As you were previously advised, the owners of the LL and L.
Produce Company denied any connection with the killing and
Mr. Frank Camlllo Liberto, one of the owners, advised that be bad
relatives 1n New Orleans a.nd discussed luge swns of money when
produce purchases over the telephone. -
! ···Other members of the Liberto famUy ln New Orleans
have been interviewed and they have advised that they ha.ve DO
knowledge o! the k11Bng beyond accounts appearing In local newa
media. c. . -
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·On the basis of the Information reported by Yr. Ferren ' -?.-! · :.
and the Information oeveloped through our inquiries, tt 1s not felt further:- --:-• .. · · -
InqUiries along these lines are warranted. .:: . ... :. '-. ---
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· Beturned herewith ls the copy of the "Time" report
previously furnished. /
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__ 1 - The Deputy Attorney General ·
-- 1 - Mr. Stephen l. Pollak
Assistant Attorney General
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NOTE:
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The Attorney General's office furnished a ·copy of a
report of information from John McFerren, Negro from Somerville,
Tennessee. The Attorney General was previously furnished substantial :-".-
information developed indicating there 15 no basis for McFerren's - --
Information. The "Time" report is being returned to the Attorney General
with additional information developed in connection with McFerren's story •
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UNITED STATES GOVER!'\MENT
Melnorandum
DEPARTMEI\'T OF JUSTICE
TO
The Director
Federal Bureau of Investigation
FROM J. Pollak .
Attorney General
Civil Rights Division
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James Earl Ray, Subject;
Martin Luther King, Jr., Victim;
Conspiracy Against Rights
CIVIL RIGHTS
1 'J 1, c? n·e
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DATE: ??1988
SJP:eb
D.J.
Attached is a copy of a memorandum of an inter-
view which J; Harold Flannery, Deputy Section Chief
this Division's Central Section, had
of Mr. Sartor was
identified to Mr. Flannery as a reporter who had
been inquiring into the possible existence of a
conspiracy to assassinate Dr . Martin Luther King.,
Jr. Mr. Sartor .described himself to Mr. Flannery
/ ,
as a contract writer for Time, Inc., who has
racial matters in Memphis, Tennessee.
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As part of the full investigation of this matter
requested by the Attorney General and confirmed in
my-memorandum of April 4, 1968, follow out
all leads indicated in the attached memorandum if
you have not already done so.
Attachment
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_ST-llS
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"r4 SEP 27 1953
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l·iT. Poll
• 17, l96S .
JHF: S\lh
J. narold rlannery
Earl Ray,
!.Si\rtin Luther King, Jr., Victi:-a.
Conspiracy Rights
CIVIL RIGI!TS
I
I intervic\·1cd SDrtor in connectim1 • . .'1 t'1
the captioned natter abollt fou!.· hour::: on ;,·usu:;t '',
l9Ei8. J!e h-'lcl Le>en to me )n JL\nc hy l:i ·;..-::o
as a reporter \·:ho in1uiring j"'0ssil.•J c
of i\ conspjr,:)cy to nr. 1\t
:-a-. Fpps' -rcc!ucst I hr:i. (•fly, i'twl he:
we . bits_ nicc(·C of infOJ"! :lation <tnd ru.norr. abo\.At t:ht)
killitl:J that •. he had to point. lli:;
int .. 2rc.st. h«d bce:l arou:::cd, he saiJ, hy t llc fir;:: co.1-
viction a ::1onCJ nany in there a
CC'n!;pit:acy po.s3ibly t::0.·.,; ·.c:r:s of t!! :-:
Police t·:y converr;<l tion .,.,i th r.j :11 in •
set out in part II, belo.,.... AfPA. Cok GD/
Circln in Greenville,
2>!i::>sissi;.1r 'dtl, hi:• \·:ife or
• cldldr:: .-:1 contr.<1ct for 'l'i-r·lC'!, Inc.,
nntl he ha5 coverc:l ?;:.rticult>.rl·: r.:-.c .;e11
•. s ince he fore Sani t.-1 ticm !'>tr 11<::
to };c knmm i'.nd t!."\.tstcd ''Y those it!
-with I h.J.Vf! ta lkcd (r;p;Js T't'o L·.te:r, ncv •• lr:u:}:!;c•l,
Rev. Pcll, ancJ he says that the
· (former) ;-ti.lyor It•9rax• f.:tction of the vl,i tc ty.
I at.tac!l a copy hi:; lntcr;t en :.lE. :::phif: \·:hich
cppcnrcd in tliC' 16, ).9(,0
1
iZ!;UCf nf
: . I c·ai'l not ·. ·-----'
of his
he- is a •'lo•.·; 1:cy" fcllo-..· , .,:"lo
is nnt : ii:f.a tion4\l or fo .. ful. He he
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lll.)pro.:..chl.:•d ill legations of a con !I> pi rDcy t·h s'Y.cpti-
(\.:l•ich I but that he is nO\.; lar!Jcly
\'lil!:i one •. He (for the: to 'iclc11t:i.fy
h1s w1th three
6aying that they incluue fcur or five petty racketeers
J...n Her!lphis 1 NC\-' Orlennc, l!nu one t:ell
placeJ protege of 1n New Orleans.
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lie to us; he
1
prlnar ily to st
in the hut also
or vc will bnck to
bin. 'If thnt is nc•t he · \·:oulc like to h0 r;i·.ic>n
the first or, failinq that, no later
__ el!;c. llo .has been spending no:.:t of hi!J cr.
since assu:Jsinntion, but can not go r.iuch farU1cr
S07:: C his so'.lrCcs hnv:c begun to fC'r the> ·k ira•l
of r.:oncy or .protecti-on t .hat h'2 is unnblc to provic!c: •
a pet:ty C•.)nnr.c t0d •d.th
c-.rgani zc.:-1 crii':'t>, Jc:.1c:; RcJy j n r.o:; l,w;c:l
- anu t.ol<l hJ:n tiFtt thcr.e- \o.rcrc pcoplr;! in HcH Ol"l!.'i·;n;.
