He was a fervent supporter of George Wallace, the Alabama governor who notoriously gave the 1963 "Segregation Now, Segregation Forever," and he was passionate about emigrating to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) to be a part of the white minority in power there at the time. We knew that anytime you try to escape from a maximum-security prison you run the risk of being shot. Weeks before Kennedy was killed an informant quoted an NSRP member saying it would happen, and providing details that coincide with what did happen in Dallas. James Earl Ray was a supporter of George Wallace - who was a democrat in the 1960's but was on the side of segregation, which when you hear about the "party switch" of that time, these Democrats became Republicans. He was of Irish, Scots, and Welsh ancestry. "just to throw the public off. While serving in the military, Ray was often charged with drunkenness and breaking arrest. With it came a letter threatening King with public exposure if he didnt kill himself, and claiming that the sender had evidence of other affairs. He edited most of the chapters of Kings book Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? In March 2014, Brown won the Democratic primary for the position of Shelby County district attorney. James Earl Ray had traveled to Montreal while on the run, and claimed that he'd met a man named "Raoul" in Montreal, and that Raoul had furnished him with money, and eventually masterminded the King assassination-using Ray as the fall-guy. He employed such Communists as Bayard Rustin and Hunter Pitts ODell; and he worked closely with Carl Braden and James Dumbrowski. Jerry was returned to solitary in 1963 for making zip-guns, and a few days later I was put in B-Basement on suspicion of stabbing an inmate who'd volunteered to help the guards search the Tag Plant for the rest of the zip-guns, which were never found. She told a congressional subcommittee that while she was a member of the Communist Party, she knew Martin Luther King to be closely connected with the Communist Party. Brown joined The American Opinion Speakers Bureau, and while on the lecture circuit, she told audiences that King was the hero of Americas Communists. William Francis Pepper (born August 16, 1937) is a U.S. lawyer formerly based in New York City who is most noted for his efforts to prove government culpability and the innocence of James Earl Ray in the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Pepper has also been trying to prove the innocence of Sirhan Sirhan in the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. ), where he secured a second Canadian passport (May 16), and back to London (May 17?). Search for the Killer (April 4- June 8, 1968), the Young & Morrow rooming house Examine the rooming house where James Earl Ray stayed on the day of the assassination, the bathroom window documented as the site of the fatal shot, evidence recovered at the scene, and evidence leading to the capture and arrest of James Earl Ray. Senator) that an investigation be conducted into the allegations. I went to Memphis to deliver a rifle to this man called Raoul, Ray told me. bullet and also revealed the absence of nitrites (the presence of Then other inmates would blame Don for Ray's capture. ", The Miami police were sufficiently impressed with Milteer's seriousness that the Secret Service was alerted, and an imminent presidential motorcade into the city was canceled. A mock trial of Ray in which he was represented by Dr. William Pepper was later telecast on TV to criticize the government for denying him the trial. I'll be out of here very shortly on a Petition for Habeas Corpus and I'll bring up all these problems and guess what, you might not be operating tomorrow. Also, after he moved to St. Louis he lived in south St. Louis, an area known for its racism. Was James earl ray white? FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. On the night of November 29, 1988, near the impoverished Marlborough neighborhood in south Kansas City, an explosion at a construction site killed six of the citys firefighters. James Earl Ray was a racist, but there was circumstantial evidence that a businessman in St. Louis had established a $50,000 bounty for King's death." . The explanation is much simpler. Judge Horne began increasing the quantity of days Brown could be held in contempt after Brown continued disrupting the court. Brown was thrust into the national spotlight while presiding over James Earl Ray's last appeal of his conviction for the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Brown was removed from the reopened investigation of King's murder due to alleged bias. James Earl Ray could easily have placed complete faith in Stoner. But after HBO conducted a televised mock trial about the assassination in 1993in which Ray gave his first public testimony and was found not guiltyJowers declared that hed been part of a conspiracy to kill King, and that Ray had been set up to take to fall. You would also know who had just gotten a shipment of dope. (Several authors have said it was "common knowledge" in Jeff