The Plot to Kill King

by William F. Pepper

  The statistics are monstrous. Tens of thousands of Vietnamese children have been terribly burned by American napalm and are receiving scandalously inadequate treatment. Many are gradually dying. A quarter of a million children are already dead in this wasteful war, and another three-quarters of a million have been wounded or maimed since 1961.

  This destruction of children is not one of those sad but inescapable accidents of war. It is a direct and necessary result of the Johnson Administration’s policy of unrestricted bombing of the Vietnamese countryside.

  This is a policy that, in the face of evidence presented here, must be halted and halted immediately.

  There are certain issues beyond political considerations. The killing of children is one of them.

  It is possible to receive RAMPARTS Magazine each month by writing to 301 Broadway, San Francisco 94133, California. Introductory rates are $2.67 for six months or $5.00 for one year.

  APPENDIX C

  The Letter From Attorney Foreman Agreeing to Pay $500 to James Earl Ray if Ray agrees to Take a Plea

  Fee arrangement between Percy Foreman and James Earl Ray which was contingent upon a guilty plea.

  APPENDIX D

  The signed drawing Attorney Foreman gave to Glenda Grabow

  27. Sketch of Percy Foreman which he autographed and gave to Glenda Grabow in 1979.

  (Artist: Robert McSorley)

  APPENDIX E

  Glenda Grabow’s Telephone Bill

  APPENDIX F

  Deposition of Lenny Curtis

  APPENDIX G

  The Statement of and Telephone Conversation with Nathan Whitlock

  APPENDIX H

  The Interview with Frank Strausser

  APPENDIX I

  Deposition of Ron Tyler Adkins

  APPENDIX J

  Photographs of Clyde Tolson with Members and Friends of the Adkins Family

  APPENDIX K

  The “Prayer List” of J. Edgar Hoover

  APPENDIX L

  Transatlantic Cruise Documents

  APPENDIX M

  Photographs of the Alleged Destruction of the Murder Weapon

  APPENDIX N

  Deposition of Johnton Shelby

  APPENDIX O

  Request for and Opinion of Dr. Cyril Wecht

  INDEX

  A

  Abernathy, Ralph, 191, 216

  hospital ride, 14

  King, Jr., murder explanation (dissatisfaction), 28

  Memphis march arrival, 7–9

  morgue visit, 266

  presence (hospital room), 265

  Ray meeting, 38

  Abrams, Creighton V., 125

  ACSI, 126, 128, 134, 136

  Act of State, An (Pepper), 285

  Addison, LaVada Whitlock, 297

  testimony, 169–170, 194–195

  Adkins, Ronnie (Ron Adkins Tyler)

  assassination conversation, 252–253

  Bland conversation, 262

  deposition, 238

  meetings description, 243–244

  rifle, transportation, 253, 281

  sanitation questions, 247–249

  Adkins, Russell, 40, 41, 233, 238

  assassination project, 279–280

  European trip, 242–243

  murder plan, 3

  Tolson, connection, 240

  Admiral Benbow hotel, 171

  Aeromarine Supply Company, 16, 45

  Akins, Willie, 86

  Chastain/Pepper meeting, 109

  clean-up man, 91

  deposition, 102

  Spates interaction, 98

  testimony (Witness White), 89

  Albert, Carl, 62

  Alien Immigration Act, violation, 21

  Alpha 184. See Operation Detachment Alpha 184 team

  Alpha Court Reporting Company, 224

  American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), MPD file destruction, 34

  American Death, An (Frank), 29, 292

  American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), 1968 striker negotiations, 4

  Anderson, Jack, 24

  And the Wall Came Tumbling Down (Abernathy), 266

  Angel, Chari, 203

  Pepper meeting, 157–158

  Ansarra, Captain, 256

  Arkin, Eli, 81

  Special Forces (Warren) identification, 128

  testimony, 180, 192–193

  ASA. See U.S. Army Security Agency

  Assassination. See King, Jr.

