Lot 74
[King, Martin Luther, Jr.] James Earl Ray Letter From Prison. James Earl Ray (1928-98) was convicted of shooting and killing Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968 as the Civil Rights leader stood on the second-floor balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis,Tennessee. After confessing to the assassination, by which he avoided a jury trial and possible death penalty, Ray was sentenced to 99 years. He later recanted his confession and the King family believed him, but later investigations came to the conclusion that Ray had acted alone in carrying out the assassination. Typed letter signed "James Ray," one page, 14 x 8½", State prison, Nashville, May 12, 1976. To Mr. Looney, a lawyer in Oklahoma City, regarding some interactions he and his brother, Jerry Ray, had in 1973 and '74 with Clyde Watts, a member of Mr. Looney's firm who had recently died in a plane crash. Ray offers five recollections of contact with Watts and insists that there was nothing unethical about them. Fine condition. Estimate Value $150 - UP
|
| |
| Unsold |
