Malcolm X
Page 34
That when Malcolm X remarked that the “Chickens had come home to roost” in regards to the assassination of President Kennedy he meant that this individual had come to his end. The son who had denounced him had now returned and confessed and did not have knowledge of the truth when this occurred. Now he has true knowledge.
[BUREAU DELETION] that Wallace Muhammad, son of Elijah Muhammad, was a former minister in the NOI, but deviated from the NOI in late May, 1964, and was dismissed there from by Muhammad.
The February 25, 1965, issue of Chicago’s American, a Chicago, Illinois daily newspaper, contained an item on page 1, that Wallace Muhammad would be permitted by his father to rejoin the NOI.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
New York, New York
February 28, 1965
Malcolm K. Little
Internal Security—Muslim Mosque Incorporated
[BUREAU DELETION] the body of Malcolm K. Little commonly known as Malcolm X, formerly the founder and leader of the Muslim Mosque, Incorporated (MMI), leader and chairman of the Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU), who was shot and killed on February 21, 1965 in New York City, was removed from the Unity Funeral Home, 2352 Eighth Avenue, New York City on February 27, 1965 at approximately 9:20 A.M. to the Faith Temple Church of God, Amsterdam Avenue and West 147th Street, New York City.
[BUREAU DELETION] further advised that the funeral services, which ran approximately fifteen minutes behind schedule, formally began at 9:50 A.M.
[BUREAU DELETION] advised that there were no incidents during the removal of the body from the funeral home to the church; that approximately one thousand persons were in the church itself and that at 9:30 A.M. there were approximately five hundred persons outside the church. [BUREAU DELETION] further advised that a detail of the NYCPD was in evidence in the area of the church during the entire funeral.
At 9:30 A.M., the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) Television Station, WNBC, New York City, broadcasted a one-hour television program covering the services. The television coverage began with scenic scanning photographs of the area surrounding the Faith Temple Church of God at Amsterdam Avenue and West 147th Street, New York City. Included were various views of the funeral procession as it entered the church. At 9:50 A.M. the television cameras were focused on the podium within the church.
Ossie Davis, Negro Playwright and Actor, acted as Master of Ceremonies. Davis made mention of the cooperation rendered the family of the late Malcolm X and those responsible for planning his funeral by the various news media, civic leaders, New York City officials and the NYCPD. He then read excerpts from various telegrams, letters and messages of condolence received by the widow of Malcolm X. Among such messages of condolence as mentioned by Ossie Davis were messages from the Los Angeles Youth Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Whitney M. Young, Jr., Executive Director of the National Urban League.
Among those present at the Faith Temple Church of God were James Farmer, National Director of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), Bayard Rustin, leader of the 1963 March on Washington, Dick Gregory, Negro comedian and John Lewis, Director of the National Urban League.
Ossie Davis was assisted in reading the messages of condolence by his wife, the actress Ruby Dee.
The church services also included eulogies by a male individual who was only identified as a representative of the Islamic Center of Geneva and the United States. This male Negro mentioned that Malcolm X made a trip to the Middle East and Africa in 1964 and that thereafter his views changed and that he no longer advocated racism or violence but believed in integration. This individual characterized Malcolm X as a martyr and stated that it is “better to die on the battlefield than in bed” and that “those who die in battle are not dead.”
The concluding speaker was an individual only identified as a leader of the Muslim Students in the United States and Canada. This individual characterized Malcolm X as a Negro leader, who had given his life for the advancement of the Negro cause throughout the world.
[BUREAU DELETION] advised that between 10:45 A.M. and 11:10 A.M. on 2/27/65, the funeral services at the Faith Temple Church of God, New York City, were concluded without incident and that the funeral procession proceeded through Harlem in an orderly fashion to the Major Deegan Expressway and traveled north from New York City under NYCPD escort to the City line at the beginning of the Thomas E. Dewey Expressway, Westchester County, New York, where the procession was taken over by the New York State Police Department en route to Ferncliff Cemetery, Hartsdale, New York. [BUREAU DELETION] advised that the funeral procession started with approximately fifteen cars and that the procession itself became entwined with New York City traffic in Harlem and on the expressway.