  political assassination, usage, x

  preliminary planning sessions, 246

  At the River I Stand (Beifuss), 12

  Attorney Work Product Confidentiality, 230

  Atwood, Bill, 286–287, 292, 313

  Autopsy report, 263–264

  Ayers, Jr., Drummond, 143

  B

  Back-up gun, transportation, 256, 269

  Baden, Michael, 264

  Bailey, D’Army, 86–87

  Bailey, F. Lee, 23

  Bailey, Lorraine, 9, 14

  Bailey, Lurlee, 279

  Bailey, Walter, 14, 68, 249, 279

  Baird, Clifton, 82

  disinformation, 289–291

  Baldwin, Arthur Wayne (government informant), 110

  lifetime immunity, offering, 111

  Ray murder contract, 185

  Balfour, Bobbi (testimony), 173–174, 188

  Bank of Alton robbery, 309–310

  disinformation, 287–288

  evidence, 77–79, 198

  Barasso, Jerome, 262

  tracheotomy, 262–263

  Barger, John, 151, 170

  Barr v. Matteo, 58

  Bathroom, eyewitness accounts, 302

  Battle, Preston, 24–26, 192

  Bearing the Cross (Garrow), xii

  Beasley, James, 25, 194

  Beifuss, Joan, 12

  Belafonte, Harry, 17

  Benavites, Tony (alias), 71

  Berclair Baptist Church meetings, 243, 247

  Berens, Howard, 38, 40

  Bergard, Faith Coleman, 15

  Bernstein, Carl, 286–287, 311

  Bevel, James

  Lorraine arrival, 68

  Memphis arrival, 8–9

  Billen, Andrew, 90

  Billings, John, 86, 96, 153, 199

  Birch, Philip, 23

  Black Caucus, xii, 283–284

  Black, Kay, 34, 68, 83

  Black Organizing Project (BOP), young black involvement, 5

  Black Power leaders, 284

  Blackstone Rangers, 283–284

  Black workers, grievances, 3–4

  Blakey, G. Robert, 34, 63, 287

  CIA/FBI relationship, problem, 36

  Ray perjury change, 79

  witness, 35–36

  Bland, Breen, 261, 269

  Holloman conversation, 262

  hospital absence, Gaylon observation, 266–267

  Blanton, Ray, 185

  Bond, Eddie, 243

  Bonnevecche, J. Christ, 72

  Book, John (alias), 231

  BOP. See Black Organizing Project

  Bowen, E.B., 246

  Brewer, Bessie, 31–32, 66–67

  removal, 67

  Bridgeman, Paul Edward (alias), 21, 51

  Brossard, Chandler, 286–287, 313

  Brown, Bailey

  Colton actions, impact, 147

  draft order, submission, 106

  Gianotti appearance, 9

  media attacks, 144–145

  Pepper appearance, 145

  restraining order arguments/restrictions, 11, 16

  Brown, George, 203

  Brown, H. Rap, 284

  Brown, Joe, 234

  petition arrival, 95

  subpoena, 177–178

  Brown, Madeleine, 203

  Pepper meeting, 157–158

  Brown, Rufus, 262

  Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary, 38, 40, 111, 185

  Bryant, Baxton, 82

  Bryant, Dorothy, 263
>
  Buchanan, Buck, 91

  Buddy (taxi driver)