__ h.e to t?..l}: . to. Stci:1 UJ"O:l !!::ty
or l!ir.; out Y.no\.;fng th.::Jt he needeC! rr.onc.r ar.d "::..t5
il:1 esGcJpcJ ·pri!:;oncr i£ not b'..lt \ ."iLS t1o.at
people he ("''U?ht to tnlk to \o.•oulr] help hi!!'. t.:·it!·!
m;C: fu']itivc st;1tus.
F.c:ty
1
s contucts in Orlr..:a.ns \·• ere •.ri
Cn!.:ll los tra rE'r-:-e:scntativcs \·•!'!o hh1 to
v
'Of the chi0ftan in 1-:c.;
-Orlc\Uls. O\·:ns or \·;orks at the Sco'i.:.t StrP-.)t
\
"""Pr.OdlJCc 1.;here ror Srx"(!::-v i :· l .• •
..... .
·. ly 0\yer!·l:-.:trd a .SF(;<'.ting or. ::. -· "J' 1 on c=
· about the cl::1y of the u3snss.i nntion: ,. on the
· . balcony, shoot him ur.d to Orl for
your noncy, dOl!' t back here."
. to Scirtor' s inforl,<ants, the !4ostra
agreed to · ., bro}:cr"- or to-arrar.gc ion, fer
- an so:newha t in ·of ·three hunnrcu
. collars ($300, 000)
1
n_fter they cont:'lctc,d in tl:c
. (NC'\·! or Pennsylvania) I lq
Or-UJ·orevcr 't.'hit.c" r an O't't:;an:i Z<ltion of
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:;c?tcr.Lx!r 26, 958
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I' AIRTEL
1 -Mr.
TOI (I:ncl oaures 2)
(Encl osuros 2)
(44-38851) 7 I
Enclocod are two copies of e rx=:oranwrn received fran
t.ho Dcpartr.lcnt relative to .the entiassinotion "{){
Jr. Tho attached sets forth interview of rtr. Bill
b-; Dcpartr.lent attorney on June 12, 1950, end 1\uguat 22, 1?.>0'; -
the momoranaum wa• not furnioheu to uo until Septcrabor
23,_ .196.0 •
. Ucmph1c should . c:cnpletely ev21luato the contents of
the DJpurtmentnl me::le>ran d\ll"\ an cJ aul:n.1 t anu rccOCl":lCnuo-
tion!l to the DurC'ilU Whnt of the
Dcpertncntal rncnorandurn and i.ndiCCC check or· sartor .-
This should oo handled JJ:Tnecliately. .. _
.
. Jackson ohould Smnediately .fllrnish Dure<lu and
rcsii1t!l of-indices ·Check concerninQ Two copies o! the
___ ....,.!""'>,.,rtnental moraorariduT<i furnished to Jac'Y.eon in the event it
ones noccsaary for to bo conducted 1n the future.
f upon ovailehlo no 1nforr:\Ut1on rect'lrdcd in
· reau files concerning IJill snrtor. lio interview of sarto:::- Ghoul ·:
concJuctccl until Bureau n<Jviooc.
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NOTE&
Department, in a memorandum furnished us the results of an
interview by them with one e111 Sartor wh<!J_Le.llegedly a contract
writer for Time, Inc., and who resides in Mississippi.
The took place on June 12, l96g;-and August 22, 1968,
in claims a conspiracy exists in the assassination
of King and he gives names and locations including what appears
£o be Cosa Nosta fiqures, racketeers, and Memphis Police
does not furnish the Department complete details and be bas
not fully investigated this matter due to finances.
The Department has not furnished us with this information
before, although we have been in receipt of · some of the information
contained her-ein which we ran out with negative findings as to a
conspiracy involvement. The Department is requesting that ve
follow out all leads. ·
. Sart9r, in his interview with the Department expected or
hoped that they would feed investigative results back to him, and
if this is not possible he wanted to be qiven the story first or
no later than anyone else. No indication ·in the Department memo
of any corrrnittrnents other than the. persoo conducting the interview
advised he would report this information to his superiors.
It is possible that Memphis bas run out Sor.\e of the
items in the Department memo; which resulted in negative findings
and the Bureau would not be aware of such. ·Negative findings are
not necessarily reported to the Bureau, therefore, Memphis should
make an evaluation and sutrnit their recorrrnendations.
Jackson is being instructed to furnish Bureau. and
Memphis the results of indices check concerning Jackson
is also being furnished two copies of the Departmental memo in
the event it becomes necessary to conduct investigation there at
a future date.
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with officers cr in
Southern states. S he t-!nf ia 's (\·.
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hich Sartor u:.cJ intC!r-
\ ·,ri th CocCi llostra · tlJroughout the:! intervic-.N)
\-'41 s less the money thnn the
oppor.tunity presented, i.e., to get in a position to
c:.;trtJct (or extort) CJOVernr:tcr.tnl or other fa ... •orn from
£Or:.le· \lell placed Southern l-Jhi te persons 1 includinCJ the
and Citizc:nn Councils. Qujtrnan,
by Sartor to be a possible base of "Forever
a.llegcc1ly t·Jer:lphis SC'Jrc.>-
g.:ltic•n.,_..Gt, cxtortionist f" narcotics pusher, and p::!tty
rackctc:cl.·, may hu.vc been n contcc t bct\\•cen the H,1fii1
. - -and . •Forever H!lite." lJ• nnv cvc:: nt, he is thouqht tC' •
have go::1e ,.t_Q ' ·1i.:t:l'i, A!)ril 14 .)nd 24,
1963, r.1ay have picked money to be
to Pld.ladelp}!ia or l!:'o TJC\Y
been in:;t.-rur.:,-::lt."\1 ; n getting T:c:Jy out of
the either by truck to
Nm·r Orl0ans infornants) or i.n Cc-ci:rcll' s -rrivr1t:c pl
which is -said to a ·privut('> lnndfng at Bill ir.')-
...t.on and _\,•hich is by I ·
I .
, · to Surtor, end
(aka. «n1 pro-
.fe!>sl.on<ll l:rc nlr;o irNolvc:.l. Jce
-::i1J.cgr-;c1ly rnct J'a:ncz I.:arl nay at a Lion
in s · the dny of or J.lic;!1t before the
J,arry hils been saying thct he for rr.:tnY.
