Malcolm X (49 page)

The reports from Section 16 both repeat information and elaborate on certain elements of the assassination. On February 26, Norman 3X Butler was arrested for the shooting after three witnesses placed him at the scene. One witness could not identify the third suspect, Thomas 15X Johnson, but identified Butler as the man who said “Get your hands out of my pocket.” It should be noted that Hayer was earlier reported to have made this comment. On March 8, a witness placed all three suspects at the scene and stated that Johnson had run out of the side exit after the shooting.

More reports implicate the MMI in the shooting. The FBI noted that all the witnesses to the shooting “seem to have the same ‘clear cut' story that they were in the ballroom when Maicolm
X was shot and when the shots rang out they fell to the floor and never got a look at the assassins.” Also, an informant indicated that one of Malcolm's bodyguards had been seen in Harlem with expensive clothing and $100 bills soon after the shooting, although the man had “no visible means of support at this time.”

Also included in the section is a report of Elijah Muhammad's denial of taking any part in the assassination, and reports of Malcolm's funeral, attended by several black celebrities and political figures, including Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, James Farmer, and Bayard Rustin.

9:30 PM URGENT 2-25-65 NWL

TO DIRECTOR CHICAGO NEWARK AND NEW YORK

NEW YORK VIA WASHINGTON—ENCODED

FROM PHILADELPHIA 252025

MALCOLM K. LITTLE, AKA, IS-MMI.

RE PHILADELPHIA CALL TO NEW YORK TODAY.

[BUREAU DELETION] HE RECOGNIZED NEWSPAPER PHOTO OF TALMADGE HAYER, AKA THOMAS HAGAN, AS PERSON HE KNEW AS NOI AND FOI MEMBER IN 1963 AND 1964. CANNOT RECALL X NUMBER, BUT BELIEVES FIRST NAME WAS TALMADGE OR THOMAS. ATTENDED NOI MEETINGS WITH HAYER [BUREAU DELETION] ALWAYS ASSUMED HAYER MEMBER OF MM NUMBER 25, NEWARK; HOWEVER, NOW FEELS MAY HAVE BEEN MEMBER OF TEMPLE IN PATERSON. AT MEETINGS, BOTH NEWARK AND PATERSON, HAYER WAS SECURITY GUARD AND SEARCHED [BUREAU DELETION] MOST THOROUGHLY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. [BUREAU DELETION] ALSO OBSERVED
HAYER AT MEETING AT ARENA, 4537 MARKET STREET, PHILADELPHIA, ON SEPTEMBER 29, 1963 AT WHICH ELIJAH MUHAMMAD WAS PRINCIPAL SPEAKER. HAYER WAS ON SEARCH DETAIL INSIDE ARENA ON NORTH CORRIDOR.

LAST SAW HAYER IN CHICAGO FEBRUARY 1964 AT SAVIOR'S DAY CONVENTION. HAYER SAT ON EITHER FIRST OR SECOND ROW WHEN ELIJAH MUHAMMAD SPOKE AS A GUARD FOR MUHAMMAD IN EVENT OF TROUBLE.

FEBRUARY 25, 1965
TELETYPE

SENT BY CODED TELETYPE

FBI NEW YORK

8-37 AM URGENT 2-25-65 DAE

TO DIRECTOR -2-

FROM NEW YORK 105-8999

MALCOLM K. LITTLE, AKA IS-MMI.

[BUREAU DELETION] ADVISED FEB. TWENTY FOUR, SIXTY FIVE, THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ONE SUSPECT OTHER THAN TALMADGE HAYER, WHICH HE DECLINED TO IDENTIFY AT THIS TIME IN THE KILLING OF MALCOLM X. [BUREAU DELETION] INDICATED THAT BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF CRANK CALLS BEING MADE AT THE PRESENT TIME, THEY ARE WAITING UNTIL AFTER THE FUNERAL OF MALCOLM X BEFORE QUESTIONING THIS SUSPECT. [BUREAU DELETION] ALSO STATED THAT A NUMBER OF WITNESSES TO THE SHOOTING OF MALCOLM X CANNOT BE LOCATED AND ARE BELIEVED TO BE STAYING WITH FRIENDS UNTIL THE SITUATION “COOLS OFF.”

IN RESPECT TO THE HEADLINES IN THE “NEW YORK POST,” A DAILY NEWSPAPER, DATED FEB. TWENTY FOUR, CAPTIONED “POLICE HINT MALCOLM-S KILLERS KNOWN” [BUREAU DELETION] SAID [BUREAU DELETION] WISHED IT WAS TRUE AND REMARKED THAT IT IS JUST ANOTHER WAY FOR THE “NEW YORK POST” TO SELL NEWSPAPERS. CLOSE LIAISON WITH [BUREAU DELETION] CONTINUING.

