INVESTIGATION OF THE ASSASSINATION

OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR

HEARINGS
BEFORETHE

SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS

OF THE

U.S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

NINETY-FIFTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION

AUGUST 14 15 AND 16 1978

VOLUME I

Printed for the use of the SelectCommitteeon Assassinations

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 SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS
LOUISSTOKESOhio Chairman
RICHARDSON PREYERNorthCarolina SAMUEL L DEVINEOhio
WALTERE FAUNTROY Districtof Columbia STEWART B McKINNEYConnecticut
YVONNE BRATHWAITE BURKECalifornia CHARLESTHONENebraska
CHRISTOPHER J DODDConnecticut HAROLDS SAWYERMichigan
HAROLDE FORD Tennessee
FLOYDJ FITHIANIndiana
ROBERTW EDGARPennsylvania
Subcommittee on Subcommittee on the
Assassinationof Assassinationof
MartinLutherKing Jr John F Kennedy
WALTERE FAUNTROY Chairman RICHARDSON PREYERChairman
HAROLD E FORD YVONNE BRATHWAITE BURKE
FLOYDJ FITHIAN CHRISTOPHER J DODD
ROBERTW EDGAR CHARLESTHONE
STEWART B McKINNEY HAROLDS SAWYER
LOUISSTOKESex officio LOUISSTOKESexofficio
SAMUEL L DEVINEexofficio SAMUEL L DEVINEex officio
STAFF
G ROBERT BLAKEY ChiefCounseland Director
GENE JOHNSON DeputyChiefCounsel GARYCORNWELL DeputyChiefCounsel
(II)
 CONTENTS

August 14 1978
Openingstatements of Page
Chairman Louis Stokes. 1
Delegate Walter E Fauntroy 2
Representative Samuel L Devine. 4
Narration by Prof G Robert Blakey chief counsel and staff director 5
Testimony of Dr Ralph Abernathy. 10
August 15 1978
Narration by Prof G Robert Blakey chief counseland staff director__ 41
Testimony of Michael Baden M.D. chief medical examiner of New
York City 43
August 16 1978
Narration of crime scene by Gene Johnson deputy chief counsel 75
Testimony of James Earl Ray accompaniedby Mr Mark Lane counsel
of record 87
INVESTIGATION OF THE ASSASSINATION OF MARTIN
LUTHER KING JR

MONDAY AUGUST 14 1978

HOUSEOF REPRESENTATIVES
SELECTCOMMITTEE ONASSASSINATIONS
Washington D.C
The committee met at 9:06 a.m. pursuant to notice in room 2172
Rayburn House Office Building Hon Louis Stokes (chairman of the
committee) presiding
Present Representatives Stokes Preyer Fauntroy Burke Dodd
Ford Fithian Edgar Devine McKinney and Sawyer
Also present G Robert Blakey chief counsel and staff director
Edward Evans chief investigator Michael C Eberhardt assistant
deputy chief counsel Gene R Johnson deputy chief counsel I
Charles Mathews special counsel Elizabeth L Berning chief clerk
Chairman STOKES A quorum being present the committee will
come to order
This morning the Subcommittee on Assassinations begins its public
hearings The committee's mandate Resolution 222 which authorized
a full and complete investigation of the assassinations of President
Kennedy and Dr King to make two determinations
First Are existing U.S laws those related to the safety and protec
tion of the President the deprivation of civil rights related conspira
cies as well as the investigatory jurisdiction of U.S Government agen
cies adequate
Second Did U.S departments and agencies fully disclose and share
information and evidence in the course of prior investigations of the
deaths of President Kennedy and Dr King If not is there informa
tion not in the hands of a given Government agency that would have
assisted in its investigation of the assassinations Why was the in
formation not forwarded to all appropriate agencies
The committee has identified three main issues to investigate in
order to fulfill its legislative mandate
First Who assassinated President Kennedy and Dr King
Second Did the assassin or assassins have assistance was there a
conspiracy
Third Did Federal agencies perform adequately in the sharing of
information prior to the assassinations in the protection of Presi
dent Kennedy and Dr King and in their investigations of the
assassina*ions
In addressing these issues the committee has made every effort to
be fair and objective To begin with we regard each of them to be
equal in importance to the others We are not for example more in
(1)
 2

terested in conspiracy theories than in a balanced evaluation of agency

performance
Moreover while it is true that individual members of the committee
may have reached some preliminary judgments on certain issues after
many months of studying them we are suspending judgment as a
committee until all the evidence is in Nothing else would be fair
That brings me to a very important part ,of our assignment We
must in the end report our recommendations to the House of Repre
sentatives and to the American public For this purpose we have set
aside a period in December to weigh the evidence in both the Kennedy
case and King case Only then will we be ready to reach conclusions
make them public and propose new legislation if we deem it
appropriate
This week we will begin the King hearings In September we will
begin and finish the Kennedy hearings In November we will return
to and finish the King hearings
To meet its objectives this committee and its staff have labored
long and hard Hundreds of volumes of agency files have been care
fully scrutinized thousands of witnesses have been interviewed and
sworn testimony has been taken from many of them even some who
were unwilling to cooperate and physical evidence has been minutely
examined with sophisticated equipment and techniques
I can say with confidence that each member of the committee has
done his homework though it has been necessary in view of the enor
mous body of evidence before us to ask each member to specialize
that is to concentrate on certain prescribed areas of the investigations
The public hearings that we begin today are designed to present the
evidence the investigation has developed to Congress and to the Amer
ican people The form of these hearings will constitute a staff presen
tation to the committee of evidence bearing on the key issues in each
assassination These hearings and our public meetings in December
will be in effect part of our final report
Another part a final written version will be submitted when our
work is fully done at the end of December The hearings are also to be
a forum for the purpose of assessing the credibility of the evidence
and if in the process new leads are uncovered we are prepared to pur
sue them also
Today and the rest of the week the committee's attention will be
directed to some of the facts and circumstances surrounding the death
of Dr Martin Luther King Jr The general subjects we will address
are (1) The assassination in Memphis on April 4 1968 in the context
of what Dr King meant to this country and (2) the involvement in
the assassination if any of James Earl Ray
To begin the first phase of our hearings I would like to present
Congressman Walter Fauntroy the distinguished Congressman from
the District of Columbia who as chairman of the King assassination
subcommittee has worked unceasingly to meet the mandate that the
Congress has charged us with
It is my pleasure at this time to recognize my esteemed colleague
the gentleman from the District of Columbia
Mr FAUNTROY Thank you Mr Chairman and members of the
committee
The evidence that is about to be presented to this committee and to
the American people was assembled by the King subcommittee of our
 3
Select Committee on Assassinations In addition to
the dedicated participation of the myself we have had
membership of the distinguished
gentleman from Connecticut Mr Stewart B McKinney the distin
guished gentleman from Tennessee Mr Harold Ford the distin
guished gentleman from Indiana Mr Floyd Fithian and the dis
tinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr Robert Edgar
In addition several members of the full committee have
joined in
our inquiries including yourself Mr Chairman of course the
ranking
minority member of the committee Mr Devine and Mr Harold
Sawyer We have had the very reliable assistance Mr Chairman of a
very dedicated staff task force on the King investigation composed of
some 31 attorneys investigators and researchers
To give you an idea of the extent of our investigative effort I would
like to refer to an imposing 284 page work plan While much of its
substantive content is still confidential I can say this much about our
work plan
First it adheres strictly Mr Chairman to the main issues that
you have identified for our inquiry.three of them First who assassi
nated Martin Luther King Jr. Second was the assassin assisted by
anyone And third how well did the Federal agencies perform with
respect to the heinous crime both before and after the assassination
I can say also that the work plan is comprehensive and thorough
For example it directs our work in investigating every important con
spiracy allegation that has ever been raised with respect to this case
and there were 21 of them in all
Assuming that every question that this work plan raises is answered
we will be assured that we have a complete and point-by-point in
quiry that leaves virtually no stone unturned
It was necessary Mr Chairman for the subcommittee and the staff
to travel far and wide to fulfill its assignment As a case in point the
subcommittee members or investigators for example went to every
city that James Earl Ray is known to have visited during the period
of his being a fugitive both before and after the assassination
This included trips to foreign countries to Canada to Mexico to
Portugal to Great Britain In all the subcommittee task force made
487 trips to 714 geographic points over 2,272 days of travel
We also gathered evidence through the testimony of witnesses at
hearings In keeping with our policy that the investigation be carried
out in secret to protect the witnesses and the integrity of the evidence
we were gathering those hearings have been held in executive session
We had to date 34 such hearings at which 75 witnesses have given
testimony and on 41 occasions orders of immunity have been obtained
from the Federal courts so that witnesses could testify with candor
We have also looked Mr Chairman at agency files The staff has
reviewed over 360 files files from the FBI from the Drug Enforce
ment Administration from Immigration and Naturalization and other
services But that figure quite frankly does not tell the whole story
since a file can range from a few pages to literally thousands of pages
The FBI file on the murder of Dr King for example consists of
some 93 volumes that contain over 6,000 serials and exhibits
Finally Mr Chairman the subcommittee employed several expert
consultants This was appropriate because many of the areas of the
investigation required highly specialized expertise To analyze the au
 4

topsy of Dr King for example we called upon the top forensic path
ologist in the United States We will hear the results of their exami
nations when we reconvene here tomorrow
To study the ballistics evidence the rifle believed to have been
used in the assassination as well as bullets and cartridge cases we re
sorted to the expert knowledge of highly qualified firearms analysts
men who are employed by outstanding police departments around the
country
In all Mr Chairman there were 17 consultants placed under con
tract in such diverse fields as photography medical illustration hand
writing and polygraph analysis
So as you can see this has been a broad but concentrated effort
though I realize that the real tests will come as we assess the quality of
the evidence that we have gathered
Finally Mr Chairman let me again emphasize the seriousness with
which the members of this committee have undertaken this inquiry
We believe that it can serve at least two valuable purposes First it
can serve to restore I think the confidence of the American people in
our Government That confidence since the assassination of Dr King
in Memphis in 1968 has been shaken at points The American people
want to know that their Government is telling them the whole truth
If the confessed assassin did in fact kill Dr King the American peo
ple want to know that
If on the other hand there were those who conspired to take the
life of Dr King it is important that we establish that if for no other
purpose than to serve notice on any who would assassinate any pres
ent or future leaders that the intelligence agencies of this Government
will not be lax and that they will not find convenient loopholes through
which to slip undetected
Martin Luther King Jr used to say that truth crushed to earth
will rise again We are making a serious effort to establish what in
fact was the truth If there has been truth that has been crushed to
earth we are determined to preside over the resurrection of that truth
Chairman STOKES Thank you very much Mr Fauntroy Let me
commend you and the members of your subcommittee whom I person
ally know worked untiringly and unceasingly in order to try and pro
vide not only to this committee but to the House and to the American
public the facts and circumstances as you have uncovered them Each
of you are to be commended for an excellent job and commitment that
you have had
I would like at this time to recognize my colleague the ranking
minority member of this committee who has devoted many many
hours of time to both full committee and subcommittee work and has
done so with a type of commitment that has been a real source of com
fort to me as chairman of the full committee
We have had the privilege of working together in a completely non
partisan manner and I have been extremely impressed with the kind
of devotion and commitment and dedication this gentleman has de
voted to this enormously important task
It is my pleasure at this time to recognize the distinguished gentle
man from Ohio Mr Devine
Mr DEVINE Thank you Mr Chairman I appreciate your most
generous comments
 5

My remarks will be quite brief so that we can get on with the hear
ings Just as a footnote as the ranking minority member of this select
committee I would like to emphasize how totally nonpartisan this
investigation has been I would go so far as to say it has been abso
lutely nonpolitical as it should be in light of the complexity of the
task assigned to us by the Congress You may note Mr Chairman of
how we have made every effort to be fair and objective and in this I
heartily agree but I would add another bit of description to our
work this has been a completely impartial investigation
It has been my experience that every member of the committee and
the staff has gone about their assignments with but one goal in mind
and that is to learn the truth This is not to say that the committee has
riot at times been involved in controversy as anyone with a memory
that goes back some 17 months would recall For over 1 year now the
committee has been quietly and professionally doing its job notwith
standing that from the outside there have been some that would be
opportunists and others that would perhaps exploit not only the
assassination situation but also the work of this committee
Though we have not been without our critics I think in the end
once the American people have had the opportunity to review the evi
dence we will present they will be convinced that this committee per
formed a credible and professional job on behalf of all Americans and
in total response to the mandate given to us by the Congress
Thank you Mr Chairman
Chairman STOKESThank you Mr Devine
At this time in order to effectuate the presentation of the evidence
to this committee I want to recognize for purposes of presentation
the general counsel of this committee and staff director Prof G
Robert Blakey Mr Blakey
Mr BLAKEYThank you Mr Chairman
As the committee begins its public hearings it seems appropriate
to reflect for a moment on the meaning of the life and the death of
Dr Martin Luther Kin Jr. for the ultimate issue this committee
must face is were they his life and his death isolated one from another
The bullet that smashed into Dr King on April 4 1968 opened a
wound in our society that will never heal completely His death fore
shadowed the seeming end of a period of civil rights progress that
Dr King had led and for which his life had become a symbol
Dr King's legacy has been profound change in our social fabric
to the advantage of Blacks as well as all Americans
But after his death as a Washington Post writer put it * * his
army of conscience disbanded the banners fell the movement un
raveled * * *
Dr King's life too must be placed in a wider context It would be
a mistake unfortunately to regard the tragic event in Memphis in
1968 as an aberration Civil rights violence in this country dates back at
least to the 18th century when bands of runaway slaves began mount
ing attacks on plantations igniting fears by the 1790's of a general
slave uprising
This violence did not end with America's first struggle for freedom
in the Revolution of 1776 By the 1850's feeling once again was
running high over the issue that was soon to tear the Union itself
asunder The pillaging and burning of Lawrence Kans. by proslavers
 6

in 1856 led abolitionist John Brown to launch a bloody retaliatory

raid on Pottawatamie Kans
It was after the end of the Civil War and emancipation however
that the most brutal assaults occurred as a wave of murders swept the
South In the postwar decade some 3,500 civil rights advocates were
slain 1,884 of them in 1868 alone Indeed violent outbreaks were
commonplace
When Blacks appealed for their right in Memphis in 1866 47 of
them were massacred by rioting white terrorists
Whites in New Orleans attacked the Louisiana State Convention of
1866 killing 27 Black delegates
Of 16 Blacks elected as delegates to the Mississippi Constitutional
Convention in 1868 two were assassinated by whites
In the Alabama campaign of 1870 four Black civil rights leaders
were murdered when they attended a Republican rally
In the Mississippi campaign of 1874 several Black leaders in Vicks
burg were attacked and murdered by the Ku Klux Klan
In Louisiana in the election of 1878 Klan gunmen fired on Blacks
standing at the polls in Caddo Parish killing 40 by one account 75
according to another
Systematic violence designed to cow Blacks asserting their right to
vote led Attorney General Alphonso Taft to declare in 1876 "It is
the fixed and desperate purpose of the Democratic Party in the South
that the Negroes shall not vote and murder is a common means of
intimidation to prevent them.
In the 1890's the legislatures of all Southern States disfranchised
Black citizens The then Supreme Court not only failed to intervene
but in the case of Giles v Harris in 1903 it officially sanctioned the
practice As the Black vote disappeared in the South it is understand
able that the murder of civil rights leaders decreased dramatically
only to be replaced by two other forms of white terrorism riots and
lynchings
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
was founded in 1909 to deal with them.at the expense of further
assertion of Black political power
The NAACP remained the leading civil rights organization for the
first half of the 20th century Its primary role was to offer legal coun
sel to Blacks whose rights had been denied In 1942 the Congress of
Racial Equality was founded For the most part it sponsored sit-ins
of segregated facilities
Nevertheless there were signs of progress in the 1940's A resurgent
civil rights movement was beginning to develop The Supreme Court
a new Supreme Court prohibited all-white primary elections de
clared unconstitutional restrictive real estate covenants and ordered
an end to segregation of interstate passengers
In 1947 President Truman's Committee on Civil Rights recom
mended the enactment of fair employment legislation In 1948 Presi
dent Truman abolished segregation in the Armed Forces and in Gov
ernment agencies
The civil rights movement of our time set its roots its deep roots
in the field of education with a hefty assist from a monumental Su
preme Court decision On May 17 1954 after a long struggle through
the courts by Blacks in Brown v Board of Education the Court an
 7

nounced its ruling that segregation in public schools was unconstitu

tional But the decision was only the beginning of a long struggle for
it was not easily accepted in the South
Indeed many historians believe the real beginning of the new Black
revolt against inequality was marked in Montgomery Ala. on Decem
ber 1 1955 When four Black passengers were asked by the driver of
a downtown bus to give up their seats Mrs Rosa Parks refused and
was arrested In protest Black leaders organized a boycott that lasted
for 382 days It ended when the courts ordered buses integrated
The bus boycott was guided by the words of a 27-year-old Black
Baptist minister who emerged from it as a fresh and dynamic force
among American Blacks Preaching "the Christian doctrine of love and
operating through the Ghandian method of nonviolence Dr Martin
Luther King Jr. represented a new leadership And he had shown in
Montgomery that he knew how to use direct action to achieve justice
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference was formed in early
1957 with Dr King as its president Adopting a nonviolent approach
SCLC was dedicated to the integration of Black Americans in all as
pects of American life
In May 1957 addressing the first major Black demonstration in
Washington since World War II Dr King returned to a theme that
had lain dormant for 60 years the right to vote "Give us the ballot,
he pleaded "and we will no longer have to worry the Federal Govern
ment about our basic rights.
He was on his way to becoming one of the most influential Black
leaders of his time a symbol of the hope for equality for all Ameri
cans
It was a time of fast-moving events actions and counteractions in
a continuing conflict
On September 9 President Eisenhower signed the Civil Rights Act
of 1957 a law that markedly enlarged the Federal role in race rela
tions It established a Civil Rights Commission and a Civil Rights
Division in the Justice Department Most important it gave the Attor
ney General authority to seek injunctions against obstruction of voting
rights That same month in Little Rock Ark. violent rioting erupted
over the integration of Central High Nine Black students were suc
cessfully enrolled but not before 1,000 paratroopers and 10,000 Na
tional Guardsmen were sent in The price of progress was a polariza
tion of southern attitudes and those elsewhere
The year of 1960 was a year of sit-ins They began February 1 in
Greensboro N.C. spreading rapidly to cities in Virginia Maryland
South Carolina Tennessee Alabama Kentucky and Florida By the
end of the year Blacks were being served at lunch counters in hundreds
of southern stores Again there was white resistance As the sit-ins set
the pace of a campaign to open up public facilities of all sorts there
were thousands of arrests and occasional outbreaks of violence
Violence was more than occasional in 1961 the year of the freedom
rides They began in May when members of CORE boarded two buses
in Washington and set out for New Orleans intending to test segrega
tion laws on the buses as well as in the terminals en route Trouble
broke out in Alabama The demonstrators were attacked and beaten
in Anniston and Birmingham One bus was stoned and burned
 8

When another group of students left Atlanta to ride to Montgomery

the following week Attorney General Kennedy sent 500 Federal
marshals to protect them The students unfortunately arrived before
the marshals however and they were severely beaten
The next evening an angry mob surrounded a church where Dr
King was to speak The marshals and federalized National Guards
men had to escort the congregation home The freedom riders met with
little violence in Mississippi though they had to reckon with a legal
system that gave them little leeway Over 300 demonstrators were
arrested for breach of the peace and for disobeying police orders to
disperse in segregated terminals
Reaction in Washington to the attacks on the freedom riders was
swift Attorney General Kennedy petitioned the Interstate Commerce
Commission which on September 22 adopted rules banning segrega
tion on interstate buses and in terminals
Across-the-board desegregation of Albany Ga. was the focus of
civil rights efforts led by Dr King in the summer of 1962 The city
reacted by arresting 1,100 demonstrators including Dr King and his
colleague the Reverend Ralph Abernathy The Albany campaign re
ceived national attention but it failed to crack southern resistance
symbolized by the city
This was not the case in the fall of 1962 in Oxford Miss. site of
the all-white University of Mississippi James Meredith an Air Force
veteran had been enrolled at Jackson State College when he decided
to seek a transfer to Ole Miss When he was rejected Meredith filed
suit After 16 months of litigation the Federal Circuit Court of Ap
peals ruled that he had been turned down solely because of his race
and ordered that he be accepted
Outright obstruction by State officials led the court to order that
the Governor and Lieutenant Governor pay daily fines unless they
stopped interfering with its ruling
On October 1 320 Federal marshals arrived at Oxford to escort
Meredith to his dormitory setting off a riot in which 2 persons were
killed 375 injured before it was quelled by the presence of Federal
troops When the tear gas had cleared Meredith was the first Black
student to enter Ole Miss
An all-out attack was launched in the spring of 1963 on segregation
in Birmingham Ala. called by Dr King "the most segregated city in
the United States. Civil rights activities sought removal of racial re
strictions in downtown snack bars restrooms and stores as well as
nonracial hiring practices and the formation of a biracial committee
to negotiate further integration Sit-ins picket lines and parades were
met with hundreds of arrests on charges of demonstrating without a
nermit loitering and trespassing But as each effort was blocked a
larger one loomed in its place
On Good Friday Dr King along with Ralph Abernathy and Fred
Shuttlesworth was arrested but the demonstrations continued On
May 2 2,500 Blacks most of them high school students were arrested
On May 3 one group of demonstrators was bombarded by bottles
while another was met by Police Commissioner Bull Conner with his
dogs and fire hoses
Publication of pictures of police tactics in Birmingham led to a
worldwide outcry and negotiations with the city followed in which Dr
 9

King agreed to suspend the campaign on May 8 But two dynamite

blasts 3 days later sent thousands of Blacks back to the streets When
calm was restored Dr King was viewed as having triumphed due to
the vast media attention he had attracted
One by one lunchcounters and other public facilities were open to
Blacks
Birmingham became a rallying cry for antisegregation activities in
hundreds of cities in the summer of 1963 Marches were held in Selma
Ala Albany Ga. Cambridge Md. Raleigh and Greensboro N.C.
Nashville and Clinton Tenn. Shreveport La. Jackson and Philadel
phia Miss. as well as in New York and Chicago It was also a period
of tragedy In June Medgar Evers NAACP field secretary in Missis
sippi was murdered and in September the Sixteenth Street Baptist
Church in Birmingham was bombed killing four young Black girls
attending Sunday school
A climatic point in the campaign for Black equality came on August
28 1963 when over 200,000 demonstrators assembled in Washington for
a march from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial
Dr King's address was acclaimed as the most memorable moment of
the day He said
I have a dream that one day this Nation will rise up live out the true meaning
of its creed "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created
equal.
The civil rights movement of this century has passed through three
phases each distinct in character though they have overlapped in
time The first desegregation was an effort to break down the barriers
of an old and corrupt social order The second integration was con
centrated on the opening up of opportunities.as in the case of the
provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which guaranteed Blacks
the right to vote guaranteed access to public accommodations au
thorized the Federal Government to sue to desegregate public facilities
and schools mandated nondiscrimination in Federal programs and re
quired equal employment opportunity The third a quest for world
peace and an end to economic injustice not only for Blacks but for all
the Nation's poor was uppermost in Dr King's mind in 1968 at the
time of his death It was exhibited by his staunch opposition to the
war in Vietnam and by his preoccupation with the poor people's march
to Washington
In this last quest Dr King seemingly was questioning the social
order of the country For this perhaps he made more enemies than
for his activism in the cause of civil rights His life and its steady
movement toward freedom justice equality and peace pose difficult
terribly difficult questions going to the reasons for his death These
causes and others were interred for many with his body at the me
morial gravesight in Atlanta Was his death then unrelated to his life
a senseless act or did it like his life have meaning It is to this ques
tion that this committee the House and the American public must
now turn in these hearings
Mr Chairman the witness we are now about to call with your per
mission is Dr Ralph Abernathy Dr Abernathy was a close associate
and personal friend of Dr King He is presently pastor of the West
Hunter Street Baptist Church in Atlanta He was formerly financial
secretary-treasurer of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
 10

and later elected vice president at large of SCLC and the designated
successor of Dr King When Dr King was assassinated Dr Aber
nathy became president of SCLC
Mr Chairman it would be appropriate to call Dr Abernathy
Chairman STOKES Thank you The committee now calls Dr
Abernathy
Would the witness please stand and be sworn
Dr Abernathy do you solemnly swear that the testimony you will
give before this committee is the truth the whole truth and nothing
but the truth so help you God
Dr ABERNATHYI do
Chairman STOKES Thank you You may be seated And on behalf
of the committee Dr Abernathy it is indeed a pleasure and an honor
to welcome you here this morning and to receive your testimony For
purposes of that testimony the committee now recognizes Mr Charles
Mathews special counsel to the committee
Mr MATHEwS Good morning Dr Abernathy welcome

TESTIMONY OF DR RALPH ABERNATHY

Dr ABERNATHYGood morning Mr Mathews and members of the
committee Mr Chairman
Mr MATHEWSDr Abernathy how long have you been associated
with SCLC
Dr ABERNATHYI have been associated with the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference since its inception and that was in January
1957
Mr MATHEwS Previous to that were you also associated with the
Montgomery Improvement Association
Dr ABERNATHYYes I organized the Montgomery Improvement
Association on December 2 1955
Mr MATHEwS What was the purpose of both those organizations
that is the Montgomery Improvement Association and SCLC which
followed
Dr ABERNATHY The purpose of the Montgomery Improvement
Association was to integrate the buses in the city of Montgomery the
capital of the great State of Alabama As you know in 1955 and prior
thereto the city buses in Alabama and across the Deep South were seg
regated And in Montgomery we had a system where the first 10 seats
on every bus were reserved for white passengers and Black persons
could not even occupy these seats on a temporary basis Several Black
women had been arrested and brutalized and mistreated on the buses
and finally on December 1 1955 Mrs Parks Rosa Parks was ar
rested and the next morning on the second Mr E D Nixon informed
me of this arrest and asked me if I would not do something about the
situation and I called together the Black pastors and leaders of the
city of Montgomery in order that we might organize a bus boycott
that is to refuse to ride the buses for a 2 or 3-day period in order that
we might gain three things No 1 more courtesy on the part of the
bus drivers No 2 a change in the seating policy for Blacks begin
ning in the rear and whites beginning in the front and wherever the
two groups met of course this would be the dividing line And sec
ond.or third.the employment of Black drivers on predominantly
 11

Black bus routes However none of these were granted and our bus
boycott stretched over a period of 381 days in an attempt really to
integrate the city buses
However let me add that in the beginning we were merely seeking
an improved form of segregation that is if you can have any such
things as an improved form of segregation on the buses
Mr MATHERS Did there come a time however I)r Abernathy when
that particular stage was completed and you then formed the Southern
Christian Leadership Conference is that not correct
Dr ABERNATHYThat is correct Our movement spread to other
cities like Tallahassee Fla. Birmingham Ala. and all across the
South because we were using a new technique one that had never
been tested in America before and that was nonviolent direct action
and this had been so very very effective until other communities had
adopted it and we were being called Dr King and myself to come
to these various cities so we decided we would organize the Southern
Christian Leadership Conference
Mr MATHEWSFor what purpose
Dr ABERNATHYFor the purpose of redeeming the soul of America
through nonviolent means We gathered in Atlanta Ga. and of
course had a preliminary session and of course during that very
night my home was bombed and the church that I pastored was dyna
mited and this interrupted the proceedings and I had to return to
Montgomery with Dr King and we did not complete the organiza
tional process until a month later which was really in the spring of
1957 in New Orleans La. for the purpose of redeeming the soul of
America and this encompassed not just the integrating of the buses
but dealing with many other problems
Mr MATHEWSYou mentioned you and I)r King That leads me to
another line of questioning When did you first meet Dr King
Dr ABERNATHYI met Dr King first in 1951 I was a student at the
university studying for a master's degree in sociology and I heard
of this very young able gifted articulate preacher of the gospel fol
lowing the style of Apostle Paul and I went over one Sunday to hear
him preach in the Ebenezer Baptist Church and I was greatly im
pressed with him I met him at the close of the worship service and
we exchanged briefly some chat and conversation and of course over
the summer we had a very brief acquaintance However he soon re
turned to Crozer Theological Seminary and I completed my work and
returned to my alma mater Alabama State University where I ac
cepted a teaching position We did not meet again until the spring of
1955 when Dr King came to Montgomery to try out or to preach an
initial sermon at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church a daughter church
of the First Baptist Church which I was pastoring and of course he
had the responsibility of bringing along my guest Dr Vernon Johns
who was his predecessor who had formerly pastored the Dexter Ave
nue Baptist Church He had to bring him to my home because Dr
Johns had hitchhiked a ride to Montgomery with Dr King and of
course Dr King accepted my wife's invitation to have dinner with us
and this was the beginning of a friendship a very close association
that ended only on April 4 1968 when he died in my arms in the St
Joseph Hospital in Memphis Tenn
 12

Mr MATHEWSDr Abernathy your testimony is that you first met

Dr King in 1951 How would you describe your relationship with Dr
King from 1951 through the date of the assassination
Dr ABERNATHYWell I would describe it as having been one of the
closest relationships that has ever existed between two individuals
I think I would have to say that I know of one other friendship as
I study history that was likened unto ours and that was the friend
ship of Jonathan and David We were the dearest of friends He said
this many times from platforms In the last speech that he made he
made it very clear by saying that I want the Nation and the world to
know that the dearest and closest friend I have in the world is Ralph
David Abernathy I felt that very same way about him The last meal
that he ate in the world we ate it from the very same platter together
We always shared the room whenever we traveled We were just
inseparable We were the dearest of friends
Mr MATHEWSGoing back again Dr Abernathy from 1955 through
1968 could you describe Dr King's role in the various stages of the
civil rights movement in that period
Dr ABERNATHYWell I would say that the first stage was a stage in
which we sought to do away with the whole evil of an unjust system
of segregation in this country whereby Blacks were denied their con
stitutional and God-given rights where they had to ride in the back
of the bus they had to sit in the balcony of the theater they had to
ride up in the front of the train This contradictory unjust system
this evil system of segregation manifested itself first in our attempts
to destroy it through the Montgomery bus boycott and through the
struggle in Birmingham Ala. which took place in 1963 Once we had
solved the question of segregation and we had won the right to ride
anywhere we chose to on the buses to live in hotels and motels of this
country we then moved to another level and that is to exercise our
most basic and democratic right as American citizens the right to
vote and this was manifested and seen very clearly in the Selma
demonstration which culminated in the march from Selma to Mont
gomery a 50-mile journey where several individuals lost their lives
like Mrs Viola Liuzzo and Rev James Reeb and Jimmy Lee Jackson
This would have been in my estimation the second stage of the King
era the King campaign And then I would say that the third era of
the King campaign had to do with the whole question of international
problems or the peace movement This is when he exercised a great deal
of courage and came out against the ungodly senseless war in Vietnam
and made very clear the fact that nations must not lift up sword
against nation the philosophy of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a
tooth that followed to its ultimate conclusion would end up with a
blind society and a toothless generation This of course caused a great
deal of concern interest and made for him a great deal of enemies
for there were those who believed that it was all right for Dr King
to lead a nonviolent protest to integrate the lunch counters but they
did not believe that he should have a voice in foreign policy and in
foreign affairs
The fourth and final stage Mr Counselor in my estimation as I
look back at his life and as I will describe it more clearly in my book
in the very near future has to do with Dr King's crusade for eco
nomic security on the part of Blacks and whites and is seen very
 13

clearly in his organizing for the poor people's campaign and in the
midst of that organizational process the striking sanitation workers
in Memphis Tenn. sent out the Macedonian call for Dr King to come
and give aid and assistance and help in that struggle
Dr King realized that it was not enough to eat at lunchcounters
to live in hotels and motels and yet at the very same time once you
checked in without difficulties you suffered great difficulties checking
out because you don't have a job you do not have the income that is
necessary you realize that it was not enough to have the right to vote
to be able to once again send Black men and women to the Congress of
the United States unless that was buttressed by economic power He
realized that it was not enough for men of various nations of the world
to coexist and to cease fighting and killing one another but he felt
that the most basic need for Blacks and poor whites in this country
was to enjoy the blessings of this land.and I call it economic secu
rity jobs and income.because he realized that everybody would not
be able to work but that it is the responsibility of the Government to
provide adequate income for those who are too old to work for those
who are unable to work and for those individuals who are too young
to work and for those individuals whom the country the Nation
does not train or prepare for work So I call it jobs and income
A guaranteed annual income is what I called for before a congres
sional committee last Wednesday when I was here in Washington
Mr MATHEws It is fair to say that when the Memphis sanitation
workers strike started which occurred in February of 1968 SCLC
Dr King. and yourself had already begun to focus on the economic
issues of the day is that correct
Dr ABERNATHYWell that is correct We were organizing the poor
people's campaign and we really had to interrupt our organizational
process
Mr MATHEWSDid Dr King see the Memphis sanitation workers
strike as an opportunity to put that new stage into effect
Dr ABERNATHYWell I think that Dr King's main concern was
really at that point to help the poor because this massive poor peo
ple's campaign where we were going to bring the poor and eventually
I did bring the poor from all across the Nation Black and white
brown red and yellow to Washington would dramatize the whole sit
uation and we would expose poverty The man was such a great man
he was such a good man he was such a sensitive man When he
heard the cries of striking sanitation workers garbage workers who
could not get a decent wage in Memphis Tenn. he altered his plans
and finally we as a staff in SCLC decided that we were coming to
Washington with a poor people's campaign but we were coming by
the way of Memphis Tenn that is we were going to straighten out
Memphis before we dealt with the Nation
Mr MATHEWSDo you recall who invited Dr King to Memphis the
first time on March 18 1968 when he gave his speech at the Mason
Temple
Chairman STOKESWould counsel suspend for a moment
I am requesting that the photographers who are seated in front of
the witness table and who are continuing to take photographs of Dr
Abernathy to remove themselves from that area If there are any

36-173
0 79 2
 14

further photographs you want of the witness you have 15 seconds to

take them and then remove yourselves
The Chair has no objection to your remaining in the room but we
think this testimony is extremely important to this committee and I
am sure this is distracting to the witness
Thank you You may resume counsel
Mr MATHEWSThank you Mr Chairman
Let me repeat my question Dr Abernathy
Do you recall who invited Dr King to speak in Memphis on March
18 1968
Dr ABERNATHYYes I recall very well It was Rev James Lawson
who was then the pastor of the Centenary United Methodist Church
and the Rev Ralph Jackson the director of the minimum salary de
partment of the African Methodist Episcopal Church These two
ministers along with Rev Billy Klyes had organized a citizens group
to support the striking sanitation workers and they had brought in
several national speakers of prominence like Mr Roy Wilkins Mr
Bayard Rustin and some others and finally they came to that period
and moment when they really wanted to bring in the best that we had
one that would really pack and fill the Mason Temple Church of God
and Christ building that would seat some 12,000 or 13,000 persons
and of course they invited Dr Martin Luther King Jr. to come in
As I have already stated we were in the process of organizing for
the poor people's campaign and of course Dr King went at a great
sacrifice to our cause Realizing that our cause was merely a cause for
the betterment of mankind he decided that he was going to go to
Memphis
Mr MATHEWS So his purpose in going on March 18 1968 was
mainly for the purpose of giving a speech in support of the strike is
that correct
Dr ABERNATHYThat is correct
Mr MATHEWS Do you recall where Dr King stayed on his first
visit on that date
Dr ABERNATHYI believe it was the Lorraine Motel We made all of
our visits through Memphis and into Memphis and all of our stops
were at the Lorraine Motel
Mr MATHEWSI am sorry go ahead
Dr ABERNATHYYes because the days of segregation had just come
to a close and still you encountered some difficulties in registering at
some of the motels and hotels and we felt very much at home at the
Lorraine Motel Much of our work of organizing for the poor people's
campaign counselor had taken place in the State of Mississippi The
whole idea had been conceived in Mississippi And the way we were
going to Mississippi was to fly into Memphis and then of course we
would be met and be driven down to Marks Miss This was a much
more direct route than flying into Jackson As you know there were
very few airports large enough at that time to accommodate the large
jets out of Atlanta
Mr MATHEWSJust on the Lorraine Motel point then it was not un
usual for Dr King or members of SCLC to stay at the Lorraine when
they had business in Memphis is that correct
Dr ABERNATHYThat is correct
Mr MATHEWSYou had stayed there in the past is that correct
 15

Dr ABERNATHYYes we had a standard room there

Mr MATHEWSLet me see if I can summarize your testimony briefly
Dr Abernathy Dr King was invited to Memphis on March 18 1968
by Reverend Lawson and other members of the Memphis community
group
He gave a speech that night at the Mason Temple is that correct
Dr ABERNATHYThat's correct
Mr MATHEWSThere came a time when he decided to return to Mem
phis again not just to give a speech but to lead a march is that
correct
Dr ABERNATHYWell it was really to give a speech and to lead
a march
Mr MATHEWSWill you describe briefly how that event occurred
that is the decision to return to Memphis and lead a march on March
22 1968
Dr ABERNATHY We had really made no definite commitment to
Memphis Tenn.'s striking sanitation workers Dr King had been in
vited merely to speak and of course upon the second invitation we
had gotten up as far as New York and New Jersey in organizing for
the poor people's campaign and after having had a very very success
ful date on that Wednesday Dr King did not want to leave New Jer
sey because he wanted very much to go to Paterson so he asked that
I would go and make the speech on that Wednesday evening at Mason
Temple Church And of course he would join me the next morning
He would take a flight out of New York early the next morning and
come to Memphis where we would lead the march
But he would not be present at the rally So after some persuasion
I decided that I would go to Memphis and deliver the speech which
I did There were some 10.000 or 12,000 persons there throughout
Now on that evening I was the guest of the Municipal County and
State Employees Union headed by Mr Jerry Wurf and they had a
room for all of their guests in the Peabody Hotel this is the old down
town established hotel in Memphis
Mr MATHEWSSo you stayed in the Peabody
Dr ABERNATHYYes because it is unionized This was the argument
that they gave
Mr MATHEWSThat morning did you travel to the airport and pick
up Dr King
Dr ABERNATHYYes the next morning of course as usual through
the courtesy of a funeral home in Memphis and Rev Solomon Jones
the driver I was picked up and taken to the airport to meet Dr King
and from there we went to the Clayborn Temple A.M.E Church
and the Minimum Salary Building of the A.M.E Church and we
could not follow our usual custom of going in the church workshop
ping the marchers on our nonviolent technique and gathering from
them their knives whatever they had which would keep them from
becoming violent in case they might be attacked because there were
so many people outside and there was a restlessness within the crowd
There were large numbers of young people who appeared to be very
very cooperative yet they were restless and anxious to actually move
and to get going with that march
Mr MATHEWS So was the decision made by yourself and Dr King
to proceed with the march on the 28th of March
 16

Dr ABERNATHYYes and in consultation with local leaders we de

cided the best thing to do was to really get the march started so that
we would not face what we had faced here in Washington where the
people were here the leaders were supposed to be out front and the
people were ready to march
So we thought it would be best to really get the march started and
we moved down Beale Street a very famous street in Memphis and
turned into Main Street It was then that these young men there were
some Black men in the march who began to pat us on the back and
congratulate us and tell us how great we were and how blessed they
were to have us in Memphis and then we would hear smashing seem
ingly of windows and then it became very clear to us that windows
were being broken and that violence had broken out on this march
and Dr King signaled Rev James Lawson to come to him with his
bullhorn and he said violence has broken out on this march I will
never lead a violent march so please call it off And Reverend Lawson
called the march off
At that very moment the Memphis Police and State troopers ap
peared with their tear gas and began to fix their helmets and of course
at that point someone stopped the last car that they permitted to cross
Main Street and asked that we might use the car to take Dr King
out of the crowd
Of course Rev Bernard Lee myself and Dr King were put in this
car Reverend Jones drove the car down to the Riverside Drive with the
aid of two motorcycle cops And once we were there they wanted to
know what hotel we wanted to go to and of course I suggested the
Peabody because that's where I had spent the night before They said
they could not get to the Peabody because violence had broken out the
city had been tear gassed and it was impossible to cross Main Street
Then Dr King said "Well to the Lorraine Motel, and they said
"Well that's even worse We cannot get to the Lorraine Motel but we
will take you to a hotel, and they took us to the Riverdale
Mr MATHEWSWas that the Rivermont
Dr ABERNATHYThe Rivermont maybe that's it the Rivermont
$oliday Inn We had never been there before but I guess they had
radioed ahead because they were expecting us They had a suite ready
We were taken directly to the suite with two bedrooms and a living
area and it was there that we heard over the news that a curfew had
been called for by the mayor of the city
No one was permitted on the streets A young Black man had been
killed and Dr King was greatly greatly disturbed It was the most
restless night It was a terrible and a horrible experience for him I
had never seen him in all my life so upset and so troubled by the fact
that violence had broken out on his march
This was the first time that we had ever experienced any violence
from our ranks Certainly violence had been inflicted upon our dem
onstrators but never before had any of our demonstrators perpetrated
any violence defensive or aggressive upon anyone and naturally he
was concerned about his image across the country and they were giving
him a tough time about Vietnam at that time of course the press was
very very familiar with him
No longer was he a novelty and they were writing editorials that
were not too complimentary and of course Dr King was greatly dis
turbed by all of this and this was a horrible evening
 17

Mr MATHEWSDid he make the decision at that time to return to

Memphis to lead a nonviolent march or was that decision made later
Dr ABERNATHYNo that decision was made later
Mr MATHEWSWhen
Dr ABERNATHYThat decision was not made until Saturday The
march had taken place on Thursday The night of which I speak of
that was such a painful night was a Thursday night
Mr MATHEWSThat was March 28 1968
Dr ABERNATHYThat is correct
Mr MATHEWS Did the decision you speak of occur on March 30
1968 which was a Saturday
Dr ABERNATHY Yes that is correct That decision was made by
the executive staff of the conference
Mr MATHEws What was that decision
Dr ABERNATHYIf I may just back up a little just let me say that
on Friday morning Dr King had called for a press conference and
of course I guess he fell asleep around 5 or 6 o'clock I permitted him
to sleep once he had finally gone to sleep and a group of young men
came to the hotel-
Mr MATHEWS This is at the Rivermont on Friday the 29th of
March
Dr ABERNATHYYes they came and asked if they could see Dr
King Of course I told them that he was resting and he needed to rest
Then they identified themselves as members of the Invaders and said
they were the people responsible for the violence that they had dropped
out of the ranks of the march and broken windows and then taken
refuge back in the march
I readily recognized many of them because these were the young
men who were patting us on the back they were young Black men say
ing how wonderful it was that we had come to Memphis to help them
and they said that they were very very disturbed because the young
man who had been killed in the violence was a member of their group
and they wanted to make that confession to Dr King and it was at
that point that I went in and told him what they wanted to do and
he said "Well they will just have to make it to you which will be all
right. He said "Well you can take the confession I am going to
get up now and get ready for the press conference.
And of course they did make that confession and we talked about
it and en route to the press conference he stopped briefly and heard
what they had to say
Of course we went on to the press conference and strangely enough
the lion as I like to call it in Dr King came out in his press confer
ence He was a very courageous man yet he was a very meek and hum
ble man but he would always rise to any occasion and it was at this
point that he really mastered that press conference as we walked in
and said this would not be just an ordinary briefing but it can be a
press conference it may be on the record or off the record ask what
ever questions you want to ask He did not use his aide Reverend Lee
to begin the conference
He did it all himself It made me so very proud of him Once we
were back in the room I just had to express the joy after such a pain
ful night and he said "Well David what I want you to do now is get
me out of Memphis get me to Atlanta. And of course we took the
first flight available to Atlanta He wanted me to go with him to the
 18

health club at the YMCA I thought it was more important that I go

show myself to my wife and let her know that I was still alive and
unharmed in spite of what the press may have said I wanted her to see
with her own eyes So I went home and it was from the health club
that he called me
Mr MATHEWSDr Abernathy let me stop you briefly here Can you
relate to us briefly what occurred at the meeting on March 30 Was
some decision made at that point in time to return to Memphis by
SCLC staff and Dr King
Dr ABERNATHYOK you want me to skip the other
Mr MATHEWSYes I do
Dr ABERNATHYThank you We decided eventually that we were
going to Washington with the poor people's campaign we were going
by the way of Memphis Tenn Dr King was not present at the time
that the decision was made The executive staff Rev Hosea Williams
Rev Jesse Jackson now Ambassador Andrew Young myself and Rev
Bernard Lee and just the full executive staff was present when the
decision was made
Since I was the vice president of the organization they asked me if I
would please contact the president.I knew where he was.and in
form him that they wanted to see him they wanted to convey to him
themselves their feelings
Of course I contacted him and finally he came after about 2 hours
T wanted to tell you how depressed he was I thought it was important
you know that But I guess you have that entered in the record some
place
Mr MATHEWSYes sir
Dr ABERNATHYHe was very terribly depressed a depression that
I had never experienced before and had never seen He was back in
this shell And of course he finally came after about 2 hours and the
staff informed him of their decision to go to Memphis They gave the
outline that he was to preach the next Sunday morning at the Wash
ington Cathedral here and certain staff persons would go to Memphis
and begin workshopping the people on Sunday and others would go
in on Monday and Dr King and myself were to come in on Tuesday
Mr MATHEWS So there came a time then on April 3 1968 when
you and Dr King arrived in Memphis is that correct
Dr ABERNATHYWe didn't go into Memphis until on Wednesday
Mr MATHEWSThat was April 3 1968 Wednesday
Dr ABERNATHYWednesday that's right
Mr MATHEWSDid you stay at the Lorraine Motel that day
Dr ABERNATHYYes Wedid
Mr MATHEWSThat night did Dr King give a speech that has now
become known as the "mountaintop speech at the Mason Temple
Dr ABERNATHYSurely he gave it As you know there were tornado
warnings in Memphis and a great deal of rain He had asked me to give
the speech that night but once I got there I discovered there was a
large press and all the television cameras I knew they wanted to hear
what the most peaceful warrior of the 20th century had to say So I
called him and asked him if he would please come and he assured me
he would come and make the speech that evening and of course I
introduced him and then he made the famous speech that longevity
certainly has its virtues that every man would like to live a long life
 19
but so far as he was concerned it didn't matter any more All he
wanted to do was to do the will of God because he had been to the
mountaintop and he had viewed the promised land from afar and
that he might not get there with the people but eventually one day his
people would get to the promised land and of course he closed with
"Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.
It was a marvelous speech It was a moving speech Many people
thought that he had a premonition or maybe some knowledge which
he had received through letter or telephone that something was going
to happen
Mr MATHEWS You say many people You were his closest friend
What do you think
Dr ABERNATHYWell I think he had received some word
Mr MATHEWSA premonition
Dr ABERNATHYNo I just think he had received some word from
some source that he was going to be assassinated
Mr MATHEWSBut you have no knowledge
Dr ABERNATHYNo I have no knowledge
Mr MATHEWS Dr Abernathy let me take you directly now to
April 4 1968 the day of the assassination and the most important as
pect of your testimony here today
Could you describe from approximately 4 o'clock onward the se
quence of events that occurred on that day
Dr ABERNATHYWell about 4 o'clock thereabouts the telephone
rang in the room and I answered the phone and it was Dr King
saying to me
David I want you to come down to the room come down to my brother's
room A D.'s room I would like for you to come down and be with us
And of course I went down and he told me about the lengthy con
versation which they had held with his mother over the telephone and
how pleased she was that A D was there with him
Of course we had this dinner engagement at the home of Rev
and Mrs Billy Kyles And of course he wanted to know the menu so
he asked me if I would call and find out since Dr King is not a man
for eating a lot of broccoli and asparagus and cauliflower
He liked good food You know soul food And so I did call Mrs
Kyles and talked with her about her menu and repeated it so he knew
exactly what was being served
And finally she got around to the good soul food she was going to
have also He was very pleased to know that and then we went back
to the room to our room where he shaved and we talked about some
things
I revealed to him the fact that I would not utter it in the meeting
but I could not come to Washington for the poor people's campaign
preparatory committee 100 on the date which we had agreed in the
meeting I would not say that in the meeting because I didn't want to
make any lengthy discussions or anything of that nature but I had
a revival service in my church and it was totally impossible for me
FIe said "Well David".I always called him Michael by his real
name and he always called me David by my real name He said
David I wouldn't think of going to Washingtonwithout you We have got to get
that revival rescheduled and we must find a preacher
 20

Of course we attempted to call the preacher in New Orleans who

could have done the job to my satisfaction because I didn't have time
to promote it And of course the pastor was away with his bishop out
in the rural and there was no telephone Of course we never did get
through on that one
So then he turned to me and he said
Well if I know that you are the pastor of the greatest church in America had
not you accepted that church I was going to leave my father and go and pastor
to the West Hunter Street Baptist Church
He said
Those people will do anything you tell them And I want you to go to the
West Hunter Church and tell them that you have a greater revival you have a
revival where you are going to revive the soul of this Nation where you are going
to cause America to feed the hungry to have concern for those who are down
trodden and disinherited you have a revival where you are going to cause
America to stop denying necessities to the masses only to give luxuries to the
classes
He said "If you will do that I'm sure that West Hunter Street
Church will understand and we can go ahead with this campaign.
He said "Give me your promise and give me your word that you
will not let me down.
I said "Well I will do it We have been together so far and there
is no need for us to separate now.
And he said "Are you ready And I said "Yes, and we put our
coats on and we started out of the motel room Just as we got in the
door I said "Wait just a moment let me put on some aftershave
lotion, and of course he said "OK I'll stand right here on the
balcony. And of course before I could get the lotion up on my face
I heard what sounded like a firecracker
Naturally I jumped and of course I then looked and I could see
only his feet Had he fallen directly back he would have fallen right
in the room right in the door but the bullet was so powerful it twisted
his body and he had fallen in a kind of kitty-cornered fashion and of
course I rushed out immediately
I heard the groans of the people in the courtyard who had hit the
ground and of course I stepped across him because the bullet had
entered his right cheek and I patted his left cheek consoled him and
got his attention saying "This is Ralph this is Ralph don't be afraid.
Someone from the Community Relations Service came crawling
bringing me a pillow and a blanket I put it under his head and covered
him with it I stayed with him in the ambulance I helped put him
in the ambulance I stayed with him in the operating room I helped
to give him the oxygen with the attendant on duty en route to the
hospital
1 was there when the physician said to me that it would be a bless
ing it would be an act of mercy if he did pass because the bullet had
really entered the cheek and then it had moved and severed his spine
and then it had come down in the chest This is where once they cut
the clothing off there was a hole big enough in his body for me to
put both my fists which I had not seen before until they cut off his
clothing and so forth
And he said he would be a vegetable had he lived the rest of his
life he would be paralyzed from his neck down And finally he came
 21

over to me and said again that the person who just left was the
neurosurgeon
Of course he had shaken his head as he walked out He said "f
doubt that anything will be done. Of course I went over I said if
I might go over He said I could I went over and that was the end
It happened 1 hour from the time that he was shot
Mr MATHEWSMr Chairman
Chairman STOKES Yes
Mr MATHEWSI have no further questions of the witness
Chairman STOKES Dr Abernathy let me express our appreciation
for the testimony you have just given us
I guess in a very sobering way you have helped all of us once again
realize the meaning of the life of Dr King and the civil rights move
ment in this Nation of which you are one of the great leaders also
The committee will now operate under the 5-minute rule and with
unanimous consent the Chair would like to out of order recognize the
distinguished gentleman from Tennessee who represents the district
in which Dr King was assassinated as the first member to question
the witness
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee Mr Ford
Mr Foim Thank you very much Mr Chairman Dr Abernathy at
the outset may I extend my personal welcome to you and express my
appreciation for your appearance here today Unfortunately Dr
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in the city where I was
born and raised The people of the city of Memphis were as much a
victim of this shocking American tragedy as was Dr Martin Luther
King Jr. and with your permission may I ask a few questions
Dr ABERNATHYYes sir I will be delighted to answer May I ask
does it mean that you and I have only 5 minutes now
Mr Foxo I don't think so
Chairman STOKES It means this Dr Abernathy Under the 5-min
ute rule each member of the committee will have 5 minutes in which
to question you and I have to recognize the next member and .of
course the committee can at its discretion continue under the 5-min
ute rule as they so desire so the member can always come back to you
again
Dr ABERNATHYI see
Mr FORD Dr Abernathy what was Dr King's attitude toward
security and police protection
Dr ABERNATHYDr King felt very strongly that there was a higher
power of security and a greater police power He really did not rely
nor did he trust the police power in this country He knew that in the
Deep South that the sheriffs who were all white and the police
chiefs who were all white and the various majority of the police
who were all white were against him He knew that the FBI was
against him and could not be trusted He knew that the CIA was
against him and could not be trusted That is hotel rooms had been
bugged and that he had been under surveillance by the police So the
police and security was looked upon really as an enemy rather than a
force of good and he refused to own a gun or to permit anyone on his
staff to carry any guns for his own protection He felt that the most
powerful force in this country and in the world is nonviolence and
that one could protect himself with nonviolence more effectively than
he could with weapons
 22

Mr FORD Dr Abernathy during the period of late 1967 and until

his untimely death in 1968 was the life of Dr Martin Luther King
threatened
Dr ABERNATHYOh yes he was constantly threatened He suffered
many many many threats many many threats in Montgomery Ala.
threats in Atlanta Ga. and all across the country where he lead move
ments and where he went to speak Of course there were threats And
even on the day which would have been April 3 we took a plane out
of Atlanta Ga We sat on this airplane for 1 hour with no explanation
from the captain or the pilot or any of the officers or the stewardesses
and finally the pilot said after an hour
Ladies and gentlemen I want to apologize for the delay but today we have
a distinguished person on this plane Dr Martin Luther King Jr We wanted to
be very very careful so we had the plane guarded all night last night and then
we checked every piece of luggage in order that we might not have any bombs
exploding because if Dr King is to be killed we don't want to be killed also
or some words to that effect
So he was constantly getting threats many of them through the
mail over the telephone some of it was in person as in Selma Ala.
a man came up and struck him as he attempted to register at a down
town hotel where no Blacks had ever lived before
Mr FORD To your knowledge was the Federal Bureau of Investiga
tion aware of these threats
Dr ABERNATHYOh yes they were aware of them We would report
some of them We did not report all of them because it became very
apparent to us that the FBI had no intention of doing anything about
them You see so many members of the FBI were southerners racist
southerners white southerners and because you take a racist white
man and put an FBI badge on him that does not change their thinking
in their heart one bit it just makes them Federal personnel
Also we knew Mr Hoover's attitude who was then the head of the
FBI Department He had called Dr King the most notorious liar in
the country and I visited Mr Hoover and I knew his attitude toward
Dr King and we would report for the record many of these threats
and nothing was done about it We didn't see any investigations taking
place nonetheless for the sake of the record we would report some
of them
Chairman STOKESTime of the gentleman has expired
Mr FORD Mr Chairman I would ask unanimous consent to proceed
for an additional 10 minutes
Chairman STOKESWithout objection the gentleman is recognized
Mr FORD Dr Abernathy did Dr King ever allow his own personal
safety to interfere with his divine mission to provide equal rights for
all people
Dr ABERNATHYNo he certainly did not He was always concerned
about equal rights for all people and his personal safety became sec
ondary This is not to suggest at all that he wanted to become a martyr
He loved life and he wanted to live but his commitment to the cause
of Christ.this is what I call it you may call it something else.his
commitment to the American dream was much more powerful and
much more forceful than his own personal safety
Mr FORDWhat was his position regarding his own personal safety
Dr ABERNATHYOh yes they were aware of them We would report
my battles that truth crushed to the earth will rise again and that if
 23

a man has not discovered something that he is willing to die for then
that man is not fit to live He also felt that freedom is costly and that
there would be no freedom unless there is suffering and sacrifice but
he believed at the very same time that there was power in redemptive
suffering
Mr FORD Dr Abernathy to your knowledge did the Memphis
Police Department and the Memphis Office of the FBI have any infor
mation regarding the many threats made upon the life of Dr King
The Memphis Office of the FBI and the Memphis Police Department
Dr ABERNATIY Oh yes the Memphis Office of the FBI had some
knowledge of some of the threats because some threats had been made
in Memphis Tenn. and the police department in Memphis This is
seen very clearly by the fact that each time that we went into Memphis
there were two Black detectives who were assigned to us while in the
city of Memphis
Mr FoRn In view of the plane being searched in Atlanta and the
many possible implications arising therefrom and in view of the Mem
phisPolice Department and the Memphis Office of the FBI being not
only aware of the threats on Dr King's life but also that he was en
route to Memphis what police protection outside of these two police
officers was given Dr King when he arrived in Memphis on April 3
1968
Dr ABERNATxYNone
Mr Foin Having made reference to the FBI to your knowledge
was Dr King acquainted with its then Director J Edgar Hoover
You made statements Mr Hoover made in regards to Dr King Was
Dr King acquainted with him Had he ever met with him or talked
with him or spoken with him about the threats personally
Dr ABERNATHYOh yes he had met Mr Hoover and he had talked
with Mr Hoover
Mr FORD Do you have any opinion as to whether or not the FBI
through its Director Mr Hoover harassed and thereby attempted to
impede the objectives of Dr King If so explain
Dr ABERNATHYWell impede in the sense of seeking to destroy one's
morale or esprit de corps or kill one's spirit I don't know of them seek
ing to block any march or any demonstration but to impede by bugging
your hotel room and sending your wife a tape which are supposed to
have been some activities that may have taken place in your hotel
room to know that you are under surveillance that there is somebody
on every plane that you traveled there with you naturally this would
impede in some way but I don't know of Mr Hoover or the FBI
standing in our way anywhere where a march was concerned or pre
venting us from going to jail if we sought to violate a law that we
considered to be an unjust law
Mr FoRD Did you or your staff have any information which might
lead you to believe that the Director Mr Hoover was communicating
orders pertaining to Dr King directly verbally and unofficially into
the Memphis area prior to the April 4 assassination
Dr ABERNATHYNo I do not have any information on that
Mr FoRD Dr Abernathy--
Chairman STOKES Time of the gentleman has expired
Mr FORD One last final question Mr Chairman
Dr Abernathy prior to Dr King's coming to Memphis and indeed
at any time before his assassination (lid you or to your knowledge
 24

Dr King or anyone on his staff know that the official in charge of

the Memphis Police Department was a former FBI agent who served
8 of his 25 years with the Bureau as inspector in charge of the per
sonal office.and I repeat sir.in the personal office of Mr Hoover
the Director of the FBI
Dr ABERNATHYNo we did not know that
Chairman STOIcES Time of the gentleman has expired The gentle
man from Ohio Mr Devine
Mr DEVINE Thank you very much Mr Chairman
I hope from the questioning thus far that this doesn't turn into a
trial of the FBI rather than trying to fulfill the mandate of the Con
as
gress to determine whether or not Mr Ray was alone or whether
the person charged with having committed this offense was involved
in a conspiracy That is the objective
Dr Abernathy we appreciate your being here this morning and in
connection with your earlier testimony about being in the room that
you apparently shared with Dr King and putting the face lotion on
as he went onto the balcony you heard what you thought was a
firecracker
Dr ABERNATHYYes
Mr DEVINE Do you know who was on the balcony with him at that
time
Dr ABERNATHYThere was nobody on the balcony with him
Mr DEVINE Was he alone and in front of the door of the room that
you were occupying
Dr ABERNATHYYes he was alone
Mr DEVINE And you emerged when you heard the noise and Dr
King had fallen I believe you said his body twisted slightly around
the corner of the room there in the area way
Do you know who was immediately below in the parking lot looking
up toward where Dr King was
Dr ABERNATHYYes there were several persons many persons in
the courtyard just below
Mr DESTINEAny specifically that you can identify
Dr ABERNATHYRev Solomon Jones the driver Rev Jesse Jack
son Mr Ben Branch Ambassador Andrew Young Rev Bernard
Scott Lee These were all staff members of SCLC Representative
Hosea Williams State representative
Mr DEVINE I know that vast confusion occurred immediately
following this tragic event Do you recall any of the persons down
there pointing in any direction saying "The shot came from here, or
anything like that
Dr ABERNATHYNo the first thing that happened once I heard the
sound of whatI thought was something like a firecracker I looked and
saw only his feet and I rushed out Everybody hit the ground Mr
Congressman taking refuge because they thought the place was being
shot up somebody was shooting into the crowd but this was imma
terial to me and I was concerned about my friend my buddy so
while they were on the ground they stayed there until you know con
siderable time and of course the first person to get up to where we
were was the Rev Billy Kyles to whose home we were going for
dinner He had come to be with us to go with us
 25

Mr DEVINE But you heard no more than one shot or one firecracker
sound
Dr ABERNATHYThat is right only one And then Rev Andrew
Young was the second person who came up Rev Bernard Lee was the
next person and then Rev Jesse Jackson and Rev Hosea Williams
and they began to pick out where they thought the shot came from and
this is where the pointing.you may have seen a picture where they
are standing pointing and I am down on the floor with Dr King
Mr DEVINE Do you recall in which direction they were pointing
Dr ABERNATHYWell I can't get the geography of Memphis They
were pointing away from the motel across the street
Mr DEVINE Directly away from the balcony on which Dr King
had been standing
Dr ABERNATHYYes
Mr DEVINE And do you knew whether that direction happens to be
the roominghouse that has since been publicized about this incident
Dr ABERNATHYYes that was the roominghouse
Mr DEVINE Are you acquainted with the crime scene map that rests
over here to your left against the wall Can you identify any portion
thereof 1
Dr ABERNATHYNo
Mr DEVINE The blue in the middle being the swimming pool that
your balcony overlooked
Dr ABERNATHYThis is the first time I have seen that map
Mr DEVINE Perhaps later we can identify it in more detail
You said following Dr King's speech which was outstanding about
looking over the mountain and so forth that he came back and he said
to the effect "Now get me out of Memphis. Where were you going
Dr ABERNATHYTo Atlanta
Mr DEVINE To Atlanta
Dr ABERNATHYTo our homes
Mr DEVINE And you also said this "I think he had received some
word from sources that he would be assassinated.
Now on what do you base that thought that assumption You said
"I think he had received some word from sources that he would be
assassinated. That is what you said directly in response to Mr
Mathew's questioning
Dr ABERNATHY Yes I base it Congressman on his attitude I
had just returned from a trip around the world and Dr King became
he was altogether a different individual he was troubled he was
worried he was nervous and very very jittery We went on a vaca
tion down in Acapulco Mexico to get some rest before we started the
organizing of the poor people's campaign He began to do what he
had never did and that was to pass on to me certain information that
he wanted me to have He repreached the sermon that he preached
in his own church "A Drum Major for Justice, where he really
talks about his death his funeral and said if anybody is around I
don't want a long funeral don't mention the fact that I hold a Ph D
degree and some 18 or 20 other doctorate degrees don't mention the
fact that I hold a Nobel Peace Prize just say that I tried to help
somebody I wanted to be a drum major for justice and equality He
i Seeinfra p 77
 26

preached that sermon to me We were in Acapulco for rest and relaxa

tion and there was no rest or relaxation He was troubled and worried
And at that point I would say he was frightened and it is on this
basis
Mr DEVINE You came to this conclusion on the basis of Dr King's
attitude and conduct rather than anything that he said to you about
any specific source threatening to assassinate him is that correct
Dr ABERNATHYThat is correct he didn't say anything
Chairman STOKESThe time of the gentleman has expired
The gentleman from North Carolina Mr Preyer
Mr PREYERThank you Mr Chairman
Dr Abernathy your testimony and Mr Blakey's review of the civil
rights history I think has given very dramatic evidence of the accom
plishments of Dr King and his close associates like yourself Also I
think it gives some meaning to the plaque that is on the Lorraine
Motel now The members of the committee went down to view room
306 at the Lorraine Motel in which you and Dr King were staying
As you know now it is a memorial Incidentally it was news to me that
it is also a memorial to the widow of the owner of the Lorraine Motel
whose first name was Lorraine and who died that night of a cerebral
hemorrhage apparently because of great concern over this That
plaque that is now outside the room is from the Book of Genesis and I
will probably quote it wrong but you or Reverend Fauntroy can
correct me But it of course deals with Joseph being sold into Egypt
by his brothers and it says "Behold the dreamer cometh Let us kill the
dreamer and we shall see what happens to his dreams.
Do you feel the assassination of Dr King was an effort to kill the
dream that is was it a political assassination to kill him for his ideas
or do you feel it was the act of an unbalanced individual who was
seeking to assert his own self-importance by killing an important
man
Dr ABERNATHYMr Congressman I am very happy to answer that
question because first I chose the scripture and I placed the plaque
there "Behold here cometh the dreamer come now let us slay him and
we shall cast him into a pit and we shall say that some wild beast has
devoured him and then we shall see what will become of his dreams.
I believe very firmly that the assassination of Dr Martin Luther
King Jr. was a political assassination I believe that it was a conspir
acy I believe that he was assassinated in an attempt to kill the dream
the American dream the fulfilling of that dream for all peoples Black
and white young and old rich and poor brown yellow and red
Mr PREYEEThat is one of the missions of this committee to attempt
to answer that question and get to the bottom of that I believe you
have already outlined the reasons why you feel that way with Mr
Devine the troubled attitude of Dr King the surrounding circum
stances but that so far you do not have other direct evidence tending
to show that
Dr ABERNATHYThat is correct I do not have any direct evidence
that anyone spoke with him or said that he was going to be assassi
nated All I know is that when I returned in January of 1968 from a
peace mission around the world that Dr King was a completely dif
ferent individual he was a troubled man and I believe that somebody
had conveyed certain information to him He already had written
 27

into the SCLC constitution that I would succeed him but then he be
gan to share certain things with me For instance in his last executive
staff meeting when Representative Hosea Williams now Represent
ative Hosea Williams wanted to employ three or four of the Invaders
on our staff he turned to me and said "Ralph under no circumstances
and at no time in the history of this SCLC must there be anyone who
will use violence as a technique as a strategy or even as a tactic to
gain any rights for Black or for poor American people. He said "I
am charging you and holding you responsible.
I thought then that he was saying it because I was treasurer of the
organization as well as the vice president and signed the checks I
didn't know he was saying it because very soon I would be the presi
dent of the organization and I would be in charge of hiring everyone
Chairman STOKES The time of the gentleman has expired
The Chair recognizes the distinguished chairman of the King Sub
committee the gentleman from the District of Columbia Mr
Fauntroy
Mr FAUNTROYThank you Mr Chairman
I would like Dr Abernathy to express my appreciation of the com
mittee and the American people for your very moving testimony be
fore us today
Dr Abernathy you have indicated that while you too noted Dr
King was a very troubled man toward the end of his life and while
you have given us a number of indications that he had a premonition
about his own death you have candidly reported that you do not know
of any specific threat that he received or that he mentioned to you
You have speculated that the bit of depression or the depression
that he was in was perhaps due among other things to the harass
ment of which he was almost daily aware from the FBI
I wonder if you would care to comment to the committee on why you
think the FBI harassed Dr King in ways that you knew then and
ways that we have all come to know far better since
Dr ABERNATHYThank you very kindly Mr Fauntroy The harass
ment of Dr King from the FBI not only Dr King but so many of
us associated with him began even as early as Montgomery Ala. back
in 1955 when our telephones were tapped and we knew they were
tapped and our homes were bugged and we knew that our homes were
bugged because we would hear strange noises and sounds and informa
tion was getting out and we learned to live with it because anything
we wanted to say we always spoke in codes or we would go use a pay
telephone and would never use the same pay phone
I can only attribute it to the fact that the Kerner Commission re
vealed and it was imminent that we just live in a racist country and
there are people in this country who do not want Blacks and browns
and yellows and other minorities especially the poor to enjoy the
blessings of this land and unfortunately an agency of our Federal
Government that we always looked to as our friends was certainly
in my estimation and my belief an enemy because we were seeking
to bring about change and change is very difficult for many people
And of course Black people were tired and I never before in the
history of this country has there been one national voice that was re
spected by the vast majority of the masses of the people and the mosses
of the people were moving and following the leadership of Dr King
 28

