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
(Unknown Speaker) And instructed to sit in a cell and guard a prisoner later identified to him as James Earl Ray. Inspector Eist is currently the proprietor of the Green Man Public House in Cambridge England. It would be appropriate at this time Mr. Chairman to call Inspector Eist. Thomas N. Downing (D- Virginia). The committee calls Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector London Metropolitan Police Force. Mr. Eist enters the courtroom. Alexander Eist, would you please stand and be sworn. Raise your right hand please? Sir do you solemnly swear that the testimony you will give before this committee will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. I will. Thomas N. Downing (D- Virginia). Thank you. You may be seated.
MLK Assassination Hearings - Nov 9, 1978
Thomas N. Downing (D- Virginia). The Chair recognizes Staff Council Alan Hausman, Attorney. Alan Hausman, Attorney. Thank you Mr. Chairman. First, I want to thank you for taking the time to come to Washington to testify today. We hope that his testimony today can clarify some of the questions raised when Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector London Metropolitan Police Force s statement taken on August 4th 1978 by committee investigators was read into the committee s record as MLK exhibit F-92 during the committee s August 18th public hearing. Alan Hausman, Attorney. What is your current address? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. The Green Man Public House, 6 Mile Bottom Cambridge England. Alan Hausman, Attorney. What is your date of birth? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. March 26th 1929 Alan Hausman, Attorney. What is your current occupation? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. I m a licensing Republican. Alan Hausman, Attorney. Of the Green Man Public Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. Yes sir. Alan Hausman, Attorney. Can you please explain to the committee what a licensee is? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. Well I m licensed by police authorities to supply liquor at Public House. Alan Hausman, Attorney. And what do you license by the police? Must you pass high character standards and have a clean record? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. Very much so yes sir. Alan Hausman, Attorney. Prior to becoming the licensee of a pub in England, what was your occupation? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. I served for 28 years for the metropolitan police in England. Alan Hausman, Attorney. And what rank did you reach while serving for the metropolitan police? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. Chief Inspector. Alan Hausman, Attorney. What were your duties as Chief Inspector? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. Well I was with various squads. I was with what is known as the firing squad, the robbery squad. I was in charge of a regional crime squad. Alan Hausman, Attorney. What was your last operational assignment before retiring? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. I was in charge of three police stations. That is from the CID point of view. Alan Hausman, Attorney. And were you charged with a large number of men at that time? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. Yes I was. Yes Alan Hausman, Attorney. Approximately how many do you recall? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. At any one time it could have been up to a hundred.
MLK Assassination Hearings - Nov 9, 1978
Alan Hausman, Attorney. When did you join the metropolitan police? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. I m sorry sir. Alan Hausman, Attorney. When did you join the metropolitan police force? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. June 14th 1948. Alan Hausman, Attorney. And how long did you serve with them? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. 28 years sir Alan Hausman, Attorney. When did you leave the police force? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. 1976 Alan Hausman, Attorney. Mr. Chairman, at this time I would like to ask that a copy of Mr. Eist s certificate of retirement which has be premarked as MLK Exhbit F-137 be entered into the record. Mr. Chairman. Our objection may be entered into the record at this point. Alan Hausman, Attorney. Exhibit F-137 is a certificate signed before the Commission of Place that states This is a record to certify that Alexander Anthony Eist, BEM joined the Metropolitan Police as constable on the 14th day of June 1948. And on the 26th day of February 1976 as Chief Inspector retired having been pensioned on having been found medically unfit for police duty. Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. Yes sir Alan Hausman, Attorney. Is that a document that you gave to the committee? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. That is so. Yes sir. Alan Hausman, Attorney. Thank you sir. Exactly under what circumstances did you leave the Metropolitan Police? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. Well I developed a thyroid complaint and that was the reason for my retirement. Alan Hausman, Attorney. And you were honorably retired on medical with full pension? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. Yes sir. Alan Hausman, Attorney. Mr. Chairman at this time I would ask that Mr. Eist certificate of identity of award of Metropolitan Police pension be entered into the record. It has been premarked as MLK exhibit F-138. Mr. Chairman. Our objection may be entered into the record at this point.
MLK Assassination Hearings - Nov 9, 1978
Walter E. Fauntroy (Rep- District of Columbia) May I ask that the microphone be moved closer to the witness? Alan Hausman, Attorney. Let me just note that MLK exhibit F-138 is Metropolitan Police pension certificate of identity showing that Mr. Alexander Anthony Eist BEM has been awarded a Metropolitan Police pension. Mr. Eist while serving for your over 28 years at Metropolitan Police, did you ever receive any particular honors or awards, accommodations, medals? Anything of that nature? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. I did yes sir. Alan Hausman, Attorney. Can you please tell us what some of them were? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. Yes. I received 28 accommodations for outstanding work. I was awarded the queens long service and good conduct medal. I was also awarded the British Empire medal for gallantry. Alan Hausman, Attorney. Thank you. In June of 1968, what was your rank and assignment? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. In 1968 I was a sergeant on the flying squad. Alan Hausman, Attorney. And the flying squad was stationed at Scotland Yard? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. Yes Sir. Alan Hausman, Attorney. What were your duties at that time as sergeant on the flying squad? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. General Duties in connection with the arrest of serious criminals. Alan Hausman, Attorney. Can you please tell us what the flying squad actually was? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. Well the flying squad is a unit of men, about 100 officers. It s formed so that you can detect a serious crime without the hindrance of boundaries. You can go all over London. Alan Hausman, Attorney. The flying squad was not restricted to the immediate London area. Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. No. Alan Hausman, Attorney. Was the flying squad considered an elite unit at that time? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. Yes sir. It still is. Very much so. Alan Hausman, Attorney. Who was your commanding officer in 1968 when you were still on the flying squad? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. Mr. Thomas Butler. Alan Hausman, Attorney. And do you recall his rank at that time? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. A detective to Superintendent. Alan Hausman, Attorney. Is he still alive? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. No, unfortunately he s dead sir.
MLK Assassination Hearings - Nov 9, 1978
Alan Hausman, Attorney. On June 8th 1968 did you receive an early morning phone call from your supervisor Detective Chief Superintendent Thomas Butler? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. I did yes sir. Alan Hausman, Attorney. Can you please tell us the circumstances of that call? Alexander Eist, Retired Chief Inspector. I received a call in the early hours of the morning and was sported to Canyon Row Police Station, which is a station very close to Scotland Yard. I was told to go there and I would receive instructions. When I arrived at the station I was told that I would be placed in a cell with a man. I was to take extreme care with him. Abrupt End of Tape.