Description:

James Earl Ray
Nashville, TN, March 10, 1982
Martin Luther King Jr. Assassin James Earl Ray ALS and Signed Booklet
Archive
A signed autograph letter signed and signed booklet by accused assassin of Martin Luther King Jr., James Earl Ray. The two-page letter, measuring 8" x 9.25", [Nashville], dated March 10, 1982, is addressed to Ray's wife, Anna. In it, he discusses previous escape attempts and his hesitance to rely on the judicial system. Signed "James" at the conclusion. The booklet, entitled "Day of the Pathogen" was written by Ray and tells his side of the story - blaming homosexuals and media moguls. Sparta: Praetorian Press, 1993. First Edition. Small octavo, 70pp with Reference Notes and scanned Figures at the back. Signed on the half titled page, "James Earl Ray May -95." The letter has flattened mail folds and light soiling throughout. The booklet has light soiling to the book covers. Both boldly signed. Very fine overall.

Highlights from the letter include:

"…I have never tried before to get out through only a legal matter consequently I get impatient, which has nothing to do with your effort. I have never had much confidence in the legal system so I just tried the escape route. When you use this method you don't have to relie [sic] on Lawyers and, you can decide when you want to do something. Anyway sweetheart no one could or, would have, done as much as you. I really think we have a good chance to be together. The state would like to transfer me, we just have to give them an excuse. I also think it would be a good idea for R.C. & Hasera to contact the Board. Once we get a ruling we will know what to do…"

James Earl Ray (1928-1998) was a convicted felon and white supremacist who shot and killed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968. Ray evaded the authorities for nearly one year--hiding out in Canada, England, and Portugal--until he was discovered at Heathrow Airport. Ray was convicted in 1969 after entering a guilty plea, forgoing a jury trial and the possibility of a death sentence. He was sentenced to 99 years of imprisonment. On June 10, 1977, Ray and six other convicts escaped from Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary in Petros, Tennessee. They were recaptured three days later and a year was added to Ray's previous sentence, increasing it to 100 years.

In his book, "Who Killed Martin Luther King? The True Story by the Convicted Assassin", Ray spoke out about the assassination, proclaiming his innocence, and arguing that it was the FBI who plotted to kill the leader of the civil rights movement. He would continue to claim his innocence until his death. Interestingly, in 1997, a year before Ray's death, Dr. King's son Dexter had a meeting with Ray and asked him, "I just want to ask you, for the record, did you kill my father?" Ray replied, "No. No I didn't," and King told Ray that he, along with the King family, believed him. The King family would also go on to urge the courts that Ray be granted a new trial.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8" x 9.25"
  • Medium: Archive

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