I think there were those including the FBI who felt that they
ought to discredit and to render ineffective Martin Luther King Jr
Mr FAUNTROYYou mentioned also in connection with the march
that several of the young men who were responsible for the violence
would come in and out of the crowd and pat you on the back and
congratulate you for having come and then go and commit acts of
violence is that true
Dr ABERNATHYThat's correct
Mr FAUNTROYWhat reason did you think motivated them to do
that You reflected upon this obviously afterwards Why did you
think that they would deliberately deceive you about their support
of nonviolence and of Dr King while at the same time turning
around and doing what they knew would be destructive of his purposes
Dr ABERNATHYWell later we discovered that some of these young
men were being paid by the FBI as informers and to bring about
violence which would discredit SCLC and its leadership and Dr King
We also discovered from the young men themselves demands of
SCLC They wanted gifts in terms of money they wanted cars they
had their own cause that they wanted to promote calls of racism sepa
ratism and of course SCLC has been as much against Black separa
tism as we are against white separatism
We want the beloved community the integrated society
Mr FAUNTROYMr Chairman I would like unanimous consent for
2 additional minutes
Chairman STOKESWithout objection
Mr FAUNTROYDr Abernathy is it your testimony that before Dr
King died he was aware that members of the Invaders were in fact
FBI informants
Dr ABERNATHYOh yes he was aware of that As I stated they
came the next morning in the cloak of righteousness to confess their
sins but later they came to make demands Of course he did receive
the knowledge that they were FBI informants
Mr FAUNTROYDo you recall any specific.strike that
Thank you Mr Chairman I think that is all the questions I have at
this time
Chairman STOKESIn recognizing the next member I would like the
record to reflect the Chair's recognition and commendation of this gen
tleman for what the Chair knows to have been an enormously dedicated
member of the King subcommittee one who has expended many many
hours of hard dedicated work on behalf of that subcommittee the
gentleman from Connecticut Mr McKinney
Mr MCKINNEY Thank you Mr Chairman It is an honor to welcome
you here Dr Abernathy
Dr ABERNATHYThank you Mr McKinney
Mr MCKINNEY How concerned were you and Dr King about the
Invaders and the possibility of their destroying your reputation for
nonviolence
Dr ABERNATHYWe were greatly concerned about it greatly con
cerned because never before had we confronted a group that were
paid informers for the FBI that we were knowledgeable of and a
group that made such heavy demands of SCLC
We did not have money to even finance our own campaign and we
were getting ready to launch the largest campaign that ever had taken
 29

place within this country the poor people's campaign and we just
didn't have the money and we were concerned greatly concerned about
our image as a nonviolent organization
Mr MCKTNNEYDid you at any time or Dr King at any time dis
cuss the fact that the Invaders might pose a potential threat to Dr
King's own safety
Dr ABERNATHYOh yes we were aware of that and we discussed it
and this is why we insisted that Dr King not see them any more but
that Hosea Williams and Andrew Young and Jim Bevel and some
other persons from our staff would have dealings with them but they
became violent with Ambassador Young
They.I don't guess I should say ambassador he wasn't ambassador
then-but they became violent with him and he had to be rescued as
they were seeking to get money from us
And we had never encountered a group like this group before May
I hasten to add that they were young men they were intelligent look
ing men they were clean-cut men they were not a lot of bearded men
anything of that nature but they were very impressive young men and
we had great hopes for them and for all the youth of America
And yet it was just disturbing once we knew that they were trying
to destroy the image of Dr King that they were playing right into
the hands of the enemy
Mr MCKTNNEY Were you aware on the night you checked into the
Lorraine that the Invaders had a room in the Lorraine that evening
too
Dr ABERNATT3Y No we were not
Mr MCKTNNEYWould that have concerned you
Dr ABERNATHYIt certainly would have
Mr MCKTNNEYWhen and how did you find out that the Invaders
were receiving help from outside sources
Dr ABERNATHYWell I met the Invaders first on the morning after
the march where the violence took place and when we first found out
that they were receiving aid and assistance from the FBI that came
later the following week when we returned to Memphis We returned
to Memphis on the third and this is what when we got there we were
told by our intelligence department by our staff
Mr MCKINNEY Did you feel at any time that perhans the Southern
Christian Leadership Conference might have been infiltrated by any
Government agency or by any other enoun such as the Invaders
Dr ABERNATHYNo I never did Congressman I find it difficult to
believe now Naturally I know poor people well peonle period The
first law of nature is human survival I know people have to survive
one way or the other and poor peonle who are hungry might receive
some money If someone pressed $500 in your hand I guess who would
want to know where Reverend Abernathy is today in Atlanta a poor
person whose house note is due and car note is due he might just tell
them he is testifying before the House Select Committee on Assassina
tions in Washington and move on something like that
To say that someone was actually cooperating that they had infil
trated the ranks of SCLC I did not believe that and find it very very
difficult today I would like to know just for my own knowledge be
cause I was always referred to as the pastor of that staff and I love

36-173
0 79 3
 30

each one of them even today wherever they are and I would just like
to know but I can't get this committee to tell me anything
Mr McKINNEY Mr Chairman I ask imanimous consent I have
2 additional minutes
Chairman STOKESWithout objection the gentleman is recognized
Mr McKINNEY Moving on from the Invaders you state that you
were well aware of the fact that Dr King's phone messages and home
were bugged and you were also well aware of the fact that people
would follow you on airplanes soon and so forth
Do you think your rooms at the Lorraine were bugged
Dr ABERNATHY Well at that time we did not think that We
thought we were safe and secure at the Lorraine
Mr MCKINNEY I have a problem in that we have become aware
as you were aware of the tremendous amount of surveillance that Dr
King was under almost constantly Yet do you have any recollection
or knowledge of when the FBI first got to the Lorraine Motel after
his death
Dr ABERNATHYWell it was within minutes within minutes
Mr McKINNEY Do you find it a little difficult to reconcile this tre
mendous surveillance effort with the fact there were seemingly no FBI
personnel in the Lorraine or in the immediate vicinity
Dr ABERNATHYI find it difficult because No 1 Reverend Kyles
upon my request could not get an ambulance An ambulance was never
called by our staff and yet within a 5-minute period less than 5 min
utes an ambulance was there and the place was just cluttered with
police
I don't know why this committee has not investigated that airplane
in Atlanta I want to know more about that but maybe they have
I don't know They don't tell you but so much
Mr McKINNEY We are headed there Doctor rest assured
I want to thank you for your answers
Chairman STOKES The Chair is pleased now to recognize the dis
tinguished member of the Kennedy subcommittee another dedicated
member of this committee the distinguished gentlewoman from Cali
fornia Mrs Burke
Mrs BURKE Thank you very much Mr Chairman and I join my
colleagues in welcoming Dr Abernathy.
Your statement certainly has been very moving I notice that you
refer to the period of about 4 o'clock when Dr King called you and
asked you to come to his brother's room His brother was there Now
some 2 hours elapsed during that time and could you tell us if there
were other people who came and who left and were there other phone
calls that were received during that period of time
Dr ABERNATHYIf I may Mr Chairman tell you how delighted I
am to answer the questions of this minority personnel on this com
mittee I am glad at least one woman is on this panel today because I
fight for the rights of the women as well as all minorities
Chairman STOKESI am glad to have her on here too Dr Abernathy
Dr ABERNATHYThank you Now what happened was I went down
to his room and we had a long chat with A.D. and some other persons
and then he knew he had to shave and of course shaving was a real
problem you know for Dr King He used this powder that put off a
terrible odor and finally I guess after having stayed down there about
 31

an hour then we went back to the room to get dressed and to go to his
shaving ceremonies and the time.then I revealed to him as I already
testified that I couldn't go to Washington on those dates
I didn't want to say it in front of the whole staff because I didn't
want to disrupt the program in any way but I wanted him to know
and then he had to convince me that I should go We talked about
several preachers who could do the revival including Reverend Faun
troy and finally we called Rev Nutrell Long in New Orleans and now
he is dead
We couldn't get him on the telephone Finally he turned to me and
lectured me about what I should do about the West Hunter Street
Church and what I should tell the West Hunter Street Baptist
Church and with the dressing and the shaving and the talking on the
telephone there were no other telephone calls that were made other
than down in the room I called Mrs Kyles to find out what kind of
menu we had for dinner
Mrs BuRxE When you arrived though at his brother's room you
said there were some other people there Who was there Was the
staff there at that point
Dr ABERNATHYThere were some friends I don't believe that they
were staff persons They were friends who had come along with Rev
King A D King
Mrs BURKE Were they staying at the Lorraine Motel
Dr ABERNATIIYYes
Mrs BURKE How many friends were there
Dr ABERNATHYTwo
Mrs BURKE Let me just pursue one other question
You indicated when asked that you were surprised that there had
ever been infiltrating through the ranks of the Invaders At any time
did you discuss with Dr King whether or not there might be actual
infiltrating of the staff or of SCLC
Dr ABERNATHIYYes We discussed that You know once we would
have a movement sometimes our staff would go as high as 300 persons
and especially during our voter registration crusade our program
known as SCOPE we had a lot of white students who come from the
North and we could not know them all on a personal basis
We may have had as many as 500 persons and there was some con
cern as to whether some of these people might be FBI informers or
nonetheless what we were doing we thought but we knew it was right
and eventually that staff would dwindle and we would get down to
the normal 45 or 50 persons that we knew on a personal basis and we
had no questions about Rev James Orange and a Mr Lester Hanker
son Mrs Dorothy Cotton and persons of that stature
We just didn't feel that they were cooperating with the FBI at all
But I will admit that sometimes strange faces coming from Wis
consin and various other places saying we want to join your voter
registration drive and we will work for nothing just let us register
voters for you there were some questions in our minds as to whether
they could be trusted all the way
Chairman STOKES The time of the gentlewoman has expired The
Chair now recognizes another member of the Kennedy subcommittee
the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut Mr Dodd
Mr DODDThank you Mr Chairman
 32

Dr Abernathy I join certainly with my colleagues today in wel

coming you to the committee We appreciate your testimony
I have really just two questions I would like to ask you if I could
The first has to do with the fact that according to your statement and
testimony you went back into the room at the time Dr King was
standing on the balcony when you heard what sounded like a fire
cracker You then returned to the porch and from that moment on you
were with him until the pronouncement of his death is that correct
Dr ABERNATHYThat's correct
Mr DODD At any time at all during the time that you were with
him from the moments or seconds after impact until the pronounce
ment of his death did Dr King say anything whatsoever
Dr ABERNATHY No he did not utter any words at all He at
tempted his mouth quivered only once but he did look me dead in the
eyes and I got a message from his eyes but there were no words uttered
at all
Mr DODD I wonder if you might go back and explain how it was
on the second occasions that you decided to stay at the Lorraine Motel
If I understood your testimony correctly the week before you had
decided to stay at the Holiday Inn because of the difficulty in getting
to the Peabody Hotel and the Lorraine Motel
When you came back to Memphis again whose decision was it to
go to the Lorraine Hotel
Dr ABERNATHYIt was a unanimous decision led by Dr King We
would always stay where we felt welcome and we didn't feel welcome
at the Peabody or at the Riverdale
Mr MATHEWSRivermont
Dr ABERNATHYWe just felt a part of the Lorraine It is a Black
motel and of course they had a lot of catfish there and Dr King
and I loved catfish and they were not strict so far as room service is
concerned When you get to the big institutionalized hotels and they
say they close at 9 o'clock that's 9 o'clock So we arrived at 11 o'clock
Mr Bailey the owner of the Lorraine Motel would prepare us some
catfish and we enjoyed that and we always stayed there and we al
ways stayed in that room 306 This was the King-Abernathy suite
Mr DODDWas that a well-known fact
Dr ABERNATHYOh yes Mr Bailey knew not to put anybody else
there If he knew we were coming in he moved them and he put them
up there only if they were full
Mr Dore You anticipated my third and final question to you That
is with regard to the rooms themselves there has been some specula
tion or an allegation that because of a confusion there you were not
staying in that room the night before but someone else had been
staying in there
Was there any confusion as to who was staying in what room
whether in 306 or the adjoining room immediately next to that particu
lar room Was there any confusion over who was staying in what
room
Dr ABERNATHYYes there was Upon our arrival if my memory
serves me correctly someone else was in the room and of course we
stayed in an adjoining room and of course the next day they were
moved out and we were put in our usual room
 33

Mr DODDWas it somebody that you knew was it a member of the

staff
Dr ABERNATHYNo no it wasn't anyone from the staff
Mr DODD And you don't know to this day who those people were
that were staying in that room the night before
Dr ABERNATHYI don't recall
Mr DODDThank you
Thank you Mr Chairman
Chairman STOKES Time of the gentleman has expired The Chair
recognizes another member of the Kennedy subcommittee the dis
tinguished gentleman from Michigan Mr Sawyer
Mr SAWYERThank you Mr Chairman and I too join in welcom
ing you here today Dr Abernathy
Dr ABERNATHYThank you
Mr SAWYERI certainly am sympathetic with all your problems on
behalf of minorities since I have come down here as a Republican
You notice they even had me segregated here on the dais
I am interested in your comment as to the behavior of Dr King and
some of his conversations withyou that led you to believe that or form
an opinion that he may have been advised of a specific threat Had he
ever told you of other specific threats before
Dr ABERNATHYOh yes he told me of some and especially the air
plane flight once the pilot announced why we had waited so long in
Atlanta He turned to me you know with a laugh and said "Oh
Ralph isn't this ridiculous If they are going to kill me why would
he say it like that And we had a big laugh about it and he had
talked about some other threats certainly
Mr SAWYERWhat I am getting at isn't it perhaps possible or an
equally plausible explanation for his kind of behavior and perhaps
somewhat of a mild preoccupation with what may be impending disas
ter that he was leading what amounted to a revolutionary movement
albeit a peaceful revolutionary movement he was getting a higher
and higher profile nationally and his movement was gaining more
and more success and that recognizing those factors he may have
become more conscious of the fact that he was becoming more and
more of a target of whatever kind of people do this kind of thing as
opposed to it being a specific threat
Dr ABERNATHYWell that is a possibility but I can't see how over
a month's period all of this restlessness comes about
For instance in Acapulco where we went for a rest I awakened one
night about 3 o'clock in the morning and of course I discovered that
there was no Dr King in the room and I was terribly frightened and
I went out in the living area looking for him and there was no Dr
King and I didn't know what to do or where to turn whether to call
for hotel security and finally it came to me to look out on the balcony
protruding in the Pacific Ocean and there stood Dr King gazing into
the Pacific Ocean and I said "Martin tell me what are you doing out
here this time of night and what is it that is troubling you what is
bothering you And he said "You see that rock out there. and I
said "Oh sure I see it. and he said "How long do you think it's
been there And T said "I don't know I guess centuries and centuries
I guess God put it there. And he said "Well what am I thinking
 34

about, and I said "I really don't know tell me because I want to know
why would you leave this room without telling me, and he said "Well
you can't tell me what I am thinking about looking at that rock, and I
said "No, and he started singing "Rock of Ages cleft for me let me
hide myself in thee, and just the repeated sermons and statements
and preparing me to know all about SCLC and the things he wanted
me to do whereas you know prior to that in December of 1967 he
wasn't talking like that We were going to Washington We were going
to Washington for broke to conduct the poor people's campaign but
now there is a kind of a well he is a different person and he is greatly
troubled and I just from my own conclusion as I look back in retro
spect and in fact Ambassador Young this was the first thing he asked
me He said "Dr Abernathy I know that Dr King would tell you
anything. He said once we got back to the room from the mall he
said "I want to know tell me was FBI bothering him had they called
him and told him anything And I had to answer of course "No.
But this is just my belief I cannot support it other than express my
belief
Mr SAWYERThank you
Chairman STOKES Time of the gentleman has expired The Chair
would like the record to reflect the fact that the next two members of
this full committee to be called upon have expended an enormous
amount of time in terms of the King subcommittee and the Chair is
grateful to you for that amount of time and I know the subcommittee
chairman Mr Fauntroy is because we are both aware of the number
of hours that you have expended in terms of the work product now
coming forth from this full committee and the Chair is pleased at
this time to recognize the first of those two gentlemen Mr Fithian
the gentleman from Indiana
Mr FITMAN Thank you Mr Chairman
I join my colleagues Dr Abernathy in welcoming you here and
thank you personally for your cooperation with this committee in our
long session before and throughout the committee's investigation
If I interpret your testimony correctly you said that you think the
assassination and killing of Dr Martin Luther King was a political
killing as a result of a conspiracy in the attempt to kill a man's dream
and by killing that dream to kill the dream and the hopes of those who
were disenfranchised or poor or Black those who could secure neither
civil nor political rights nor economic opportunity
I want to ask you Dr Abernathy if the killing is the work of a
racist would that fulfill your definition of a political killing a con
spiracy to kill a man's dream
Dr ABERNATHYWell it would really depend upon whether the
racist was paid and the circumstances surrounding it
I had a letter about 2 weeks ago less than that from James Earl
Ray in which he assured me that he did not kill Dr King and had
asked my help in trying to get a new trial for him I have written to
him and informed him that I certainly think that he should have a
new trial pending the outcome of this hearing but I don't think that
anything ought to happen until this hearing is finished because I don't
know what might come out of the hearing But I feel that it was to
tally impossible for James Earl Ray or for any person who may have
pulled the trigger to have gotten out of Memphis and a false alarm
 35

goes out where the police are concerned to get to Birmingham and
park a car or pick up a car and then get to Canada and then go across
the Atlantic and then sustain himself for a period of time without any
help or assistance from somewhere
Mr FITHIAN I understand that I just wanted to get you to com
ment specifically as to whether or not setting all personalities aside
a racist killing that is a killing that was racially motivated would
qualify for your definition or your belief that this was a political
assassination
Dr ABERNATHYNo no not a racist killing by itself
Mr FITHIAN Just a racist killing would not be a political killing by
your definition
Dr ABERNATHYNo not by my definition
Mr FITZIIAN The second question I wanted to raise has to do with
what many people writers historians and others deal with in study
ing and analyzing the movement itself Many believe that toward the
end of Dr Martin Luther King's life that the real leadership thrust
of the Black rights movements was beginning to slip away to others
to those who could not subscribe to nonviolence to those who believed
that nonviolence had run its course and not at least not completely
succeeded I am wondering if you would care to speculate as to
whether or not the awareness of that on the part of Dr King down
toward the end of his life the awareness that others would no longer
subscribe to nonviolence were beginning to grasp part of the action
might have caused the disturbed and restless outlook of Dr King
Dr ABERNATHYWell certainly Dr King realized this and expressed
it to me in Memphis on the day that the violence broke out That night
he said
Ralph it may be that those of us who adhere to nonviolenceshould just step
aside and let the violent forces run their course which will be very temporary
and would be very brief because you can't conduct a violent campaign in this
country
I guess Congressman you have never been maced or tear gassed
but there isn't anything violent that you can do in this country that
will last any more than 3 or 4 days if they want to get you
Mr FITrrmAN Was this the first time that Dr King had ever indi
cated that he personally would tolerate violence but that he might
sort of yield up to a temporary interruption of the nonviolent thrust
of the movement
Dr ABERNATHYIt was the first and only time that he expressed
it to me not that he would give up but that we would just step aside
and let the violent forces run their brief course
Mr FrrHTAN I have some other very specific questions about the
scene right after the shot
Chairman STOKESThe gentleman's time has expired Is the gentle
man seeking additional time
Mr FITHIAN May I have 2 additional minutes
Chairman STOKES Without objection the gentleman is recognized 2
additional minutes
Mr FITTTIANWhen you came out of the room did you see police
in the courtyard at that time
Dr ABERNATHYNo I did not because everybody was down on
the ground when I came in
 36

Mr FITHIAN In any of the adjacent areas did you see any evidence
of police squad cars or any evidence that the police were on the
scene
Dr ABERNATHYNot at that time My major concern was Martin
Luther King who lay on the balcony This was my concern and the
other people were down on the ground
Mr FITI3IAN I understand
Dr ABERNATHY[continuing] In the courtyard
Mr FITHIAN To back up just a bit when you arrived at the airport
on that last trip to Memphis were there Memphis PD members on
hand at the airport
Dr ABERNATHY Yes if I recall correctly the same two Black
policemen Black detectives met us
Mr FITHIAN And were there any FBI agents on hand that you
recognized
Dr ABERNATHYNot to my knowledge I never I didn't know of any
Mr FITHIAN Thank you Mr Chairman
Chairman STOKESThe gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr Edgar
Mr EDGARThank you Mr Chairman
Dr Abernathy it is a pleasure to have you before our committee
today even under a difficult circumstance of recollecting what took
place those very few moments after you heard the firecracker on the
balcony
Before I begin my questioning I would like to congratulate you for
your response to James Earl Ray's letter It seems to me that that
showed some judgment on your part to suggest that this committee in
its work over the last 18 months should be at least looked at prior to
the decision being made as to whether James Earl Ray receives a trial
Dr Abernathy I would like to pick up on the questioning that Mr
Fithian was dealing with You described for us very carefully what
you did after you heard the firecracker sound and saw Dr King's feet
and went out onto the balcony I wonder if you could describe for us
the first time that you recognized that a police officer was in the vicinity
of the assassination
Dr ABERNATHYWell the first time that I actually recognized and
I would not be the best judge of it because we have to understand when
your dearest friend and closest associate is laying on the balcony un
able to speak and your next best friend Ambassador Young has come
up and said "Oh God Ralph it is over, you know I am not looking
for police I am trying to give aid and comfort and trying to save his
life So first I attempted to get an ambulance and then the first time
I saw police that is if you don't call the people from the community
relations service police was when the ambulance came which was
about 5 minutes and we began to put him on the stretcher and of
course the police were there at that point and they were directing and
serving as a motorcade not a motorcade but motorcycle cop preceded
the ambulance to the St Joseph Hospital
Mr EDGARDr Abernathy after you were certain that Dr King was
dead and that there was nothing further that you could do either at
the hospital or at the morgue did the police begin a period of question
ing of you about the circumstances surrounding the assassination
Dr ABERNATI-IYNO I have never been questioned by the police
The doctor in charge once he had taken his last breath and he had
 37

examined him and he told me that it was all over he said he would
only make one statement and that was the hour of his passing and
lie would leave all of the other statements to me But as I went out I
found out what time Mrs King was due to arrive and I immediately
had my car to take me to the airport only I was being paged upon
arrival stating that Mrs King would not arrive because the news had
a rrived in Atlanta he had passed and she would not be coming Then
I asked the driver to take me to the morgue And when I arrived at
the morgue I guess there were policemen there They asked me to
identify the body and then they asked me to sign an order that they
might perform an autopsy and of course then my assignment was
picking a burial suit and a casket things of that nature because I knew
the whole Nation and the press would be there the next morning and
I went about those chores but I don't think I have ever been ques
tioned by the police
Mr EDGARSo it is your testimony that you have never been ques
tioned about the circumstances by the Memphis Police Department
When did the FBI question you about the circumstances surround
ing the death
Dr ABERNATHYWell if my memory serves me correctly unless it
can be refreshed the FBI has never questioned me
Mr EDGARThank you Just one further question
Chairman STOKESThe gentleman is recognized
Mr EDGAR Dr Abernathy you described the depression of Dr
King shortly after the violence that took place on March 28 You
also described the fact that the staff met to determine whether or not
you should return to Memphis and in the succeeding days the decision
was made to return to Memphis and Dr King came back
Was there ever any event or action that took place between March 29
and the return to Memphis that snapped Dr King out of his
depression
Dr ABERNATHYWell I think on that visit something did happen
I don't know exactly what it was Saturday was a horrible day for
him but the visit to Washington where he preached at the Washing
ton Cathedral.he was very much inspired by that visit because the
cathedral was packed I understand and he was very pleased with
his contribution and when he returned to Atlanta he called me late
in the afternoon on Tuesday and said suggested that we not go to
Memphis until the following day So I don't know exactly what hap
pened but when we went back to Memphis he was in good spirits
Mr EDGARThank you I yield back my time
Chairman STOKESThe time of the gentleman has expired Are there
other members of the committee who seek additional recognition
Dr Abernathy under the rules of this committee any witness ap
pearing before the committee has 5 minutes at the conclusion of his
testimony to expand or amplify in any way he so desires on testimony
he has given before the committee and you may avail yourself of that
5 minutes to express yourself in any connection which you so desire
The Chair recognizes you
Dr ABERNATHYThank you very kindly Mr Chairman
As a Baptist preacher can I with unanimous consent get an exten
sion [Laughter.]
 38

Chairman STOKESTinder the rules we will expand the rules to grant

you an extension if you so desire
Dr ABERNATHYThank you very kindly Mr Chairman Stokes I
have had the pleasure of knowing you across the years and I think
that you have represented not only the State of Ohio and the district
within that great State but our whole Nation with great distinction
and with honor and to all of the members of this committee and to
my dear friend and colleague Rev Del Walter Fauntroy who heads
up the subcommittee I want you to know that I am more than de
lighted to have the privilege and the opportunity to testify before this
committee The special counsel Mr Charles Mathews and members
of this investigative team have been working with me now over a
period of some 15 or 18 months and believe me when I say that it is
kind of difficult working with this committee They don't ever have
any money I have to pay all the bills I have to take them to dinner
But I would do it because I feel that the truth should be known con
cerning the tragic death and assassination of Martin Luther King Jr
Each of you have made in your own way a marvelous and outstand
ing contribution I listened with great care as you Mr Chairman
talked about the long hours put in by certain members of this com
mittee and I want to thank you for it I want to thank not you Mr
Chairman but them for their hours
I happen to know that Congressman Ford from Memphis Tenn. a
great friend of mine has spent long hours maybe even unaware by the
members of this committee seeking to get to the real root and basis
of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr I think that we owe
to the American public we owe it to our Nation because Martin
Luther King Jr. was the most peaceful warrior of the 20th century
He had a heart of love He was a drum major for justice and equality
and whomsoever slay the dreamer and sought to destroy his dreams
should be known to the American people And I know that your hours
will be long and your task will be great but I feel so very much that
you are equal to the task with a learned member of the grand old
Republican Party along with the Democrats on this panel I feel that
you will get to the truth of this Unborn generations await your deci
sions The youth of America wants to know You are our represent
atives We pay you a fairly decent salary in order that you may rep
resent us and go the places that we cannot go and find out the ques
tions and raise the questions and find out the answers that we cannot
ask and I just want to lay on your mind and on your heart the fact
that the challenge and the responsibility is yours and if ever in any
little way that I can be of any service to you Mr Chairman Mr Sub
committee Chairman and to any members of this committee in shar
ing information or aid you in any way please feel free to call upon
me because I want to make my contribution
This was my dearest friend and nights have been long since he went
away and I know that Rock of Ages that he spoke about can be cleft
for all of us but I know we live in a great country the greatest coun
try on the face of the earth the most powerful Nation and we must
not permit people to be cut down whether by racists or because of a
political act simply because they espouse a philosophy or an idea that
we do not agree with America is beautiful because we are a country
made up of so many different colors I need not remind you all that
 39

the Nation is eagerly looking this week to hear what you have to say
They want to know They want answers They are depending upon you
and may God bless you in your undertakings and may God bless you
in your pursuits and may His peace forever rest upon you and may
you be supplied with the wisdom and the courage to find nothing but
the truth the whole truth so help you God I give to each of you my
richest benediction in the name of the Father of the Son and the
Holy Ghost Amen
Chairman STOKESThank you very much Dr Abernathy
Does the subcommittee chairman Mr Fauntroy have any response
for the benefit of the members The second bells have just rung
Mr FAUNTROYThank you Mr Chairman I think it would be anti
climatic to say anything at this point and I would move that we ad
journ this session and reconvene at 9 a.m tomorrow morning to
continue the public hearings
Chairman STOKES Dr Abernathy on behalf of the committee let
us once again thank you for the service you have here rendered today
not only to this committee but the U.S Congress and to this Nation
It is a redeeming feeling to know that you carry on the dream of your
great friend and our great leader Dr Martin Luther King We thank
you again for coming and this meeting is now adjourned until 9 a.m
tomorrow morning
[Whereupon at 12:08 p.m. the committee was recessed until Tues
day August 15 1978 at 9 a.m.]
INVESTIGATION OF THE ASSASSINATION OF MARTIN
LUTHER KING JR

TUESDAY AUGUST 15 1978

HOUSEOF REPRESENTATIVES
SELECTCOMMI'r1'EEONASSASSINATIONS
Washington D.C
The committee met at 9 a.m. pursuant to notice in room 2172 Ray
burn House Office Building Hon Louis Stokes (chairman of the
committee) presiding
Present Representatives Stokes Preyer Fauntroy Burke Dodd
Ford Fithian Edgar Devine McKinney Thone and Sawyer
Also present Mr Robert Blakey chief counsel and staff director
Edward Evans chief investigator Michael C Eberhardt assistant
deputy chief counsel Gene R Johnson deputy chief counsel William
Webb staff counsel and Kenneth McHargh staff counsel
Chairman STOKESA quorum being present the committee will come
to order As the first order of business the Chair recognizes Professor
Blakey
Mr BLAKEY Mr Chairman the subject matter of this morning's
hearing is the results of the autopsy panel
Shortly after Dr King was pronounced dead on the evening of
April 4 1968 his body was taken from St Joseph's Hospital to John
Gaston Hospital where an autopsy was performed by Dr Jerry T
Francisco the medical examiner of Shelby County Tenn
A medical-legal autopsy is a procedure designed to identify the
body determine the cause and manner of death identify any object
that might have been the cause of death and provide scientific in
formation that may be of use in subsequent legal proceedings
Following the submission of Dr Francisco's report a public docu
ment under Tennessee law several issues were raised by the report
itself and other sources concerning Dr King's death From eyewitness
accounts there was disagreement over the point of origin of the fatal
shot and an analysis of Dr Francisco's report seemed to confirm the
ambiguities The angle of trajectory and bullet tract through the body
for example were not clearly delineated Questions arose also over
the pathological findings
The committee has sought to resolve the autopsy issues by assem
bling a panel of medical experts to review the procedure Dr Francisco
employed and the conclusions he reached as well as medical treatment
given Dr King Four main questions were posed to the panel
One What medical treatment was administered to Dr King by the
ambulance crew and hospital staff Was it responsible and complete
Were reports of medical treatment and accompanying exhibits accu
rate and complete
(41)
 42

Two What autopsy procedures were applied Was the autopsy con
ducted responsibly and in accordance with prescribed practices of
forensic pathology Were autopsy reports and exhibits accurate and
complete
Three Does the trajectory of the bullet as it can be determined from
the wound itself indicate the point of origin of the shot Does the path
of the bullet through the body indicate the point of origin What can
be said if anything about the possibility that the origin was a second
floor bathroom window in the rooming-house to the west-northwest of
where Dr King was standing Or can it be said to have come from
somewhere else
Four Is the damage to Dr King's body and clothing consistent with
that which would normally be expected from a projectile of the type
recovered from the body
The panel was advised of course that it was at liberty to seek an
swers to additional questions that it might pose for itself if it so
desired
Major professional organizations in the field of pathology were
solicited for recommendations as to how the panel should function and
who should be on it The committee chose three panel members from
the candidates whose names were submitted They are Dr Michael
Baden chief medical examiner of New York City Dr John I Coe
chief medical examiner of Hennepin County Minn and Dr Joseph
H Davis chief medical examiner of Dade County Fla
Each of course is an expert in forensic pathology and each by vir
tue of education and experience is highly qualified to conduct a medi
cal-legal investigation to determine cause of death in cases of violent
suspicious unexplained unexpected or medically unattended deaths
Each is also trained to account for attendant aspects of death which
might have medical-legal significance
Dr Baden received an M.D degree from the New York University
School of Medicine in 1959 and completed his residency in pathology
at Bellevue Hospital in 1964 He has been a visiting professor of path
ology Albert Einstein School of Medicine adiunct professor of law
New York Law School and lecturer in pathology at the College of
Physicians and Surgeons Columbia University A lecturer at various
law and medical schools on legal medicine he is presently an associate
professor of forensic medicine at the NYU School of Medicine
Dr Baden has received certifications in anatomic pathology clinical
pathology and forensic pathology from the American Board of Pa
thology He is a fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences
the College of American Pathologists and the American Society of
Clinical Pathologists
Dr Baden was a special forensic pathology consultant to the New
York State organized crime task force that investigated the violence
and deaths at Attica Prison and he is a member of New York State
commissions investigating deaths in prisons and mental hygiene hos
pitals He is the author of numerous professional articles and books
Dr Coe received his M.D degree from the University of Miami in
1945 and completed his residency in pathology in 1950
Dr Davis received his M.D degree from Long Island College of
Medicine in 1949 and completed his residency in pathology at the U.S
Public Health Service Hospital in New Orleans
 43

Assisting the panel as a medical illustrator was Ida Dox of George

town University
The panel has examined all relevant evidence including clothing
worn by Dr King at the time of his death the 30.06 rifle and bullet
fragments recovered from his body color and black and white pho
tographs and 35 millimeter slides taken during the course of the
autopsy microscopic slides and tissue blocks from the autopsy and
neuropathology study the report of a committee panel on firearms
evidence medical reports notes and documents submitted by phy
sicians who treated Dr King and the autopsy surgeon and the head
and chest X-rays
The panel along with members of the committee staff traveled to
Memphis to view the crime scene Joining the panel in Memphis were
Herbert Koogle and Joseph Stewart of Koogle & Pouls Engineering
Inc. of Albuquerque N Mex. the committee's engineering consultants
The panel also met with Dr Francisco and Drs Rufus Brown and
Ted Galyon physicians who treated Dr King at St Joseph's Hospital
The panel consulted with numerous other specialists in the course
of its work
Dr Baden has been chosen by the panel to present its findings
Mr Chairman it would be appropriate at this point to call Dr
Baden
Chairman STOKES At this time the committee calls Dr Baden
Would you stand please and be sworn
You solemnly swear the testimony you will give before this commit
tee is the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help
you God
Dr BADEN I do
Chairman STOKESYou may be seated
Counsel Mr Webb will proceed
Mr WEBB Thank you Mr Chairman
Will you state your name please

TESTIMONY OF MICHAEL BADEN M.D. CHIEF MEDICAL

EXAMINER OF NEW YORK CITY
Dr BADENMichael Baden
Mr WEBB Mr Baden what is your profession
Dr BADEN I am a physician and I specialize in forensic pathology
Mr `'EBB And what is your current position
I)r BADEN I am presently chief medical examiner of the city of
New York
Mr WEBB Dr Baden you are here today acting as the spokesman
for the committee's medical panel
Dr BADEN Yes Sir I am
Mr WEBB Will you identify the other members of the panel please
I)r BADEN The other members of the panel were Dr Joseph Davis
chief medical examiner Miami Fla. and Dr John Coe chief medical
examiner Minneapolis Minn
Mr WEBB During the course of its work did the panel have occa
sion to travel to Memphis Tenn.
Dr BADEN Yes
Mr WEBB And what was the purpose of that trip
 44

1)r BADEN The purpose of the visit to Memphis Tenn. was to view
the scene of the homicide interview various medical personnel who
saw Dr King after death and who participated in the autopsy and
to correlate the findings that we had been able to make from the au
topsy report the medical reports that we had previously reviewed with
the personnel present in Memphis who had treated Dr King and to
correlate the physical evidence with the crime scene
Mr WEBB Dr Baden will you describe for the committee what
occurred in Memphis
Dr BADEN Present in Memphis with the three members of the
medical panel were members of the committee staff and two engineers
Mr Koogle and Mr Stewart who evaluated the distance from the
Lorraine Motel to various sites at 418 Main Street area
Mr WEBB In addition did Mr Koogle and Mr Stewart conduct
fu".ther tests to determine the angle of trajectory and also the distance
to the bushy area in the rear of 418 to 424 South Main Street
Dr BADEN Yes sir in the course of our visit to Memphis we did
examine the buildings at 418 Main Street the backyard area at 418
424 Main Street and together with the engineers observed and assisted
in the development of trajectory patterns to the outside of room 306
at the Lorraine Motel
Mr WEBB Did you have an opportunity to inspect and examine the
area on the second floor balcony immediately outside of room 306 at
the Lorraine Motel
Dr BADEN Yes we did
Mr WEBB Dr Baden are you familiar with the results obtained
by the engineering consultants
Dr BADEN Yes
Mr WEBB And would you briefly state for the committee what they
were able to determine with respect to trajectory
Dr BADEN At the time we were in Memphis together the two engi
neers advised us after taking their measurements that trajectory pat
terns from the second floor bathroom window which was one possible
shooting site and from a bushy area in the backyard was perhaps 2
to 5 in difference in a trajectory path to the second floor of the bal
cony We the medical panel discussed this matter and discussed this
with the engineers and advised them and advised the staff that the
autopsy procedure itself is not sufficiently accurate to distinguish that
small a difference in degree deviation
Mr WEBB So if I understand you Dr Baden based on the input
of the engineers and finally your analysis of the autopsy material a
pathologist would be unable to determine a difference of 21/2 to 5
in a wound trajectory
Dr BADEN That is correct Mr Webb An autopsy can reveal many
scientific materials but it is also limited and there are things that an
autopsy cannot discover and an autopsy cannot distinguish between a
trajectory flight of 2 to 5 in this situation
Mr WEBB Mr Chairman in order to facilitate Dr Baden's discus
sion of Dr King's injuries the committee has employed the services
of Ms Ida Dox a medical illustrator to prepare a number of draw
ings which will be used as exhibits Dr Baden will you describe Ms
Dox's training and the manner in which she worked with the panel
 45

Dr BADEN Ms Ida Dox is a medical illustrator from Georgetown

University School of Medicine and Dentistry who has had a very
strong training and background in anatomy including cadaver dissec
tion and worked very closely with the three members of the medical
panel in drawing the medical findings autopsy findings from our
medical knowledge and from the various black and white and color
photographs that had been taken of Dr King prior to autopsy
Mr WEBB So it is fair to say that from a medical standpoint these
photographs represent an accurate representation of Dr King's
iniuries
Dr BADEN Yes the photographs are true and accurate representa
tions of the injuries seen at the time of examinations by physicians
of Dr King in 1968
Mr WEBB And have you had a chance to discuss the drawings and
photographs with the various personnel who treated Dr King both
at St Joseph's Hospital in Memphis and with I)r Francisco the
autopsy pathologist
Dr BADEN Yes sir we have And the medical panel is satisfied
fully that the drawings are accurate representations of the injuries
suffered by Dr King
Mr WEBB Dr Baden will you step to the easel Using the various
drawings to illustrate your testimony I would like to proceed to de
scribe Dr King's injuries
Mr Chairman at this time I would like to have the first drawing
entered into the record as Martin Luther King exhibit No F.1
Chairman STOKES Without objection it will be entered for the
record at this point
[Whereupon Martin Luther King exhibit No F.1 was marked for
identification and entered into the record and follows
MLK Eaxtsrr F-1

36-173
0 79 4
 46

Mr WEBB Dr Baden will you describe for the committee what is

depicted in this exhibit
Dr BADEN The first exhibit is a drawing from various photographs
taken of the wound and injury pattern of Dr King just prior to au
topsy but after medical attention had been given to Dr King in the
emergency room at St Joseph's Hospital and illustrates the initial
gunshot wound of entrance which is up near 2 o'clock from your pros
pective approximately 1 inch to the right of the angle of the mouth
and l/2-inch below the angle of the mouth where the bullet a high
velocity rifle bullet struck the cheek causing an entrance perforation
with the superior part still intact a typical entrance abrasion collar
and causing bursting lacerations of the inferior aspect of the cheek
and chin in part caused by the high velocity of the missile and in part
caused by the fracture effects when the bullet struck the jawbone or
mandible in this area
There are many fragments of bone present The doctors describe
this perforation of the cheek as entering into the mouth proper and
the bullet then exited the bottom portion of the right side of the chin
and reentered in the root or base of the neck above the collar bone
and continued from right to left from front to back and in a down
ward direction in the body proper
The injury caused by the missile the rifle bullet has been distorted
somewhat by the resuscitation attempts performed at the hospital
emergency room Specifically there has been elongation made of the
lower border of the reentrance wound in an attempt at surgical inter
vention to stop the bleeding that was present
In the next exhibit Mr Webb if I may
Mr WEBB Mr Chairman at this time I would like the next draw
ing entered into the record as Martin Luther King exhibit No F-2
Chairman STOKES Without objection it may be entered into the
record at this point
[Whereupon a drawing marked Martin Luther King exhibit No
F-2 for identification was entered into the record and follows :]
 47

MLK EXHIBITF-2
Dr BADEN The next exhibit was an attempt at reconstruction by
the medical panel together with Ms Dox and the treating physi
cians at St Joseph's Hospital who went over this material with us
to reapproximate what the injury was prior to the surgical
intervention
The top portion is the same The entrance perforation and bursting
explosive-like injury caused on impact as well as the reentrance
wound reapproximated The dotted line extending downward toward
6 o'clock is the reconstructed surgical incision made by the physicians
in the emergency room to better stop the bleeding and this caused the
appearance which was seen in the previous drawing with enlargement
of the lower border of the entrance of perforation Not shown on the
diagram is a tracheotomy an incision that was made on an emergency
basis to assist Dr King in breathing when he came to the emergency
room
If you will note there is a bridge of skin still intact in the neck
which represents the inner crease of the neck which was not torn
completely through when the missile entered exited and re-entered
and assisted Dr Francisco the chief medical examiner in Tennessee
who did the autopsy in determining that Dr King's position of the
head had to be downward and slightly to the right at the time of the
impact so that the trajectory the track through the body spared the
inner crease in the neck when held in that position
Mr WEBB Dr Baden Dr Francisco in his autopsy report identified
a blackened debris present in the skin which he described as having
an unidentifiable form Did the panel consider the section of skin that
Dr Francisco referred to
 48

Dr BADEN Yes Mr Webb In evaluating and preparing the dia

grams and drawings the panel did have the benefit of the autopsy
report medical reports all the microscopic sections and slides that had
been made the parafin blocks that are normally made in preparing
microscopic slides the X-rays and interviews with the doctors in
volved We did identify two slides of skin microscopic sections nor
mally taken at autopsy examinations with Dr Francisco as being taken
from this area of entrance and within those fragments of skin were
some black debris which is not uncommon to see in gunshot wounds
of entrance The panel was entirely satisfied that the black debris
in no way represented powder which would indicate closeness of the
gunshot wound but did indicate debris that can be seen in distant
gunshot wounds
We did with the assistance of the committee speak with a company
in Chicago that is an expert in trace evidence McCrone Associates
and they were able to remove by micromethods a portion of this black
debris and were able by various tests to identify the black debris as
lead which is what we would expect to derive from the soft nose of the
bullet in question which is composed of lead and the panel is entirely
satisfied that the black debris seen in the skin derives from the nose of
the bullet
Mr WEBB Dr Baden will the complete report of McCrone Asso
ciates as well as the other materials you have referred to be appended
to the panel's final report
Dr BADEN Yes
Mr WEBB Would you continue to describe the nature of the injuries
depicted in MLK exhibit No F.2
Dr BADEN Yes the drawings do identify clearly the site of entrance
of the gunshot wound The next drawing will identify where the bullet
lodged and terminated
Mr WEBB Mr Chairman at this time I would like the next drawing
entered into the record as Martin Luther King exhibit No F.3
Chairman STOKES Without objection it will be entered into the
record at this point
[Whereupon a drawing marked Martin Luther King exhibit No
F-3 for identification was entered into the record and follows :]
 49

MLK EXHIBITF-3
Dr BADEN The next exhibit is a drawing and tracing as the other
two were of Dr King as seen in one of the black and white photo
graphs taken after death and prior to autopsy with Dr King lying on
his right side on a stretcher So the right shoulder is against the
stretcher and the left shoulder is up and in the left upper back three
inches to the left of the midline of the body.the midline being where
the spine is present.is a protuberance of the skin showing where the
bullet lodged or the remnant of the bullet lodged at the termination of
the track in the body The bullet entered in the right chin and neck
area went through of course through the body and terminated just
beneath the skin on the left upper back and it is not uncommon for
bullets to so lodge beneath the skin because of the various properties
of the skin that inhibit bullets from passing through it
Mr WEBB Dr Baden did the panel have occasion to examine the
clothing worn by Dr King at the time of his death
Dr BADEN Yes the clothing worn by Dr King had been preserved
and was made available for inspection by the medical panel
Mr WEBB Mr Chairman the next series of exhibits are photo
graphic enlargements of Dr King's clothing At this time I would like
to have the first such exhibit entered into the record as Martin Luther
King exhibit No F.4
Chairman STOKES Without objection it will be entered into the
record at this point
[Whereupon the above-mentioned photograph marked MLK ex
hibit No F.4 for identification was entered into the record and
follows :j
 50

MLK EXHIBITF-4
Mr WEBB Dr Baden will you describe for the committee what can
be seen in this exhibit
Dr BADEN The next exhibit shows the suit jacket that Dr King was
wearing at the time the gunshot wound was inflicted and shows tear
ing of the inner portion of the lapel of the jacket where the bullet
track passed from beneath the skin on the right side into the neck
region The lapel of the jacket was not completely torn through Only
the outer lining of the suit material is torn which is entirely con
sistent with our judgment that the jacket was at the border of the
entrance perforation
Mr WEBB Mr Chairman at this time I would like to have the next
photograph entered into the record as Martin Luther King exhibit
No F-5
Chairman STOKESWithout objection it will be entered into the rec
ord at this point
[Whereupon the above-mentioned photograph marked MLK ex
hibit No F.5 for identification was entered into the record and
follows :]
 51

MLK EXHIBITF-5
Mr WEBB Dr Baden will you describe this exhibit for the commit
tee please
Dr BADEN Yes the bullet missile after leaving the chin continued
through the clothing in the area of the upper neck region and tan
gently struck the outer jacket but did perforate through the collar as
depicted in the photograph on this exhibit and this collar is torn
through and can better be seen on the next photograph when the collar
is stretched out in the course of the track of the missile
Mr WEBB Mr Chairman at this time I would like to have the next
exhibit the photograph of Dr King's shirt entered into the record
as Martin Luther King exhibit No F.6
Chairman STOKES Without objection it will be entered into the
record at this point
Mr WEBB Thank you
[Whereupon a photograph marked Martin Luther King exhibit
No F.6 for identification was entered into the record and follows:]
 52

MLK EXHIBITF-6
Dr BADEN This exhibit shows the laceration the tearing of the
fabric of the shirt which was interposed in the course of the bullet
track and this did permit chemical tests on the shirt and on the jacket
in 1968 and again recently by the expert consultants for the commit
tee which demonstrated in 1968 and again now that there was no pow
der residue on the clothing as there was none on the skin and which
indicates that the gunshot firing was not close or not content
Mr WEBB Dr Baden the recent testing you refer to is the testing
done by the firearm panel hired by the committee
Dr BADEN Yes sir
Mr WEBB Would you identify the name of the test they employed
please
Dr BADEN There were a number of tests done The clothing was
looked at with a naked eye It was looked at with a microscopic lens
and there was no powder residue apparent A chemical test for nitrites
the Griess test was performed which would identify nitrites which is
a product of gunpowder residue produced as a bullet is fired from the
barrel of a gun This was not present but a sodium rhodizionate test
for lead particles was present was positive and did indicate as was
present in the skin particles of lead entirely consistent with deriving
from the nose of the bullet that did lodge in the fabric around the tears
of the jacket and the shirt
Mr WEBB Dr Baden so that I understand you correctly the differ
ence between MLK exhibit No F.6 and the previous exhibit is that
in MLK exhibit No F.5 the shirt was in the wearing position where
as in this exhibit the shirt is stretched out to illustrate the wound
 53

Dr BADEN Yes sir I think this shows the tear of the fabric more
clearly than the previous one but the prior exhibit showed the shirt
as it would have been worn
Mr WEBB Mr Chairman at this time I would like to have entered
into the record the final photograph exhibit of clothing as Martin
Luther King exhibit No F-7
Chairman STOKESWithout objection it will be entered into the rec
ord at this point
[Whereupon a photograph marked Martin Luther King exhibit
No F-7 for identification was entered into the record and follows:]

] LK EXHIBITF-7
Mr WEBB Thank you Dr Baden will you describe what is-depicted
in this photograph please
Dr BADEN Yes Mr Webb This photograph shows the tie worn by
Dr King and the tearing on the right lower border where the missile
went through the clothing of Dr King and does indicate approxi
mately where the reentrance perforation was on the body of Dr King
having gone through the area of the shirt and tie and jacket
Mr WEBB Dr Baden can you state whether or not the severed area
of the tie was subjected to the sodium rhodizionate testing
Dr BADENI believe that the tie was also so tested and also had some
lead particulate matter
Mr WEBB Dr Baden was the panel able to reconstruct the wound
track through the body
Dr BADEN Yes the panel was did do such a reconstruction
Mr WEBB And can you tell us what was the primary basis or the
primary material you used to accomplish that
 54

Dr BADEN In addition to the autopsy report the medical reports

the clothing the photographs of great value to the medical panel in
reconstructing the track in the body were X-rays taken after death and
prior to autopsy at St Joseph Hospital and made available to the
committee
Mr WEBB Mr Chairman at this time I would like to have two
X-rays of Dr King entered into the record as Martin Luther King's
exhibits F.8 and F-9
Chairman STOKESWithout objection they will be entered into the
record at this point
[Whereupon the several X-rays of Dr King marked respectively
MLK exhibit Nos F.8 and F.9 for identification were entered into
the record and follow :]

MLK EXHIBITF-8
 55

MLK EXHIBITF-9
Mr WEBS Dr Baden using these exhibits would you describe the
track of the wound through the body
Dr BADEN Yes sir Mr Webb
The X-ray seen here shows the fractures of the right jawbone the
right mandible with little white flecks of metal indicating fragments
of the bullet that remained in the mandible after impact This does
show Dr King in the anatomic position when X-rays are taken of
this nature and when autopsies are performed all measurements are
made as if the decedent were laying flat on the back with the head and
body straight the arms at the side palms frontward position and this
is referred to as the anatomic position
And in this manner the face is pointing forward the fractures of
the mandible and metal fragments are seen at the side of the jaw there
are a few fragments present in the skin at the base of the neck and
 56

about 8:30 almost 9 o'clock on the diagram are multiple fragments

where the missile reentered just above the collar bone or clavicle which
was intact The track is provided by X-ray And as we had full cooper
ation from Dr Francisco and his staff in reconstructing what hap
pened we also had full cooperation from various radiologists X-ray
experts in consulting what is on these films The track proceeds from
right to left spraying fragments of metal in the course because of
the impact with bone the mandibular bone and various ribs that were
fractured and part of the spine that was fractured At each impact
more metal fragmented
The track proceeds to the left and on the leftmost portion of the
X-ray is the main missile fragment which weighed about 65 grains
when recovered which is a little less than half of its original size
which would have been 150 grains Now all this white material is
metal bullet fragments On the X-ray on my far left one can see
more clearly the fractures of the ribs the first rib and the second rib
in the back which have been fractured in the course of the missile
track
There are fractures along the spine about the lowermost cervical
vertebra and the uppermost thoracic vertebra There is spin injury
that is very severe and the missile track continues into the left upper
back region The X-ray also shows how the fragment is movable de
pending on position of the body Whereas the fragment here is within
the shadow of the clavicle or collarbone in this X-ray the bullet is
above it because of slight movement of the body This has pertinence
in determining the bullet track through the body Whereas on this
X-ray the bullet track almost appears horizontal in this other X-ray
it is downward perhaps a 30 angle the track in the body varies
greatly on position of the body at autopsy
Mr WEBB Dr Baden you have identified a number of bony struc
tures fractured by the bullet in its course through the body would
this have had a relationship to the direction the bullet took through the
body
Dr BADEN Yes although bullets essentially travel in a straight line
even after striking areas of the body the boney structures in this
particular instance the jawbone the back of the ribs spine are of
substantial nature and could cause deflection from a straight line of
some or many degrees
Mr WEBB Mr Chairman at this time I would like Ms Dox's final
drawing entered into the record as Martin Luther King exhibit No
F-10
Chairman STOKES Without objection it will be entered into the
record at this point
[Whereupon Martin Luther King exhibit No F.10 was marked for
identification and entered into the record and follows:]
 57

MLK EXHIBITF-10
Mr WEBB Dr Baden will you use this drawing to summarize the
findings of the panel with respect to the wound track and the nature
of Dr King's injuries
Dr BADEN Yes sir
This is a reconstruction done by Ms Dox in close consultation
with the medical panel it is not a tracing of prior graphs It does illus
trate the path of the bullet in the body beginning 1 inch to the
right and a half inch below the angle of the mouth causing extensive
fractures of the mandible of the jawbone continuing downward in
juring many vital structures at the base of the neck
This area of injury is identified by a shaded line because we the
panel felt that we could not be precise in identifying all of the struc
tures injured There are major blood vessels major nerves present in
 58

this area the spinal column is present and what is drawn are areas
that we felt are specifically injured the internal jugular vein which
is the main blood vessel bringing blood from the brain to the heart the
common carotid artery behind it which is the main blood vessel bring
ing blood to the brain the subclavian artery branch which brings
blood to the right arm the vertebral artery which brings blood to the
back of the brain itself were all in the opinion of the medical panel
injured by this high velocity missile wound The various black areas
show many but not all of the bullet fragments that are deposited in
the course of the gunshot track and which are evident on the X-rays
And on the back is the major fragment that was removed and sub
jected to various ballistics tests and this black area would represent
the recovered major bullet fragment as we had seen protruding in the
left upper back region on a previous exhibit
Mr WEBB Will you describe the nature of the injuries with respect
to the ribs
Dr BADEN The first two ribs are illustrated in the drawing diagram
here and the back portion where the rib meets the spine are clearly
fractured and have been displaced on the X-rays
This is illustrated in the diagram and at this point where the rib
joins the spine there is extensive injury to the spinal column the bony
structure within which the spinal 'cord resides and this was extensive
the bones were extensively damaged
Mr WEBB Mr Chairman at this time counsel would have no fur
ther questions of the witness
Chairman STOKESThank you counsel I)r Baden you may return
to the witness table
At this time the Chair recognizes the gentleman from Connecticut
Mr McKinney for such questioning in such time as he may consume
after which the other members will examine the witness under the
5-minute rule
Mr MoKISNET Dr Baden good to see you again Thank you for
your help I)id the panel review the medical treatment that was given
Dr King right after his being shot
Dr BADEN Yes sir we reviewed the medical records kept at St
Joseph Hospital and we did speak at some length with two of the
treating doctors Dr Galyon and Dr Rufus Brown in Memphis who
were very cooperative
Mr MCKINNEY So in other words you reviewed the records and
talked to the attending physicians
Dr BADEN Yes sir
Mr MOKTNNEY Can you describe for the committee what sort of
treatment Dr King received
Dr BADEN Yes Sir in critical review the committee was entirely
impressed with the vigorous medical attention Dr King did receive
when he arrived at 6:15 at the hospital emergency room and that Dr
King did indeed have a pulse the heart was still beating when he
arrived but that in fact the brain was irrenarably damaged from lack
of oxygen from the point of admission to the hospital that the doctors
did vigorously attempt to apply appropriate resuscitation measures
including surgical procedures and that after almost an hour 50 min
utes of this intensive medical treatment did determine that Dr King's
life was irretrievable
 59

Mr McKTNNEY Did the panel come to any specific conclusions with

respect to the actual cause of Dr King's death
Dr BADEN Yes the panel felt that the cause of death was a com
bination of extensive hemorrhage and blood vessel injuries as well as
damage to the nerves and spine spinal cord of Dr King Now in part
that was arrived at because of the findings of doctors in the emergency
room and their written material at the time
Mr MCKINNEY Were the panel's conclusions consistent with the
findings of Dr Francisco and his autopsy
Dr BADEN In general terms yes but with some slight distinction
Dr Francisco classified the cause of death as severance of the spinal
cord which is the main pathway for all impulses from the brain to the
rest of the body This was concluded from the autopsy proper and sub
sequently from discussions with the various doctors involved but the
track itself was not dissected because Dr Francisco felt it was unneces
sary and an unnecessary mutilation of the body at that time
So the medical pathology panel in reviewing the findings was not
able was not able to be specific as to whether the cord was actually cut
and transsected completely but we were satisfied that the closeness of
the missile track through this area of the body would have caused sig
nificant damage to the cord to the spinal cord even if it was not
mechanically cut in half because of the lines of force emanating from
the bullet as it struck the spine bones proper
Mr MCKINNEY Was the panel able to determine in any way the
origin of the fatal shot
Dr BADEN In a general term that the reconstruction of the injury
seen at the autopsy and photographs indicate that Dr King had to
have been in a position with his face downward and to the right and
that the missile would have had to come from an area to his right We
could not 'distinguish between the second floor of the bathroom at 418
South Main Street and the bushy area in the yard behind it that we
could not distinguish
Mr MCKINNEY In other words we have no direct knowledge of
what Dr King's position really was when he was standing on the
balcony
Dr BADEN We don't have it specifically but we have an approxima
tion from witnesses and even if we if there were a photograph of Dr
King standing in a precise position at the time of impact of the mis
sile the autopsy itself cannot distinguish between the 2 to 5 degree
difference between the bathroom window and the grassy knoll
Mr MCKINNEY But there is nothing inconsistent according to your
findings between the second floor of Bessie Brewers or the ground level
behind the roominghouse
Dr BADEN That is correct This is entirely consistent with either of
those positions and which position it was would have to be concluded
by other types of investigations beyond the autopsy
Mr McKixNEY Did the panel review the autopsy procedures used
on Dr King by Dr Francisco
Dr BADENYes Mr McKinney
Mr MCKINNEY Do you think that the autopsy was sufficient and
do you essentially agree with it
Dr BADEN The medical panel agrees with the conclusions that Dr
King died as a result of a single high-velocity rifle injury through the
 60

face and body as described And we agree that the findings of Dr

Francisco the autopsy of Dr Francisco who is a fine forensic path
ologist did establish a valid and satisfactory cause of death How
ever if one looks to an autopsy to answer questions other than cause
of death then the tracing of the bullet track proper at the time of
autopsy would have given additional information for questions that
might arise later And in this regard I would say parenthetically
that unfortunately in these United States there is no standard as to
how to do an autopsy examination of a person who dies as a result of
homicide and one of the charges given to us by Professor Blakey has
been to evaluate the area of homicide autopsy investigation as pres
ently exists
Mr MCKINNEY Well based upon your rather long experience in
this business is the wound that occurred consistent with the type of
gun that is alleged to have done the shooting and from that distance
Dr BADEN Yes sir Mr McKinney the injuries seen on Dr King
with the bursting explosive-like injury to the face and the trajectory
and pathway through the body and the injuries incurred are entirely
consistent with a 30.06 rifle as was used in this instance
Mr McKIN NEY So that we can rule out as a conclusion he might
have been shot from close up
Dr BADEN We can say that beyond reasonable medical and scien
tific certainty that the muzzle of the rifle was not close up to the body
It had to be a rifle because it is a 30.06 bullet that was recovered and
that we evaluated and looked at in fact Mr McKinney may I just
show another exhibit
Mr MCKINNEY Certainly
Dr BADEN In fact this is a photograph taken by Dr Francisco of
the bullet that he removed from Dr King at the time of autopsy and
which he labeled with the number 252 and he identified with this
photograph in a smaller version to the medical panel as the same
missile he retrieved in 1968 This shows the copper jacketing this is a
30.06 bullet that was removed and there have been
Chairman STOKES May we have that particular exhibit identified
Mr Webb will you identify it for us
Mr WEBB Yes Mr Chairman this exhibit is composed of two pho
tographs of the same bullet fragment and we would ask it be entered
into the record as Martin Luther King exhibit No F.12
Chairman STOKES Without objection it may be introduced
[Whereupon Martin Luther King exhibit No F.12 was marked for
identification for the record and follows :)
 61

MLK EXHIBITF-12
Dr BADEN The low portion is the base with the Dr Francisco mark
ing on it and the upper photograph shows the side with lands and
grooves and the deformity of the front of the bullet which was soft
nosed lead not covered with a jacket that was deformed on impact
with the very strong mandible and very strong spine bones
Mr WEBB Since Dr Baden plans to use the next photograph as an
exhibit we would ask that it be entered into the record as Martin
Luther King exhibit No F.13 For the record it is a photograph of
the same bullet which appears in MLK exhibit No F.12 except that in
this exhibit the bullet is in three fragments

36-173
0 79 5
 62

Chairman STOKES Without objection it may be entered into the

record at this point
[Whereupon the above-mentioned photograph marked Martin
Luther King exhibit No F-13 for identification was entered into the
record and follows :]

