An Act of State: The Execution of Martin Luther King (Hardcover) by William F. Pepper

An Act of State: The Execution of Martin Luther King (Hardcover)

by William F. Pepper

"In spring 1966, US carpet-bombing had systematically devastated ancient village-based rural culture in South Vietnam as napalm rained from the sky, slaughtering helpless peasants..."


SOURCE FOR THE KING'S RANSOM - http://www.amazon.com/Act-State-Execution-Martin-Luther/dp/1859846955

From Publishers Weekly

Forget everything you think you know, Pepper insists. James Earl Ray did not pull the trigger. The journalist-turned-lawyer's previous title, Orders to Kill: The Truth Behind the Murder of Martin Luther King Jr., was more a prelude to this title than the final word. Twenty years after James Earl Ray was convicted, Pepper set out to clear him; in the process, he brought to light reams of evidence that were ignored in the original trial. The key to his case is Loyd Jowers, a bar owner who claims to have disposed of the murder weapon at the request of a local mob figure. Partially on the strength of the Orders to Kill material, Pepper won the support of King's wife and children, who brought Jowers and "unknown co-conspirators" to trial in a civil wrongful death suit in 1999. Dozens of witnesses contributed to a forceful, detailed case that accused the FBI, the CIA, the U.S. military, the Memphis police, and local and national organized crime leaders. After only an hour of deliberation, the jury found for the King family. The accusers, led by Pepper, cried vindication and fully expected to be at the center of one of the biggest news stories of the century. But the trial and the verdict barely registered in the media. Appalled by the silence that followed, Pepper remained determined to bring the details of his exhaustive probe and subsequent civil case to the public, and the result is this exacting book, dense with evidence and analysis of the murder. Pepper sets the tone by recalling the state of civil unrest in this country during the late 1960s and why King's radical activism was such a threat to government and corporate leaders. Simply put, Pepper claims those in power were scared to death of the mass mobilization King's Poor People's Campaign might have inspired. Pepper gradually introduces the vast cast of characters in a dizzying murder conspiracy that winds from a Memphis bar through the shadows of organized crime to the far reaches of national government. He carefully maps each player's place and role in the tangled web and doggedly tries to stick to a straightforward narrative. The number of unanswered questions complicates those efforts, but does not cloud the evidence that Ray was not the shooter. Pepper attempts nothing less than a rewrite of history, and a spurring of further investigation. While his moralizing epilogue on the deterioration of democracy is distracting, it is heartfelt, and honors Pepper's commitment to King's legacy.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.







From Booklist

In 1978, Pepper began investigating the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. In this absorbing and detailed book, Pepper maintains that James Earl Ray was not the assassin. Instead, Pepper's investigation points to a conspiracy by the U.S. government and its military and intelligence organizations to silence King's growing criticism of the Vietnam War and his anti-poverty campaign. In part one, Pepper focuses on his early investigative efforts, including interviews with several witnesses to King's murder. Pepper also details his efforts to get a new trial for convicted assassin James Ray, and the cooperation by the King family in that effort. Part two details the 1999 trial, several years after Ray's death, and new testimony and forensic evidence pointing to government involvement in the assassination and cover-up. Pepper roundly criticizes the U.S. media for its lack of coverage of the trial; he also takes to task the 1998 report by the U.S. Attorney General, an investigation undertaken by the Clinton administration in lieu of the independent investigation requested by Pepper and the King family. Pepper also explores the promise for social change represented by King's aborted anti-war and anti-poverty campaigns. Readers--particularly conspiracy buffs--interested in the details surrounding the King assassination will enjoy this passionate, disturbing, and well-researched book. Vanessa Bush
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

TRIAL INFORMATION

Table of Contents

Trial Transcript

Additional Links

King Family Statement

Complete Transcript of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Assassination Conspiracy Trial

(Click on volume name to view)


VOLUME I

November 15, 1999


Jury selection begins. It is closed to the public. The Memphis Commercial Appeal is granted permission to file an appeal against the public being excluded for jury selection.