[BUREAU DELETION] advised on February 27, 1965 that the funeral procession under convoy of the New York State Police entered the grounds of the Ferncliff Cemetery, Hartsdale, New York, Town of Greenburgh, Westchester County, New York, at 11:35 A.M. on February 27, 1965 with approximately fifty-two automobiles parked behind the hearse, that approximately two hundred passengers from these automobiles joined another two hundred persons who had been waiting at the scene for the funeral procession to arrive.
[BUREAU DELETION] advised that the funeral service at the grave was concluded at approximately 12:45 P.M., by which time the group which appeared to be members of the immediate funeral procession itself had left the cemetery. [BUREAU DELETION] advised that there were no disturbances or incidents in the cemetery or at the gravesite itself; that the funeral was carried on in an orderly fashion but that shortly before the end of the ceremony itself a woman believed to be [BUREAU DELETION] Boston, Massachusetts, [BUREAU DELETION] in a slight emotional outburst was heard to say that she would be “willing to die for the cause.”
[BUREAU DELETION] that two individuals known to him only as former members of a personal bodyguard or close associates of Malcolm X, also in an emotional outburst indicated that the death of Malcolm X would eventually be avenged.
[BUREAU DELETION] advised on February 27, 1965 that Harlem Rent Strike Leader Jesse Gray advocated that retail merchants on 125th Street in Harlem close their stores during the Malcolm X funeral hours on February 27, 1965 under the threat of a picket line and boycott. [BUREAU DELETION] further advised that [BUREAU DELETION] noted that the Jesse Gray picket line included no more than thirty persons; that the picket line which appeared at 125th Street, New York City, was completely ineffective and that reports indicate that the retail merchants in the area paid no attention to it and that business was conducted without incident.
[BUREAU DELETION]
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Boston, Massachusetts
March 8, 1965
MALCOLM K. LITTLE, aka
INTERNAL SECURITY—MMI
[BUREAU DELETION] Malcolm Little never considered who might succeed him as leader if anything happened to him. Even though Little believed that his life was in danger, he seemed to be convinced that nothing would happen. Malcolm had stated to his friends that when he left the NOI he was penniless. He made enough money on magazine articles and television appearances to keep himself going, but he said that he had to leave the country to try to establish some permanent source of income for himself. He contacted the heads of the legitimate Moslem religion and, at their request, made the required pilgrimage to Mecca. They arranged to have a religious leader sent to New York City to teach and perform the religious rights of the Moslem religion. This leader was to reside with Malcolm Little, for which Little would be reimbursed the sum of $500 a month.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
New York, New York
March 12, 1965
Malcolm K. Little
Internal Security—MMI
On February 21, 1965, at 3:10 P.M. [BUREAU DELETION] advised that Ma
lcolm X had just been shot in the Audubon Ballroom, New York City, while addressing an OAAU public rally. [BUREAU DELETION] that Reuben X Francis, one of Malcolm’s officers, fired back at those shooting at Malcolm X. [BUREAU DELETION] a Negro male (later identified as Talmadge Hayer) was captured outside the Audubon Ballroom immediately after the shooting.
[BUREAU DELETION] advised on February 21, 1965, that at approximately 3:10 P.M., this date, he received a call at the station that a homicide was committed at the Audubon Ballroom, 564 West 166th Street, New York City.
He stated that Patrolman [BUREAU DELETION] New York City Police Department, advised the same date that Malcolm X, Negro, male, age 39, of Suite 128, Hotel Theresa, 7th Avenue and 125th Street, New York City, while on the stage of the Audubon Ballroom, was shot and killed by unknown persons. Patrolman [BUREAU DELETION] stated that Malcolm X was pronounced dead on arrival by [BUREAU DELETION] at Vanderbilt Clinic, Presbyterian Hospital at 168th Street and Broadway, New York City, on February 21, 1965. [BUREAU DELETION] stated that the Police Department determined that the shooting of Malcolm X occurred at about 3:10 P.M., February 21, 1965.