MLK EXHIBITF-13
Dr BADEN Mr McKinney this is an answer to the question about
the bullet itself which we can identify without question as being the
one that caused the injuries because of prior identification by Dr
Francisco he removed it and saw it on X-ray When we looked at the
bullet when the medical panel looked at the bullet piece presently in
the possession of the committee it was in three pieces because the lead
core had loosened over the years and in fact was in three portions
when Dr Francisco testified in the trial in Memphis in 1969 But it
is the same bullet with the lead core out the metal jacket with the num
ber at the base and another portion of the metal jacket and we know
that this bullet was retrived from Dr King and we do know from the
lack of any gun powder residues on the face or clothing as seen in
photographs pictures and the microscopic slides of the skin and on
tests of the clothing that this could not have been a contact or a near
discharge of the weapon It had to be from a distance at least beyond
3 or 4 feet which is the limit of sensitivity of these tests
Entirely consistent with being at the Main Street suggested area of
shooting
Mr MCKINNEY Thank you very much Mr Chairman I have no
further questions
Chairman STOKES OK thank you Mr McKinney Dr Baden at
one point there when Mr McKinney was questioning you you inad
 63

vertently used the term grassy knoll you had reference to the bushy
area
Dr BADEN Grassy bush yes Mr Chairman
Chairman STOKES The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North
Carolina Judge Preyer
Mr PREYER Thank you Dr Baden we appreciate your thorough
ness I think it may have some more important long-range effects
than might appear immediately and it may sometimes appear as if
we are belaboring the obvious here but one thing which needs to be
determined is the trajectory pattern You have indicated that an au
topsy cannot distinguish the small difference between a trajectory
from the bushes and from the bathroom window
Dr BADEN Yes sir
Mr PREYER So that in the future I don't think the idea that per
haps if a proper autopsy or scientific investigation had been done we
would know exactly from whence it came that is a question that should
occur here
Dr BADEN That is correct
Mr PREYERAlso on the powder debris you have worked with as I
understand it a series of chemical tests on the tie on the shirt mate
rial and from the skin of the wound itself and have indicated that
that power could only be from the lead tip of the bullet Is that correct
it could not be fired from close in
Dr BADEN That is correct it is actually lead from bullet material
rather than powder from the close discharge of a bullet Yes sir
Mr PREYER And that it of course had to be a rifle and not a
pistol
Dr BADEN That is correct and that is determined by finding the
bullet and also by the nature of the wound itself which is of a high
velocity type as opposed to a pistol which is low velocity generally
Mr PREYER Thank you Dr Baden We appreciate your testimony
Dr BADEN Thank you
Chairman STOKESThe Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio
Mr Devine
Mr DEVINE Thank you Mr Chairman Dr Baden do both Dr Coe
and Dr Davis agree with the findings that you have related to this
panel here this morning
Dr BADEN Yes sir
Mr I)EVINE Any area of dissent among the three of you
Dr BADEN The only area of difference would not be any of the
findings that I have related but as to the concept of how extensive an
autopsy should be done in a homicidal situation and particularly rela
tive to the question Mr McKinney asked whether the bullet track
should have been dissected That is a subjective decision that a forensic
pathologist has to make based on family wishes police wishes as well
in anticipation of further medical or legal questions that might arise
and whereas one forensic pathologist might feel that the track should
be extensively dissected another might feel that what was done an
swered the questions and dissection was not necessary That is an
area I think where each of us would have a slight difference of opinion
Mr DEVINE Otherwise you are testifying to what either of the
other two gentlemen would have testified had they appeared here this
morning
 64

Dr BADEN Yes sir

Mr DEVINE Did the three of you visit the bathroom and the room
inghouse that was adjacent to the Lorraine Motel
Dr BADEN Yes sir
Mr DEVINE You viewed from that window the balcony upon which
Dr King was standing
Dr BADEN Yes sir we stood in the bathroom at the main street
South Main Street 418 and viewed the balcony and then went to the
balcony and viewed the bathroom and the yard area visited the yard
area
Mr DEVINE And was your conclusion as a forensic pathologist that
the bullet that entered Dr King may have been fired from that area
or that vicinity
Dr BADEN Our conclusions were that it was entirely consistent
with the bullet having been fired from the bathroom area yes
Mr DEVINE Doctor as a former prosecuting attorney and having
examined a number of pathologists as well as witnessing a number
of autopsies I want to thank you for your objectivity your profes
sional approach and lack of equivocation Your testimony is quite help
ful to the panel
Dr BADENThank you sir
Chairman STOKESThe House is in session and the second bells have
rung the committee will take a 10-minute recess at this time
rA brief recess was taken.]
Chairman STOKES The committee will come back to order
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Connecticut Mr Dodd
Mr DODD Thank you Mr Chairman I would like to thank the
witness for his testimony I just have one or two questions I think
it is one I would like to summarize if I could with you Doctor your
testimony Is it your conclusion or conclusions of the panel that in
fact that both wounds the jaw wound and the neck wound were
caused by the same projectile
Dr BADEN Yes sir without question that is the conclusion of the
panel
Mr DODDAnd is there anv doubt in your own mind that the pro
jectile recovered from Dr King's body was in fact the cause of his
death
Dr BADENNo doubt at all Mr Dodd
Mr DODDAnd was it furthermore your testimony that the position
of the projectile and the best evidence you have on the position of
Dr King at the time of impact would lead you to believe that a shot
fired from either that wooded area or in that vertical line somewhere
was consistent with the wounds that were caused by that projectile
Dr BADEN Yes sir that there is no question in that area is con
sistent from whence the shot came
Mr DODDThank you I have no further questions
Chairman STOKESThe Chair recognizes the gentleman from the Dis
trict of Columbia Mr Fauntroy
Mr FAUxTROY Thank you Mr Chairman And I apologize to the
committee for having had to be in attendance at a District Committee
meeting dealing with the commuter tax and I want to thank the panel
Dr Baden for their testimony here today
My son has had an opportunity to bring me up to date on your pres
entations to the committee and I just want to be sure of a couple of
 65

things The first Dr Baden is that it is clear that the bullet which
struck Dr King came from the right Is it safe to say that it came
from above
Dr BADEN Yes sir
Mr FAUNTROYIs it safe to say that it could not have come say from
the ground
Dr BADEN On the basis of the autopsy alone we cannot be certain
as to which direction the bullet came from except up or down except
if we incorporate other information as to Dr King's approximate
position that we feel is reliable that he was standing on the balcony
and not lying down for example at the time of firing The committee
concluded utilizing other nonautopsy material and information that
the missile would have come from slightly above or perhaps horizontal
Mr FAUNTROYBut certainly not from below
Dr BADEN Not from below the balcony
Mr FAUNTROYIs it clear also that only one shot was fired
Dr BADEN It is clear from the autopsy that one and only one shot
struck Dr King We could not for example relate to misses a shot
that missed but one and only one shot high-velocity rifle bullet struck
Dr King
Mr FAUNTROYNow was the amount of lead present in the body
consistent with what would have remained from a 150-grain bullet
after the 64-grain fragment had been removed
Dr BADEN Our basis for reaching a judgment to that question sir
specifically includes the X-rays available to the panel of which there
were approximately seven some original and some not original and
that these X-rays together with the autopsy findings clearly indicate
that the amount of bullet fragments in the body are entirely consistent
with deriving from the single bullet of which 64 to 65 grains were re
covered The remainder is consistent with what is missing from the
bullet
Mr FAUNTROYThank vou Dr Baden Thank you Mr Chairman
Chairman STOKESGentleman from Michigan Mr Sawyer
Mr SAWYERThank you Mr Chairman Just one question Doctor
It is true is it not when a high-velocity missile or bullet strikes a body
that it causes extensive damage and severe damage to tissue out beyond
its track because of the lines of force it creates within the body isn't
that true
Dr BADEN Yes sir that is very much true and that is pertinent in
part to the injuries to Dr King because we do know for example that
the spine the spinebones lower neck and upper chest spinebones were
impacted by the bullet If the bullet continued through the spinal
canal it would have severed the spinal cord If it didn't continue
through the spinal canal and severed the spinal cord the lines of force
from the impact would have severely damaged the spinal cord without
even touching it and much of the extensive hemorrhaging and de
struction of the tissues in the face and neck area of Dr King were due
to the lines of force that you allude to sir
Mr SAWYERThank vou That is all I have
Chairman STOKES The gentlewoman from California Mrs Burke
Mrs BURKE Thank you very much Dr Baden I have a couple of
questions You indicate that based upon the lack of powder burns that
the projectile could not have been fired from less than 2 feet Is there
 66

a maximum in footage from which it could have been fired to produce

the wound and the other damage
Dr BADEN Yes and your question goes beyond the expertise of
this medical panel and into the expertise of the firearms panel which
has information specifically to the point you are raising but a rifle of
this type could inflict this type of damage beyond 100 yards for ex
ample and maybe well beyond that which information will be avail
able to the committee when the firearms panel testifies
Mrs BURKE You indicated there was other information that you
used in order to determine the direction of the trajectory You say for
instance he had to be standing not lying down Could you give us the
information or collateral information you based your findings on
Dr BADEN The point I tried to make was that at autopsy we in
spect a track or determine a track and the relative relationship between
a gun or rifle and the track at the moment of firing At the moment of
firing of this weapon the barrel of the gun had to be somewhat in a
slightly downward from the horizontal position in relationship to
striking the chin and the body Now that is what we can tell at au
topsy Whether Dr King was laying on his back or frontward or on
the side or on the opposite side this same trajectory could be main
tained as long as the relationship between the firearm and the body is
kept intact so one could have a similar track if he were standing on
his head for example if the person firing were in the appropriate po
sition The additional information that the committee utilized in de
termining consistency to the bathroom window for example was that
he had been seen to be standing upright and had been against the rail
ing that was on the balcony and he was talking to somebody who was
below although we established that he was upright we cannot know
how much he hunched forward or backward but that immediately
limits the possibilities and makes the trajectory as coming from the
direction of 418 South Main Street reasonable
Mrs BURKE Well what I am trying to get at is whether you assume
that he was in a certain position or place on the balcony Did you
assume.I am trying to determine all of the assumptions that you
made in order to arrive at that conclusion Did you determine he was
against the rail
Dr BADEN We had information that appeared reasonable to us that
he was touching the railing standing up outside of the room in front
of which he died We cannot establish for purposes specifically of the
engineers how high his cheek was the point of entry from the ground
In the autopsy protocol the entrance in the cheek is I believe 59
inches above the right heel which is a true type of measurement taken
at autopsy If he were standing bolt upright in the anatomical posi
tion looking straight ahead this point of impact would have been 59
inches above the ground If he were bent forward as in normal posture
this point could have been as low as 54 inches off the ground We felt
that a reasonable and accurate determination was approximately 56
inches off the ground at the point of impact and gave this information
to the engineering members to utilize as their point of reference above
the ground of the balcony However in consultation with the engi
neers who were there it became readily apparent that the difference
in the trajectory from the backyard or the bathroom window between
59 inches and 54 inches the outermost limits that we felt were reason
 67

able was less than 1 in the flight pattern Each inch reflects about
1 minutes of trajectory so that the sensitivity of the engineers in
developing their track was much greater than the autopsy findings
which cannot distinguish 5 or 10 in this kind of a situation But
that is part of the information we used in arriving at what we thought
was a reasonable position for Dr King We did look at photographs
of Dr King as he lay on the balcony We did have information as to
persons who were present We felt it was a reasonable
Chairman STOKESTime of the gentlewoman has expired
Mrs BURKE Just a very short question
Chairman STOKESYou are recognized
Mrs BURKE You mentioned that there was a difference between
your findings and the autopsy as to whether or not the spinal column
was severed whether or not it was damaged Were there any other
areas in which you found a difference in your findings and the find
ings of the autopsy
Dr BADEN Another area of concern was in specific localization of
which blood vessels in the neck were torn the shaded area in the
drawing indicates the area that we feel with medical certainty was
damaged Whether or not the common carotid artery for example
was severed is not fully clear from all the evidence that we have but
the evidence does indicate that the subclavian artery was severed and
from the point of view of medical treatment from the point of view
of survivability of I)r King there is no importance to this distinc
tion However from the point of view of the medical panel in review
ing the autopsy medical evidence at hand we wanted to be as accurate
as possible and where we could be certain to be certain when we can't
be certain as in the areas that have just arisen we described what we
think probably happened There probably was damage to the common
carotid area but we can't be certain about it
Chairman STOKESTime has expired Mr Ford the gentleman from
Tennessee
Mr FORD Thank you Mr Chairman
Doctor the name of a Dr Sprunt appears on the autopsy report
along with Dr Francisco as the pathologist Were you able to deter
mine what role he played in the autopsy findings
Dr BADEN Yes sir on our visit to Memphis and in our interviews
with Dr Francisco we specifically asked him about Dr Sprunt's con
tribution to the autopsy and were definitely advised that Dr Sprunt's
name was placed on the autopsy protocol as was customary at that
time because he was chairman of the department of pathology and
had certain legal responsibilities deriving therefrom but that Dr
Sprunt was not present at the time of autopsy and did not contribute
to the autopsy It was a policy of adding his name to the protocol
because he was chairman of the department and did not necessarily
mean that he participated in the autopsy
Mr FORDWill you describe any constraints Dr Francisco may have
operated under in performing the autopsy on Dr King
Dr BADEN The medical panel in interviews with Dr Francisco
were satisfied that Dr Francisco did not feel any constraints He ex
pressed to us very strongly that he did what he thought was necessary
wi`hout any constraints from any parties One of the areas that the
medical panel questioned and will be present in the final report of the
 68

medical panel has to do with an attitude of who has responsibility in

performing of autopsies in homicidal deaths Does the next of kin for
example Should the next of kin have a voice in homicidal deaths as
to whether or not an autopsy should be done or as to how it should be
done It is felt by some of us in forensic pathology that the
societal interest in the dead body overrides family interests in Ten
nessee at the time there was a policy in all homicidal deaths of obtain
ing permission of the next of kin prior to autopsy
It is difficult for members of the panel to evaluate creation of an
attitude of possible constraint especially those as myself who come
from other jurisdictions where no such next of kin requirement is
necessary We do what we think is appropriate and we can be called
to task for it if we exceed our authority So that specifically in answer
to your question there was the necessity to obtain next of kin if not by
law by custom that is the district attorney orders the autopsy in
Tennessee at the time and by custom did obtain permission from the
widow of the decedent Dr Francisco felt that this in no way caused
any constraints on him and that his concerns about not causing any
unnecessary deformity to the body by dissecting the back and the
track arose entirely from his sensitivity to the treatment of the dead
body and not from any outside party
Mr Font) Doctor you mentioned a policy Does Tennessee law have
any provisions which may have affected the autopsy that you know
of
Dr BADEN I am aware of certain legal requirements in Tennessee
law but I would not wish to trust to memory and I would defer to Mr
Webb perhaps who is more aware of the legal requirements in Ten
nessee as existed at that time
Chairman STOKESThe Chair recognizes counsel for the committee
Mr Webb
Mr WEBB Mr Ford in answer to your question in Tennessee at
the time there was a requirement that the district attorney general
order all autopsies as opposed to the medical examiner as is the cus
tom in many States This means that Dr Francisco first had to turn
to Mr Canale for permission to perform an autopsy At that point the
custom of seeking the approval of the next of kin came into play Mr
Canale required that next of kin be sent a notification of the intent to
perform an autopsy Mr Canale further required that next of kin's
permission be sought and whenever available obtained prior to the
autopsy being commenced
That would have been the difference in Tennessee law at the time as
opposed to some other jurisdictions
Mr Font) Thank you I have no further questions Mr Chairman
Chairman STOKES The time of the gentleman has expired the gen
tleman from Indiana Mr Fithian
Mr FITHIAN Thank you Mr Chairman Dr Baden I appreciate
your testimony And I want to review specifically with you you did
say that the bullet could not have been fired from say the courtyard
below
Dr BADEN It could not have been fired from the courtyard below
assuming as we have that Dr King was in a standing position at the
time of the injury
 69

Mr FITHIAN And it could not have been fired from say the firehouse
across the street and far to the left is that your testimony
Dr BADEN It could not have been fired from that area if we assume
as we have some evidence for that Dr King was standing upright
facing the courtyard and slightly turned to the right.the head slight
ly turned to the right
Mr FITIIIAN So assuming Dr King was not facing into the motel
room and was facing out and speaking down to someone in the court
yard from that position then you narrow the scope of the degrees
from which the bullet had to come
Dr BADENThat is right
Mr FITHIAN But the engineering combined with your pathology
cannot determine or distinguish the azimuth as to whether it came
from the second story window or from the ground in the yard below
the window is that correct
Dr BADEN That is correct sir
Mr FITHIAN Would you now and this is my final question Mr
Chairman would you now using a chair there as the railing assume for
me as nearly as you can what you think Dr King's position would
have had to have been in order for the bullet to have made the bullet
track it did assuming that it came from either the second story win
dow or from the bushy area
Dr BADEN Attempting to respond to that question sir if I assumed
that the railing is this chair and I am looking straight out into the
courtyard area below the relative position of the body to the missile
would have had to have been head downward from the nature of the
entrance wound exit and reentrance into the body head downward
slightly to the right and the missile coming in somewhat in this direc
tion [indicating] I wouldn't want to be specific without measuring out
all the parameters but in this direction
Now relative to your question if I am standing Dr King is stand
ing facing the railing it would have been entirely consistent with
this kind of track front the right front Now if the firehouse is to my
left for example it is possible to station Dr King in a position to
receive this same kind of trajectory if he were somewhat like that
[indicating by making left turn]
That is all I can measure in the body what happened once the mis
sile hits the mandible and below but it does fix certain parameters
that have to be adhered to for such a track to come in there are many
ways it could come but there are many others it couldn't have come
Mr FITHIAN Thank you thank you Mr Chairman
Chairman STOKESThe time of the gentleman has expired the gentle
man from Pennsylvania Mr Edgar
Mr EDGARThank you Mr Chairman
I have listened very carefully to your testimony and I wonder if we
could back up just a moment and look at the two exhibits which deal
with the bullet fragments the one that is right below and the addi
tional one here
Dr BADEN Yes sir
Mr EDGARDoctor could you describe what that bullet would look
like in its pristine form and shape and indicate what would be the
makeup of the bullet both soft and hard
 70

Dr BADEN I can give a rough answer to reasonable scientific cer

tainty but the firearms panel which has done extensive evaluations can
give and will give to you I am sure a much more detailed answer
Suffice it with that caveat this is the base of the bullet and this again
was a photograph taken by Dr Francisco and identified to us when we
showed it to him as the bullet that he removed from beneath the skin
this is the base and this is essentially copper jacketing
This photograph is from below a picture from the back side with
the copper flared out The inside of this bullet the core of the bullet
which has become dislodged.this is the core the back of the core and
is essentially lead 99 percent or more lead The bullet would have had
a much longer and thinner profile and structure in the unfired state
Now this type of elongated long bullet which would measure 0.30
inch in diameter at the base would have had a copper jacketing most
of the way along the side and base The front portion of it was unclad
there was no copper around it and had exposed lead which is one way
in which rifle bullets are made for various purposes
What we have here is less than half of the bullet a little less than
half of the bullet but it was the largest intact fragment and only frag
ment that would have been of value for ballistic tests which were sub
sequently done and which will be reported to you at a later time
Mr EDGAR You had testified earlier that given the X-rays and
the other evidence that you have of the fragments of lead through
out the body that this bullet is consistent with and pieces that we
have are consistent with a one bullet whole bullet concept
Dr BADEN Yes sir
Mr EDGARIn your experience at looking at bodies that have been
struck by bullets of this nature is it normal for the bullet to be de
formed and mutilated in this fashion
Dr BADEN That is entirely dependent on what is struck by the
bullet If this bullet had not struck the mandible the jawbone which
even from Biblical times was known to be very firm and hard cer
tainly this much deformity would not have occurred The ribs that
were struck are thinner bones and cause less damage to the missile
The spine is very hard and also causes extensive damage So that this
type of deformity for a bullet going through the spine bones and
the jawbone is entirely consistent with that kind of impact given the
fact that this is a soft-nosed bullet It is not copper-jacketed in front
and the impacting surface is soft lead as opposed to a copper jacket
which is much harder
If this bullet had struck soft tissue had gone through the lungs for
example without striking the mandible or the spine it might have de
formed very little
Mr EDGARThank you I have one final question and I am going to
need the three exhibits of the jacket the shirt and the tie
Doctor as you see the extensive damage to the tie and the shirt
and from the angle that it has been described it entered the cheek and
then entered the lower part of the body can you indicate how the
jacket would have been in such a position to be struck
Dr BADEN Yes in appreciating the injuries to the clothing one
has to remember how we wear jackets The jacket lapel margin is
really largely below the collarbone and we can feel on ourselves the
collarbone The entrance in the skin is above the collarbone and would
 71

be approximately where I am pointing with my finger assuming rea

sonable wearing of.the usual wearing of a tie and shirt and jacket
This was further evidence to the panel the nature of this irregular
tear as to the direction that the missile had to have gone through the
face and jaw exited and reentered right at the point of my finger
approximately Now this reentry wound is larger than the bullet
which had been flattened somewhat and there may have been multiple
fragments coming through and this caused the irregular tearing of
the shirt the severing of the tie beneath it but only brushed by
the lapel of the jacket which is not in the path of the track and which
lapel extends to the side and below the collarbone the collarbone
as I said is intact and was not fractured
Mr EDGARThank you I have no further questions
Chairman STOKES The time of the gentleman has expired
The gentleman from Connecticut Mr Dodd
Mr DODDDoctor I wonder if you might tell us whether or not you
had an opportunity to speak with the attending physician at the time
that Dr King was pronounced dead
Dr BADEN Yes sir we did speak in Memphis with Dr Ted Galyon
who was the attending physician who happened to be in the emergency
room when Dr King was brought in and with Dr Rufus Brown who
at the time was chief surgical resident at St Joseph's Hospital and
who were present and participated in all of the medical and surgical
procedures done to Dr King in resuscitative attempts
Mr DODDI realize this is a little bit afield from your expertise but
I would like to ask you anyway did you ask the attending physicians
who were present and participated in all of the medical and surgical
procedures in the emergency room whether or not he said anything
at all during that period
Dr BADEN Yes sir we pathologists are also doctors and we did
discuss exactly all the medical aspects of Dr King's condition when
he came in and they both assured us that although they could feel a
faint pulse and they could get a very weak electrocardiogram of the
heart beating that he was totally unmoving.one way of describing
it would be paralyzed.that he did not talk at all did not say anything
certainly from 6 :15 on but that he was unconscious and that they felt
that he was irretrievably injured and virtually dead even though his
heart was still beating and although they vigorously attempted to
perform the appropriate resuscitation measures
Mr DODDAt the time he arrived
Dr BADEN He did not talk did not say anything but had a faint
heartbeat which prompted them to do extensive resuscitation
Mr DODDHe was dead at the time or irretrievable at the time he
arrived in the emergency room
Dr BADEN Yes sir that was their very clear and explicit state
ments to us and also written in the notes at the time But we did ques
tion them Mr Dodd specifically as to the point that you raised
Mr DODDThank you Mr Chairman
Chairman STOKESDr Baden what was the official time of death as
pronounced
Dr BADEN Death was pronounced at I believe 7:05 or 7:04 in the
hospital records but that is a technical determination as to cause of
death -In this country death occurs when somebody pronounces some
 72

body dead and although he arrived at 6 :15 and he did have a pulse so
he was not totally without any vital signs in the course of their resus
citating him the pulse was lost rapidly they kept applying resuscita
tion and they finally determined at 7:04 or 7:05 that there was no
use in continuing so they pronounced death at that time
He could have been pronounced dead at 6 :18 or 6 :20 if they had so
wished but it is clearly the judgment of our panel from what the doc
tors told us from the autopsy report and from other independent
evidence that the nature and extent of the injuries to Dr King were
such that in no way shape or form could he have at that time or could
he presently with all additional medical knowledge that we have
could he have been saved from dying
Chairman STOKESThank you Are there additional members of the
committee who have questions
Dr Baden under the rules of the committee any witness appearing
before the committee at the close of his testimony and close of ques
tioning has 5 minutes in which to either explain or expand upon or
any way amplify his testimony before this committee The Chair
wishes to extend to you at this time 5 minutes in which you may do
precisely that if you so desire
Dr BADEN Thank you Mr Chairman I have no specific statement
to make except perhaps that I and the medical panel have been ex
tremely impressed with the cooperation of the various doctors and the
various counsel people from the committee whom we have consulted
with in obtaining whatever information and whatever materials that
are available and in attempting to arrive at our medical conclusions
as impartially and as independently as possible I wish to thank on
behalf of the other members of the panel Mr Webb and others who
have worked very hard with us and especially Ms Ida Dox who is in
the audience and who worked very hard making sure that what was
placed on these drawings were absolutely valid supportable and in
every minute detail expressed what was seen on the photographs and
what injuries were present
The only other thought perhaps is to refer to a charge that Mr
Blakey had given the panel a while back that although there is great
concern by the committee as to the nature of the homicide investiga
tion into the death of Dr King that in fact in the United States there
can be and must be improvement in all homicide investigations from
the scientific and medical pathology point of view It is unfortunate
that in this country so little attention has been given to the contribu
tion of the autopsy in homicide investigation I think the members of
the committee who have been prosecutors and I think the judge ap
preciates how important it is in the courtroom to identify the injuries
to a decedent I think sometimes this is lost track of in the great defi
cits of police and judiciary and lawyers in this country that in the
homicide situation which has caused such great concern around the
country that the initial identification that a homicide that occurred
the documentation of the findings occurred and proper evaluation is
important to the whole criminal justice system and that indeed Dr
Francisco even though we may have some minor discrepancies as to
concept of the autopsy did document the findings through photo
graphs did dictation committed to writing his findings that does per
mit other medical examiners to make an independent judgment as to
 73

the findings and we are pleased that we have been able to reach firm
conclusions on the basis of work done 10 years ago
Chairman STOKESThank you Dr Baden Any members of the com
mittee have anything further of the witnesses Does counsel Mr
Webb have anything further of Dr Baden
Mr WEBB No sir I do not
Chairman STOKESDr Baden on behalf of the committee I wish to
express to you and to the panel the appreciation of this committee for
the outstanding work that you have done and especially for the pres
entation that you have made here this morning you have been of great
assistance to this committee in its works and we are indeed thankful
to you for your cooperation in that respect
Dr BADENThank you Mr Chairman
Chairman STOKES If there is nothing further to come before the
committee at this time the Chair will recess the committee until 9 a.m
tomorrow morning
[Whereupon at 11:10 a.m the committee adjourned to reconvene
at 9 a.m. Wednesday August 16 1978.]
INVESTIGATION OF THE ASSASSINATION OF MARTIN
LUTHER KING JR

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 16 1978

HOUSEOF REPRESENTATIVES
SELECTCOMMITTEEONASSASSINATIONS
Washington D.C
The committee met at 9:05 a.m. pursuant to notice in room 2172
the Rayburn House Office Building Hon Richardson Preyer presid
ing
Present Representatives Preyer (presiding) Stokes Fauntroy
Burke Dodd Ford Fithian Edgar Devine McKinney Thone and
Sawyer
Also present G Robert Blakey chief counsel and staff director Ed
ward Evans chief investigator Michael C Eberhardt assistant dep
uty chief counsel Gene R Johnson deputy chief counsel Peter G
Beeson staff counsel Alan B Hausman staff counsel William
Webb staff counsel and Kenneth McHargh staff counsel Eliza
beth L Berning chief clerk
Mr PREYER A quorum being present the Chair will recognize Mr
Gene Johnson a member of the committee staff for a narration
describing the crime scene Mr Johnson
Mr JOHNSON Thank you Mr Chairman members of the committee
Mr Chairman members of the committee the first exhibit this
morning is MLK exhibit No F.16 We would like to have it marked
Mr Chairman and entered into the record
Mr PREYERWithout objection so ordered
[Whereupon Martin Luther King exhibit No F.16 was marked for
identification for the record and follows :]
(75)
 76

MLK EXHIBITF-16
Mr JOHNSON This is an aerial photographic view of the crime scene
and its surrounding areas I am pointing now to South Main Street
which runs north and south This is the roominghouse the north and
south wing which is 4221/2 South Main 4181/2 South Main The corner
here is Canipes Amusement Co. which is 424 South Main and the
parking lot in between Canipes and firestation No 2 which is located
at the end of the block of South Main and Butler Avenue This is the
entrance to firehouse No 2 Proceeding south and then east is Butler
Avenue Here is Mulberry Street which runs north to south This is
the new annex of the Lorraine Motel This is the old section of the
building Proceeding north you enter the corner of Huling Avenue and
Mulberry Street Then turning west again you are then brought back
to Huling and South Main
Mr Chairman members of the committee this is MLK exhibit No
F.19 I would like to have it marked and entered into the record
Mr PREYERWithout objection so ordered
[Whereupon Martin Luther King exhibit No F-19 was marked for
identification for the record and follows :]
 77

GRIME SCENE
r`".sassination of Dr Martin Luther King Jr
Memphis Tennessee

MAIN

MLK EXHIBIT
F-19
Mr JOHNSON This is a diagram of the crime scene showing again
as I have previously indicated South Main Street Canipes Amuse
ment Co. Jim's Grill which is located north of the roominghouse the
north and south wings of the roominghouse the parking area between
Canipes and fire station No 2 the driveway coming over to Butler
Avenue which is east and west Then proceeding north again on Mul
berry Street you will see the layout of the Lorraine Motel the older sec
tion of the building the newer section of the building the parking
area and room 306
Again proceeding north to Ruling and Mulberry and then again
proceeding west to Ruling and South Main
Mr Chairman the next exhibit is MLK F-15A I would like to have
it marked and entered into the record
Mr PREYERWithout objection so ordered
[Whereupon Martin Luther King exhibit No F.15A was marked
for 'identification for the record and follows :]

0 79 6
36-173
 78

MLKEXHIBIT
F-15A
Mr JOHNSON This is a photographic view of the roominghouse and
the surrounding buildings This is a west to east view As you can
see in the far right corner is Canipes which is 424 South Main This
is the entrance to the office section of the roominghouse which is 4221/2
South Main This is the entrance to the north building the north sec
tion of the building at South Main This is 418% and this is Jim's
Grill
Mr PREYER Mr Johnson would you be able to hold up that photo
graph I don't believe the committee and members of the audience can
see it
Mr JOHNSON Should I go over it again Mr Chairman
Mr PREYERIf you would please
Mr JOHNSON This is a west to east view of the roominghouse and
the surrounding areas As you can see in the far right corner of the
photograph it is Canipes Amusement Co This is the entrance which
is 422% to the south wing of the roominghouse This where the canopy
here is 418% the entrance to the north wing of the roominghouse
and where the canopy is is Jim's Grill
Mr Chairman this is MLK exhibit No F.20 I would like to have
it marked and entered into the record
Mr PREYERWithout objection so ordered
[Whereupon Martin Luther King exhibit No F.20 was marked
for identification for the record and follows :]
 79

SECOND FLOOR PLAN of

BESSIE BREWER'S ROOMINGHOUSE
Memphis Tennessee
EXTERIOR
STAIRWAY
TOSECOND
FLOOR
0 6 10 16 2
FEET

6/C )5

4-B

213-B 3
8l(
L
2-B
OFFICE

1"B

T I~]
418-420 422 422'% 424
South Main Street
MLB E%Hlsrr F.20
Mr JOHNSON This is a diagram of the upper two floors of the north
and south wings of 4221/2 South Main and 4181/2 As you can see you
enter at 4221/2 proceed up the steps going east the offices to the im
mediate right and room 8.A is to the immediate left of the stairs
This is the south wing of the roominghouse Proceeding west again
and then going north there is an entrance and an alleyway between
the north and south wings of the building Once one crosses this alley
way he is then into the north wing of 4181/2proceeding north and then
proceeding east again which would then take you to room 5-B which
is located in the upper left of this diagram
Mr Chairman this is MLK exhibit
 80

Mr PREYER Would you lift this up also Mr Johnson

Mr JOHNSON Yes sir
This is MLK exhibit No F-15B I would like to have it marked
Mr Chairman and entered into the record
Mr PREYERWithout objection so ordered
[Whereupon Martin Luther King exhibit No F.15B was marked
for identification for the record and follows :]

MLK EXHIBITF-15B

Mr JOHNSON As has been previously shown from the diagram In

the left corner of this diagram is room 5.B and this is a photograph
of room 5.B
Proceeding east from room 5-B approximately 20 to 25 feet from
room 5.B is the bathroom
Mr Chairman I would like to have this marked as MLK exhibit
F.15C and entered into the record
Mr PREYERWithout objection so ordered
[Whereupon Martin Luther King exhibit No F.15C was marked
for identification for the record and follows :]
 81

MLK EXHIBITF-15C
Mr JonNsoN This as I have previously stated is the bathroom
This is room 5-B
This is a view from the window of the bathroom in 4181/2 which is
the north wing of the building at South Main and the view is directly
to the Lorraine Motel and surrounding buildings
That ladies and gentlemen is room 306 and as you can see from
this photograph the view from the bathroom and the rooming house
to the balcony of room 306 is unobstructed
Mr Chairman I would like to have this exhibit marked as MLK
exhibit No F-15D I would like to have it marked and entered into
the record
Mr PREYERWithout objection so ordered
[Whereupon Martin Luther King exhibit No F.15D was marked
for identification for the record and follows :]
 82

MLK ExalBiT F-15D

Mr JOHNSON This is a photograph from the balcony of the Lorraine

Motel directly in front of room 306 As you can see from this photo
graph the view of the buildings on South Main are clear In this
photograph where the pointer is is the bathroom which is directly
east of the hall from room 5.B
Mr Chairman I would like to have this exhibit marked as MLK
exhibit No F.15E and I would like to have it entered into the record
Mr PREYERWithout objection so ordered
[Whereupon Martin Luther King exhibit No F.15E was marked
for identification for the record and follows :]
 83

MLK EXHIBITF-15E
Mr JOHNSON This photograph depicts a north to south view on
South Main Street As you can see only the number is partially visi
ble This is Canipes which is at 424 As you can see this is 4221/2 This
is the south entrance to the south section of the roominghouse The view
of this street as you can see is unobstructed but there is a fire depart
ment vehicle here and on the afternoon of April 4 1968 there were
police cars parked all along this area the last one extending all the
way to the edge of the sidewalk
Mr Chairman I would like to have this marked as MLK exhibit
No F.15F I would like to have it entered into the record
Mr PREYERWithout objection so ordered
[Whereupon Martin Luther King exhibit No F.15F was marked
for identification for the record and follows :]
 84

MLK EXHIBITF-15F
Mr JOHNSON This photo shows a north to south view of Canipes
which you can see in the upper-right-hand corner 424 This is the
bundle that was dropped in Canipes doorway on the afternoon or
early evening hours of April 4 1968 The picture shows an enclave
in there that the view is not visible You would have to step out at
least two steps from where the bundle is located to get a clear view of
North and South Main Street
That is all I have as to exhibits Mr Chairman
Mr Chairman members of the committee the first witness to be
called and sworn this morning is Mr James Earl Ray I would like
to give you a brief profile of him
Mr Ray was born March 10 1928 in Alton Ill He is 50 years old
After serving approximately 8 years of a 20-year sentence Mr Ray
escaped from Missouri State Penitentiary on April 23 1967 He then
traveled to numerous cities in the United States Canada and Mexico
On April 17 1968 a Federal warrant was issued in Birmingham
Ala. for Eric Starvo Galt Galt was one of the aliases used by James
Earl Ray Three weeks later on May 7 1968 the Shelby County grand
jury indicted Mr Ray for the murder of the Reverend Dr Martin
Luther King Jr
At approximately 11 :15 on the morning of June 8 1968 Mr Ray
was preparing to board British European Airlines flight No 466 from
London to Brussels When he produced a passport at Heathrow Air
port in London he was arrested On June 27 after Mr Ray had been
incarcerated for 19 days extradition proceedings commenced At the
conclusion of the hearing on July 2 over Mr Ray's objection the
 85

court ordered that he be extradited At 3 :48 a.m on July 19 1968 Mr

Ray arrived in Memphis Tenn. where he was detained in the Shelby
County jail
Following his arrest in London Mr Ray retained Mr Arthur
Hanes Sr. of Birmingham Ala. as his lawyer but before his sched
uled trial date he dismissed Mr Hanes and retained Mr Percy Fore
man of Houston Tex
On March 10 1969 Mr Ray's 41st birthday he pled guilty to the
murder of Dr King and he was sentenced by Judge W Preston
Battle to 99 years in the Tennessee State Penitentiary in Nashville
He served there from March 11 1969 to March 11 1970 when he was
transferred to Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary in Petros Tenn
On July 22 1972 he was returned to Tennessee State and on Au
gust 15 1976 he went back to Brushy Mountain where he is presently
incarcerated
After the 94th Congress passed legislation creating the select com
mittee members of the committee staff made contact with Mr Ray
This was on March 22 1977 at Brushy Mountain The staff then made
eight subsequent trips to the prison where it spent over 40 hours inter
viewing Mr Ray
Pursuant to the direction of the committee the full text of these in
terviews will be included in an appendix of the final report
It is appropriate at this time Mr Chairman that we call our next
witness Mr James Earl Ray
Mr PREYER Thank you Mr Johnson Before calling the next wit
ness the Chair wishes to make a statement about security precautions
to be observed with this witness I want the record and the people in
attendance here to be very clear on this point One of the primary
concerns of this committee has been the security of Mr Ray and we
have put as one of our most important considerations his safety in
insuring that no harm comes to him
U.S Marshals have asked the committee to emphasize the follow
ing rules and the Chair states they will be strictly observed This rule
will be applicable to all people in attendance at this hearing That in
cludes representatives of the media Anytime that Mr Ray is stand
ing or otherwise being escorted to or from the witness table absolutely
no one in the room is to stand Let me emphasize that again Anytime
Mr Ray is standing or is being escorted to or from the room no one in
the room is to stand All people reporters and photographers
included are to remain seated and stationary No one is to move until
the Chair gives permission for people to leave their positions Any
person violating this rule will be summarily removed from the room
by the marshals and barred from attendance at all future hearings of
this committee The Chair will ask everyone to be seated at this time
Photographers will be allowed to photograph Mr Ray's entrance into
the room and photograph the taking of the oath but you will remain
seated during this photography and you will then clear the area in
front of the witness stand when the oath has been taken
The Chair calls Mr James Earl Ray
Mr PREYER Mr Ray will you stand and be sworn
Do you solemnly swear the testimony you will give before this com
mittee will be the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth
so help you God
 86

Mr RAY Yes sir

Mr PREYER Thank you
The Chair will ask the photographers to please clear the space in
front of the witness table
The subject of the hearing today is to conduct a full complete and
indepth investigation of the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King
and the investigatory jurisdiction and capabilities of agencies and
departments of the US Government
Mr Ray is represented by counsel of record Mr Mark Lane
Mr Ray I understand you have a statement which you are prepared
to read to the committee
Mr LANE Before Mr Ray begins Mr Preyer the defense team
which has been working together includes Rev James Lawson
and Donald Fried our investigator We request permission for them
to be with us at the counsel table the witness table Mr Fried has
brought with him all the transcripts of Mr Ray's testimony before
this committee It is required by us if references are to be made to that
transcript
Mr PREYERMr Lane those members of your team are in the audi
ence and I don't think there will be any difficulty in your having ref
erence to them For security reasons and consistent with the practice
of this committee with all other witnesses the witness is entitled
to the assistance of counsel in advising him of his constitutional rights
and the committee has consistently interpreted that as meaning one
attorney in addition to the security precautions So the Chair must
decline your request
Mr LANE Yes Mr Preyer I would like to.on the question of secu
rity I would like to call to the attention of this committee that Mr
Ray was beaten by Federal prison officials
Mr PREYERMr Lane
Mr LANE And has been held in solitary confinement with the lights
on him 24 hours a day
Mr PREYER[continuing] The question of security of Mr Ray is one
for the U.S Marshal Service The question of the treatment of Mr
Lane by them is a collateral matter which is not before this committee
today
Mr LANE Mr Ray
Mr PREYER [continuing] And we will not hear argument on that
score We are here for one purpose one special purpose and that is to
hear the testimony of Mr Ray We are offering him that opportunity
and you as counsel are here to advise him as to his constitutional
rights
All right if Mr Ray is ready to proceed at this time we are ready
to receive his statement
Mr LANE Mr Preyer I believe that his treatment is a problem in
terms of his ability to testify We would ask just that this committee
look into the question of his confinement That is all we ask
Mr PREYER The matter will be looked into but it is not a matter
for discussion at this time It is collateral at this hearing
Mr LANE Mr Preyer under rule 3 (5) I wish to make an objection
rule 3 (5) of your rules I wish to make an objection to the presentation
of the facts by Mr Johnson regarding the circumstances in this case
While he did present-
Mr PEEYER Mr Lane
 87

Mr LANE I will be very brief Mr Preyer While he did present the

fact that Mr Ray pleaded guilty in presenting the judicial history
he left out the fact that Mr Ray almost immediately said he was not
guilty and there were a whole series of appeals
Mr PREYERMr Lane
Mr LANE [continuing] And that evidence has not been presented to
this committee
Mr PREYERWe are here again to hear the testimony of a witness
Perhaps we should get clear at the outset the ground rules so that we
understand each other This is not a forum to raise collateral issues of
that sort We are here for one purpose only and that is to hear Mr
Ray This is not a trial There are no prosecutors there are no defend
ants Mr Ray is simply a witness before a legislative factfinding hear
ing and the role of counsel in these hearings is not that of the role of
counsel in criminal trials It is to advise him as to his constitutional
rights You may raise those questions as to his constitutional rights in
the course of his statement or as he is asked questions but it is not a
forum for making motions or arguing the case The role of counsel is
to advise Mr Ray as to his constitutional rights
Mr Ray are you prepared to read your statement at this time
Mr LANE May I just say that rule 3(5) says that the attorney may
make objections not just advise the client of his rights and I have
made an objection to an unfair presentation But I have your ruling
on that
I wonder if one last request
Mr PREYERThe Chair will overrule the objection
Mr LANE I have that ruling I wonder if as a last request we might
each be given a small cup so that we could have a drink of water on
occasion
Mr PREYER The Chair will ask the committee staff to make cups
available to Mr Lane and Mr Ray
Mr LANE Thank you very much Mr Preyer Thank you
Mr PREYER Mr Ray are you prepared to read your statement at
this time

TESTIMONY OF JAMES EARL RAY ACCOMPANIEDBY MARK LANE

COUNSEL OF RECORD
Mr RAY Mr Chairman
Mr PREYER If so you will be recognized for 1 hour
Mr RAY Subsequent to making the original statement there has
been two three other things brought to my attention I don't think it
would take any more than 3 or 4 minutes to go over them and I believe
you could subtract that 3 or 4 minutes from the hour if that would be
all right That would be OK with the Chair
Mr PREYERMr Ray is recognized
Mr RAY The first matter is the statement by James E Ray dated
August 16 1978 I wish to make a very brief opening statement which
I will read before getting to the written statement which you have It
deals with the information of the greatest importance and informa
tion which we just received yesterday
My lawyer Mark Lane has just examined three FBI documents
which provide further evidence of possible FBI and Memphis Police
complicity in the conspiracy to murder Dr King
 88

An FBI document dated April 13 1968 to J Edgar Hoover then

the director of the FBI from the Memphis special agent in charge of
the FBI numbered 41 38861 and marked urgent was titled "Murkin
Civil Rights 00 Memphis, and began "The following is a summary
of investigation conducted in the Memphis Division April 12 Instant
Lorraine Motel.
Page 4 of the document reads as follows "Interview of Marrell
McCollough male negro resident.several words removed.employed
as warehouseman and who had been doing volunteer work with the
SCLC and related sanitation strike support groups in Memphis ad
vised and interviewed night of April 11 last that he was standing in
parking lot of Lorraine Motel on the evening of April 14 last He saw
Dr Martin Luther King standing on balcony of the second floor of
motel looking in a westerly direction McCollough heard an explosive
sound or gunshot and saw King falling backward Immediately Mc
Collough looked westward toward the building in the 1400 block West
Main Saw no one with a gun in any of the buildings Saw no one on
the street or ground area near motel with a gun and saw no one run
ning from the area
"McCollough ran up steps to balcony and was first to reach King
King was flat on his back with head pointed in a southeasterly direc
tion and feet pointed in a northeasterly direction He was obviously
dead McCollough applied pressure to the right cheek
Page 5 continues "bone and neck area of King He was later re
lieved in this effort by Rev Ralph Abernathy Based on position of
body directions of wound McCollough feels that the shot that hit
King had to come from northwesterly elevated direction from vicinity
of rear or at near 4221/2 South Main and not from the ground floor
McCollough has military police experience manner and appearance
excellent Credibility as witness should be basically sound as to fixing
direction of gun.
McCollough insisted that the shot came from the bathroom window
of the roominghouse While your expert witness Dr Baden testified
yesterday that all the available evidence could not fix the origin of
the shot the FBI more than 10 years ago established McCollough as
an expert who could
According to an FBI document sent to Hoover by SAC in Memphis
157-8460 157-1067 P on August 26 1969 regarding the Bureau's
Airtel of August 20 1969 page 3 McCollough was an "Invaders
Board of Directors member. That memo then states that McCollough
"was actually a patrolman with the Memphis Police Department work
ing undercover from February 1968 until March 31 1969 He is now
assigned to the intelligence unit of the Memphis Police Department.
Page 3 Therefore FBI documents prove that the first person to
reach Dr King after he was shot the person to establish the point of
origin of the shot and the most militant of the Invaders was a Mem
phis undercover police officer McCollough's picture appeared in news
papers and magazines throughout the world in that famous picture
which shows Ambassador Young Reverend Jackson and others stand
ing on the balcony with McCollough over the fallen body of Dr King
It is a most symbolic picture.
1Photographreferredto abovemaybefoundin hearingofNov 20 1978
 89

Still another FBI document to Hoover from the Memphis SAC

number 157-109 P dated April 10 1968 states that McCollough
spelled in this document "Merril McCloughan, was in fact a "special
agent of the FBI and a man who as a special agent participated in
the March 28 1968 march led by Dr King and Reverend Lawson Mc
Collough was one of the Invaders who as Reverend Abernathy testi
fied on Monday turned the nonviolent march into a riot Dr Aber
nathy was correct in stating that they were posing as Invaders but
even he did not know that the most active of the right-wing radical
activists the man who reached Dr King before he did was a police
spy.
On this other matter there is an article in the Washington Post
dated August 10 1978 saying a certain member.well the article
quotes a Congressman Mendel Davis saying a certain member of the
committee is intending to nail me to the cross
What I am concerned about this in one aspect of it is I anticipate
there will be many FBI informers up here testifying Most of them
are paid informers And some of them even have you might say a
license to kill I am referring to Raymond Curtis and Gary Thomas
Rowe So if it is possible that at some time in the future if there are
numerous people who testify against me that are ex-convict informers
or some other type of similar type I would like to make some type of
a sworn affidavit denying the accusations
Mr PREYER Mr Ray after you make your statement under the
House rules you will be permitted to make a further statement at which
time you may bring out any such collateral matters or offer any sworn
documents
Mr RAY All right thank you
I believe the committee has a copy of this statement I have made no
changes in the statement although I did type it fairly fast and it was
necessary for me to add some punctuation marks And in addition I
think there will be two or three instances where I will have to.it
would be necessary for me to digress to explain a point
Mr PREYERThat will be perfectly acceptable
Mr RAY Thank you
The statement I am about to give to this committee is essentially the
same testimony I would have given the trial court in Memphis Tenn
in 1969 if that court would have had the fortitude to have ordered
a public trial into the murder of Dr Martin Luther King rather than
making an in-chambers deal with the attorney who was allegedly
representing me Percy Foreman and capitulating to the wishes of
the dominant commercial publishing companies and the companies
special relationships with the intelligence communities
In essence I would have told the trial court and jury that I did not
shoot Martin Luther King Jr. just as I am now telling this commit
tee And if I would have had a lawyer to represent me I could have
offered conclusive proof in support of this denial
I know several large publishing houses working with the FBI have
offered up varied motivational allegations which are referred to below
in support of the Government case against me But it was not I who
posted Martin Luther King notes suggesting he kill himself Rather
i Mr Ray is apparentlyreferringto Mr MerrilMcColloughan undercoverofficerwith
the MemphisPoliceDepartmentMr McCollough testifiedbeforethe committeeon Nov
20 1978
 90

it was the FBI Nor was it the witness who celebrated upon hearing of
his death That too was the FBI And it was also not I who in the
1930's infected Blacks with syphilis germs for experimental purposes
then declined to treat them That was the actions of a governmental
body with the acquiescence of the dominant press
In respect to the guilty plea I made in the King case it is not a diffi
cult matter for an attorney to maneuver his client into a guilty plea to
a criminal indictment especially when the attorney has the active co
operation of the judge and prosecutor And I am sure every member of
this committee with legal experience knows this
If I could digress just a minute here Mr Chairman For references
on this last statement I would suggest "The Crime and Legal Process
by William J Shamus copyright 1969 by McGraw Hill Inc See part
two section 12 Donald J Newman "Pleading Guilty for Considera
tion in the Study of Bargain-basement Justice. Section 13 Abraham
S Bloomberg The Practice of Law as a Confidence Game Organiza
tional Cooperation of the Profession Section 14 David Suellow Nor
mal Crimes Sociological Features of the Penal Code and the Public
Defender's Office I think this along with Justice Berger's statement
that 30 percent of the attorneys are incompetent might suggest that
all guilty pleas are not made in heaven
Continuing with the statement But the public doesn't They think
of guilty pleas as they used to think of the FBI that the pleas are
made in heaven Further every judge who has laid hands on this case
knows that the plea was procured by fraud and therefore knew a trial
should have been ordered But the courts have been more influenced
by say editorials embedded in Time Magazine articles about the case
than they have in the law books
But maybe I should be in jail although not for shooting anyone
Rather for being foolish enough to return to a legal snake-pit even
if the offer was Fort Knox and Charlies Angels to spend it on once I
had reached Canada in 1967
I believe whatever this committee's ultimate findings are in this mat
ter it will have performed a valuable service if unintentionally in un
masking the U.S judicial system's operations in league with the
dominant publishing companies and railroading innocent defendants
in controversial criminal cases into prison and contributing to the
savaging of the defendants through solitary confinement et cetera
after the defendants are imprisoned All of this merely because the de
fendants insisted on the provisions guaranteed to them under the Fed
eral Constitution and lacked the political influence to claim it That is
for class or other reasons they were out of favor with the dominant
press In this respect the syndicated columnist Carl Rowen has writ
ten in effect that "If any group in the United States does not have in
fluence with the dominant press they can expect to be ground under.
Finally it would appear that the final act performed by the intelli
gence agencies/publishing empires when a public figure is murdered
and the alleged murderer is decided upon is for the construction of a
psychological profile for the edification of the judiciary In the instant
case the psychological profile as promoted by the FBI Time Maga
zine Time's legman George McMillan and United Press Interna
tional characterizes the witness as thus
One a narcotic addict Time Magazine January 26 1976 issue A
narcotic peddler Time Magazine January 26 1976 issue A sex devi
 91

ate type unexplained Time Magazine January 26 1976 issue Main

lined drugs FBI United Press International Wireservice release
January 25 1978 Went insane 1963.64 period FBI United Press
International Wireservice release January 25 1978 Constantly read
girlie magazines FBI United Press International Wireservice re
lease January 25 1978 Sent obscene letters to post office 1967.68
period FBI United Press International Wireservice release Janu
ary 25 1978 Plagued two women with late-night telephone calls 1967
68 period FBI United Press International Wireservice release Jan
uary 25 1978 Involved in drug traffic FBI United Press Interna
tional Wireservice release January 25 1978 And lastly cheated fel
low prisoners in crooked card games
In regard to the above-mentioned psychological profile I will accept
the profile as the type of person who would shoot Martin Luther
King Jr Further as I did in a letter to Attorney General Griffin
Bell exhibit B if any one of the aforementioned accusations can be
substantiated by the record prison records military records employ
ment records or any responsible official conversant with said records
then I will appear before this committee and take full responsibility
for the King ,murder When I refer to records that does not include
FBI-purchased information from their informers
While the Government and Government press was erecting and dis
seminating the aforementioned psychological profile the FBI was
also harassing various members of my family in order to maneuver
them into a position whereby they would have to perjure themselves
against me in some manner related to the King case in order to escape
imprisonment themselves For instance the FBI evidently burglarized
my sister Carol Pepper's home in 1968 looking for incriminating evi
dence See Jack Anderson column November 8 1977
Two The FBI had my brother John L Ray prosecuted and con
victed for aiding and abetting a bank robbery and the trial judge now
FBI Director William H Webster sentenced him to 18 years while
the actual robber later had his charge transferred to the eastern
district of California where Federal Judge M D Crocker sentenced
the robber to 18 months
Three And the wireservices reported on August 8 1978 that the
FBI had paid an informer Oliver Patterson to steal letters wiretap
conversations et cetera from another brother Jerry W Ray
If I can digress just here a second I think sir the FBI.I believe
that was this committee.yes continuing the statement
On April 23 1967 I escaped from the Missouri State Penitentiary in
a bread box in the manner as follows Several days prior to the escape
I fashioned a board approximately 3 by 4 feet which would fit inside
a box used to transport bread outside the prison In addition I made
several holes in the lower sides of the box with a hammer.airholes
Thereafter on April 23 1967 I entered the prison kitchen early
I worked afternoons.at approximately 8 a.m Later I entered the
bread box where bread from the bakery is loaded into the box to be
trucked to a prison farm Some time after entering the bread box I
got into the bread box and covered myself with a 3 by 4-foot board
Thereafter a prisoner filled the box with bread and then transferred
the box downstairs by elevator onto a platform used to load trucks
transporting items outside the prison compound
 92

Shortly thereafter the box with me enclosed was placed on a wait

ing truck The truck then proceeded through a prison security gate
where a guard searched the box by raising the lid and viewing inside
After passing through the prison gate I got out of the box After the
truck crossed the Missouri River Bridge nearby the prison farm it
stopped before turning into the road leading to the farm When the
truck stopped I disembarked
I then crossed the highway turned right and followed the dirt road
until I came upon several junked automobiles I stayed in one of the
vehicles up until dark then left the vehicle crossed under the bridge
that I had previously crossed in the bread truck I then made my way
to a nearby railroad track
I had departed the prison with several candy bars and in addition
had taken some bread from the bread truck I also had taken from the
prison on my person approximately $250 and a radio along with a
social security card number under the name of John L Rayns and
two phone numbers
After a period of walking the railroad tracks I crossed via a switch
onto another set of tracks After walking two or three nights on the
tracks and sleeping days and having run out of food I came upon a
trailer Apparently the trailer was intended as a fishing cabin as I
believe it was located near a river I entered the trailer and found a
bottle containing wine and several items of food
Upon leaving the trailer I had the wine and food with me It is my
recollection that during this approximate period I again crossed a
switch onto another track However during all the walking I was
moving in the general direction of Kansas City Mo
On the 4th or 5th day out I was also traveling by day On one of
these days it commenced raining and I moved underneath a trestle
and started a fire Shortly thereafter a handcar stopped over the
trestle The two operators of the car disembarked and inquired of me
about the smoke I explained that I had been caught in the rain and
had started the fire to dry out They said all right andleft
During this period my shoes had fell off and consequently I had
to make a forcible entry into a store to obtain another pair
On the 6th day I observed a small town That evening I entered the
town purchased food and drink and then returned to the railroad
tracks Later that evening I caught a freight train traveling in the
direction of St Louis Mo
I arrived in St Louis while it was still dark After a period of wait
ing in the railroad yards and when it commenced to lighten I made
my way to South St Louis to the residence of an individual who called
himself the "Catman. His apparent given name was Jack Gawron I
intended for Mr Gawron to arrange for my transportation to Ed
wardsville Ill. however Gawron was not home Therefore I caught
a taxi to East St Louis
Thereafter I caught another taxi to Edwardsville Ill. then to the
bus station wherein I boarded the bus bound for Chicago Ill Al
though I am not certain I believe I paid the bus driver the fare rather
than purchasing the ticket in the station
Upon arriving in Chicago on April 30 1967 I made my way to
2731 North Sheffield and rented a room On May 3 1967 I applied for
a job as a dishwasher at the Indian Trail Restaurant in Winnetka
 93

Ill. a Chicago suburb I learned of the job from an advertisement in

the Chicago Tribune newspaper
I received the job and shortly thereafter I purchased a 1960 Chry
sler for $100 I purchased the Chrysler in order to accumulate identi
fication and commute to and from work I also took a drivers test and
passed However although I received a temporary driving permit I
never received the permanent license I used the name John L Rayns
during this period
While I was employed by the aforementioned restaurant I wrote
the Canadian consul in Chicago inquiring about Canadian immigra
tion procedures In reply the consul mailed me several brochures
On or about June 27 1967 I terminated employment at the Indian
Trail Restaurant Thereafter I drove to Quincy Ill. to wait for the
last check to clear from said restaurant employment It was also my
intention to visit while in Quincy an aunt Mrs Frank Fuller and to
see one or two acquaintances
I stayed in Quincy approximately 12 days although I did not see
my aunt
During the period in Quincy I stayed alternatively in two hotels
one being located on the corner of Second and Oak Streets and the
other on the corner of Third and Oak Streets The only individual that
I saw and was familiar with in Quincy was Ted Crowley a proprietor
of a local club I may have told Mr Crowley something to the effect
that I had recently been released on parole from prison
After staying in Quincy Ill. for the above-mentioned period I
returned to Winnetka Ill. to pick up the check I had coming from the
Indian Trail Restaurant It is also my recollection that I checked into
a hotel located at 1648 West Lunt Street for a couple of days
If I may digress just a minute here Mr Chairman I think I also
stayed at this Lunt Street.in fact I know I did while I was working
at the restaurant because it was 4 or 5 miles closer to employment
Continuing with the statement After picking up the check I de
cided to drive to East St Louis Ill. and possibly see family members
before moving to Canada On the road to East St Louis I developed
car trouble I recall sleeping in the Chrysler one night and a highway
patrolman waking me and asking me if I had any problems
In East St Louis I stayed one night in a rundown hotel near down
town The next day I sold the Chrysler to a service station operator
for approximately $50 I then purchased in East St Louis on July 15
1967 a red Plymouth for $200 I had a problem making the purchase
although I don't recall what the problem was
I phoned Jack "The Catman Gawron during this period met him
in East St Louis and had him purchase me a pistol from a fence he
knew and that he could pay for pension day I told Gawron to tell my
family members that I was leaving the country and would try to con
tact them later and for him not to mention to the police that he had
seen me unless he wanted to go to jail
Later that day I drove to Indianapolis Ind. staying in a hotel that
night The next day I crossed into Canada via the Windsor Tunnel
in Detroit Mich I slept along the road the night of July 16 1967 and
the next day I entered the environs of Montreal Canada staying in
a motel part of the day

36-173
0 79 7
 94

The next day I entered Montreal proper and one of the first things
I did was inquire of a travel agency via telephone the procedure for
a Canadian to acquire a Canadian passport I was informed that I must
have a guarantor who would testify that he/she had known me for 2
years That evening in Montreal on St Catherine Street East in a
nightclub I was accosted by a prostitute Subsequently I agreed to go
to her place via taxicab
After we got located in her apartment I gave her the requested $25
fee and she carried the money to an office When I left I wrote down
the address of the building The next day I rented an apartment in
the Har-K Apartments located at 2589 Notre Dame East Then later
I parked my automobile close to the building where I had the night
before been with the prostitute That evening I returned to the afore
mentioned nightclub and meeting the same girl again accompanied
her via taxi to her apartment Inside her apartment I gave her an
other $25 but this time showed her the pistol Mr Gawron had pur
chased for me and told her I would go with her to wherever she was
taking the money When she aroused the manager into opening the
office I put the pistol on him We moved back into the office wherein
I asked him for the money Taking out his wallet he offered me the
small amount in it approximately $5 or $10 When I told him I
wanted the rest of the money he spoke about a cabinet nearby and mo
tioned to a container Before leaving the office I had the manager lie
on a bed and the girl remove her stockings and tie his hands and legs
I then had her get under the bed before departing Later I found that
I had taken approximately $1,700 in mixed currency from the man
ager's office
During the next few days I purchased clothing and decided that the
only way I could come by travel documents in order to travel to
leave Canada would be to either persuade someone to act as my guar
antor or perhaps roll a drunken seaman for his seaman's papers
During the next couple of weeks I did spend considerable time near
the Montreal dock area frequenting bars I was never able to come by
merchant seaman's papers although I did contact an individual who
introduced himself as Roual.l I first met him at the Neptune Tavern
121 West Commissioner Street He was approximately 35 to 40 years
old 5 feet 9 inches tall with dark hair and a red tint in it He spoke
with a slight Spanish accent
I assumed from his demeanor and conversation that our interests
could be compatible and after a couple of meetings it was established
that I was interested in some type travel documents while his interest
was in locating someone who would for a price help him move some
type contraband through U.S Customs at the Canadian border Dur
ing the initial meeting with Roual perhaps three or four times nothing
was decided definitely mainly because I had decided to take a vacation
in a Laurentian Mountain resort and while there enlist the assistance of
someone preferably female in procuring a Canadian passport that
is attempting to find someone who would act as my guarantor in mak
ing application for a passport
Subsequently I did drive to the Gray Rocks Inn in the Laurentian
Mountains and met a woman and later I saw her again in the Ca
The name"Roual as spelledby Mr JamesEarl Ray as comparedto the generally
acceptablewayof spellingthat the committeeuses"Raoul.
 95

nadian capital of Ottawa However I learned she was employed by the

Canadian Government and thus considered it ill-advised to discuss
the guarantor question with her
Therefore in returning to Montreal from the Laurentian Mountains
I decided to accept any reasonable proposition Roual might offer in
return for travel documents After I returned to Montreal I did meet
with Roual several more times His proposals and my acceptance were
in essence that I would meet him in Windsor Canada at approximately
3 :30 p.m. August 21 1967 near the railroad station in my automobile
that he would then provide me certain packages to transport across the
border into the United States for that I would for transporting the
packages into the United States be provided with travel documents
and an unspecified amount of money
That thereafter I would sell the Plymouth automobile and travel to
Birmingham Ala. wherein I would again meet Roual for some similar
type smuggling operations apparently in Mexico Roual had initially
suggested that I go to Mobile Ala
I accepted the above-mentioned proposals although it was my in
tention that once I laid hands on the travel documents to return to
Canada On August 21 1967 at approximately 3 p.m. I was parked
near the Windsor Canada railroad station and after waiting a half
hour or less Roual came to the Plymouth with an attache case entered
the automobile and said "Let's go.
Starting the automobile he directed me toward a side street wherein
he moved into the back seat after stopping and placed three packages
under the backrest Then returning to the front seat he directed me
toward the tunnel that connected Windsor with Detroit Mich
Before we arrived at the tunnel entrance he asked me to let him out
saying that he would cross separately and for me to pick him up on
the U.S side He said he would cross in a cab and to give him a few
minutes before I crossed
I cleared the customs with no difficulty and picked up Roual on the
U.S side of the tunnel He then directed me to another side street
where he removed the packages I then drove him to the Detroit bus
station Letting him out he told me to return to Windsor and wait at
the same place as before
I then returned to the Windsor railroad station and after about 10
or 15 minutes Roual appeared again and we repeated the procedure
except that this time we traveled over the bridge connecting the two
countries However when waiting in line to cross the bridge I noticed
customs officers were searching several of the automobiles ahead of me
Recalling I had a television set in the Plymouth which I was re
quired to declare at customs and wishing to avoid a search of the
Plymouth I declared the television set The customs officer then di
rected me to a special lane and was in the process of searching the
Plymouth when another customs officer appeared and apparently or
dering the first customs officer to other duties told me to pay the tele
vision tax in the customs office and leave
When I later met Roual on the U.S side of the 'bridge he appeared
somewhat nervous and I informed him that I had been held up in cus
toms and showed him the television tax receipt provided by customs
Now if I can digress here 1 minute please I was back using at that
time the Rayns name again and the receipt customs gave me was made
 96

out to John L Rayns and after I got across the bridge I was using the
Galt name again
Anyway to continue with the statement we then drove to a side
street in Detroit and moving to the back of the Plymouth he removed
the three packages from behind the back seat backrest Moving into
the front seat of the Plymouth Roual gave me approximately $1,500
in mixed currency however offering some excuse he said he was un
able to obtain the travel documents although he did assure me he
would be able to come by the papers at a later date He also suggested
I dispose of the old Plymouth and then we could purchase a later
model automobile when we met in Birmingham Ala
He told me he would write me in care of general delivery Birming
ham Ala. under the Galt name Also he gave me a New Orleans La.
telephone number if I needed to contact him
Thereafter I left him at the bus station and drove to Chicago Ill.
wherein I gave my brother Jerry W Ray the Plymouth and caught
a train to Birmingham Ala I arrived in Birmingham August 25
1967 The next day I rented a room at 2608 Highland Avenue under
the name of Eric S Galt
The following Monday August 28 1967 I checked at the general
delivery window in the main post office inquiring about mail addressed
to Eric Galt The postal clerk asked me for my middle initial and when
I supplied the letter "S, he gave me a letter from Roual
In the letter Roual asked me to meet him at the Starlite Cafe lo
cated directly across the street from the post office that evening Later
I met him in the Starlite and he asked me to try to locate for sale a
late model automobile The next day I found through a newspaper ad a
1966 Mustang That evening I again met Roual in the Starlite and de
scribed the Mustang to him He said it sounded all right and the next
morning he gave me $2,000 with instructions to buy the Mustang
Later in the morning I took a taxi to 701 South 48th Street and
purchased the Mustang from its owner Mr William D Paisley After
Purchasing the automobile I drove to the Starlite Cafe picked up
Roual and from the Starlite on to the residence that I was staying at
on Highland Avenue parking on a mall in front of the residence
Before departing Roual asked me and I gave him a set of keys
to the Mustang He also wrote down my address and phone number
He then gave me $500 for living expenses and another $500 for a list
of camera equipment Last he gave me another telephone number in
Baton Rouge La. as a backup number and suggested I lay low for a
month or so and he would contact me about the business at hand and
the matter of travel documents for me
During my stay in Birmingham Ala. I rented a bank vault accum
ulated identification under the Galt name and made the camera pur
chase as Roual requested I also contracted a lingering virus appar
ently in Canada and was treated for the ailment by a Dr Schwartz in
Birmingham
Subsequently I was contacted by Roual's apparent representative
asking me to meet Roual in New Orleans La. in April 1968 [sic] If I
may digress here it is possible I contacted him rather than he con
tacted me because I was having trouble purchasing the camera
equipment
 97

