MLK Assassination Hearings - Nov 9, 1978
MLK Assassination Hearings - Nov 9, 1978
MLK Assassination Hearings - Nov 9, 1978 Testimony of Alexander Eist, Retired detective Chief Inspector, Metropolitan Police Force, London, England
MLK Assassination Hearings - Nov 9, 1978
CU Stewart Brett McKinney drinking a glass of water during statements. WS committee in their seats. (Unknown Speaker) Appeared as confessions. For this reason the committee will have to be careful in evaluating the statements to consider its surroundings, facts and circumstances including what is known about Mr. (James Earl) Ray s state of mind at the time of his statement. The credibility of the person reporting the statement as well as any possible alter motive he/she had. And in case of a writer, any financial arrangements made with Mr. Ray. Each Statement must be therefore considered on its own. Although the cumulative effect of all and its consequences. Granted Mr. Ray later sought to withdraw his plea arguing it was not voluntary and he was not afforded the assistance of effective council. But the United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit ruled on May 10, 1976 that Mr. Ray had voluntarily and knowingly plead guilty. The evidence sustained defined this. In addition the court found that Mr. Ray had failed to show that he had been denied effective assistance of counsel. In December 1976, the Supreme Court of the United States refused to review the decision of the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Absent, dramatic new evidence on these issues, it is difficult to see how this committee would be justified in rejecting the ultimate conclusions of these preceding s. Several other perhaps less dramatic statements by Mr. Ray after his arrest also tend to substantiate his participation in the Assassination of Dr. King. His attorney, Mr. Foreman has told the committee that not once in their four month association did Mr. Ray deny it. Although he did advance theories tending support to his innocence. To test Mr. Foreman s view of their acceptability to a jury. Mr. Foreman also says Mr. Ray told him, his brother; Jerry was with him on the day he purchased the first of two rifles in Birmingham, suggesting the family faced conspiracy. Finally Mr. Foreman recalls Mr. Ray even punctured his own alibi by admitting the mysterious Raul was a concocted figure. These admissions must of course be placed in the context of Mr. Ray s break with Mr. Foreman after the guilty plea and sentence. The committee will have the opportunity to hear from Mr. Foreman himself since he will be a witness before this committee at a later date. Nevertheless, they are if believed damaging statements.
MLK Assassination Hearings - Nov 9, 1978
CU Christopher Dodd (D- Connecticut) (Unknown Speaker) Dr. McCarthy DeMere, the physican who attended Mr. Ray while he awaited trial in the Shelby County jail in Memphis testified in 1976 evidentuary hearings while Mr. Ray s Habeas corpus pettition for a new trial Dr. DeMere said he examined Mr. Ray regularly and that they were on a very friendly basis. He also testified that in a final physical in March 1969, just before Mr. Ray s transfer to the State Penitenary in Nashville, that he asked Mr. Ray if he really had been involved in the murder of Dr. King. Mr. Ray s reply according to Dr. DeMere was in the affirmative. Although he added I wasn t by myself . Here too context is important in evaluating these admissions.The committee must recall that Dr. DeMere is related to one of the prosecutors of Mr. Ray in the Tennessee trial. Dr. DeMere will also be a witness in a later hearing.
MLK Assassination Hearings - Nov 9, 1978
(Unknown Speaker) Mr. Chairman, several law enforcement officers have also told of admissions against interest by Mr. Ray. One of their stories follows. Robert Jenson, special agent in charge of the Memphis FBI, field office interview Mr. Ray at the State Penitentiary on August 13th, 1969. And reported by teletype back to Washington Headquarters that Mr. Ray indicated that a witness named Charlie Stevens could probably identify him since Mr. Stevens a good look at him in the rooming house from which the shot that killed Dr. King apparently fired. Agent Jenson repeated before the committee in executive session the statement by Mr. Ray, a particularly damaging one since Mr. Stevens is the witness who immediately after the assassination provided a tentative identification of the assassin. Mr. Stevens s testimony which has been challenged would be boasted substantially if indeed Mr. Ray conceded that he might have been identified by such a witness. Mr. Jenson will also appear before the committee on a later date.
MLK Assassination Hearings - Nov 9, 1978
(Unknown Speaker) In 1977 Ray submitted to two polygraph tests; one for an article in Playboy Magazine and one for a television report by Jack Anderson. In each Mr. Ray denied personal participation in the murder of Dr. King. And in each the examiner concluded Ray was lying. The committee commissioned a panel of polygraph experts to review the two tests with some interest results. In the first test, the one for Playboy, Mr. Ray responded in the negative to the following questions. On April 4th 1968 did you shoot Martin Luther King Jr? Did you kill Martin Luther King Jr? Did you fire the shot that killed Martin Luther King Jr? Do you know for sure who killed Martin Luther King Jr? The committee panel unanimously agreed with the original examiners that Mr. Ray was lying to each of the questions. Ray was also tested during the Playboy examination on the issue of conspiracy, the conclusion of (cut screen)