Leberto lind is responsible for "CJetting" J;)r.l-:?5 l'nr.1
to one Sur to!:' s inf:onn-
allts, Jar-::!e ::; R"ly wc.s seen ilt, or stayed :lt,
POI.totoc notnl in three c!ayr;
before shooting.
The c.riginul plan tl:nt P.ay vot:l:..
1
. !}c a::-rc:-;t-
ed <".f ter sh;:"oting, tr icd, and <tC:!\.:li ttc-1.
-Ihcre \·.'as a ch.;:m!]c, an l<>.te an hoo..u.- .
before the !:hc-otiC'J• clu0 to e r.c0!1C}"•
.Either the !-l<lfia \-t;:mtc<.1 ti-u at large the
of the price t-1<1!;; paid or, more likely, !lay:: Sartor, t:!lc
rr.oney. \-ii\S still in the. and shares of those in
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(I,chc;:>r'to nn1! not bocn r <-d d, BP..d
it \·ius they \·lho \'IL'lntc•d f.oy at large lls a on •
in the rackets.
Xn any event, that
s cr,-capt! \.;.,..s "'i th the con-
r.hr,unct::: of sev.::!rul police officcrz \·1ho l:nc\·: of
t:hc plot. After the Rlly
acl tely pcr.mi t ted to b8 arrest nil in
the that he \dll be acyuittcd in
another story it ti1at he: will be
ki J.loll in a holocaunt which \-!ill emlungcr n large n...:mbcr
of lives.
Two of foregoing infor.nation per-
suade Snrtor of its eccuracy. First, he has received
:i (!(?'ntic:..l fr0.::;men ts of tion indCl'CflOCTitly
different sources. several of his
in H'27sli:his and ll e\1 have- told hi,., thnt a :Jcr•t;. .
of a11U J)r:-,part:'\e:nt rl:•pr(:scn-
t;';.tivc!=l, incl u.:Hng u mnn nn':":'lc.J Voight,
terv1m.; cd U1cr.1 nbcut the
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Sartor t:cok nc ·to !:'!eel I 'et t !Jyn11::; accorc• 1n1J.
to· S<lrtor, is o petty \·,' i th of inl'crr.;nt:ion
c.lon0 to :rn my
to Sa;,:tor according to "I:rnic" (Lyo!:s "lOt
it la.::; t na'7tC:), Rily r:1ct Joe at n Lion
Stat ion on the n.i ght Lcfore or the of
Lyonn for the safety of anu
chilclrc r1; I di..:J not or llck hi..-, any
lie al!;o vaic! that tiw • • \ ·;aH that Ray \'JC'Ulcl
Dcquittc<l.
Sartor uu.ys that his inform·J.nts ,-rfll prol·«bly
be ";illing to t .ulk to us, but t .h:tt they will u[;}: fe-r
non? J•, t:;, or protccticr. or all
S.:1rt0r '\o!untr: un to contact his principi:ll
· tl;rough he uccliJll'.:d to iocmtify any cont.L.tcts c::ccpt
. · . . ne:v. Carl and E. r;.
• /. tt, bela-.-:. .·- ·
· : An c:ddi tio:1ul, ·apparently unrc::llntcd, piece of
by Sartor thilt a little
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boy
u nhot and r;::•.1 u ma11 junp un fro1.1
the bchincJ the rooming hou5c (!)elm: the \dndm1
nrea \.;hich the ::.hot is t.hougi1t to huVIZ. !;<:en fired)
nnd run off. ilccording to Snrtor, the little t.oy hZls
hecn identified und h;t nurenu ll!Jent5 nnci
the !-le:nlJ!lis l"olicc
II
During ourfirst convcrDation, on 12, 19G8,
Sartor gave 1ne the follo:.:ing of u.nd
inf orr:, a tion:
1. Shortly the J:illing, a bc'\rten<'icr
overheard policc='lcn th<1t thc-r<: h!!.d
"sli?-!.lPr" and · tLttt . the \·:ar: criq-
i.r.nlly to ta1:c plcu:c a ftcr the l"ll'lrcl1 for
\·"1\icj, u:r:. !l CJ to • :·:!1cr. I
s 3r tor about thi3 in Auryu:;t, said t:hnt l·is
. or lenns in'fornunts had alr.o rc:fE::rrec to a si.r: il<Jr
chc:.nse in.plans.
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2. lt. ·. nj..r.!:.t0.r, ider.ti f iC'd by Snrtor in
·Rc;r. C<'!r0.:J.d.nrycr , 1 Gl7 r:. land, W<l3
l)y a off i c0.r in • l ' c li::c Dn-
partr,,cr.t (c:lpt·).in or al··ovt?) not to 90 Dr.
bccuuse SO:::\ethir:;r \·:as <]oing to happeu to hi::1.
3 •• .1\c corcling to forme r Ingra."':\ ( C! lthottgh
my notes are not clear as to whct;,cr Sartor got thi::;
directly from hin ), n civilian was lyinq in
back of .u police car 5.nr.,..!d i ,;,tel y after ·
anc1 ncar or Hulins got out of police
car, into nnothcr car, was drivrn awny. Sartor
had nothin'J on this in .1\":.lguGt.
:
4. John • t!-:c Ncryro civil
activist fro:TI ovcrht:?(l ru pnrt of
a telephon!? at t.he ProJuca
in \ihich .. r the
r.0Lcd nbovc. Shortly tcr, \-lun ,,i si
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for n:) Up?L.trent rc.:.t:;on r by oun .I'o\;r:rs fror.-:
0:::-lc:tns.. hr.H} nothing furthc·r on th.l.[-; in
Augl:st.
5. An unidcnt:ificc1 Hc:gro police.;nan \-J2S Doved
froR his assir;noncont at the Fir.e Station (a.nd Police
Tactical Unit Station) at about 5:00 p.ri. on day
of the ass-:>.ssin<ttion. llceorcJit::J to Sartor, the DiG-
. patcher tolu the policer.:3.n to nove t\·}D or. three tines
clnrinr; the afternoon, but he dicl not do so until e:{-
plicitly advisc6 to that ef.fcct by a superior. Tn
A'l'-:ust:, S3rtcr identified the as E. E.