On or about October 6 1967 I departed Birmingham Ala en route

to New Orleans La. intending to meet Roual in New Orleans The
next day or day after upon arriving in Baton Rouge La. I phoned
the Baton Rouge number Roual had given me Unable to reach the
party I then phoned the New Orleans number and did reach this
party
I was told to proceed on to Nuevo Laredo Mexico and was given
the name and address of a motel to check into after arriving in Nuevo
Laredo Before leaving Beaton Rouge I mailed back to the Birming
ham bank the safety deposit vault key assuming I would not be re
turning to Birmingham Ala
Upon leaving Baton Rouge for Mexico I briefly traveled in the
direction of Dallas Tex. intending to see an individual who was con
versant with underworld activities along the border separating the
United States from Mexico However I subsequently decided against
the Dallas trip and therefore turned toward south Texas and Mexico
I arrived in Nuevo Laredo Mexico on or about October 7 1967
in the evening Upon inquiry from a policeman or a cab driver I
located the motel I was earlier instructed to check into After I had
signed into the motel and waited a couple of hours Roual appeared
and asked me how I was getting along and if I was ready for business
He asked me if I had a visa and I replied no He then said we would
cross the border into the United States and transport in the Mustang
certain items into Mexico Leaving the motel we drove down to a local
square where I let him out He said to give him a few minutes to catch
a taxi and then to meet him on the other side of the border
Picking him up on the other side he directed me north for maybe
seven or eight blocks and then westward a couple of miles ending
on the side street behind another automobile and beside a frame house
He then removed a tire from the other automobile placed it in the
trunk of our Mustang and directed me back toward Mexico
On the way to the Mexican customs he told me to apply for a visa
and when customs officials commenced searching the Mustang give
them each a dollar and they would only make a perfunctory search
When we neared the Mexican customshouse Roual got out of the Mus
tangsaying to pick him up either beside or in front of the custom
house after I had got the visa
I then applied for the visa The person who issued the visa asked
for a voter registration slip for identification but accepted a driver's
license and pink slip title in lieu When the customs officers com
menced searching the Mustang and placing a customs mark on the en
closed items I gave them each a dollar and they waved me through
After leaving the customs I picked up Roual beside the building
and we returned to the motel by a circuitous route I pulled into the
motel driveway and the tire was removed and placed in the auto
mobile it was originally removed from earlier on Roual told me he
would see me again in the morning and as I backed out of the drive
way I briefly saw the profile of the person driving the other automobile
The next morning Roual showed up and asked me if I were ready
and upon an affirmative reply I checked out of the motel Upon leav
ing he rode with me for about six blocks and then he got into another
automobile after telling me to follow the other car
 98

Once outside the city we stopped again and the tire was placed in
my automobile with Roual telling me to follow him until we had
cleared the interior customs house About 50 kilometers further on we
entered the customs check Roual's oar was held up However after
checking my bag tag I was waved on through by the inspector
Later a couple of kilometers down the road Roual passed me and
stopped in front of me in front of the Mustang Roual got into the
Mustang and offered some type of apology about still not being able
to come by travel documents for me However he gave me $2,000 He
then asked me if and where he could meet me in the future
I told him I most likely would travel to Los Angeles Calif He said
then he would contact me there through post by general delivery He
also gave me another New Orleans La. telephone number and asked if
1 had the old telephone number I think I gave him the old telephone
number
Traveling through Mexico I ultimately ended up in Puerto Val
lerta During my stay in Puerto Vallerta I attempted to trade the
Mustang for a piece of real estate and thus stay in Mexico I also saw
an advertisement in the U.S News & World Report magazine asking
for persons interested to make application for immigration to
Rhodesia
I wrote to the address listed for information about the matter but
never received a reply while in Mexico I departed Puerto Vallarta
Mexico on or about November 15 1967 traveling north toward the
United States On the way I gave a hitchhiker a ride to the border
After arriving near the border separating Mexico from the United
States I stayed overnight in a motel at Tijuana The next day in
preparing to leave the motel for the United States as was my practice
I searched the Mustang Down between the front seat and the gear
box I found a cigarette case with a pack of cigarettes in the case
Inside between the case and the pack was a business card The name
and most of the accompanying information had been inked out What
I could see that was still partly visible was the name "New Orleans
and the letters "LEAA.
On the back side of the card was the handwritten name of Randolph
Erwin Rosen Retaining the card I crossed the border into the United
States
If I can digress here just a second in the September 1977.I am still
on the statement in the September 1977 issue of Playboy magazine
Playboy reported that in 1967 LEAA was not in existence However
upon inquiry by a party representing me LEAA offices in Washing
ton D.C. stated that prior to 1968 a forerunner to LEAA which I
believe was OEAA was in existence and operated in New Orleans
Further upon request the late Mr Clyde Watts an attorney with
offices in Oklahoma City Okla. investigated in 1964 [sic] and re
ported thereafter that Randolph Erwin Rosen was in fact Randolph
Erwin Rosenson
On November 19 1967 I arrived in Los Angeles Calif and rented
an apartment located at 1535 North Serrano Avenue Then later on
January 19 1968 I moved to 5533 Hollywood Boulevard residing
there until March 17 1968
During my stay in Los Angeles Calif. I made the following at
tempts to find employment I placed an ad in the "Help Wanted sec
 99

tion of the Los Angeles Times newspaper contacted the Big Bear
Resort in the interior of California took a bartendering course ap
plied at two hotels for employment filled out an application for em
ployment with the Internal Revenue Service
I made the following inquiries and acts in an attempt to leave the
United States After reading in the local newspaper that U.S citi
zens could travel to Colombia South America without a passport I
checked into this matter I contacted several organizations about in
formation pertaining to Rhodesian immigration
I phoned the U.S Coast Guard several times about the procedure to
follow in order to gain merchant seaman's papers In this respect I
had minor plastic surgery on my nose in March 1968 by Dr Russell
Hadley in order that I might change my appearance enough to avoid
identification if I needed a picture for the merchant seaman's papers
In early December 1967 I checked at the general delivery section
main post office to see if Roual had posted any messages Finding that
he had not sent a communication I phoned New Orleans under the
number he had given me in Mexico
The person that answered inquired if I could travel to New Orleans
in late December I replied in the positive and thereafter made ar
rangements with a Charley Stein whom I had met in a local bar to
help with the driving to New Orleans When Mr Stein who was
habitually short of money and I were ready to leave for New Orleans
about December 5 1967 [sicl he asked to use my telephone in order to
notify his family in New Orleans of his pending visit
During the trip I phoned my brother Jerry Ray one time Other
than Mr Stein's busying himself looking for flying saucers nothing
else of interest had transpired on the trip until we reached New
Orleans
Upon reaching the city I dialed the phone number Roual had pro
vided me with in Mexico I arranged a meeting with him in the Le
Bunny Lounge on Canal Street and during the subsequent meeting
in the lounge Roual told me that in early May he wanted to transport
some rifles into Mexico and for me to help him
He said that there would be about $12,000 in it for me in addition
to the usual promise of travel documents I agreed to his proposition
but told him I was low on funds Subsequently he gave me $500 in $20
notes
Returning to New Orleans I moved to the aforementioned Holly
wood Boulevard address residing there when in February 1967 (sic)
I received a written communication from Roual asking me to meet
him in New Orleans La. on a certain day in March for a trip to
Atlanta Ga. and to acknowledge the communication I acknowledged
by the telephone that I would be in New Orleans on that date
If I may digress just here Mr Chairman I am not certain this Geor
gia address is mentioned in this letter I was taking a locksmith course
at this time by correspondence course and I was interested in complet
ing the course I didn't make out any change of address cards so I am
not really positive about this but I am inclined to think that I
prob
ably mentioned this on the telephone and they might have told me we
would be briefly in Georgia or not briefly but just in Georgia
Returning to the statement Of other possible interest to the commit
tee during my stay in the Los Angeles area I was robbed of a watch
 100

and the keys to the Mustang outside of a bar on Hollywood Boulevard

Consequently I had to hire a locksmith to make me another set of keys
I did come by some addresses although through underground publica
tions advertising unattached females Later I did use one of these
addresses See below
I never attempted to contact any of the persons listed under the
advertisements except one who listed herself as a nympho-something
Of course I had been in jail for about 6 years
On or about March 17 1968 I departed Los Angeles for New Or
leans La Apparently I was late in arriving in New Orleans In calling
the party under the aforementioned number I was told to drive to
Birmingham Ala. and meet Roual in the Starlite Cafe Arriving in
Birmingham and entering the Starlite again somewhat late I met
Roual and we proceeded to Atlanta Ga
Arriving in Atlanta we commenced searching for an apartment
finally locating a room for rent at 113.14th Street Northeast How
ever because of the intoxicated condition of the proprietor I had a
problem renting a room Because of the delay Roual briefly entered
the office After the rental we went to a restaurant on Peachtree Street
for a meal and while in the restaurant made several arrangements for
Roual to meet me at the recently rented room the next day
The next day Roual came to the room I had rented next door to the
proprietor's office and the conversation was a rerun of the previous
evening's conversation in the Peachtree Street restaurant In essence
I was to purchase rifles in Atlanta to be later shown to prospective
buyers but because of an identification problem all of my identifica
tion was listed under the State of Alabama I suggested we purchase
rifles in Alabama which Roual agreed to do
Upon leaving Roual suggested I stay close to the room since he
would return in a couple days and then wanted me to drive him to
Miami Fla However he never did appear for the Miami trip
If I may digress here for just a second Mr 'Chairman in respect to
Miami Fla. I discussed this matter with Arthur Hanes the first attor
ney who represented me in Memphis but I don't know just how much
I talked to him about it I was giving information to my attorney at
that time Mr Hanes and he was giving it to William Bradford Huie
the Alabama novelist and Mr Huie was giving it to the FBI so I was
kind of hesitant on giving certain information to the attorney
However I did write to Mr Hanes one time if my recollection is
correct and told him not to discuss this Miami business with Mr Huie
I assume Mr Hanes still has the letters on this and I believe I have
given this committee a waiver on Mr Hanes
Returning to the statement After about a week Roual did appear
and we drove to Birmingham Ala. to implement what we had pre
viously agreed to do I checked into the Travellodge in Birmingham
We then checked through the yellow pages of the phone book and
perhaps newspapers for an establishment that sold rifles deciding on
the Aeromarine Supply Co
Subsequently I did purchase a rifle with military specifications at
Aeromarine After the purchase Roual gave me the name of a motel
New Rebel in Memphis Tenn. telling me to transport the rifle to the
motel and meet him there at a certain date April 3 1968 and time
 101

saying he in the interval had to make a business trip to New Orleans

La
Thereafter commencing on March 29 1968 the day I picked up the
rifle I traveled in the direction of Memphis Tenn Subsequently I
rented a room in Florence Ala Corinth Miss De Soto Miss. and
other motel addresses that I cannot recall although I assume the
F.B.I has the addresses
I did not at any time deviate from the aforementioned route and
specifically I did not return to Atlanta Ga. after departing Birming
ham Ala. on March 29 1968 until April 5 1968 I arrived in the sub
urbs of Memphis Tenn on April 2 1968 and checked into the New
Rebel Motel in Memphis proper on April 3 1968 It commenced rain
ing that evening and at approximately 9 p.m Roual appeared at
the room I was occupying
Ronal told me that it would be necessary to take a room for a few
days in Memphis He also informed me he had a place located near
the waterfront and that he or I or both would rent a room at the lo
cation in my name I told Roual that I did not care to have my name
used if there were going to be any guns in the place or if we were in
volved in something we could possibly get arrested for
I then suggested the name John Willard that I had used indirectly
once before thus a name I could easily remember that we could use to
let a room under Ronal agreed to use the Willard name He then com
mented that if everything progressed all right that he and I would
return to Birmingham Ala. and purchase 10 or more of the scope
rifles in addition to a large supply of the foreign brand rifles that I
had looked over in the gun store in Birmingham
He implied that after we had purchased the firearms they would be
shipped to New Orleans La. by boat Before departing Roual told
me to meet him at the 4221/2 South Main Street address at 3 or
4 p.m the next day He then wrote down the address on a slip of
paper and I wrote down for him the Willard name to use if he should
rent a room for me or himself
He mentioned that if he were not in a room at the South Main Street
address when I arrived he would be in a bar and grill located on the
ground floor of the building He then took the rifle and departed and
that was the last I saw of the weapon
The next day I did not check out of the motel until late morning
After having breakfast at a nearby restaurant I drove to the south
part of Mississippi or the south part of Tennessee.I may have been
m Mississippi-and waited a period of time in the beer house and gen
erally stalled around for the rendezvous with Roual at 422 South Main
Street Now if I may digress here while I was traveling around dur
ing this period I had a flat tire It wasn't completely flat but a slow
leak I did change tires
Finally I drove to a commercial parking lot After checking the
Mustang into the lot and receiving directions from the parking lot
attendant to the location of Main Street I commenced walking in a
general direction toward what appeared to be the main section of
Memphis Further on with the assistance of a policeman I located
Main Street and traveling south on Main I made at least one inquiry in
bars concerning the 4221/2 South Main Street address
 102

One of the places of inquiry may have been a Jim's bar After I had
located that apparent address of the South Main Street building I
had been searching for and which had a Jim's grill on the ground
floor I entered the bar and grill looking for Roual He was not in the
establishment However I did notice two white males that I had pre
viously seen in one of the bars I had just recently been in making
inquiries concerning the address I was searching for
One of the two individuals appeared to be noticing me more than
was necessary I am certain that I did not meet Roual in Jim's grill the
first time I entered the establishment because of the crowded condi
tions unlike the second and the two individuals in the bar who were
not present when I did meet Roual
I ordered a beer and shortly thereafter departed the tavern going
upstairs to inquire about renting a room Upon inquiry the proprie
tress informed me she had two rooms to let and showed me both of
them Since the second was only a sleeping room I rented it paying
with a $20 bill After signing the registry under the name of John
Willard the only other person I saw or ever saw except Roual in the
establishment was an elderly white male who was in the proprietress
officewhen I first inquired about the room
Immediately upon retaining a room I left the building to return
to the parking lot to pick up the Mustang It was now approximately
4 p.m because of my delay in locating the South Main Street address
Returning to the parking lot which I estimate was 1 mile from the
422 South Main Street address I picked up the Mustang and sub
sequently parked the automobile almost directly in line with the front
of Jim's grill and immediately behind another automobile
Now if I may digress here just a second Mr Chairman since I
made this statement I found an FBI document and this might clear up
where I was parked at or where I wasn't This document is from the
Federal Bureau of Investigation Offices dated April 7 1968 and I
will read it
"Lloyd Jowers owner of Jim's Grill".this is where I was parked
at."418 South Main Street advised that at approximately 3 :55 p.m
on April 4 1968 he arrived at the grill and parked directly in back of
a white Mustang that was parked in the street directly in front of his
grill He stated that he believed that the car had Mississippi license
plates on it because they were an orangish-yellow color He stated that
upon parking the car he went into the grill where he saw a stranger
sitting at the bar having a meal He stated that it was unusual to get
any strange customers in the grill since most of the customers were
local people of a steady nature
"Mr Jowers described the stranger as follows Race white sex
male height 5 feet 8 to 5 feet 9 weight 160 pounds build heavy age
27 to 30 hair sandy complexion ruddy dress wearing a dark suit
He stated the man finished his meal and left the grill not noticing in
which direction he walked but he did not get into the white Mustang
which was parked in front of the grill
"Mr Jowers stated that this same individual returned to the grill
at approximately 8 p.m on April 5 1968 and ordered breakfast
Mr Jowers stated in his estimation this individual acted strangely
because he seemed very calm when everyone else in the grill in the area
was excited over the shooting
 103

"In view of the fact that he felt the individual was acting strange
and also because he was a stranger in the area Mr Jowers called the
police and was told that he had a man of suspicious nature in the grill
He said that when the stranger finished his breakfast he left the grill
and was arrested on the sidewalk in front of the grill by the Memphis
Police Department.
Then there are several words blanked out
"The Homicide Bureau of the Memphis Police Department later
identified this arrested individual as Gene Pearson Crawford, and
there are several more words blocked out "Jackson Tennessee who
was determined to have no part in the murder of Dr Martin Luthe.,
King.
The only reason I mentioned this document was that I am certain
that I parked in this area where this car was and if it could be estab
lished when the car was moved it may be established where I was
parked
Mr PREYER Mr Ray if you wish to make that document a part of
the record at this point if there is no objection the Chair will make it
a part of the record
Mr RAY I have several other documents that I will get
Mr PREYER We will also arrange to get one without the deletions
Mr RAY Well I just got this and I didn't have time to Xerox it
but I will give the committee a copy of everything I have
Mr PREYER Without objection it will be admitted into the record
at this point
[The FBI document dated April 7 1968 was admitted into the
record and is also part of MLK exhibit No F-14.]
MLK EXHIBITF-14 (ATTACHMENT)
 104

/D-S0IF~. 4-IS-611

FEDERAL
BUREAU
OFINVESTIGATION

Date 4/7/68

.LOYDJOWERSowner Jim's Grill 418 South Main

Street advised that at approximately 3:55 p.m on
April 4 1968 he arrived at the Grill and parked directly in
back of a white Mustang that wao parked on the street directly
in front of his Grill He stated that he believed that the
car had Mississippi license plates on it because they were of an
orange or orangish-yellow color He stated that upon parking the
car he went into the Grill where he saa a stranger sitting at the
bar having a meal He stated that it was unusual for him to get
any strange customers in the Grill since most of his customers
were local people of a steady nature Mr JOWERS described the
stranger as follows
Race White
Sex Male
Height 5'8 to 5'9
Weight 160 pounds
Build Heavy
Age 27 to 30
Hair Sandy
Complexion Ruddy
Dress Wearing a dark suit
He stated that the man finished his meal and left the
Grill and he could not notice in which direction he walked
but he did no get into the white Mustang which was parked in
front of the Grill
Mr JOWERS stated that this same individual returned
to the Grill at about 8:00 p.m on April 5 1968 and ordered
breakfast Mr JOWERS stated that in his estimation this
individual acted strangely because be seemed very calm when
everyone else at the Grill and in the area was excited over the
shooting In view of the fact that he felt the individual was
acting strange and also because be was a stranger in the area
Mr JOWERS called the Police and told them that he had a man of
.a suspicious nature at the Grill He said that when the stranger
finished his breakfast he left the Grill and was arrested
on the sidewalk in front of the Grill by the MemphisPolice
Department
a ft E.eec:d2 B.:rea.u Memphis
Police Depar'_cent e id-. tted this arrested individual
as GENEPEARSON CRAWFOR-D JSek5On
Tennessee who was determined'"tco t va_tad no part in the
murder of Dr MARTIN LUTRIRKIM JR
48

44-1987
Filee

by -Date dictated 4/5/68

th a..
 105

Mr LANE Is there an exhibit number for this document Mr

Chairman
Mr PREYER I think if you want to put your own.do you have an
exhibit number at this stage
The exhibit number would be MLK F-14
Mr RAY I believe I left off at the bottom of page 23 second line
I did not move the Mustang again until approximately 5:40 p.m
the same day I later noticed upon leaving the roominghouse on one of
several occasions that there were several other automobiles parked
.earby the same color as the Mustang a whitish color
Upon entering Jim's Grill for the second time I found the indi
'idual calling himself Roual was present This time the bar was not so
:rowded and Roual was sitting in the lunch-counter section drinking
coffee After the amenities I told him I had some difficulty locating the
roominghouse upstairs We departed almost immediately when he sug
gested we go upstairs to the room I had rented On the way out of the
grill he asked me if I had the Mustang with me I pointed to it say
ing "There it is. Once upstairs in the room I had rented Roual sug
gested I put whatever items I have in the Mustang up to the room
saying we may have to stay here 3 or 4 days He also asked me to pur
chase a pair of binoculars with infrared attachments saying the
"people also wanted to examine some glasses Roual gave me direc
tions to a nearby sporting goods store wherein I could purchase the
glasses
Leaving the roominghouse I was unable to locate the sporting goods
store the first trip Returning to Roual again he explained to me the
location of the sporting goods store Upon returning to the room after
the first trip looking for the sporting goods store I removed a small
traveling case from the Mustang containing personal items and de
posited the case in the room However because I was somewhat con
versant with the type of establishment I was in what with no locks on
the doors or even door knobs just a strap to pull the door to and the
place an apparent habitat for winos where anyone could enter anyone
else's rental at will I did not carry any of the personal items into the
room other than the aforementioned case and its contents except a
cover which I used to cover the covering already on the bed I placed
the case under the bed
On the second trip seeking the sporting goods store I located it
Upon inquiring the salesman informed me the store did not carry
infrared attachments for binoculars I would have to purchase them
in an army surplus store However the salesman did sell me the binoc
ulars On the way back to the roominghouse I stopped at a drug store
on the ground floor of the Chisca Hotel and ordered ice cream While
waiting on the order I sat as customary directly across from the cash
register and distinctly recall the apparent manager who was a white
male instructing a young black woman on the intricacies of using a
cash register thus I assumed she had just started working in the store
that day
The attorneys representing me in the King case in 1968.69 were un
able to locate the drug store in question However in February 1969 I
described to a policeman who was guarding me in the Memphis jail
the approximate location of the store and he informed me the name of
the store
 106

Mr PREYER Mr Ray excuse me Your hour is up but without ob

jection you will be permitted to finish your statement
Mr RAY ill right sir
Mr PREYERYou may proceed
Mr RAY Thank you
After returning to the Main Street roominghouse I told Roual we
would have to purchase the infrared attachments at an army surplus
store I also informed him I had not eaten since breakfast He said to
go out and have a meal and take in a movie since he wanted to see some
people in private that evening but to leave the Mustang out in the
front as he would most likely need that that evening or night
I then went downstairs into Jim's Grill and ordered a beer al
though I did not drink it I say this because I recall seeing a white
waitress on one occasion while I was in the establishment and on a
next occasion there was a black waitress on duty
If I can digress here The point I am trying to make here I was in
the grill on two different occasions at least On leaving the grill I sat
in the Mustang 10 or 15 minutes before traveling north on Main
Street and entering a bar and restaurant located on the left-hand side
of the street and fairly near a movie house across the street I ordered
a sandwich and while sitting there I recalled I had changed the back
rear tire on the right side one facing the front of the Mustang the
day before after the tire developed a slow leak Thinking the damaged
tire could be fixed if the Mustang should be used at night I returned
to the Mustang and drove it north on Main Street for maybe three or
four blocks before turning right and traveling four or five more blocks
to a service station There were two or three service stations at the
intersection
I inquired of one if they could fix the spare tire while I waited and
I was informed I would have to wait awhile because of the business
volume Moving to the other station I do not recall asking for the tire
to be repaired although I did have the Mustang serviced
Upon leaving the station I circled around in a manner that would
return me to the original parking space in front of Jim's Grill How
ever when driving on through Main Street I saw a police car parked
blocking off the street that I would have had to drive through in order
to return to my original parking space
In addition I saw what appeared to be two or three people walking
rather fast opposite the police car I then veered off to the left toward
South Memphis traveling through what appeared to be a predomi
nantly black community I eventually ended up in Mississippi travel
ing toward New Orleans La It was my intention to phone a New
Orleans where.it was my intention to phone a New Orleans number
in my possession and have the party on the other end attempt to find
out what if anything had happened in the area of the aforementioned
South Main Street roominghouse however shortly after entering the
State of Mississippi I heard over the car radio that Dr Martin Lu
ther King Jr. had been shot in Memphis
A short while later approximately 15 minutes another news bulle
tin on the radio stated police authorities were looking for a white Mus
tang and a white male subject as suspect in the shooting of Dr King
Consequently the first intersection I came to I turned east traveling
toward Atlanta Ga
 107

If I may digress for just a second With respect to this tire I men
tioned 3 or 4 years ago my brother was talking about my private
property in Memphis and he said as soon as I pled guilty the attor
ney general's office called him to the office and gave him this tire plus
the floor boards out of the Mustang floor mats out of the Mustang
But I imagine the Memphis prosecutor's office will substantiate that
or disprove it
Continuing with the statement 'by way of Birmingham Ala. shortly
after turning east I stopped the Mustang and threw various items out
of the trunk including all the camera equipment that Roual had me
purchase for him The equipment was still in the original wrapping
cases when I discarded it It was raining slightly at the time and I took
a cloth and attempted to wipe off any fingerprints I may have left on
the outside of the Mustang Several years later my brother Jerry W
Ray told me.I went through this I will read it again anyway Sev
eral years later my brother Jerry Ray told me immediately after the
guilty plea the Memphis attorney general's office give him the dam
aged tire and the floor mats from the Mustang Thereafter I drove
through Birmingham Ala. and later into the State of Georgia Ap
proximately 30 miles from Atlanta Ga. I ran a little low on fuel and
stopped at a service station for gasoline I arrived in Atlanta approxi
mately 7:30 a.m I abandoned the Mustang in a private parking lot
near Capitol Homes I then returned to the room I previously rented
located at 113 14th Street Northeast I placed everything in a case that
it would hold and discarded the remaining items left in the room I
then walked to the Piedmont Laundry wherein I had left several items
of clothing to be cleaned in late March of 1968 I then phoned a bus
station for a reservation to Detroit Mich Being informed that a bus
was leaving Atlanta for Detroit Mich. that afternoon I returned to
the roominghouse for the case I then departed the building and called
a taxi cab to the bus station wherein I purchased a ticket to Detroit
Mich The bus was not due to leave Atlanta for several hours so I
checked in the case and traveled several blocks from the bus station and
waited in abar until departure time for the bus
However upon returning to the bus station I learned that the bus
would be late in its departure schedule After the bus did depart from
Atlanta it proceeded on to Cincinnati Ohio with a layover in that city
of approximately 2 hours During the layover I waited in a nearby bar
until it closed at 2:30 a.m Then I waited in the bus terminal another
20 or 30 minutes before the bus departed for Detroit Mich
Arriving in Detroit at approximately 7 :30 a.m. I then made reserva
tions for a train bound for Toronto Canada Before leaving the Cana
dian side of the border I took a taxicab to a train station approxi
mately 2 miles from downtown Detroit Adjacent to the train station
was an open square block park directly across diagonally from the
train station and across the open lot was a barbershop wherein I had
a shave and haircut
I arrived in Toronto Canada at approximately 6 :30 'p.m. April 6
1968 After checking my case into a luggage department I made my
way west on foot After walking approximately 2 miles and making
inquiries along the way for rental quarters I eventually found a room
for rent at 102 Ossington Avenue The proprietress name was Mrs
Adam Szpakowski I paid Mrs Szpakowski $10 for 1 week's rent Mrs
 108

Szpakowski who spoke with a heavy accent did not ask my name nor
did I volunteer the information
Thereafter on the folowing Monday April 8 1968 I made my way
to the offices of the Toronto Evening Telegram and ask to see back is
sues of the paper for the year 1932 A librarian gave me the requested
issues of microfilm and assisted me with the projector After a time
I choosed several names from the films Two of the names were Ramon
George Sneyd and Paul E Bridgman My purpose in obtaining these
names was to apply for a passport under one of the names if conditions
were favorable
Leaving the newspaper's offices I made my way back to the room
on Ossington Avenue However before I got to Ossington I was
stopped and ticketed by a policeman for jaywalking I had remem
bered a women's address in Toronto Canada 6 Condor Street from
some addresses I had gotten out of an underground publication ap
parently specializing in "bringing people together. I gave the police
man the Condor Street address as my own I am fairly certain I also
gave my name as Eric Galt to the policeman
The next day I phoned the local police station inquiring about the
ticket However the station did not have the ticket on file After I
arrived back to the Ossington Avenue address I wrote the name Paul
Bridgman on a slip of paper and gave it to Mrs Szpakowski inform
ing her this was my name The next day I proceeded to contact by
telephone several of the names I had gotten from the Toronto Evening
Star telling them I was their registrar general's office investigating
a passport matter inquiring of them if they had ever been issued
a Canadian passport
Eventually I contacted Mr Ramon George Sneyd a Toronto police
man and upon inquiry Mr Sneyd informed me that he had never
applied for a Canadian passport Therefore shortly thereafter I made
my way to the Arcade Photo Studios and had several passport photos
taken I used the Paul Bridgman name in applying for the passport
photos
During this period I had rented another room located at 962 Dundas
Street West from a Mrs Sun Loo I registered under the name of
Ramon George Sneyd and told Mrs Loo I worked nights thus I
would be in days.I spent the nights at the Ossington Avenue address
Then I visited the Kennedy Travel Agency in Toronto inquiring
about the procedure for obtaining a Canadian passport
If I may digress here just 1 minute I think I am almost positive
I visited either this agency or another agency and found out I wouldn't
need a guarantor that I could make some type of sworn affidavit and
bypass the guarantor
Continuing with the statement I told the office manager Mrs Lillian
Spencer that I did not have a guarantor passport having just re
turned to Toronto Mrs Spencer informed me that it was not neces
sary to have a guarantor rather I could make a sworn statement that
I was a citizen of Canada have the statement notarized then her of
fice would apply for the passport
I did apply for a passport through Mrs Spencer's office under the
name of Ramon George Sneyd and using the Dundas Street West
address If I had been thorough enough to gain the information dur
ing my first trip to Canada in 1969 I am sure I would not be testi
fying before this committee today
 109

During this period I also made a brief trip to Montreal Canada

to inquire about reservations to Europe ship reservations
In early May of 1968 my passport in the name of Ramon George
Sneyd was presented to me by the Kennedy Travel Agency on March 6
1968 [sic] I departed Canada bound for London England and arrived
in London on March 7 1968 [sic] Immediately thereafter I boarded a
plane for Lisbon Portugal While in Lisbon and because my finances
were such that I could not afford fare to a more distant country say
Australia I made several efforts to gain transportation to Africa
During one period in a meeting with a Black and a white male I at
tempted to join a military unit in Biafra but was unsuccessful Finally
I did find a ship with available berth bound for Angola However a
visa was required to enter Angola and since the ship was leaving for
Angola in 3 days and it required 7 days for a visa to be processed I
missed the opportunity
Returning to London England after approximately 10 days in
Portugal I attempted on June 8 1968 to leave London by airplane
destined for Brussels Belgium However I was detained at London's
Heathrow Airport by the police and subsequently arrested by English
authorities and held for extradition to the United States
Thereafter I wrote Messrs F Lee Bailey and Arthur J Hanes Sr.
of the Massachusetts and Alabama Bar respectively about represen
tation in the matter I was being detained under namely the Dr
Martin Luther King Jr. homicide Mr Bailey informed me indirectly
there would be a conflict of interest involved if he should take the case
thus declining Mr Hanes accepted the case apparently after contact
ing the Alabama novelist William Bradford Huie and presenting me
with a literary contract to sign Thereafter I was subsequently ordered
by an English court to be extradited to the United States and in fact
was extradited and lodged in the Memphis Tenn. jail on July 19
1968
After I was lodged in the Memphis jail the aforementioned attor
ney Mr Arthur J Hanes Sr. had me enter into a series of literary
contracts with him and Mr William Bradford Huie the Alabama
novelist in order Mr Hanes said to finance a jury trial in the King
case
Subsequently in November 1968 my brother Jerry W Ray visited
me in said jail and said he had recently visited William Bradford
Huie and Huie had offered me indirectly through Jerry $12,000 if I
would not take the witness stand in the King case saying "My testi
mony from the witness stand would destroy the literary value of the
book he (Huie) was writing about the case.
Consequently when Percy Foreman a member of the Texas bar
appeared unsolicited at the Memphis jail a few days later and visited
me I agreed with Mr Foreman's suggestion that I fire Mr Hanes and
hire Foreman Percy Foreman had the above-mentioned contracts in
hand and said the only thing he was interested in was the money being
provided him by Bradford Huie and then promised me and later the
trial judge that if I retained him in the case he would not become
involved with William Bradford Huie in commercial publishing
ventures
Thereafter this "promise of Percy Foreman's was of a short dura
tion in that within a few days of becoming counsel of record in the
case he made arrangements with William Bradford Huie to have

36-173
0 79 8
 110

Arthur J Hanes interest in said contracts transferred to himself

Then later in January 1969 Mr Foreman presented me with a check
from Mr Huie for $5,000 for my endorsement saying he "needed the
$5,000 to retain co-counsel. However in December 1968 Attorney
Foreman had persuaded the trial judge W Preston Battle that no
funds were forthcoming from Bradford Huie or elsewhere and thus
had the judge appoint the public defender Hugh Stanton Sr. as co
counsel Mr Stanton had previously represented the state's chief wit
ness Charley Stephens in the case the same Charley Stephens who
for a promise of $10,000 from the U.S Government had committed
perjury through a sworn affidavit by falsely identifying me through a
picture in order for the Government to have me extradited from Lon
don England
Then in February 1969 Percy Foreman received another $5,000
check from William Bradford Huie This time he did not bother to
have me endorse it Rather he just forged my name to it and cashed
it in complicity with Planters Bank of Memphis
After collecting all the money that was available from William
Bradford Huie Attorney Foreman then commenced on February 13
1969 maneuvering me into a guilty plea Foreman's arguments for the
plea were in essence
That the press had already convicted me by inflaming the minds
of potential jurors
That the Government had bribed an alleged witness Charles
Stephens into perjuring himself against me by offering Stephens a
$100,000 reward to say he had seen someone favoring me leaving the
roominghouse where Dr King was allegedly shot from immediately
after the shot was fired
That it would in some manner be in my financial interest to plead
guilty as charged
That the trial judge wanted a guilty plea because he was con
cerned the blacks might burn down the town in respect to Percy
Foreman's and the judge's ex parte meetings arranging the plea Ap
parently the two had eight meetings
Then later in March of 1969 Foreman said that if the case was not
settled through a guilty plea the Government would most likely arrest
my brother Jerry W Ray under some type of conspiracy charge in
the Dr Martin Luther King Jr. homicide He also said the FBI
would most likely arrest my father George Ray who was then near
70 years old and have him returned to the Iowa State Prison wherein
he had escaped in the 1930's
If I may digress here just a second Mr Chairman My brother
John Ray also mentioned this fact to me around March 7 or 8 of
1969 I think Mr Foreman he made oblique reference to this thing he
didn't come out and say it directly but he made kind of a slanting ref
erence to it Returning to the statement
In conjunction with the aforementioned threats and promises Percy
Foreman convinced me he would "throw the case if I managed to
force him to trial In fact in an article published in Look magazine in
May of 1961 [sic] sold to the publication by Percy Foreman for
$1,000 he in effect admitted he would have "thrown the case if I
would have forced him to trial Consequently through written con
tracts I agreed on March 9 1969 to enter the guilty plea My con
tractual agreements with Percy Foreman in respect to the terms of
the guilty plea are as follows
 111

The first contract.these are excerpts from the contract

The first contract "If the plea is entered and the sentence accepted
and no embarrassing circumstances take place in the courtroom I am
willing to assign to any bank all of my receipts under the above
assignment in excess of $165,000.
Second contract "I am willing to advance Jerry [Ray] $500 and
add it to the $165,000 mentioned in my other letter to you today In
other words I would receive the first $165,000 but I would not make
any other advances just this $500 And this advance also is con
tingent upon the plea of guilty and sentence going through on
March 10 1968 without any unseemly conduct on your part in court.
During the period of my confinement in the Memphis jail which
totaled approximately 8 months the conditions were as follows
The State of Tennessee retained or was ordered to retain two Fed
eral prison officials who in a first order of business ordered sheets of
metal be placed over all of the windows thus shutting out fresh air
and light The Federals then had a blower installed for oxygen which
resulted in my having frequent nosebleeds The blower could only be
operated outside the cell block Because of the lack of natural light
the Federals had lights rigged in the cell block including the cell I was
confined in which were kept on 24 hours a day Complaining to the
trial court about being unable to sleep under these conditions the court
said "Sleep in a mask.
During this confinement period I broke out in a rash Thinking may
be I had been poisoned I asked the doctor who was related to the
prosecutor for a blood test It required 2 or 3 days to have the test
After the blood sample was finally taken I was never told the test find
ings However in a 1974 habeas corpus hearing the doctor testified
the Memphis sheriff William Morris had ordered him to destroy all
of the medical records
If I may digress here Mr Chairman Well I will wait and get this
at the end of the statement As you said I can make a statement after
I read this
Of the other possible interest to this committee while Percy Fore
man was representing me I once provided Percy Foreman with a
phone number possibly connected to the King homicide to investigate
However Foreman commented later that if there were to be any phone
numbers introduced into the King case "he would produce them
through his interstate gambling connections via a Meyer Lansky
The day after the guilty plea I was transferred to the State prison
in Nashville Tenn Upon arrival all of my personal property includ
ing the aforementioned phone number I had written down backward
on the sheet of paper was confiscated by the Corrections Commissioner
Mr Harry Avery.2 or 3 days later said property was returned to me
excepting various items of personal and legal mail that had been
posted to me in care of the Nashville prison
The first day in the prison I was confined forthwith in solitary con
finement and was on that same day informed by Corrections Com
missioner Harry Avery that I would never be released from solitary
confinement unless I ceased efforts to gain a public trial in the King
case He said he was speaking for the highest authority I had filed a
motion for a new trial the day after I entered the prison and so in
formed Mr Avery of my intent in this matter
 112

Thereafter I was confined for 13 months in solitary confinement and

during the initial period of this confinement I had to be treated by a
doctor several times for nasal membrane hemorrhaging This ailment
damaged membrane was due to confinement conditions in the Memphis
jail that is lack of ventilation In addition during this period I was
also treated for esophagus spasms also related to the Memphis jail
confinement conditions
After 13 months of this type of confinement I understand the late
William E Miller recently a judge of the United States Sixth Circuit
Court of Appeals interceded with prison authorities and had them
transfer me to the State prison at Petros Tenn If I had not been trans
ferred I doubt if I would have been here today
In late July of 1963 the Petros prison was closed and I was trans
ferred back to the Nashville prison After being in the general prison
population for approximately 4 days I was summoned to the main
prison office and informed I would be returned to solitary confinement
Requesting to see the warden James Rose I was informed by Mr Rose
that "people out in town wanted me placed in solitary confinement
but that if I quit litigating the case he was sure I would be released
from solitary confinement Thereafter I stayed in solitary confine
ment for 3 years
The first 18 months I was permitted out of the cell which was ap
proximately 6 by 9 12 feet for only 4 minutes per day That was to
take a shower The cell block was infested with insects and rodents
During the 3 years I was in the building four prisoners committed sui
cide two by hanging and two by setting themselves on fire
Naturally the dominant press in the United States said nothing
about these suicides although if they had happened in a foreign coun
try the same press would have been in a self-righteous rage or pre
tended rage During this period specifically in December of 1963
Tennes.yes December of 1973.Tennessee correction officials acting
in collusion with the U.S Department of Justice attempted to illegally
transfer me to the Federal mental institution in Springfield Mo This
attempted transfer was after the aforementioned officials learned of a
suit that was to be filed in my behalf in Federal court referring to
those who may have been responsible for the shooting of Dr Martin
Luther King
Of other possible interest to this committee during this period
Just recently the aforementioned Corrections Commissioner Harry
Avery has stated he gave all the papers et cetera he retained of mine
and those connected with the King case to Attorney Thomas Wardlow
Steele of the Tennessee Nashville bar and that the papers subse
quently disappeared from Mr Steele's office
In addition Attorney Percy Foreman has testified that he too gave
his complete file in the King case including all the information I had
given Mr Foreman to another Nashville attorney the late John J
Hooker Sr. and that Mr Hooker "lost them
Sincerely James Ray
I have three or four other pages
Mr PREYER The Chair will admit without objection your original
statement into the record along with the additions that are attached
to it and the insertions which you have added to your testimony will
be made a part of the record
[The statement and attachments to be supplied follow :]
 113

MLK EXHIBITF.14
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IN 1969 IF THAT
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ANDIF I WOULD
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 114

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 115

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 116

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THEF.B.I EVIDENTLY
BURGLARIZED
MYSISTER CAROL
PEPPER'SROME
IN 1968 LOOKING
FORINCRIMINATING
EVIDENCE
(JACKANDERSONSYNDICATEDCOLUMNNOVEMBER
8 1977.)
2 THEF.B.I E4DHYBROTHER JOHNL RAY PROSECUTED
&
CONVICTEDFORAIDING&ABETTING
A BANK ANDTHE
ROBBERY
THRIALJUDGEHOW F.S.I DIRECTOR H WEBSTER
WILLIAM
SENTENCEHIMTOEIGHTEENYEARSWHILETHEACTUAL
ROBBER
HADHIS CHARGE
LATER THEE.D OF CALIFORNIA
TRANSFEREDTO
FEDERAL
WHERE JUDGE
M.D CROCKER
SERLEtCED
TEEROBBER
TO
EIGHTEEN
MONTHS

3 ANDTHEWIRESERVICES
REPORTED
ONAUGUST8,1978 THAT
THEF.B.I HADPAYED
ANIlThOEmER
OLIVERPATTERSON
TO STEAL
LETTERSWIRETAP ect. FROM
CONVERSATIONS
ANOTHER JERRYW RAY.
BROTNER
 117

ONAPRIL23 1967 I ESCAPED

FRE4THEMISSOURI
STATE
PRISON
IN ABREAD
BoxINTHEMANNERASFOLLOWS
SEVERAL
DAYSPRIOR I FASHTOI
TOTHEESCAPE EDABOARD
APPROXIMATr'[,.Y
3x4
FEETWHICH
WOULD A BOX
FIT INSIDE TOTRANSPORT
USED BREAD
OUTSIDE
THE
I MADE
PRISONIN ADDITION HOLES
SEVERAL INTHELOWERS
SIDESOFTHEBOX
WITH RONAPRIL
&NAIL THEREAFTER
AHAMMER 23 1967 TEETERED
THEPRISON
KITICHEN WORKED
EARLY(I 8:OOAMLATER
) ATAPPROXIMATELY
AFTERNOONS I
ENTEREDTHEBREAD H}{ERE
ROOM BREAD THEEMERY
FROM WASLOADEDINTOTHE
BOXTOBETRUCKED TOAPRISON
FARMSOMETIME
AFTER
ENTERING
THEBREAD
ROOMI GOTINTOTHEBREAD
BOXAND MYS2FWITH
COVERED THE3x4 FOOTBOARD
'A
THEREAFTER FIREDTHEBOXWITH
:PRISONER BREAD
ANDTHEN
TRANSFE"'RED
THE
BOXDOWNSTAIRS ONTO
VIAELEVATOR USED
A PLATFORM TOLOAD
TRUCKS
TRANSPORTING
ITEMS THEPRISON
OUTSIDE COMPOUNDSHORTLY
THEREAFTER
THEBOXWITH
ME
WAS
ENCLOSED ONAWAITING
PLACED TRUCKTHETRUCK
THEN
PROCEEDED
THROUGH
APRISON
SECURITY WHERE
GATE AGUARDSEARCHED
THEBOXBYRAISING
THELID
AND INSIDE AFTER
VIEWING PASSING
THROUGH
THEPRISON
GATE
I GOTOUTOF
THEBOX AFTER'THE CROSSED
TRUCK THEMISSOURI
RIVER NEARBY
BRIDGE THE
PRISON
FARMITSTOPP3'D INTOTHEROAD
BEFORE.TURNING LEADING
TOTHEFARM
WHENTHETRUCK
STOPPED I THEN
I DISEMBARKED CROSSED
THEHIGHWAY
TURNM
RIGHTAND ADIRTROAD
FOLLOWER UNTIL
I CAMEUPON
SEVMALJUNKEDAUTOMOBILES
I STAYED
INONEOFTHEVECHICLES DARKTHEN
UNTIL LEFTTHEVECHICLECROSSED
UNDER I HAD
THEBRIDGE-THAT PREVIOUSLY INTHEBREAD
CROSSED TRUCKI''THEN
MADEMYWAY TOANEARBY
RAILROAD
TRACK.(I HAD
DEPARTED
THEPRISON
WITH
SEVERAL BARS
CANDY INADDITION
AND HAD SOME
TAKEN BREAD
FROM
THEBREAD
TRUCKI HAD TAKEN
ALSO FROM ONMYPERSON
THEPRISON APPROXIMATELY
$2$0.00
ANDARADIO WITH
ALONG ASOCIAL CARD
SECURITY REGISTERED
NUMBER UNDERTHE
 118

OF JOHNL RAYNS
NAME &TWOPHONE
NUMBERS.)
A PERIOD
AFTER THERAILROAD
OFWALKING I CROSSED
TRACKS VIAASWITCH
ANOTHER
.ONTO SETOFTRACKSAFTER TWO
WALKING ORTHREE
NIGHTS
ONTHE
TRACKSAND DAYSAND
SLEEPING HAVING
RAN OUTOFFOODI CAME UPONA
THE
TRAILER.APPARENTLY TRAILER
WASINTENDEDASA FISHINGCABIN
AS I
IT
BELIEVE L
WAS NEAR
OCATED ARIVER I ENTERED
THETRAILER AND
FOUND A
WINE
CONTAINING
BOTTLE A ND
S EVERAL
ITEMS OFFOODUPON L EAVING
THE
TRAILERI HAD &FOOD
THEWINE WITH
ME IT IS MYRECOLLECTION
THAT
DURING
PERIOD
THISAPPROXIMATE I AGAINCROSSED
ASWITCHONTO ANOTHER
TRACKHOW
EVERDURING ALLOFTHEWALKINGI WAS
MOVINGINTHEGENERAL
DIRECTION
OF
KANSAS O N
CITY MISSOURI THE.4thOR5th DAY OUTI WASALSO
TRAVELING
BY
DAY ON ONE DAYS
OFTHESE IT COMMENCED
RAINING
AND I MOVED
UNDERNEATH
ATRUSSEL AFIRE SHORTLY
AND'STARTED THEREAFTER
AHANDCARSTOPPED
OVER
THETRUSSELTHETWOOPERATORS
OFTHECARDISETBARKED
AND OFME
ENQUIRED
THESMOKEI EXPLAINED
ABOUT THADBEENCAUGHT
INTHERAINAND HAD
THEFIRETODRY
STARTED OUT THEY
SAIDALRIGHT
ANDLEFT ( DURING
THIS
M
PERIOD SHOES
Y HADFELLOFF HAD
CONSEQUENTLY.I T OMAKE
AFORCIBLE
INTOASTORE
ENTRY TOOBTAIN
ANOTHER
PAIR)
ONTHE6THDAYI OBSERVED
ASMALLTOWNTHAT I ENTERED
EVENING THETOWN
FOOD
PURCHASED &DRINKTHEN
RE-TURNED
TOTHERAILROAD
YARDSLATERTHAT
I CAUGHT
EVENING TRAIN
A FRIEGHT TRAVELINGINTHEDIRECTIONOFST LOUIS
MISSOURII INST
ARRIVED LOUISW HILE
IT WAS S TILL
DARKAFTER
APERIOD
INTHERAILROAD
OFWAITING YARDS ANDWHEN IT COMMENCED
TOLIGHTENI
MYWAY
MADE ST LOUIS
TOSOUTH TOTHERESIDECE OFANINDIVIDUAL
WHO
CALLED THE CATMAN
HIMSELF HISAPPARENT
GIVEN
NAMEBEINGJACK
CORWIN
TOARRANGE
FORMRGORWIN
I INTENDED FORMYTRANSPORTATION
TOEDWARDSVILLE
ILLINOISHOWEVERGORWIN
WASNOTHOMETHE OREI CAUGHT
ATAXITO,EAST
RT 'L047ZS
 119

THEREAFTER I CAUGHT ANOTHERTAXITOEDWARDSVILLE

ILLINOISTHENTHEBUS
STATION
WHEREIN I BOARDED ABUSBOUNDFORCHICAGOILLINOISALTHOUGH
I AMNOTCERTAIN I BELIEVEI PAYED
TIEBUSDRIVER
THEFARE RATHER
THAN
PURCHASINGA TICKET INTHESTATIONUPON ARRIVING
IN CHICAGO
ONAPRIL
30 1967,-I MADE MY WAYT O2731NORTH.SHEFFTRTA
AND RF.,NTED
AROOK
ONMAY3 1967 I APPLIEDFOR AJOBASDISHWASHER
ATTHEINDIANTRAIL
IN WINNEEEKA
RESTAURANT ILLINOISACHICAGO
SUBURB.ILEARNED
OFTHEJOB
FROM
ANADVERTISEMENT
INTHECHICAGOTRIBUNE
NE:'SPAPER
I RECEIVED
THE
JOBAND
SHORTLY
THEREAFTER
I PURCHASED
A 1960 CHRYSLER
FOR$100.00 I
PURCHASED
THECHRYSLER
INORDER TOACCUMULATE IDEEITIFICATION
&
TO&FROM
COMMUTE WORK Y ALSOTOOKA DRIVER'S TESTANDPASSEDHOREVH'R
I RECEIVED
ALTHOUGH ATEMPORARY
DRIVING
PERMIT:I
NEVER
RECEIVED
THE
PERMANENT
LICEaSE ILL
WHILE
I WAS Ed''LOYED
BYTHEAFOREMENTIONED
RESTAURANT
I WROTE
THE
CANADIAN
COUNSEL
IN CHICAGO ABOUT
ENQUIRING IMMIGRATION
CANADIAN PROCEDURE
IN REPLY
THECOUNSEL HESEVERAL
MAILED ONORABOUT
BROCHURES JUNE27
1967 I TERMINATED
EMPLOYMENT
ATTHEINDLAEE
TRAILRESTAURATHEREAFTER
I DROVETOQUINCY
ILLINOISTOWAITFORTHELASTCHECK
TOCLEAR
FROM
SAIDRESTAURANT
EMPLOYMENT
IT WAS
ALSO
MYINTENTION
TOVISITWHILE
IN
ANAUNTMRS.'FRANK
QUINCY FULLER AND
SEEONEORTWO I
ACQUAINTANCES
STAYED
IN QUINCY
APPROXIMATELY
12 DAYSALTHOUGH
I DIDNOTSEEMYAUNT
DURING
THEPERIOD
IN QUINCY
I STAYEDALTERNATIVELY
INTWOHOTELSONE
BEING ONTHECORNER
LOCATED OF2NDANDOAKSTREETTHEOTHE'Zi
ONTHECORNER
OF3RDAND OAKSTREETTHEONLYINDIVIDUAL
THATI SAWANDWASFAMILIAR
WITHIN QUINCY PROPRIETOR
OFALOCAL CLUB I MAY
WAS(
HAVETOLDMRCROWLEYSOMETHING
TOTHEEFFECT
THAT I HAD
RECENTLY BEEN
RELEASTED
ONPAROLE
FROMPRISONAFTERSTAYING
IN QUINCYILLII.'OISFOR
 120

MEJTIOND
THEABOVE RED
PERIOD,I ILLINOISTO
TOWINNETKA
THECHECK
PICK-UP I HADCC4ING THEINDIAN
FROM TRAILRMTAUBANTIT
NYRECOLLECTION
IS ALSO THAT
I INTO
CHECKED AHOTEL AT
LOCATED 260
WESTLUNTS FOR
TREET ACOUPLE PICKING
DAYS.AFTER UPTHE I
CHECK DECIDED
TOEAST
TODRIVE ST LOISEILLINOISAND SEEFAMILY
POSSIBLY MEMBERS
TO CANADA
MOVING
BEFORE ONTHEWAY TOEASTST LOUISI DEVELOPED
I RECALL
CARTROUBLE SLEEPING
INTHECHRYSLERONENIGHT&AHIGHWAY
&ASKING
WAKING
PATROLMAN M3IF I HAD
ANY INEAST
PROBLr"MS ST LOUIS
ONENIGHT
I STAYED INARUN-DOWN
HOTEL DOWNTOWN
NEAR THENEXT
DAYI
SOLD STATION
TOASERVICE
THECHRYSLER FORAPPROXIMATELY
OPERATOR $50.00
I THEN IN EAST
PURCHASED ONJULY15 1967 AREDPLYMOUTH
ST LOUIS FOR
A PROBLEM
$200.00 I ;HAD THEPURCHASE
MAKING I DON'T
ALTHOUGH WHAT
RECALL
THECAIMAN
WAS I PHONEDJACK
THEPROBLEM GOWRIN THEDAY
DURING
METHIMINEAST HAD
ST LOUISAND MEAPISTOL
HIMPURCHASE FRCNA
HEKNEW
FENCE THAT
AND HECOULD DAYI TOLD
PAYFORPENSION GOMIN
I WAS
M2HRRSTHAT
MY-FAMILY
TO-TELL THECOUNTRY
LEAVING ANDWOULD
LATERAND
THEM
TRYTOCONTACT TOTHEPOLICE
FORHIMNOTTOMENTION THAT
HEHAD TOGOTOJAIL LATER
HEWANTED
NEUNLESJ
SAW THATDAYI DROVETO
INAHOTSTHAT
STAYING
INDIANA
INDIANAPOLIS NIGHTTHENEXT DAYI
VIATHEWINDSOR
INTOCANADA
CROSSED IN DETROIT
TUNNEL MICHIGAN._I
SLEPT
ALONGTHEROAD OFJULY16 1967 AND
THENIGHT THENEXT
DAY
OFMONTREAL
I ENTEtDTHEENVIRONS CANADA INAMOTEL
STAYING PART
OF
THEDAY
 121

THEDAY MONTREAL
I ENTERED PROPER
ONEOFTHEFIRSTTHINGS
I DIDWAS
OFATRAWL
ENQUIRE AGENCYVIATELEPHONE
THEPROCEDURE
FORACANADIAN
TOACQUIRE
ACANADIAN
PASSPORTI WAS
INFORMED
THAT
I MUST
HAVE
A
GUARANTOR
WHOWOULD
TESTIFY
THAT HAD
HE/SHE KNOWN
NEFORTEOYEARS.)
THAT ST CATHERINE
EVENING-IN-MONTREAL-ON EASTIN EMIGRECLUBI
WAS BYA
ACCOSTED PROSTITUTE I AGREED
SUBSEQUENTLY TOGOTOHERPLACE
VIATAXICABAFTER
WEGOT
LOCATED
INHERAPARTMENT
I GAVE
HERTHERE
$25.00 FEEAND
QUESTED SHECARRIEDTHE
MONT TOAN"OFFICE WHEN I
DOWN
LEFTI WROTE THEADDRESS
OFTHEBUILDINGTHENEXTDAYI RENTED
ANAPARTMENTIN THE HAR.K.APARTMENFS
LOCATED
AT 2589NOIREDAME
EAST
THEN
LATERI PARKED
MYAUTOMOBILE
CIOSED
TOTHEBUILDING
WHERE
I HAD
THE
NIGHT BEEN
BEFORE THEPROSTITUTE
WITH THAT
EVENING
I RETURNED
TOTHE
AFOREMENTIONED
NIGHT
CLUB
ANDMEETING
THESAME ACCOMPANIED
GIRL AGAIN
HERVIATAXITOHERAPARTMENTMEMBERAPART ENT I CAVE
HERANOTHER
$25.00BUTTHISTINSI SHOWED
HERTHEPISTOL
MRGORWIN HAD
PURCHASED
FOR
MEAND TOLDHERI MIMEO WITH
HERTOWHEREEVER
SHEWAS TAKING
THEMONEY
WHEN
SHEAROUSED
THEMANAGER
INTOOPENING
THE"OFFICEDOOR
I PUTTHE
ONHIM WEMOVED
PISTOL INTOTHEOFFICE
BACK WHEREIN
I ASKED-HIM
FORTHE
MONEYTAKING
OUTHISWALLET
HEOFFERED
METHESMALLAMOUNT
IN IT ABOUT
5 OR10DOLLARS
WHEII"I
TOLD
NMI WANTED
THE'RESTOFTHEMONEY HE
SPOKEABOUTA CABINET
NEARBY
ANDMOTIONED
TOA CONTAINER
BEFORE
LEAVING
THE''OFFICE'I HAD
THEMANAGER
LIEONABEDANDTHEGIRLREMOVE
HER
STOCKING
ANDTIEHISHANDS
&LEGS I THEN
HADHE GETUNDER
THEBEG
BEFORE
DEPARTINGLATER
I FOUND
I HADTAKEN
APPROXIMATELY
$1.700,00
INMIXED
CORE= FROM
THEMANAGER's
OFFICE
DURING
THENEXT
FEW I PURCHASED
DAYS AND
CLOTHING DECIDED
THEONLY
WAY
 122

I COULD
CONE DOCUMENTS
BYTRAVEL INORDER
TO.LEAVE BE
WOULD
CANADA
TOEITHER
PERSUADE TOACTASMYGUARANTOR
SOMEONE ROLL
OR PERHAPS
FORHISSEAMAN'S
SEAMAN
ADRUNKING PAPERSINURING
THENEXT OF
COUPLE
WEEKS
I DIDSPENDCONSIDERABLE
TIMENEAR
THEMONTREAL
DOCKAREA
BARS I WAS
FREQUENTING NEVER
ABLETOCOME
BYMERCHANT
SEAMAN
PAPERS
ANINDIVIDUAL
I DIDCONTACT
ALTHOUGH WHO
INTRODUCED
HIMSELF
ASROUALI
FIRSTMETHIMINTHENEPTUNE 121WEST
TAVERjJ C 3 JME F HE
WAS TO
35 40
APPROXIMATELY YEARS
OLD,5"9 INCHES
TALL WITH
D ARKH AIR
ANDAREDTINTIN IT HESPOKE
WITHA.SLIGHT
SPANISHACCENTI ASSUMED
FROM &CONVERSATION
HISDEMEANOR THAT OURINTEREST
COULDBECOMPATIBLE
ANDAFTERACOUPLE IT WAS
MEETING ESTABLISHED
THATI WAS
INTERESTEDIN
SOME
TYPETRAVEL WHILE
DOCUMENTS HISINTERS
T WASINLOCATING
SOMEONE
WHOWOULDFORA PRICE HELP
H IMMOVESC
METYPE CONTRABAND
THROUGH
CUSTOMS
STATES
UNITED ATTHECANADIANBORDER DURING
THEINITIAL
WITH
MEETING ROUAL 3 OR4 NOTHING
PERHAPS WAS
DECIDEDDEFINITELY
I HAD
BECAUSE
MAINLY DECIDETOTAKEA VACATION
IN ALAURENTIAN
MOUNTAIN
RESORT
AND THERE
WHILE THEASSISTANCE
ENLIST OFSOMEONE
PREFERABLE
ACANADIAN
INPROCURING
FEMALE i.e. ATTEMPTING
PASSPORT TOFIND
WHO
SOMEONE IN MAKING
ACTASMYGUARANTOR
WOULD APPLICATION
FORA
PASSPORT
SUBSEQUENTLY TOTHEGRAY
I DIDDRIVE ROCKS
INN INTHE
LAUREVTIAN AND
MOUNTAINS METAWCAAN=AND
LATER
SAW
HERAGAININTHE
CANADIAN OFOTTAWA
CAPITOL HOWEVER,I SHEWAS
LEARNED EMPLOYED
BYTHE
THUS
AND
GOVERNMENT
CANADIAN IT ILLADVISED
CONSIDERED TODISCUSS
THE
GUARANTOR HER THEREFORE
WITH
QUESTION INRETURNING
TOMONTREAL
FROM
I HAD
MOUNTAINS
THELAURENTIANS DECIDED
TOACCEPTANYREASONABLE
PROPO
SITION MIGHT
ROUAL FORTRAVEL
OFrERINRETURN DOCUMENTS
 123

AFTERI RETURNED I DIDHENWITH

TOMONTREAL ROUAL
SEVERAL
MOSS
AND
TIRES HISPROPOSALS WERE
MYACCEPTANCE INESSENCE

THATI WOULD
MEET HIMIN WINDSOR ATAPPROXIMATELY
CANADA
3:OOPMAUGUST
21,-1967 T
NEAR HE
RAILROAD INMY
STATION
AUTOMOBILE
HEWOULD
THAT THEN MEWITH
PROVIDE CERTAIN TO
PACKAGES
TRANSPORT
ACROSS
THEBORDER
INTOTHEUNITbO
STATES
I WOULD
THAT FORTRANSPORTING
THEPACKAGES
INTOTHEUNITES
BEPROVIDED
STATES DOCUMENTS
WITH.TRAVEL ANDANDUNSPECIFIED
AMOUNT
OFMONEY
4) THAT
THEREAFTER
I WOULD
S1T.tTHEPLYMOUTH
AUTOMOBILE
AND
TRAVEL
TOBIRMINGHAM
ALABAMA I WOULD
WHEREIN MET
AGAIN
ROUAL
FORSOME
SIMULAR
TYPE OPERATION
SMUGGLING APPARENTLY
INMEXICOROUAL
HAD
INITIALLY
SUGGESTED
THATI GOTO
ALABAMA
MOBILE

THEABOVE
I ACCEPTED MENTIONED IT WAS
ALTHOUGH
PROPOSALS MYINTENTIONS
I LAYED
ONCED HANDS
ONTHETRAVEL
DOCUMENT'S
TORETURNTOCANADA

21 1967 ATAPPROXIMATELY
ONAUGUST 3:00PM-IWAS
PARKED
NEARTHEWINDSOR
CANADA STATION
RAILROAD ANDAFTER
WAITING
AHALFHOUR
ORLESSROUAL
CAME
WITH
TOTHEPLYMOUTH ANATTACHE THEAUTOMOBILE
CASEENTERED ANDSAID
THEAUTOMOBILE
"LETSGO STARTING ME
HEDIRECTED TOWARD
ASDESTREET
INTO
HEMOVED
WHEREIN THEBACK AND
STOPPING
AFTER
SEAT PLACED
TERMPACKAGES
THEBACK
UNDER RESTTHEN SEAT
TOTHEFRONT
RETURNING HEDIRECTED
METOWARD
THAT
THETUNNEL CONNECTS
WINDSOR
WITH MICHIGAN
DETROIT BEFORE
WEARRI
rP AT
ENTRANCE
THETUNNEL HEWOULD
HEASKMETOLETHIMOUTSAYING CROSS
SEPERATMY
 124