  death/murder, 113, 177, 254

  conversation, 255

  death records, absence, 183

  disappearance, 291

  shooting observations, 113, 182, 216–217

  Bullet trajectory, Memphis City Engineers analysis, 81

  Bushes, disappearance (eyewitness accounts), 300–302

  Butler, Chester (Chess), 240, 246

  backup, absence, 253

  Butler, Mildred, 254

  Butler, Thomas, 23

  C

  Cabbage, Charles, 166–167, 216

  Cabell, Earle, 203

  Caldwell, Earl, 218

  allegations, 83

  interview, failure, 291

  Posner disinformation, 300

  video testimony, 176–177, 181

  Calne, Roy, 140

  Campbell, Ernestine, 216, 217, 254

  drive, 260

  Camp, George M., 35

  Camp McPherson, 132

  Camp Shelby, 127, 128, 131, 135, 218

  briefing, 281

  Canale, Jr., Phil M., 25, 94

  Canipe Amusement Company, 13–14, 16, 32, 110

  Mustang, location, 256

  rifle, delivery, 175

  Canipe, Guy, 175, 178

  Capital Homes Housing Project, Mustang, Wilson document discovery, 145

  Caracas, Pete (phonic spelling), 233

  Carmichael, Stokely, viii, 284

  Carson, Clay (testimony), 180–181

  Carthew, Sid, 115, 120, 150

  identification, 296

  telephone deposition, 201

  Case Closed (Posner), 299

  Catling, Olivia, 219

  auto observation, 257–258

  testimony, 174

  Causeway, Doctor, 262

  CB hoax, 33

  Centenary Methodist church, 94

  Central Intelligence Act (1949), 61

  Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

  domestic operations, 59

  establishment (1947), 59

  offices, establishment, 60

  U.S. Army, relationship, 127

  Central Intelligence Division (CID), 239

  Chambers, Sam, 243, 256

  Chastain, Wayne, 86

  Akins meeting, 109

  immunity meeting, 88

  investigation, 65–67

  Jones communication, 175

  Robinson complaint, 94

  scene, arrival, 218

  Check Off Inn, 101

  “Children of Vietnam, The” (Pepper), xii, 313

  Chimento, Zip, 135, 137

  Chisca Hotel, 215, 270

  Church Committee Report (1976), 29

  Civello, Joe, 106

  Civil disturbance (suppression), Garden Plot (U.S. Army usage), 283

  Civil Trial (1999), 264

  Claridge Hotel, 34

  Clark, Earl, 151

  assassin, role

  Jowers allegation, 173, 187–188

  suspicion, 152

  Chevrolet Impala, escape car, 254

  hotel area exit, 217

  rooming house location, Stephens observation, 270–271

  Clark, Ramsey, 81

  Ellsberg affidavit, arrival, 64

  evidence announcement, 16

  Clark, Rebecca

  believability, absence, 212–213

  deposition, 211

  Douglas meeting, 209

  evidence, examination, 208–213

  stonewalling, 212

  testimony, 193

  Clifford, Clark M., 136

  Clinton, Bill, 158

  Closing arguments, 195–196

  Cobb, Henry, 138, 181

  Cochran, Robert (clique), 95

  Code Name Zorro (Lane/Gregory), 34

  Coelho, Raul, 198

  civil suit, 114

  subpoena, 120

  U.S. entry, 118–119

  Coffin, Bill, xiii

  Coffin, Sloane, 94

  Cohen, Jeff, 70

  Cohen, Leon (testimony), 171–173

  Cohen, Steve, 232

  Cohn, Roy, 245

  Cole, Echole (murder), 3–4

  Coletta, John, 154

  Colton, John, 147

  Communist Infiltration (COMINFIL), 80

  Community on the Move for Equality (COME), strike control, 5

  Conrad, Walter, 78

  Conspiracy

  local conspiracy, 167

  Saint Louis conspiracy, 288–289

  Swearingen court case, 179–182

  theory, ignoring, 26–27

  Cooks, Stoney, 61, 62

  Cook, Tim, 153

  Corruption, impact, xi

  Cotton, Dorothy, 214

  Counterintelligence Analysis Board (CIAB), 126

  Counterintelligence Program (COINTELPRO), 80, 143

  Cover-up, ix

  effectiveness, 183

  evidence, continuation, 185

  existence, proof, 83–84

  scientific reports, suppression, 184–185

  Swearingen court case, 182–187

  Crump, E.H., 239

  Cruz, Bob, 118–119

  Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 72

  Curington, John (Hunt follow-through guy), 105

  Curtis, Lenny B., 280

  deposition, 223–228

  Garrison/Wade, conversation, 224–226

  Curtis, Ray (informant), 294

  D