Rc8ditt a!l<l said t:-,at: Rc-,dditt haC. brok<m off an int':.'r-
vim·: "-"i th Surtor aftcr to dJscuss his t·ove
·-fron the station.
G. T1·;o l!cgro en ·were hlovc::l from th'.'
station a cJa'y or t\;o bnforc the shooting. One of the:::
h<:s rcportc.dly told fr ie:nds that:, tl>o o:c· three: c'.uyG
bcf ore D;:. \·.'rtG shcY'c
1
a or binoc'!.:J. ::tr s
up on a t.ritJOJ in the fire station ar:d focL1scd
on the LorraiP.c notel b;:lcony. In h1.\'JUSt, Si!rt-;:,r
-that onG left ±:be Dcpurt:ncnt OJ;" v:ns susFcnCed
shortly after tl:e shooting, and that he has b0c:1 unable;
to· loca tc ci thc:c of the'". lie c}.cJ not havc
7. Chief of ti .. P.
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called the Lo::-r<1inc !·lotcl j n tb'7 eoo.rly after no-:>;:, of
A:.,·ril 4 and spo::c to a naid nar.·,ccJ Dr;lo:ccs · (Lm:.i} • He
in:-:uirc·cl ab<Jut stRtioninq dcLcctives there, the
m5.i.c1 said the 1vould call bac1:. lie Oil!. not;
·nor did ii0uston. Sartor .sw.ys t:hat forncr Ingram
provi.d,c,u this infor!'lation.
SZlrt:o!: \\'as during €i ther t:;,
relate the foregoing alle9a'cions to his cons; .. in:c;• theory,
but he t1ntt .so:-.1e of it
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and pos-
5ess eG by- f:or;r:cr 1 Ioyor In9r concerninfj c.orru])t i
tPe Police Dcp.J.rtr.t0.nt, sugtJ:-;st t:hat a nuTJher of o-:f1c£:rs
r;:av have l:no:m of. or n;:,i-:t"l:::i,.,atc:ll in the, conspiracy--
sc ·they Yicre br ibr-d or f car. eel •
. . . T told Sarto:: that I n:,port his infoD'"J.t5on
to cy su;:"oriors.
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Doll·: 11-5-68
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mit the followiniil in
17)pc 1n plainlc:ll or codr)
AIRTEL AM
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DIRECTOR, FBI (44-38861)
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(44-1987) P
· MURKIN
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Enclosed to Bureau are four copies of regarding
information furnished by one BILL SAnTOR to Departmental Attorney
J. HAROLD FLANNERY regaruing a possible conspiracy in instant case.
/BUHEA U ( E.nc. 4) (At.!)
MElllPHIS
JCH:BN
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. · Special Age nt in Charge
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In Rrp(r, f•teoat' Rrfw to
Filr /\'to.
li\ITEH 1>1-:1':\HTII.IE:\T OF Jl :STICE
tiempnis, Tennccsec
november 5, 1968
RE: JN·!ES RAY, Aka.J
Dr. l':ARTIN LUl'Ili:R KinG, VICTH1
Cl VlL Rl GH"r3 - CONSPIRllCY
Mr. J. Harold Flannery of the Unitec1 St.ates Department
of Justice, has prepared a memorandum dated 17, 1968,
reflecting intervie.,.:s on June 12, 1968, aml 1\ugust 22, 1S'6C,
with !·ir. Eill S<Jrtor of 1-lisFir.sippi, :1 contrect
writer .fOr "l'im·.,"
Sartor stctes that "Charlie Stein, a petty reck<!tee:r
,..._connecte<T \ldth organized crime, contecteo James in
Los Angeles and told l1irn that there in Orleans
whom he ought to talk to... Sartor states he do-:::s not k:1ow \-thether
Stein's contact with Ray was accidental or on purpose,
but he states was told that the he ought to
talk to would help hira with money and his status."
S tein • s account of his· involvement in this matter as we J 1 (!!!';
invcstig3tion r e lative to Stein is set forth in !"C!-'<>rts
to the Department o!' Justice.
Sartor tells us that Ray was in touch in t:-::.>w Orlc::i'lns
with "r.a£ia" representatives who referred Ray to Fronk Liocrt.:o,
by Sartor as a Nemphis racketeer and a .• .:mt
of Carlos llarccllos, the southcrr..' L·:afia chieftain ir:t l' c' ·r .:>rleans.
then relat<?d to Hr. Flannery that one John J;c!terrc·
1
"' of
So.nerville, Tennessee, on or .a rout the oal· of King • s murci..:-1." ,
· a n1an say on the· telephone "shoot him on the? balcony, c1;oot bir.
anywhe re, and go to New Orleans for your money, don't
here." Information concerning this reporteJ incioe:1t also
bet:n furniDhcd to the l>epartrncnt of Justic':..·.
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' Jamc:-s Earl Ray, Al:a. r
Dr. }Juther King, Jr., Victim
CR - Consp iracy
Joe Cacameci and Larry t1ann, identified by Sartor as
professional killers, are to this office. No information
to oate has these individualG with the r.lUrder of
Dr. King.
According to Sartor, a young boy allegedly heard
a shot and saw a man jump up from the bushes behind the rooming
hous e and below the window area from which the shot is
thought to have be en fired. A thorough inve stigution con-
oucted in the ne ighborhC'od of this rooming hous':? i nlr.1eciate ly after
the ana curing the days following the murder
and no information was developed to indicate that any
p e rson was seen beneath the window from which Ray fired the
fatal shot.
hll of the indivicuals, both !lremen ana policemen,
who were stationed in the fire house near the Lorraine J1otel
have been intervie\·mc1 regarding the events before and after the
murder, and the se results have also been furnislaed to the
Department of Justice.
h!e to the t e nse racial situa tion t ;•at existed i -n
He rnphis on April 4, 19G8, and because of the p .. -ominence of Dr.
King, the Hemphi s Police Departme nt had every z:-easc•n to re in
touch with pers ons at the Lorraine Motel in connection with the
-prote ctlon of Dr. King. - There were police officers in and around
the Lorraine 1-lo tcl the p e rioC that Dr. King \o:as re-
siding there. -
Investigation is continuing to individual
mentioned in Sartor's information.
