Malcolm X (57 page)

[BUREAU DELETION] stated that District Attorney DERMODY requestioned BUTLER about meeting with JOHN ALI, NOI National Secretary, at the Americana Hotel, NYC, the night before MALCOLM X was killed. BUTLER stated he knew JOHN ALI but never met him. [BUREAU DELETION] said information was received that JOHN ALI met with HAYER the night before MALCOLM X was killed, but that the witness to this meeting was later arrested for theft and was now considered undesirable as a state witness.

[BUREAU DELETION] stated that CHARLES 37X MORRIS, was this date again called to the witness stand, this time on behalf of the defense. During cross examination MORRIS admitted that he was once a member of the NOI in NY and at that time knew BUTLER and JOHNSON as members of the NOI “Enforcement Squad” whose duty it was to talk to and sometimes “shake up people.”

According to [BUREAU DELETION], while BUTLER was on the witness stand Judge MARKS stated that if BUTLER's manners on the stand did not change, he would charge the jury to take into consideration BUTLER's mannerism and demeanor in determining if he was telling the truth on the witness stand. [BUREAU DELETION] stated that BUTLER's action on the witness stand was very detrimental to his case.

[BUREAU DELETION] stated THOMAS 15X JOHNSON is scheduled to be called to the witness stand on his own behalf on the afternoon of 3/2/66.

MARCH 11 1966

ENCODED MESSAGE

FBI NEW YORK

1/43 P URGENT 3-11-66 JAM

TO DIRECTOR /4/ 100-399321

FROM NEW YORK 105-8999 IP

MALCOLM K. LITTLE,
SM-MMI

NEW YORK STATE SUPREME COURT JURY FOUND TALMADGE HAYER OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, NORMAN THREE X BUTLER AND THOMAS FIFTEEN X JOHNSON OF NEW YORK, GUILTY OF FIRST DEGREE ON MARCH ELEVEN NINETEEN SIXTY SIX FOR THE MURDER OF MALCOLM K. LITTLE COMMONLY KNOWN AS MALCOLM X.

SENTENCE SCHEDULED FOR APRIL FOURTEEN NEXT.

LETTER FOLLOWS.

COPY OF INSTANT TELETYPE BEING SENT TO NEWARK BY MAIL.

CORR TIME SHD BE 143 PM

END

2- HL

FBI WASH DC

ReNYtel, 3/11/66.

[BUREAU DELETION] advised SA [BUREAU DELETION] on 3/11/66, that on that date NORMAN 3X BUTLER, THOMAS 15X JOHNSON and TALMADGE HAYER were found guilty of murder in the first degree for the killing of MALCOLM X on 2/21/65, at NYC.

On 3/14/66, Assistant District Attorney VINCENT J. DERMODY, NYC, advised SA [BUREAU DELETION] that the NY State Supreme Court jury deliberated over 20 hours and at 12:20
A.M
. on 3/11/66, returned a verdict of murder in the first degree on the defendants BUTLER, JOHNSON and HAYER for the assassination of MALCOLM X. Mr. DERMODY stated that Justice CHARLES MARKS set 4/14/66 for sentencing. He further stated that if BUTLER, JOHNSON and HAYER are sentence to life imprisonment, as is mandatory for murder in the first degree, the trio would have to serve a minimum of 26 years 8 months before they will be eligible for parole.

The NYO will continue to follow this case and report results of sentencing on 4/14/66.

Date: 4/14/66

On 4/14/66, [BUREAU DELETION] NY County, NYC, advised that on this date, NY County Supreme Court Judge CHARLES MARKS sentenced NORMAN BUTLER, THOMAS JOHNSON and TALMADGE HAYER to life imprisonment for the murder of MALCOLM LITTLE, commonly known as MALCOLM X.

It is noted that a person sentenced to life imprisonment for murder in the first degree in NY County must serve a minimum of 26 years, 8 months before they can be eligible for parole.

[BUREAU DELETION] also advised that as of this date, it has not been determined where the trio will be incarcerated to serve their sentences.

New York, New York
February 23, 1967
Memorial March and Service
Commemorating the Death of Malcolm X
Information Concerning

On February 23, 1967, [BUREAU DELETION] advised that a Memorial March and Service Commemorating the Death of Malcolm X took place at approximately 12 noon on February 22, 1967, at the Audubon Ballroom, West 166 Street and Broadway, New York City.

Approximately one hundred people marched in a parade down Broadway to 145 Street, and then crossed over to Seventh Avenue. At this point, they marched down to 125 Street, where they were joined by about another one hundred people. Here a Memorial
Service of Malcolm X was conducted and a small bust of Malcolm X was unveiled.

Speakers were as follows:

Akiyele Awolowo, Chief of Information of the Harlem People's Parliament.

Baba Oseijeman Adefumi, the Prime Minister of the Harlem People's Parliament, and High Priest of the Yoruba Temple, who stated that the Negro people should buy goods from black people.

Stokely Carmichael, Executive Director of the Student NonViolent Coordination Committee, who stated that from now on they will no longer celebrate the death of Malcolm X, but instead will celebrate his birthday.

Charles 37X Morris, a Militant black nationalist who spoke in general laudatory terms about Malcolm X.

Ella Collins, President of the Organization of Afro-American Unity, who also spoke in general terms about the good that Malcolm X did while he was living.

The affair terminated at 2:30
P.M
. with about two hundred people in attendance.

There were no arrests or incidents.

SECTION 19

April 29, 1969–June 20, 1980 plus Recordings and Appendix

This final section offers book reviews, information regarding celebrations of Malcolm's birthday in 1972, a request from New Jersey Congressman Hughes to reopen the case against Butler and Johnson, and telephone surveillance recordings from 1964. An appendix then offers reference assistance for the entire FBI file.

The book reviews are submitted in the form of memos written by b7C informants to agents with a summary of the publication followed by a reference as to whether or not the FBI is mentioned in the book. During 1972, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover died, so some memos from that year are addressed to “Acting Director.”

The telephone recordings from 1964 were useful to the FBI because they could supply immediate information regarding Malcolm's activities and could confirm informant reports as well. No reason is listed as to why they were discontinued after exactly four months.