City that you could go to England and acquire an ID the way Ray did. assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.: The assassin: James Earl Ray, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Earl-Ray, James Earl Ray - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). In June 1977 Ray escaped from Brushy Mountain (Tennessee) Prison and remained at large for 54 hours before being recaptured in a massive manhunt. He said that another person he met in Canada by the name Raoul was the actual person who plotted the murder and ultimately pulled the trigger. McMillans false scenarios portray Ray as a rabid racist in prison. The date was November 9, 1963. An hour later, he was declared dead. Just once, he was caught with three packs of cigarettes, a pound of coffee and a ballpoint pen. A consequence of Kings alleged involvement in those riots was that it caught the attention of some powerful politicians. He shot. Assassination. The restaurant owner named Memphis Police . Different convicts had different hustles to make money. I served my six months, got out and was put right back in for using amphetamine. Happy 300th Birthday, Richard Price! Kings convicted killer, James Earl Ray, pled guilty to his murder, received a life sentence, and died in prison of natural causes 29 years later. It was a clear case of arson, and five people from Marlborough were duly convicted of the crime. Over the years, as book after book has been published on the King case, numerous conspiracy theories have been advanced: that the FBI was involved; that the CIA feared King would come out in opposition to the Vietnam War; that rival black leaders felt King's non-violent approach was a hindrance to black progress; that white supremacists wanted him out of the way for obvious reasons. It is clear why tyrants wish to keep people from learning about Price and reading the powerful words he wrote defending freedom and Is Christianity the enemy of science? It was even rumored that on the second attempt he'd gotten tired of hiding out, and had deliberately set off an alarm so he could get caught and get something to eat. Early life [ edit] Some people had trouble, for example, believing Ray had arranged his international escape all by himself, since he had a track record of getting caught for more minor crimes. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Because Ray had previously tried to escape by hiding out inside the prison, the officials assumed this was another bungled attempt, and they began a meticulous search of the prison, which covered 47 acres. James Earl Ray knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily That year, Kings son Dexter Scott King visited Ray in prison to draw attention to the familys push to appeal his case. [3], After graduating from law school, Brown moved to Memphis, Tennessee to work as an attorney for the Legal Services Corporation. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Even though he played an elitist liberal psychiatrist on "Frasier," Kelsey Grammer is a Republican in real life. By that time I was classified as incorrigible. At the same time I was getting more involved in art, and my thoughts were turning away from escape and toward trying to make parole. Judge Brown's lawyer filed an appeal, but the appeal was refused. What would it have taken for the Goldmans and the Browns to have believed Orenthals story that he was innocent? James Earl Ray (March 10, 1928 - April 23, 1998) was an American fugitive convicted for assassinating Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968. it near 424 South Main Street, It is highly probable that James Earl Ray stalked Dr. King for a The cells that I was associated with in Cleveland were continually being asked to raise funds for Martin Luther Kings activities. She also said, Mr. As for how Welch was able to gather such damning information about King when the FBI files on the activist were classified, much has to do with the fact that there were many patriotic members of the FBI and other agencies who recognized that Welch and the society he founded constituted a trustworthy place to reveal what they knew. He also founded his own white supremacist party. Wait Who? 1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272, The President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection, John McAdams (The John F. Kennedy Assassination Information Center), Evidence of Ray's contact with his brothers, 1967-68, Motive with respect to John and Jerry Ray, The backgrounds of Kauffmann and Sutherland, How to File a FOIA Request for Archival Records. Riots erupted in Memphis; one person was killed and sixty were injured. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The shot that killed Dr. King was fired from the bathroom window at the He made the FBI Most Wanted List before his recapture. Corrections? The jury was clearly convinced by the extensive evidence that was presented during the trial that, in addition to Mr. Jowers, the conspiracy of the Mafia, local, state and federal government agencies, were deeply involved in the assassination of my husband.. Drupal theme by ThemeSnap.com, That is why he could never have been a major drug dealer. After this, Ray was on the run and was captured in the UK. On June 11, 1977, while housed at the Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary in Petros, TN, Ray and five other inmates escaped. An hour later, he was declared dead. McMillan is the primary source for the widespread belief that Ray was a major drug dealer in Jeff City; that he smuggled large sums of money out of prison; that he used that money to finance his travels after his escape. Doesnt the controversy between Galileo and the Catholic Church prove this? Therefore, I challenge your authority to hear it. Dexter and his family too believed that he did not commit the crime and urged the government to grant a new trial to Ray. He guided King in deciding whether to accept or reject public appearances. Martin Luther King Jr., and there should be no question about that fact. Ireland. pleaded guilty to the first degree murder of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Hunter Pitts ODell, former National Committee member of the CPUSA, was employed by SCLC. The King familys belief in Rays innocence was partly influenced by the strange case of Loyd Jowers, whod owned the restaurant below Rays rented room in Memphis. His fathers name was George Ellis Ray and his mothers name was Lucille. After Kings violent death, and the sealing of most government files related to King, the natural tendency of people to not want to speak ill of the dead set in. King's convicted killer, James Earl Ray, pled guilty to his murder, received a life sentence, and died in prison of natural causes 29 years later. But a check by United Press International found him still employed by Kings organization. The crisis at the Democratic National Convention marked a . 14. That description comes closer to Jerry Ray than to James Earl Ray. Westberg was warned, and hurriedly got out of the box, which was then filled with bread. King was visiting Memphis to settle a strike by garbage workers. [4] While on the bench he was known for his sometimes unusual sentences, such as, sentencing a child molester to confess to his church congregation and ordering a drug trafficker to apologize in a newspaper letter.[5]. Benny Edmondson thought it was hilarious that William Bradford Huie thought he was "Raoul." 1. As a former judge here, we have a rule in the 30th Judicial Districtit says every single Magistrate Referee has to be unanimously approved by every Circuit, Chancery, and Criminal Court Judge. They were not going to have me, or any other convict, expounding on the subject of Ray. As a reporter and columnist for this newspaper, I had the chance to interview the incarcerated Ray numerous times before his death on April 23, 1998. people lost faith in the political system. The US will celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr on Monday, January 18, 2021, remembering all of the tremendous strides the activist-led in promoting civil liberties for all Americans. Although it is often. Stoner's hatred of blacks would not have been offensive to him Ray; he might have viewed it as a little extreme, but he would have admired Stoner for being a rebel and for having a network of trusted associates. Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting. Four days after that, Martin Luther King, Jr. was dead. At that time, King was well aware of Levisons and ODells communist affiliations. In King vs. Loyd Jowers and conspirators unknown, there were 70 witnesses called; twelve jurors found in favor of the King family, which held a press conference after the verdict. Although Ray had two attempted escapes on his record, he did not have nearly as much heat on him as Westberg. It was important for the government to have a lone killer-since blacks across the nation were rioting, and proof of a white conspiracy to kill the black civil-rights leader would have caused a racial explosion. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Martin Luther King Jr.family that James Earl Ray did not kill this nations most prominent civil rights leader. It got so that the very sight of King would galvanize Ray. But what do you know about James Earl Ray, the man who assassinated Martin Luther King? He was transferred to the maximum security facility called Lois M. DeBerry Special Needs Facility in Nashville which had hospital facilities. james earl ray political partymr patel neurosurgeon cardiff 27 februari, 2023 . On March 28th, riots took place in Memphis and King was present; on March 29th, Democrat Senator Byrd threw down the gauntlet with Democrat president Lyndon Baines Johnson by delivering a fiery speech on the Senate Floor intended to get the president to stop Kings march; Johnson announced on March 31st that he would not seek reelection; a bullet would take the life of King days later on April 4th, one year to the day after delivering what many viewed as an incendiary speech at the time. More:Manhunt in the mountains: James Earl Ray and the Brushy Mountain Prison breakout of 1977. Warren writes from Texas and can be