·rhis docwnent contains ne ither r e com.-nendations nor
conclus ions of the FBI. It is the property of the FEl a nc is
l oane d -t o your age ncy1 it and its contents are no t
outside your agency.
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BUREAU OF tNVESTIGATIOH
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Tennessee, unlisted d at lal•
by
Aka
Jr.
1ndiv
Justice
originall
employment, •
venue. llcmph is, nncssce, epho
of t identities of interviewi Agents
the following information:
that he is familiar
whom he met
ly after the death or
ced in August, 1968, to an
who· ·s tn he was tbe
dvised that
had asked o ascertain infor-
antion from groes
death of Martin . Luther
obtain any information
King, Jr., with the
lth King's death.
inf
t he &femphis commun
King, Jr., but then asked
concerning the death of Martin Lut r
ility that the "J.tafia" was connected
dvised that he mnde no · attempt to
on eoncerning the and the death
of · •tart in Luther King, Jr.
He be met Flannery , he repeated to
Flanne had told him, namely
that ames Enrl Ray at a Lion Service
Sta n-c yr"be!ore the death of Luther King. He
that this information came fro and wa
-- he developed on his own . d that
is 'o him as a cosmetics salesman in the ar
and is known · which
to s owned by. tates
schoolmate o
ornmuni
•• _afemphis. Tennessee File II
Tbia do<:llfftenl. • nC' ilher recommendot ion1 oor conclu11 iona or l.he FBI. ll i1 tbe pmperty nl Lhe P'BI ""d u loened Lo
.,enc7.; jt and it• c:ont.ente tn not Lo be 'dillrib!Aed oulalde lOw -.encJ.
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through which . is owned by
p
who is
_yeA.
\ha inquired abCJut
. - us
blc in the Mcaphis
1s of the opinion thnt if n car was
Millington, as described by the news •cdia, thon
s the 1 ical pcrs although no reason was given by
or this. said was of the opinion that if
white Mus s us ssist the killer or King in
escaping the Memphis area, as referred to by the news dia
concerning the CB radio broadcast, then be considered
to be the logical person to have a private airplane wa
)lillington.
further stnted that
o were suspended for
within the past year are involved in
is of tho opinion
a eged police brutality
the slaying ot . Dr. Martin
does not give any Luther King. According to
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basis for this.
told
in New Or eans, New Yor
only one individual, one
" Mafia in New Orleans.
that he has contact th the Mafia
although he named
r iiiiiJ .a9 his contact with tbe
stated he has
ng this .. period
orma ion of his personal 1
regarding the tra eath of
information to regardi
tioned_tha·.t his wife had become
during her illness and in this
· dmin1strat1on Supervisor
to ascertain 1nformation
numerous casual meetings with
volunteered certain
including fncts
While vo unt c ering
s wife's illness, n-
addicted to the use o
d with Federal
ad a
from
described ng . unreliable and as
attributing false wh tion was
actually rumored by Accor ng to by
originating these .rumors in different areas Uemp s, is
able to get a "play back" from various sources, which be uses
as a •eans of lending credence to bis stories.
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dvised he could furnish no information conc4rning
&Dj conspiracy in tho don th o1· Mnrtin Luther King, Jr. He n id
be knows or no individuals involved with James Earl Ray in tbe
.-2 4eatb of Martin Luther King, Jr. ~
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UNITED STATES D:t .,lENT OF 1USTICE
FEDERAL DUBEAU' VESTICATJON
Tonnossoe
November 21,
Title
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Jnmoe Earl Aka.:
Dr. l!art1n lUng, V1ct1a
Character
Reference
Civil Rights - Conspiracy
Momoranduo datod lwvcmbor 21, 106&,
and cnpt1oned ns
All sources (except any 11sted whose identities
are concea.l.ed in referenced communication have furnished reliable
inror.mation in the
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Thla dOC'UISent conlalna r•l'ommend.,llon• nor conclu••ona .,.r the rer. II,. t.h• prorerly
O( lha F"81 Ond Ia Je><Jn••d to ¥0tU OQancr ; &I and II a C'Ontenl• are not IO b• Outa. ,le
• rooar oq •ncr.
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Date: L l-21-GS
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(Type in plailll cJCt or code)
AIRTEL AM
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!tc J\irtel to nureau 11/ 5/ 68.
Enclose d herewith for the Bureau •
of LH:.! regarding info rmation furnished by 0110
to Ocpartmenta 1 Attorney J. HAROLD l',LANNimY
possible conspiracy in t n i s matter .
For tlv) .. info rmation of the Bure au,
is n l>ri e .f r esume of nctivity that occurrc tl in ;.:cmph1s ,
Tennessee, which res ulted in r.Iartin LuthL' r King's •
Mc mpi1 .i s during :.Jat· ch and April 19G8.
c:o This in1' 0 rllt:'\ nt explaine d that B . JNGI:.A;,I, 1
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former Mayor of until J:1nuary h:\u de f e ate-J
in the· November 19G7 c ity election when he f or r e - e l ectio n J'
:-·: C\4 tor liayor against the pt·<:scnt Mayor, HENRY LOED. Ti ti s hn<l
" > been a bitterly foug ht e l c ction in which INGRAM had the suppor t
··h of 90,o of th.e who
- · I J...<?.F.B as a late Fe uruary,
J (t> R[C. 93 <j ' I 3 I ·. 531/
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1m 44-1987
,968, and until the settlement oi thn strike in
llid-April, 1968, the! political supporters - of joined
the Union in support of the strike and in oppus). t.ion to LOKB.
