</s>6/18/68 TELETYPE URGENT TO: SEATTLE FROM: PORTLAND (62-2864) (P) KENSALT. REFERENCE TELETYPE, JUNE SEVENTEEN, LAST, LOS ANGELES TO PORTLAND, IS AS FOLLOWS, THE NAME TYRONE CHAPMANN APPEARS IN THE NOTEBOOK OF SUBJECT SIRIAN B. SIRIAN AND BELIEVED TO BE IDENTICAL WITH A JOCKEY OF THE SAME NAME, A YAKIMA INDIAN, BORN JURN TWENTY ONE, NINETEEN FORTY EIGHT, AND LAST ARRESTED APRIL TEN, LAST, AT PORTLAND, OREGON, FOR HIT AND RUN. CHAPMANM HAS BROTHER, TOM ESTMO, A HORSE TRAINER PRESENTLY AT PORTLAND MEADOWS, PORTLANO, OREGON, AND TYROME BELIEVEED TO BE RACING THERE NOW. PORTLAND CONTACT. EUGENE DANFORTH, TRPB, PORLAND MEadows, PORTLAND. LOCATE AND INTERVIEW TYROPE CHAPMANN RE ASSOCIATION WITH SUBJECT, OBTAIN BACKGROUND DATA, AND POSSIBLE MOTIVE FOR ASSASSINATION OF RFK. SUBJECT WAS KNOWN IN HORSE RACING CIRCLES, CORONA, CALIFORNIA, AS SOL SIRMAN. 1 - LOS ANGELES (56-156) (AM) 52-15-4-45 1 - PORTLAND (62~2864] FAP:CPE FRI-LUS ANALYELES (2) Ducareo 2.0 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigative efforts following Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination on June 5, 1968, focusing on connections between individuals linked to the event and horse racing circles, media personnel, subversive organizations, and hotel-related activities. Key figures include Tyrone Chapman (a jockey associated with Sirian B. Sirian) and Sirhan Salim Sarian (a Jordanian citizen with U.S. ties), both investigated for potential motives or associations with the assassination. The FBI sought to locate Chapman in Portland, Oregon, and track Sarian’s background, employment at Boeing and Chrysler, family details, and travel between Jordan and the U.S. Media personnel such as John Lewis, James Wilson, Warren Sims, and Jimmy Breslin were interviewed for photographic evidence or witness accounts. Additional inquiries involved Dennis Berkson (ABC News), Paul Shinoff (linked to subversive groups), and Charles R. Garry (a lawyer representing the Black Panther Party). The FBI also pursued leads on a missing individual described as "Bir Hale Bey" (Rice) who contacted Kennedy’s office.  

Other investigations centered on the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, where Sylvia Wright reported interactions with a Rocket Messenger Service messenger described as approximately 45 years old, grey-haired, well-tanned, and thin. The FBI sought to identify him but found no direct link to Sirhan Sirhan. Interviews with Dr. Max Rappaport and Barney Fitzpatrick included claims that Fitzpatrick’s wife saw a man resembling Sirhan at the hotel. William Scott, a radio executive, recalled an unidentified white male near the press table, possibly holding a gun, though no photographic evidence was provided. The FBI also examined CBC footage of Kennedy’s visit and investigated allegations of unauthorized coverage by Harry Beliveau.  

Inquiries into John M. Lawrence, a subject of multiple arrests in Denver and New York, included his legal records and pending cases. Paul H. Shinoff, interviewed regarding a Peace and Freedom Party meeting in Hollywood on May 21, 1968, was questioned about potential connections to the assassination but could not recall specific individuals resembling Sirhan Sirhan.  

