</s>UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 10-8-13 (232 JV) FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGA WASHINGTON 25, D.C. Director. The following FHI record, NUMBER 591 723 D . is furnished FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY. CONTRIBUTOR OF NAME AND NUMBER ARRESTED OR FINGERPRINTS. RECEIVED CHARGE DISPOSITION PD St Louis No Albert Benny 8-30-58 Inv sus steal PD StLouis No Albert Bennie 8-25-60 susp steal & no PD St Louisville No Pepper #79392-3 St veh lie Albert Benny 1-10-61 Susp Steal Pepper#79392 -3 St Ivy Pat Albert Benny 11-8 -61 Inv of Burg & L Rel 11-9-61 Kirkwood No Pepper =7-1050 F/C-10670 A PD St. Louis Mo. Albert Bonnie 10-20-63 numerous rel Pepper #93598 traffic offenses burgy Nutatians indicated by . ARE NOT BASED ON FINGERPIINTS IN FHF files. The motions are busel on data furniturey furnished this Bureau concerning individuals of the same or similar names or allages and ARE LISTED. ONLY AS INVESTICATIVE LEADS: 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail multiple law enforcement and FBI investigations involving James Earl Ray (JER), his brother John Larry Ray (JLR), and their associates in St. Louis, Missouri, spanning 1963–1968. A 1963 incident at the Grapevine Tavern involved three individuals—James Edward VanHorn, Jimmy D. VanHorn, and Eugene B. Vaughn—who allegedly engaged in a fight with Clarence Haynes, discharged a firearm into the tavern, stole $80, and fled. Police arrested the suspects after finding signs of struggle, including blood, broken glass, and a 38-caliber revolver. The case was forwarded to the Circuit Attorney’s office for prosecution. Later investigations focused on JER’s movements post-escape from the Missouri State Penitentiary in 1967, with FBI tracking his brother JLR, who denied knowledge of JER’s whereabouts. JLR operated the Grapevine Bar with his sister Carol Ann Pepper, whose liquor license (number 6243) and prior traffic conviction were noted. The FBI also monitored a white over-light green 1960 Desoto automobile linked to JERRY RAY, observed its movements near the tavern and across state lines, and reviewed financial records tied to JOHN RAY’s cooler purchase.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray (JER)**: Subject of investigation; escaped Missouri State Penitentiary in 1967; brother of John Larry Ray.  
- **John Larry Ray (JLR)**: Interviewed by FBI multiple times; denied knowledge of JER’s whereabouts; operated the Grapevine Bar with his sister Carol Ann Pepper.  
- **Carol Ann Pepper**: Sister of JLR; owner of the Grapevine Bar in St. Louis, Missouri; mentioned in credit records and liquor license documentation.  
- **Jerry Ray**: Brother of JER and JLR; visited St. Louis in April 1968; described as a potential contact for JER.  
- **James Edward VanHorn, Jimmy D. VanHorn, Eugene B. Vaughn**: Arrested in 1963 incident at Grapevine Tavern; charged with theft, assault, firearm discharge.  
- **Clarence Haynes**: Victim of assault and gunfire during the tavern altercation.  
- **Ruby Wright**: Witness to the 1963 incident.  
- **Noma Regazzi**: Tavern owner who provided testimony about the altercation.  
- **Carol Pepper**: Referenced in liquor license records but not directly involved in the 1963 incident.  

Key Locations  
- **Grapevine Tavern, 1982 Arsenal Street, St. Louis, Missouri**: Site of the 1963 altercation and later associated with Carol Ann Pepper’s bar operations.  
- **MacArthur Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri**: Hotel where JER and his family registered during February 1968; referenced in FBI hotel registration reviews.  
- **Cherokee Street, St. Louis, Missouri**: Mentioned as a residence for JLR and his family.  
- **Hickory Street, St. Louis, Missouri**: Address linked to Carol Ann Pepper’s past residence.  
- **Illinois**: Cross-border observations of the Desoto vehicle near the Poplar Street Bridge and Madison County Line.  

Key Events  
- **February 20, 1963**: Altercation at Grapevine Tavern involving VanHorn, Vaughn, and Haynes; firearm discharge, theft, and subsequent arrests.  
- **April–May 1968**: FBI investigations into JER’s movements post-escape from Missouri State Penitentiary, including interviews with JLR and tracking of the Desoto vehicle.  
- **April 23, 1968**: Review of Carol Ann Pepper’s liquor license (number 6243) and her husband’s police record.  
- **April 26–29, 1968**: Examination of financial records for JOHN RAY’s cooler purchase linked to Mike Burk/Frigid Sales.  
- **May 3–9, 1968**: JERRY RAY provided statements to FBI agents about his stay in St. Louis and plans to return to Chicago.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted interviews, reviewed hotel records, tracked vehicle movements, and compiled reports on JER and his associates.  
- **Metropolitan Police Department (St. Louis)**: Documented the 1963 tavern incident and provided arrest records for November 10, 1967.  
- **State Liquor Control Office, Missouri**: Reviewed Carol Ann Pepper’s liquor license application and business records.  
- **General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC)**: Provided financial records related to JOHN RAY’s mortgage for a cooler purchase.

MLK Declassified Files

44-bh-1740_729219_08-02-part_7_of_9.pdf

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