This support s tommed from diverse Negro g1·oups h : d try CORJ\fELIA
CRENSHAW, ltrs. TAHl..ESE J,lATHEWS, a barber, 0. \Y. PlCKt:'f"f, Negro
renltor, and a group of Negro ministers. The> ministers developed
an organization for this purpose known as t,;onununity on the Move
for Equality Included in the group wern such leader&
as Reverend EZEKIEL BELL, Pastor, Parkway Gnrdens Presbyterian
Church, Reverend JAMES MORRIS LAWSON, JR., SAMUEL B. KYLES,
Pas tor, lionumcnta l Bapt t Church, and tJf
Sou thurn ...:hrist ian p l:onfercncc ( , lt-.:\·ert·&;:! H.
ltAJ,JlJI .J;,cKSON, ·Al.m Church, who is Director, Minimum Salary OfficE",
nnd neve rend ,fA LCOUI D. DLACKDURN, vas tor ol the Claiborne
Temple, Church, 280 flernando. All sanitation marches
supporting the strike originated from Claiborne 1'ctnple, located
at 280 Hornando, t.temphis. All the abuvc-anentioucd individuals,
with the exception of BLACKBURN, are Nef.r<>t!s and all had strongly
opposed LOEB and had supf>orted INGRAM in the No\'Cinher, lr-67,
city r.lection. Reverend LAWSON, who had been IH1·cctor of the
non-violent tactics for SCLC, and Reverend KYLt-;s
inflncntia 1 in bringinf! f.IARTIN LU1'HtR KING, .Jn., Hr!:ld (1f
to ).;·_•mr>h-16 on '-ln-..·ch 28, 1968, anti again on ·1-':J-'l/ua.
This source ndvised lhat as f'tt·iJ.l' developed,
it became more and more apparent that the strike was a
political and racial isswe, nurtured, stimul:tteo, and organized
by political opponents of J.lcmphis ltnyor HI·.t-tUY LOBB and
of ·rormer J.tnyor B. INGRA'f. This th" Yhich so
deeply involvP.d SCLC in the strUw, j,t til')
fa t:t 1 shooting of r.lA.':lTIN LUTHER KING, JU.
.
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'' GL•:·•t•I': !' Cia l :\ppc:t 1••
rc o were contactc-d 1.}·
SA
On 11/20/68, .
tne following c .. onfJdcnti.al tn1<••,nati
.. stated that she has coh:t"h.ttt!cl with
for approx .l months in the recent tlnst, aah 1a' ur u:!
period H\S beon conducting an 11ldL'pendcnt investiga-
tion concern nc death of )\ART IN LUTHeR Kit.IG, JH., in an
• •.f.brt to substantiate his theories th:lt :>os'iihly the lla!in
Pol icc Department nre involv( d .
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She stated c la uood he is d 1 vo1·cod I rom his
wife; howevc1·, he unable to display a divorce decree
to her. She
in tclcph
with hiw
belonging
Yl tb
Tho
not be disse
the fnct that
conf1dc
tion to
be in a pos
tofo1·ana t.i.on.
night of she was
nd tho conversation
had the .25 caliber pJstol
and that he intended to C(JUIJllit suicide
tated that although she hns L»con acquainted
a period o1' time she was unable to state whether
remark concerning suicide in Jest or whether be
information furnished by
· . Uep:t.rtmcn
urrishcd this informn tion
Dcp:lrtment rolcnst:s
the remarks al>out suicide
immediately ascertain the source
If the furnished
as contained l ·n the enclosed LHM, israccuratc, it· obvious,
si OLD FLA l'lN.dUY v.-as "pres · duri thP. t nt.crvi
by t&.at FLhNJlli a n to know t hat
in with
and not is lJo 1 ievcd tbn
l!'emorandum an accurate resmlc of
information he had gathered and the inforJRation be
gathored in the presence of other indiv1du:tls, nnct
this has r t:: sultell in considl P.fforl. u :1 J>.'\rt ,,r
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to asc\.!rtain verac1ty of infot"ltlntion furnished by
No further is \.!ont!la;lt! d
Divis ion in regard to the i t.ion fu1· nishcd Ul
o Dcpartmenta 1 Attorney J. IIAROLO YLt\NNimY.
· n the enclosed
self-admitted
teered inf
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furnished
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PIDEilAL 8l1R£At1 OF INVESTIGATION
llemph is, Tennessee
November 1968
RB: JA.tES EARL RAY, Aka. ;
Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING - VICTIM
CIVIL RIGHTS - CONSPIRACY
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Mr. J. Harold Flannery of the U. s. Department of Justice,
bas prepared a memorandum rvicws on June 12, 1968,
and August 22, 1968, With of Greenville, lttissis-
a contract wr inc. In this memorandum,
that a Negro civil rights activist
rville, Tennessee, rhcard part of a telephone
conversation at the Scott Street Produce Market in which the
allegedly made reference to where an individual should
be shot and as to where the individual doing the shooting should
to collect his •oney.
was interviewed on two occasions by
Special Memphis FBI Division, and tbe results of
tbese interviews are set out as follows ·:
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"r:ronll l'llit the rotlowinr i• ___ .:....•
fTYTH ill pla.inLut 01 cofkJ
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I TO: FBI (44-38861)
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_ SAC
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BDU.UNGHAM (44-174o) (C)
I - "'\
I l-iURKIN )
Enclosed for the Bureau are the original and
three copies of an LHM containing information received
£rom a confidential source of the Birmin&ham Office re-
lating to the assassination of Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING
1
JR.
One copy of this LHM is being
locally to the U. S. Attorney
1
Birmingham.
INFORI.fANTS
Identity of Source
File Located
BH T-1 is
This informant was contacted on 4/18/74 and he ·
said he would be willing to assist this Bureau on a confi-
dential basis concerning violation of Federal and/or local
laws that rrdght this attention. It is noted that
he has an extensiv criminal record and is known to asso-.
-c ia te with much of the criminal element in the Birmi.ngham ·
area. .: . . · / O
(9_ Bureau (Enc. (RM) J<EC.9 (/ l · _ ,- /
1
· (
1 - Detroit {Enc. 1) (info) .
1 - New Orleans (Enc. 1) (info) (RM)
1 - Birmin@lam "TN.. Sn,...A..et.. .-..... - - - · - -·· · .....
CBS :bkc 1 . , • J
(5) "'?I.e #'-VU "R OfC 15 1975
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. . . .· Qd)gnish a.ny information of value. · •
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ASSASSINATION OF
_. DR. MARTIN LvrHrn KING., JR •
CIVIL RIGHTS ·
·'
_ ... .-
,,
,
ASSASSINATION OF
DR. MARTIN .C\rrHER KING., JR •
. ,
.-.. -
. .