On February 21, 1965, [BUREAU DELETION] and [BUREAU DELETION] both of the [BUREAU DELETION] advised that Malcolm X was shot that afternoon during a rally of the OAAU at the Audubon Ballroom. They stated that [BUREAU DELETION] was on patrol on Broadway when he heard shots coming from the Audubon Ballroom. He immediately proceeded in that direction where he saw people coming out of the said ballroom shouting that Malcolm X had been shot. Others were shouting “Don’t let him get away.” [BUREAU DELETION] at that time arrested person identified as Thomas Hagan as he was running out of the ballroom. When arrested, Hagan (true name Hayer) had in his pocket a .45 caliber automatic clip containing four rounds. Hayer had been shot in the left leg.
[BUREAU DELETION] further stated on February 21, 1965, that the Police Department obtained two witnesses immediately after the shooting, namely [BUREAU DELETION] both freelance reporters and photographers of [BUREAU DELETION].
[BUREAU DELETION] stated that [BUREAU DELETION] and [BUREAU DELETION] gave statements in which they say they saw Hayer with a gun in his hand while Malcolm X was on the stage speaking. They said Malcolm X suddenly called out “Hold it” and after this, [BUREAU DELETION] dropped to the floor and did not actually see Malcolm X shot, but stated before they dropped to the floor, they saw Hayer with a gun in his hand pointing it towards Malcolm X. The next thing they saw was Hayer trying to run out of the ballroom with a gun in his hand. According to [BUREAU DELETION] as Hayer ran out, one of Malcolm’s group shot three times at Hayer with an automatic pistol. Hayer did not have the pistol on him when he was arrested outside the ballroom.
[BUREAU DELETION] also stated that [BUREAU DELETION] who was sitting in the front row in the Audubon Ballroom was shot in the foot during the shooting spree in which Malcolm X was shot. He also stated that [BUREAU DELETION] was also hit during the shooting spree in the ballroom and both [BUREAU DELETION] and [BUREAU DELETION] were treated at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, New York City.
[BUREAU DELETION] later advised that the police found a 12 gauge sawed-off double-barrel shotgun manufactured by J. C. Higgins, model 1017, also bearing the number 5100. The police advised, upon examination, that the shotgun had been fired and left at the scene.
At approximately 7:45 P.M., on February 21, 1965, [BUREAU DELETION] advised that Haver was being detained in the prison ward at Bellevue Hospital, under guard. He stated that Hayer had one bullet in him which entered his left thigh and shattered the thigh bone. He stated the hospital plans to put Hayer’s left leg in traction and that the bullet would stay in the leg for about two weeks until such time as the bone would be healed enough to permit an operation.
On February 21, 1965, [BUREAU DELETION] New York, contacted the office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at New York City and stated that he had one of the pistols used to kill Malcolm X. [BUREAU DELETION] was at that time in [BUREAU DELETION] and asked that Bureau Agents meet him at the [BUREAU DELETION] address as soon as possible. [BUREAU DELETION] when contacted the same date by Agents of the FBI, [BUREAU DELETION] was in the back of the Audubon Ballroom, the same date, to hear Malcolm X speak. He stated that he is a member of the OAAU. He said Malcolm X was just introduced and began to speak when some people began to scream somewhere about eight rows from the front of the auditorium. He said people in that area began to move away and Malcolm X put up his hands as though to quiet the people down and was heard to say “Keep your seats.” Just then, [BUREAU DELETION] shots rang out, but [BUREAU DELETION] could not see who was doing the shooting. After the shots were fired [BUREAU DELETION] the persons shooting headed for the exit. Some of the people in the audience tried to stop them by throwing chairs at them or in their way. At this time, two of Malcolm X’s men were shooting at the assailants as they were trying to leave the ballroom. [BUREAU DELETION] said the two men involved in the shooting passed him, but as the other two men involved were running towards the exit, one turned to fire back at Malcolm X’s men. As this man then turned to run through the exit, [BUREAU DELETION] threw a “body block” into him knocking him down the stairs, at which time, this person dropped a .45 caliber pistol. [BUREAU DELETION] picked up the gun and attempted to shoot the man he knocked down as he was running down the stairs, but the gun jammed and he ran out of the building. [BUREAU DELETION] said he checked the gun and noticed that three rounds were still in the clip. [BUREAU DELETION] then turned over to Special Agents of the FBI a .45 caliber automatic pistol, serial number 335055, containing a clip with three rounds of ammunition.