FORME
AND TOPICKHIMUPONTHEUNITED SIDE HESAIDHEEOULDD
STATES
IN A CABAND
CROSS TOGIVEHIMAFEW
MINUTES
BEFOREI CROSSDI CLEARED
NODIFFICULITY
WITH
THECUSTOMS ANDPICKED
UPROUAL
ONTHEUNITED
STATES
SIDEOFTHETUNNELHETHEN
DIRECTEDMETOANOTHER
SIDS-STRER"'T
WHEREHE
I.THEN.DROVE
THEPACKAGES
REMOVED HIMTOTHEDETROIT
BUSSTATIONLETTING
METORETURN
HIMOUTHETOLD TOWINDSOR WAIT
AND ATTHESAME PLACE
ASBEFORE
I THEN TOTHEWINDSOR
RETURNED RAILROAD
STATION
ANDAFTER
10 OR15 MINUTES
ROUALAPPEARED AND
AGAIN WEREPEATED
THEPROCEDURE THISTIREWE
EXCEPT
THEBRIDGE
OVER
TRAVELED CONNECTING
THETWO COUNTRIES WHILE
HOWEVER
WAITING THEBRIDGE
INLINETOCROSS I NOTICED
CUSTOM'S
OFFICERS
WERE
OFTHEAUTCMOBTI.RS
SEVERAL
SEARCHING AHEADOFME RECALLING
I HAD
A
WHICH
INTHEPLYMOUTH
TELEVISION"SET I WAS TODECLARE
REQUIRED ATCUSTOMS
-ANDWISHING ASEARCH
TOAVOID I DECLARED
OFTHEPLYMOUTH THETELEEVISION
OFFICER
SET THECUSTOM'S THEN
DIRECTED
MEINTOASPECIAL
LANAND
WAS
IN
THEPROCESS THEPLYMOUTH
OFSEARCHING WHENANOTHER
CUSTOM'S
OFFICER
.ORD:RING
ANDAPPARENTLY
APPEARED THEFIRSTEUSTON'S
OFFICER
TOOTHER
M3TOPAYATELEVISION
DUTIESTOLD TAXIN CUSTOM'S
OFFICE
ANDLEAVE
NETROUAL
I LATER
WHEN SIDE
ONTHEUNrnJJSTATES OFTHEBRIDGEHEAPPEARED
SOMEWHAT
NERVOUSANDI INFORMED
HIMI HAD
BEMHELDUPBYCUSTOMS
AND
HIM
SHOVED THE TAX
TEEVISION RECEIPT
PROVIDED
BYCUSTOMSWE
THEN
INDETROIT
TOASIDESTREET
DROVE ANDROVING
INTOTHEBACK
OFTHE
THETHREE
HEREMOVED
PLYMOUTH PACKAGES
FROM
BEHINDTHEBACK BACK
SEAT
BACK
REST MOVING INTOTHEFRONT
SEAT
OFTHEPLYMOUTH
ROUALGAVE
ME
$1.500.00LEMIXED
APPROXIMATELY CURRENCY OFFERING
HOWEVER SERE
EXCUSE
THETRAVEL
TOOBTAIN
UNABLE
HESAIDHEWAS DOCUMENTS
ALTHOUGH
REDID
AS:URE
MEHEWOULD TOECMBYTHEPAPERS
BEABLE ATALATER
DATEHEALSO
SUGGESTED OFTHEOLD
I DISPOSE PLYMOUTHWEWOULD
THEN PURCHASE
ALATER
 125

MODEL WHEN
AUTOMOBILE WEMETIN BIRMINGHAM
ALABAMA TOLD
HETHEN ME
WRITE
HEWOULD MEIN C/OGENERALDELIVERY ALABAMA
BIRMINGHAM THEGALT
UNDER
NAMEALSOHEGAVE MEANEWORLEANSLOUISIANA IF I
NUMBER
TELEPHONE
TOCONTACT
NEEDED I LEFTHIMATTHEBUSSTATION
HIM THEREAFTER AND DROVE
ILLINOISWHEREIN
TOCHICAGO A GAVEMYBROTHER W RAYTHEPLYMOUTH
JERRY
AND
CAUGHT
ATRAINTOBIRMINGHAM I ARRIVED
ALABAMA ON
INBIRMINGHAM
25 19670THENEXT
AUGUST DAYI RENTED
AROOM AVENUE
AT2608HIGHLAND UNDER
THENAME
OF ERICS GALT THEFOLLOWING
MONDAYAUGUST28 1967 I CHECKED
ATTHEGENERAL WINDOW
DELIVERY INTHEMAIN
POSTOFi'ICE ABOUT
ENQUIRING MAIL
THEPOSTAL
TOERICGALT)
ADDRESSED CLERK
ASKMEFORMYMIDDLE
INITIAL
WHEN
AND I SUPPLIED S HEGAVE
THELETTER MEALETTERFROM
ROUALINTHE
LETTER HETOMEET
ROUAL'ASK CAFELOCATED
HIMATTHESTARLITE DIRECTLY
EVENINGLATER
THEPOSTOFFICETHAT
THESiliET F'RCM
ACROSS I METHIMIN
THESTARLITE
AND HEASK METOTRYTOLOCATED
FQE_SaiALATE
M AUTOMOBILE
ODEL
THENEXTDAY THROUGH
I FOUND ANEWSPAPERA 1966MUSTANG
ADD THATEVENING
mETROUAL
I AGAIN INTHESTARLITE
AND THEMUSTANG
DESCRIBED TOHIMHESAID
IT SOUNDED AND
ALRIGHT THE HEGAVE
MORNING
'NEXT ME$2.000.00 WITH
INSTRUCTIONS
TOBUY LATER
THEMUSTANG I TOOK
INTHEMORNING A TAXITO701 SOUTH
48th
STREET
AND THEMUSTANG
PURCHASED IT'S O4NTRMR WILLIAM
FROM D PAISLEY
AFTER THEAUTOMOBILE
PURCHASING I DROVE CAFEPICKED
TOTHESTARLITE UPP.OUAL
ANDFROMTHESTARLITE I WAS
ONTOTHERESIDENCE STAYING
ATONHIGHLAND
AVENUE
ONAMALL
PARKING OFTHE
INFRONT RESIDENCE DEPARTING
BEFORE ROUAL
ASKFOR
ANDI GAVE
HIM ASETOFKEYST OTHEMUSTANG WROTE
HEALSO DOWN
MY L
ADDRESS
PHONE HETHEN
NUFBERf GAVE
ME$500.00FOR'LIVING AND
EXPENSE=S ANOTHER
$500.00FORALISTOFCAMERA
EQUIPMENTLASTLY MEANOTHER
HEGAVE TELEPHONE
NUMBER
LISTEDINBATON
ROUGE
LOUISIANA UP NUMBER
ASA "BACK ANDSUGGESTED
I LAYLOW ORSOTHEN
FORAMONTH HEWOULDCONTACT THEBUSINESS
MEABOUT ATHAND

0 79 9
36-173
 126

OFTRAVEL
THEMATTER
AND FORME
DOCUMENTS
DURING IN
MYSTAY BIRMINGHAM I RENTED
ALABAMA ABANK ACCUMULATED
VAULT
UNDER
IDENTIFICATION THEGALT
NAMEAND
MADETHECAMERA
PURCHASES
ROUAL
REQUESTEDI HADA LSO
CONTACTED
ALINGERING IN CANADA
APPARENTLY
VIRUS,`
AND FORTHEAILMENT
TREATED
WAS BYADR SCHWARTZ SUB
IN BIRMINGHAM
CONTACTED
I WAS
SEQUENTLY BYROUAL'S
APPARENT
REPRESENTATIVE ME
ASKING
INNEW
TOMETROUAL ORLEANS EARLY
LOUISISANA,IN ONOR
OCTOBER,:1967
6 1967 IDEPARTED
OCTOBER
ABOUT BIRMINGHAM INROUTE
ALABAMA TONEW
INTENDING
LOUISIANA
-ORLEANS TOMEETROUAL
IN NEWORLEANS
THENEXTDAY
AFTERUPON
ORTHEDAY ARRIVING
INBATON
ROUGE I PHONED
LOUISIANA THE
ROUGE"NUMBER
BATON HAD
ROUAL GIVEN
ME UNABLE
TOREACH
THE
PARTY I THEN
PHONED NU;TER
THENP ORLEANS AND
DIDREACH
THISPARTYI WASTOLD
TO
ONTONUEVO
PROCEED LAREDO
MEXICOAND
WASGIVENTHENAME
& ADDRESS
OFA
TOCHECK
MOTEL INTOAFTER
ARRIVING
INNUEVO
LAREDO BEFORE
LEAVING
BATON
BACK
I MAILED
ROUGE TOTHEBIRMINGHAM
BANK
THESAFETY
DEPOSIT
VAULT
KEY
1
ASSUMING NOTBERITURNING
I WOULD TOBIRMINGHA
ALABAMA
UPONLEAVING
FORMEXICO
ROUGE
BATON I BRIEFLY
TRAVELED
INTHEDIRECTION
OFDALLAS
TEXAS
WHO
TOSEEANINDIVIDUAL
MENDING WAS
CONVERSANT
WITH
UNDERWORLD
ACTIVITIES
ALONG SEPERATING
THEBORDER THEUNITED
STATES
FROM
MEXICO SUB
HOWEVER,I
DECIDED
SEQUENTLY AGAINST TRIPAND
THEDALLAS THEREFORE
TURNED
TOWARDSOUTH
TEXAS&MEXICOI ARRIVED
INNUEVO
LAREEDO ONORABOUT
MEXICO OCTOBER
7
1967 INTHEEVENINGUPON FROM
ENQUIRY APOLICEMAN
ORCABDRIVER
I
LOCATEDTHEMOTSI WAS
EARLIERINSTRUCTED
TOCHECKINTOAFTER I HAD
SIGNEDINTOTHEMOTEL
ANDWAITEDACOUPLE RCUAL
HOURS APPEARED ASKING
HOWI WAS ALONG
GETTING ANDIF READY
FORBUSINr"SS
HEASKIF I HAD AVISA
AND 'NO HETHEN
I REPLIED SAIDWEWOULDCROSS INTOTHEUNITED
THEBORDER
 127

STATES
AND
TRANSPORT
INTHEMUSTANG
CERTAIN
ITEMS
INTOMEXICOLEAVING
THEMOTEL
WEDROVE
DOWNTOTHELOCAL WHERE1STHIMOUT HESAID
SQUARE
TOGIVEHIMAFEW
MINUTES
TOCATCHATAXITHEN
TOMEETHIMONTHEOTHER.
SIDEOFTHEBORDER HIMUPONTHEOTHER
PICKING SIDEHEDIRECTED
ME
NORTH
FORMAYBE
7 OR8 BLOCKS WEST
THEN FORACOUPLE
MILES UP
ENDING
ONA SIDESTREET
BEHIND
ANOTHER ANDBESIDE
AUTOMOBILE A FRAME HE
HOUSE
THEN
REMOVED
ATIREFROM
THEOTHER PLACED
AUTOMOBILE IT INTHETRUNK
OF
OUR AND
MUSTANG DIRECTED
MEBACK MEXICO
TOWARD ONTHEWAY TOTHEMEXICAN
CUSTOMS
HETOLD
HETOAPPLY WHEN
FORAVISAAND CUSTOMS
OF'ICIALS
COMMENCE)
SEARCHING
THEMUSTANG
GIVETHEM A DOLLAR
EACH ANDTHEY
WOULD
THEN
ONLY
MARE
A PERFUNCTORY
SEARCHWHEN THEI"EXICAN
WENEARED CUSTOM'S
HOUSE
ROUAL
GOTOUT
OFTHEMUSTANG BESIDE
TOPICKHIMUPEITHER
SAYING ORINFRONT
OF
THECUSTOM
'S HOUSE
AFTER
I GOTTHEVISA I THEN
APPLIED
FORTHEVISATHE
PERSON
WHO
ISSUED
THEVISAASKFORAVOTERREGISTER4TION
SLIPFORIDENTIFICA
TION BUTACCEPTED
A DRIVBS &PONK
LICENSE SLIP(TITLE)INLIEU WHEN
THECUSTOMS
OFFICER
COMMENCED
SEARCHING &PLACING
THEMUSTANG ACUSTOMS
MARK
ONTHEITEMS
ENCLOSED THEM
I GAVE ADOLLAR
EACH AND
THEY ME
WAIVED
AFTER
THROUGH LEAVING
CUSTOM'S BESIDE
I PICKSUPROUAL THEBUILDING
AND
WERETURNED
TOTHEMOTEL ROUTEI PULLED
BYACIRCUITOUS INTOTHEMOTEL
DRIVEWAY
ANDTHETIREWAS
REMOVED
AND INTHEAUTOMOBILE
PLACED IT WAS
ORIGINALLY
REMOVED
FROM ONROUAL
EARLIER MEHEWOULD
TOLD SEAMEAGAIN
IN
THEMORNING
ANDASI BACKED
OUT I
OFTHEDRIVEWAYBRIEFLY
SAWTHEPROFTT"R
OFTHEPERSON
DRIVING
THEOTHER THENEXT
AUTOMOBILE MORNING
ROUALSHOWED
UP ASKIF I WERE
READYAND
UPONANAFFIRMATIVE OUT
REPLYI CHECKED OF
THEMOTELUPON LEAVING
HERODEWITHMEFORABOUT
6 BLOCKSTHEN
HEGOT
INTOANOTHERAUTOMOBILE
AFTER METOFOLLOW
TELLING THEOTHERCARONCED
 128

THECITYWESTOPPED
OUTSIDE AND THETIREWAS
AGAIN LIMY
PLACED
WITH
AUTOMOBILE TELLING
ROUAL METOFOLLOWHIMUNTIL CLEARED
WEHAD
FIFTYKILOERTERS
HOUSEABOUT
CUSTON'S
THEINTERIOR ONES
FURTHER
CHECK
THECUSTOM'S
ENTERED CARWAS
ROUAL'S HELD AFTER
UP HOWEVER
TAGI WAS
MYBACK
CHEACKING ONTHROUGH
WAIVED BYTHEINSPECTORLATER:
THEROAD
DOWN
KILCMEIERS
ACOUPLE ROUAL MEAND
PASSED STOPPED
INFRONT
GOTINTOTHEMUSTANG
ROUAL
OFTHEMUSTANG ANDOFFSET))
SOME
TYPEOF
STILLNOT
ABOUT
APOLOGY BEINGABLE TOCOME
BYTRAVELDOCUMENTS
FOR
HEGAVE
ME HOWEVER ASKMEIF AND
ME$2.000.00 HETHEN HECOULD
WHERE
M3INTHEFUTUREI TOLD
MEET HIMI MOST
LIKELY
WOULD TOLOS
TRAVEL
ANGERS HESAIDTHEN
CALIFORNIA HEWOULD METIMETHROUGH
CONTACT
HEALSO
POSTBYCERALDELIVERY. GAVEMEANOTHER
NEWORLEANS
LOUISLANA
TELEPHONE
NUMBER
AND THEOLD
ASKIF'l HAD NEW ORLEANS
NUMBERI THINK
TOHIM
THEOLDNUMBER
I GAVE
TRAVILING M=.XICO
THROUGH ENDED
I ULTIMATELY UPINPUERTO
VALLERTA
}ErSTAY
DURING VALLERTA
INPUF.P"TO THEMUSTANG
DTOTRADE
I ATTEPMT FOR
APIECEOFREAL ESTATE THUS
PROPERTY S IN
TAY I
MEXICO ALSO
SAWAN
INTHE
ADVERTTEEMENT U.S AND
NEWS WORLD NEWS
REPORT MAGAZINE
ASKING
INTERESTED
FORPERSONS TOMAKE TORHODESIA
FORIMMIGRATION
APPLICATION
LISTFORINFORMATION
TOTHEADDRESS
I WROTE THEMATTER
ABOUT BUTNEVER
RECEIVED WHILE
AREPLY INMEXICO
I DEPARTED
PUERTO
VALLERTA ONORABOUT
MEXICO NOVEMBER15 1967
NORTH
TRAVELING TOWARD STATES
THEUNITED ONTHEWAYI GAVEA
HIKER
HITCH ARIDETOTHEBORDER NEAR
ARRIVING
AFTER T HEBORDER
MEXICO
SEPERATING FROM I STAYED
STATES
THEUNITED OVERNIGHTIN A
ATTIJUANATHENEXT
MOTEL INPREPARING
DAY THEMOTEL
TOLEAVE FOR
THEUNi U STATESASWAS I SEARCHED
MYPRACTICE DOWN
THEMUSTANG
 129

BETWEEN
THEFRONT &THEGEARBOX
SEAT I FOUtH3
ACIGARETTE
CASE
WITH
APACKOFCIGARETT'S
INTHECASE INSIDE
BETHZNTHE
&THEPACK
CASE WASA BUSINESS
CARDTHENAME ANDMOST
OFTHE
ACCOMPANYING
INFORMATION
HADBEENINKED
OUT WHATI COULDSEETHAT
WASSTILLPARTLY
VISIBLE THE
WAS NAME "NEW
ORLEANS&THELETTERS"LR,A
ONTHEBACKSIDEOFTHECARDWAS
THEHAND-kRITTEN
NAME OF RANDOLPH
ERWIN
ROSENRETAININGTHECARDI CROSSED
THEBORDERINTOTHEUNITED
STATES( INTHESEPTEMBER
1977 ISSUEOFPLAYBOY PLAYBOY
MAGAZINE
REPORTED
THATIN 1967LSAA
WASNOTIN EXISTENCE UPON
HOWEVER ENQUIRY
BYAPARTY
REPRESENTING
.MELEAA
OFFICES
INWASHINGTON
D.C STATED
PRIOR
THAT TO196EA FORE-RUNNER
TOLEATITLED WASINEXISTENCE
AND NEW
OPERATED"IN ORLEANS UPON
FURTHER THELATE
REQUEST MRCLYDE
WATTS ANATTORNEY
WITH
OFFICES
INOKLAHOMA
CITYOKLAHOMA
INVESTIGATED
IN 1974 AND
REEPORTED THAT
THEREAFTER RANDOLPH
ERWIN
ROSENHASIN FACT
RANDOLPH
ERWIN
ROSENSON)
19 1967 I ARRIVED
ONNOVEMBER INLOSANGELES AND
CALIFORNIA RENTS
ANAPARTENT
LOCATED
AT1535NORTH
SERP.ANO
AVENUE
THENUm 0N
19 1967 I MOVED
JANUARY TO5533HOLLYWOOD
BOULEVARD
RESIDING
THERE
UNTIL
ABOUTMARCH17 1968
DURING
MYSTAY
INLOSANGELES I MADE
CALIFORNIA THEFOLLOWING
ATTEMPTS
TOFINDEMPLOYMENT
PLACED
ANADD
INTHE"HELP
WANTED
SECTION
OFTHE
LOSANGELES
TIMES
NEWSPAPER
CONTACTED
THE"BIGBEARRESORT
INTHEINTERIOR
OF
CALIFORNIA
TOOK
A BARTENDERING
COURSE
 130

APPLIED
ATTWO FOREMPLOYMENT
HOTEL
FILLED
OUTANAPPLICATION
FOREMPLOYMENT
THE
WITH
REVENUE
INTERNAL SERVICE

I MADE
THEFOLLOWING &ACTS
ENQUIRES INANATTEMPT
TOLEAVE
THE
UNITED
STATES

AFTERREADING
INTHELOCAL
NEWSPAPER
THATUNITED
STATES
CITIZENS
COULDTRAVEL
TOCOLUMBIA
SOUTH WITHOUT
AMERICA A PASSPORT
I CHECKED
INTOTHISMATTER
CONTACTED
SEVERAL
ORGANIZATIONS
ABOUT
INFORMATION
TORHODESIAN
PERTAINING IMTiIGRATION
.3) PHONED
THEUNITESTATES
COAST
GUARD
SEVERAL
TIMES
ABOUT
ENQUIRING 'THE
PROCEDURE
TOFOLLOW
INORDER
TOGAINMERCHANT
SEAMAN'S
PAPERSINTHISRESPECT
I HAD
MINOR
PLASTIC
SURGERY
ONMYNOSE
IN )ARCH-1968
PERFORMED
BY DR RUSSFIJ IN
HADLEY
ORDER THAT
I MIGHT
CHANGE
MYAPPEARANCE TOAVOID
ENOUGHT IDENTIFICATION
1
IF I NS.DED
APICTURE
FORTHEMERCHANT
SEAMAN
PAPERS)

IN EARLYDEENBER
1967I CHECKED
ATTHEGENERALDELIVERYSECTION MAIN
POSTOFFICETOSEEIF ROUALHADPOSTED
ANY MESSAGESFINDING THATHE
HAD NOTSENT
A COIMUNICATION
I PHONED
NEW ORLEANSUNDERTHENUMBER HE
HAD GIVER
MEIN MEXICOTHEPERSONTHATANSWEREDENQUIREDIF I COULD
TRAVELTONEWORLEANS
INLATE DECEMBERI RE'LIF INTHEPOSITIVE AND
THEREAFTER
MADE WITH
ARRANGMERTS A CHARLEYSTEINWHOM I HAD METINA
LOCALBAR TOHELPWITHTHEDRIVING
TONEW ORLEANS WHENMRSTEINWHO
WAS
HABITUALLY
SHORT AND I WERE
OFMONEY READY-TO FORNEW
LEAVE ORLEANS
ABOUT
DECEMBER
15 1967 HEASKTOUSEMYTELEPHONE TONOTIFY
INORDER
 131

HISFAMILY
INNEW OFHISPENDING
ORLEANS THETRIPI
VISIT DURING
PHONED
MYBROTHERJERRY
WeRAYOF TT OTHERTHANMR STEINBUSYING
HIMSELF
LOOKING
FORFLYINGSAUCERS ELSEOFINTEREST
NOTHING TRANSPIRED
ONTHETRIPUNTIL NEW
WEREACHED UPON
ORLEANS THECITYI
REACHING
DIALED
THEPHONE ROUAL
NUMBER HAD MEWITH
PROVIDED IN MEXICO
ARRANGED
A MEETING HIMIN THELEBUNNY
WITH LOUNGE STREETAND
ONCANAL DURING
THESUBSEQUENT INTHELOUNGE
MEETING TOLD
ROUAL METHATINEARLY
MAYHE
SOME
TOTRANSPORT
WANTED RIFLESINTO
MEXICO
AND H
FORHETOHELP IMHE
$12.000IN TTFORME
BEABOUT
SAIDTIMEWOULD TOTHE
E INADDITION
USUALPROMISE DOCUMENTS
OFTRAVEL I AGREED BUTTOLD
TOHISPROPOSITION
HIMI WAS
LOWONFUNDSSUBSEQUENTLY DOLLAR
ME&500.00INTWENTY
HEGAVE
NOTES
RETURNING I MOVED
TOLOSANGELES HOLLYWOOD
TOTHEAFOREMENTIONED
BOULEVARD THERE
RESIDING
ADDRESS WHEN 196EI RECEIVED
INFEBRUARY A
WRITTEN ROUAL
FROM
COMMUNICATION METOMEET
ASKING HIMINNEW ORLEANS
ONACEERTAIFJ"DAY
LOUISIANA FOR
IN MARCH ATRIPTOATLANTAGEORGIA
AND THE
TOACKNOWLEDGE I
COMMUNICATION BY
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT
TELEPHONE
I WOULD
BEINNEW ONTHEDATE
ORLEANS REQUESTED
OFOTHER
POSSIBLE DURING
TOTHECOMMITTEE
INTEREST INTHELOS
MYSTAY
ROBBED
AREAI WAS
ANEATEE OFAWATCH&THEKEYSTOTHEMUSTANGOUTSIDE
OFABAR ONHOLLYWOOD I HAD
CONSEQUENTLY
BOULEVARD TOHIREA LOCK
SMITH
TOMAID SETOFKEYSI DIDCOBY SOME
MEANOTHER ADDRESiESTHROUGH
UNDERGROUND UNATTACHED
ADVERTISING
PUBLICATIONS FEMALES I DIDUSE
LATER
ONEOFTHESES (SEEBELOW)I NEVER
ADDRISSE'S ANY
TOCONTACT
ATTFI4PTED
LISTED
OFTHEPERSONS TSEXCEPT
THEADVERTISINZ
UNDER ONEWHO LISTED
ASA "NYMPHO
ICRSLF SOMETHING".OF I HAD
COURSE BEENINJAILSIXYEARS
 132

ONORABOUT 17 1968 I DEPARTED

MARCH LOSANGELES
FORNEW
ORLEANS
LOUISIANA I
APPARENTLYWASLATEINARRIVING
IN NEW IN
ORLEANS
CALLING
THEPARTY THEAFORR,;ENTIO.NEED
UNDER NUMBER
I VASTOLD
TO
ONTOBIRMINGHAM
DRIVE AND
ALABAMAMEET IN THESTARLITE
ROUAL
AND
INBIRMINGHAM
CAFEARRIVING ENTERING
THESTARLPTE
AGAIN
SOME
LATEI METROUAL
WHAT ANDNEPROCEEDED
ONTOATLANTAGEORGIA
1*ECOMMENCED
IN ATLANTA
ARRIVING FORANAPARTMENT
SEARCHING FINALLY
AROOM
LOCATING FORRENTAT11314th STREET
NORTHEAST
HOWEVER
OFTHEINTOXICATED
BECAUSE CONDITION
OFTHEPROPRIETOR
I HAD
A
PROBLEM THEROOM
RENTING OFTHEDELAY
ANDBECAUSE ROUAL ENTERED
BRIEFLY
THE"OFFICEAFTERTHERENTAL
WEWENT
TOARESTAURANT
ONPEACHTREE
STREET AND
FOR.4MEAL WHILE
INTHERESTAURANT
MADE
ARRA.NGMENTS
FOR
TOMEET
ROUAL RENTED
MEATTHERECENTLY ROOM
THENEXT
DAY THENEXT
DAYROUALCADSTOTHEROOM
I HADRENTED
(NEXT
DOORTOTHEPROPRIETOR'S
AND
OFFICE) THECONVERSATION
WASARERUNOFTHEPREVIOUS
EVENING'S
CONVERSATION STREET
INTHEPEACHTREE RESTAURANT
IN ESSENCE
I WAS
TOBELATER
RIFLESINATLANTA
TOPURCHASE SHOWNTOPROSPECTIVE
BUYERSBUTBECAUSE
OFANIDENTIFICATION
PROBLEMALLOFMY RNTIFICA
TIONWASLISTED THESTATE
UNDER OFALABAMA WEPURCHASE
I SUGGESTED
THERIFLESIN ALABAMA ROUAL
WHICH TODO UPON
AGREED LEAVING
ROUAL
I STAY
SUGGESTED CLOSE SINCE
TOTHEROOM HEWOULD
RETURN
INACOUPLE
DAYS
AND WANTED
THEN HIMTOMIAMIFLORIDA-HOWEVER
METODRIVE HENEVER
DID
APPEAR MIAMI
FORTHE TRIP
AFTER
ABOUTAWE-AK
ROUAL
DIDAPPEAR
ANDWEDROVETOBIRMINGHAM
ALABAMA
TOI}PLEMENT WEHAD
WHAT PREVIOUSLY
AGREDTO I CHECKED
INTOTHETRAVEL
LODGE WETHEN
IN BIRMNHGHAM CHECKED THEYELLOW
THROUGH PAGES
OFTHE
PHONE
BOOKANDPERHAPS FORANESTABLISHMENT
NEWSPAPERS THAT
SOLD
RDE
 133

DECIDING
ONTHEAEROMARINE
SUPPLY
CaIPANYSUBSEQUENTLY
I DIDPURCHASE
ARIFLEWITH
MILITARY ATA0OMARL*I3
SPECIFICATIONS AFTER
THE
PURCHASE
ROUAL METHENAME
GAVE ( NEW
OFA,MOTEL Ra9EI) IN
MEMPHIS TELLING
TENNESSEE THERIFLETOTHE
METOTRANSPORT
AND
MOTEL MELT
HIMTHEREATACERTAIN
DATE( APRIL
3 1968)
AND
TIMESAYING
HE INTHE HAD
INTERVAL T OMAKE
ABUSINESSTRIP
TONEWORLEANS LOUISIANA
THEREAFTERCCMMENCING
ONMARCH
29 1968 TODAYI PICKED
UPTHE
RIFLE I TRAVELED
INTHEDIRECTION
OFMEMPHISTENNESSEE SUBSEQUENTLY
I RENTEMROOMS
IN FLORENCE CORINTH
ALABAMA MISSISSIPPIDESOTO
MISSISSIPPIAND OTHER
MOTEL THAT
ADDRESSES I CANNOT
RECALL
ALTHOUGH
I AS.'UM.THE
F.B.I HASTHEADDRESSES
I DIDNOTATANYTIMEDEVIATE
FROMTHEAFORMENTIONED AND
ROUTE I DIDNOTRETURN
SPECIFICALLY TO
ATLANTA AFTER
GEORGIA DEPARTING
BIRMINGHAM ONMARCH
ALABAMA 29
1968 UNTIL
APRIL
5 1968
I ARRIVED
INTHESUBURBS
OFMEMPHIS ONAPRIL
TENNESSEE 2 1968
ANDCHECKS)
INTO
THENEW MOTEL
Rw.RRT INMEMPHIS
PROPER
ONAPRIL
3
1968 IT COMMENCED
RAINING EVENING
THAT ANDATAPPROXIMATELY
9:00PM
ROUAL ATTHEROOM
APPEARED I WAS
OCCUPYING
 134

ROUAL MEIT WOULD

TOLD BENECESSARY
TOTAKE
AROOM
FORAPENDAYS
IN
INFORMED
MEMPHISHEALSO MEHEHAD
APLACE
LOCATED
NEAR
THEUATERFRONT
AND HEORI ORBOTHWOULD
THAT RANT
AROOM
ATTHELOCATION
INMYNAME
I TOLD
ROUAL I DIDNOT
THAT CARETOHAVE
MYNAME
USEDIF =MIME GOING
TOBEANY IN_THE
GUNS IF WEWERE
PLACE,OR INSfiTHINGWECOULD
INVOLVED
BEARRESTED
POSSIBLE FOR._.,ITHEN A NAME
SUGGESTED JOHN THAT
WILLARD I
HADUSED ONCED
INDIRECTLY BEFORE THUS
ANAMEI COULD
EASILY
REREIBER
USETOLETAROOM
WECOULD
THAT UNDERROUALAMEN) TOUSETHEWILLARD
NAMEHETHENCOMMENTED
THAT
11EVERYTHING
PROGRESSED
ALRIGHT
THENHE&I
WOULD TO
RETURNBIRMINGHAM AND
ALABAMA P URCHASE
10 ORMOREOFTHE
SCOPES
TO,ALARGE
RIFLESINADDITION SUPPLY
OFTHEFOREIGN
BRAND
RIFLESTHAT
I
HADLOOKED INTHEGUN
OVER STORE HEIMPLIED
INBIRMINGHAM THATAFTER
WE
HAD THEFIREARMS
PURCHASED THEYWOULD
BESHIPPED
TONEWORLEANSLOUISIANA
DEPARTING
BYBOATBEFORE ROUALTOLDMETOMEETHIMATTHE422 SOUTH
STREET
MAIN AT3 or 4 PMTHENEXT
ADDRESS DAY HEWROTEDOWNTHEADDRESS
ONASLIPOFPAPER I WROTE
AND DOWN
FORHIMTHEWILLARD
NAME TOUSEIF HE
RENT.A
SHOULD R OOM OR
FORME HIMSELF
HEMENTIONED
THAT
I F WEWERE
NOTIN
AROOM ATTHESOUTH STREET
MAIN ADDRESS
WHENI ARRIVED
HEWOULD
BEINA
BAR&GRILL ONTHEGROUND
LOCATED FLOOR
OFTHEBUILDINGHETHENTOOK
THE
RIFLEAND AND
DEPARTED THAT THELASTTIMEI SAW
WAS THEWEAPONTHENEXT
OUTOFTHEMOTEL
DAYI-DIDNOTCHECK LATE
UNTIL MORNINGAFTER
HAVING
RESTAURANT
ATANEARBY
BREAKFAST I DROVE
TOTHESOUTH
PARTOFYHEI.THIS
(I
MAY BEEN
HAVE ) AND
INMISSISSIPPI WAITED
APERIODOFTIMEINABEERHOUSE
AND JUSTSTALLED
GENERALLY UNTILTIMEFORTHERENDEZVOUS
WITHROUAL
AT4221
STREET
MAIN
SOUTH FINALLYI DROVE PARKING
TOACOMMERCIAL AFTER
LOTS
INTO
THEMUSTANG
CHECKING THELOT AND DIRECTIONS
RECEIVING FROM
THEPARKING
TOTHELOCATION
LOTATTENDANT OFMAINSTREETI THEN
COMMENCED
WALKING
IH
 135

AGENERAL
DIRECTION
TOWARD
WHAT
APPEARED
TOBETHEMAIN
SECTION
OF
FURTHERON WITHTHEASSISTANCE I LOCATED
OFA POLICEMAN MAIN
STREET
AND
TRAVELLING
SOUTH
ONMAIN TRADE
ATLEASTONEINQUIRYINBARSCONCERNING
THE
424 SOUTH MAIN
STREET ONEOFTHEPLACES
ADDRESS OFINQUIRYMAYHAVE
BSENA
"JIM'SBAR AFTER I HAD ADDRESS
THEAPPARENT
LOCATED OFTHESOUTHMAINSTREET
BUILDINGI HAD
BEENSEARCHING
FOR ANDWHICHHADA "JIM'SGRILLONTHEGROUND
FLOORI ENTERED THEBAR/GRILL
LOOKINGFORROUAL HEWASNOTINTHEESTABLISH
MENTHOWEVER I DIDNOTICETh'O.WHITE
MATES THATI HADPREVIOUSLY
SEENIN
ONEOFTHEBARS.IHAD BEEN
JUSTRECENTLY INMAKING CONCERNING
INQUIRES THE
ADDRESSI WAS
SEARCHINGFOR ONEOFTHETWO INDIVIDUALS
APPEARED
TOBS
NOTICINGMEMORETHANWASNECESSARY(I AMCERTAINTHAT
I DIDNOT
MEET ROUAL
INJIM'S GRILL
THEFIRSTTI I ENTERED THEESTABLISHMENT
BECAUSE
OFTHE
CRQWDED UNLIKE
CONDITIONS, THESECOND THETARO
AND INDIVIDUALS
INTHEBAR
WHO
WERE
NOTPRESENT I DIDMEET
WHEN ROUAL)I ORDERED
ABEERANDSHORTLY
THEREAFTER
DEPARTED
THETAVERN TOINQUIRE
UPSTAIRS
GOING ABOUTRENTING
AROOM
UPON THE
INQUIRY PROPRIETRESS ME
INFORMED SHEHADTWO R OOMS
TOLET ANDSHOW
DE
MEBOTH
OFTHEMSINCE THfsSECbND
WASONLY
A SLEa'INGPROMI RENTED
IT PAYING
WITH
A$20.00BILL AFTER
SIGNINGTHEREGISTRY
UNDER THENAME OFJOHNWILLARD
THEONLY
OTHER
PERSON
I SAWOREVER
SANEXCEPT INTHEESTABLISHMENT
ROULA
WAS
ANELDERLY
WHITE
MALE
WHO INTHEPROPRIETRESS
WAS "OFtICEWHEN
I FIRST
ABOUT
INQUIRED THEROOMIMMEDIATELY
UPONRETAINING
THEROOM
I LEFTTHE
BUILDING
TORETURN LOTTOPICKUPTHEMUSTANG
TOTHEPARKING IT WASNOW
APPROXIMATELY BECAUSE
4:00PM OFMYDELAY TIESOUTH
INLOCATING MAINSTREET
ADDRESSRETURNINGTOTHEPARKING I ESTIMATE
LOT WHICH WAS ONE
MILEFROM
THE424 SOUTHMAIN
STREET
ADDRESS UPTHEMUSTANG
I PICKED ANDSUBSEQUENTLY
PARKEDTHEAUTOMOBTIEy
ALMOST
DIRECTLY THEFRONT
INLINEWITH ENTRANCE
OF
JIM'S GRILLAND Y BEHIND
DR4EDIATF[ ANOTHER
AUTOMOBILEI DIDNOTW OVE
THE
MUSTANGAGAIN
UNTIL 5:40PMTHESAKE
APPPAXIMATELY DAY( I LATERNOTICES
UPON
 136

LEAVING
THEROOMING ONONE
HOUSE OFSEVERAL
OCASSIOUS
THATTHERE
ULE
SEVERAL
OTHER PARKED
AUTOMOBILES THE
NEARBY SAME
COLORASTHEMUSTANG
A
WHITISH
COLOR)
UPON JIM'SGRILL
ENTERING FORTHESECONDTIMEI FOUND
THAT
THEINDIVIDUAL
CALLING ROUAL
HIMSELF WASPRESENTTHISTIRETHEBARWAS
NOTSOCRONDS1)
AND
ROUAL SITTING
WAS INTHELUNCH-COUNTER DRINKING
SECTION COFFEEAFT
HIMI HAD
THEAMENIT=I TOLD SOME LOCATING
DIFFICULTY THEROOMING
HOUSE
IMMEDIATELY
ALMOST
UPSTAIRSWEDEPARTED HESUGGEMTED
WHEN WEGOUPSTAIRS
TOTHEROOM
I HADRENTEDONTHEWAYOUTOFTHEGRILLHEASKMEIF I HAD THE
MUSTANG
WITH
ME I TOIT
POINTED "THERE
SAYING IT IS ONCED
UPSTAIRSIN
THEROOM
I HAD ROUAL
RENTED I BRING
SUGGESTED WHAT
PERSONAL
ITEFISI HADIN
UPTOTHEROOM
THEMUSTANG "WEMAY
SAYING TOSTAY
HAVE HERE
3 or ADAYS
HEALSO METOPURCHASE
ASKED WITH
APAIROFBINOCULARSINFRA-RED
ATTACHI1ENTS
THE"PEOPLE
SAYING TOEXAMINE
WANTED
ALSO SOME
GLASSESROUAL
GAVEME
GOODS
SPORTING
TOANEARBY
DIRECTIONS STORE I COULD
WHEREIN PURCHASE
THE
THEROOMING
GLASSESLEAVING }OUSEI WAS TOLOCATE
UNABLE THESPORTING
GOODS
STORETHEFIRSTTRIP RETURNING AGAIN
ROUAL TOMETHELOCATION
EXPLAINED
OFTHESPORTINGGOODS TOTHEROOM
RETURNING
STORE ( UPON AFTERTHEFIRST
GOOD
FORTHESPORTING_
TRIPLOOKING l REMOVED
STORE ASMALL CASE
TRAVELING
ITEMS
PERSONAL
CONTAINING
THEMUSTANG
FPCPI AND THECASE
DEPOSITED IN THE
BECAUSE
ROOMHOWEVER SOMEWHAT
I WAS WITH
THETYPE
CONVERSANT ESTABLISHMENT
I WASIN WHATWITH THEDOORS
NOLOCKS'ON DOOR
OREVEN NOBSJUSTASTRAPTO
PULLTHEDOORTO ANDTHEPLACE FOR
HABITAT
ANAPPARENT WINO'SWHEREIN
ANYONE
COULDENTER
ANYONE AT
RENTAL
ELSE'S WILL DIDNCTCARRY
I ANYOTHER
PERSONAL
ITEMSTOTHEROOMOTHERTHAN CAS~
THEAFOR?TENTIONED& IT'S CONTENTS
EXCEPT
ACOVER
WHICH
I USED THE(OGERING
TOCOVER ONTHEBEDI PLACED
ALREADY THE
CASE
UNDER
THEBED)
 137

ONTHESECOND
TRIPSEEKING
THESPORTDIGS
CODSSTORE
I LOCATED
IT UPON
THESAL
INQUIRY SMAN OBM_+D
LNE HETHATTHESTORE
DIDNOTCARRY
INFEL--R!D
ATTACHMENTS
FORBINOCULARS
AND I WO=HAVE
THAT TOPURCHASE
TEESATAN
ARMYSURPLUS THESAT_J,AN
STOREHOWEVER DIDMT MEBINOCULARS
ONTHE
WAYBACK
TOTHEROOMING
HOUSE
I STOPPEDATADRUGSTORE
ONTHECROUND
FLOOR
OFTHECHISCA
HOTEL
AND
ORDERED
ICECREAM WHILE
WAITING
ONTHEORDER
I
SAT ASCUSTOMARY
DIRECTLY
ACROSS
FROM
THECASH
REGISTER
AND
DISTINCTLY
THEAPPARENT
RECALL WAS
WHO
MANAGER A WHITE
MALEINSTRUCTING
AYOUNG
BLACKWOMAN
ONTHEINTRIACIES
OFUSINGA CASH
REGISTERTHUSI ASSUM
SHE
HADJUSTSTARTE
U WORKING
INTHESTORETHATDAY ( THEATTORNEYS
REPRESENT
INGMEINTHEKINGCASEIN 1968-69WERE
UNABLE
TOLOCATETHEDRUGSTORE
IN
QUESTION R IN FEBRUARY
HQ!WSV 1969I DISCRIBED
TOA POLICEMANWAS
WHO
MEINTHEMThIPHIS
GUARDING JAILCELLTHEAPPROXIMATE OFTHESTORE
LOCATION
AND
HEINFORMMETHENAME OFTHESTORE)
AFTER
RETURNING
TOTHEMAIN
STREET
ROOMING I TOLD
HOUSE WEWOULD
ROUAL
HAVE
TOPURCHASE
THEINFRA-R&)
ATTACHMENTS
ATANARMYSURPLUS
STOREI ALSO
INFORMHIMTHAT
I HADNOTEATEN
SINCE HESAIDTOGOOUTAND
BREAKFAST
HAVE
AMEAL&TAKEIN AMOVIE
SINCEHEWARIER
TOSEESOME
PEOPLEIN PRIVATE
THAT EVENING
BUTTOLEAVE
THEMUSTANG
OUTINFRONT ASHEWOULD MSTLIKELY
I.-EDIT THAT ORNIGHT I THEN
EVENING WENTDOWN STAIRS
INTOJIM'S GRILL
AND ORDERED
ABEERALTHOUGH
I DIDNOT
DRINKIT...I SAYTHISBECAUSE I_RECALL
SEEING
A WHITE ONONEOCASSION
WAITRESS WHILE
I WAS
INTHEESTABLISHMENT
ANDONTHENEXT THERE
OCASSION WAS
A BLACK ONDUTYLEAVING
WAITRESS THE
GRILL
I SATINTHEMUSTANG
10 or 15 MINT BEFORE
TRAVELING
NORTH
ONMAIN
STREET
AND ABAR&RESTAURANT
ENTERING ONTHELEFTHAND
LOCATED SIDEOFTHE
STRrT'T
ANDFAIRLY TOA.MOVIE
NEAR HOUSE THESTREETI ORDERED
ACROSS A
 138

SANDWICH
ANDWHILESITTING
THEME
RECALLED
THAT
I HAD
CHANGED
THEBACK
REAR
TIREONTHERIGHTSIDE WHEN
FACING
THEFRONT
OFTHEMUSTANG
THE
DAY
BEFOREA THE
FTER TIREHADDEVELOPED
ASLOWLEAK THINKING
THEDAMAGED
TIRESHOULDBEFIXEDESPECIALLY
IF THEMUSTANG
SHOULDBSUSEDTHATNIGHTI
TOTHE
RETURNED AND
MUSTANG D ROVE
IT NORTH
ON S
MAIN TREET
FORMAYBE3 or 4
BLOCKSBEFORE RIGHT
TURNING ANDTRAVELING
4 OR5 MOREBLOCKS
TOA SSRVIGS
STATIONTHERE 2 OR3 SERVICE
WERE STATIONS
ATTHEINTERSECTION
I ENQUIRED
OFONEIF THEYCOULD
FIXASPARE TIREDWHILEI WAITED
ANDWASINFORM) THATI
WOULDHAVETOWAIT BECAUSE
AWHILE OFTHEBUSINESS
VOLUME MOVING
TOTHEOTHER
STATION
I DONOTRECALLASKINGFORTHETIRETOBEREPAIRED ALTHOUGHI DII)HAVE
THEMUSTANG
SERVICED UPONLEAVINGTHESERVICESTATIONI CIRCLEDAROUND INA
MANNER
THATWOULDRETURNMETOTHEORIGINALPARKINGSPACE IN FRONTOFaitIZZI
HOWEVERWHEN ONTO
DRIVING M AINSTREET
I SAWAPOLICE CAR PARKEDBLOCKING OFF
THESTREET
THATI WOULDHAVETODRIVETHROUGHINORDER TORETURN TOMEORIGINAL
PARKING
SPACEINADDITION I SAWWHATAPPEARED
TOBE2 OR3 PEOPLE RUNNING
ORWALKING
RATHERFASTOPPOSITETHEPOLICE
CARI THEN VEEEED OFFTOTHELEFT
TOWARD
SOUTHME2P)4IS
TRAVELINGTHROUGH
WHATAPPEAREDTOBEAFREDQfINANTLY
BLACK
COMMUNITY
I EVENTUALLYENDED
UPIN MISSISSIPPI
TRAVELING
TOWARD NEW
LOUISIANA
ORLEANS I T WASM Y
INTENTION
TOPHONEANEW ORLEANS
NUMBERIN MY
POSSESSION
ANDHAVETHEPARTY ONTHEOTHER
ENDATTEMPTTOFINDOUTWHAT IF
ANYTHING
HADHAPPENED INTHEAREAOFTHEAFOREMETNTIONED
SOUTH
MAINSTREET
ROOMING
HOUSE HOWEVER SHORTLY
AFTER
ENTERING
THESTATE OFMISSISSIPPI'I
HEARD
OVERTHECARRADIO THAT
DR MARTIN
LUTHER
KING,JRHADBEENSHOT IN
MEMPHIS
ASHORTWHILE
LATER( APPROXIMATELY
15 MINUTES
) ANOTHER
NEE+S
BULLETIN
ONTHERADIO
STATED
POLICE
AUTHORITIES
WERE
LOOKINGFORAWHITE
MUSTANG
&A
WHITE
MALE ASASUSPECT
SUBJECT INTHESHOOTING
OFDR KING CONSEc'ZUENTLY
THE
FIRSTINTERSECTION
I CAME
TOI TURNED
EAST
TRAVELING
TOWARD
ATLANTA
GEORGIA
 139

V WAY OFBIRMINGHAMALABAMA AFTER

SHORTLY EASTI STOPPED
TURNING
.THEMUSTANGANDTHRENVARIOUS
ITEMSOFOFTHETRUNKINCLUDING
ALLOF
THE.CAMERA THAT
EQUIPMENT ROUALHADHADMETOPURCHASE
FORHIMTHE
WAS
EQUIPMENT STILLIN THEORIGINAL CASES
WRAPPING WHEN I DISCARDED
IT
IT WASRAINING
SLIGHTLYATTHETIMEANDI'TOOK
A CLOTH
AND ATTESPTED
TO
WIPEOFFANY I MAY
FINGERPRINTS LEFTONTHEOUTSIDE
HAVE OFTHEMUSTANG
( SEVEALYEARS MYBROTHER
LATER W RAYTOLD
JERRY NETHATI MEDIATELY
AFTER PLEA
THEGUILTY THEMEMPHIS GEERAL
ATTORNEY GAVEHIMTHEDAMAGED
TIRE&THEFLOORMATS
FROMT HE
MUSTANG)
THROUGH
I DROVE
THEREAFTER BIRMINGHAM
ALABAMAANDLATER
INTOTHESTATE
OFGEORGIAAPPROXIMATELY
THIRTY FROM
(30) MITES ATLANTA
GEORGIAI RAN
LOWONFUELANDSTOPPED
ATASERVICE FORGASOLINE
STATION I ARRIVED'IN
7:30AM I ABANDONED
ATAPPROXIMATELY
ATLANTA THEMUSTANG
INAPRIVATE
PARKING
LOTNEARCAPITOL
HOMESI THEN RETURNED
TOTHEROOMI HAD
PREVIOUSLY
RENrzLOCATEDAT11314th STREETNORTHEAST
I PLACEDEVERYTHING
IN ACASE
THAT
IT !X)UIS)
HOLDANT)
DLSCARED
THEREMAINING
ITEMSLEFTIN THEROOM I
WALKED
THMI TOTHEP7 -YJNT LAUNDRY T HAD
WHEREIN LEFTSEVERAL
ITEMSOF
CLOTHING INLATE
TOBECLEANED MAPCH
OF1968 I TEEN
PHONED
ABUSSTATION
FOR
TODETROIT
RESERVATIONS MICHIGAN
BEINGINFORMED
THAT
A:BUSWAS
LEAVING
ATLANTA
FORDETROIT,-MICHIGANAFTERNOON
THAT I RETURNED
TOTHEROOMING
HOUSE DEPARTED
FORTHECASE I THEN THEBUILDING
ANDCAUGHT
ATAXICAB
TOTHEBUSSTATION
WHEREIN ATICKET
I PURCHASED TODETROIT
MICHIGANTHE
BUSWASNCIDUETOLEAVE
ATLANTA SOI CHECKED-IN
FORSE/AA HOURS THECASE
AND SEVERAL
TRAVELED BLOCKS
FROMTHEBUSSTATION
AND
WAITED
IN ABARUNTIL
UNTIL TIMEFORTHEBUSHOWEVER
DEPARTURE RETURNING
UPON TOTHEBUSSTATION
I LEARNED BELATEIN IT'S DEPARTURE
THEBUSWOULD THEBUS
AFTER
SCHEDULE
 140

DIDDEPART IT PROCEEDED
FROM'ATLANTA ONTOCINCINNATI
OHIOWITH
A
FORAPPROXIMATELY
INTHAT.CITY
LAYOVER TWO THELAYOVEa.
HOURSDURING
I WAITED BARUNTIL
INANEARBY IT CLOSED
AT2:30AMTHENI WAITED
IN
THEBUSTERMINAL 20 OR30 MINUTrES
ANOTHER BEFORE
THEBUSDEPARTED
FOR
M,ICHIG.AN
D3TROIT INDETROIT
ARRIVING ATAPPROXThATELY
7:30AM I
MAD3
THEN R;ERVATIONS BOUND
FORATRAIN FORTORONTO
CANADA BEFORE
FORTHECANADIAN
LEAVING SIDEOFTHEBORDER
I TOOK
ATAXICABTOA
STATION
TRAIN TWO
MM
APPROXIMATELY R5FROM
DOWNTOWN
DETROITADJACENT
TOTHETRAIN WAS
STATION ANOPEN BLOCK
SQUARE (PARK) DIRECTLY
DIAGONALLY
ACROSS THETRAIN
FROM AND
STATION THEOPEN
ACROSS LOT
WAS SHOP
ABARBER WHIN I HADASHAVE
&HAIRCUT
 141

I ARRIVED
IN TORONTON 6:30 FMAPRIL
ATAPPROXD4ATELY
CANADA 6
1968 AFTERCHECKING
MYCASE DFARINENT
THELUGGAGE
INTO I MADE
MYWAYWESTONFOOT.AFTER TOO
APPROXIMATELY
WALKING 141k.S AND
MAKING ALONG
ENQUIRES THEWAYFORRENTAL I EVENTUALLY
QUARTERS
FOUND
AROOM
FOR.RENT
AT102OSSINGTON
AVENUETHEPROPRIETRESS'S
NAME
WASMRSADAM MRSSZPAKOWSKI
I PAYED
SZPAKOWSKI $10.00FORONE
WE3K'S
RENT MRSSZPAKOWSKI
WHOSPOKEWITH
A HEAVY DIDNOT
ACCENT
ASKMEMYNAME
NORDIDI VOLUN
ESRTHEINFORMATION
THEREAFTER
ONTHE
FOLLOWING APRIL
MONDAY 8 1968 I MADE
MYWAYTOTHEOF:ICES
OFTHE
IIRij ASKTOSEEBACK
AND IS,UESOFTHEPAPER
FORTHE
YEAR1932 THELIBRARL
NGAVE
METHEREQUESTED
ISOUES
ONMICROFILM
AND
ASSISTED
MEWITHTHEPROJECTOR ATIMEI CHOOSED
AFTER SEVERAE
NAMES
FROM
THEFILMSTWO
OFTHENAMES GEORGE
WERERAMON SNE19
&PAUL
E
BRIDGMAN
MYPURPOSE
INOBTAINING
THESE
NAMES
WASTOAPPLY
FORAPASSPORT
UNDER
ONEOFTHENAMES
IF CONDITIONS
WEREFAVORABLE
LEAVING
THENEWSPAPER
OFICEI MADE TOTHEROOM
MYWAY-BACK ONOSSINGTON HOWEVER
AVENUE BEFORE
I GOTTOOSSINGTON
I WAS
STOPPED
AND BYAPLOICEII4AN
TICKETED FORM-
WALKING
I HAD
R14r?:BERED
A WOMAN'S
ADDRESS 6 CONDOR
IN TORONTO STREET
FROM
SOME
ADDRESSES
I HADGOTTEN
OUTOFANUNDERGROUND
PUBLICATION
APPARENTLY
SPECIALIZING
IN ?BRINGING
PEOPLE
TOGETHER"I GAVETHEPOLICiANTHECONDOR
STREET
ADDRESSASMYOWNI AMFAIRLYCERTAINI ALSOGAVE
MYNINEAS ERIC
GALTTOTHEPOLICEMAN THENEXTDAYI PHONEDTHELOCAL
POLICESTATION
ABOUT
ENQUIRING THE THE
TICKETHOWEVER STATIONDIDNOT THE
HAVE TICKET
ONFILE AFTER BACK
I ARRIVED ATTHEOSSINGTON ADDRESS
AVENUE I WROTE
THE
NAMEOFPAUL ONASLIPOFPAPER
BRID21.AN AND IT TOMRSSZPAEOWSKI
GAVE
INFORMING
HER"THISIS MYNAME THENEXT
DAYI PROCEEDED
TOCONTACT
BY
TELEPHONE OFTHENAMES
SEVERAL FROM
GOTTEN
I HAD THETORONTO
EVENING
TELEGRAM

0 79 10
36-173
 142

TELLING
THEM
I WAS
WITH
THEREGLSTRA
GERAL'S OFFICE
INVESTIGATING
APASSPORT
MATTER OFTHEM
ENQUIRING IF TOYHAD BEEN
EVER ISSUED
A
CANADIAN
PASSPORTEVENTUALLY
I CONTACTED
MRRAMON
GE9RGE
SNEYDA
TORONTO
POLICEMANAND
UPON MRSNEYD
ENQUIRY INFORMED
METHAT
HEHAD
FORACANADIAN
APPLIED
NEVER PASSPORT
THEREFORE
HORTLY
TH AFT
I MADE
MYWAY-TO
THEARCADE
PHOTO
STUDIO
AND
HADSEVERAL
PASSPORT
HOTOS
TAKENI USED
THEPAULBRIDGMAN
NAMEIN APPLYING-FOR
THEPASSPORT
PHOTOS
DURING
THISPERIODI HAD
RENTED
ANOTHER
ROOMLOCATED
AT962DUNDAS
STREET
WEST
FROMA MRSSUNLOOI REGISTERED THENAME
UNDER OF RAMON
GEORGE
SNEYDANDTOLD
MRSLOOI WORKED
NIGHT
THUSWOULD
BEINDAYS-ISPENT
THENIGHTS
ATTHEOSSINGTON
AVENUE
ADDRESS
I THEN
VISITED
THEKENNEDY
TRAVEL
AGENCY
INTORONTO
ENQUIRING
ABOUT
THE
PROCEDURE
FOROBTAINING
ACANADIAN
PASSPORT
I TOLD
THEOFFICE
MANAGER
MRSLILLIAN THAT
SPENCER I DIDNOTHAVE
AGUARANTOR
RAVING
JUSTRETURNED
TOTORONTO
MRSSPENCERINFORMS
METHAT IT WAS
NOT=MARY TOHAVE A
RATHER
GUARANTOR I COULD
MAKE)A
SWORNSTATEMENT
THATI WAS
ACITIZEN
OF
HAVE
CANADA THESTATEMENT THEN
MOTORIZED HEROFFICE
WOULD
APPLY
FORTHE
PASSPORT
I DIDAPPLY
FORAPASSPORT
THROUGH
MRSSPENCER'S
OFFICE
UNDER
THENAME
OFDRAMON
GRRGESNEYDAND
USING
THE.DUNDAS
STREET
WESTADDRESS
( IF I HADBEENTHROUGH
ENOUGHT
TOGAINTHEAFORE^,"ENTIO,B
INFIORMATION
DURING MYFIRSTTRIPTOCANADA
INJULY1967I AMSUREI WOULD
NOTBE -
TESTIFYINGBEFORE
THISCOMMITTEE
TODAY)
DURING
THISPERIOD
I ALSO
MADE
ABRIEFTRIPTOMONTREAL TO
CANADA
ENQUIRE SHIPRESERVATIONS
ABOUT TOEUROPE
 143

INEARLY
MAY1968 MYPASSPORT
INTHENAME
OF RAMON
GEORGE
SNEYD
WASPRESENTED
TOMEBYTHEKENNEDY
TRAVEL
AGENCYONMAY6 1968
I DEPARTED BOUND
CANADA FORLONDON AND
ENGLAND ARRIVED
INLONDON
ONMAY
7 1968 IMMEDIATELY I BOARDED
THEREAFTER APLANE
FORLISBON
PORTUGAL IN LISBONAND
WHILE BECAUSE WERE
MYFINANCES SUCHTHATI
COULD
NGTAFFORD
FARE
TOAMORE
DISTANT SAYAUSTRALIA
COUNTRY I
FADE EFFORTS
SEVERAL TOGAIN
TRANSPORTATION
TOAFRICA
DURING
ONE
PERIOD
IN AMEETING
WITH
A BLACK
&WHITE I ATTEMPTED
MALE TOJOINA
UNITINBIAFRA
MILITARY BUTWAS
UNSUCCESSFUL I DIDFINDA SHIP
FINALLY
WITH BERTH
ANAVAILABLE BOUND
FORANGOLA AVISAWAS
HOWEVER REQUIRED
TOENTERANGOLA
ANDSINCE
THESHIPWASLEAVING
FORANGOLA
INTHREE
DAYS
ANDIT REQUIRED
SEVENDAYS
FORAVISATOBEPROCESSED
I MISSED
THE
OPPORTUNITY
TOLONDON
RETURNING ENGLANDAFTER
APPROXIMATELY
TENDAYS
INPORTUGAL
I ATTEI4PTTrD
ONJUNE8 1968 TOLEAVE
ENGLAND
VIAAIRPLANE
DESTINED
FOR
BRUSSELS
BELGIUM I WAS
HO'W:EVER DETAINED
ATLONDON'S
HEATHROW
AIRPORT
BYTHEPOLICE
AND ARRESTED
SUBSEQUENTLY BYENGLISH
AUTHORITIES
ANDHELD
FOREXTRADITION
TOTHEUNITED
STATES
THEREAFTER
I WROTE F
MESSRS LEEBAILEY&ARTHUR
J HAKES
SR. OFTHE
&ALABAMA
MASSACHUTTnS BAR
RESPECTFULLY
ABOUT
REPRESENTATION
INTHE
MATTER
I WASBEING
DETAINED
UNDER N AMELY
THEDR MARTIN KING
LUTHER JR
HOMICIDE
ICI BAILEY
INFORI4b
IE INDIRECTLY
THATTHERE
WOULD
BEA
CONFLICT-OF-INTEREST IF HESHOULD
INVOLVED THECASETHUS
TAKE DECLINED
MRHAND THECASEAPPARENTLY
ACCEPTED AFTER THEALABAMA
CONTACTING
NOVELIST BRATFORD
WILLIAM HUIEANDPRESENTING
MEWITH
A Lr1I.RARY
CONTRACT
TOSIGN THEREAFTER
I WAS ORDERED
SUBSEQUENTLY BYANENGLISH
COURTTCR"BE
 144

TOTHEUNITED
EXTRADITED STATES
ANDINFACT
WAS
EXTRADITED
AND
INTHEMEMPHIS
LODGED TENNSSEE JAILONJULY19 1968
I WAS
AFTER LODGED
INTHEMEMPHISJAILTHEAFOR^MENTIONED
ATTORNEY,
MRARTHURJ HANKS,sr.HAD
MEENTERINTOASERTEEOFLITERARY
WITH
CONTRACTS HIMANDWILLIAM
BRATFORD
HUIE,THRALABAMA
NOVELIST
MRHAN SAIDTOFINANCE
IN ORDER AJURY
TRIALINTHEKING
CASE
IN NOVrl"BE
SUBSEQUENTLY 1968 MYBROTHEL
JEREYW RAYVISITED
MEINSAIDJAILANDSAIDTHAT
HEHADRECENTLY
VISITEDWILLIAM
BRATFORD
HUIEANDTHATHR HUIEHADOFFERED THROUGH
ME INDIRECTLY JERRY
$12.000 IF I WOULD
NOTTAKE
THEWITNESS
STANDIN THEKINGCASESAYING
MYTESTIMONY T
FROM HE
WITNESS
STAND
WOULD
DESTROY THELITERARY
VALUE
OFTHE800KHE(HUIE)WAS WRITING
ABOUT
THECASE CONSEQUENTLY WHEN
PERCYFOREEAN AMEMBER
OFTHETEXAS
BAR APPEAREDUNSOLICITED
ATTHE
MEMPHISJAILAFEWDAYSLATER
ANDVISITED
ME I AGREEDWITHMP.FOREM?AN'S
THAT
SUGGESTION I FIREMRHANES
ANDHIREFOREMAN
PERCY
FOR:E{AN
HAD
THEABOVE
MENTIONED
CONTRACTS
INHAND
AND
SAIDTHEONLY
THING
ARTHUR
WAS
HANES INTERESTED
INWAS
THEMONEY
BEING
PROVIDED
HIMBYBRATFORD
HUIEANDTHENPROMISED
ME ANDLATER
THETRIAL
JUDGETHAT IF I
HIMIN THECASE
RETAINED HEWOUR.D
NOTBECOME
INVOLVED
r)ITHWILLIAM
HUI&
BRATFORD PUBLISHING
INCOMMERCIAL VENTURESTHEREAFTER
THIS
"PROM,ISE
OFPERCY
FORbD4AN'S
WASOFASHORT
DURATION
INTHAT
WITHIN
AFEWDAYS
OFBECOMING
COUNSEL.OF-RECORD
INTHECASEHEMADEARRANGt
TS
WITH HUIETOHAVEARTHUR
BRATFORD HANES
sr. INTEItEST
INSAIDCONTRACTS
TRANSFERE)
TOHIMSELFTHENLATERIN JANUARY
1969 MRFOREMAN
PRRSRWTED
MEWITHA CHECK
FROMWILLIAMBRATFORD
HUIE FOR$5.000
SAYING
FORMYENDORSEMENT HE"NEEDED
THEFIVETHOUSAND
TORETAIN
INDECEMBER
HOWEVER
CO/COUNSEL 1968ATTORNEY
FOREMAN
HADPERSUADED
 145

THETRIAL
JUDGEW PRESTON
BATTLETHAT
NO.FUNDS
WERE
FORTH
COMENG
FROMBRATFORD
HUIEORELSEWHEREAND
THUS
HADTHEJUDGE
THEPUBJ,IC
APPOINT HUGH
DEFENDER STANTON
sr. ASCO/COUNSEL..MR
STANTON
HAD PREVIOUSLY
REPRESENTED
THESTATE'S
CHIEFWITNESS
CHARLEY
STEPHENSINTRLEASETHESANG STEPHENS
CHARLEY WHOFORAPROMISE
OF$100.000FROM
THEUNITED
STATES
GOVERMENTHADCOMMITTED
PERJURY
THROUGH AFFIDAVIT
ASWORN BYFALS,YIDJTIFYING
METHROUGH
APICTURE
FORTHEGOVERNMENT
INORDER TOHAVE
NGEXTRADITED
FROM ENGLAND
LONDON

THEN
IN FEBRUARY
1969 PERCY
FOJEOIAN
RECEIVED
ANOTHER
$5.000CHECK
FROM
WILLIAM
BRATFORD
HUIETHISTIMEHEDIDNOTBOTHER
TOHAVE
NE
ENDORSE:IT HEJUSTFORGED
RATHER MYNAME
TOIT AND
CASHED
IT IN
WITHPLANTEEE
COMPLICITY BANE
OFMEMPHIS.
AFTER ALLTHEMONEY
COLLECTING THAT
WASAVAILABLE
FROMWILLIAMBRATFORD
HUIEATTORNEY
FOREMAN
THEN
COMMENCEDONFEBRUARY
13 1969 MANEUVERING
MEINTOAGUILTY
PLEA FORE1":AN'S
ARGUMENTS
FORTHEPLEAWEREIN
ESSENCE

THAT
THEPRESS
HADALREADY MEBYINFLAMING
CONVICTED
THEMINDS
OFPOTENTIAL
JUORS
THAT
THEGOVERNIEENT
HADBRIBED
ANALTECE.D
WITNESS
CHARLEY INTO
STEPHENS PERJURINGHIMSFT.F
AGAINST
ME
BYOFFERING
STEPHENS TOSAYHE
A$100.000REWARD
SOMEONE
SAW MELEAVING
FAVORING THEROOMING
HOUSE
WHERE
DR KING
WAS SHOT
ALLEGEDLY FROMIMMEDIATELY
THESHOT
AFTER WAS
FIRED( WIFECOMMITTED--EXH-_C)
IT WOULD
THAT INSOME BEINNYFINANCIAL
MANNER
TOPLEAD
INTEREST GUILTY
ASCHARGED
 146

THETRIAL
!,) THAT JUDGEWANTED PLEA
AGUILTY BECAUSE
HEWASCONCERNED
THEBLACKS
MIGHT
BURN
THETOWNDO;N
TOPERCY
INRESPECT'S &THEJUDGE'S
FOIEKEAN EX-PARTS
METINGARRANGING
THEPLEA APPARENTLY
THETWOHAD
EIGHT
MEETING

THEN 1969 FORMAN

LATERINMARCH IF THECASE
SAIDTHAT WASNOT
THROUGH
SETTLED PLEA
AGUILTY WOULD
THEGOVERNMENT PROBABLY
ARREST
W RAYUNDER
JERRY
MYBROTHER SOMETYPE
CONSPIRACY
CHARGE
INTHE
KING
LUTHER
DR MARTIN HEALSO
jr. HOMICIDE SAIDTHATTHEF.H.I
LIKELY
MOST
WOULD ARREST GEORGE
MYFATHER RAYWHOWASTHENNEAR
OFAGEAND
SEVENTY.YEARS HAVEHIMRETURNED
TOTHEIOWA
STATE
PRISON
WHEREIN ESCAPED
'HEHAt) INTHE1920's
WITH
INCONJUNCTIONTHEAFOREMENTIONED & PROMISES
THREATS PERCY
FORMAN ME
CONVINCEDHEWOULD
'THROW
THECASE
IF I MANAGED
TOFORCE
HIMTOTRIAL( INFACT
INANARTICLE
PUBLISHED
INLOCKMAGAZINEINMAY
TOTHEPUBLICATION
1969 SOLD BYPERCY
FOREh;AN
FOR$1.000 HEINEF.ECT
HEEOULD
ADMITTED HAVE CASE
'THROWTrN"THEIF I WOULD
HAVEFORCEDHIMTO
THROUGH
TRIAL CONSEQUENTLY WRITTEN
CONTRACTSI AGREED.ON
MARCH9 1969
TOENTER GUILTY
THE PLEANYCONTRACTUAL
AGREEMENTS
WITH
EMU ranta
INRESPECT'S OFTHEGUILTY
TOTHETERMS PLEAAREASFOLLOWS

1st CONTRACT
'IF THEPLEAIS ENTERED
ANDTHESENTENCE
ACCEPTED
AND
NO
EMBARRASSING TAKE
CIRCUMSTANCES INTHECOURTROOM
PLACE
I AMWILLING
TO1SSIGNTOANYBANK...ALL
OFMYRECEIPTS
UNDER
THEABOVE INEICESS
ASSIGNMENT OF$165.000
 147

2nd CONTRACT
"...I AMWILLING
TOADVANCEJERRY ( RAY)$500AND ADD
IT TOTHE$165,000MENTIONED
LIMYOTHER LETTERTOYOU
TODAY INOTHERWORDSI WOULDRECEIVETHEFIRST$165.000
BUTI WOULD NOTMAKE
ANY OTHERADVANCES.JUSTTHIS$500
AND THISADVANCE
ALSOIS CONTBRGx2
T UPONTHEPLEA OFGUILTY
AND SENTENCE ONMARCH
THROUGH
GOING 10 1969 WITHOUT ANY
UNSEEt9LYCONDUCT
ONYOUR PARTIN COURT".( EXrI--D)".

