◆ SpookStack

es ee es 2 erg Poy AO TE Po? Eg SORT RAs RIANA AEE mtsbeee rs soe, 4. Farily Concaces amd Assistance Ou review of the files indicated that the FBI had no hard evidence linking James Ray to any conspiracy to kill Dr. King. Absent such evidence, the Bureau apparently discomted the significance of any contact between Ray and his family. As the Chicago case agent told us, it is not umisual for a fugitive or a perso who has committed a given crime to be in touch with family menbers. While such contact may render the actions of the family member criminally liable, it is not generally © pursued absent some evidence of direct participation in the crime. ; However, in light of the fact that a good deal of mystery still surramds James Ray and the assassination, particularly the means by which he financed his life style and travels, we concluded that on the basis of the infor- mation which was uncovered, the Bureau should have pursued this line of the investigation mre thoroughly. The connection of the Ray family to the crime against Dr. King may have been nonexistent. This does not alter the fact, however, that the FBI discovered that the subject of the largest marinmt in history had been aided in his fugitive status by at least one family mnber. This and other facts suggestive of family assistance became clear as the Bureau's investigation progressed. ~101-