</s>AT 44-2386 III. INTERVIEWS OF FORMER JAIL MATES OF THE SUBJECT 28 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary:  
The documents detail inmate accounts of James Earl Ray (JER) during his incarceration at Missouri State Prison and other facilities, emphasizing his racist views, drug use, and alleged connections to Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). Lewie Dowda, an inmate, described JER as a "loner" with no known criminal history who expressed anti-Negro sentiments and explicitly stated his intent to kill MLK. JER’s drug habits included spending $15–$20 weekly on amphetamines, with Harold Schaffer identified as a potential supplier. Inmate interactions noted include ties to Neil Abby (drug dealings and escape attempts) and Donald Dean Rigger (linked to California). Administrative records mention DOWDA’s employment history, financial transactions, and interviews conducted in Marietta, Georgia. A separate summary references Raymond Louis Curtis, who was incarcerated with JER at Jackson County Jail (Kansas City, Missouri) from March 1955 to June 1955. Curtis described JER’s involvement in illegal activities such as handling stolen postal orders and crooked poker games, and alleged discussions about a million-dollar bounty on MLK’s head. Curtis also speculated that an assassination in Atlanta might involve a second individual driving a getaway car.  

Key People:  
- James Earl Ray (JER): Alleged racist with expressed intent to kill MLK; incarcerated at Missouri State Prison and Jackson County Jail.  
- Lewie Dowda: Inmate who provided detailed accounts of JER’s behavior, drug use, and prison interactions.  
- Raymond Louis Curtis: Incarcerated cellmate of JER; described JER’s illegal activities and alleged bounty discussions.  
- Harold Schaffer: Guard at Missouri State Prison linked to JER’s amphetamine supply.  
- Neil Abby: Inmate connected to JER’s drug dealings and escape attempts.  
- Donald Dean Rigger: Friend of JER with ties to California; wife worked at Napa State Hospital.  

Key Locations:  
- Missouri State Prison: Site of JER’s incarceration and inmate interactions.  
- Jackson County Jail (Kansas City, Missouri): Location of JER and Curtis’s incarceration from March 1955–June 1955.  
- Marietta, Georgia: DOWDA’s residence and interview location.  
- St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia, Missouri: Cities referenced in JER’s alleged activities.  
- Napa State Hospital (California): Location of Rigger’s wife, a psychiatrist.  
- Atlanta, Georgia: Speculated location for potential assassination discussed by Curtis.  
- New Zealand, Brazil, Switzerland: Mentioned as possible destinations for JER.  

Key Events:  
- JER’s alleged racist views and expressed desire to kill MLK.  
- JER’s drug use, financial habits, and interactions with guards and inmates.  
- JER’s escape attempts from prison and connections to other inmates.  
- Curtis’s account of JER’s involvement in stolen postal orders, poker games, and discussions about a million-dollar bounty on MLK’s head.  
- Speculation by Curtis about an Atlanta assassination involving a diversionary getaway car.  
- DOWDA’s employment history and financial transactions during his time in Marietta, Georgia.  

Key Organizations:  
- Missouri State Prison: Central location for JER’s incarceration and inmate interactions.  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Mentioned in documents referencing FBI case numbers and release under Executive Order 14178.  
- Laggett Lane Drug Company: Employer of DOWDA, with ties to drug distribution.  
- Napa State Hospital: Associated with Rigger’s wife, a psychiatrist.

MLK Declassified Files

44-bh-1740_729219_07-02-part_9_of_9.pdf

Document Summary

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