END

WA

JH

FBI WASH DC

FEBRUARY 26, 1965
TELETYPE

SENT BY CODED TELETYPE

6-03 PM URGENT 2-26-65 NHH

TO NEW YORK /18/

FROM DIRECTOR /25-330971/ IP

NATION OF ISLAM INTERNAL SECURITY DASH NOI.

REURTEL FIVE TWENTY
A.M
. INSTANT DATE, CAPTIONED QUOTE MALCOLM K. LITTLE, ALSO KNOWN AS, END QUOTE, AND YOUR AIRTEL JANUARY THIRTEEN LAST, CAPTIONED QUOTE NATION OF ISLAM, INTERNAL SECURITY DASH NOI, END QUOTE, WITH ENCLOSED LETTERHEAD MEMORANDUM.

RETEL ADVISED OF ARREST OF TWO INDIVIDUALS FOR MURDER OF MALCOLM X. ONE IDENTIFIED AS NORMAN THREE X BUTLER. IMMEDIATELY SUTEL IDENTITY OF SECOND INDIVIDUAL ARRESTED. REAIRTEL ADVISED OF ARRESTS OF NORMAN THREE X BUTLER, THOMAS FIFTEEN X JOHNSON, AND [BUREAU DELETION] IN CONNECTION WITH SHOOTING
OF BENJAMIN BROWN ON JANUARY SIX LAST. [BUREAU DELETION] POSSIBLE INVOLVEMENT IN THE MURDER OF MALCOLM X LITTLE AND ANY FUTURE

REPRISALS.

END

DAE

FBI NEW YORK

FEBRUARY 27, 1965
TELETYPE

SENT BY CODED TELETYPE

FBI NEW YORK

5-15 PM URGENT 2-27-65 RGF

TO DIRECTOR -7- /100-399321/

FROM NEW YORK /105-8999/ 2P

MALCOLM K. LITTLE, AKA IS-MMI

RE NEW YORK TELETYPE TO BUREAU FEBRUARY TWENTY SIX LAST CAPTIONED AS ABOVE, WHICH REPORTED THAT [BUREAU DELETION] HAD ADVISED THAT WITNESS [BUREAU DELETION] HAS NOW IDENTIFIED BOTH TALMADGE HAYER AND NORMAN BUTLER AS ASSAILANTS OF MALCOLM X AT THE TIME OF HIS KILLING. AS BUREAU HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY ADVISED, [BUREAU DELETION] WAS FIRST CONTACTED BY NEW YORK OFFICE AGENTS, [BUREAU DELETION] WHEN HE TURNED OVER FORTY FIVE AUTOMATIC [BUREAU DELETION] RECOVERED AT SCENE OF KILLING. [BUREAU DELETION] WAS AT FIRST RELUCTANT TO SERVE AS WITNESS BUT IS NOW COOPERATING FULLY WITH POLICE.

ON FEBRUARY TWENTY SIX [BUREAU DELETION] ALL EXPRESSED THEIR DEEP APPRECIATION TO NEW YORK OFFICE AGENTS FOR THE EXCELLENT
COOPERATION IN TURNING OVER WITNESS [BUREAU DELETION] AND THE GUN. [BUREAU DELETION] ONE POLICE OFFICER SAID THAT AS OF FEBRUARY TWENTY SIX [BUREAU DELETION] WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT WITNESS THEY HAD.

FOR BUREAU/S INFORMATION

END

UU

SXC

FBI WASH DC

Date: February
25, 1965

The
New York Journal American
issue of 2/24/65 carries a story concerning the murder of Malcolm X under the headline, “G-Men in Harlem—The Plot Deepens.” The story states that, “Negro FBI Agents were working under cover in Harlem today in an investigation reportedly aimed at ferreting out possible international political motives behind the assassination of Malcolm X.” Further on in the story it is stated, “The Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed that there are Negro FBI agents in Harlem, but dodged saying anything specific about their assignments.” The Director inquired, “What about this?”

Assistant Director Malone of the New York Office advises that neither he nor any of his men in the New York Office confirmed the FBI has Special Agents working in Harlem. Mr. Malone said all inquiries from whatever source had been answered with a “no comment” in connection with this matter.

No one in my office, in answer to inquiries, confirmed to anyone that Negro Agents are working in Harlem.

It is a well-known fact among news media people that the FBI has Negro Agents working in large Negro communities. In fact, we publicize this repeatedly. An example of such highlighting the work of our Negro Agents is the attached reprint from the September, 1962, issue of
Ebony
, wherein on page 3 this point is specifically made. Reporters Flynn and Pearl, who work under Guy Richards at the
Journal-American
are known for their flamboyancy and speculative stories.

Enclosure

REW: bsp