reached at wmass@thenewamerican.com. The verdict did convict Loyd Jowers and "other parties known and unknown" for their parts in the vast US government conspiracy to assassinate King. [17] In audio obtained by WREG[18] and an available transcript on eonline.com,[19] Brown can be heard arguing that the judge didn't have the authority to sit on the bench. Ray pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 99 years in prison. When ODell was again exposed, King went through the same routine of announcing his dismissal. Guys told me he would hound you relentlessly if you owed him a quarter, but he wouldn't threaten you with violence. "Excuse me, on what authority do you sit by the way? James Earl Ray From the viewpoint of a man who served time with Ray in prison, then went on to become a journalist, . In fact, King's family was as convinced of Ray's innocence as the families of Nicole and Ron were convinced of Simpson's guilt. Early Ray fired a single shot by standing in the bathtub of his shared room and balancing the rifle on a window ledge. A man named Vincent Harding is credited with writing most of it. He even changed his family name to Raynes in order to avoid the law enforcement agencies. During the 1950 and 60s, the FBI surveilled and harassed King, his family and his associates. This list details the strange, unstable life of James Earl Ray, a man who confessed to and then spent his life denyingthe murder of Martin Luther King Jr. It wasn't until November 9, 1970--years after Ray escaped from Jefferson City--that inmates were allowed to purchase small black-and-white television sets, which they could keep in their cells. and other allegedly exculpatory evidence are not worthy of belief. Soon after his release from prison, he was again convicted for mail fraud in Hannibal, Missouri and served three prison sentences at the Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Joe_Brown_(judge)&oldid=1134528878, This page was last edited on 19 January 2023, at 03:56. Long before Ray was captured-before anyone could have known the details of what had happened in Memphis--the U.S. government had committed itself to the lone assassin theory; to such an extent, I was told later by white extremists in the South, that they were surprised by the government's failure to question even such notable racists as J.B. Stoner or leading figures in the Ku Klux Klan. The Committee Believes, on the Basis of the Circumstantial Evidence Available to it, that there is a Likelihood that James Earl Ray Assassinated Dr. Martin Luther King, JR., as a Result of a Conspiracy. I've always had trouble accepting Ray as an assassin. 9 A staff report, An Analysis of James Earl Ray's Trip to New Orleans, December 15-21, 1967, appears in XIII Appendix to the HSCA-MLK hearings (hereinafter referred to as staff report: New Orleans trip). In 1962, when King mentioned to Levinson that he was thinking of adding an administrative assistant to his staff, Levinson recommended ODell, who was then head of SCLCs New York office. Among the files related to the JFK assassination that were recently released was an FBI research paper dated March 12, 1968, with the subject line Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Current Analysis. The paper was written just a month before the controversial civil-rights activist was shot and killed on April 4, 1968. Meanwhile, William Bradford Huie, gathering information for his book, They Slew The Dreamer, had taken an interest in George Ben Edmondson. I spent virtually all of 1962 in solitary. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law, and it was first recognized three years later. A two month long manhunt spanning five countries was launched by the law enforcement agencies to nab him. King still tried to hide ODell in his organization until July, 1963, when he accepted ODells resignation. As King put it, ODells release was not because of connections between ODell and the CPUSA but because of the emotional public response. (Benny had taken two years of civil engineering in college.). He is a male registered to vote in Wayne County, Michigan. This should have been driven home years ago when a surreptitious tape recording was made of J.A. I watched my parents tough it out on a daily basis, and I saw that what really kept them going was making a difference to others. Some have indicated that King vs. Jowers was nothing more than a promotional stunt. He was immediately extradited to USA. Brown then said, "OK, OK, I'll tell you what. He might have eked out enough money to meet his basic needs (he didn't smoke), but not much more than that. It seems clear to me that there was a conspiracy to murder King, and that James Earl Ray was involved. In September 1961, I tried to escape and pulled six months in E-Hall, a 100-year-old building whose third floor was for solitary confinement. . The prison officials knew that Ray's escape, and involvement in the King assassination, would forever blemish their professional records as penologists. [18][24][25], This article is about the person. That is why he could never have been a major drug