# MLK Death a Conspiracy?? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 9, 1999, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlk-death-a-conspiracy/17128 "1999-12-09T04:16:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Falcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/49beb7/32.png) [@Falcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falcon)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 1999, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlk-death-a-conspiracy/17128/1 "1999-12-09T04:16:00Z")
[http://www.cnn.com/1999/US/12/08/king.assassination.ap/](http://www.cnn.com/1999/US/12/08/king.assassination.ap/) Okay…I’m sorry. I don’t believe his death was a “vast conspiracy” involving nearly every group in the western world. His death, while tragic, was due to James Earl Ray. Thoughts from anyone else? * * * “There is no worse lie than a truth misunderstood by those who hear it.” - William James ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 1999, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlk-death-a-conspiracy/17128/2 "1999-12-09T04:38:00Z")
But you saw the way King’s head jerked toward James Earl Ray’s position! The bullet had to have come from the grassy knoll! (Pay no attention to that conservation-of-momentum behind the curtain!) * * * “Love 'em, fear 'em, and leave 'em alone.” – Dr. Spockiavelli ---
**Author:** ![LongHrn99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e4f/32.png) [@LongHrn99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LongHrn99)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 1999, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlk-death-a-conspiracy/17128/3 "1999-12-09T07:41:00Z")
It was the Cigarette Smoking Man, doesn’t ANYONE watch the X-Files?? 🙂 * * * “I hear the mermaids singing, each to each. I do not think that they will sing to me.” -T.S. Eliot ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 1999, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlk-death-a-conspiracy/17128/4 "1999-12-09T14:02:00Z")
I have not been following this trial. I would be very interested in seeing the “evidence” for this. ---
**Author:** ![Falcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/49beb7/32.png) [@Falcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falcon)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 1999, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlk-death-a-conspiracy/17128/5 "1999-12-09T16:23:00Z")
Mjollnir - First I heard of the trial was a report on CNN last night. I’ll see what I can dig up today…personally, I think they’re full of it. Yet ANOTHER reason I refuse to ever move to Memphis. * * * “There is no worse lie than a truth misunderstood by those who hear it.” - William James ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 1999, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlk-death-a-conspiracy/17128/6 "1999-12-09T17:08:00Z")
I heard on NPR News that they wanted a small financial settlement just for proof that it did happen, but I don’t know how a $100 settlement “proves” anything. Will look for more information… * * * Yer pal, Satan ---
**Author:** ![Falcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/49beb7/32.png) [@Falcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falcon)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 1999, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlk-death-a-conspiracy/17128/7 "1999-12-09T17:28:00Z")
Way I read it, Satan, was that they wanted the money to “prove” to the civil jury that they had a case, and there was a conspiracy. I don’t know…but do you HAVE to ask for monetary damages to bring a case in civik court? If so, maybe that was it. Here’s the Washington Post story on it: [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33325-1999Dec8.html](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33325-1999Dec8.html) The only thing I haven’t seen yet is the evidence that was presented showing a conspiracy. If anyone could find a link to it, I’d love to see it! * * * “There is no worse lie than a truth misunderstood by those who hear it.” - William James ---
**Author:** ![mipsman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mipsman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mipsman)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 1999, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlk-death-a-conspiracy/17128/8 "1999-12-11T23:38:00Z")
The same people who think OJ Simpson is innocent now think James Earl Ray is innocent? Is this some kind of negative payback? ---
**Author:** ![StrTrkr777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@StrTrkr777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StrTrkr777)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 1999, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlk-death-a-conspiracy/17128/9 "1999-12-11T23:53:00Z")
Since MLK’s family lives in Atlanta it is a big deal around here. If you ask me (this is my opinion), the family knew that nothing would really come of it (since James Earl Ray is dead) and they just want to keep their name in the press to make money off of MLK. They have sold some of his things, they have copyrighted his speaches and other things. Corretta (sp) is treated like a queen around here. She has a personal police escort where ever she goes. She does not board planes like regular people, she comes on from the outside up the steps. She will not even talk to the flight attendants. She makes them talk to her assistant and then she talks with the assistant. I think that MLK stood for something great. He did a lot for bringing the idea of civil rights for all to the public. He was a great man and does indeed deserve to be honored. I also believe that if he knew what his family was doing he would come back and slap them. They do not seem to understand what he was about. So, no I do not believe this was a conspiracy. Jeffery ---
**Author:** ![JimStaudt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JimStaudt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimStaudt)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 1999, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlk-death-a-conspiracy/17128/10 "1999-12-18T22:38:00Z")
So what if it was a conspiracy? Who cares? So pay the family the $100 (I’ll even pay my share), and maybe they’ll SHUT THE HELL UP!!! * * * Jim Staudt ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 1999, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlk-death-a-conspiracy/17128/11 "1999-12-20T19:43:00Z")