VOLUME II

November 16, 1999


Testifying:

* Mrs. Coretta Scott King, wife of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., currently-Founder, The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Inc.
* Dr. Cobey Smith, founder, The Invaders (Black Organizing Project)-1968, educator consultant (current)
* Mr. Charles Cabbage, Executive Secretary, The Invaders
* Mr. John McFerren, founder, Fayette County Civic & Welfare League and local businessman
* Mr. Nathan Whitlock, taxicab driver, musician
* Captain Thomas Smith, Memphis Police Department, Homocide Detective (1968), currently retired
* Mr. Charles Hurley, advertising manager, National Food Stores, Memphis (1968), Division Manager, Save-A-Lot Food Stores (current)

VOLUME III

November 17, 1999


Testifying:

*

Mr. James Milner, taxicab driver
*

Mr. Floyd Newsom, Memphis Fire Department, retired
*

Mr. Norville Wallace, Chief, Memphis Fire Department, retired
*

Mr. Leon Cohen, special deputy at Juvenile Court, took photos around the Lorraine Motel the morning after the assassination, retired
*

Mr. Ed Redditt, Memphis Police Department, detective, Community Relations Officer, retired, volunteer high school coach
*

Mr. James McCraw (deceased), taxicab driver, via previous deposition
*

Mr. Jerry Williams, captain, Memphis Police Department (1968), real estate currently
*

Mr. Phillip Melanson, professor, political science, author �The Martin Luther King Assassination�
*

Ms. Kaye Pittman Black, reporter, The Memphis Press Scimitar (1968), via sworn testimony in 1993

VOLUME IV

November 18, 1999


Testifying:

*

Rev. James Lawson, Jr., SCLC Board Member, Pastor, Centenary United Methodist Church in Memphis (1968), retired
*

Mr. Maynard Stiles, Division Superintendent, Department of Sanitation, retired
*

Ms. Olivia Catling, neighborhood resident around Lorraine Motel
*

Mr. Ed Atkinson, Memphis Police Department, Traffic Division, retired
*

Mr. Hasel Huckaby, South Central Bell, employee, via sworn statement in 1993
*

Mr. James Lesar, lawyer, represented James Earl Ray (1970-76), currently specializes in Freedom of Information Act litigation
*

The Honorable Andrew J. Young, Executive Vice President of SCLC (in 1968), currently Chairman, GoodWorks International, LLC

VOLUME V

November 22, 1999


Testifying:

*

Videotape of the meeting between Loyd Jowers, Dexter Scott King, Andrew J. Young and Lewis Garrison, Little Rock, AR
*

Mr. Arthur Haynes, Jr., James Earl Ray�s first attorney (with his father), currently, Circuit Judge 10th Judicial Circuit, AL
*

Ms. Bobbie Balfour, Jim�s Grill, employee, currently a cook
*

Mr. William R. Key, Clerk of Court, Shelby County
*

Mr. Joe B. Brown, Judge, 30th Judicial District, State of TN, Division 9, Criminal Court, Shelby County

VOLUME VI

November 23, 1999


Testifying:

*

Dr. Jerry Francisco, professor of pathology, University of TN, Shelby County Medical Examiner (1968 and currently)
*

Mr. John Billings, surgical assistant, St. Joseph�s Hospital (1968), private investigator (current)
*

Mr. Royce Wilburn, master electrician (1968-present), brother of Ms. Glenda Grabow
*

Mr. Sidney J. Carthew, merchant seaman, British Merchant Navy, via teleconference deposition in 1999
*

Mr. Joe B. Hodges, Memphis Police Department, dog squad (1968), retired
*

Mr. James W. Smith, Memphis Police Department, special services (1968)
*

Ms. Barbara Reis, journalist, Publico newspaper, Portugal
*

Rev. James Orange, Executive Staff, SCLC, via previous affadavit

VOLUME VII

November 24, 1999


Testifying:

*

Mr. Jack Saltman, television producer, BBC, Thames, HBO, and ABC- TV
*

Dr. Clayborne Carson, professor of history, Stanford University, Editor-The King Papers project

VOLUME VIII

November 29, 1999


Testifying:

*

Mr. William B. Hamblin, taxi-cab driver (1968), part-time security guard (currently)
*

Mr. James Joseph Isabel, taxi-cab and charter bus driver (1968), retired
*

Mr. Jerry William Ray, brother of James Earl Ray
*

Mr. Willie B. Richmond, captain, Memphis Police Department-Internal Affairs, retired
*

Mr. Douglas Valentine, author, The Phoenix Program
*

Mr. Carthel Weeden, Memphis Fire Department (1968), construction company owner (currently)
*

The Honorable Rev. Walter E. Fauntroy, SCLC Washington, DC Chapter Director (1968), later chair of the Congressional Subcommittee investigating the Assassination, pastor
*

Ms. April R. Ferguson, attorney, one of the post conviction defense attorney for James Earl Ray.
*

James E. Adams, taxi-cab driver
*

Yolanda King, actress/producer, eldest daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mrs. Coretta Scott King

VOLUME IX

November 30, 1999


Testifying:

*

Mr. Jack Kershaw, attorney, for James Earl Ray (�77)
*

Mr. Jack Terrel, Civilian Military Assistance, via videotaped deposition
*

Mr. Louis Ward, security police and taxi-cab driver (1968), part-time roofer (current)
*