THEPERIOD
DURING OFMYCONFIMIEWT
INTHEMEMPHIS
JAIL WHICH
TOTALED
MIGHT
APPROXIMATELY THE
(8 ) MONTHS WERE
CONDITIONS ASFOLLOWS

THESTATEOFTENNESSEE ORWAS
R"TAINED ORDERED
TORETAIN
PRISON
FEDERAL
TWO OFFICIALS
WHOINAFIRSTORDER
OFBUSINESS
ORDERED
OFMEDAL
SHEETS BEPLACED
OVER
ALLOFTHEWINDOWS
THUS
SHUTTING
OUT
AIRAND
FRESH LIGHT THEFEDERAiSK
TIENHAD
ABLOWER FOR
INSTALLS))
WHICH
OXYGEN RESULTED
INMYHAVING NOSE
FREQUErT B LEEDSTHEBLOWER
t
ONLY
COULD OUTSIDE
BEOPERATED THECELL-BLOCK OFTHELACK
BECAUSE OF
LIGHT
NATURAL THEFEDERALS
HADLIGHTSRIGGED
IN THECELL-BLOCK
IN
THECELLI WAS
CLUDING CONFINED
IN WHICHWEREKEPTONTWENTY-FOUR
(24)
ADAY-COMPLAINING
HOURS TOTHETRIAL COURT
ABOUTBEING
UNABLE
TOSLEEP
THESES
UNDER CONDITIONS
THECOURTSAID SLEEPINA MASK
THISCONFINEMENT
DURING PERIOD
I BROKE
OUTINARASH THINKING
MAYBE
I HAD I ASKED
BEMPOISONED THEDOCTOR
WHOWAS
RELATED
TOTHEPROSECUTOR
2 OR3 DAYS
TESTIT REQUIRED
FORABLOOD THETESTAFTER
TOHAVE THE
BLOODSAMPLE WAS
FINALLY TAKEN
I WASNEVER
TOLD
THETESTFINDINGS
HOWEVER
CORPUS
INA 1974HABEAS THEDOCTOR
HEARING TESTIFIED
THEMEZPHIS-SHERIFF
WILLIAM HAD
MORRIS HIMTODESTROY
ORDERED ALLOFMYMEDICAL
RECORDS

OFOTHER TOTHISCQ'E
INTEREST
POSSIBLE ITTEEWHILE
PERCY
FORMAN
PROVIDED
FEE I ONCED
REPRESENTED FORE~SAN
ATTORNEY WITH
A PHONE
NUMBER
CONNECTED
POSSIBLY TOTHEKINGHOMICIDE HO'WEV
TOINVESTIGATE R FORa:AN
 148

LATER
COMMENTED THATIF THEREWERE
TOBEANYPHONE
NU1.2
RS
INTOTHECASE
INTRODUCED "HE WOULD
PRODUCE
THEM
THROUGH
HISINTERSTATE
CONFECTIONS
GAMBLING VIAA MEYER
LANSKY

THEDAY THEGUILTY
AFTER PLEAI WAS
TR4NSFERED
TOTHESTATE
PRISON
TENNESSEE
IN NASHVILLE UPONARRIVAL
ALLOFMYPERSONAL
PROPERTY
THEAFOREMENTIONED
INCLUDING PHONE
NIRIBER
I HADWRITTEN
DOWNBACKWARDS
OFPAPERWAS
ONASHEET CONFISCATED
BYTHECORRECTIONS
CO4MISSIOIJER
AVERYTWO
ER HARRY ORTHREE
DAYS SAIDPROPERTY
LATER WASRFTURNED
VARIOUS
TOMEEXCEPTING ITEMS
OFPERSONAL
&LEGAL
MAILTHAT
HAD BEEN
TOMEIN C/0
POSTED THE
NASHVILLE
PRISON( PHONE
NO -EMI--C)
THEFIRST INTHEPRISON
.DAY I WASCONFINED
FORTHWITH
INSOLITARY
CONFINEM=ENTWAS
AND ON THAT SANSDAYINFORMED
BYCORRECTIONS
HARRY
COMMIS.:IOt
R AVERYT I
HAT NEVER
:WOULD BERELEASE
FROM
SOLITARY UNLESS
CONFINEMENT I CEASED
EF.ORTS
TOGAIN
APUBLICTRIAL
INTHEKINGCASEA SAID'HE
WASSPEAKING
FORTHE"HIG.SST
AUTHORITY
I HAD FORANEW
FILEDAMOTION TRIAL
THEDAYAFTERI ENTERED
THEPRISON
ANDSOINFORMMRAVERY OFMYINTENTINTHISMATTER
I
THEREAFTER WASCONFINED
FORTH1RTEIN
( 13 ) MONTHS
IN SOLITARY
CONFINEMENT DURING
AND THEINITIALP`RIODOFTHISCONFINEMENT
HADTO
3
BETREATED SEVaIL TIMES
BY.ADOCTOR FORNASALMEMBRANE
HEMORRUEUEING
THISAILMENT( MEMBRANE
DAMAGED ) WASDUETOCONFINTEMENT
CONDITION
IN
JAIL i.e. LACK
THEMEMPHIS OFVENTILATION
IN ADDITION
DURING
THIS
I WAS
PERIOD ALSOT REATED
FORESOPHAGUS
SPASMSALSO
II-MATED
TOTH3
JAILCONFINDSNT
MEMPHIS Cl)NDITIONS
( 13 ) MONTHS
THIRTE:N
AFTER OFTHISTYPE I UNDERSTAND
CONFINEMENT THE
 149

LATE E MILLER
WILLIAM RECENTLY
AJUDGE ONTHEUNITED
STATES
SIXTH COURT-OF
CIRCUIT APPEALSINTEREMEDWITHPRISON
AUTHORITIES
AND HADTHENTRANSFER
METOTHESTATE PRISONATPETROSTEP SSEE=
IF I HADNOTBEEN
TRAPSFERED
I DOUBTIF I WOULD
HAVE HERE
BEEN TODAY

JULYOF1972THEP.TROS
INLATE PRISON
WASCLOSED I WAS
AND TRANSEERED
TOTHENASHVILLE
BACK PRISONAFTER
BEING
INTHEGENERAL
PRISON
POP
FORFOUR
ULATION (4) DAYSI WAS TOTHEMALI
SUMMONED PRISONOFcICE
AND I WOULD
INFORMED BERETURNED
TOSOLITARY
CONFIP
rTrEETI REQUESTING
TOSEETHEWARDEN JAMESROSEI WASINFORMBYMRROSE THAT"PEOPLE
WANTED
OUTINTOWN MEPLACED
INSOLITARY
BUTTHAT IF I QUITE
LITIGATING
HEWAS
THECASE S URE
I WOULD
BER ASED
F ROM
S OLITARYCONFINEMENT
THEREAFTER INSOLITARY
I STAYED CONFILT^M+NT
FORTHREE THE
(3) YEARS
MONTHS
EIGHTS:N
FIRST I WAS
PERMITTED
OUTO FTHECELLWHICHWAS
6 x 12 FEM.FORONLY
APPROXIMATELY MINUTES
FOUR PERDAY.THAT
WASTO
A SHOWER
TAKE THECELLBLOCKWAS WITHINSECTS
INFESTED &RODENTS
THETHREE
DURING ( 3) YEARS
I WAS
INTHEBUILDING
FOUR EXHf
PRISONERS( F)
SUICIDETWO
COMMITTED BYHANGING
&TWO
BYSIFTING
THEMSELVES
ONFIRE..
THEDOMINANT
NATURALLY PROSLETHEUNITED
STATESSAIDNOTHING
ABOUT
SUICIDESALTHOUGH
THESE IF THEY
HAD IN AFOREIGN
HAPPENED COUNTRY
THE
PRESS
SAME WOULDHAVE
BEMIS ASELF.RIGHTEOUS
RAGS ORPREMEDRAGE
DURING LEDECEIBER
THISPERIODSPECIFICALLY 1973 TENNESSEE
CORRECTIONS
OF:ICIALS INCOLLUSION
ACTING WITH
TEEUNITED
STATESDEPARTMENT
OF
TOILLEGALLY
JUSTICEATTEMPTED REANSFrR
EETOTHEFEDERALMENTAL
IN SPRINGFIELD
INSTITUTION MISSOURI....THIS TRANSFER
ATTEMPTED WAS
THE
AFTER OFFICIALS
AFOREMENTIONED LEARNEDOFA SUITTHATW AS
TOBE
INFEDERAL
FILMINMYBEHALF COURT LING
REFS WHO
TOTHOPS MAY
HAVE
BEEN
 150

FORTHESHOOTING
RS5PONSIBLE LUTHER
OF DR MARTIN KINGJr

OFOTHEROSISLEINTKRE'T
TOTHISCOMMITTEE
DURING
THISPERIOD
THEAFOREMENTIONED
JUSTRECENTLY CORRECTIONS HARRY
COMMISSIO?fER AVERY
HASSTATEHEGAVE ALLOFTHEPAPERSECT. HERETAINED
OFMINE& THOES
WITH
CONNECTED THEKING CASE
TOATTORNEY WARDLOW
THOMAS STEELEOFTHE
4
) BARAND
( NASHVILLE
TENNESSEE THATTHEPAPERS
SUNSE;jJENTLY
pISAgPEARED
FROMMRSTE.LE'SOFFICE
ATTORNEY
IN ADDITION FORK
PERCY ANHASTESTIFY= HETOOGAVE
THAT HIS
E FILEIN THEKING
CCKPLE CASEINCLUDING
ALLINFORMATION
I HAD
GIVEN
TOANOTHER,NASHVILLE
HR FORE4AN ATTORNEY JOHN
THE.LATER J HCOKM,sr.
AND Tf
MR HOOKER."LOST
THAT f

Respectfully JamesE Ray

 151

RLFESZYNCES

Percy Foremantestified he set with trial Judge 'Ti Preston

cattle 6 or S times arranging the guilty plea See Foreman
deposition Ray v Fore.:an,et al Civil No 60199 %%DTenn

See C3S-TVt pe I supplied this committeewherein Charley

Stephens shortly after the shooting of Pr M:rtin Luther Ring Jr.
and after viewing by picture told C3Sthat I was not the person
he se n leaving the 422} south sin street address

prison records Nashville

t. I have a copy of the tape wherein Harry Avery madesaid statements

 frg ',gitiet
leicrt'a-ed ,.e;ry r Se vA,Yagan 'toa ee..;.e
4 '''' re e
sathtttr 4 Val
i L''=t
cf,oxer.*"&D ear "!,.
t..e.e.e.rt.taL.....j.%.L
.I;:' 'F Brs aws!.,e),tc
drAsHicioft,tHIOP11'faMP:FBIcy
incItId4dgmasff.cilRaf.0hoddhis'I :1ttItt
.nba! kwti Reeti'edisc
weres-thetinelklald,-Re
ttri,gionao,ile
hfinatinifrdl.AlcrPhY"rKr
I the &PI
of iesanttvasnoty 1grti
y:d,eaodby Ray fiatpleaded ntleeen butstun
get 4, I i Wedithel'eorVivIi4d11 aad,cam to
In
ternal;F131dadbrnenWatna.naed tine.iyforch 10T907;;by Ch&ngI
Pre&tosPlty'.RoWag aanteanet
.olliled made
.itthAfricni'onittithdesh,ftfell00&f
N Hesince 113S n'uCibrous
Iiiii.erroaf.ty-teomoo'-d.,yei-d.atIF 'arid
'lastfcliieeebp
1(
nfoostteattfr''o4AIrptutort1und.ff4e. Root Brushy Mountbln tAtti'Pris
01 ttondyClAfilp Xiieft,t4alleSunii .,,'yermessdeaHe was ipprehend
.r
.dwn.114iInbt'e1i'".PilIPPO1 .thort
f ,tirltedfaA toldtad/
ornphlt,a;E.yt.ta edify
Bl pleb
P.restonatteuati'Je Raltold
'tbld ta
dhr mob bresdtU
.needa'.itednOtreltre,011-ae
I&A &Id olaattOrtiq thot
oNoH r alonewithout aidfrcin
sasmite thvilid!t10gaPnItaal"t
feelihSsiM&Y
thole to-i conspirator
.eihlacIt:refut4fltd.atcOLItnMitSt
..i. EVER -S1h:Et chord hasbee
I thatR d 'fter'Wh
speculatI'on
.tequalflstatus
atasastoJustaew
infO loelAmu
veeeitsbenig r
,f ln
wasaie
i jail
.in
Rayand cbrnpantpry.Charles
Onray ge
!Los Artgelqs.td rl""el w.n
andAlt
.leans O aeliIttthtt
New]
thatN ra .1. tyftgea
As Piac.'PrIze
PecentrYis June.27 '1711 Ao
-ItReUry venttonhra,,ene i >'e th fl
FBties S howedthebure
' ;,s %.16t1ilkro.d'Rte,
eel eo"6'Idded
Itcould fin.;a
nothingto'Ind
thatRaY,,,reaa,vao any
and'ari
could
gonorth sr.f h;=12to ktieanefrorr
.1F.NwROESwont-to*i.,free.theko....'ANU11CJTtelddEents;H&ti
0PWe4t:''511sn "PA''v anyone wh.
ay"IGthdy stay T thoy.southe
o they - WOwIf
br Qt1ut
pro.ett;;.Ititts y
.c , .. 'tat SeeRAYS
inHbe
oultrba.wlllibR gloves';' d9
qurlt4ot;0ok,in.04P4%o,Kbilf,wdf".kcdt
whhpcc yputh PageA
r u ..
to,.
'1
.IT
 153

~
2AxingsportTimes/.}yeyine'laylanitary25,1978
" Brat`" }-;:1if
..t.~'... s "'-r

'FBI agents found Ray to be a,1519ne1y

answered the ads in girlie xnagazi
es
WASHINGTON (UPI) James=.$td,-vo GualtonFeb 12 1968.less
Earl Ray the convicted assassinof -than twomonthsbeforethe Kingas
MartinLutherKingis portrayed live:,assarsittatign, iaY;Ast5}vtd v
FBIfilesasa painfully shymanwho itarad IIewrote >
soughtwomen's c ompany
='ballroomdanceBasses:"phone t hrough "-__ "I ae.tanswering yourlistingIn
&
callit .the Locar Anger-shadeI'think
andsex-oriented classifiedadsinthe Sharemostof your interest with
backpagesofmagazines 'emphasis'%on"Vrenchculture"(ozaf:_
Ray wasdescribed throughout thesex) andswingsessions ".
FBIprobeastheclassic example ofa k I hayejustreturnedfrotnMexico"
"lonelygby too shyto looka afterfiveyearsand thefewfamilies"
WomanIn the eye yet able to .I. 'have'met don't go'for-th'swing_
proclaim a preferencefororalsexIn 'partiesandit rakestwotoswingThe
a letter to a womenhe hadlimier * sameroutinegetsboringdon'tfort:
met think..".
FBIfilesalsosuggestthat Ray Onanotheroccasion'heordered
sometimes soughtoutprostitutes severalbooksfromanad including
womanhe datedinPuertoVallaita =.:>* et Sex ;
oneentitled.."UnusualFeria*
Mexicosaidflayadvisedherot his Practices.
strictdailybudget for t omen .The FBIfliescontainreportstheir =
and ;6 fordrinks OFficeDepartment-received*`
:='Prisoninmatestvhewerl)ed:time post obscene lettersfromGaltalongwith
withRayintheearty1.98(4 cooped r ;pictures pi nay At leasttwo-women
tie constantly ..read ""dirl}g that:heptisued them
magazines,and the FBIMelia f L"`,comoiaisiedttlila at.itttelephoite"calls
Skatehe oftenrepliedto the"c1W 1;3 >~ also
t"*ay sou h-to bewithwinsn,;1,i
sitedads s attisiCeclasses Ie toe",o_dosses fn
.Rayhimselfplaceda classified ad t Ne OrleansBlrnllnfghnnns.Ala and '
in the LosAngelesFreePresssay ;"j LosAngelesandoncepaid$199for_
ing:"Wanteddiscreetmeetingwith k b0onehot>Tdass *ytSQdona jt
passionate marriedfemale-Ileleft $50a weep t .~
a boxnumberandhireda mailfor r Butwhenhemetrv.omeu f&ce-to ''
Wardingservicewhenhe 3`eft-the -"facern these-tdasses#le.rp .e One
i3etor eeafi t~ha st<tped
f +
..i him 1r J
! crtlriting undeghu Allies 7at rric `
T1 .t..r .II swis ..A-11l". rec.:LaJJb. .~--..s
 154

Assassination Witness

NAACP's5100.000 reward
itwasRaybutI couldn't
if'would say intheworld
their Lanereports
watching
that
andlistening
he`visited theSoviet
byGregRoberts because Ididn't accept Embassy
seeRay,Ms Russian thereandrequested that
money
Waldenhassaidmany times psychiatrists be assigned to
AccordingtoLanewhat examine Grace Walden
thentrans `SinceDrCohenhadrefused inTennessee
Grace Walden Stephens a witnesspired wastheFBrs convincing ofChar permit t o
whosawthestayer ofcivil rightsleaderlieStephens a reputed Memphis anypsychiatrists
al Benjamin including Or
DrMartin Luther Jr fleefrom the coholicwithtong Bursten the vice-chairman of
Memphis rooming
King
house from where he thathehadaalso police
seen
record tostate thePsychiatry
themanandthat versity Department
ofTennessee
attheUni
toexamine Ms
firedatKing hasbeenfreed from the thekiller
wasRay Walden Ialso c alledupon p sychiatrists
variousMemphis and Tennessee state Subsequently Mr Stephens applied fromvarious other nations toform an
mental wards where shehasbeencon fortheNAACP reward international tocome toBolivar
finedwithout dueprocess fornearly 10 However asforMsWalden onJulyand examine brigade Lane
years twoMemphis Detectivesfrom Meanwhile her, says
Mark Lanetheveteran JFKandKing311968
thehomicide squad cameouttothe sociate FBI
inWashrnton
Director James
D.C.As
Adams sub
assassination truth digger andcurrentborading house andpicked herup sequently tonewlyap
lawyer forJames Earl.Ray andGrace From Memphis police headquarters acknowledged
FBI D irectorWilliam
freed
Walden Ms Warden ather urging whereMsWalden onceagain pointed
refusedAttorney Webster
from a Memphis -boarding house on tosayitwasRayshewas handcuffed General Grilten BellandCIA
Thursday May 4 add;ubsgquently andtaken
tothemental ward Director
oftheJohn Walden Stansfield Turner thatMs
flewMsWalden toLosAngeles whereCastel City Hospital where shewas rector was really notinsaneandDi
declared"insane. Webster through Adams toldthe
Previously MsWalden a diabeticswiftly
After
spending the atthehospi Memphis FBIoffice topullstrings to
had beenkept attheStateHospital for tatMsWalden wasnight
thenchained withhave MsWalden released
Tennessee authorities
so-called psychiatricpatients inBolivartheother andcaned Consequently
Tenn.forthebalance ofthepast10 offtothepsychiatric patients
SlateHospital inBolivar agreed tohaveMsWalden transferred
years
Dr King wasassassinated
Inrecent
ashe concentratingyears asMark
ontheKing
Lane begantoe
murder
boarding
itwas
house
thenonly
inMemphis
a matter
where
oftimebefore
stoodonthebalcony oftheLorraine abook onthesubject Lanewas a
with Oncecontactblet ocontact her
Motel inMemphis onApril 4 1968 ice-authoring Dick
activist-comedian Gregory CodeWalden explained
wasmadeandMs
toMark Lane thatshe
MsVlalden then married toCharles -NanceZorrbheandMemphis private
Stephens hadbeen h ringatlhe nearby detective
Renfro Hayes tracedMs would
theyc
like
totakeatriptoLosAngeles
aughtthe next f lighttoLAfrom
boarding house f rom where theshot WaldentotheBolivar snakepit without further interference
was fired andobserved aman NeedlesstosayLane Memphis
thebathroom which hadbeenfleeing
lockedlaunched aninternational subsequently
campaign to fromtheMemphis police
certain
ortheFBI
in
forhours immediately after sheheard a treeGraceWalden where a greatdeal Subsequently authorities
rifle
shot ofpressurewas b rought tobear o nthe Tennessee aretodayheckling Mark
After theassassination MsWaldenTennessee establishment Lane
andon tempt a nd threatening him with con
provided Memphis police andFBIag Bolivar chiefDrMorris Cohen who re their largelyasa,ploy fortherm tocover
entswith thedetails ofasketch ofthe portedly
fadMsWalden frequentdoses tracks itand when theJustice De
manwhich theFBIsubsequently re ofpotent drugs s uch asthedreaded partmentgets around to prosecuting
leasedandidentified asEricStarveprolixim asevere tranquilizer them
Galtwho didnottook anything likeac Recently, Lane's "freeGrace Mark Laneincidentally
thatreplied
tothe
cused King assassin James EarlRay Walden campaign
GracewhenonApril cametoa climaxTennessee authorities
meetthemincourtoranyplace
hewilt gladly_
else
Interestinglythemanwhom 2Cheand researcher
-Walden
hroom
sawfleeing
doesresemble
thelocked bat
oneofthemale April Ferguson dropped
inParis F bytheRussianwhenever
rance -And they
weall
call
moved a daycloser toa
.Embassy
":amps
rested
whom
inDealey
Dallas
Plaza ponce hadar With
afterthe
everymajor Nsnceagencyfine
intelligence when
tauuw
JamesEarlRayreceives a
JFKassassination shortly
there onNovember
221953andwhom neither theDalias
polcienortheF81 have everidentified
AsforGrace Walden shebegan to
runintoproblems withtheMemphis
policeandtheFBIbetween May and
July1968 when sherefused toidentify
James Earl Ray asthemanwhom she
sawfleeing therooming housebat
hroom
Aber theRobert Kennedy assassina
tioninLosAngeles onJune5 1968
public
opinion forcedU.Sintelligence to
come pwith DrKing's killerssothe
FBIaundCIA reluctantly produced 15OLL9 C1OQ19 PRL's'1a Page2 e MAY
James EarlRaytheKing death patsyto 19 1978
London onJune 8 1968
However whenBritish authorities
demanded evidence from theFBIthat
Rayhad
office inreally
murdered King theFBI
Memphis tired toconMs
Warden andherhusoand toassert thatit_
wasRaywhom shehadseen
"They toldmematI would gatthe
 155

.(.0 j-`,DATE '/a b.,

ii
Received of Sheriff"William N biorris~,.`Jr tho
Ju
sum of s/n'- Said monies being sent
by mail to James Earl Ray with aliases from
who resides at t75 ?F/4,el/fl.f 0D,Ara _k 3 i 4:5
The above sumwas received in the form of .
.f'c.~-No 15'73-4SJy+EO-9 '{~
.'-5a
cash cheek .moneyorder v if4C s I
v tgnr J
..~c$rc propriate)
-i ~~ r _ NSW/;11/.1.
'pll
..i .

llrs;~N
BY:(/~!/1~i"-_ "~ie,

"',amcs Earl Ray County Jail

`re-1Z ~Jic 7kNi/ `

ay /_W
4.5
 0 k
ig'f q QA 12 d'o0 u0 o 'si
htl > .~~.J II 82
'pAb $ '1
3tt3~~A a
N
aa *02e O p b nb n g
H0
.1oi 10m a
3
2gi g I11II 1 12 w Id
X3`3 aft8l-se,11 Q
> N~"".9 .w
Et d a g u4 es
>tS~ 5.Ba`jy Ao 'F 3 A.
`$cE~ ~~ca otCu
.ig.h.6z 3:4 u '4n w g
u <3 0 o msea $ E a v 8 pp 1.! b o InsC
O
.tlc E 3 u u^ a3 1 o ',0ea .
a9 g w ~Fl o >,.0 o PiyaFo
fa S3'YA'oh
"'Ara
.9 8 ag,,,,dt as :wS
A ee..oa,=o y3a ,411aulu~r'a a.~aA
~'8 Staao 2'&.,t3 sal '+.8 aT
 157

(6 ~~ 6-- 7_s
.rillxc;ntnr DreNt
t .a,,.a.,+.a.,-114.1973 VT
." w... .. .e.se.t."xxs;t~a:.i.ae::":x /~
::: ;;"tl.` Y Geis ore
,g
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 160

rD.30IF.. 4.13.41

FEDERAL OFINVESTIGATION
BUREAU

Date 4/7/68

LOYD JOWERSowner Jim's Grill 418 South Main

Street advised that at approximately 3:55 p.m on
April 4 1968 he arrived at the Grill and parked directly in
back of a white Mustang that was parked on the street directly
in front of his Grill He stated that be believed that the
car had Mississippi license plates on it because they were of an
orange or orangish-yellow color He stated that upon parking the
car he went into the Grill where he saw a stranger sitting at the
bar having a meal He stated that it was unusual for him to get
any strange customers in the Grill since most of his customers
were local people of a steady nature Mr JOWERS described the
stranger as follows
Race White
Sex Male
Height 5'8 to 5'9
Weight 160 pounds
Build r Heavy
Age 27 to 30
Hair Sandy
Complexion Ruddy
Dress Wearing a dark suit
He stated that the man finished his meal and left the
Grill and he could not notice in which direction he walked
but he did get into the white Mustang which was parked in
front of thenot rill
Mr JOWERS stated that this same individual returned
to the Grill at abou 8:00 p.m on April 5 1968 and ordered
breakfast Mr JOWERS stated that in his estimation this
individual acted strangely because he seemed very calm when
everyone else at the Grill and in the area was excited over the
shooting In view of the fact that he felt the individual was
acting ,'range and also because be was a stranger in the area
Mr JOWERS called the Police and told them that he bad a man of
a suspicious nature at the Grill He said that when the stranger
48

On 4/5/68 e~ Memphis Tennessee File* 44-1987

SAs
":r M~
by - ,~'+~ Daredictated 4/5/68
 161

ME 44-1987
2

finished his breakfast he left the Grill and was arrested

on the sidewalk in front of the Grill by the Memphis Police
Department
"= w E...a:cide Bsreau Memphis
Police Depar:r".eat . 1e this arrested individual
as GENEPEARSCNCRAWFOF.r. .Tsckson
Tennessee who was determin t n va..tad no part in the
murder of Dr MAP.TINLUi hIR KF?iG JR
 162

Mr PREYERAt this time Mr Ray the Chair will shortly declare a

5-minute recess
I might outline the schedule for the hearings We anticipate break
ing for lunch at 12 o'clock today and we will resume again at 2 o'clock
and we will run to 5 o'clock in the afternoon
Let me caution again everyone in the audience to please remain
seated and stationary while Mr Ray is escorted from the room
At this time the marshals are asked to escort Mr Ray from the
room We will resume in 5 minutes
Let me say to the other members of the audience because of security
precautions it is difficult to move all of you in and out of the room The
Chair will request that all of you who wish to remain in the hearing
until 12 o'clock today to please remain seated in the audience If you
wish to be excused for some compelling reason if you will hold up
your hand and let the marshal recognize you or if you intend to leave
permanently we will excuse you at this time
The Chair will take a 5-minute recess
[Whereupon a 5-minute recess was taken.]
Mr PREYER The commitee will resume its sitting The Chair will
ask all members in the audience to please be seated
The Chair will again remind all persons in attendance that they will
remain seated and stationary when Mr Ray is escorted into the room
The marshals are directed to close the doors and to keep them closed
The marshals are directed to bring Mr Ray into the committee
room
The Chair recognizes Chairman Stokes for such time as he may
require
Chairman STOKESThank you Mr Chairman
Mr Ray you have now been incarcerated for some 10 years for the
assassination of Dr Martin Luther King During this period of time
you have continued to profess the fact that you are innocent of the
crime You are now serving the balance of a 99-year sentence for that
crime This is the first occasion you have had to tell the American peo
ple your side of the story and what really did in fact happen Ob
viously then on this occasion it behooves you to tell the American
people the entire truth doesn't it
Mr RAY Yes that is correct
Chairman STOKES Now your appearance here today is pursuant to
a subpena issued by this committee that is based upon the request you
made over 1 year ago to be able to tell this committee the truth about
the matter for which you are incarcerated is that true
Mr RAY That is correct
Chairman STOKESNow over the 10-year period you have of course
told your story to various people to journalists to lawyers and other
persons have you not
Mr RAY I don't believe journalists I didn't have.I had very little
contact with journalists until 1974 or 1975 It was mostly just
attorneys
Chairman STOKESHow about Mr Huie
Mr RAY That was a financial arrangement between Mr Huie and
the lawyers I had a lot of trouble with Mr Huie I found out he was
in effect working for the FBI and I had to give him false information
 163

and he was issuing threats to me and that type of thing So that was
a very poor relationship
Chairman STOKES Well but you told your story to Mr Huie didn't
you in what is known as the 20,000 words
Mr RAY No I don't believe it was 20,000 words I believe that is his
characterization I wrote out various things and gave them to the
attorneys and the attorneys gave them to Mr Huie but there were
considerable papers I haven't seen those papers since 1972 but I
understand the committee has them
Chairman STOKES Well the story told to Huie and as reported by
Huie is it basically true
Mr RAY When I first started to giving the information to Mr
Huie I was in the Memphis jail He was under a deadline He wanted
the information fast Consequently I made some mistakes about dates
and things of that nature and several times I would correct it I
would.on recollection I would find out I gave him some false in
formation unintentionally and then later on when it was evident he
was giving information from me to the FBI I started giving him de
liberately false information One example was how I escaped from
the Missouri prison Another example would be one time I told him the
truth about robbing this house of prostitution in Montreal and so at
that time I was beginning to suspect that he was giving the information
to the FBI so I told the attorney representing me Arthur Hanes Sr.
I really didn't hold up a house of prostitution I held up a supermar
ket The next day Arthur Hanes Jr. who was helping senior came
back and told me he Mr Huie didn't want to hear any more of my
fabrication things of that nature
Chairman STOKESSo that the record is straight so that the Ameri
can people know when you were telling the truth and when you were
not telling the truth what you told Huie about your escape from the
Missouri prison is not true is it
Mr RAY No I think I was required to protect the people that
helped me escape at that time
Chairman STOKES I understand What you told Mr Huie about
robbing the brothel was not true
Mr RAY That was true
Chairman STOKESThat was true
Mr RAY The supermarket was not true
Chairman STOKESI see
Didn't you also tell him something that became known as the white
sheet story
Mr RAY Yes sir
Chairman STOKESWhat was the white sheet story
Mr LANE Excuse me If you are going to question Mr Ray from
documents which he has not seen for many many years it would seem
only fair in the interest of fairness that you should give him a copy
of those so he can look at those and then have his recollection refreshed
as would be done in any court
Chairman STOKESMr Chairman I don't recall that the witness has
stated that he needs his recollection refreshed It would seem that the
witness ought to be permitted to answer
Mr PREYERThe Chair will direct the witness to answer the question
 164

Mr RAY In respect to these documents I have told the committee

that it wasn't necessary for me to see them
Jack Kershaw an attorney representing me got the documents He
was supposed to give me a copy of them but he didn't want to pay for
the Xerox And he gave them to the committee and the committee was
supposed to give me a copy and I told the committee I wouldn't need
them But to answer Mr Stokes question-would you repeat that I
have a short memory
Chairman STOKESSure The question was What was the white sheet
story Mr Ray
Mr RAY Well me and Arthur Hanes Sr. had an agreement we
wouldn't tell Mr Huie certain transactions that happened on April 4
because we thought that would be giving the prosecution an unfair
advantage In other words we were telling him everything indirectly
and they weren't telling us anything Consequently when Mr Hanes
came up one time he said Huie wanted an explanation of what I was
doing at 5 :30 or 6 o'clock when I knew Mr Huie was having some
type of proceedings against the Klu Klux Klan Tell him I was sitting
in the car and someone ran out of the house with a white sheet over
their head and jumped in the car and we took off And later on in
1974 I think Mr Hanes testified to that effect in a habeas corpus hear
ing in Memphis
Chairman STOKESSo that the record is clear what you said in that
story was that you were seated in the white Mustang and Raoul came
out of the roominghouse jumped into a Mustang with you threw a
white sheet over his head directed you to drive down the street which
you immediately did wasn't that the story
Mr RAY No I never did Everything I told Mr Huie I wrote
down on paper What you are quoting there is a verbal conversation
between Mr Hanes and I It's been changed over the years several
times You are not reading that from a document are you
Chairman STORES No I am not reading from a document I am
trying to find out from you when you told the truth and when you did
not tell the truth and I am trying to find out whether the white sheet
story is the truth or not
Mr RAY The white sheet story was a joke
Chairman STOKES Now the basic story that you told Percy Fore
man is that true
Mr RAY The story that I told Percy Foreman No I never did tell
him anything He never even asked me if I was guilty of the crime
Chairman STOKESI see
Mr RAY He assumed I was
Chairman STOKES On October 29 and October 30 1974 you testi
fied under oath in your own behalf in a habeas corpus petition brought
in the U.S District Court for the Western District of Tennessee Do
you recall that
Mr RAY Yes
Chairman STOKESAnd was the substance of your testimony on that
occasion truthful
Mr RAY Yes that is correct
Chairman STORES Now on March 9 1977 you granted an interview
to Dan Rather of CBS News Was the substance of the statement that
you gave to Dan Rather truthful
 165

Mr RAY Well it could be I don't know every punctation and every

word in there was true It was a long transcript I never did read the
transcript but it was.I think it was essentially true
Chairman STOKESThe clerk will show Mr Ray exhibit F.25 please
Will the Chair at this time accept MLK F.25 and order that it be made
a part of the record
Mr PxEYER Without objection be it so ordered
[The document was handed to the witness by the clerk.]
MLK EXHIBITF-25
 166

CBS
NEWS 070077
ADivision
ofCBS Inc
524West
57Street
New NewYork
York 10019
975-2787
(212)
Robert
ChandlerVice Administration
President
andAssistant
tothePresident

.Dear Mr Ray March 25 1977

Thank you for your letter requesting the unedited transcript
of your interview with Dan Rather I enclose a copy I am
unable to provide you with two copies but you are free to
duplicate it
Under our policy we furnish unedited transcripts only to
the subject of the interview and I am therefore unable to
comply with your request to furnish a copy to Mr Lehner
We appreciate your having done the interview

Mr James Earl Ray

Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary
Petros Tennessee 37845

MLK EXHIBITF.25
 167

AKSg
OH.UNIg~
OORTROE~T-44t
9 1977
MARCH
CBS SPECIAL
REPORTS
INTERVIEW RAY DANRATHER
JAMES-EARL
SOUND
ROLL1
TAKE1
DANRATHER
Mr Ray first in brief if you would tell
me a bit aboutyour family Whereyou grew
up how you grew up and howyou first got in
trouble with the law
JAMESEARLRAY
Uh..Well I grew up most in Illinois That was
where I was born the State of Illinois And
I think my first trouble with the law was in
1952 serious trouble
Q
Howdid you get into that trouble
JAMESEARLRAY
That was I believe it was a robbery charge
or something
Q
What I was looking for was some of the tone
and texture of how you grew up as a boy Now
 168

ROLL1
SOUND
TAKE1
Q CONTINUED
and how you think you first got into trouble
I mean was it a case of coming from a family
at the low end of the economicscale Or you
ran with companionswho got in trouble Or
howdid that go
JAMESEARLRAY
Well I don't know That is difficult to ex
plain I couldn't really...I'm not sure the
economicscale has muchto do with it because
if it did you probably would have...fifteen
orixxmmtwenty million penitentiary cell mates
I just couldn't answer that question
Q
And you went to school for how long
JAMESEARLRAY
Possibly eight or nine years
Q
And then you've been in prison howmany times
 169

SOUND
ROLL1
TAKE1
JAMESEARLRAY
I believe about three or four times now
Q
That includes this present time
JAMESEARLRAY
That includes this time yes
Q
Werethe previous times all or nearly all on
robbery charges
JAMESEARLRAY
Well it was monetary gain but it wasn't much
There was no other ...you are contrasting that
to moral offenses something like that It was
all robbery charges yes
Q
I-see What I would like to get you to do
since I have never really heard your side of
the story is in sofar as you can take me from
April 1967 when you escaped from the Missouri
State Penitentiary in Jefferson City until the
 170

SOUND
ROLL1
TAKE1
Q CONTINUED
time you were arrested in Londonafter the
shooting of Martin Luther King I would like
foryou to tell me your side of that story all
the way through
JAMESEARLRAY
Well there are so many details That would be
hard I could hit the highlights maybe and you
could ask me certain specifics
Q
Fine
JAMESEARLRAY
Well I escaped in April 1967 And then I went
to Chicago I stayed there I believe it was
two months and after I stayed there two months
established an identification and things like
that Residence ..I went to Canada And I
think I was up there about approximately ..
five or six weeks

Then I returned to the United States And..

 171

SOUND
ROLL1
TAKEL
JAMESEARLRAY
of course I was in Mexico and then in California
five or six months And later I got arrested
in England for these charges Shooting Dr_ King
But I am sure that is not what you want
Youwant somemore specifics
Q
Well we can talk about specifics but I just
want to get a rough outline so whenwe ask
specifics
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes
Q
People are watching maybewill be able to follow
us So you escaped from the Jefferson City
Missouri State Penitentiary April 1967
JAMESEARLRAY
April 1967
Q
Then you went to Chicago
 172

SOUND
ROLL1
TAKEL
JAMESEARLRAY
Chicago yes
Q
Then into Canada
JAMESEARLRAY
Into Canada
Q
Then came to the United States Southern part
of the United States
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes
Q
Then went to Mexico
JAMESEARLRAY
Mexico yes
Q
Cameback to California
JAMESEARLRAY
California
 173

SOUND
ROLL1
TAKE1
Q
Madea trip or two to the South
JAMESEARLRAY
NewOrleans yes
Q
And then in April of 1968 about a year later
went back to Canada and from Canada on to
England and on to Portugal
JAMESEARLRAY
That is correct And then back to England
Q
Well I am interested in as muchdetail as you
can give me Let's start withyour first..
when yeu escaped from the Missouri State
Penitentiary and went to Chicago what did
you do in Chicago
JAMESEARLRAY
I worked in a restaurant there approximatelji
two months in Wineka Illinois And it was
my intention when I left the restaurant job

0 79 12
36-173
 174

SOUND
ROLL1
TAKE1
JAMESEARLRAYCONTINUED
to go to Canadaand stay there And then I got
...leading the cradle around I guess it is the
same story as usual And I did return to the
United States and from then on you more or less
knowwhat happened then
Q
Well tell me about that Youwent to Chicago
and established your identification
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes
Q
A new identification Under what namewas that
in Chicago
JAMESEARLRAY
That was in the nameof John Ryans
Q
Then you went into Canada so your intention was
to really stay in Canada and go on from there
* a * as
 175

SOUND
ROLL1
TAKEL
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes
Q
Well tell me what happened in Canada That first
time
JAMESEARLRAY
Well when I first went there it was my intention
to try to get a passport in somemanner to get
to Australia or to England or some English
speaking country But that never did work out
They had some legality whereby you had to live
there two years to establish a domicile Then
later on I met up with some people I thought
were possibly narcotic smugglers I madea
trip back into the United States I made two
trips back in the United States

And then one thing led to another and consequently

I got this charge against me which I'm incarcerated
on now
 176

SOUND
ROLL1
TAKE1
Q
Let's ge back to that time in Canada This
would have been in what month of 1967T
JAMESEARLRAY
I don't have all the exact dates I have all
in a safe deposit box I could confirm them in
court But I think it was approximately
August or September 1967
Q
All right You are in Canada and your intention
is to go from Canada to some place else in the
world but that doesn't quite work out
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes I checked through the travel agencies and
things like that But instead of going there
personally I checked by phone and I got ...I got
the correct information but I didn't get in
depth I found out later when I went there a
second time that you could ...you didn't have
to have a two year domicile you could have
 177

SOUND
ROLL1
TAKEL
JAMESEARLRAYCONTINUED
someonedo..or you could make a sworn statement
about passports that way
Q
But you didn't knowthat at that time
JAMESEARLRAY
I didn't knowat that time
Q
That first time Now you said that you then
madecontact This was in the summer
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes
Q
And early fall of 1967
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes yes
Q
Thatyou madecontact with a criminal element
there Can you tell me about that
a a a
 178

SOUND
ROLL1
TAKE1
JAMESEARLRAY
Well there is not too muchto tell I just.
it was just what I considered some type of a
smuggling operation or narcotics I'm sure.
the Attorney General referred to it in 1974
in the Memphispapers corpus So possibly
the Justice Department would knowmore about
it than I do Especially you know in depth
I just knewalias and things like that
Andof course I was using alias myself
Q
Youmadea couple of trips across the border
the United States border from Canada
JAMESEARLRAY
Windsor Canada yes sir
Q
Werethose smuggling trips Mr Ray
JAMESEARLRAY
Well I assume they was Since I was paid for
them I couldn't...they couldn't have been anything
t else actually
 179

SOUND
ROLL1
TAKE1
Q
If I assume that those were dope smuggling trips
would you argue with that
JAMESEARLRAY
No I wouldn't argue with it no sir
Q
Then you left Canada and went to the Southern
part of the United States approximately when
JAMESEARLRAY
Uh..I would say that would be in probably October
of 1967 or September
Q
Late fall or early winter of 1967
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes
Q
And how and why did you go to..was it
to Atlanta or Birminghamat that time
JAMESEARLRAY
It was Birmingham yes
 180

SOUND
ROLL1
TAKE1
Q
Howand why did you go to Birminghdm FromCanada
that first trip
JAMESEARLRAY
Uh...weil to begin with returning from Windsor
it was myimpression whatever kind of situation
I was involved in would be ...that moneywasn't
primarily the problem It was passport traveling
And I was under the impression that after these
two or three border crossings transactions that
I would get a certain amountof money Not too
muchmoneybut a passport A forged passport
And that never did comeabout

Then later on I was told that maybe if we would

go to try something else maybeMexico or some
thing that then they could get the passport
then And I was given a certain amountof money
I think it wasn't a large amount It was
seventeen or eighteen hundred dollars And then
 181

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I went to ...the original agreement was to go
to Mobile but I didn't want to go there That
was too small a town and besides that it's .
I had some type of an allergy and I didn't
want to go there I had lived on the Gulf Coast
before one time So I just suggested Birmingham
and that was agreed on I would go to Birmingham
Q
Being a more inland city and larger
JAMESEARLRAY
It was larger and you could get lost quite a bit
easier
Q
Did the people you were working with at that time
the contacts you had made in Canada indicate
why they wanted you to go to Birmingham
JAMESEARLRAY
I assumed it was some type of ...similar to
Canada smuggling operation I didn't know
 182

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JAMESEARLRAYCONTINUED
Actually when you are dealing with people outside
the law you don't you know interrogate them
too much especially if they are furnishing the
money Whyyou pass interrogation up
Q
So when you got to Birminghamwhat happened
JAMES EARLRAY
Well at the time I got to Birmingham I didn't
meet an individual there Later on the same one
as in Canada and we purchased a car and it was
not too much happened there It was more or less
just a ...waitinggame I guess you would call
it But later on I ...we made arrangements
to go to ...I was supposed to go to NewOrleans
and pick up an individual but when I got to..
I think I got to Baton Rouge Louisiana and I
called a numberand I was...it was ..the meeting
place had been changed to Mexico So I went
to Mexico bypassed NewOrleans
 183

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After we got to Mexico then we...it was more or
less the samething as happened in Canada The
same thing alit over again except that I think
we took some stuff across you know in a tire
Something like that
Q
Smuggledsomething from the United States into
Mexico
JAMESEARLRAY
Uh yes that is correct
CUT
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Q
I want to pick up the story in ...we are now in
late 1967
JAmesEARLRAY
Yes that's correct
Q
And you drove from Birminghamto Baton Rouge
on into Mexico
JAMESREASEARLRAY
I'm not really positive about Baton Rouge but
I think it was there The reason I rememberit
somewhatat all I believe it is the State capitol
I have somerecollection of seeing that
Q
But you were smuggling something from the United
States into Mexico
JAMESEALRRAY
I assume I was yes I don't have no proof but
I assume one gives you something money it is
for some type of ...
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Q
Again if I were to assume that was narcotics
of some kind would you argue with me
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes I don't believe you would smuggle narcotics
into Mexico it probably would be something manu
factured Manufacturing products have a high
resale value I knowif you buy a car in Mexico
I think it costs ten thousand dollars where up
here it would cost three thousand five hundred
Q
I'm groping here but could it have been jewelry
JAMESEARLRAY
I always did assume that But the investigator
in the case he seen it was counterfeit money
So take pm your choice I suppose
Q
Jewelry or counterfeit moneyor perhaps both
JAMESEARLRAY
Well I don't know Possible
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Q
Did you carry anything back by way of smuggling
anything in on the trip
JAMESEARLRAY
No I was alone that time I didn't smuggle
anything at that time
Q
So you're in Los Angeles This is very late
1967
JAMESEARLRAY
I think I arrived there in Novemberof 1967
Q
And what happened in Los Angeles
JAMESEARLRAY
There was not too muchhappened there I made
several attempts to get various identification
to get out of the United States though I con
several times
tacted the Coast Guard/trying to get merchant
seaman papers I think the Justice Department
knows this because they have myphone records and
 187

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Q
So you are in Mexico and then what happened
JAMESEARLRAY
Uh..well I stayed there about six weeks I guess
Altogether but I never received any travel
documents or anything I was given somemoney
and given an address to contact a party in case
I wanted to But at that time I never..I
didn't intend to get involved in any more of
that unless it was akxsm absolutely you know
Om there was no other way to get the documents
So I stayed there about six weeks and I made
uh .two or three efforts to go from Mexico to
a foreign country And none of those turned
out So then I returned to Los Angeles

Q
You drove to Los Angeles
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes from Mexico FromMexico yes
 188

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then I think by and by I did contact this party
in NewOrleans and I made a trip there in
Decemberof 1967 And...I got the impression
that there was prospects in it for something
else But of course this passport problem
was getting kind of old but at that time it
was getting so it was moneyand passport again
I never had too muchmoneyat one time I think
two or three thousand dollars plus the car
And of course I had made several attempts at
Los Angeles to find employmentbut,at that time
I didn't have any social security card

I didn't want to use this other one I had done

used because I believe the government checks on
Om those cards every so often So uh...we
finally did make somekind of arrangement down
in NewOrleans and ...which was later on led
me to go to Atlanta
 189

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Q
So you spent this time in Los Angeles
JAMESEARLRAY
I was there about five months yes sir
Q
But then re-established your contact in New
Orleans in the NewOrleans area
JAMESEARLRAY
If my recollection is correct they established
contact with me through the general delivery
in the post office in Los Angeles because I
rememberI went downthere once and ...it has
been quite awhile ago but I remember I went
down They sent me downstairs for something
for a general delivery contact or something
Q=
Uh huh
JAMESEARLRAY
But I don't..
Q
These were the same people that you had met on
your original trip to Canadawhen you fled from

36-173
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Chicago to Canada
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes I never met with one individual except the
once and that was in Mexico and he was driving
the car So I don't know...he appeared to be
a Latin type person So I don't know

I obviously would like to talk about him but

I would like to carry forward with the chron6log
ical order
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes
Q
So after California then..you then went to
Atlanta This would have been in early 1968
JAMESEARLRAY
I believe that would have been about Marchof
1968 when I arrived there yes
 191

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Q
And then what happened You are now in Atlanta
March 1968
JAMESEARLRAY
Well I think we can back up a bit I originally
went to ...I was supposed to meet an individual
in NewOrleans Well he wasn't there and he
was supposed to be and he had movedonto Birmingham
And I was supposed to meet him in a restaurant
in a bar I had frequented before And I think
when I got there he was going to Atlanta or some
wheres Let's see. No it originally was New
Orleans when I was supposed to meet He went
to Birmingham

I met the individual in Birmingham And I was

late getting there or something And then we
went from there to Atlanta and we rented a room
in a kind of rundownneighborhood. there
And I was there...I believe I stayed there about
 192

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JAMESEARLRAYCONTINUED
five days
Q
All right And after that what happened
JAMESEARLRAY
Well after that I think he returned this
individual He was using a Latin nameRaoul
or something I don't knowhis last name
Of course I was using the ...I have used so
many I forgot which one I was using at the time
I think it was Gault I believe
Q
Still Eric S Gault wasn't it
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes I believe that is the one I was a using
at that time And that is one he knewme under
And then ..the story then it wasn't too heavy
a story but it was heavy enough for me that we
was going to get some weapons or something and
take them into Mexico somewheresand he wanted
 193

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me to check them out in Atlanta

But all my identification at that time was in

Alabamaso uh...I never had purchased any
weapons in sporting goods stores or anything
Mostly professional criminals they buy weapons
off a fence They never buy them from ...legally
you know

So I suggested that maybewe ought to go to

Birminghambecause I thought if they asked for
out of State they would wonder
identification
how comeI wasn't buying weapons in you know
Birmingham
Q
And you had an Alabamadriver's license at
that time
JAMESEARLRAY
Well at that time yes So then we went onto
 194

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Birminghamand to check on these various weapons
Rifle and that is where the rifle come in at
And the individual asked me not only to check
on the rifle but various army surplus rifles
Q
This is this man you knewas Raoul
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes And I did check on the various surplus
rifles I think I handled a bunch of them and
I suppose the FBI has myprints off those rifles
And so I purchased one of these rifles I
think it was somekind of a military rifle
But it was the wrong type because it was suggested
that I tk take it back So I took it back the
next day and got the right kind specified type
I think he wrote it downon a paper and I give
it to the salesman And the exchange was made
and that was about ...end of the deal I left
Alabama shortly after that That was in March
 195

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of...late March 1968
Q
Now at tics this tinge the man Raoul was saying
to you that he was trying to setup some sort of
gun running operation from the United States to
Mexico
JAMESEARLRAY
That was my impression Yes he talked that
Q
Did he mention any ultimate destination for the
weapons Cuba Central America Canada
JAMESEARLRAY
No there was never ..there was never any mention
of a foreign country except Mexico The only..
I think theonly time a foreign country was ever
mentioned was I knowin 19...in Novemberof
1967 I made a trip there to meet him in NewOrleans
Andhe said something about we would take these
guns and all this stuff and makethis deal that
 196

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JAMESEARLRAYCONTINUED
were needed I would get a certain amount of
money ten or fifteen thousand dollars plus
travel documents He said something...he
mentioned Cubabut I wasn't under the impression
whether he was going to fight his way in or go
in there voluntarily So I don't know...I
didn't want to get involved in that type of thing
anyway I wanted to get out in the country where
they wouldn't be too you know there wouldn't
be too manyproblems there
Q
Again I want to comeback to this later because
this could be very important But I would like
to again pick up the chronological story
So you madethe purchase of this =Wit rifle
in Birmingham
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes
 197

Q
This is the second time you had one and took it
back and got the other in Birmingham Andthen
you left Birminghamin late March 1963 right at
the end of the month
JAMESEARLRAY
I would say March 27th or 28th yes
Q
Andthen what happened
JAMESEARLRAY
Well after I delivered the rifles the last one
I purchased I was suggested told to go to
Memphisat the time This is March the 27th
and 28th Aix And the thing that really stuck
i a my mind on this was I don't think that Dr
King had madea determination to return to
Memphisuntil ..I think he made it public about
April 1st
Q
He did make it public April 1 1968
 198

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JAMS EARLRAY
Well in..it was suggested that I go there around
March222 27th or 28th the sameday I purchased
the rifle And I did go to ...I was supposed to
be there a in two or three days I forget just
the exact amount of ah days But I did go in..
not a direct line but towards Memphis And I
stayed at several motels between Memphisand
Birmingham

Of course I have never been able to find the

hotels I'm sure the Justice Department have
the hotels because I used the Gault name
CUT
ENDOFROLL2
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Q
All right It is at the very end of March last
two or three days of March 1968 And you are
driving from Birminghamtoward Memphis
JAMESEARLRAY
That's correct
Q
And pick up the story there for me if you will
JAMES
EARLRAY
Well like as I believe I mentioned I stayed
in three or four motels there And I was
supposed to meet this individual in a motel
believe it was in Memphis
Q
This again by the individual
you meanthe man you knewas Raoul
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes But in my ...presiding list of attorneys
I didn't makea mistake on the motels I had
one motel in Mississippi mixed up in Memphisor
 200

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JAMESEARLRAYCONTINUED
something The one was in Mississippi and
I stayed in March 2nd Of course the Justice
Department they claim I was in Atlanta March
2nd
Q
Excuse me I believe you mean April 2nd
JAMESEARLRAY
April 2nd yes That's right The one I stayed
in April 2nd was the Desoto Motel in Mississippi
Right across the county line from Memphis
The state line
Q
That was two days before the shooting of Dr King
JAMESEARLRAY
That would have been April 2nd yes And
Q
So that was the Desoto Motel
JAMESEARLRAY
I never did find out the nameof that motel until
 201

JAMESR&EARLRAYCONTINUED
I asked the policeman whowas guarding the cell
and he ...I explained the location and everything
Andhe said yes that's the Desoto Motel The
police had had a lot of calls there before so..
there was no question about that
Q
So on April 2nd you were at the Desoto Motel
in Mississippi And did you see Raoul at that
time
JAMESEARLRAY
No that's where I...I had someconflict with
attorneys because I gave them ..the hotel where
I actually namedwas a rebel motel The new
rebel motel in Memphis But I got the motels
confused especially when...theattorney then
that was representing was namedArthur Haines
And he madea fairly good investigation but he
was unable tofind this one motel And I think
that is howwe got confused on these various
 202

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JAMESEARLHAYCONTINUED
names of the motels But I think the Justice
Department has a record of them

But anyway I think it was on April 3rd that we

had the meeting in this hotel in Memphis
Q
Sorry to interrupt but I want to make sure that
I understand this On April 2nd you were at
the Desoto Motel in Mississippi On April 3rd
you movedto the new rebel motel in Memphis
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes
Q
All right It is the night of April $* 3rd at
the new rebel motel in Memphis Andwhat
happened there
JAMESEARLRAY
Well this is when I got rid of the rifle I
give this to the other party at that...the mmnew
 203

JAMESEARLRAYCONTINUED
rebel motel that night And I was given
some other address in Memphisto meet him sometime
the next day And subsequently I did but I
had never been in Memphisbefore and I got ..
lost more or less But I finally did find the
address I went to two three different bars on
MaxMain Street and found the correct address
And that brings up April 4th I think
Q
All right Tell me as muchas you can about
you did on April 4th 1968
JAMESEARLRAY
That would be difficult to do I did so much
within a..within I would say a two hour period
Of course the Justice Department they never had
any evidence that I was in this area at all
But in the motel or anything in the rooming
house or anything like that But I think that
was the original intent of the lawyers just to
 204

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let the State present their case and they couldn't
prove I was there doing anything And that would
be...it was

But actually for a fact on April 4th uh..

I was..I did rent a room there but under the
instructions of someoneelse I was just ..
this was ft about four o'clock I couldn't be
certain It maybe a little later than that

Well during this time I believe the State's

witness Charles Stevens or something like that
he testified that some individual locked himself
in the bathroom two or three hours Twohours

But during this period I was ...I had went to

a tavern once and then another time I went to
a sporting goods store to pick up sometk type
of a binoculars you can see in the dark with and
 205

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all that I went to another restaurant called
the CheckersawRestaurant I had mail there
This is all between four and six now And
I think ...I may have a went to one or two other
places I don't knowhow...I don't knowall
these addresses I went to betweenthis time
I knowthe CheckersawRestaurant the sporting
goods store and the tavern and that is what we
can prove And I am certain the Justice Depart
ment can

And I think the shooting took place about six

o'clock
q
is right The shooting of Dr King took
place at six P.M April 4th 1968 Now during
that day if I may I'm having some difficulty
following this myself,/ the night before this
was April 3rd

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JAMESEARLRAY
Yes
Q
At the new rebel motel in Memphis you moved
up there from the Desoto Motel in Mississippi
That's where you saw the man you call this other
individual
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes
Q
Raoul at the new rebel motel
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes that;3 correct
Q
And there you gave him the rifle you had pur
chased in Birmingham
JAMESBM EARLRAY
Yes
Q
Then he asked you to meet him the next day at a
 207

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certain address in Memphis
JAMESEARLRAY
was written downon paper and I think
Yeah,/it
I wrote something downfor him I was going to
use another alias I think it was some...there
was somediscussion of what name I was to use
I didn't want to use my ownname I think he
just gzi said check in the room or something
And I don't like to Well if youcheck in a
motel you use your ownnamebecause you got
your license plates But I don't like to use
my ownname in a motel because you neve-r know
what's going to follow you from it soon

I think that is whenwe decided I would use

the Willard nameor something
Q
But the address turned out to be the now
infamous rooming house from where Dr King
 208

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Q CONTINUED
allegedly was shot
JAMESEARLRAY
I'm certain that was the address yes
Q
So you went into Memphisthe day of April 4th
you had some difficulty finding the address
But you eventually did find it
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes
Q
And then did you go in and rent a room in that
rooming house
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes the individual I met was in the tavern
underneath The fact is I was in there two
or three times I'm certain
Q
This was Raoul )
JJAMES
EARLRAY
Yes And it was...yes we would stay there for
 209

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JAMESEARLRAYCONTINUED
three or four days That was
the impression I got I did rent a room I
rented it a sleeping room I think it was
But uh...I'm somewhatconverse in that sort
of establishment run downplace And I
suppose I know..I was under the impression we
was going to stay there three or four days
And I would have brought all my ...everything
I had up there clothing and everything because
just the type of establishment ...I mean no
door km= knob and they had a strap on the door
and everything like that Really what it was
was a wino place And these type stumble in
the room and turn stuff out so...I never ..
I never really checked into it so....just the
bare necessities you might say
Q
I Asutbetween about four o'clock in the afternoon
and six o'clock in the afternoon when Dr King
 210

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Q CONTINUED
was shot you sayyou went to several other places
Wentto eat at the ChicksawRestaurant
JAMESEARLRAY
Chickersaw Yes I think ...I rememberwhat
it was ice cream I think it was They said
it was...I remembersome conversation there the
waitress had She...but I can't recall just..
I have it written downxmmasomewherebut I can't
recall the details
Q
And you bought a pair of binoculars
JAMESEARLRAY
That was in the sporting goods store yes
Q
At about what time did you get back to the rooming
house do you remember
JAMESEARLRAY
I really couldn't tell I think I madeabout
six trips out The last time I was there I
 211

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jANESEARLRAYCONTINUED
believe it was about five o'clock And the
individual wanted to use my car he said

Well the night before that I had somekind

of..it wasn't late but the tire went flat and
so I took it off and threw it in the trunk of
the car So I would ah say it was about
mmquarter after five and he suggested that
he was going to meet a party oh up there or
something I could go to a movie or something
He wanted to mmuse the car There were two
set of car keys He had one and I think I
had one I don't knowwhere his was at

And I seen this about five thirty I think I

sat in the car about ten minutes I think some
worked
people seen me sitting there,/right across the
street And then I think I went to another
bar then I don't recall it It was across
 212

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JAMESEARLRAYCONTINUED
the street downa couple of blocks I think it
was Jim's bar or something ...the nameswere
so similar I think one is Jim's Grill and
Q
That is just below the rooming house
JAMESEARLRAY
That's right underneath it But thereis a
grill namedJim's too I believe but it is across
the street downfarther And that was my
problem the first time I got in the wrong
Jim's I think

So then I think this was about five thirty

in the car I'm just speculating on this
Andthen I did decide to go to a movie when
I went to Jim's bar And then I decided he
was going to use the car I better fix the
flat tire where it was I didn't knowwhat he
was going to do with it
 213

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JAMESEARLRAYCONTINUED
So I did movethe car I think I ..determined
now it must have been about quarter ten to
six And I went to I think a service station
downabout ..I would say it was about five blocks
from Main Street and in the service stations...

The investigators investigating me says he got

statements NowI don't knowif he has or not
because when anyone investigates a case for me
I just tell him what I knowof it and tell him
not to tell me what they found out because there
has been charges I have been using a..the
attorneys more or less a feedback operation
So I just ...I think the investigator Harold
Weisberg investigated this And I told him
you investigate this ..substantiate it I don't
want to knowall the details you just tell me
ENDOFROLL3
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Q
All right So you believe that it can perhaps
can be established that you took the white
Mustang to a service station within four five
or six blocks of the rooming house
JAMESEARLRAY
I believe the lady worked across the street
could establish that I was in there around
five thirty Now the investigators tali tell
me they can establish that I was around the
service station And another lawyer intimated
Now he didn't tell me exactly that the ...place
was cordoned off immediately after the shooting
and he tells me that there is a police officer
downthere I don't want to mention the name
I don't want to mention new that he ..almost
highballed me out of the area and told me to
get out of there Get the hell out of there
or something And...but like I said this has
never been substantiated because it has never
 215

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JAMESEARLRAYCONTINUED
been tested in any type of judicial proceedings
But I suppose if you know the occasion arose
why it would be
Q
Now this of course is critical
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes
Q
As your recollection as to where you were be
tween let's say five fifty P.M and just after
six o'clock April 4 1963 you rusk remember
fm going to the service station
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes

Having the tire fixed

JAMESEARLRAY
I didn't have it fixed They said it was busy
the busy hour or something ..and they didn't
 216

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James earl ray continued

have time for it And I never did get the tire
fixed The fact is it was in the car when I
left it Probably the unusual thing about this
was when I finally got arrested for the charge
and was returned to Memphis they finally got
...they took the tire out of the car and gave
it to my brother Jerry And they took the seat
covers out of the car and all that stuff They
didn't get in the whole car they just took
certain items out of the car

So I can't...so like I say it is sort of

unusual they would take potential evidence out
and give it to an individual
Q=
But again back to the time Your recollection
*flutist happened when the service station told
you they couldn't fix the tireT
 217

James earl ray

Yes Myrecollection from that time
Q
Uh huh
JAMESEARLRAY
Well my recollection ...I donTt knowhowlong
that took I believe I was in..I might have
been in one or two of them I knowI was in
one of them But from that time I just have
to reconstruct it Guess what time it was

I assume it would be about five minutes of six

But nowif the place were...I don't knowhow
long it took them to block off the area I
don't knowif they blocked off but at least I
seen the squad car ...looked like it was parked
in the middle of the street So I went in
the other direction And so I would just
guess that would be about five after six
I don't knowfrom seeing the program even once
 218

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JAMESEARLRAYCONTINUED
before it took about three or four minutes
for them to block thestreet off

Mypoint is that you were not in the rooming

house Or were you between let's say after
five thirty P.M
JAMESEARLRAY
No I'm positive I wasn't in there after five
thirty
Q
Not in the rooming house again at all after
the latest five thirty P.M April 4 1968
JAMESEARLRAY
Well it could have beenfive forty or something
But I would guess it would be five thirty Tt
took me that long to go from the tavern or the
restaurant and comeback and pick up the car
And go..drove around the circle here
w ww
 219

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Qf
So when you came back to the rooming house
area and you saw police cars you decided to
use your phrase high tail it out of there
JAMESEARLRAY
Yeah I'm not certain this was the place I
was It was either a block downor right the
block I turn into But of course if I see
a police car naturally it is instinct to get
out of there regardless of what they are doing
there
Q=
And then what did you do
JAMESEARLRAY
Well at that time I was ..went towards New
Orleans It was my intentiln to go to New
Orleans I think it was 7t about six thirty
I heard a report on the radio that ..of the
shooting And I was still going towards New
Orleans Then I heard they was looking for a
 220

JAMESEARLRAY.CONTINUED
white Mustang or two white
Mustangs or something So I decided not to
go to NewOrleans And I n went to ..through
Birmingham Atlanta and left the car somewhere
in Atlanta And I took a bus back to Canada
Q
All right So you drove from Memphis..started
out to NewOrleans and decided you better go
to Atlanta Youwoundup driving from Memphis
to Birminghamto Atlanta You got to Atlanta
the day after the King shooting That would have
been April 5 1968
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes that's correct
Q
And then you caught a bus to ..heading North
JAMESEARLRAY
_At two thirty that morning yes sir
a a a a
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I checked the graveyards first and I thought
that wasn't too good an idea So then I went
directly to the Travel Agency I sit didn't
call thee I went directly and I explained my
situation but ..that I was working somewhere
in Canada and I wanted to get a passport to go
to England

So I believe these Travel Agencies they can get

some type of permission so she explained the
whole operation to me And then I got the
passport But before that I had to make ...I
.had to ...I had to find someone's passport where
I could usehis name In Canada it is different
than in the United States They don't use
fingerprints they just use pictures.