Of course the MLK assassination was a conspiracy, as was the assassination of JFK. The proof of this lies in the fact that the government insists on using the idea of a round world in modelling the assassination sites, and as we all know… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2000, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlk-death-a-conspiracy/17128/12 "2000-01-02T10:20:00Z")
I have _serious_ doubts that all those agencies were involved, but if there was someone other than a lone-gunman involved, justice needs to be served, if at all possible. Even at this late date. -David ---
**Author:** ![RobRoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ba0ec/32.png) [@RobRoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobRoy)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2000, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlk-death-a-conspiracy/17128/13 "2000-01-02T20:27:00Z")
First of all the damages were insignificant (was it 10 or 100 dollars?). Also the case was based on the statements of the man who said he had made the hit contract. A man who reportedly bragged about this extensively after the incededent. (Yes people in the South think they can’t get away with White on Black murder, why they still do - although not as much).) There is a huge pool of possibilities between a vast conspiracy and a lone gunman. I’d be surprised if a govermental or non-governmental body wasn’t out to get him over his war stance. They went after Muhammed Ali, and the Beatles for crying out loud. MLK looks like a fair target. There is nothing “paranoid” about government and other conspiracies. Read the NYTimes. There are reports every day of abuses of power. The issue is not whether these things happen - just which ones. Note about the supposed diva-esque behavior of Coretta - (and this is just as anecdotal and un-verifyable as the above statements, I admit) a close friend of mine picked Coretta up from the airport in his compact car, took her to his modest apartment and made her dinner before going to a conference with her. He didn’t say if he had to talk to her throught the assitant. I called while he was busy entertaining her, it may have been all a lie, but he is the director a major non-for-profit, travels extensively on work in human rights, and has introduced me previously to some lesser lights in the African American civil rights pantheon. For what it’s worth… ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2000, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlk-death-a-conspiracy/17128/14 "2000-06-09T20:54:10Z")
This is an old thread, but I just thought I’d post this since it is timely: [http://webcrawler-news.excite.com/news/r/000609/16/news-crime-king-dc](http://webcrawler-news.excite.com/news/r/000609/16/news-crime-king-dc) ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Zero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Saint\_Zero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Zero)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlk-death-a-conspiracy/17128/15 "2000-06-10T16:27:46Z")
Personally, I think it’s left over from the Civil Rights days. Anytime there is something happening that arena, it’s “Racially Motivated” and “Part of a Government/Police Conspiracy”. I see it all the time here. If our government was _this_ good at conspiracy, we wouldn’t have had problems in Kosovo, Vietnam, et al… ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2000, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlk-death-a-conspiracy/17128/16 "2000-06-11T07:11:27Z")
I’ve seen JER on tv, and read quite a lot about the assination. I have no cites, no proof, no supporting links. But somehow it just doesn’t feel right to me that this guy, all on his own, planned and carried out the murder. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Danielinthewolvesden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Danielinthewolvesden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danielinthewolvesden)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2000, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlk-death-a-conspiracy/17128/17 "2000-06-11T07:52:45Z")
There should be no doubt Ray was the assasin. This does NOT exclude an acomplice. For example, where did Ray get the $$$? ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2000, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlk-death-a-conspiracy/17128/18 "2000-06-11T12:00:40Z")
Although Ray pleaded guilty to the murder in March 1969 and received a 99-year sentence, he recanted three days later and died in prison last year insisting he had been framed. In 1997, in a move that surprised many, King’s widow, Coretta Scott King, and his four grown children allied with Ray and his lawyer, William F. Pepper, in backing the conspiracy theory. Quote from [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33325-1999Dec8.html](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33325-1999Dec8.html) What balls!!! To plead guilty and then claim you were framed! ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2000, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlk-death-a-conspiracy/17128/19 "2000-06-11T12:58:47Z")
Mangeorge said: > [@](#): > > But somehow it just doesn’t feel right to me that this guy, all on his own, planned and carried out the murder. But “feelings” just don’t cut it. It doesn’t feel right to the King family, either. They don’t want to believe that one nut could kill the dream. But the evidence indicates that’s just what happened. Daniel: What money? Are you aware that there is evidence that he and his brothers robbed a bank a little while before the execution? ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2000, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlk-death-a-conspiracy/17128/20 "2000-06-12T01:12:38Z")
Sorry, David B, I had forgotten which forum I was in. 🙂 But the other one is called “In My **Humble** Opinion”. My reply doesn’t fit there either. Peace, mangeorge