Mr. Raymond Kohlman, attorney
*

Mr. Earl Caldwell, reporter, the New York Times (1968) via videotaped deposition
*

Mr. Roy Grabow, husband of Glenda Grabow
*

Mr. John C. Smith, member, The Invaders
*

Mr. William Schaap, attorney, military and intelligence specialization, co-publisher �Covert Action Quarterly�

VOLUME X

December 1, 1999


Testifying:

*

Mr. Loyd Jowers, via deposition Nov. 2, 1994
*

Mr. Mark Glankler, investigator, appointed by District Attorney General-December, 1993
*

Mr. Dexter King, Chairman, President & CEO-The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center For Nonviolent Social Change, Inc., youngest son of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mrs. Coretta Scott King

VOLUME XI

December 2, 1999


Testifying:

*

Rev. Samuel B. Kyles, pastor, Monumental Baptist Church, Memphis, TN, (1968-present)
*

Mr. Frank W. Young, Shelby County Criminal Clerk�s Office
*

Mr. Eli Arkin, Memphis Police Department-inspection bureau (1968), currently-The Cottonwood Company
*

Ms. Rebecca A. Clark, ex-wife of Captain Earl Clark, Memphis Police Department (1968)
*

Mr. John Doe, via videotaped desposition of Novemebr 5, 1999

VOLUME XII

December 6, 1999


Testifying:

*

Ms. LaVada Addison, restaurant owner (1968), self-employed, LaVada Estate Sales (current)
*

Mr. James Earl Ray, deposition of March 11-12, 1995 in the case of James Earl Ray versus Loyd Jowers

VOLUME XIII

December 7, 1999


Testifying:

*

Mr. James Earl Ray, deposition of March 11-12, 1995 in the case of James Earl Ray versus Loyd Jowers (continued)
*

Ms. Betty Jean Spates, waitress-Jim�s Grill, deposition of November 3, 1999



VOLUME XIV

December 8, 1999


Closing Statements and verdict


LINKS:

THE TRIAL: An excerpt from a soon to be published book by W.F. Pepper entitled �Vindication�, � 2001 William F. Pepper. (This also serves as the family's detailed analysis of the Department of Justice "limited investigation" report)

Transcript of the Plaintiff's (King Family) Summary in the MLK assassination conspiracy trial

Transcript of King Family Press Conference on Trial Verdict - December 9, 1999

KING FAMILY STATEMENT ON THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT "LIMITED INVESTIGATION" OF THE MLK ASSASSINATION

ATLANTA . . . On behalf of The family of Martin Luther King, Jr, Martin Luther King III today issued the following statement on the U.S. Justice Department's release of its report on their "limited investigation" of recent evidence regarding the assassination of Dr. King


"We learned only hours before the Justice Department press conference that they were releasing the report of their results of their "limited investigation," which covered only two areas of new evidence concerning the assassination of Dr. King. We had requested that we be given a copy of the report a few days in advance so that we might have had the opportunity to review it in detail. Since that courtesy was not extended to us, we are only able at this time to state the following:

1. We initially requested that a comprehensive investigation be conducted by a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, independent of the government, because we do not believe that, in such a politically-sensitive matter, the government is capable of investigating itself.

2. The type of independent investigation we sought was denied by the federal government. But in our view, it was carried out, in a Memphis courtroom, during a month-long trial by a jury of 12 American citizens who had no interest other than ascertaining the truth. (Kings v. Jowers)

3. After hearing and reviewing the extensive testimony and evidence, which had never before been tested under oath in a court of law, it took the Memphis jury only 1� hours to find that a conspiracy to kill Dr. King did exist. Most significantly, this conspiracy involved agents of the governments of the City of Memphis, the state of Tennessee and the United States of America. The overwhelming weight of the evidence also indicated that James Earl Ray was not the triggerman and, in fact, was an unknowing patsy.

4. We stand by that verdict and have no doubt that the truth about this terrible event has finally been revealed.

5. We urge all interested Americans to read the transcript of the trial on the King Center website and consider the evidence, so they can form their own unbiased conclusions.

Although we cooperated fully with this limited investigation, we never really expected that the government report would be any more objective than that which has resulted from any previous official investigation. In a reasonable period of time, when we have had an opportunity to study the report, we will provide a detailed analysis of it to the media and on the aforementioned website."

For more information, please contact communications@thekingcenter.org.

The King Center thanks Daniel Dillinger Dominski Richberger Weatherford, Inc for their support and assistance in making the posting of this transcript possible.

The King Center gratefully acknowledges the services & contributions of the Data Company of Memphis, TN for trial graphics.

SOURCE FOR REMEMBERING A KING - http://www.thekingcenter.org/news/trial.html