</s>KC 44-760 2 photograph, although the record indicates it was a court room identification. PARKER said the victims were RITA BROCKELLMAN, 1502 A Montgomery, St. Louis, Missouri, and GEORGE MC QUADE, JR ,, 4708 Plover, St Louis, Mississippi. He said the George was investigated by JOHN LEPPING and EDWARD ALLERS, Fifth District, St, Louis Police Department. PARKERC said he was in jail at St.Louis for ten months, and all this time he took to whoever he could to find out on night have been found in the fourteenth floor of this crime. He held on the four fourth floor of December 1967, and thereafter on 23 on the main custodial floor. He Said, however, that prisoners mingled pretty much throughout the talks to. He could he would continue to search for memory he for the name of the person who told him RAY had been in St. Louis during the Summer of 1967, and was there as late as September 1967. PARKERS said there was publicity of this case in the St. Charles said the Daily Banner of July 12, 1967, which carried interviews with the victims, and he has a deposition in which Miss BROCKELMAN testified the kidnaper had blue eyes and was very positive of this fact. He also noted that the where he believes Ray formerly lived, he noted the descriptions of him and RAY are practically identical except for marks and eyes. 46 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail accounts from inmates and law enforcement officials regarding James Earl Ray’s activities during his incarceration at Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) prior to his escape in April 1967. Inmates such as George Ben Edmondson, John Kenneth Hurty, Howard Nunn, Julius Maurice Block, Sterling Junior Hill, Richard Behan, Donald Bunker, and Thomas Becher Crows provided descriptions of Ray’s behavior, interactions with other inmates, and alleged plans for escape or travel. Edmondson noted Ray’s purported connections to Canada, including passport acquisition methods and potential hiding places in Mexico (e.g., Campache Bay, Redorizon, Acapulco). Hurty mentioned Ray’s association with a stationery company in Kansas City and his lack of awareness about bounties for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. Nunn speculated Ray might have resided in New Orleans, while Block detailed his escape via a bread box, antagonistic remarks toward guards, and history of theft and altercations within the prison. Sterling Junior Hill described Ray as a "loner" with no close friends, focusing on self-preservation rather than external events post-escape. Richard Behan confirmed no knowledge of King-related bounties or discussions in the prison. Donald Bunker referenced Neal Edgar ABBY, a former inmate with health issues (cancer, lung removal), and Lt. William Robert Turner’s observations of Ray’s quiet demeanor and magazine service operations within MSP. Thomas Becher Crows noted no direct ties to Ray or John David Daily but acknowledged familiarity with Daily’s activities. Financial records linked to Ray’s prison account include money orders from various senders between 1965–1968, while psychiatric evaluations and transfer records indicate his confinement in maximum security and eventual placement at Fulton State Hospital. The text references "Coolley's Organization" and unspecified groups potentially connected to Ray but stops short of establishing conclusive ties to MLK’s assassination.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray (subject of investigation; escaped MSP in 1967)  
- George Ben Edmondson (inmate with passport acquisition details)  
- John Kenneth Hurty (inmate who interacted with Ray)  
- Howard Nunn (inmate at MSP)  
- Julius Maurice Block (former inmate providing escape details)  
- Sterling Junior Hill (prison hospital worker, inmate)  
- Richard Behan (hospital/kitchen worker, inmate)  
- Neal Edgar ABBY (former inmate with health issues)  
- Lt. William Robert Turner (prison officer)  
- Thomas Becher Crows (escaped inmate)  
- John David Daily (linked to Crows via parole efforts)  

Key Locations  
- Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP), Jefferson City, Missouri  
- St. Louis, Missouri  
- Kansas City, Missouri  
- Mexico (Campache Bay, Redorizon, Acapulco)  
- Canada (Montreal, Quebec; passport procedures noted)  
- Fulton State Hospital, Missouri  
- Fordland Honor Camp, Missouri  
- Wayneville, Missouri  
- Wichita, Kansas  
- New Orleans, Louisiana  

Key Events  
- James Earl Ray’s escape from MSP in April 1967 via a bread box  
- Inmate accounts of Ray’s alleged plans to reside in Mexico or Canada  
- Discussions about Ray’s potential connections to a stationery company and financial activities  
- References to "Coolley's Organization" and unspecified groups  
- Mention of Ray’s interactions with guards and inmates, including alleged threats and thefts  
- Investigations into Ray’s prison associations and potential involvement in Dr. King’s assassination  
- Financial transactions recorded for Ray’s prison account (1965–1968)  
- Psychiatric evaluations of Ray at Fulton State Hospital  
- Prisoner interactions and observations by staff (e.g., Turner’s notes on Ray’s behavior)  

Key Organizations  
- Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP)  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- U.S. Passport Office (discussed in context of Ray’s potential travel plans)  
- Missouri Department of Corrections  
- Missouri State Highway Patrol  
- Legal Aid and Defender Society of Greater Kansas City  
- California State Penitentiary (Chino), California

MLK Declassified Files

44-at-2386_hs1-852715321_161-06-part_2_of_4.pdf

Document Summary

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