Description:

MLK's Assassin, James Earl Ray, Typed Letter Signed From Prison

1p, measuring 8.5" x 11", Nashville, Tennessee, dated February 28, 1995. Signed "J.E. Ray" and addressed to a Miss Edith Munson. Writing from Tennessee State Penitentiary, Ray writes about his work with attorneys and answers Edith's question on weight loss. Reading in part:

"…I haven't been writing much due to helping an attorney with laws suits related to my situation…The lawyer has ask me not to sign material however I have signed one. I don’t write to many persons, and they are mostly lawyers or that type. In addition, I have to work 7 days a week so I don’t have time for much else. There are a lot of jobs available in Nashville. Even the convicts that are paroled here have little problems in finding a job IF they want one. I appreciate your offer to write but I really don’t have time. AS for your weight problem, you shouldn't have a problem loosing [sic] a few pounds. I lose 16 pounds in two months in 1987 after I had gained too much on lock-up (segregation where one can't exercise)…" With the original envelope, stamped by the Department of Correction. 

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 confessed to King's murder on March 10, 1969, and was sentenced to 99 years in prison.

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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