</s>ME 44-1987 Among other items found in this abandoned Mustang was bed linen bearing laundry mark 20R-3. As mentioned earlier in this report, records of the Avalon Cleaners and laundry, Inc ., 5662 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, reflect that laundry belonging to an an- dance, and the laundry was in an- brought in on December 15, 1967, to be seen assigned laundry #20R -3. Brown cotton fibers, green cotton fibers. and green rayon fibers were found in the and green rays were found on the compared these fibers with the bedspread found abandoned by the killer in front of 424 and then the city of Memphis, on April 4, 1968. Main Street, Memphis, in April 4. found in the Mustang could have come from this bedspread. Between 9:00 A.M. and 10:00 AM. A. M. April 5, 1968, and individual stopped at taken in the area of the National Laundry Center at Peachtree, N.R.E. at Atlanta, and picked up laundry left there on April 1, 1968. Under laundries left there, on april 1, 1969, under PEATERS, when shown photographs of JAMES EARL RAY, stated that he believes the photograph of ray, stated in which he is the photographer of better likenesses, however, the most recent photograph in which the wearing of a hand very older and the eyes and nose appear very similar. No information has been received concerning April 5. 1968. April 5 , 1968. The Kansas City Division received submitted the Following described documents to the FBI Laboratory requesting appropriate hand- the hand and hand-holding examination with the hand-and-hand holding examination with the laboratory as evidence in this submitted to the Laboratory as evidence of this matter: 37 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document contains statements from multiple individuals incarcerated at Missouri State Penitentiary and other facilities who had contact with James Earl Ray during his imprisonment. These accounts describe Ray's behavior, relationships, and activities, including his escape from prison in 1967. Key details include:  
- **Orville Ernest Gann** (convicted of burglary and armed robbery) was incarcerated at Missouri State Penitentiary and had casual interactions with Ray during their shared imprisonment. Gann noted Ray's cleanliness and neatness but claimed no knowledge of Ray’s escape plans or his whereabouts post-escape.  
- **John Kenneth Hurth**, another inmate, stated he did not know Ray well and had no information about Ray’s escape or any connection to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. However, Hurth mentioned Ray occasionally discussed a bounty on MLK’s life, though this was not confirmed.  
- **Donald Johnson** (prison worker) described Ray as a quiet individual who never engaged in activities to attract attention. Johnson denied knowledge of Ray’s escape plan or his current location.  
- **Kenneth Lee Wade**, an inmate who worked with Ray in the prison bakery, claimed Ray had no close associates and rarely discussed personal matters. Wade stated Ray did not like "Negroses" and was capable of killing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., though this was not corroborated by other accounts.  
- **Milton Zavalcorski** (prison guard) noted Ray’s escape from Missouri State Penitentiary in 1967 but had no information about his whereabouts afterward.  
- **Charles Calvin Bookman**, who met Ray at Leavenworth Prison, reported an alleged phone call from Ray on April 19, 1968, where Ray claimed to be "hotter from a cow michael's pastel" and asked for money, which was denied. This call is considered unreliable due to inconsistencies in Bookman’s testimony.  
- **Rita Stein** and her cousin Marie Martin described interactions with a man they believed to be Eric GALT (possibly an alias for Ray). They noted GALT’s interest in political activism, including registering voters under George Wallace’s party, but no direct link to MLK was established.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Central figure; incarcerated at Missouri State Penitentiary and Leavenworth Prison. Described as a quiet individual with no close associates, though some inmates claimed he harbored animosity toward Black individuals and expressed willingness to kill Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  
- **Kenneth Lee Wade**: Inmate who worked with Ray in the prison bakery; provided conflicting accounts of Ray’s behavior and potential motives.  
- **Orville Ernest Gann**: Convicted criminal who interacted with Ray during imprisonment; claimed no knowledge of Ray’s escape or plans.  
- **John Kenneth Hurth**: Inmate with limited contact with Ray; mentioned Ray’s occasional references to a bounty on MLK’s life.  
- **Charles Calvin Bookman**: Leavenworth Prison inmate who reported an alleged phone call from Ray in April 1968, though the credibility of this account is questionable.  

Key Locations  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary**: Site of Ray’s imprisonment and interactions with other inmates.  
- **Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary**: Where Ray was incarcerated and met Bookman.  
- **St. Francis Hotel (Los Angeles)**: Location where Rita Stein, Marie Martin, and others interacted with a man believed to be Eric GALT.  

Key Events  
- **Ray’s escape from Missouri State Penitentiary in 1967**: Described by multiple inmates, though no definitive details about the method or timing were provided.  
- **Alleged phone call from Ray on April 19, 1968**: Reported by Bookman, but deemed unreliable due to inconsistencies.  
- **Political activism involving George Wallace’s party**: Mentioned in interactions with Rita Stein and Marie Martin, though no direct connection to MLK or the assassination investigation is documented.  

Key Organizations  
- **Prison systems**: Missouri State Penitentiary and Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary were central to Ray’s incarceration and the accounts provided by inmates.  
- **Political groups**: George Wallace’s party was referenced in activities involving Rita Stein and Marie Martin, though no direct link to MLK or the assassination investigation is documented.

MLK Declassified Files

157-nh-818_626213_20-02-part_5_of_6.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search