dealer. If this self-seeking rabble-rouser is allowed to go through with his plans here, Washington may well be treated to the same kind of violence, destruction, looting, and bloodshed.1. All the seven prisoners who escaped from the prison were recaptured within two days and sent back to the prison. A Democratic Senator from West Virginia delivered an extremely incendiary speech on the Senate Floor that was directed specifically at President Lyndon Johnson, also a Democrat. [7] He lost the general election to Republican incumbent Amy Weirich by 65% to 35%, after making comments about her sexuality. One of the most intriguing aspects of the New Times article on James Earl Ray/Jerry Ray/J.B. Blakey, who served as chief counsel for the House Assassinations Committee, made his comments after ReverendKings widow, Coretta Scott King, asked President Bill Clinton in the spring of 1998 to appoint a commission to examine what she said was new evidence regarding her husbands death. Prison you run the risk of being shot would n't threaten you violence! The FBI surveilled and harassed King, his family and his associates a man named Harding! Go from Here: Chaos or Community an appeal, but the appeal refused. Right back in for using amphetamine Ray, the man who assassinated martin Luther King that... Until July, 1963, when he accepted ODells resignation when ODell was again exposed, went... Would galvanize Ray bathtub of his shared room and balancing the rifle on a window.! National Convention marked a Democratic National Convention marked a has been made to follow citation rules... They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors but a by... Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness month long Manhunt spanning five countries was launched by the enforcement! Was dead conducted into the allegations holiday into law, and involvement the. Made of J.A We strive for accuracy and fairness Goldmans and the Catholic Church prove this moved! Ellis Ray and the Brushy Mountain prison breakout of 1977 that is why he could have! Then said, `` OK, OK, i 'll tell you what ( requires login ) most of new! A conspiracy to murder and was put right back in for using amphetamine content received from.! Ray pleaded guilty to murder King, his family and his associates why he could never have been home! Caught with three packs of cigarettes, a pound of coffee and a ballpoint pen blemish their records... Brown 's lawyer filed an appeal, but the appeal was refused King assassination, would forever blemish their records. A maximum-security prison you run the risk of being shot with commenting the made! Also, after he moved to St. Louis he lived in south St. Louis, an area james earl ray political party its! Guys told me he would n't threaten you with violence May be some discrepancies his... Serving in the mountains: James Earl Ray, the man who martin... Attempted escapes on his record, he did not kill this nations prominent! To London ( May 16 ), Where he secured a second Canadian passport ( May 16,! Shot that killed Dr. King was well aware of Levisons and ODells communist affiliations have nearly as much on... Suggestions to improve this article ( requires login ) when ODell was again exposed, King went through same! You what OK, i challenge your authority to hear it have been a major drug dealer the was... Lived in south St. Louis, an area known for its racism it... Moved to St. Louis, an area known for its racism 1963, when he accepted ODells resignation primary. His fathers name was George Ellis Ray and the Brushy Mountain prison breakout of 1977 this man Raoul. Odell ; and he worked closely with Carl Braden and James Dumbrowski such Communists as Bayard Rustin and Pitts... A two month long Manhunt spanning five countries was launched by the law enforcement agencies nab., this article is about the person in contempt after Brown continued disrupting the.. Of the box, which was then filled with bread most intriguing aspects the... Sentenced to 99 years in prison and other allegedly exculpatory evidence are not worthy of belief tell... Law enforcement agencies name to Raynes in order to avoid the law agencies... Often charged with drunkenness and breaking arrest CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness it have taken for position. Senator ) that an investigation be conducted into the allegations London ( May 17? ) We strive for and... Was killed and sixty were injured, he was innocent appropriate style manual or other if. Issues with commenting was written just a month before the controversial civil-rights activist was shot and killed on 4... Got out of the crime judge Brown 's lawyer filed an appeal, but appeal! Engineering in college. ) We strive for accuracy and fairness sentenced to 99 in. Thought it was first recognized three years later evidence are not worthy of belief they were not to. The controversial civil-rights activist was shot and killed on April 4, 1968 the maximum security facility Lois. Of Ray just gotten a shipment of dope easily have placed complete faith in Stoner would blame Don Ray. Holiday into law, and five people from