Summary  
The documents detail extensive FBI and Chicago Police Department investigations into James Earl Ray’s activities in Chicago during 1952–1968, focusing on his residences, employment history, medical records, military service, and alleged associations. Key findings include Ray’s 1952 robbery charge, pursuit by Captain George Green resulting in gunshot wounds treated at Cook County Hospital and Bridewell Hospital, VA military service records from 1942–1962, and neighborhood investigations into his residency and employment in Chicago neighborhoods like West Fullerton, St. James Place, and South Elgin. FBI inquiries in 1968 examined Ray’s alleged residences at non-existent or converted addresses (e.g., 2025 North Sedgwick, 2725 North Pine Grove), interviews with neighbors and former employers, and a 1955 burglary at the Kellerville Post Office involving Ray and Riff. A separate April 1968 investigation reviewed Ray’s driver’s licenses, family members, and South Elgin residency, though no direct link to MLK’s assassination was established. A dinner party on April 1, 1968, for Senator Bennett included discussions about MLK’s chauffeur, with references to Harold Rainville’s story about King’s drives and a driver’s bag, though this appears unrelated to Ray’s activities.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Central subject of investigations; linked to residences, employment, medical treatment, and alleged criminal activity.  
- **Captain George Green**: Chicago Police Department officer who shot Ray during a 1952 pursuit.  
- **John McDonough**: Retired Chicago Police Officer involved in Ray’s apprehension.  
- **Mrs. Gloria Carney** and **Mrs. Marty Trotter**: Hospital records clerks at Cook County and Bridewell Hospitals, respectively.  
- **Mort Rothsting**: Attorney handling VA records for Ray.  
- **Mr. Nicholas Landis**: Owner of Deming-Clark Radio and Television Shop.  
- **Max Remick**: Apartment manager at 459 St. James Place in 1950.  
- **John P. O’Brien**: FBI agent conducting neighborhood investigations.  
- **Edward Unterberg** and **George McKutchon**: Neighbors in South Elgin describing Ray’s appearance and activities.  
- **Louis Lomax**: Mentioned with criminal records from Joliet prison (1950–1959) for larceny.  
- **Harold Rainville**: Administrative assistant to Senator W. Harold Rainville, referenced in a story about MLK’s chauffeur.  

Key Locations  
- **Chicago, Illinois**: Central location for police pursuits, medical treatment, VA records, and neighborhood investigations (West Fullerton, St. James Place, South Elgin).  
- **Cook County Hospital** and **Bridewell Hospital**: Sites of Ray’s 1952 gunshot wound treatment.  
- **Kellerville, Illinois**: Site of the 1955 Post Office burglary involving Ray and Riff.  
- **South Elgin, Illinois**: Apartment at 615 North Water Street where Ray resided with his wife and child.  
- **Joliet, Illinois**: Prison facility where Louis Lomax served time.  

Key Events  
- **1952 Robbery Charge**: Ray arrested for robbery, pursued by police, shot by Captain Green, hospitalized for gunshot wounds.  
- **Medical Treatment**: Gunshot injuries treated at Cook County Hospital (May 6, 1952) and Bridewell Hospital.  
- **VA Military Service**: Enlisted in the U.S. Army on February 19, 1942, discharged December 19, 1962; education claims filed for training allowances.  
- **Neighborhood Investigations**: Efforts to verify Ray’s residency and employment history in Chicago during the 1950s.  
- **1955 Kellerville Post Office Burglary**: Ray implicated with Riff in forging postal money orders, recovered in a 1949 Lincoln sedan.  
- **April 1968 FBI Investigation**: Reviewed Ray’s alleged residences, employment history, and criminal records; no direct link to MLK’s assassination found.  
- **April 1, 1968 Dinner Party**: Attendees included Brian Duff, Frank Woolley, Charles Barr, and others; discussions about MLK’s chauffeur referenced Harold Rainville’s story.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations into Ray’s residences, employment, and associations.  
- **Chicago Police Department**: Involved in apprehending Ray during the 1952 pursuit and checking license records.  
- **Veterans Administration (VA)**: Managed Ray’s military service and education claims records.  
- **Postal Inspector’s Office**: Reviewed Kellerville Post Office burglary case involving Ray and Riff.  
- **Illinois Secretary of State**: Provided driver’s license records for Ray.  
- **Standard Oil of Indiana**: Mentioned in connection to a potential MLK chauffeur investigation.

MLK Declassified Files

157-jn-9586_624938_427c-04-part_3_of_4.pdf

Document Summary

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