But I assumed at the time if you applied for

someone's passport and.you had your picture on
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it and you sent your picture up there thu
there might be some conflict there So I
got several peoples names three or four And
I called them up And I told them I was a repre
sentative of the ...I didn't have too good an
English accent I told them I was a representa
tive of the Registrar's General office I believe
And I wanted to knowif they ever had a passport
or some type of mix up

So when I found one that didn't have the passport

then I applied for the passport in his name He
happened to be a policeman So when I applied
for the passport about three weeks later it came
It came and they had made some type of typo
graphical error on the passport

It was under the nameof Snead

* a *
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That was Snead RaymondGeorge Snead was it
Q
So you woundup getting the passport and then
you left Canada for ..
JAMESEARLRAY
England I had a round trip ticket
Q
Wherehad you intended to go
JAMESEARLRAY
Well myproblem there was the finances I
think I had at that time left in a sort of
serious situation financially speaking I
think I had about twelve hundred dollars at the
time I wanted to go as far away as possible
Australia preferably And but...when I got
there I cashed the round trip ticket in and
vent to Portugal And my intentions over there
was try to catch a ship to someother country
Someother English speaking country
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South Africa or Australia or ..or where there
is not too manyEnglish people NewZealand
or something like that But that never did
work out

WhenI got to Portugal uh..I did find a ship

that was going to somecountry I can't recall
the name now B F or somewhere But Portugal
has some kind of a rule where you had to wait
a week for a visa And the ship was leaving
within three daps I think it was So conse
quently I couldn't make the ship and I couldn't
find another one out So the result was that
I returned to England
Q
And that's whereyouwere captured
JAMESEARLRAY
I was captured about three weeks after I returned
there yes
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Nell I appreciate your taking no through that

because I have never heard you go through that
whole sequence of things Let me loop back and
ask some questions on the basis of what you told
me to increase our understanding

Let us go back in time to 1967 after you have

escaped from the Missouri Prison worked in
Chicago for awhile but have gone to Canada for
the first time
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes
Q
Now that was where you met Raoul
JAMESEARLRAY
That's correct
Q
Westhat the first time you had net him or heard
as of him
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JAMESEARLRAY
That's the first time I ever methim It was
in the I don't knowif you would say the
criminal area but it was in the water front
and there is a lot of ..in that area I gave
some investigators the nameand the place that
I met him They checked it out but.of course
they knowthe place and of course they didn't
find the individual
Q
And howdid you happen to makecontact with
him Or he with you
JAMESEARLRAY
I originally went downthere to attempt to buy
or possibly roll a drunk for his ...merchant
seaman papers where I could use them to leave
Canada But it is difficult me explaining how
oh you makecontact with somebodyoutside the
law It is just ...comes natural more or less
It's a...you learn after a certain length of
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time But that is where I
madecontact originally in the waterfront
area of Montreal
Q
This was in the early summerof 1967
JAMESEARLRAY
would
Well I nand guess it would be about...yes
August 1967
Q
You made contact with Raoul Did you ever
knowany other name
JAMESEARLRAY
No I never did ..there was never a ...he never
gave me a name Andof course I gave his a
name I think I was we using an alias at that
time too
Q
Did he set uh you up for a couple of smuggling
runs into the United States
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JAMESEARLRAY
Yes that's correct

FromCanada
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes
Q
To where To the Detroit area
JAMESEARLRAY
Detroit yes
Q
And then uh it was Raoul was it or wasn't it
that na suggested that you go to Birmingham
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes he is the only individual I ever had any
contact with
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Used to watch TVin Missouri and raise hell
when King came on the cable Wenever had
TV
Q
I wanted to ask you about that Wechecked
on that As a natter of fact the warden said
you didn't have television
JAMESEARLRAY
No we wasn't even allowed a radio

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Wasit this same Raoul or was it who suggested
that you go from Canada to Birmingham
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes that was the same man individual In
fact that was the only individual that I ever
had any direct contact with
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Q
Did le go with you from Canada to Birmingham
Or was it a case of his meeting you in Birmingham
after you got there
JAMESEARLRAY
No I left him in Detroit and I went on to
Birminghamby Chicago
Q
And then this was the same person when ..one
you call Raoul who got you to go from Alabama
through Louisiana into Mexico
JAMESEARLRAY
That's correct yes

And then after you went from Mexico to Los

Angeles he recontactedyou in Los Angeles
EARLRAY
.JAMES
Uh. there was some contact there As I
.mentioned I went to the general delivery office.
post office one time but I'm not certain whether
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he contacted me through the post office Maybe
I contacted him But I did write it all down
I got it in a vault but it is difficult to recall
all those contacts
Q
I understand
JAMESEARLRAY
A lot of times you contact someone you are
supposed to and he is not there and you might
get in your head you know that you actually
contacted him But I'm trying to think ..I
might have contacted him first in Los Angeles
becaUse I knowI went to the post office
There was nothing there So I think .1
believe there was another instance later on
that he did contact me through the mail But
I don't believe it was the post office I think
living
it was the...where I vas t kk at at the time
But I'm not certain of that now
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Q
But at any rate in late 1967 fall early winter
contact with Raoul was reestablished
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes that's right
Q
And that's when you went back to Atlanta
JAMESEARLRAY
Well the contact was reestablished in December
1967 and I made it I madea trip to NewOrleans
to see him at that time And he told me if I
was still around there might be something going
on later on And that was about four months
before I left there

0 f course in the meantime I didn't ...I did

makevarious attempts to get this travel
documentin another manner In other ways but
I never did come to anything
s s s s
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Q
But eventually you did go back to Atlanta.to
sort of establish headquarters there with Raoul
JAMESEARLRAY
That's correct
(It
And that is when the sequence of events began
with his going with oh you to Birminghamto
buy the weapon
JAMESEARLRAY
That's correct
Q
And you wound up seeing hia for the last time
you say at the ..ia the area of the rooming
house on Main Street
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes That's good enough Yes
Q
Could you describe Raoul forme
a a a
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JAMESEARLRAY
Well I couldn't describe him for you except to
say he is a ..he appeared to be a Latin Spanish
...I have associated with Spanish people ..
Spanish speaking people quite a bit and I'm
x certain he was of Spanish origin I don't
knowwhat country but it was Spanish

I've been shownvarious pictures of individuals

Andsomeof them are similar to him but a lot
of people are not photogenic You can't identify
someoneout of a picture I knowwhen the police
was looking for me I was neveridentified from
a picture

For two months except...of course people I

workedwith couldn't identify the picture
So I'm not too ...I can't say I ever identified
anyone from a picture And really I'm not
interested in you know identifying anyone from
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you know for some type of state witness
I want to be more or less a witness for myself
and lot the prosecution present their witnesses
But of course with an attorney that would be
a different story He would have to knowwhat
the case was all about

chat I was looking for was a rough description

of Raoul A short man tall man mediumheight
heavy man light man
JAMESEARLRAY
I would say he was about average height five
feet a hundred fifty pounds (NOISE)...
The hair was only thing...that stands out
Most of the Latins are dark haired Had a kind
of auburn ...dart auburn That is the only
thing that really distinguished him from anyone
else Of course I suppose you could dte your
hair or something if you want to
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I've ...older than sine sometimes
Q
Do you knowwhat kind of passport he carried
JAMESEARLRAY
I never did ask him on that I assumedhe had
one I never did cross any border with his
personally He usually went across in a separate
assume
conveyance And I went ...I Lassa he went across
in a taxi cab I usually drove across in the
car
Q
Have you had any contact with him of any kind
anything you would even ap suspect as a contact
since the day that Martin Luther Ling was shot
JAMESEARLRAY
No I've never had any contacts for a long Lisa
here for a couple of years I used to have..
I used to...I didn't receive any mail I had it
all forwarded So I don't knowwhat contacts

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the lawyers have had. But personally I've
never had any contact with anyone. And I don't
really want ..net a interested in-having any
contact with anyone that I night have been
involved with on the street
Q
Did he at any time give you any indication
of his being in contact with or belonging to any
group
EARLRAY
JAMBS
No I....my impression was more or less of a..
some type of things for monetary gain There
was no messing in politics or anything like that
There was messing going to Cuba once but that
could have been either way see I don't know
if...there has been a lot of talk about anti
Communistand pro-CommunistCubans in the case
In fact I think the attorney that defended me
that time uh.. one of his stipulations was
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that if he did go to trial that the FBI was
supposed to arrest some individual he was ..
a Cuban background I'a not certain I thought
he was anti-Communist It mayhave been the
other way around But I didn't want to get
involved in that type of ..
Q
That was what attorney Whichattorney
JAMESEARLRAY
Percy Forman

He talked to you about .the possibility of the

fbi arresting someonewith a Cuban background
in the case
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes In early February 1969 that was when I
still thought we was going to trial he brought
a bunch of pictures to jail one time I assume
hi= there was about ten or fifteen and he
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had me go through them as alleged people that
the FBI wanted to get out of circulation I
think ..I believe most of them were Latin
type I think there was one black and a few
whites And he did mention this one individual
picture
I don't remember...I don't recall the Oxalic
plainly but I think the pictures later were
presented to the Tennessee Grand Jury by
William Radford Hughio I read the Grand Jury
testimony

But anyway I think his story was that the FBI

was going to arrest this individual .and I would
make some type of an identificationand I guess
that would be axhatz basis in somemanner for
defense in the case
.Qs
But that never happened
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JAMESEARLRAY
No that never did comeabout
Q
Did you overhear any more about it at all
JAMESEARLRAY
About those pictures And things like that
I've seen various pictures off and on There
has been mans namesmentioned but it might be
libelous for me to mention the names But
I'm not...I just don't knownothing about the
pictures I meanthe FBI knowsabout them
William Bradford Hughie Percy Foreman But
the only thing I knowis what they ..what has
been related to me And I think the Attorney
General in Memphisknowsabout it because I
think he subpoenaed the pictures from William
Bradford Hughie
Q
Whichcould be very important Mr Ray in let
me say if there is a libel problem the libel
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Q CONTINUED
problem of course will be ours And I am
most interested in hearing any namethat you
have heard mentioned in this connection you
know so we could check it or look into it
JAMESEARLRAY
Well they took pictures ...you meanthe pictures
the FBI wanted to get out of circulation
Q
Right
JA:4ESEARLRAY
Well Ithink one of them was ..one picture was
taken in Dallas or something in 1963 There
q was no names given And one picture was an
idividual namedJack Youngblood I think another
picture was ...he was a...Youngblood was a
he was white and I think there is another
individual not certain there is but
I think he was waiting trial on a
in ?Memphis
bank robbery charge He was some Ku Klux Klan
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picture or something...in the Klan

But it was my impression he is waiting on

trial because I saw his picture in the paper
But it was my impression none of these individuals
had done anything It was just the FBI was and
the Justice Department were downon them for one
reason or the other
Q
Youmentioned a picture in Dallas 1963 This
was a picture at about the time of the John
KennedyAssassination
JAMESEARLRAY
I think there u is some pap people interested
or arrested in that area immediately after the
shooting

And a picture was shownoh to

you to see if you could identify somebodyin
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the area
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes
Q
Did you identify anybody in the picture
JAMESEARLRAY
No I identified him as looking similar But
a lot of people look similar but I never
identified anybody that I knewpersonally
Q
Andthese were photographs shownto you by your
attorney at that time Percy Foreman
JAMESEARLRAY
That's correct
Q
Re said these a were people that the FBI had
in somewaywere interested in getting out of
circulation or wanted to knowmore about
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Q
Let me pick up on another page and I do apprec
Late your taking me all the way =hot through
that
Q
Did you fire the shot that killed Dr Martin
Luther King
JAMESEARLRAY
No and I think nowbased on investigations of
those whohave represented me on the face...
I've had a lot of representation unofficially
that we could prove it through some type of
judicial proceedings But I can't see ...I
can't see any opportunity proving through any
other medium
Q.
I want to ask you again This is a can to man
head to head eye to eye question Did you
fire the shot that killed Dr King!
arse
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JAMESEARLRAY
No I didn't and like I say I think nowthat
in this particular point in time that we can
grove that I didn't

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4
want to pick it up there If I may Did you
knowingly have anything to de with the shooting
of Dr ring
JAMESEARLRAY
No I didn't but I really don't think that's
...I think that is a new question because when
I was extradiated from England uh..the think
the treaty law specifies don't it the thing
they could try me on would be doing the actual
shooting Aiding and abetting and ...con
spiracy or that stuff would ...they wouldn't be
able....charges againstthat under the treaty
terms
Q
True
JAMESEARLRAY
But if you ..
Q
But if you didn't fire the shot that killed
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.Dr King and you say flatly definitely that
you did not right Whythendid you plead
guilty
JAMESEARLRAY
Well actually that is a two fold...There is
two fold answers to that Uh...actually there
was never any suggestion of a guilty plea until
early February I would say sometimeafter the
pictures You know the pictures I just got
through mentioning
Q
See would this be in February of 1969
JAMESEARLRAY
I would say about February 1967 of course
I I refused to identify the pictures Not so much
identify them but the process they wanted to go
through you know want me to identify them
Of course that could have cone back oh me
But anywaythe way they actually got the plea
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is'twofold

First Foremanat that time was defending me

He said they had one witness whowas..the
government had already bribed or something
I believe that was Charles Stevenson I think
promised
they had pxsmmmanthim a hundred thousand dollar
reward or something to testify against me
Q
This was the man in the rooming house
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes
Q
Who at one time allegedly said that he had
seen you in the rooming house
JAMESEARLRAY
Well be madean identification He based his
identification on myprofile He said the
individual he seen running from the rooming
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house had a short pointed nose Andof course
I have. the FBI told him and I suppose the
Justice Department just so happened I had
plastic surgery and my nose is flat more or
less So his identification was ...actually
his identification was refuted by his wife's

But at that time in February 1969 when you

were about to go to trial you didn't knowthat
JAMESEARLRAY
No I didn't knowanything at that time
Q
So that was one of the factors in your deciding
to plead guilty
JAMESEARLRAY
No that was ...he brought that up That was
one of his arguments that the State was prepared
to bribe a witness Well I didn't think too
muchof the witness because I had been arguing
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aaarticle in the paper about he was I think
they said he was addicted to fermented grapes
Or something

Andthe other argument was that the lady done

convict the man Of course nowthat was the
only valid argument That was how it was be
cause there had to have been substantial
reporting of my past criminal record And I
assume the jury might not ...individual had
been incarcerated several times for crimes
he would be ...that would be the type of individual
that would go for some type of operation that
we were talking about

And but ...then there was another suggestion

that it might be to my financial gain if I would
enter a guilty plea and I think you saw the
contracts The various contracts
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Q
Excuse me This was contract with the Arthur
William Bradford Hughie
JAMESEARLRAY
And Percy Foreman
R
And Percy Foreman So that was another agrument
used for you to plead guilty
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes See I signed all this moneyfrom William
Bradford Hughie over to Percy Foremanon February
3 1969 under the stipulation that he would take
.e to trial Of course after he got the con
tract then he didn't want to go to trial
So then on the day of the guilty plea the day
before the guilty plea he ordered contracts
stipulating that he would just get a hundred
sixty five thousand dollars from William Bradford
Hughie and I would get the rest
as as
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Well of course you know there is no arrest
there and I am not interested in going to the
penitentiary

But I think we can get back to the reason

Q
Right
JAMESEARLRAY
On the plea I think of course the State's
argument and then the moneyand then the ..
other reason I mentioned But uh..I think
in this area the one thing that convinced no
that it would be in my interest to enter a
plea was that I thought they was going to throw
the case more or less Percy Foremanwas be
cause he gave me every impression that ..they
use that psychology on you It is not really..
it is not heavy psychology but they use it
they want you to knowwhat their intentions are

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And I thought if I ..should have forced bin to
go to trial he may have went downthere and not
really put up the best efforts And of course
no one could have picked...you can't .. a layman
can't pick up what a lawyer is doing I say for
a grand he might take it up or something like
that

But that was one of the two fold reasons I

have given you The other was threats against
family members Percy Foremanhe delivered a
couple of threats against the family members
He mentioned that they might arrest my kmtkax
brothers Jerry and John and bring them down
there

But that did the...that influenced me somewhat

but at the time I was so naive After all my
experience with the legal system they purl:tax
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probably would resort to something like that
But ..subsequently one of mybrothers John
Ray he was shortly after I was arrested he
was ...after I was convicted he was arrested
in St Louis Missouri Charges of aiding and
abetting a bank robbery And the circumstances
was he was driving downthe street and they
arrested him and said he had aided someone
robbing a bank

Well the pi police the local police shook down

his car and they didn't find anything But
later the FBI they found this psthzxms3 perverbal
evidence they always find They found a glove
or something at the robbery

But anywaythey tried him:with another individual

for robbing the bank and they gave him eighteen
years The jury convicted him The other
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individual twelve years Well the other
individual was reversed on appeal He said
that the moneywas taken from him by illegal
search and seizure They ruled the coney was
to taken from mybrother.they could use it against
him So he is gmdoing eighteen years now
in Marion

But later on they arrested another individual

who allegedly robbed the bank and I believe they
gave him three years And apparently the
Justice Department and the ...had some Federal judge
reduce his eighteen years
Q
Whichleft your brother serving the most time
And you think this is an example of a kind of
harassment that your family has been subjected
tot
c e a s e
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JAMESEARLRAY
Yeah my brother now...he did six years in a
maximumsecurity joint in Kam Marion and then
he went for parole and they said he had the
wrong attitude or something But there is one
other particular part where I can say the most
vicious threats but I can't go into them now
but I think possibly if there is some type of
process by some investigating committee or
some judicial or congress and I might be able
to go into that later on
'Q
Well let me stop for a momentand ask you
Are you willing to testify for the House
Committeesetup to look into the death of Dr
King as well as the John Kennedyassassination
JAMESEARLRAY
I think it would all depend ...I think if they
are going on the promise that I'm guilty of
everything the Justice Department and the f various
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uh...books that the Justice Department has
collaborated in like the McMillian and the
Frank Books and they are just.the only thing
they are interested in is finding out the..
maybewho else is involved I don't see much
point in we testifying then

However if ...if I ..a Federal judge in Washingtot

put various evidence under seal for fifty years
I think they go into that and ...go into all
the evidence well it might be difficult for
me to refuse to testify I would have to ...dis
cuss this with a lawy er and everything and
...but I think I just have to...see they recently
wanted to investigate ...take a statement from
Percy Foreman

I read some allegation of the chief counsel

that Mrs if they could question Foreman
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CONTINUED
and I would waive myprivilege communication
rule well they think they can break the case

As I said Mrs Spragg is a ... in line with

this a couple of days ago I seat a waiver and
so I waived any right I might have under the
attorney-client privilege So they can go down
and question him whenever they want to
And he has mentioned various phone numbers and
individuals but he has never gave me the names
and
He has just referred to them aim I think I 'sent
I sent-Mr ...card again I may have sent some
information
Q
Let me picture understand this That under
the law no one can question your defense attorney
at the time Percy Foremanof Houston
JAMESEARLRAT
Yeah
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Unless you grant a waiver
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes
Q
And you have given such a waiver to the
House Investigating Committee
JAMESEARLRAY
I sent Mrs Spragg a waiver about two days
ago
Q
Rh Which Is it your hope that will allow them
to question Mr Foremanin detail
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes in detail I mean I'm not ...if they want
to go into all of it He's gave a deposition
he's referred to various individuals and organ
izations Of course I mean they are all top
investigatorsMr Spragg and them and the
committee members It is not necessary forme
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to instruct them how to carry on an investigation
But I think if there is evidence that they want
to go into everything well then that might
kftax influence those representing me in what we
should do
Q
Let me see if I understand this Youare eager
that the House Committee investigate and question
Mr Percy Foremanin detail
JAMESEARLRAY
I'm not really eager. But I recognize that there
are various things that a Congressional subpoena
can get that I can never get Now for instance
when I had the habus corpus hearing in 1974 in
Memphis one of the first ruling the judges got
..downwas that we couldn't subpoena anyone over
one hundred miles from Memphis

Consequently we couldn't subpoena any justice

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department files or anything And naturally
they were as quiet as a perverbal church mouse
at that time Noneof them could tmstt testify
at the hearing

Well I think the Congressional Hearing if they

really want to go into depth could spend these
various files I mentioned

6
ENDOFCAMERAROLL
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Q
Wouldit be accurate to say Mr Ray that
if the committee subpoena's Percy Foreman
and questions him in detail that would be
persuasive with you to testify also
JAMESEARLRAY
No I don't believe...I believe Percy Foreman
will be their witness But the reason I gave
him the waiver he is been the State's most
vocal advocate of the State's case He's been
on talk shows and everything So he has made
various statements that I wrote so i thought
maybe I would show good faith effort and they
could take it up from there

What I'm really concerned about is there has

been reports the FBI has thirteen volumes
no thirteen crates and ninety somevolumes
of investigative material plus some judge in
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Washingtonhas various of them under seal
I'm concerned about that type of thing That
they go into that

personal
But I'm not interested in any prxama life or
anything regardless of who it is But if there
is some *k type of threats or something like that
when that would be irrevalent to the case
But the,...! don't know I don't knowa thing
If they will have time to ...I think the mandate
runs out March 31st Whether they will all make
any effort in that direction or not

Personal opinion Wouldyou like to see the

House Committee financed well enough to carry
it's work forward or do you think they have done
about all they can realistically be expected to
do
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JAMESEARLRAY
Well I don't think they have done muchof
anything maybedebating between one another
It rhally doesn't make too muchdifference
to me except as I mentioned they can find out
evidence that I will never be able to find out
through the course because they ...I think
Congress has a subpoena I can get a subpoena
too but ...unlike the Watergate case the Federal
judge in this case they are not interested in
really ...uh...you know going all out with a
usbpoena They seem to try to ...live with the
subpoena then expand it
Q
I do want to comeback to the question of whether
you are willing under any circumstances to
testify before the House Committee Do I judge
your answer to be perhaps
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes I believe what my answer would be I will
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discuss with an attorney He has indicated that
he is not one way or the other against it And
after we...but I don't want ...if I do testify
I don't all want...I wouldn't want to testify
on any type of executive session Andthe various
membersleak various ...well not membersof the
Congress but membersof the staff leak informa
tion out like they ..the Church Committee
Ray said this and Ray said that I would rather
testify in public not necessarily on TVor
anything but have a public record where it would
be available to anyone whowas interested in
it
Q
Wouldyou be willing to talk here at the prison
with the Attorney General
JAMESEARLRAY
No I can't see ...I'can't see any advantage
of having an experts meeting with the Attorney
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General I have no advantage...I have no
objection if ho wants to question me on a
witness stand I believe the attorney in
Nashville Jack Kirshfel he said he w could
question me at length And I think there maybe
a ...an opportunity of that showing because
there is a coupid of law suits involve...my
brother is involved in one of them and I know
I'm involved in another one So there is never
...there won't be no hesitation of testifying
under oath on the witness stand The...under
the Congressional...the drawback in the Con
gressional that ...you don't have the opportunity
to cross examine

I think the problem would be here that they

might call up eight or ten convicts and of course
you can get these a dime a dozen from other
prisons FromMissouri and things like 1-that
and they can come up with someyarn There
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wouldn't be no oppoatunity'to examine then
personally
Q=
The Attorney General if I k read his language
correctly and perhaps I don't at least in
a between the lines fashion has held out the
following prospect That if you would reveal
to him information that you never revealed
before help solve the "conspiracy aspects.
of the case that perhaps some arrangement can
be worked out for a reduction in your sentence
Now what do you think about that
JAMESEARLRAY
Well I don't think muchof anything about that
This thing of being a state witness or even
being perceived to be a state witness is a...there
is a lot:of pitfalls there I mean you can
let these people like VO4i:-I...winds up in
solitary confinement If I testify for anyone
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it will be for myself I amnot concerned with
the State's case That's their problem

Uh I don't...you mentioned Mr Bell

Q
Well I was simply asking you whether you would
be agreeable to that kind of arrangement And
I gather you definitely are not
JAMESEARLRAY
No I don't`] .1 can't see why that would be
an advantage Actually I was offered a similar
situation in 1968 I believe whenArthur
Haines was still defending me
Q=
your first defense attorney
JAMESEARLRAT
Yes I think it was some type of reduced
sentence But ...thistype of thing here
There is too manypitfalls _I don't want to get

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involved in that type of thing Any type of
situation whereby I would have to rely on the
Justice Department because they have ...I think
they have a sort of an in here hostility with
ay background anyway So I'm rather keep
them at arms length
Q
Mr Ray do you think there was a conspiracy
to kill Martin Luther King
JAMESEARLRAY
Well I couldn't say ...after I returned to
...amt after I arrived at the prison back in
1969 I had various individuals not necessarily
lawyers investigate information that I had
I didn't have you know a great deal of informa
tion but I had it investigated Andover six
or seven year period...over a six or seven year
period they did look into various aspects of
it
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-Andit has never been...went in depth but
what information we have given.. we have
arrived at by indicating -someelement of the
Teamster's Union and there was some report
Irk that Dr King may have been....intended.
like in Vietnam to support the ...get involved
is the Arab conflict

Then there was another...some other information

about the AELLAsome type of law enforcement
association in NewOrleans ynu know in 1967
or something

But I don't know...like I say these have never

been gone into in depth and it could be a
disservice for someoneto makethese allegations
and later on find out that they were ...some
of the evidence was
s s t
 272

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I have never even heard an allegation on the
speculative plain made about the Teamsters
Union. Now,what have you heard in that regard
JAMESEARLRAY
Well in the ...sometime around February of
1969 uh..first you have to understand Percy
Foremanhis methods of conducting a trial
He never asks anything until he says he is
investigating the State's case

Well sometime in ...sometime in late I would

say about February 17th or 18th he asked me
to explain the case to him Well I explained
it to him He started writing downand kept
getting a cramp in his hand and he asked me
to finish up So I wrote everything down
in long hand from the time I escaped from the
penitentiary until I think I arrived in Canada
the second time That was after the shooting of
 273

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Dr King

And now if we can take that from there and

go on around till k about February of 14th
or 15th uh...when Arthur Haines was defending
an I was somewhathesitant to give him informa
tion because he was giving it to William Bradford
Hughie and he vas investigating it and the FBI
was coming by it

And consequently everytime Hines come up here

be would have a new bunch of witnesses against
me So I was testifying against myself But
anyway in February of 14th or 15th I did give
percy Foremanone of these phone numbers to
investigate
Q
A phone number in NewOrleans
"s"a*
 274

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No it was in Baton Rouge
Q
Baton Rouge
JAMESEARLRAY
And he cane downa few days and sacs something
about uh..if there is any phone numbers to be
presented he would present them and he had some
type of a contact interstate gambling He
mentioned someonenamedA ren Lansky But he
off Lansky
didn't say he was going to get him pff zams.Z
he just said Oat he knewsomeonethat knewthis
party and they would furnish the phone number
for me if I ever stood trial

So I didn't maketoo muchsense It might have

made sense to him It was never explained to
me just what manner the numbers had been used
I was supposed to use them from the witness
stand or what But...
 275

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Q
Howdoes that fit in with the Teamster's Union
Was some of those numbers suggested to you as
Teamster numbers
JAMESEARLRAY
Well later on I had someone investigate the
case And in 1969 after I cometo prison I
had an individual in St Louis that I used to
knowin prison He was a labor leader and he
had someonein Nashville investigate it And
they said the numberwas involved in some
distant factor of the Teamsters And they also
investigated these other aspects of it
Q
This of course gam gets very complicated I
want to make sure I understand what you are
suggesting as a possible lead That's the
area in which we are talking now Thattiut
the man you knewas Raoul sometimeswould call
numbers in Louisiana you on occasion called
 276

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numbers in Louisiana And it was suggested to
you somewherealong the line that some of those
numbers maybe ...may have had something to do
with a dissident group of the Teamster's Union
in Louisiana
JAMESEARLRAY
This was in Baton Rouge But the thing is I
never made any contact with the Baton Rouge
number So I thought maybe it might have been
planted and later on after a couple two or
three years of investigation I becamecertain
it was

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Q
I just want to look back at one thing When
you mentioned the name Lansky as having been
mentioned to you in some contacts by your
defense attorney Percy Foreman you were talking
about the Meyer Lansky whose namehas been
connected with stories about the underworld
JAMESEARLRAY
Yeah that's right
Q
But you were saying that you never madecontact
with any number in Baton Rouge
JAMESEARLRAY

You did makecontact with a number in NewOrleans

JAMESEARLRAT
That's correct
Q
Did you contact Raoul through that telephone
 278

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JAMESEARLRAY
Yes I made I would say two or three contacts
with Raoul
Q
So this lead about the possible involvement
of a dissident faction of the Teamster's Union
was lead you would like to see persuedt
JAMESEARLRAY
No not particularly because I think nowit
may have been planted because I never did call
it But I think possibly Percy Foremanhe
may have discussed it ...he was associated here
with lawyers in Tennessee He may have discussed
it with them They might I think nowfor
political reasons or something decided not to
bring it in I don't know if that was ...if
that is a valid reason for not bringing the name
in or not But I think that was the reason.
a a a a
 279

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Q
Personal opinion If the House Committeewere
to get Percy Foremanto testify in detail under
oath do you think it would crack the case from
your standpoint
JAMESEARLRAT
There has been reports in the paper that as I
mentioned the other people ...no I don't think
it would I think wehad ...he's got phone
numbers I think he is trying to put the heat
on someonethat is really not involved in it.
because that has always been my impression

And...I've never got the impression from anyone

that they was really interested in resolving
the case For instance when I first come
to prison in 1969 the correction commission
then was named Harry Avery Andhis ...his
story always was to me Wasnot to cooperate
but just forget the whole thing and do the time
 280

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And later on you know it is possible to ...
or something and that is one of the things
that threw me off because I knowprosecutors
always want you to cooperate with them

But now Avery he was telling me just forget

it Andof course he said he was speaking for
the highest authority So I assume he was
talking about the Governor of Tennessee
Buford Duncanand the Justice Department
Q
You've been quoted as saying in the past and
I want to ask you directly whether you said this
That you thought you were "Railroaded in some
kind of deal between Percy Foremanand his
friend RamseyClark whowas then the Attorney
General.
JAMESEARLRAY
Well that is difficult to determine Uh..he
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in a deposition that he went to school
testified
with RamseyClark's father and he is a friend
of RamseyClark and he had made several calls
to him before the trial And he also said
he was a friend of John J Hooker Senior for
twenty five years
Q
Well the defense attorney
JAMESEARLRAY
Well all these people are very competent
attorneys but they are all more or less on a
friendly basis And they might have determined
this for social reason just to get me to the
penitentiary wouldn't be a big loss because I
would probably be in the penitentiary for one
reason or the other anyway Just let things
slide up because I was kept in solitary con
finement for fire years And that was...I
 282

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usually get ...give an official and unofficial
reasons They tell the public that I maybe
I night escape I might get in some type of
conflict with another as convict But the
story was always to me that if you will drop
this litigation we might consider letting you
out I never did drop it and I never did get
out until 1975
Q
You say it might have been a case of for political
and social reasons they wanted to make it a case
of you being a lone assassin and get the case out
of the way Do you believe in fact that was what
it wart
JAMS EARLRAY
Uh...well I think you meanthe reason the .
play was done and everything like that I think
it is really basically it is the prevailing
ethics in the United States Somepeople des
 283

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crib* it as of a middle class
housewife not necessarily womenbut the self
righteous pretentious I think that's ...I think
permeates
that type of thing pssmtnazas the judiciary
and everything

Andof cosirse in this bar in...these various

motor national companies they want to present
a good picture you know of the various over
seas operations and all that stuff So I think
that's ....I don't think there is no real just
a simple answer to it It's a combination of
things I believe

Let me take you-back to that day in the court

roost when you had your day in Short day
court
it was The a judge asked-You whether you were
-doing it-voluntarily, the guilty plea and you
said yes sir., Andthe judge asked you "are you
 284

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pleading guilty of murder. in the first degree
in the case because you killed Dr Martin Luther
Ring. Under such circumstances that it would
make you legally guilty of murder in the first
degree under the laws axpati explained to you by
your lawyers And to that from the judge you
answered yes legally uh huh

And then when p he said areyou doing t# it

voluntarily you said yes sir I can't under
stand if you knewthat you didn't pull the
trigger on the gun that killed Dr King why
you would go that far and say those things
JAMESEARLRAY
Well this wasall decided on March 9th the
day before the play was there Al that time
I had determined that there was no yjthat I
could force Percy Foremanto go to trial where.
with any prospects of success I did assume
 285

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that I could have made the
..defended myself That would have been
ridiculous end up with fifty sixty years
And once you get a jury trial they usually
chose the media ...thesegment of the media that
say
supports the government They usually sow that's
the...that's it you know you've had your day
in court But I still...I did enter a plea
of guilty and I could have had an investigation
after the plea with newly discovered evidence
The possibility that the case could have been
reversed and won the trial

But however that was my original intention...

of trying tofind new discovered evidence
But shortly after the plea I think it was maybe
the next day uh of course Percy;Ioreman and
the judge and-the prosecutor they were starting
to campaign that I'was guilty and that

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I thought then that if I had waited around a
year or something to investigate this case
that they would have convinced ...they had oh
got public opinion and everything convinced
that I was guilty of everything charged

So consequently we decided or I decided to try

to open the case on fraud But I ..at that time
I didn't knowthe extent of the fraud that was
involved I knewthe contracts yes
Q
The contracts between Percy Foremanand the
author William Bradford iughie
JAMESEARLRAY
Yes As we went along we seen how it was con
cealed contracts and everything else ..contracts
said if I didn't plead guilty whyo and so
wouldn'g get moneyand all that stuff
* *
 287

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q
Nell that sameday when you entered your guilty
plea there was a whole series of questions
involving the voluntary nature of your plea
That you knewwhat you were doing you weren't
being forced thatyon knew you were giving up
your right to appeal all of those things were
laid out to you And you answered to all of
those yes you knewwhat you were doing
JAMESEARLRAY
If I had it all to do over again I really don't
see how I could have done anything different
As I say on March 9th ...on March 9th is when
we...that was the day before the plea that is
when the ...everything was arranged
I signed contracts giving him a hundred sixty
five thousand He made certain thingsand all
these things written out Even to what I was
.,.I was supposed to read over his shoulder
what the answers to the judge And it was his
 288

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Percy Foreman's what he represented to me was
that after the plea he would go his way and I
would go mine. Until I got the case reversed
and he wouldn't say anything
Q
A hundred sixty five thousand was book money
that you promised him
JAMESEARLRAY
Mewas supposed to get that from a movie I've
never been told howmuchhe did get but I don't
believe he received quite that much.
Q
Percy Foremanhas said to me wheal raised some
of these questions with him personally that
you were guilty absolutely guilty that his
own investigation showedthat That he in fact
did you a great favor by saving your life And
that you plead guilty because it was the only
plea where you had a A chance of saving your
 289

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life
JAMESEARLRAY
Well first after the plea the judge and the
prosecutor had a news conference The judge said
he wanted the guilty plea because he was afraid
he would get a hung jury and I would get
acquitted

I really ...I haven't seen anybody that has

testified that they thought that I had to plead
to escape the death penalty I think the only
ones that ...has testified to that is Percy
Foremanbecause he has got contracts with me
for books and he would be..he couldn't tat
testify any other way In other words he couldn't
say he testified that I entered a guilty plea
for ninety nine years in order to*keep from
getting two hundred because ninety nine is the
maximum But...uh...1 just never heard of anybody
 290

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I think the sixth circuit just recently they
ruled that I entered the plea because uh.
I thought later I could get a smart lawyer to
get the case reversed I don't make too much..
it makes a lot of sense to them but it doesn't
to me So..
Q
That:sameday in court there was,a momentin
the
your guilty plea hearing when prosecutor
/
Philip Canalley said tie have no proof other
than that Dr Ung was killed by James Earl Ray
Ray alone Not in concert with
and James ~FaCrl
Ise And there was byplay of statements
bet}Ieen Mr Canalley the prosecutto and the
defense attorney Mr Foreman

That said we were out of film

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 291

WHO'SWHO

EARLRAYS
"JAMES

SOUND
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SOUND
TAKE9 There was a time in your guilty plepf/wRienig
presecutor said we have no proof other than Dr
King was killed by James Earl Ray and James Earl
Ray alone and not in concert with anyone else
And there was apprantly some byplay between your
defease attorney Mr Foreman and the prosecutor
Mr Canalli and you got up at a piss point where
it was said in the courtroom there was no pro6f
of your being a dupe or a fall guy or a member
of any conspiracy Andafter that you interrupted
and said that you took exception to be statement
that there was no conspiracy YOUsaid you
didn't quote exactly accept the theories that
there was no conspiracy The theories of then
O.S Attorney General RamseyClark and then FBI
Director J edgar Hoover as you Out it Now
what did you mean by that when you got up in the
courtroom and aid you didn't exactly accept those
theories

RAY
Well first I wasn't objecting to anything the
prosecutor said Mr Canelli - naturally I
it's expected he was going to make a stronger a case
statement as he can for his-particular case What
I did object to is when Percy Forman in effect
became a spokesmanfor the Justice Department

RATHER
Saying that there was no conspiracy
 292

RXXRKMAN
Yes It was our agreement the day before that
that he was - that bhe only thing I - the only
thing he would be downthere for is jsut to have
the script when I enetered the plea Of course
it took me by surprise whenhe - whenhe did -
whenhe finally did went into -

RATHER
Andthat 's the reason you got up and said you
didn't exactly accept that

RAY
Well before - I'm not - I think what you're getti
at - I don't want to anticipate you - I think
what you're getting at - what would I have said
if the judge maybewould have questioned me about -
I'm - I;m not certain win whit I did - would have
- would have said. WhenPercy Foremanfirst come
in the case he promised the judge and the news
papers and he whole - whole works that there
wouldn't be no contracts involved Well he
hadn't been in the case two three days and he
was more deeply involved in the contracts then
the previous attorney Arhtur Haynes

RATHER
These are the book contracts

RAY
Yeah the book contracts yes So consequently
what - whenhe didn't makethe statement I
think thea'judge whould have asked me about the -
what did I mean - I think I would have went
into contracts and - I don't knowif I would
have went into all the other details heretofore
 293

RAY (CONT)
run downwith you because there's a - ther's
a disadvantage in an adversary system telling the
other side 'everything you know Andof course
the judge maatxa.kxxxxttuxtudguxmRzExusicxx mentioned
that - the judge mentioned that himself once
He said he - whenhe was a prosectur he wlways
played everything close to this Well as a
prosecutor he can play it close to the vest well
I suppose it's all right if the defense plays
theirs close to the vest But Ithinkthat's -
I don't - of course it's a hypothetical question
I don't knowwhat the judge would have went into
if - if he would have put me on the taxi stand
but -

RATHER
Mypoint is at that particualr juncture when
you said you didn't exactly accept the theory
of the then U.S Attorney General RamseyClark
and FBI Director J Edgar Hoover I'm wondering
what theories did youhave in mind that Hoover
wasn't putting forward For example

RAY
That may ahve been a poor choice of words I
.should have siad pronouncements that they were
putting out I didn't - well I - I disagreed
with - in other words I didn't want to go beyond
anything that I had agreed to before I thought
I went the bare mtnimunor maximumw ichever
you want to call it the night before All these
agreements were predicated upon moneyfrom Percy
Foreman's view and from my view it was predicated
upon - mylegal position So -

RATHER
 294

RATHER
But you wouldn't have been necessarily willing
that day incourt txt to talk indetail about the
story abour Raoul and ow your various travels as
you have here today

RAY
Well it would depend on the judge what he would
have asked me I knowI would have went into
contract I would have probably told him that
if he and gotten me on the stand and I'd have
probably :atxrtc denied actually shooting Dr
King and I don't - I don't think the judge
wanted - he had everything all wrapped up andhe
== he didn't ax want to get into it I think the
record indicates that the judge had no - had no-
inclination to get into it But I - Ishould say
infairness to the judge that the judge didnt know
about all these contracts

RATHER
The book contracts

RAY
Yes and whewlater whenI got to prison I wrote
him about 'em and filed a motion for a new trial
It was myunderstanding that he was going to reverse
it Because he'd been kept in the dark about
these contracts Andbecause of this I further
understand from several sources that the Governor
of Tenesee then sent the state highway police to
see Governor Bell and offer him the next Appeals
Court Judgeship But he turned it down

RATHER
So he wouldn't pursue your case
 295

RAY
Yes Wherehe - where he wouldn't reverse it
But I think the #txgmxdxtmxjudge turned it down_
Ithink his - I think his family would confirm
that because I understand they're - they think
the establishment has houndddhim into be
premature death

RATRER
Let me again turn the page and go back to a subject
we discussed bofore but I would like to discuss
with you in somedetail Blunty put it's this
where did you get the money

RAY
Well I suppose I got axxxsx* certain amount -
I didn't - I never got a large sum of moneyat
one tme I think two thouand dollars is the mm
most that ever came acrost at one time And I
got this off the individual - this Raoul alias
whatever you 7mmwant to call him but I've
accounted for most of it Well it's almost
impossible to account for moneyyou said somebody
give it to you But I've accounted for it - my
expedditures expenditors (?) on the various
- buying things and living

RATRR
But from Raoul from the time you met-him in
Canada - your fitst trip to Canada - before the
Xing killing until after your arrest in London
howmuchmoneywould you say in round figures did
you get from Raoul

RAY
I - I figured up howmuchI spent between - when
2
 296

RAY (CON?)
I left Missouri prison I had about two hundred
fifty dollars I was employed in this reaturant
in Winetka Illinois and I - I think I - wages
there were about a thousand dollars All together
I spent I think it was between nine hundred - nine
thousand five hundred and ten thousand dollars
so -

RATHER
This is from the time you escaped from the
Missouri prison in April of 1967 to the time of
your arrest in Londonalter the King killing in
1968 you estimate you spent between ninety five
hundred and ten thousand dollars

RAY
It has to be somewherein betweenthere Yes

RATHER
Again the question where did you get that kind
of money

RAY
Well as I metioned I got - the first time I
get seventeen hundred dollars I believe for a
crossing the border in Detroit

RATHER
This is what Raoul gave you for that smu4gling
job

RAY
In Mexico in one - ine incidence I got two
thousand and NewOrleans one time I got five
hundred and I - I did commitone robbery in
canada That was a house of ill fame I guess
 297

RAY:(CONT)
you call it a gambling house and I think I got
sixteen or seventeen hundred dollars there and
- but Idon't think there'd be any problem in
accounting for the mwm money The Justice
Department I think has come up with fifteen
thousand I think somebook writers comepp
with seven but I can almost document every nickel
I spent

RATHER
So it's'your.contention to answer the question
where did you get the moneyis htat you got a
large share of it from RAoulfor various smuggling
jobs in Canada to the United States United States
to Mexicoand then once apayment in NewOrleans
the rest you got mostly from a Mad up and various
odd jobs

RAY
Yes well I think where the Justicd Department.
originally made the mistake - they assumed as
soon as I got out of prison - that I"d started
committing crimes And actually I went tom work.
The only way the Justice Department ever found out
that I was working is that I told Bradford -
William Bradford Healey ad he told the FBI.. But
I think aft er they found out-tat I was working
then they scaled downor scaled up the amount of
moneyI` spent

RATHER
On the subject on money Mr Ray when you were
in California this was roughly around Novemberof
1967 after you'd comefrom Mexicoback into
California
 298

RAY
Right

RATHER
Youhad no surgery went to bartending school
had dancing lessons how did you finance all of that

PAY
Well that was moneyI had when I come out of
Mexico I got two thousand when I came out And
I went to NewOrleans once and got five hundred
The plastic surgery - at that time I was - I
was working on sometype of project to et
(indistinct) seamless paper and there's certain
thing that shows up in the picture that doesn't show
up when your speaking to someoneface to face
I think its your nose and your ears And I was
I was - myoriginal intent whenI got out there
was try to get some merchant seamens papers by
going - going to the Coast Oaurd and suing
an assumedname Andthat's howcome - but that
really didn't cost too muchmoney

RATHER
Nowin December1967 you went from California to
NewOrleans Youlater went back to California
but in December1967 you went from California to
NewOrleans Youmadea telephone call in New
Orleans that as far as I knowyou've never been
willing to talk about To whomwas that call made/

RAY
Weit itw as supposed to be the individual
I called him from NewOrleans to xx have a
meeting in a tevern

RATHER
Raoul
 299

RAY
Yes And but - nowon this protecting the
telephone number I think - we haven't investigate(
but I couldn't rememberit all I rememberdialing
the last four numbers then we checked through all
the first three and - butx3xodsi*txkxwxx- I'm
skeptical - I don't want to get in this libel
area again and say something that may be embarrasinc
to - diservice some group or organizations
That was the big - the number about the - the
King association with the - Arab and things like
that NowI don't knowif - I think AndyYoungor
someonewould be better prepared to answer this
questions like that

RATHER
Escuse me the telephone nuilber -

RATHER
I want to pick up ther and again I - I'm not
earger to get into a libel suit either but the
responsibility -

RAY
No I mean libel someoneelse

RATHER
But you had some reason to believe that that
telephone numberor a telephone numberthat you
used for a contact in the NewOrleans area might
have been - what

RAY
Well now the - the poeple investigated for me
they mentioned the fact that the individual might
 300

RAY (CONT)
have been involved in some type of - this
Arab-Palestine conflict

RATHER
Trying to makea connection between the Pasestinian
and Martin Luther Kings organization

RAY
Well he - he - I think that the representation
he was - he intended like Vietnam to support the
Arab cause But aht's - that has never been gone
into in any depth It might be misleading or it
might not but == but that's one of hte problems
with - within the case You - you can't really
investigage anything you did if you can't get the
subpeona to find out just what - you know find
out just what's what or who's who or -

RATHER
Again is tat one of the leads you would like to
be pursued the possibility that Martin Luther
King's organization someonein his organization
making contact with be Palestinian s for an
alliance

RAY+
I - I - I - that was the impression that I got
from the party that delivered me the information
After I delivered him the - the information But
like I say I'm not the best I'm just teliling
you what I know I'm not the best judge of that
I'm sure that someof - UNAmbassadorAndrewYoung
or someonelike that would know something like that
more than me could,you squash it one way or
the other
 301

RATHER
Did you ever have any indication that Raoul or
anyone connected with him was connected with any
such movementas that

RAY
No there was never any political - of course
anyone would'd discuss polits - politics and
criminal operations anyway but I've never -
there was never any political - anything to be
connected with political It was always money
and things like that - forged passports and
the same thing that I"d always been involved in
except on a more spphisticated scale

RATHER
Let me carry on through with a couple of things
from your oddesy that I want to try to clean up
Nowafter going from California to NewOrlenand
in Decemberof 1967 then still in Decemberof 1967
you returned to Califonria from NewOrleans

RAY
Yes

RATHER
Andyoustayed in California until Marchof 1968
'Question - during this time were you as anti
conspiritorialist maintain just hanging around
just wandering or were you as conspiracy
believers think being guided around told where
to go during this period

RAY
I don't think either one I did go to NewOrleans
by request Nobodyever ordered me to do anything
It was always request with the promise sf hooked
on the end of it But in - there was a definite

0 79 20
36-173
 302

RAY:(CONT)
purpose in California because it was on the
coast,'and I was trying tomake some arrangemtnes
for Merchant Marines some type of papers to
get out of there And of course I was going to
San Francisco to make some type of arrangements
to get Coast Guard papers or whatever it is you
use to -

RATHER
Whenyou left California in Marchof 1968 to go
back through Louisanna and eventually wind up in
Atlanta did you not leave a forwarding da
address in Atlanta at that tine

RAY
WhenI -

RATHER
Whenyou left California

RAY
Run that by me agina when I

RATHER
This - we're now in March 1968 -

RAY
Yes

RATHER
Roughly a month before the Martin Luther
King killing You left California and were coming
back to the deep south The question is whether
you left a forwarding adress in California for
Atlanta

RAY
 303

RAY
I think - let's eee - when I left - no I -
I - I can say with almost certainty under oath
that I didn't leave no forwarding address

RATHER
Youwere coming back to the deep south - why

RAY
Well that was nnrequest The NewOrlenas but
there was never - in fact I never - I never
knewI was going to Atlanta until I arrived in
Birningham and lit there was no forwarding address
and of course that would be very damaging
against me but I'm - I'm just a hundred -
ninety ninepercent positive there as was no
no forwarding address If I would have left
it anywhere it would have been Birningham 'cause
that's wehre I had my idintification

RATHER
Thisis the reason I ask because - I do want bo get
this part of the story as straight as I can I
realize you're operating on your own memoryand
recollection

RAY
I'm- I'm - I'm certain that

RATHER
Youwere asked by Raoul to comeback to New
Orleans from California

RAY
Yes

RATHER
 304

RATHER
In March of sixty eight did he say why

RAY
Well I assumed it was the same reason that -
that he mentioned to me in December It was dome
type of gun operation in Mexico But there was
never any specifics on the telephone or - or on
- in.writing In fact there was never man very
muchof anything in writing

RATHER
Did he ever mention to you the possibility of
assassination or hit man operation

RAY
No I don't - tat would have been - thatwould
have been kind of out of myleague I - I dont -
I don't really think I have the constitution for al
that type of stuff I don't say that as a virtue
actually it's - might be a handicap in this type
of soceity But I don't -

RATHER
On the way back to Alabamaand Atlanta from
California this was in Marbh of 1968 you
stopped in NewOrleans -

RAY
In - Yes I went - I went - I took some - I
think I took some- nowlint that's in March
right/

RATHER
Marchof sixty eight

RAY
i
Yes I took some clothing downthere To a lady
 305

RAY:(CON?)
But I was supposed to meet the other party

RATHER
YOuwere suppolsed to meet Raoul

RAY
Yes but - I also told this - some - oh -
barmaid in a tavern there that I"dstopped by
there and deliverd some stuff for her Because
-I wasgoing through there and I sub - subsequently
delivered the material and that was it

RATHER
Myquestion is did you actually meet Raoulx in
NewOrleans

RAY
No there was nomeeting there I - there was a
telephone call but it was taw transferred to
Birmingham

RATHER
He was in Birningham at that time

RAY
He wason the way there somekheres

RATHER
Did you go from NewOrlenas to Birminghamby way
of Selma

RAY
Ah - yes I went through Selma I found out
later from William Bradford Healey that I was
there and I discussed with Arthpr Haynes and -
I went through tfeexexxx,xtkea through Selma
 306

RATHER
The reason I'm asking this ed I'm sure you must
be aware of this is that there is a school of thou
that you decided in Los Angeles thatyou 'ma were
going to kill Martin Luther King that he had
been out there and that you'd gotten angry at
seeing him on the television and madeup your
mind you were going to go to the deep south and
stalk him and did in fact stalk him in Selma
and finally caught up with him in Memphisand
killed him Youxa knowthat theory

RAY
Yes I - I - I =el read it yes William
Bradford Hewitt et cetera

RATHER
Is that true

RAY
No that's not true Selma - I got there I
kiw think --I -- I knownowI was there 'cause
I"ve checked it out but I got there about dark
and I checked in the motel and stayed there one
night and left Actually the reason I even come
through that particular town was that --when I
left NewOrleans I think I got on the wrong read
IN Alabama the roads downtere are - there are
not too manysuperhighways and - and I got off
onthe - I believe a secondary road and - I got
in Selma about seven or eight o'clock I think
checked ix there ane left the next morning And
went on into Birmingham

RATHER
So you were not stalking Dr Martin Luther King
at that time
 307

RAY
I never stalked - no that's riciculous they -
they ahve that in California and everything Of
course I lived there - I stayed there five months
and of course just becasue an individual happens
to comein town doesn't meanthat - another
indificual stalking him because I was there
before he was That eould be like saying he was
stalking me or something

RATHER
You say you arrived in Atlanta by way of NewOrleans
ans Selma from Califonria March twenty fourth
1968

RAY
I'm not - I think it's about that I think
that's about the correct date
RATHER
Youwere in Atlanta four days

RAY
No I think I was there about - approximately
seven because Ipaid - I paid the rent twice
(overtalk) I thought i was going to be there
for longer and I paid in adfance

RATHER
ALLRIGHT BUTYOUWERE GUIDED- given instructions
during that time - during the time that you were
in Atlanta four days to a week

RAY
Yes I was told once whenwe went there we rented
this room me and this individual called Raouls
we both rented ita but the - the landlord was -
passed out had been drinking so we said a few
words to him and I told bin I - H e told me he
 308

RAY (CONT)
- he promised me a room so I told Raoul that
I"d go ahead and get aroom and if I dind't
why - stay in here with the landlord or
something Wesubseqently he - he finally got
sobered up and he sent me right next door He
he ownedthat place and I stayed there I
think i stayed there seven days I could be wrong
but I think -

RATHER
WE11 mypoint during that period though you
were in contact with Raoul and he wasmoreor
less guiding your movements

RAY
No We- we - I I never seen him but once
that time and it was the enxt day and madesome
kind of arrangement where he could get in the
door the place I wasstaying in there wasn't
Is sen them get in these places all the time
there wasn't no - you couldn't get the- you
couldn't get in the - front door or something
Because I was in the back so I made arrangements
to leave the back door open and so if I ever got
a visitor they could just comein and see me

RATHER
You said htat you did see Raoul during that period
though and he discussed gun rinning with you
during that period

RAY
Yeah I was - I wasalmost smra.a certain at that
time whenI made Birminghamthat - tat - that -
that would be what it was
 309

RATHER
Dddhe mention Cuba during that period

RAY
No - the only mention of Cuba was in the -
was in NewOrleans in nineteen - 1967

RATHER
Right Is there any coorberation thatyou can
think of - any possible proof any evidence that
we don't knowof that you actually associated
with this manRaoul

RAY
No except what I told attorneys-

RATHER
Is there any cooberation anywhere any proof any
possible evidence particularly that hasn't been
knownbefore that might conceivabley aa}sesupport
this story of RAoul

RAY
Well other than mytestimony I belive there was
only two pieces of evidence that I can think of
.Xnd that's Percy Foremandepositiontex testimoyfry
in the 1974 Habeus Cropus hearing in Memphis Now
he refers to phone numbers disconneceedphones
tabs and all that Andhe implies that he got
them all somewhereelse but I - I confirmed them
The only other evidence that - I made somenotes
while I was in jail so I could rememverwhat -
what - what I had remembered and I 'd written
them all downon the - on a moneyslip a a#ttx jai
youknow,they send you a moneyslip you get money
and they give you s slip yousign for it So I
 310

RAY:(CONT)
kept - tried to keep these phone numbers
I'd write them downbackwards on the thing
and address and things and I kept that Well
I still got that I don't have - dont think
I have the original copy but I get a zerox of it
and I think Jerry has the original copy He
said somebodyknocked him in the head in Stl
Louis aeg in 1971 and he lost the original But
anyway I -

RATHER
That's your brother Jerry

RAY
Yes But I did keep a xerox of it and I think
it's file in some dourt now but it's wrote down
in code more or less so it's be difficult for
anyone to interpret it except me

RATHER
This is what I have to ask you and want to ask
you Again head to head and eye to eye man
to man are you absolutely certain Raoul existed
There was such a person

RAY
I'm - I'm absolutely exist - I'm certain he
existed person but I"m not certain about the
nameor anything like that But there's no
question that - in my mind at least that he did
exist and - I think if - if we could ever get
all the inforation from the Justice Department
and things like that out on the table - I'm not
talking about publicizing and embarassing anyone
I think if myattorney or someonecould go over
Minx= them with it well they could sot mor or
less see they could makeall the connections
 311

RAY (CONT)
But I dnnt - I don't see how you could ever
establish anyting if they keep - you know -
locking up evidence and voiding subpeonas and
things like that

RATHER
Youhave to know Howmanypeople whohear you
tell this story will say to themselves that is
a cock and bull story if ever I heard one

RAY
yeah yeah

R70CYRRATHER
That James EArl Ray is gottenhimself in a
world of trouble he's trying to concoct some
story that will help himout of it and this
Raouls sever existed and that things fantasy
from beginning to end

RAY
I think so I think - I have - I have - based
on mybackground the - you know in jails and
out I think people'd be skeptical of anything
I testified to to the media But I think
equally people are skeptical of the *printed
- printed press communicationindustry especially
these large Eastern publishing sxie companies
And they - they haven't seen to give them any
more credence then they give me I think the only
- only way to resolve this is maybe not even a
criminal trial for me maybe a civil trial where
the subpeona is you know nationwide it's not
some judge ea arbitrarily decides that the fifty
mile limit (?) and I think - I belive - I think
any criminal difendent - if he's involved in
 312

RAY:(CONT
something the crime is sort of complicated and
things like that I don't think you can take a
witness stand and make up a whole story because
somewayor another bey shoot you downand you
know ruin your credibility But I think -
as lawyers whohave contacted Griffin Bell if he
wants to examine the case some time of judicial
proceedings either a civil case I don't want
to committhe lawyer now because he might decide
something else He - to a civil proceedings
or a criminal proceedings But -

RATHER
You'd be willing to go through that

RAY
I've aiay always been willing I - I think we
filed six or eight sivil casds but they're
dismissed befofe you can get the subpeona They -

RATHER
Let me see if I understand you here That you're
saying all right you understand the people are
skeptical perhaps even cynical about your story
about Raoul and -

RAY
Yes

RATHER
ALLOFTHIS But that you're convinced that
if you could put yourself under oath and put
other people under oath with wide ranging subpeona
powers that it would be proven that Raoul did
exist
 313

RAY
AH_ I don't know- this certain individual
- I think - I think it'd be proven that someone
did exist whether it's that particular nameor
not I think I could have myprevious testimony
coorberated But -

RATHER
That someonedid exist and that he did -
financeyour smuggling
RAY
Oh I tthx4mmextak%*x"thinkit's definite The
prosecttion - they - they confirmed these
supbeonas,but they do it in sort of - offhanded
manner you know they - they makesome time
of remark - here I knewin Memphisin 1974
and but they'll never they'll never pursue
the matter

RATHER
Youthink a civil court trial would probably Ire be
the best form as far as your concerned to get to
the bottom of htis

RAY
Well the - the disadvantage of a civil court
trial would be that I couldn't getno - relief
unless it generates somekind of - publicity
Andthe point is that - there's certain people
don't have too much - they don't have no influence
with - with the - particularly the printed press
publishing companies I"m - especially working
class whites and Black Muslimsand anti-communist
and pro-communist Cubans I as know - I know
that from mypersonal experience Andby who
they wanted toput the ekatxeex heat on when I was
in Weld% Memphis So I'tliink if --if we did have
 314

RAY:(CNT)
a civil trial I don't kax know - I think you
could get - like I say I think you could get
all the facts out but I don't think it - I
don't - I can't see how it would benefit me any

RATHER
Perhaps in the long run if all the facts cameout

RAY
Well there's a possibility Well I think that
may be one - one reason why the civil suits
are always dismissed Because - I don't know
howmuch you knowabout lawn but wheneveryou
file a civil suit against anyone he - he
automatically has a right to impose and take sworn
statements from you If you refuse well then
you can be held in contempt or - your credibility
is gone In all the suits that we filed and
I guess there's six or seven - plus I"ve been sued
two or three times no one has ever took my
deposition or interrogatories And it seems like
always so -called really intelligent lawyers
which they am= are and they ant would - you
know - go into all theset things But they won't

RATHER
That strikes you as strange that that hasn't
happened

RAY
It does I"ve never been to - John J Jooker
he asked me a few questions I should take back
what I said a while ago but he never - they were
- they weres strictly limited to defending Percy
Foremanin a lawsuit
 315

RATHER
I understand After the King shooting you
drove the white Mustang to Atlanta then the next
day you took the busREY:andeventually Ixtktnx
one trfin I think and would up in Toronto

RAY
Yes Correc t

RATHER
Nowin Toronto within only two days you had
two aliases RaymondSnead and Paul Bridgman
Howdid you get those aliases

RAY
I got those aliases from the newspaperx office
from the films

RATHER
Did you go into the newspaper office or to the
library

RAY
I guess it was the library They put films
in the machine and you check'em out

RATHER
Here's bhe problem that manypeople I've talked
to have with that First of all they say that
you've told conflicting stories about how you
got those names Have you on fact told conflicting
stories about those -

RAY
No I've written - everyting I've all my
testimoney including theat firstone I"ve always
written downon paper Andof course now Foreman
 316

RAY:(CONT)
he's - he claims HELOSTwhat I wrote down
But all the succeeding attorneys I've always
written downeverything on paper And - what
is the other story that I was suppose to -
or do you recall

RATHER
Well amongother things it was - one time you
told the story that you went to the newspaper
office the next time you told the story that
you went to a library in Toronto to get these
names That was one conflict

RAY
No it was definately a newspaper because they
put these - they put these films tjere are
films or something - I guess you'd knowmore
about it than I would

RATHER
Microfilms

RAY
Yes And tl they you - you - you - the
secretary putsthem on this thing and you - you
.can run through the whole newspapers

RATHER
Let me tell you what I'm getting at here and
let me talk about nwwmy own skepticism I"d like
tothink I'm not cynical but as a professional
I am skeptical

RAY
yes
 317

RATHER
That the names Galt Williard these were earlier
aliases of yours that you got in Canada on the
first trip Snead and Bridgeman are all four
relatively similarly looking white males they
all lived in the same suburb of Toronto in the
Scarboro suburb NOwit strikes me that the
probablity of finding aliases that good that
fitting and all from the same neighborhood on
such short notice is so small to be the point of
impossibility andit seems to me an outsider
that perhaps you were in contact *ith an alias ring
someonewho supplied just the right aliases for jus
the right people

RAY
No no that's not correct I mean it --it might
be to myadvantage if I came up with some - some
story tout involving some type of counterfeiting
ring but that - thatreally wasn't - that really
wasn't waht it was I think - I think that was a
coincidence I did Took for people that were near
mygmage in the - of course the information on
the newspapers it gives you it gives the wife
I think the mothers name or nee whatever nee
means but it doesn't give nationality or race
or anything like that But in Canada you make
certain assumptions because tghe people born there
thirty ea years -

RATHER
But the point is that you did it the way you
claim to have done it

RAY
That's exactly the way I did it and - see -
I think there's a tendency to make systeries out
of things like this and of courser it is skeptical

36-173
0 79 21
 318

because the people did favor me but I think

I think in this case the things that the -
that are more unexplainable is for instance
Membhis when - shortly after Dr King was
shot someonwent on someonewent onthe
citizens band radio and misled the police -
had them go in another area I think another example
is -

BATHER
Youwere saying another example of what you
thought was a more important question

RAY
Well I think another example was that there's been
reports now - I'm pretty sure they've been
cooberated somebodygot a drivers liscense
qd under my namein Birminghamona certaindate
when I was living in California It would have
been impossible for me to do it I think -

