</s>SI 44-561 She advised that the has been in frequent contact with JAMES GERALD RAY since their separation in 1969 and that JAMES GERALD RAY, the daughter of JAMES GRALD RAT. also lives in Quincy and she occasionally in contact with HELBA MARIE RAY. She advised however that she has not been with HELDRA MARIE Ryan, she advised her daughter that she is not in contact with HEDLA MARIE, the daughters of JAMIE RAT, the mother of JANIE, and her when MELBA called her to talk to her concerning the shooting EARL RAY RAY being charged concerning this shooting 1/19/66 when MELDRA RAY was charged with an officer who was shot and killed. had telephonically called her advised also on that date she that the father had stated that she hoped that son, JAMES RAY WAS caught as soon as possible that that JAMES EAL RAY caught not as soon at possible that that JAMIES GERALDA RAY does not know the whereabouts of him time, his son JAMES EARL RAAY was using the name of GERRY RAYES. of his son GERAL DRAY. She stated that at the present She advised THAT the entire RAY family, she considers advised that he is the only time that JAMES BARL RINE to be closer at the JAMES EARL RAY was advised that to be the closer to the James EARL that the only one time that James BARL came over lived with JAMES GERALD RRAY and his wife, the father of JAME RAY and JAMES GERRALD RRAY, and his daughter, the sister of the late 1960s. during this period of time, he also resided with that mother, and grandmother, Mrs. MAHER at 1913 Victory Street, mother,, and she and her husband, Mrs, said that during this period. of time, she and James, advised that during the period South 11th Street, St. Louis, Missouri. She advised That, "JAMES BARR RAY is supposed to have learned the trade of a JAMES BARL RAT in prison and that he worked at one of the bakeries in St.Louis around 1959. She had a lot of the bakery in the bakery and that the exact location. She said that she also had bakery or that he exact while in St . Louis as well as she was living with both his mother and he was still as she had not seen him since he went to the stated that he had not been his father. with JAMES EARL RRAY since she she and she had no hand no contact moved to Clarence, Missouri on 8/1/61. She advised the subject's father JAMES GERALD RAY was an excellent car salesman and did quite well as a car salesman for a used car lot in St .. Louis. Since 1961, however, he has worked on a farm, first, the one -66-<loc_481><loc_924><loc_553><loc_923><loc_553><loc_934>- 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O.E.O 14176

Summary: This document comprises a fragmented collection of administrative records, investigative notes, and legal filings related to individuals connected to James Earl Ray, a suspect in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (1968). It includes FBI surveillance logs on Ray’s associates, family members, and criminal history; interviews with relatives such as Walter Terry Rife, Melba Ryan, and William E. Mahier; and records of legal proceedings involving Joseph Elizer Austin, Milton Dean Batchelder ("Bucky"), and Paul Alvin Lail Jr. The text also references credit bureau checks, prison records, and institutional commitments, though much of the content appears disjointed or incomplete due to transcription errors or archival inconsistencies.  

Key People:  
- **James Earl Ray**: Primary suspect in MLK’s assassination; investigated for criminal history, family ties, and associations with Walter Terry Rife and Melba Ryan.  
- **Walter Terry Rife**: Hotel owner in Quincy, Illinois; associate of Ray; interviewed regarding potential connections to the assassination.  
- **Melba Ryan**: Sister of Ray; resided at the Virginia Hotel in Quincy; noted for erratic behavior and lack of reliable information about Ray’s whereabouts.  
- **William E. Mahier**: Uncle of Ray; last saw him in 1959; claimed no contact with Ray for over a decade.  
- **Joseph Elizer Austin**: Arrested in Kentucky for robbery; committed to Central State Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, due to mental instability; had prior arrests and parole violations.  
- **Milton Dean Batchelder ("Bucky")**: Transferred to Joliet Penitentiary in Illinois on September 7, 1966.  
- **Paul Alvin Lail Jr.**: Mentioned in administrative records with no further details provided.  

Key Locations:  
- **Quincy, Illinois**: Central hub for interviews with Ray’s relatives and associates; home to the Virginia Hotel where Melba Ryan resided.  
- **Peoria, Illinois**: Linked to Walter Terry Rife and his wife (a prostitute).  
- **Alton, Illinois**: Residence of William E. Mahier.  
- **Jacksonville, Illinois**: Site of tuberculosis treatment for Joseph Elizer Austin.  
- **Nashville, Tennessee**: Location of Central State Hospital where Austin was committed.  
- **Kentucky**: Site of Austin’s 1968 robbery arrest.  
- **Joliet Penitentiary, Illinois**: Institution where Milton Dean Batchelder ("Bucky") was transferred.  

Key Events:  
- FBI conducted daily surveillance on Ray’s relatives in Quincy, Illinois (May 1–10, 1968), finding no unusual activity.  
- Interviews with Walter Terry Rife, Melba Ryan, and William E. Mahier yielded no direct links to MLK’s assassination.  
- Joseph Elizer Austin was arrested in Kentucky for robbery, later committed to Central State Hospital due to mental instability.  
- Milton Dean Batchelder ("Bucky") transferred to Joliet Penitentiary on September 7, 1966.  
- Credit bureau checks and prison records were used to track Ray’s associates and family members.  

Key Organizations:  
- **FBI**: Conducted surveillance and interviews as part of the investigation into James Earl Ray.  
- **Credit Bureau of Quincy, Inc.**: Checked for financial records related to Ray’s family.  
- **Central State Hospital**: Institution where Joseph Elizer Austin was committed due to mental instability.  
- **Illinois State Penitentiary**: Joliet Penitentiary, where Milton Dean Batchelder ("Bucky") was transferred.

MLK Declassified Files

44-bh-1740_729219_08-03-part_4_of_8.pdf

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