I
this
Jnent
BH T-1
advised that he has not told
because he did not th1nk that any
would •touch" it.
before
age!lCY
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noted
the
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anyone -
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ASSASSINATION OF
DR. MARTIN D.lrHER KING,
·I
JR.
----- ....
I
. ·.• ..
J,. # BH ·T-1 a "gun nut"
he been cpnvicted by edera authorities on
violation. : .. -:1'
this
rnent
BH T-1 advised that he has not told
before because he did not think that any
agency would •touch" it.
as in
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anyone about · o.•:
law enforce-: ·
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three counts.of
at his
'and released
e;e
$10,000.00 bond.
&enteoooO
of General for .. · . . :· :T-. ,:o-.
He was also ·sen encecl. to b1o er . ·. ·
concurrently -with the first colillt.
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F II
D&e:
1/18/77
.fTyJH in plainlext or code)
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l'f"il:J I
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•
(Precedence ) I
_______ -
......
TO:
I'ROII:
SUBJECT:
DIRECTOR, FBI (44-38861)
SAC,-KEMPHIS (44-1987 SUB II) (P)
ca-
- 00: IIEMPHIS
· 1
y I '. / .
Re Birmingham airtel with enclosed LHM, 12/15/76.
Enclosed for the Bureau are four copies and for
Birmingham one copy of an LHM dated 1/18/77 captioned
"JAMES EARL RAY; MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. - VICTIM, CR." fJi/3
rce referred to in the enclosed LHM
1 (protect} who furnished this information ,
·- ·· - to t e B rm g a Office. Jc71 - Pc.l s £ 1 h /lfh t' o;r). f, ...r I! .. /. , · /J.,. ( l !f.·'T
I '
A review of indices of the Memphis Office reveals ,../
that FREDERICK LEE SHUTTLEWORTH was formerly affiliated --
the Southern Conference Educational Fund. It is
. not known by the Memphis Division whether FREDERICK LEE
SHUTTLEWORTH is the individual referred to in the Birmingham
um. .
For the information of the Bureau, in 1971 the
Biraingham Office requested the Memphis Office to determine
! he subscriber to a number relating to an invest!-
-:- cation being by._Birmingham regarding Dr. GUS
JOSEPH PROSCH, JR. determined tha.t this telephone , J..
. R£G-Z Y.__c/ _;.' 1, / , / / . \ . ; •:
(b.Bureau (Enc • 4) v. r I r 1 · 'i_
1-Birmingbam (Bnc. · --
2-Memphi!J !.{, •
1
5 JA[.: J .
.. $} S'/.11/11 N .... 1u. · 1377
--. tiH I f. !
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7
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CPO ; 1171 0 - tt0-tt2
v . . .... ..
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KE 44-1987 SUB M
·- ·
number was liated to J. Be BUNT, 2597 Tutwiler,
Tennessee.
On 3/4/71 Lt. B. B. ARKIN, Intelligence
Division, Memphis P ~ advised tbat BUNT was arrested
~ o r violation of tbe Memphis City CUrfew Law during
t tie riots which ensued after tbe assasination of
~ Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. The Memphis Office bas no
information indicating tbe relationship between Dr.
PROSCH and BUNT.
r
(
2
f
I
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Memphis, Tennessee
January 18, 1977
RE : JAMES EARL RAY;
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. -
VICTIM
CIVIL RIGHTS
· On December 14, 1976, a source who has
furnished insufficient information to establish his
reliability, .,.advised that Dr. Gus Prosch, who often
introduced himself as John Willard , Frank Liberto,
who source learned owned an unnamed truck stop on '
Lake in New Orleans, and whom
described as the head of the Greek Mafia in
New Orleans, Reverend (first name unknown) Shuttleworth,
personally known to the source in 1968 as very active in
civil rights matters, Dr. Ralph Abernathy, and a Mr.
,
(first name unknown) Gault met a number of times in the
Birmingham, Alabama, area in 1968. Following one of the
meetings, Dr. Prosch informed the source that Dr. Abernathy
and Reverend. Shuttleworth had bought a contract for
$265 , 000 to have Martin Luther King, Jr. killed.
On November 29, 1970, the Jefferson County
Sheriff's Office, Birmingham, Alabama, received a report
that a trailer loaded with guns was bogged down at
Parkwood.Trniler Park, Parkwood Community, in Jefferson
County near Bessemer, Alabama. This trailer , whose
ownership was subsequently tracetl to Prosch, was found
to contain a huge quantity of shoulder and hand firearms,
various caliber, hand grenades, dynamite,
sawed off shotguns, a 60 mm mortar, black powder, capped
bo ttles containing gas, bayonets, food stuff, camping
- equipment, medical supplies, and other unname d materi als.
Some of the weapons in this cache were traced to Dr. Prosch,
a Birmi ngham physician whose practice was limited to
treating- overweight persons. Dr. Prosch, a white male,
contains neither
lnor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of
FBI; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside
your agency.
I
<; . !
·.· .
RE: JAMES EARL RAY;
MARTIN LUTHER KING, -
f
'born November 17, 1930, at Blralngham, Alabama, tben
rl:resided at 2640 Paden Place, Jefferson County,
and maintained an office at 2154 Highland
Avenue South, Birminghaa.
On April 6 , 1968, John McFerren, Somerville,
Tennessee, furnished the following information:
On the afternoon of April 4, 1968, McFerren
traveled -from Somerville, Tennessee, to Memphis, Tennessee,
to pick up supplies for his grocery store. While in
Memphis be went to the place where he normally bought his
produce which he said was possibly the L L • L Produce
Market, 814 Scott Street. According to McFerren, this
business was operated by a heavy set white man, who
weighed approximately 300 pounds, who appeared to be
possibly of Puerto Rican extraction. After McFerren
arrived at this company be walked up to the door of the
office and noticed that the heavy set man was sitting
at his desk with his back to the door and talking on the
telephone. McFerren stated be beard this heavy set man
say "kill the s.o.B. on the balcony and get the job done.
You will get your $5,000."
. . McFerren reported that he went back to the
· - - rear portion of this office and shortly thereafter beard
the telephone ring. The phone was answered by a white
man, thin in build, who bad a scar on his right cheek.