RATHER
Wouldyou say that that was Raouls who did that/

RAY
,Raoul didn't have no idea who it was but I think -
someonecalled kmthe captains of the state police
up in Alabamaand requested a drivers liscense
and he gave it to him

RATHER
You managedto get two birth certificateswithin
two days in Toronto To back up those aliases
Then within two weeks you got a passport under
the ammonameof snead It simply doesn't stand
to reason to me tat you could have done all that
 319

RATHER(CONT)
by yourself

RAY
Well yes I did - I did that - that part there
was - I'll have to take full blame for it
Because - there's not too muchtrouble getting
a passport in Canada Contrary to published
reports I didn't kaawX Xs learn this in
penitentary I just picked it up in Danada by
making inquires and things but I think - the
passport I think it cost - not the passport but
the girth certificate cost two dollars just a
small thing

RATHER
It was easy to get

RAY
It's not too much if you got the correct
information and you can send two dollars into the
registrar generals office and you - you say you
want it -

RATHER
In some - an awful lot of people including myself
find .tthemselfvs thinking mks over and over again
no one manwhohad by his own acknowledgementnever
been to Memphisbefore could have under the
circumstances immediately following Dr.-Martin
Lutherts King's killing no one man could have
gotten out of MempXhisgotten back to Atlanta
and madehis way all the way to Canada gotten down
to Engalnd downto.Portugal and back to London
on his msi,xown_
 320

RAY
Well I don't know - what - what's the
specific is there any specific -

RATHER
Well it's a long way to run under very tough
circumstances world wide alert out for a killer
Howcould you do it

RAY
Well I think - I think that - the first parts
easy to explain and I think the - the all points
bulletin was in Tennessee They - they didn't
put an all points bulletin out in all - in other
states.- actually - actually the - the actions
in Memphis- the commissioner,he's a former FBI
man Mr Hollerman I believe his name is he's -
he's a very - well says (indistinct) for a lack
of a better word but there was never no all points
bulletin put out except in - in --in Tennessee

RATHER
The FBI didn't put out a_nationwlde bulletin
immediately

RAY
'Ho,I heard Memphisdid Mepphis - because you
can't compartmentalize these things I think Mr
Holerman he's twenty five years in the FBI so
I imagine he works very close with them

RATHER
Let me ask you about the FBI Have you xxdexx
ever at any time under any circumstances been
an informer for the FBI
 321

RAY
No I"ve never been an informer for not only the
FBI,xtlaa for anyone else Andif I ever go in
front of any committee or anything -p of course
it's been - that's been - there's not been
there's never been alledged ktx but it's been
alledged I cooperated somehwere but if I ever go uu
in front of a committee or get under oath again
I want to get in this in some da[at detail because
- that's about the worse thing you can - you
know alledge against someone From - from my
standpoint

RATHER
But you never had anything to do with them other
then they cahsed you or gathered evidence againstxgr
you

RAY
I never even talked to an FBI agent Except one
time and that weas in - years ago in Hanibal
and he called me in the room and I didn't have
no federal charges on me as andhe asked me for
- he asked everybody in case if I ever got out
would I consider helping him some way And I told
him I wasn't interested init But actually as
far as the FBI concern on this case I think
they're axlamoreor less the spear carriers
2t I think it's - I don't think they do too much
of anything without the - the acquiesence or the
approval of the Justice Department Because I
aaxaxxxxx2xaawsxxaaaaxremember- I rememberseeinr
I think some reels on CBSabout a year ago ra e
you see these various Attorney Generals Ramsey
Clark and Mr Nicholas Rasenbachthere don't
recognize their own initials for wire taps and
all that so .of course they're a*xxyx lawyers
 322

RAY (CONT)
and they're more smooth in these operations I
think than the FBI are - is

RATHER
Let me taee you what I'm driving at when I *mkt ask
you whether you'd ever had any involvement with
the FBI

RAY
Yes

RATHER
I knot! from your brother Jerry how strongly you
feel about that Of denying that But Andrew
Young nowthe UNAmbassadorwhowas of course
as close as anyone to Dr Martin Luther King has
said and I quote I'm not saying that Dr King's
assassination was a contract job I'm saying that
there was a climate created an atmosphere
created that gave the impression that Martin
Luther King was a danger to Democracyand to
America and that somebodymight be doing the
director meaning bhe FBI director a great
favor or be doing the nation a great favor by
getting rid of him MeaningDr King

RAY
Well first I ix* don't think - I don't - I
doubt very much - first I'm certain the FBI
would't ever kill him themselves Youknow the
agents That would be a they just don't do
things like that - intelligencg agents don't I
think you read the - what little bit I follow
the news in the paper like the CIA that's just
an expanded FBI they usuallypay the local
the tssgx local population I think there's a
 323

RAY (CONT)
story just recently they paid King - some -
King Hussain I believe it was of Jordan a
million dollars a year WEll ticak*a I assume
they don't pay anyone a million dollars a year
just to have parties on that much cause you
couldn't spend that much so I assume it's -
they use that moneyto get rid of people that
disagrees with United States policy So I think
that applies the same way to the FBI I desist
doubt very muchif they would ever - sell anyone
outside the law but I think they tight - they
have - they have enormousinformer network I
suppose Fromwht I read and they might let
someonedo that but - you know lighten up on
security or something

RATHER
Personal opinion Could Raoul have been an FBI
informer or CIAcontact of somekind

RAY
I - no I - I - I'm more inclined to think
if - if the FBI or the Justice Department someone
like that had anything involved they would - it's
been charged by MarkLane (?) what - wheat he
calls security stripping and I think - I think
this happened on the day Dr King was shot I
understand that two - someblack policemen was
guardinghim and someonesent - who's the people
that guards the Presidnet -

RAPPER
Secret service

RAY
Secrey service downthere and they told him that
 324

RAY:(CONT)
someonewas going to murder the policeman That
don't makemuchsense So they took the police
manoff to question him for three days and during
this time the killing tookp place and his name
was Redman I think I read - I readseveral
articles about it But I don't think they do
anything so crude as - unless it was just a
(indistinct) case

1 RATHER
I want to get back to the moneyfor a minute
if I may Youknowthe theory which is - true
it may not be widely believed it is that you
dealt in all kinds of businesses when you were
in prison in Missouri And managedto get out a
good deal of money Can we talk about that for
a while First of you all ddd you use drugs
when you were in prison in Missouri

RAY
I've never used any kind of - what you call hard
narcotics That's cocaine herion Of course
everybody in the pententary at one time another
takes tranquillizers something of that nature
But I"ve never dealt in any drugs I"ve never taken
any 'cause I've seen what it does to au your
health you got to be -

RATHER
What about amphetamines

RAY
No they and something called - someting si&ilar
to that they get prescriptions

RATHER
vet ..+ a..a a __
 325

RAY
(overtalk) while you're on the subject there was
considerable amphetaminesto the - in the prison
tzar I wouldn't say considerable but they was
in tea there and I don't want to get - I dn't
want to discuss prison - prison and all that
and - but - there are certain things goes on
in prison that goes on on the outside it's only
natural But there's no - things dn't get out
of hand - I thinkyou're referring - takxaex
the McMillian book that's nonsense there There
was nothing like that

RATHER
That's exactly waht I wasreferring to that George
McMillian in his newbook of his just lays out
a whole -

RAY
Yeah

RATHER
He says its more than a theory Hethinks it's
documentedevidence thatyo u dealt not only in
- in drugs in the Missouri state prison but in
other things and managedto build up onthe outside
a rather large amountof cash which allowed you
to runwhen you had to

RAY
See you have to understand Missouri prison when
I was there - you madea dollar and a half a month
for for work ANdof course in prison there -
there is a certain amountof - you have - there's
a certain amountof overhead Youknowxsxloiww-
you ax yave to buy a seat soap stamps things
like that They don't give - they don't give that
 326

RAY:(CONT)
away and you have to make moneyon the outside
to support those things But you don't makeno
thousand dollars amonthor anything like that
'cause that - that just don't happen You might
make fifteen or twenty dollars a month but you
can't send that out You - you have to leave
that inside

RATHER
It's my understanding his theory is that you
spent between eight and ten thousand dollars
running and it would have been very easy for you
to makea thousand dollars a year in jail and
you were in jail in prison betwen seven and eight
years

RAY
I think that would be impossible They have -
they have kaxexxtg%kaxthe enitre list of away
moneyI sent out The most moneyI ever sent
out was fifty dollars I think to my brother one
time and that was kind of indirectly I sent a
lawyer a hundred dollars and told him to give my
brother fifty sometihg But it's a very small
amount of moneyand - he says that I was dealing
with guards WEll that's nonsense I never had
any dealings with the guards But on the other -
the more specifically I think - ONthe -
on kw the money*park= part I just don't -
i don't see hey you could - accumulate that much
money

RATHER
it jsut isn't true

RAY
Well not it's - there's no -= there's no - it's
 327

RAY (CONT)
just totally false And I think the commissioner
of Missouri - I think his nameis Camp and
he said it's totally false and it's -

RATHER
Whatabout the charge that you're a racist
Always have been

RAY
No I-- I think - well Mast* I htak think tha'ts
Time - that accusation 'a been in Time - Time
Magazine not - not - under their definition
of racist I - I most likely am Most likely
am But - that's - I think their taxa term -

RATHER
I want to ask that question again if I may Are
you a racist

RAY
Well as I mentioned I think I would beunder the
.definition that Time Magazine and (indistinct)
gives beacuse I think they're the one - they're
the one- person madethe accusation But -
but I think that's mostly pretense What they're
- they more or less- that's economic IckiNgs7c
reasons - as far as mypersonal - feelings about
it these various other ethnic groups and things
they're jsut here and I"m here I think it'd be -
I don't think I could ever pretend to - have the
same - take the same poistion that say Time
Magazine or - or say George McMillian because -
 328

RAY (CONT)
what I'm concerned about is explaining something
to the jury If I went before a jury and - and
you know tried to pretend that I spent a life time
as a humanitarian a ministering to the ppor and
all that stuff they'd knowI was either crazy
or lying so - I think as far as !:e - I don't
knowwhat they're specifically thinking about
some type of segregation or anything There's
a lot - a lot of self segregation in the United
States I think - I think a good example is
probably in be federal prisons I think if you
go in there you'll see - MexicanAmericans
associating together blacks and - and the
whites and even people from Texas and I don't say
that with

RATHER
No at what we're driving at is (overtalk) deeper
than that

RAY
You're talking about -

RATHER
Youhated black people always hated black pepple
thats -

RAY
Well I think that's nonsense I think I usually
judge someone- on the - you know the
individual person But - bat I think there is
an instinctive tendency to --1-11ae assocaite
with people you have something in commonwith
background and things like that I don't-- I
don't think that's - means you're plotting to
kill the other person or anything like that but
it's jsut it's an incondequentfal thing When
 329

RAY:(CONT
I -

RATHER
By your own definition areyou a racist

RAY
No - not not in my owndefinition But I
don't like to get these words if I ever go
to trial or something like that I don't want to
get - I dn't want to get definitions mixed up
and with slogans and things like that I don't
want to be - specific just what they - you
now just what they were talking about and in
thier definition of those things

RATHE:R
For example George MacMillanbhe author alleges
that you said and scribbled Martin Luther Coon
quote unquote

RAY
Well see that's ignorant I wouldn't refer to
one ltkextx - to anyone like that even if I
was opposed to them But the - the the point
is I think George McMillan,he's - he's madea
statement that I used to makeall these comments
while watching TVin the prisons But - in
Missouri prison but the fact is there wasno TV's
in there while I was in kax there so that 's just
- just a story that *x he's made up to sekl a book
I suppose Makea point for the Justice Department

RATHER
Wouldit be too strong to classify that as a lie

RAY
 330

RAY
Well I consider it a hundred percent lie 'cause
- there's dust no - no basis for fact in it
I think it'd be substasntiated by any one who -
whowanted to check it with be prison officials

RATHER
I'm going to throw several questions that might
seem unrelated to you just by way of cleaning up
a few things If there was a conspiracy to kill
Martin Luther King if somebodyelse did it why
sit here silent by not tell everything you know
and do everything you can to find the other people

RAY
WE11 I don't - I think a lot of people have a
sort of a Pollyanne view of the legal system All
you got to do is go to the prosecutor and say km
oh here here's wiat it is turn me loose and
that's it That's not the way it is If - if
you - if you testify to the prosecutor he'll just
use what you tell him to weave it in his km
story It doesn't necessarly meanhe's going to
turn you out or anything like that As far as me
testifying there's been oppportnities ever since
kit the plea the second day after the plea I
think the second day after the plea is w bn I wrote
judge Bell and asked for a new trial There's
always been opportunities for the state to - to
depost me or ask me any questions they want to
But it has to be injudicial proceedings and -
and I dn't intend to - have some type of ex parte
meeting wiht the prosecuteug attonre y or anyone
else

RATHER
Youwant to do it inc court under oath
 331

RAY
That would be the only place,yes

RATHER
Andwith others in court under oath

RAY
Yes with the - wither the - right to cross
examine

RATHER
It's been alledged that you were a great fan and
follower of Mr Stoner a well knownsegregationist
in the South and read his newspaper The Thunderbolt
now is that true or nbt

RAY
I never read - I never read his newspaper
Thunderbolt The first time I ever heard of Mr
Stoner wasin the Eondon Engalnd jail That was
the first time I ever heard of him or his organizati
And some committee called the Patriotic fund wrote
me a letter and said they quid defend me for'-
I think it was nothing And ti at that time I
then contacted Haynesbut I never seen the letter
personally I read the letter ofer this English
"barristers shoulder and I jsut told him that-
that I didn't amknowMr Stoner never heard of
him and I"d go ahead and staywith Haynes But -

RATHER
Did you or your brother Jerry makecontact with a
Rent Courtney who operates what is described as
an extreme xgk right wing newsaper out of New
Orleans and Baton Rouge
 332

RAY
Yes we did After - after after the guilty
pies Hanyes - Baynes - Arthur Haynes the
first attorney that defended me it's his theory
and he - he made he had contacts in the FBI
and everything that the Communisthad involved -
were responsible for the crime becasue they wanted
to - well in otter words they couldn't use Dr
King any more or - they wanted to create trouble
in the United States NOwHaynes had a lot of name
and everything like that and I ca't rememberall
he discssed - He had me about convinced that they
was So consequently while I wasin jail I come
across something somewherewhere this Kent Courtney
was from NewOrlenas and he - he was specializin
in communism so when - whenhe - whenI went doI
to to the prison I asked Jerry to go downand
see him

RATHER
YOurbrother

RAY
Yes plus he was supposed to check on someother
stuff down - some phone numbers or something -
I asked him to see this Kent Courtney
But that's -

RATHER
So it was in that context that he say him

RAY
That was the context yes

RATHE
Mr RAy what do you think more than anp other
thing shaped your lief life
 333

RAY
I don't - I jsut can't - I can't answer -
it's difficult to answer those tppes of
questions I suppose it's heredity and - and
environment and chance in a certain sense I
think chance plays quite a bit of - quite a bit
in it but I wouldn't say it's -

RATP.ER
Wouldyou consider your life a failure

RAY
Well I wouldn'tif I If I - if I would have
staydd in Canada the first time and perhaps went
to Australia I wouldn't - I wouldn't exactly
have considered it a failure but - I don't conside
it one way or the other just --I'm just here and
that's it more or less

RATHER
Howabout influential people in your life Who
wouldyousay is - was the most influential person
in your life

XXTXEXYX
RAY
That's very difficult say who - you mean a family
'gammamemveror -

RATHER
I was thinking perhaps of Uncle Earl or aez your
Aunt Mabel Fuller or perhaps MomMayer

RAY
Well I've always been pretty close to all the family
members so I can't - pick out one and say I was
more influenced by them than the other ones
 334

RATHER
I want to ask you about MomMayer Did she
sign an affidavit in Alton Illinois saying that
you carried a picture of Adolph Hitler in the
1940's

RAY
No I don't think she ever said that I -

RATHER
Did you ever carry such a picture

RAY
No that's nonsense I think what she did I got
in jail there one time and I think she - she
was very prejudice against Germans and the place
I worked I think about seventy percent of them
were Germans Andshe - I think - I gor a
burglary charge and I think she went downhere
and told them these peolble ass were responsible
for me being in jail Or something

RATHER
YOuknowone reason I ask you this is the again
the author George McMillian lays out a wble
scenario in which you went around giving the
Heil Hitler salute carring a picture of Adolf
Hitler Is ther any - of that true

RAY
No that's - that's just - well that's just
nonsense I mean - that's the samewith the
remark he madeabout Martin Luther King coon
you know even if you do think along those lines
you would't be expressing yourself like that
'cause - it'd be kind of ridiculous Someone
would have to be a clown
 335

RATHER
What about the theory that you were indeed
heavily into amphetaminesand that you were high
on amphetaminesthe day Masrtin Luther King was
killed

RAY
the s
Well I don't know S was - I was on Lhestxreet
xtxx.gkt fourteen months during escape time
And I never - I've never taken - I don't think
S ever took a pill - I ban pneumoniaonce or
something something like that that's the only
time - that was in Birminghamin nineteen
I belive that sax was September,but there was
never any drugs I never took any amphetamines
on the street One time period AS I can
remember(?) recall

RATHER
SOIT* siply isn't true

RAY
That's just totally - well I don't McMillian
has even alledgee that But that's totally fasle

RATHER
Youdidn't mainline amphetamines Howeverthat's
done

RAY
No you - you can test on anybody and see if
they did that because usually youre veins dry up
and it leaves marks on- and I"ve been thoroughly
examinedand all that stuff Factis right after
I was arrested in England they - they run
various tests on me and see if I'd tdakenany any
 336

RAY:(CONT)
drugs and that stuff stays in yours system so
apparently since the Justice Department's kept
it quiet there's they hl came out negative

RATHER
Do you fearfor-your-life in Prison or have you
ever fearedfor your life inPrison

RAY
NO no I've never feared for my life in prison
Of course there's a lot of violence and things
like that but usually a lot of people brings
that on themselves

RATHER
Z wasthinking of someoneout to get you because
you and killed Dr King or to silence you for
what you may se know RSIIU NNIXNN NKIXXX
PURIM
RAY
Well most people in prison they they 're
more conversant with be legal system than the
average person on the street So consequently
they don't accept as fact everything the Justice
Department or the police say They're skeptical
especially when they see things trying to be
covered up and things like that So that - that's
rea.ly never been a problem

RATHER
SOYOUREALLY
never had a problem

RAY
No there's never been no problem THey- they
use that to keep me in segregation but Idon't
 337

RAY(CON'D
thing there was never a problem in that area

RATHER
Let me read to you just very quickly and have
you respond briefly if you will your own opinion
.these are various theories that ahve been put forwa
to me on the assassiantion case over the years
As t why it was done. ONe un-namedmoney
interests

RATHER
I want to run past you various theories that have
been put to me as a reporter working on this
assassination case for a good manyyears
And get your reactins to them as theories
first un-namedmoneyinterests were somehow
responsible for Dr King's death They wanted
to prevent Dr King from leading his peoples
march on Washington for one thing

RAT
That - that's the theory I've heard m oat and the
attorneys ahve discussed most Thetiysay he was -
got beyond integration stage and was interested
in economics Consequently a lot of business
interest I guess - I'm talking about large business
interest because consider this some type of
a threat to their economic -

RATHER
Youbelieve that

RAY
I don't - I don't knowwhether it's true or not
 338

RATHER
Anyoneever discuss that with you before the
killling

RAY
No I never - you talking about lawyers nowor
somebody-

RATHER
No,I"m talking about someoneon the outside

RAY
Actually I never - I never discussed Martin
Luther King with anyone I dn't think I've
ever mentioned his nameuntil I got that max
charge against me

RATHER
WEll another of the theories is that whit& racists
were responsible for this Their motive for
wanting to get rid of Dr King was obvious

RAY
No I think that would be totally false because -
you mentioned J.B Stoner a while ago I saw him
once in Memphisjail up there and he - he told
me that - he said whenever a mximecrace crime
- about race was committed they always cameto
him or his organisation but he said- the PEI
never came close to him during that time And I
think it was their theory that - that Dr King's
activities was actually helping them
 339

RATHER
Three the theory involving black militants being
responsible that Dr King has becometoo non
violent for their pawls and they wanted to take
away leadership for their black movement

RAY
No that's oneof the two theiries that Ithink the
attorneys representing mewanted to put forward
It was either anti-communist or pro communistCubasr
I'm not certain which - or black militants
But - i jsut - I can't - subscribe to that - the
type of a theory

RATHER
Flowabout the communists Who so the tgheiry goes
wanted to stir up black hatred and ferment rebellior
Fidel Castro for example is claimed had a special
interest in this

RAY
No I I doubt - I doubt it very much I
think Arthur the first - the first attorney
to defend me Arhtur Haynes had - he got form
the FBI or the Justice Department,he had various
material nnthis I think the only way to determine
that would be to supbeona the files form the
Justice Department Andthose various tapes ad
things like that I've seen the - the syndicated
columnist Carl Rowan and he's - he said theFBI
tried to mislead him in this area That the
Communistand black militant thing so I
don't know - if they tried to mislead him I
assumehe's being truthful ad -

RATHER
The other theory that's so poptlar is that the
 340

RATHER(CONY)
CIAwas somehowresponsible that it had become
quote reason of state to silent Dr King because
of his growing opposition to the Vietnamwar

RAY
As I mentioned before I don't think the CIA
silenced anyone They probably pay someoneelse
to do it They ahven't - if the newspapers are
telling the truth they have these various people
on their payrolls to do-things like that

RATHER
Have you ever thought about a possible connection
between the Dr King death your situation
and the assassination of Presidnet Kennedy

RAY
Well the lawyers ax have discussed it but I dont
think that's valid thoery at all Because -

RATHER
You don't

RAY
I don't think you can string a bunch of homocides
iegkea together because there's different motives
and different interests Of course I"m not I-
I'm not privvy to all these records ad I"m not
sophisticated to understand the - whypeople
does certgin things I assume whenever - wehn
anyone does anything it's for economic reasons
AndI -

RATHER
Do you think Dr King was killed for economic
reasons yourself
 341

RAY
WELLmaybe a come- sometimes I guess it's a
combination of things and they all converge into
one

RATHER
YOnknow the namePliff Andrews

RAY
Yes

RATHER
Youknowhim

RAY
I neverheard of him til I got downhere

RATHER
I met Mr Cliff Andrews He aaid that he knew
that the man you call Raoul did indeed exist
infact *tese at one time he indicated to me
thathe Mr Andrews might - just might be
Raoul himself. Nowthis Mr Andrewsin this
cloakand dagger meeting I had with him laid
out the following line of thought He said that
QuebecLiberation party members those whowant
to separate Quebecfrom the rest of Canada had
anoffer from tk somewhite business men in the
south for big moneyto get King killed And
Mat Raoul was the point man so to speak for
that and he enlisted your aid and bhat that's
whaphappened NOwI"m asking you do you have
any reason to believe that that's sroty true

RAY
I don't have any reason it atall is ture. The fact
is I'm - I'm pretty sure it's false

0 79 22
36-173
 342

RATHER
WhenI asked one of your former attorneys
what your basic story was this is what he said
to me And I quote directly James EArl Ray
would like to have credit for killing Dr Martin
Luther King but does not want to have to pay
the price

RAY
Well that sounds like Percy Foreman Really that
that type of conservation there is - that's more
suitable for something to entertain - talk shows
or something like that But there's no - that's
someonewould have to be insane to you know
get involved - wanting publicity and killing
somebody wanted the publicity because - to me
it is I I can't conceive of anyone - there
is people like that But I can't conceive KAof
anyone wanting that type of publicity

RATHER
And you didn't do it

RAY
No Ididn't do it

RATHER
WhenI asked Mr Percy Foremanwhat he tought
the motive for the killing was and as you know
he thinks you did the killing he said and I
quote self agrandisement self-realization
The second most fundamental instinct in human
nautre Second only to self-preservation to be
a big shot He thought he would be he biggest
man in America end of quotation
 343

RAY
Yeah we'll that's a I think first - Percy
Foreman he also testified under oath that he
never did ask me if I committed the crime That's
been documented The other things that he's
mentioned they're more or less - well senshtional
in naure I think - that type of thing looks
good inprint and I guess the Justice Department
thinks it looks good,but - it's just alien
to my thinking I can't conceive of - me doing
something and - under those terms you - you're
thinking about I - I could - might do something
similar to that under self-defense but I couldn't
- under what you just - read off there about

RATHER
Then you didn't do it

RAY
No that's right

RATHER
Mr Ray for the average person watching ad
listening to this in his living room and trying
to make some sense out of all the cataclysmic
events we've been through and your situation
who says to himself you know I - sort of
believe there was conspiracy - somebodyelse
had to be involved on the other hand the evidence
against James Earl Ray is rather strong A lot
of psxspta people think this way What's the
'most important thing that needs to be said to
that person Fromyour standpoint

RAY
 344

RAY
WEll I don't know it's difficult to answer
It's difficult to say anything to that type
person The problem w we have - the problem
we have here I thank is - is there's - you
never can get a a fall airing it in a court
somewbere wehre where it should be aired
It's not - ita not - it's not to my advantage
to stay in solitary confinement in jail and just
let things dragout I - liras prepared years
ago to try to get everything resolved out in the
open in a courtroom or maybe if necessary even a
congressional hearing But - then forget about
it I don't see any point in just keep writing
books and talking about it and - nothing is ever
resolved

RATHER
Andyou're willing to do that now

RAY
I've always been willing to testify under
appropriate condidtions in court or - who knows
maybemaeven in a congressional committee if
on advise of lawyers and they makecertain
- fair showings we can get together on it

RATHER
And you're willing now

RAY
I'm perfectly willing right now yes

RATHER
Thank you Mr RAy

RAY
 345

RAY
Thank you

RATHER
You've been very patient with us and I
appreciate that

(wild track)

SOUND
TAKE16

RATHER
Mr Ray this is for the record I want to
ask you now for the record have you asked for
or received any panes payment for this interview
whatsoever

RAY
No I"ve never asked I've never received money
from any source for any interview Since I"ve
been in prison on this charge

RATHER
But I"m ak asking you speficically about this one
for the record

RAY
No I think I vs* woote and told you that I -
didn't want any I wasn't interested in any
type of fee for it

RATHER
YOU
ALLRIGHTTHANK
 346

15 Wand
ROOLS
CAMERA
14 C
16
SOUND RATHER
Mr RAy I think you will acknowledge that -
will you acknowledge that you have on several
important points over the yamyears bold or been
quoted as telling two or differnt dtories

RAY
I may have been quoted as telling but I never -
actually everything I"ve ever told the lawyers
or anything has been written downon paper So -

RATHER
Whatwe're talking about is the credibility
problem of - of manypeople whowould read on
one En occassion that for example that you said
you'd given the rifle to Raoul at the NewREbel
Motel and they read that you said you'd given
the rifel to Raoul at the DeSoto 2m mississippe
motel Then they read that no you didn't meet
Raoul gmagain until the day of the shooting and
- at the rooming house and the gun was in the
trunk at that time They read all of these
conflicting stories and say James Earl Ray has
a teriffic problem

RAY
Well actually there's no that's mostly what
some Percy Formeanor somebook wirter said
Actually what - everyting from Percy Foreman
til now that I've told attorneys I"ve writ - I've
written downin long hand so - nowthe only
nowthe - I mentioned kaxy.[ motel I did get
that mixed up and actually it was - wasn't until
I came to prison - until the until ayone
 347

RAY:(CONT)
went downand investigated this motel this -

RATHER
But your argument is that gas an honest mistake
on your part

RAY
That's an honest mistake yes That's one of the
few mistakes I think I've madein - in what I've
written tothem

RATHER
Is you contention your basic story the ones you
wrote down for your attorneys has never changed
from the first day you wroteit

RAY
Well it's - no it's never dhanged Well now
like I think I mentioned before Percy Foreman
said - he's lost what I wrote downfor him the
only - nowthe previous attorney before that was
Arhtur Haynes and the way we was working that I
would wirte downfor him not only him but William
Bradford Hewitt was using it to publish a Emit
story plus get a defense together ANdwe never
did get through all the installments on that
Hayneswas dismissed before the - before the
installemnts run out

RATHER
But your basic contention is yo don't have ay
credibility problem

RAY
Well it's never been challanged in dourt and
of course I knowthere's no credibility problem
 348

RATHER
Have you told a different story as to where you
were at the actual time of the shooting

RAY
no that

RATHER
Conflicting stories onthat

RAY
No the only one discrepency there is that when
I wqs furnishing these instlllments for William
Bradfor Hewitt to write ghe articles plus eta
Arthur Haynes was using them for - to prepare
the case I"d write downmaybythree tee two or
three monthstime and he'd investigate it andhe
would write about it and publish it in Look
Magazine NowHaynes was dismissed before the
last couple of installemnts came out and then
consequently Percy Foremanhad to get in (?)
But anyway on what I told Haynes one time we had
some conflict there - one time he was telling
Hewey- Heweywanted to knowthis and that And
it was my - Ithought I had a tacit agreement with
Haynes that he wouldn't give Heweyall the details
of the day of the offense because if he did it'd
you know compromiseus withthe prosecution do
he come up here one day and they asked me about
- what you going to tell Heweyabout the crime
So I knew Hewey- He's hooked up on this Klu
Klux Klan thing I said well jsut teal him that
- I wassetting in the car guy ran up and threw
a sheet over his head that was it
 349

RATHER
Youtold a deliberate fast falsehood on that

RAY
Yeah well in the it was more or less a
joke Andthen aikaaxax later on in 1974 in the
evidentary hearing Arthur Haynes testified that I
in fact did kind of jokingly tell him to tell
Heweyone time that - this story But eater on
I wrote all this - the same thing downfor
Foreman legitimate testimony and I think he -
be presented it to Heweyand I believe Hewey
has it now

RAWER
Whywas JimmyHOffa so interested in reading about
your case

RAY
I really can't tell I really don't know Inmate
in here several years ago bold me was in
.with JimmyHoffa He told me he
was very interestdd in the case Of course I
knew someting bout the teamsters connectdd with
the case possibly connected --so I - I
didn't want to con - contact Hoffa at the time
because he might damagethe parole I did contact
his son I had another aprty contact his son
then later on I think Bernard Fernstabal (?) he
contacted his - Mr Roffa's attoasey Ed -
EdwardBeennett Williams I belive it is But - but
I dn't knowwhat cameout of it It was - it was
just something used in be prosecution I mean
defense It wasn't - in other words I wasnt tryir
toX look --looking into this information to use in
- some state st supported project
(wild track)
 350

Mr LANE May I inquire whether this is an edited transcript or is

this the original transcript
Chairman STOKES I just wanted to pose a question to your client
Mr LANE Yes You have given him a document to see We are
asking if this is an edited transcript or the original full transcript
The witness should be told that when he is given a document
Chairman STOKESThe question to Mr Ray would be this
Mr Ray didn't Dan Rather furnish you with a copy of the tran
script of your statements to him
Mr RAT No I think this committee wanted a copy of it I signed
a waiver and I think the committee got a copy of it
Chairman STOKES Well as you best recall your testimony to Dan
Rather was it truthful
Mr RAT I don't recall I wasn't under oath
Chairman STOKES You gave an interview to Playboy magazine
Mr Ray
Mr RAT Yes
Chairman STOKES And it appeared in the September 1977 issue of
their magazine
Mr RAT That is correct
Chairman STOKESWas the substance of the answers you gave there
to their interviewers the truth
Mr RAT Well it was intended to be the truth Of course I can
always make errors in recollection The truth is the statement I just
read I don't know about these past statements There can be certain
inadvertent errors in them Generally it is my intention except for
William Bradford Huie it was my intention to tell whoever inter
viewed me the truth
Chairman STOKES Now on eight different occasions our staff people
visited Brushy Mountain Penitentiary and expended somewhere in
excess of 40 hours taking testimony from you and that has now been
translated into somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,700 pages of
written testimony and would you say to us that that testimony is
truthful and it corresponds with that which you have given today
Mr RAY Well when the committee's counsel Mr Robert Lehner
started interrogating me he made a point that nothing I said would
be under oath and a lot of it would be just for recollection sake of
recollection and he also noted on the record I had no notes whatever
with me when I made those statements And in this respect my being
interrogated by the committee at Brushy Mountain I wrote a letter
to Mr Jack Kershaw about this matter If it is all right I will put
this in as an exhibit But I know I made several errors in testifying
before that.I gave you a copy.I know I made several inadvertent
errors in testifying before that during those hearings
Chairman STOKES At any rate we can conclude in terms of incon
sistencies and prior inconsistent statements that that testimony which
you have given today in your statement is the truth
Mr RAT Here
Chairman STOKES Yes sir
Mr RAT Yes sir
Chairman STOKES Now at the beginning of that statement you
say this and I quote from your statement "The statement I am
about to give this committee is essentially the same testimony I would
 351

have given the trial court in Memphis Tenn. in 1969 if that court
would have had the fortitude to have ordered a public trial into the
murder of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. rather than making an in
chambers deal with the attorney who was allegedly representing me
Percy Foreman and capitulating to the wishes of the dominant com
mercial publishing companies and the companies special relation
ships with the intelligence communities In essence I would have told
the trial court and jury that I did not shoot Martin Luther King Jr.
just as I am now telling this committee If I would have had a lawyer
to represent me I could have offered conclusive proof in support of
the denial.
My question to you is What is the conclusive proof in support of
the denial
Mr RAY Well first under the terms that I was extradited from
England the only thing the United States could try with me was
actually the shooting of Dr Martin Luther King They couldn't try
me for conspiracy or aiding or abetting or something like that
What my intentions to prove that I wasn't guilty was the State's
chief witness I believe his name is Charles Stephens testified I was
locked in the bathroom I believe for an hour or hour and a-half prior
to the shooting I thought I could establish that between this hour or
hour and a-half I was supposed to be in the bathroom I was in fact
in various establishments in the immediate area the drug store the
taverns and getting the binoculars and things of that nature I also
thought I could establish that I was at a service station during the
time that Martin Luther King was shot The way the attorneys ex
plained it to me the first attorney Arthur Hanes Sr. was that the
only thing I had to prove was that I couldn't have been in the building
at this particular time
Chairman STOKESWho was the first attorney to whom you told the
gas station story
Mr RAY I didn't tell Percy Foreman anything I told him.let
me explain how I told him and how the case was
Percy Foreman came to me about February 4 or 5 and he said he
was already to go to trial and wanted me to dictate to him everything
that I knew about the case So he started writing about.and I was
dictating He wrote about a fifth of what transpired between the time
I escaped and the time the police started looking for me in the King
case He got a cramp in his hand a fifth of the way through and asked
me to write the rest of the details out and I wrote the rest of the
details out including the service station incident and everything
Chairman STOKESThat was the first time you had told
Mr RAY That was the first time
Chairman STOKES Now you tell us that you purchased the 1966
white Mustang from Mr William Paisley in Birmingham Ala. and
you paid $1,995 for it is that correct
Mr RAY That is correct
Chairman STOKESThat was money given to you by Raoul
Mr RAY That is correct
Chairman STOKESAnd then you acquired an official Alabama auto
mobile registration and a driver's license in the name of Eric Starvo
Gault is that correct
Mr RAY That is correct
 352

Chairman STOKESDid you continue to use and own this automobile

from that time until after you had abandoned the automobile in
Atlanta on the 5th of April
Mr RAY Yes that is correct
Chairman STOKES And at no time did anyone else use that
automobile
Mr RAY Well this fellow that called himself "Roaul. he had the
keys to it I think he possibly could have used it one time I don't
know I am not certain To my knowledge no one used the automobile
except me
Chairman STOKESDid you ever see Raoul drive any kind of a car
Mr RAY No
Chairman STOKES Now you parked this automobile on April 4 on
South Main Street in the vicinity of the roominghouse which you
had rented at 4221/2Main Street is that correct
Mr RAY That is correct
Chairman STOKES Shortly after 6 p.m. on the same date did you
leave Memphis in that white Mustang and drive the entire night some
11 hours some 350 miles to Atlanta Ga. where you then abandoned
the car
Mr RAY Well I didn't leave the roominghouse at 6 o'clock but
I did drive to Atlanta Ga. and I entered Atlanta about daylight
that is correct
Chairman STOKES Now our investigation reveals that on March 29
1968 you purchased a .243 Remington rifle and ammunition from the
Aeromarine Supply Co in Birmingham Ala. using the name
"Harvey Lohmeyer then on the following day you exchanged the
rifle for a more powerful 30.06 rifle and .30 caliber ammunition at the
same store is that true
Mr RAY Yes I thought I changed it I made the exchange the same
day I purchased but I found out the last 2 or 3 weeks by reading docu
ments that what you say is correct I did make these changes the next
day
Chairman STOKES You were in possession of that 30.06 rifle from
the time you left the Aeromarine Supply Co on March 30 until you
arrived in Memphis on April 3 weren't you
Mr RAY Yes that is correct
Chairman STOKES Now when you bought the rifle did you handle
it physically
Mr RAY Yes
Chairman STOKESCan you tell us how you handled it what you did
with it
Mr RAY Well I really didn't know too much about the rifle but I
wanted to give the salesman the impression I knew something about it
I handled it fairly extensively when he was letting me look at it
Chairman SToKEs Did this include placing your hands on the scope
along with the rifle itself
Mr RAY Yes sir
Chairman STOKES Now after you left the Aeromarine Supply store
with the rifle did anyone else ever handle the rifle
Mr RAY The second rifle
Chairman STOKES.Wellwe are talking about the second rifle the one
you took with you to Atlanta
 353

Mr RAY I didn't see anyone handle it I assume they did later on

Chairman STOKESThen you handled it
Mr RAY Yes
Chairman STOKESDid Raoul ever handle it
Mr RAY No he handled the first rifle I think In fact I am posi
tive he handled the first rifle but he didn't handle the second one
Chairman STOKES You returned the first rifle to the store didn't
you
Mr RAY Yes sir
Chairman STOKES So that we understand and the record is clear
the second rifle which you purchased which you handled you never
saw Raoul handle
Mr RAY No except on April 3
Chairman STOKES Did you have that rifle in your automobile with
you at all times after purchasing it in Birmingham until you arrived
in Memphis on April 3
Mr RAY I had it yes sir at all times
Chairman STOKESWhere was it
Mr RAY In the trunk of the car
Chairman STOKES Now you told us in your testimony this morn
ing that on April 4 you were using the name "John Willard, that
you rented room 5.B at the rear of Bessie Brewer's roominghouse at
4221/2 South Main Street is that correct
Mr RAY That is correct
Chairman STOKESMr Ray I direct your attention to Martin Luther
King exhibit No F.15A and ask you to take a look at it
Does this photograph accurately reflect the place where you rented
room 5.B
Mr RAY I don't know but I have seen pictures and I think that it
is yes
Chairman STOKESAnd what you actually have to do there is to enter
the 4221/2 section but then go over to the other building to room 5.B
which is located to the left of the original building is that correct
Mr RAY I guess so
Chairman STOKES I direct your attention to Martin Luther King
exhibit No F-15C Mr Ray does this photograph accurately reflect
the room that you rented which was known as 5.B
Mr RAY I really couldn't tell I assume that is it but I couldn't
tell
Chairman STOKESDo you recall that the room which you rented had
a window in it
Mr RAY No Yes I think it did It had a bed in it I remember that
Chairman STOKESHow many beds were in the room
Mr RAY One bed
Chairman STOKES And prior to taking this particular room had
you rejected another room
Mr LANE Excuse me I object to the question because it presumes
an answer which is not in the record He said he cannot be sure that he
rented that room and then you began with the presumption that he
said that he had rented that room
Chairman STOKESI will rephrase the question
Mr LANE Thank you
Chairman STOKES[continuing] Mr Chairman
 354

You do recall that you took a room known as 5-B that you do
recall
Mr RAY Yes sir
Chairman STOKES It was in Bessie Brewer's roominghouse wasn't
it
Mr RAY Yes sir
Chairman STOKES And the roominghouse was located at 4221/2
South Main Street Memphis Tenn. was it not
Mr RAY Yes sir
Chairman STOKES And prior to taking room 5-B had you looked
at another room in the same roominghouse
Mr RAY Yes sir she showed me two rooms
Chairman STOKES And when she showed you the first room did
you turn that room down
Mr RAY No I think I asked to see the second room The first room
was what you call a light housekeeping room it has where you can
cook and things like that where you can live in it The second room
was a sleeping room which is what I wanted and I took the sleeping
room
Chairman STOKES Did you notice that the first room which you
turned down did not have windows
Mr RAY No I don't recall anything about it Only thing about.I
recall about the first thing room is she mentioned you could cook in
there I didn't want to do any cooking so I turned it down
Chairman STOKES Room 5-B was a bathroom located near that
room
Mr RAY I have no recollection of being in the bathroom although
I could have been in there
Chairman STOKESAnd your best recollection is that you could have
been in there
Mr RAY Well a possibility because I had been in two or three
taverns in that area but I don't have no recollection of being in there
I just say.that is something like tying your shoes You don't remem
ber all those insignificant things I could have been in there but I
don't have any clear recollection of being in there
Chairman STOKES When you said "I have been in two or three
taverns, you mean you had been drinking in two or three taverns
Mr RAY I don't drink beer Usually when I go into a tavern you
have to buy something They don't want you to hang around with
out spending any money So consequently during that day I had
bought three or four beers Probably of the three or four I didn't drink
one complete In other words the four didn't aggregate into one
bottle
Chairman STOKES So then your best recollection is with reference
to the bathroom that you could have been in it is that correct
Mr RAY I could have yes
Chairman STOKES Now on April 4 you also purchased a pair of
binoculars didn't you
Mr RAY That is correct
Chairman STOKES And you paid approximately $40 for those
binoculars
Mr RAY I think so yes
 355

Chairman STOKESAnd do you recall the name of the place where

you purchased the binoculars
Mr RAY No I don't It was
Chairman STOKES Would the name York Arms Co help refresh
your recollection
Mr RAY Yes that is it
Chairman STOKES And I believe you said you did that because
Raoul told you to do it
Mr RAY He suggested that I get a pair of infrared binoculars
which I assume you can see in the nighttime
Chairman STOKES Did he tell you why he wanted infrared
Mr RAY Well he said his people wanted to look at something so
I didn't inquire about it So I assumed they would be for sale
Chairman STOKES When you purchased the binoculars did you
physically handle them
Mr RAY I think the salesman handed them to me and I handed them
back to him and said they were OK I didn't examine them or any
thing of that nature If I touched them it was very briefly
Chairman STOKES What did you do with the binoculars after you
purchased them
Mr RAY I took them to the roominghouse First this Ronal is an
alias that is obvious no person I showed them to him and told him
I couldn't get the infrared attachments He said that is all right
I think I laid them on the bed or somewhere in the room
Chairman STOKES Is that the last time you saw them
Mr RAY That's the last time I saw them
Chairman STOKES Mr Ray our investigation has determined
shortly after 6 p.m on April 4 the Memphis police found a bundle in
front of Canipes Amusement Company on South Main Street the ad
dress of which is 424 that bundle contained the 30.06 rifle that you pur
chased at the Aeromarine Supply Co. several rounds of .30 caliber
ammunition a pair of binoculars that you purchased on the after
noon of April 4 from York Arms Store in Memphis an over
night bag containing a copy of the April 4 1968 issue of the Memphis
'Commercial Appeal newspaper your radio from Missouri State Pri
son much of your toiletries and personal items
Now isn't it true that the items found in that bundle belong to
you
Mr RAY I think all the items except three or four articles belonged
to me yes
Chairman STOKESDo you want to tell us what the 3 or 4 were that
did not belong to you
Mr RAY Well I think there were 3 cans of beer in there I believe
my fingerprints were found on one I don't use beer and I never recall
buying any of it I am kind of mystified how my prints got on it I
believe there were a pair of underwear in there that weren't mine I
think there were some female garb in there.hairpins and things of
that nature that weren't mine But everything except that was mine
Chairman STOKES It was shortly after 6 p.m when you drove out
of Memphis Tenn von drove 350 miles in 11 hours nonstop arrived
at Atlanta Ga. and there you abandoned the car
Mr RAY That's correct
 356

Chairman STOKES Then you left Atlanta and you headed for
Canada is that right
Mr RAY That's correct
Chairman STOKESThen while in Canada you successfully obtained
a false passport as quickly as possible and then you flew Canada to
Great Britain correct
Mr RAY Yes
Chairman STOKESLet us talk about Raoul a little bit You first met
him at the Neptune Tavern in Montreal is that correct
Mr RAY That's correct
'Chairman STOKES From that point forward you spent a great
deal of time with him didn't you
Mr RAY No not too much
Chairman STOKES Well let us just take your testimony given here
this morning
Mr RAY I think you have to separate the time sir into two dif
ferent categories One time was with him I was in the car with him
and one time while we were making some type of preparations to com
mence some illegal act
Chairman SToKEs Let me make reference to your testimony this
morning Page 10 you begin by telling us "we had perhaps three or
four meetings.
Mr RAY Yes
Chairman STOKES On page 11 you say you returned to Montreal
you met with Raoul several more times
Mr RAY Yes
Chairman STOKESPage 11 you tell us about the Windsor to Detroit
trip Page 13 you tell us that the two of you meet at the Starlite Page
13 you talk about the next evening when you meet again Page 13 you
talk about the next morning "he gave me $2,000.
Page 13 you say "later in the morning I bought the car returned
and I picked up Raoul At the Starlite we went to my residence Raoul
then gave me $500 for living expenses $500 to purchase camera equip
ment. Go to page 14 and you then are going into Mexico around the
6th of October Page 15 you tell us you left the motel you left him
out at the square you then tell us about the Custom's incident You
then say "Raoul showed up again the next morning Raoul got out of
the car after about six blocks.
This goes on and on and on
So my question to you is you and Raoul spent a great deal of time
together didn't you
Mr RAY No I don't think so Usually when.whenever I.well
not only Raoul but any other persons I am engaged with in some type
of criminal activity as soon as whatever we are going to do is done I
try to get away from them These meetings never did last too long
maybe 1 hour at the most I was in the car with him approximately 5
or 6 hours driving between Birmingham and Atlanta
On the actual conversation I don't think I was with him over 6
or 7 hours in actual conversation In other words I didn't hang around
anv bars or anything of that nature with him or anyone else
Chairman STOKESWhat was Raoul's full name
Mr RAY I don't know
Chairman STOKESDid you ever ask him
 357

Mr RAY No I never did ask him

Chairman STOKES Did you ask him if his name was really Raoul
Mr RAY I asked him something about.I was interested in the
Spanish language.and I asked him something about the Spanish
language at one time and he was noncommittal That is one of two
things I can recall asking him
Chairman STOKESHe knew your name didn't he
Mr RAY No he didn't know my name
Chairman STOKESWhat did he know you as
Mr RAY He knew me as Eric Galt
Chairman STOKESAs what I am sorry
Mr RAY He knew mews Eric Galt
Chairman STOKESEric Galt
Mr RAY Yes he possibly knew me as John Rayns.but neither
of those names was mine
Chairman STOKESDidn't Raoul write you letters
Mr RAY Yes
Chairman STOKESHe signed his name to the letters
Mr RAY Yes he signed it Raoul typewritten letters
Chairman STOKES Did you ever wonder why he wouldn't give you
his full name
Mr RAY Well I knew he was a crook
Chairman STOKES Beg your pardon
Mr RAY I assumed he was a crook
Chairman STOKES Well during the period of 9 months you and
Raoul were together in three different countries 10 different cities
twice in Birmingham twice in Atlanta so you knew this man pretty
well didn't you
Mr RAY I never made no effort to know him too well I usually
don't like to know too much information of someone else's business
That is an easy way to get killed
Chairman STOKES This is a man whom you were in business with
weren't you
Mr RAY Yes but it was not a legitimate business
Chairman STOKESBut it was business
Mr RAY It was business yes
Chairman STOKES In fact wouldn't you describe yourself and
Raoul as being friends
Mr RAY No
Chairman STOKES Would you describe yourself as being
accomplices
Mr RAY Yes
Chairman STOKES Would you describe yourself as being
coconspirators
Mr RAY Legally speaking I think so yes
Mr LANE I wonder if the record should reveal since this is a
very important question it should not be left hanging there if
Mr Ray would be asked to ask what he was a coconspirator in You are
investigating one crime but he has testified about a series of other
crimes he has committed I think the record should not be left hang
ing with a loose end of that kind
Chairman STOKES It would not be my desire to have the record in
any way hanging The witness has testified that they were coconspira
tors Can you tell us sir what were you coconspirators in

36-173
0 79 23
 358

Mr RAY Well I assume taking contraband across borders pur

ohasing of firearms because I believe it was illegal at that time for a
convict exconvict to purchase firearms I assume if I would have got
arrested in the United States I ,would have about 20 different charges
on me
Chairman STOKES But you had about 20 different charges on you
Mr RAy Well maybe 30 or 40 with all the conspiracy laws we have
Chairman STOKES Growing out of the illegal conduct in which you
and Raoul were engaged is that correct
Mr RAY Yes that's correct
Chairman STOKES Mr Ray since you saw so much of Raoul why
did you have so much difficulty describing him to people
Mr RAY I didn't have no difficulties describing him
Chairman STOKESWell did you describe him to Buie
Mr RAY Huie
Chairman STOKES Yes
Mr RAy Yes that's correct
Chairman STOKES Didn't Huie write Look magazine an article
published November 12 1968 that you described him as follows "A
man whom Ray calls Raoul and describes to me as being a blond Latin
about 35 whom Ray took to be a seaman showed interest in him.
Is that the description you gave Huie
Mr RAY No sir
Mr LANE Might I suggest Mr Stokes that a better way to deter
mine what he told Mr Huie is to read the notes that he gave Mr Huie
rather than what Mr Huie printed in a magazine the kind of state
ment which would not be admissible in any court anywhere in America
Mr RAY Mr Huie subsequently retracted that statement in his book
Chairman STOKESYou are talking about the book on "He Slew the
Dreamer"
Mr RAY Yes
Chairman STOKES In there doesn't he provide a different descrip
tion which he alleges you gave him that of Raoul being a reddish
haired French Canadian
Mr RAY Yes I gave him the description he had a red tint in his
hair something of that nature 5 feet 8 or 9 and weighs about 140
pounds Mr Huie wrote in the Look article I believe that I said he was
blond haired Consequently I wrote a letter Mr Huie a note saying
that I didn't mention blond hair Subsequently Mr Huie retracted
and said in effect he misread my previous description
Chairman STOKES Well when you gave the Playboy interview we
talked about a little while ago was this question asked of you and was
this your answer
PLAYBOY What did Raoul looklike
RAYAverageheight lookedlike a Latin sandy coloredhair
PLAYBOY Latins don't generally have light hair do they
RAYHe couldhave dyed it
Was that the question and your answer
Mr RAY No I have been trying to get these transcripts from Play
boy for about 1 year now I told Playboy that he had dark hair 5 feet
8 or 9 fits the description I just described to you I did mention the
reddish tint in his hair Some people dye their hair if they have black
 359

hair and want light real dark haired persons would have a reddish
tint in it
Chairman STOKEs Have you also at some time or other described
Raoul as having a complexion lighter than my own
Mr RAY No I never mentioned you
Chairman STOKESYou have never given that answer
Mr RAY No sir
Mr LANE There may be a question Mr Stokes lighter than your
own or his own He undertook it to be your own That was his answer
Mr RAY Yes I was thinking about you
Chairman STOKESYou are confused by it you say
Mr LANE He said he never mentioned you was his answer There
fore it seems to me he was answering lighter than your own Is that
not what you meant I think you should clarify
Mr RAY No I never gave that description Sometimes on these
interviews after 4 or 5 hours I have trouble concentrating I have been
in solitary confinement so long Once in a while I will use the wrong
word but I usually correct it later on if I inadvertently say something
of that nature In fact I know I never said he was lighter than me
Chairman STOKES Mr Ray let me refer you and counsel to MLK
exhibit No F.23 which is at the trial table with you
Mr LANE F.23
 360

MLK EXHIBITF-23

FORTUEWESTERN
DISTRICTOF TE",-SSE
WESTERN
DIVISION

IIi THEMATTER
OF
A
JAi S .iIrt_L RAN) )-a
)
Petitioner
)
vs ) Uo 60-19S=Ci:-il
)
PERCYFOREMANWILLIAMBRADFORD
FIUIC,)
J HANES
and ARTHUR )
Defendants )

AP PE A . ii E
For the Petitioner J U Stonar Esquire
Post Office Box 6263
Savannah Georgia 31405
Richard J Ryan Esquire
523 Falls Building
Memphis Tennescee
Robert W Hill Jr. Esquire
412 Pioneer Building '
Chattenocga 1e n_ance
For the Defendants Fore:+;n and Huie
John J Rocker Esquire
Tyree Harris IV
Nashville Trust Building
Nashville Tennessee
For the Defendant Hanes
Arthur Hanes Jr. Esquire
617 Prank Nelson Building
Birmingham Alabz a
P E K E E IF Percy Foremen Esquire
Defendant
C04 South Coast Building
. Houston ;exec
 361

Willi Bradford fuie

'Defendant
.Hartselle Alabama

MR STONER_This will be supplemental

to Mr Ray's Deposition taken before and it is
to fill in some missing parts to the other
Deposition
MR.'HOOKERBut you want to do this under
the name caption we had before -
MR STONER Wedon't waive anything
MR HOOKERWhat we had before all ex
captions were reserved except the form of the
.question
MR STONER Not this time Wewant the

right of all parties to make objections to be

noted hero

The Supple,-rental Deposition of MR JAMESEARLRAY

taken at the M.aximu Security Section State Penitentiary
Nashville Tennessee beginning at ll:O6 o'clock A.M. Novembe
.22. 1969 before Barbara Thomas Notary Public and Court Re
Porter pursuant to the Federal Rules of-Civil Procedure.

THEREPORTERWould you raise your right.

hand - _
23P. STONER First before you do that,if it
 362

mixed up In other e;orda no

information ;. u_u
berfurnished to Hr Huie about what happened on
the day o the crime
THEWITNESS Everything else./
MR HOOKEREverything else but that
Right I just didn't understand
Q Have you read the article in Lock Magazine
that Hr Huie wrote
A Yes sir some guards brought those
magazini
in jail and I read through them
Q Did you ever discuss them with Hr Hanes S
or Mr Hanes Jr.
A I told Hr Hanes Sr that I had read them
Wediscussed them lightly
Q Did you tell Hr Hanes - did you express
any opinion to Mr Hanes as to whether you did or did not line
the articles Mr Huie wrote in Look Magazine
A I had some ccnplaints about the articles
The main thing Mr Hula either bj.accident or design he
had soma information I gave him and was in error which it
could - it hurt in several ways For one he .madeseveral
Stu:takes on my financial transactions while I was a fugitive
maybe he had where I would get more money in one place and l.es+
in aaot her I mentioned this to Mr Hanes several tlri"ss
Also I was.a_cociated with a man named Haul

13 ..Dc James Earl :a

 363

what his description was 5 10` a little bit lighter thin

me and dark haired man Of course Mx Huie described this
man as blond headed Latin speaking This thing if anybody
had ever seen me with him it would kind of discourage potentia
witnesses It seemed like there was an error there
Q Did you at any time ever tell Mr Hanes
Sr or Mr Hanes Jr that you were happy about the Huie
article in Look Magazine or that you liked these articles
A No I never made this statement about being
happy about the article I wrote the article to raise Edney
for defense That's the only reason
Q And-whoadvised you to give Hr Huie in
formation that you gave him to raise money for defense?
A Well like I testified before Mr Hanes

suggested I sigh the contracts

Q In addition to the signed agreements hat:;ea
you and Mr Hanes were there any oral agreements
A 'Yeah I just"mentioned those I think
Q Any you haven't mentioned Do you think
of any you haven't mentioned and what they were
A Involving Mr Hanes and Mr Rule and re
Q Yes sir
A Not off-hand
Q Did H .,Hanes at any tine ever toil you

14. Dr Janes E rl Ray

 364

Q Diu ha tell you something about his whipl.

nick injury
A No'. What Hr Foreman told me he came to
the jail there He had a briefcase and ha had a bunch of
pictures He told me that he had got these pictures for me
from Mr Huie and Mr Huie got them from the F.B.I or'Mr.
Foreman Percy Foreman got them from the F.B.I
Now these pictures about 10 X 12 inches long
he described them to me as being taken in Dallas in 1963 .He
said they were either anti-communist Cubansor connected with
anti-communist Cubans someway Mr Foreman asked ne if the
F.B.I would arrest these people one of these persons and
bring them to the Shelby County Jail if I would identify him
as being Raul this man I was associated with
He and 2_r Foreman discussed this about an hour
and I told him no I was opposed to that So when Hr Foyerr
got ready to leave he asked me if that was my last word on it
and I said yes Actually my reason for denying - not going
along with this is I know authorities usually like to
especiF
ally on perjury you usually end up in the garbage can where
you.belong
.Q The parson he asked you to identify in the
picture had you ever seen that person before
A None of them was similar looked something
like the person I Was associated Jith

27 .Dr James Earl-Rey

 365

Chairman STOKES Yes do you recognize that document Mr Ray

Mr RAY Yes
Chairman STOKESWhat is it
Mr RAY Well it's a lawsuit entitled Ray v Percy Foreman L Civil
No 60199
Chairman STOKES And let me refer you to the bottom of page 13
and the top of page 14 Would you read what appears there last line
on page 13 and on the top of page 14 Read it out loud
Mr RAY Yes I will read it out loud
Do you want to to start with the question Well I will start with
the question on page 13
Did you tell Mr Hanes did you express any opinions to Mr Hanes as to
whether you did or did not like the articles Mr Huie wrote in Look magazine
Answer I had somecomplaints about the article
The main thing Mr Huie either by accident or design he had someinformation
I gave him and was in error which it could It hurt in several ways For one
he made several mistakes on my financial transactions while I was a fugitive
Maybe he had where I got more money in one place aid less in another I men
tioned this to Mr Hanes several times
Also I was associated with a man named Raoul out there several times and
I wanted to detail in the writing what his description was 5 foot 10 a little
bit lighter than me and dark haired Of course Mr Huie described this man as
a blond-headed Latin-speaking This thing if anybody had ever seen me with
him would have discouragedpotential witnesses
He seemedlike
as you can see I am in kind of a bad mental condition
He seemedlike there was an error there
Chairman STOKES So then that was your statement in that deposi
tion was it not
Mr RAY That is an inadvertent error If I made that statement
I've never seen I've never heard the tape recording of it.I gave this
testimony on tape recording But if I did say that it was inadvertent
But I did mention the blond headed part
Chairman STOKESMr Chairman this might be a good time for us
to break
Mr PREYER Very well The Chair once again reminds everyone to
remain seated and stationary while the marshals escort Mr Ray from
the room The marshals are asked to take Mr Ray from the room at
this time
The committee stands recessed until 2 o'clock this afternoon
[Whereupon at 12:03 p.m. the committee recessed to reconvene at
2 p.m the same day.]
AFTERNOONSESSION
Mr PREYERA quorum being present the meeting is called to order
I will ask everyone to be seated and the marshals to close the doors
Since there may be people in the audience this afternoon who were not
here this morning I want to repeat the security precautions which are
being taken in this matter
The rules which the Marshal's Service have asked us to observe apply
to everyone including the representatives of the media Any time that
Mr Ray is standing or otherwise being escorted to or from the witness
table absolutely no one in the room is to stand All people reporters
and photographers included are to remain seated and stationary No
 366

one is to move until the Chair gives permission for people to leave their
position Any person violating this rule will be summarily removed
from the room by the marshals and barred from attendance at all
future hearings of this committee
The Chair at this time asks the marshals to escort Mr Ray into the
hearing room
The committee is ready to resume the questioning of Mr Ray by Mr
Stokes I will mention to you the TV cameras have requested that Mr
Ray and Mr Lane exchange seats It is of no particular concern to the
committee who sits where but I pass that suggestion on to you
Mr LANE Thank you Mr Preyer
Mr PREYER The idea is so that Mr Ray may be more clearly seen
Mr LANE Thank you very much
I wonder if at this time we might take a look at the exhibit which
was here before the recess which contained Mr Ray's testimony He
and I both believe that perhaps inadvertently.probably inadvert
ently.he was tricked or misled by the questions asked by Congress
man Stokes about that So I wonder if we might see that document
again
Mr PREYER At this time the Chair will recognize Mr Stokes for
any comments he may care to make on that and any further questions
Mr LANE Well Mr Stokes I request that we be given an opportun
ity to look at that document one more time for just a moment
Mr STOKESDoes counsel have reference to the deposition
Mr LANE Yes that is correct Mr Stokes
Mr STOKESSure That is exhibit F-23 MLK
Mr RAY Thank you
Mr LANE Mr Stokes I think that you have offered the top of page
14 of exhibit F.23.Mr Stokes I was.is this the appropriate time
to proceed
Mr STOKESYes I am listening to you
Mr Lane Thank you
I think that you offered the top of page 14 of MLK exhibit F.23 as
what you say was an apparent contradiction because it followed the
statement of complexion yet I note that there is no reference whatever
to complexion on page 14 It seems quite likely that in this deposition
Mr Ray was describing the height and then the weight of a person
saying."his description was 5 feet 10 inches and a little bit lighter
than me. and you turned that into a complexion question I think that
that tended to mislead Mr Ray I am sure it was an inadvertent effort
on your part
Mr STOKES If counsel desires to have that interpretation of the
witness answer then that is perfectly agreeable to me
Mr LANE Perhaps we could ask Mr Ray what his interpretation is
Mr STOKESI will Mr Ray would you care to clarify that
Mr RAY Well since it has 5 feet 10 inches to begin with and then
it says "lighter, I assume that it would be lighter in weight I am just
basing that on the fact that.let me read it again Also I was associ
ated with a man named Ronal out there several times and I wanted
to detail in the writing what his description was 5 feet 10 inches and
a little bit lighter than me and a dark-haired man
 367

Mr Symms And is it that you would have us understand that when

you made that reference "a little bit lighter than me, that you were
talking about weight rather than complexion
Mr RAY Oh yes I am almost positive because the individual did
weigh about 140 or 145 pounds and I assumed that was lighter
Mr STOKES Then counsel we accept the witness clarification on
that point
Mr LANE Thank you Mr Stokes
Mr RAY Could I say just one other thing
Mr STOKESSure
Mr RAY When I first come down in the Federal prison I had some
type of altercation and subsequently they wanted pictures of me down
here Subsequently I have had my first full meal today and I haven't
slept too much So I want to stay up here until the committee gets all
the questions they want of me but I don't want to stay up here today
if it is possible until I am exhausted I think after today I think I will
be all right
Mr LANE This is a matter which you may know which is pend
ing before Federal district court and Judge Bryant is waiting for
Mr Blakey and myself on the question of his confinement and the mis
treatment of Mr Ray There is no question but that the lights were
on in his cell all night long last night
Mr PRErlat Would it be agreeable to continue until 4 o'clock this
afternoon rather than 5 o'clock
Mr LANE Well I know Mr Ray a little bit and I saw his hands
begin to shake and that is very unusual for him I have never seen that
response and that happened toward the end of the testimony If we
could adjourn now and let us take care of this matter because the
matter will be.the same problem will come up tomorrow if he is
forced to go into solitary confinement with lights on him all night
long We will have the same problem tomorrow
Mr PREYER Well let me ask Mr Ray do you feel that you could
continue until say 3 :30 or 4 today
Mr RAY Well I could go ahead I guess until 3 o'clock The only
thing is that I am kind of sleepy and tired but I will.but I think
I could
Mr PREYER Well the Chair suggests that we proceed to say 3
o'clock and we will see what condition you are in and how you are
feeling at that time
Mr LANE Mr Preyer I am going to ask again that we adjourn at
this time My client says he is tired and sleepy
Mr STOKESMr Chairman may I
Mr LANE I know he has not slept in 48 hours and I don't think it is
fair
Mr STOKES Mr Chairman
Mr LANE If I may just
Mr PREYER Recognize Mr Stokes
Mr LANE I wonder if I could finish the sentence Mr Preyer
Would that be appropriate
Mr STOKES Mr Chairman I wonder if the committee might con
sult with the Chair at this point
 368

Mr PREYER Sure
[An off-the-record discussion was held.]
Mr PREYER The committee wants to be fair to Mr Ray in this
matter and at this time the committee will adjourn until 9 o'clock
tomorrow morning Let me again caution everyone in the audience to
please remain seated and stationary when Mr Ray is escorted from the
hearing room
The marshals may escort Mr Ray out at this time
Mr LANE Thank you for your kindness Mr Preyer
[Whereupon at 2:17 p.m. the committee adjourned to reconvene
at 9 a.m. Thursday August 17 1978.]