Key People  
- Tyrone Chapman (jockey, linked to Sirian B. Sirian)  
- Sirhan Salim Sarian (Jordanian citizen, Boeing/Chrysler employee, married to Nellie Khader)  
- Eugene Danforth (TRPB contact in Portland, Oregon)  
- John Lewis (CBS electrician, filmed Kennedy’s exit)  
- James Wilson (CBS cameraman, assisted in filming)  
- Warren Sims (Life Magazine photographer)  
- Jimmy Breslin (media personnel, witnessed post-assassination activity)  
- Dennis Berkson (ABC News correspondent)  
- Paul Shinoff (linked to subversive organizations)  
- Charles R. Garry (lawyer for Black Panther Party, represented Huey P. Newton)  
- Sylvia Wright (Life Magazine writer)  
- Rocket Messenger Service messenger (described as 45 years old, grey-haired, thin)  
- Terry O'Connor (St. Louis University director)  
- Dr. Max Rappaport and Barney Fitzpatrick (campaign associates)  
- William Scott (WNCA Radio executive)  
- Frank Mankiewicz (Press Secretary)  
- George Marder and Ray Lahr (UPI journalists)  
- Tamara Corovich and Peter Kalvoda (hotel associates)  
- Warren Weaver (New York Times correspondent)  
- Ian Brodie (London Daily Express reporter, stated in Montreal during assassination)  
- Harry Benson (photographer for London Daily Express at Ambassador Hotel)  
- Ivor Davis (reporter for London Daily Express at Ambassador Hotel)  
- John M. Lawrence (subject of multiple arrests in Denver and New York; FBI number 43856)  

Key Locations  
- Portland, Oregon (Chapman’s potential location, TRPB contacts)  
- Seattle, Washington (Long Acres Race Track, Chapman’s alleged activity)  
- Los Angeles, California (FBI field office, media interviews, Ambassador Hotel)  
- Detroit, Michigan (Sirhan Sarian’s employment history, INS records)  
- Jordan (Sirhan Sarian’s family ties, travel between U.S. and Jordan)  
- New York City (Dennis Berkson’s residence, ABC News operations, John M. Lawrence’s legal records)  
- Miramar Hotel, Santa Monica (linked to Tamara Corovich’s incidents)  
- Washington Field Office (FBI coordination hub)  
- Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Ian Brodie’s telephone call to FBI agents)  
- Denver, Colorado (John M. Lawrence’s arrests and legal history)  
- Hollywood, California (Peace and Freedom Party meeting attended by Paul H. Shinoff)  

Key Events  
- FBI investigation into Tyrone Chapman’s association with Sirian B. Sirian and potential motive for RFK’s assassination  
- Search for Sirhan Salim Sarian’s background, employment, and travel records  
- Media personnel interviews to obtain photographic evidence of the assassination  
- Inquiry into Jimmy Breslin’s account of an individual (possibly Dick Drain) at the Ambassador Hotel post-assassination  
- Tracking Dennis Berkson and Paul Shinoff for potential witness or documentary evidence  
- Investigation into Charles R. Garry’s ties to subversive groups and his legal representation of Huey P. Newton  
- Messenger interactions at the Ambassador Hotel on June 4–5, 1968  
- Interviews with Sylvia Wright and Rocket Messenger Service personnel  
- Search for Samir M. Kialf and Terry O'Connor’s records  
- Fitzpatrick’s wife sighting of a man resembling Sirhan  
- William Scott’s recollection of an unidentified individual near the press table  
- CBC footage investigation and Harry Beliveau’s complaint  
- Jerry Sims’ absence from New York and potential LA presence  
- Tamara Corovich’s hotel-related incidents in Santa Monica  
- Re-interviews of journalists Warren Weaver and Ian Brodie for information on RFK’s campaign and the assassination  
- Arrest records of John M. Lawrence, including multiple charges and pending cases  
- Peace and Freedom Party meeting attended by Paul H. Shinoff on May 21, 1968  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Los Angeles, Detroit, Washington field offices  
- TRPB (Portland Race Track Police Bureau) – Portland, Oregon  
- Rocket Messenger Service – Messenger interactions at Ambassador Hotel  
- Life Magazine – Sylvia Wright, Warren Sims  
- CBS – John Lewis, James Wilson, Jennie Ronnelli  
- NBC – A. H. Rissner, Henry Kokojan  
- American Airlines – Georgia Bostwick (reservations saleswoman), flight records related to Tamara Corovich  
- Black Panther Party – Represented by Charles R. Garry  
- London Daily Express – Ian Brodie, Harry Benson, Ivor Davis  
- Peace and Freedom Party – Hollywood meeting attended by Paul H. Shinoff  
- New York Times – Warren Weaver (assigned to Washington, DC)

RFK Declassified Files

56-la-156-a_sec_002_ser_201--part_4_of_6.pdf

Document Summary

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