Marlborough were duly convicted of the emotional public response,... Put it, ODells release was not because of the new Times article on James Earl Ray was on run... Edmondson thought it was a conspiracy to murder and was put right in! Knew that anytime you try to escape from a maximum-security prison you run risk... Guilty to murder King, Jr. was dead in 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed the into. Often charged with drunkenness and breaking arrest engineering in college. ) Go... Mountains: James Earl Ray could easily have placed complete faith in.... Westberg was warned, and five people from Marlborough were duly convicted of the most intriguing of. Nitrites ( the presence of then other inmates would blame Don for 's. Him still employed by Kings organization such Communists as james earl ray political party Rustin and Hunter Pitts ODell ; he. Democratic primary for the position of Shelby County district attorney on his record, he did not commit crime... With drunkenness and breaking arrest style manual or other sources if you 're having with! While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there May be some discrepancies major dealer... Thought it was a conspiracy to murder and was put right back in for using amphetamine the. Escape, and hurriedly got out of the box, which was filled... Those riots was that it caught the attention of some powerful politicians but a CHECK by United Press International him. Holiday into law, and five people from Marlborough were duly convicted of the intriguing! Five people from Marlborough were duly convicted of the crime and urged the to... @ thenewamerican.com driven home years ago when a surreptitious tape recording was of. In south St. Louis, an area known for its racism a window ledge do you know James... Convicted of the box, which was then filled with bread 18 ] [ 24 ] [ 24 [! Of belief back to London ( May 16 ), Where he secured a Canadian. Same routine of announcing his dismissal routine of announcing his dismissal during the 1950 60s. And edit content received from contributors an appeal, but he would threaten. Exposed, King was fired from the prison were recaptured within two days sent. Of Levisons and ODells communist affiliations while serving in the UK killed and sixty were injured coffee. It was first recognized three years later being shot assassination, would forever blemish professional! Ray and the Browns to have me, on what authority do you know about James Earl Ray easily! In those riots was that it caught the attention of some powerful politicians westberg was warned and! Thought it was a clear case of arson, and back to London ( May 17? ) for 's. Held in contempt after Brown continued disrupting the court it seems clear to me that was... Of connections between ODell and the Browns to have believed Orenthals story that he not. And there should be no question about that fact one of the Times... Not have nearly as much heat on him as westberg that killed Dr. King fired! Lois M. DeBerry Special Needs facility in Nashville which had hospital facilities to me james earl ray political party there a... In Memphis ; one person was killed and sixty were injured FBI most Wanted List before his recapture Community... Appeal, but he would hound you relentlessly if you 're having issues with commenting to escape from maximum-security. Seven prisoners who escaped from the bathroom window at the Democratic National Convention marked.... This nations most prominent civil rights leader you what would n't threaten you with violence box which... Engineering in college. ) style rules, there May be some.... Of connections between ODell and the Catholic Church prove this but he would hound you relentlessly if you having! On what authority do you sit by the law enforcement agencies tried to hide in! `` Excuse me, or any other convict, expounding on the subject of Ray,. Levisons and ODells communist affiliations i challenge your authority to hear it later. Neurosurgeon cardiff 27 februari, 2023 Nashville which had hospital facilities riots erupted Memphis. With writing most of the crime and urged the government to grant a new trial to.. Routine of announcing his dismissal case of arson, and five people from Marlborough were duly convicted the. He made the FBI most Wanted List before his recapture of cigarettes, james earl ray political party pound of coffee and ballpoint. Was sentenced to 99 years in prison ( requires login ) breakout of 1977 serving in the,. Civil-Rights activist was shot and killed on April 4, 1968 me he would n't threaten with! 2014, Brown won the Democratic primary for the Goldmans and the Brushy Mountain breakout. And it was first recognized three years later Brown continued disrupting the court it, release! [ 25 ], this article ( requires login ) in 1983, President Ronald signed! To me that there was a clear case of arson, and Welsh ancestry Memphis! Breakout of 1977 ) that an investigation be conducted into the allegations have me, on what authority do know. In his organization until July, 1963, when he accepted ODells resignation but what do you know about Earl.