At 10:15 P.M., February 21, 1965, [BUREAU DELETION] came to the office of the FBI, at which time, they were furnished a .45 caliber automatic pistol, which was obtained by Agents of the FBI from [BUREAU DELETION].
[BUREAU DELETION] stated that Hayer, who was arrested immediately after shooting Malcolm X, has been charged with homicide and that Reuben X Francis, a member of Malcolm X’s group, was charged with felonious assault and possession of a deadly weapon.
[BUREAU DELETION] also stated that the Police Department has a witness who identified Francis as the person firing back at assailants of Malcolm X. He said Francis was believed to have fired a shot which struck Hayer in the leg. He said Francis is suspected of being the person who fired a .32 caliber pistol, which has never been recovered by the Police Department. [BUREAU DELETION] stated that it is estimated that up to four persons may be involved in the killing of Malcolm X.
[BUREAU DELETION] further advised that an autopsy performed on Malcolm X reflected that he had ten bullet wounds in his chest, thigh and ankle plus four bullet creases in the chest and thigh. The autopsy located one nine millimeter slug and one .45 caliber slug, and several shotgun pellets in the body of Malcolm X.
[BUREAU DELETION] said that when the Police Department examined the Audubon Ballroom after the shooting they found a sawed-off double-barrel shotgun wrapped in a green suit coat. In the suit coat pocket was found a key for a Yale lock, a package of camel cigarettes and an empty eyeglass case bearing the optometrist name “M. M. Fine, Main Street, Flushing.” The shotgun contained two discharged Remington express shells, single 0 buckshot shells, and there were indications that the gun was recently fired.
[BUREAU DELETION] also stated that in the ballroom were found three .45 caliber shells and slugs, six nine millimeter shells and two slugs, and three .32 caliber slugs and 10 pieces of lead, presumably fired from the shotgun.
The FBI Identification Division, on February 22, 1965, identified prints of the person arrested in the shooting of Malcolm X as Talmadge Hayer, who up until then, was known to the Police Department only as Thomas Hagen. Identification records reflect that Hayer, FBI #142496F, is a male, Negro, born March 16, 1942, at Hackensack, New Jersey, last known residing at 347 Marshall Street, Paterson, New Jersey. [BUREAU DELETION]
[BUREAU DELETION] that Malcolm X arrived at the Audubon Ballroom, February 21, 1965, in a whi
te 1965 Cadillac. Malcolm X was surrounded by his bodyguards and was then escorted into the front corridor of the Audubon Ballroom and then to the stage. When Malcolm X began to speak, a disturbance occurred between two men. Up in the front near the stage, Malcolm X’s bodyguards started to move towards the two men causing a disturbance, when Malcolm X said “Hold it.” Without hesitation, two men occupying the front seats, left side, middle aisle, looking towards the stage, got into a crouched position and fired several shots in the direction of Malcolm X. The fire “spitting” from the guns “crashed” into the chest of Malcolm X and he fell backwards as if knocked down by a sudden powerful force. Still in the crouched position, the gunmen hastily moved toward the exit in the back of the hall, stepping over persons who were laying on the floor. It is believed that approximately twenty shots in all were fired during the shooting.
[BUREAU DELETION] reviewed a photograph of Talmadge Hayer and identified him as one of the persons who shot and killed Malcolm X on February 21, 1965, at the Audubon Ballroom.
[BUREAU DELETION] advised on that date Hayer’s fingerprints were found on the clip of the .45 caliber pistol that was picked up by [BUREAU DELETION]at the Audubon Ballroom the day Malcolm X was killed and turned over to the FBI.
On February 26, 1965 [BUREAU DELETION] Norman 3X Butler, 661 Rosedale Avenue, Bronx, New York, was arrested at 3:00 A.M., same date, by the New York City Police Department, as one of the assassins in the killing of Malcolm X on February 21, 1965. [BUREAU DELETION] said that three witnesses including [BUREAU DELETION] placed Butler in the Audubon Ballroom at the time that Malcolm X was shot and he was identified as one of the persons who actually shot at Malcolm X.
[BUREAU DELETION] a photograph of Norman 3X Butler, who was arrested by the Police Department for the killing of Malcolm X as one of the persons who participated in the shooting of Malcolm X at the Audubon Ballroom.