104 10322 10056

104-10322-10056 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992

24 OCT 1975

MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence

SUBJECT: Supplementary Information on James Earl Ray

REFERENCE: DDO Memorandum for DCI dated 23 October 1975 Subject: Background for Rather Interview James Earl Ray

Dick Ober (then in CI) who wrote all the early Ray cables, recalls that he had numerous discussions with the FBI on the matter, and is certain that whatever we did was undertaken at the request of the FBI. Because of the fast moving situation, most of his discussions with the FBI were on the phone, and not the subject of written memoranda. The paper clipped outgoing cable in referring to Eric Galt (the man initially identified by the FBI as the assassin of Dr. King) requests "addressees make every effort determine if Galt is or has been in your area. Information para one should be passed to liaison and any other likely sources. FBI requests that any information reported be evaluated as to reliability and that as much detail as possible be provided. Cable any positive reply priority to HQS. and pass to legal attache if any in your country." There is a scribbled note in the file, presumably in Ober's hand, which reads: "4. Ray fingerprints: FBI agreed to my proposal we send to field for liaison." Ober, also logically points out that the FBI would not have provided us later with a fingerprint formula (see attached cable), a detailed physical description and photos unless they wanted this passed on to overseas liaison services. (Note that our cables did not go, for example, to Ottawa or Mexico City?)

David H. Blee Associate Deputy Director for Operations

Attachments

E2 IMPDET CL-BY-035768

13-00000

ORIG: Richard Ober UNIT: CIOP/DO EXT: 6537 DATE: 18 Apr 68 CABLE SECRETARIAT DISSEMINATION

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CONFI INFO RID COPY FILE VR CS/RF DCI D/DCI DDP

C/EUR C/NH C/NE 19 0132 Z 92664

TO PRIORITY NO NIGHT ACTION ASUNCION, BANGKOK, BARCELONA, BEIRUT, BERLIN, BERN, BOGOTA, CARACAS BRASILIA BRUSSELS, BUENOS AIRES, COPENHAGEN, FRANKFURT, GENEVA, GEORGETOWN, GUATEMALA CITY,

GUAYAQUIL, THE HAGUE, HAMBURG, HELSINKI, HONG KONG,

KINGSTON, LA PAZ, LIMA, LONDON, MADRID, MANAGUA, MONTEVIDEO,

NEW DELHI, LISBON, MANILA, MUNICH, OSLO, PANAMA CITY, PARIS,

PORT AU PRINCE, PORT OF SPAIN, PORTO ALEGRE, QUITO, RECIFE, RAWALPINDI, RIO DE JANERIO, ROME, SAN JOSE, SANTO DOMINGO,

SAN SALVADOR, SANTIAGO, SANTIAGO DE LOS CABALLEROS, SAO PAULO,

STOCKHOLM, TEGUCIGALPA, TOKYO, VIENNA, ZURICH RYBAT WOMUSE

  1. FOLLOWING INFORMATION FURNISHED BY LNERGO

CONCERNING SUSPECTED ASSASSIN OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

NAME ERIC STARVO GALT, ALIAS HARVEY LOWMYER, ALIAS JOHN WILLARD, BORN 20 JULY 1931, HEIGHT FIVE FEET EIGHT INCHES TO

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CITE DIRECTOR 92664

FIVE FEET ELEVEN INCHES, WEIGHT 160-175 POUNDS, MEDIUM BUILD, BROWN HAIR, PROBABLY CUT SHORT, BLUE OR HAZEL EYES,

MEDIUM COMPLEXION, RACE WHITE. OCCUPATION: HAS CLAIMED EMPLOYMENT AS SEAMAN. REMARKS: NOTICEABLY PROTRUDING LEFT EAR; REPORTEDLY IS A LONE WOLF; ALLEGEDLY ATTENDED DANCE INSTRUCTION SCHOOL; HAS REPORTEDLY COMPLETED XXX COURSE IN BARTENDING; CONSIDERED ARMED AND EXTREMELY

DANGEROUS.

  1. WILL POUCH PHOTO OF GALT TO ANY ADDRESSEE DESIRING IT. ADVISE.

  2. GALTS CURRENT WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN. WHILE HAVE NO REASON BELIEVE GALT HEADED FOR YOUR AREA, DESIRE COVER ALL POSSIBILITIES.

  3. REQUEST ADDRESSEES MAKE EVERY EFFORT DETERMINE IF GALT IS OR HAS BEEN IN YOUR AREA. MEXICX INFORMATION PARA ONE SHOULD BE PASSED TO LIAISON AND ANY OTHER LIKELY SOURCES.

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CITE DIRECTOR 92664

LNERGO REQUESTS THAT ANY INFORMATION REPORTED BE EVALUATED AS TO RELIABILITY AND THAT AS MO MUCH DETAIL AS POSSIBLE BE PROVIDED, CABLE ANY POSITIVE REPLY PRIORITY TO HQS AND IN PASS TO LEGAL ATTACHE IF ANY AT YOUR COUNTRY.

DC/CI (in draft) (Mr. Hunt) E/COPS

WH/FI (by phone) (Mr. Smyth) DC/FE (by phone) Mr. Smith) for C/NE Obo

NCI/OP/DO

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