  Dabney, Rosie Lee, 70

  location, 101

  Dago (nickname), 114, 115, 120, 201

  Dalitz, Morris (organized crime connection), 35–36

  Dates, Memphis, 91

  Death of a King (Smiley), xi

  Defendants, impact, 187–189

  Defense, case, 190

  De La Beckwith, Byron, 234

  DeLoach, Cartha, 19, 29–30

  Democracy, demise, xi

  Denaro, Tina, 37

  Dent Cleaners, 209

  Dent, Tom (Thomas), 210–211

  affidavit, 212, 213

  Detroit, rioters (deaths), viii

  Dillinger, Daniel, 211

  Disinformation

  efforts, 285

  journalists/researchers, cooperation, 311–312

  Dixie Mafia, xxi, 3, 40, 238, 239, 243, 297

  Marcello, relationship, 298

  Dollahite, Vernon (arrival), 14, 217

  Domestic Operations Division, 59

  Dominski, Brian, 224

  Donaldson, Sam, 188

  Douglas, Emmett, 13

  Douglas, Jim, xii, 211

  Clark meeting, 209

  Downie, John, 127, 133, 218, 285

  disappearance, 137

  Pepper meeting, 134

  Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Rumbaut involvement, 52

  Dwyer, Robert, 194

  E

  Edington, John, 230

  Eisenhower, Dwight David, 60

  Electronic intelligence surveillance (ELINT), 127

  Ellington, Buford (Loeb National Guard request), 7

  Ellsberg, Daniel, 61–62

  affidavit, 307

  allegations, dismissal, 64

  pet theory, 69

  revelations, 63–64

  statements, Lawson inquiry, 63

  Eskridge, Chauncey, 14, 26

  Estelle v. Gambel, 142

  Evans, Sam, 300

  assassination area clean-up request, 183–184

  business closure orders, 7

  Special Forces (Warren) communication, 129

  TACT control, 7

  TACT withdrawal, 171

  Evers, Medgar, 234

  Evers, O.Z., 239–241

  action, 249

  favor, reduction, 247

  Ewing, Hickman, 83, 110

  cross-examination, usage, 176

  Exoneration motion, consideration (absence), 92

  Eyewitness accounts, 300

  F

  Facts, summarizati
on, 213–219

  Fauntroy, Walter, 29, 61–62

  information, presentation, 63

  King meeting, 144

  Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

  airtel, acquisition, 78

  assassination involvement, evidence (Fauntroy denial), 69

  Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) manhunt, 18–20

  press coverage, 20–21

  Ferguson, April (testimony), 185

  Ferris, Isaac, 142

  Fiveash, Mr., 243, 246

  Fleming, Julian, 262

  Folk, Tillie, 210

  Ford, Harold, 69

  Foreman, Percy, 24, 25, 116

  Frame-Up (Weisberg), 33

  Francisco, Jerry, 26, 264–265

  Frankel, Marvin E., 83

  Frank, Gerold, 19, 29

  disinformation, 292–293

  Freedom of Information Act, Halperin lawsuit, 57

  Freemasons, Klan (interaction), 239

  Fung, John J., 141

  G

  Galt, Eric Starvo (alias), 41, 43, 46, 135

  car registration, 215

  identity, protection, 240

  information collection, 18–19

  Ray, relationship, 19

  Galt, Eric St Vincent, 135

  Galt, Eric St. Vincent, 21

  Garden Plot (Army idea), 283

  Garner, James, 19, 45

  Garrison, Jim, 28, 313

  Attorney General Pierotti meeting, 87

  Pierotti denunciation, 90–91

  testimony, 188

  Garrison, Lewis, 86, 151, 224

  case, opening, 190

  Curtis conversation, 224–226

  follow-up questions, 103

  Garrow, David, xii, 143

  Gaylon, Ted, 266

  Getz, George, 24

  Ghormley, Judson E., 13, 65

  Giancana, Sam, 57

  Gianotti, Frank (court appearance), 9

  Gilens, Martin, x

  Gioia, Frederick, 15

  Glankler, Marvin, 153

  testimony, 194

  witness interviews, numbers, 1943

  Grabow, Glenda, 150

  affidavit, 117, 119

  deposition, 114–117

  Armando, relationship, 115–116

  eyewitness account, 304–305

  notes, 200

  Raul identification, 199

  Grabow, Roy (testimony), 199–200

  Green Beetle Bar, 278

  Green Berets, 126, 181

  Gregory, Dick, 34, 63

  Guthridge, Bob, 224

  H

  Habeas Corpus petition denial, ix

  Halperin, Morton (Freedom of Information Act lawsuit), 57

  Hamblin, Bill (testimony), 178

  Hanes, Arthur, 23, 307

  Hanes, Jr., Arthur (testimony), 178

  Harriman, Averil, 286, 313