McFerren·could not hear what this man said when be
answered the phone, but after answering the phone, he
banded it to the heavy set man. McFerren heard the heavy
set aan say "Don't come out here. Go to New Orleans and
get your aoney. You know my brother."
McFerren reported that approximately a week
prior to April 4, 1968, he was at the L L • L Produce
Market, at which time the heavy set man, the man with
theEar, and approximately three other white males were
f
2
I
.· :· . . ,. . .-----
I
•
JAKES EARL RAY;
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR: -
VICTIM
in a group talking. He beard the heavy set aan say
f
at this time, "they ought to shoot the s.o.B." Immediately
after aaking this statement, the heavy set man walked
over to McFerren and said "what do you think about King
and his mess?" McFerren reported that be told the heavy
set man that be tended to his own business.
On April 19, 1968, Frank Camilla Liberto,
who resided at 3271 Powers Street, Memphis, Tennessee,
and was employed as President of L L L Produce Company,
814 Scott Street, Memphis, furnished the following
information:
To the best of his knowledge, be was at his
place of business on April 4, 1968. Liberto emphatically
denied having any knowledge of the identity of the person
responsible for the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
on April 4, 1968. He emphatically denied ever discussing
with anyone the possibility of shooting King, although
be admitted he had made the usual derogatory remarks
about King's. actions in Memphis, Tennessee, and also
made remarks about the fact King was partly responsible
· for the curfew imposed on the city of Memphis resulting
I
in loss of revenue by bis business establishment in tbe
Memphis area. He acknowledged be may have made statements
to the effect that King should be killed, although he
does not recall any specific statements made by him to
this effect. He stated that due to the curfew, be
suffered approximately $40,000 in loss sales at the produce
company.
Liberto stated be frequently made trips to
New Orleans , Louisiana, to purchase produce, and also
because members of his family resided in the New Orleans
area. Most of bis co-workers, employees, and customers
at the produce company, knew of his travels to New Orleans.
3
t
I
..
)
RE: JAMES KARL RAY;
f
.,.. ·- MARTIN LUTHER ICING, JR. -
VICTIII
..
I
Liberto specifically denied making or receiving
any telephone calla on April 4, 1968, wherein there was
conversation regarding Dr. llartin Luther King, Jr. or
the shooting of Dr. llartin Luther King, Jr. He pointed
out that most of bia business transactions are made
through use of tbe telephone and that these conversations
frequently result in talking about large sums of money.
He stated that be would have no reason for becoming
involved in any action directed at Dr. llartin Luther
King, Jr. Be stated be frequently taunted various
individuals regarding racial matters and may have made
disparaging remarks to some of his customers involving
King, but did not consider this uncommon among various
co-workers at bis place of business.
Liberto advised that the following members of
bis family reside in New Orleans, Louisiana:
',i) - Emily Liberto, mother, 2219 Al tomaster
Street;
Liberto, brother, residing two houses
· down from his aother, specific address not
known;
- Vincent Liberto, brother, who worked for the
·. J 'vik1ng Truck Company, New Orleans ;
( ,.
- Salvadore Liberto, brother, who worked as
-\ a truck driver for West Brothers tn New
..
- Orleans •
...
The following des.cription of Liberto was
obtained through observation and interview:
. ' ...
• .. 2 · .. . :.}'.-t:' : . :,N.. :: ... • : - •• . . . •
.. : .• '! enclosing a memorandum dated 12/12/75, whieh previously s t ' . .:.r,
· · ·· · . Reference is made to my memorandum
· information frora this Birmingham source. . ·;:;: :; ·,. · r :._::.--.··:
• •t:yo • : • • I "' • • • • f : • -.. •
· ·.. · · · ·.: In both the 12/12/75 memorandum and the 12/15/7 ,., .. .
mernorandwn, source in!ars the implication of . .. . .. :.
w . Abernathy. As reported in a Memphis report dated 4/17/68
furnished by my memorandum 5/6/68 Reverend Ralph David
. . .. Abernathy was interviewed on 4/4/68. Abernathy with Xing
. -: . .-· ··-· ... . in the motel at the time of his death and Abernathy stated he ·
, . . .
--: .. ;, ' · was unable to suggest any suspects or to provide any other . ..
.. assist in Ring's Jciller. · . i : •
. .. "' ;.. "-'
. In this 12/12/75 source refers to a Frank LaDerto ....
(phonetic), an underworld fiqure in Orleans, La., who
·: ·' . . .. _ runs a truck stop in New Orleans named the Lake Pontehartrain
· · · Restaurant. In this 12/15/76 memorandum, source refers to
a Frank Liberto who owned an unnamed truck stop on Lake
· .:· .. Pontchartrain, and was described as head of the Greek Mafia
·· ::. · · .. in New Orleans.
.. · . . ·•
· You are referred to my memorandum 11/27/68..., wherein
· Frank Camilla Liborto employed as president of .. thtt1.L5L Produce
·. · · · Company, Memphis, Tennessee, was interviewed concerninq an
.. . allegation JMcle by John McFerren who had overheard a threateninq
remark at the· LL&L rroduce Cornpany. LibP.rto was interviewed
· • ·• ·· · ·· on 4/19/69 as set forth in my memorandum dated 11/27/68 and
·.·:.. ... .. he .emphatically denied having any knowledge of the identity
· . .; ; .... · ·. of the person responsible for the death of on 4/4/68 •
... "' ..... . ..... . -.
, _. • New or·leans members of the fatnily of Frank Liberto, f-1emphia,
. _ Tennessee, stated they had no knowledge of any
·· disparaging rei:\Arks made by Liberto in regards to P:inq as
set forth in a new Orleans report dated 4/29/68, furnished
by rrry memorandum 5/20/68. New Office· advised in
• · · ·. December, 1975, that there ia no Pontchartrain Restaurant
' .
in Nev Orleans.
In tha enclosed mernorandum ·dated 12/15/76, · the
source advised he recently read for the first time the
alleged fact that a person usinq the. name John
registered at 3:30 p . a. on 4/4/68 at the hotel in Memphie
where Xing was staying and it was his undP.rotandinq that
the landlady or hotel clerk could not identify James F.arl
·. .. · ·. Ray aa identical with John Willard. 1\s ed
· ·... in a Memphia report dated 6/10/68, an individual using t
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