--- born: 1910-11-13 category: Authors & Journalists created: 2026-09-21 died: 1986-11-22 location: Guntersville, Alabama summary: Writer who in 1951 pressed the CIA on a 50,000 dollar bribe to French Communists and in 1968 bought James Earl Ray's story through his lawyers, paying Hanes and Foreman shares a court found irregular. tags: - Person - WilliamBradfordHuie - JamesEarlRay - MartinLutherKing - CIA - Journalism - Alabama updated: 2026-09-21 --- William Bradford Huie was born at Hartselle, Alabama, on November 13, 1910, graduated from the University of Alabama in 1930, reported for the *Birmingham Post* from 1932 to 1936, became an editor of *The American Mercury*, and served as a Navy lieutenant from 1943 to 1945. He wrote more than twenty books, six of them filmed, among them *The Americanization of Emily* and *The Execution of Private Slovik*.[^1][^2] ### 1951 On September 14, 1951, on the *Mercury*'s letterhead, Huie wrote to the director of central intelligence, Walter Bedell Smith: "In both The American Mercury and the current Cosmopolitan, I have reported how Jim Forrestal employed a $50,000 bribe to help settle the French railway strike in 1947. The facts are known to a number of Americans. The money was raised very quickly at the Brook Club in New York, in fact, it became known as 'Operation Brook Club.' The money was then carried to France by a naval intelligence agent, and paid to certain members of the Communist Party. Admiral Hillenkoetter arranged to make these contributions deductible." *Le Figaro* had bought the Forrestal papers and wanted the omitted episode. "Is there any valid reason why I should not question the intelligence agent who handled the payment?" [Allen Dulles](/people/allen-dulles/), as acting director, answered on September 22 that "it is the policy of CIA to decline comment on any statement that may relate to activities imputed to this Agency. This silence carries no implication as to the truth or falsity of the statement." A routing slip in the file reads: "Please speak to me about the attached at your convenience. A.W.D."[^1] ### Ray In June 1968 [James Earl Ray](/people/james-earl-ray/), awaiting extradition in [London](/places/london/), wrote to [Arthur Hanes](/people/arthur-hanes/) of Birmingham. Hanes "was apparently concerned about whether Ray would be able to pay his fee. Consequently, he was receptive to the suggestion of author William Bradford Huie that Hanes persuade Ray to give Huie exclusive rights to information about Ray and, presumably, the assassination." Ray gave Hanes power of attorney and 40 percent of what would come from Huie, and Hanes and Huie contracted for Ray and Hanes to supply information on "the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., the alleged participation of Ray therein, and the life and activities of Ray," for 30 percent each of Huie's gross receipts. When [Percy Foreman](/people/percy-foreman/) replaced Hanes, new agreements of January 29 and February 3, 1969, gave Foreman 60 percent. Two Huie articles ran in *Look* before Ray pleaded guilty on March 10, 1969, and a book followed. Ray alleged that Hanes had said, "Why give testimony away when we can sell it?" and that Huie offered "to pay $12,000 either to him or his family if he would refuse to take the witness stand." The Sixth Circuit wrote in 1974: "The entire record reeks with ethical, moral and professional irregularities, demanding a full scale judicial inquiry." Huie received 67,000 dollars in royalties and paid 40,000 to the two lawyers.[^3][^4] He was found dead at his office in Guntersville, Alabama, on November 22, 1986, after an apparent heart attack.[^2] [^1]: Huie, William Bradford. Letter to Walter Bedell Smith, September 14, 1951, and reply of Allen W. Dulles, Acting Director, September 22, 1951, with Who's Who clipping. CIA Reading Room, CIA-RDP80R01731R003100020068-6. [^2]: "William Bradford Huie, 76, Writer And Crusader for Civil Rights, Dies," *Washington Post,* November 24, 1986. [^3]: *Ray v. Rose,* 491 F.2d 285 (6th Cir. 1974). [^4]: *Ray v. Rose,* 535 F.2d 966 (6th Cir. 1976).