◆ SpookStack

Opperc.ricy to go over the facts with James Earl Ray himself. Accordingly, after the United States Supreme Court denied his petition for a writ of certiorari, on December 13, 1976, a verbal request was made to Ray's Attorney, James H. Lesar, for an opportunity to interview Ray. Lesar stated that he was writing Ray a letter that day and would advise him of our desire to interview him and leave the matter up to him (Interview of James H. Lesar, December 14, 1976, App. B). Also, the task force sent Ray a letter on December 15, 1976, via his attorney requesting an interview (See letter to Janes Earl Ray, December 15, 1976, App. A, Ex.14). While no answer to - our letter was received, Ray sent the task force a copy of a letter addressed to his attorney. Ray attached a copy of a complaint he recently filed in a civil action and stated in the letter to his attorney that: "I agree with your advice opposing the interview. It would appear that this would only be in the interest of the J.D. and their book writing collaborators, e.g., Gerold Frank, George McMillian, et al." (See letter to James H. Lesar, December 20, 1976, App. A, Ex.15). Absent a statement to us fron Ray, four existing Ray explanations were compared and are here briefly noted. -B6-