</s>2 SL 44-775 Source advised no further mail has been received at his residence for JOHN RAY. Inquiry was made of source regarding the manner in which he first learned that subject RAY had escaped in April, 1967, from first learned subject RAV had escaped and he furnished the following information in that regard! After source's arrest in St. Louis on June 6, 1967, and while he was there there's arrest on St.Louis City Jail in 1967, June, 1967. was also confined in the jail three other persons all of whom had apparently been confined previously according to source's recollection, first first informed him that subject Ray had escaped. One of these persons was DANNY and that subject Ray was escaped. GRANDESTONE OF those persons was LOUIS Police Depay, DANIEL DANIELL (56447) (phonetic). Source cannot recall all of these individuals who were LOUis person and has never seen this third man again and does not know anything else seen this three man again. Inquiries came made of Source as to what it was that had come made of the right of May 13, 1968, in an automobile and visited him there. He said that JIMMIE CRAWFORD (the was uncertain regarding the last night of May 12, 1968. In an believed it was CRAWFFORD or something like that) another believed its it was 1963. Source has become acquainted with 8:30 p.m. May 13. 1968. Source had become acquainted wit CRAWFORT following source's Arrest on June 2, 1967 ,, 1967; source CRAWFFORT following Source's arrest was on June 7, 2007, when source Holdover was the Police Department before being transferred to the city jail. Source's CRAWFIELD were celimates during the June 1967 days in the holdover. Later while at the city jail the city was in the holderover. Jail but they were on different tiers in the Jail and they did not actually converses while in the jail. While they were called together in the holster, however, source learned from CRAWFIELD that he and served stayenies previously in the MSP. evening of CRAWFOORD came source's residence on the When 13 1968, CRAWFORD came sources of the man and source believes CRAWford noticed the other man's COVER PAGE U 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into James Earl Ray’s alleged involvement in a 1959 bank robbery in Alton, Illinois, and his movements in St. Louis, Missouri, during 1968. The focus includes inconsistencies in witness accounts regarding the robbery, including conflicting details about participants (JIMMIE CRAWFORD, JAMES EARL RAY, and JOHNNIE), the bank’s location (Bank of Alton), and the amount stolen ($28,000). A source in St. Louis described interactions with CRAWFORD in 1968, including discussions about obtaining a firearm for criminal activity, though these claims were later deemed unreliable due to contradictions. The FBI also investigated Ray’s post-escape activities from Missouri State Penitentiary (1967), his alleged connections to the St. Louis Bartenders’ Union, and his employment history. Testimony from James Loama Owens highlighted Ray’s criminal past, including a 1959 Kroger Store robbery with Owens, prison-related crimes, and trips to Mexico. Additionally, records linked James D. Wallace and her husband to financial activities at the Jefferson-Gravois Bank in St. Louis, with references to an unspecified encounter involving a white male individual that Mrs. Wallace found puzzling due to its potential connection to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Central figure; alleged participant in the 1959 Alton bank robbery and linked to MLK’s assassination investigation.  
- **JIMMIE CRAWFORD** (first name only): Alleged co-participant in the 1959 Alton bank robbery, described as a white male in his 40s.  
- **JOHNNIE**: Black male, 30–35 years old, described as shorter and thinner than CRAWFORD; possibly involved in the 1959 robbery.  
- **James Loama Owens** (also known as James Loma Owens, James Lowa Ownes): Testified about Ray’s criminal activities, including a 1959 Kroger Store robbery.  
- **Lafayette DILTS**: Former neighbor of Ray in Quincy, Illinois; investigated for potential connections to Ray’s criminal past.  
- **Ida Owens**: Mother of James Earl Ray; stated her son was employed as a salesman in Crystal City, Missouri.  
- **James D. Wallace** and **Mrs. Dorothy Stephens**: Linked to financial activities at the Jefferson-Gravois Bank, with Mrs. Wallace noting an unspecified encounter involving a white male individual.  

Key Locations  
- **Alton, Illinois**: Site of the 1959 bank robbery; Bank of Alton identified as the target.  
- **St. Louis, Missouri**: Central location for Ray’s post-release activities, including the St. Louis Bartenders’ Union and Jefferson-Gravois Bank.  
- **Mississippi River**: Crossing point for the 1959 robbery getaway.  
- **Menard Illinois State Penitentiary** and **Jefferson City, Missouri**: Sites of Ray’s incarceration.  
- **Mexico City, Mexico**: Mentioned in connection to Ray’s alleged trips and a knife confrontation.  

Key Events  
- **1959 Bank Robbery in Alton, Illinois**: Involving JIMMIE CRAWFORD, JAMES EARL RAY, and JOHNNIE; details inconsistent across sources (e.g., bank location, amount stolen).  
- **Ray’s Escape from Missouri State Penitentiary (1967)**: Investigated for potential criminal activities post-release, including a 1968 bank robbery linked to him.  
- **1959 Kroger Store Robbery**: Owens and Ray robbed a store, leading to arrests and prison sentences; both later released.  
- **Trips to Mexico**: Ray allegedly made multiple trips, including an incident involving a knife confrontation in Mexico City.  
- **Financial Activities at Jefferson-Gravois Bank**: Wallace and her husband opened joint accounts in 1967–1968; Mrs. Wallace noted an unspecified encounter with a white male individual.  
- **Reference to MLK Assassination Context**: Wallace’s husband’s letter referencing “the bank” was linked to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., though no direct connection was established.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations into Ray’s activities, including verification of source reliability and financial records.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary**: Site of Ray’s incarceration prior to his 1967 escape.  
- **Illinois State Penitentiary (Menard)**: Where Owens and Ray were incarcerated for parole violations.  
- **Jefferson-Gravois Bank** (St. Louis, Missouri): Linked to Wallace’s financial activities and potential connections to the MLK assassination investigation.  
- **St. Louis Bartenders’ Union**: Sought information on Ray’s potential employment as a bartender.

MLK Declassified Files

44-bh-1740_729219_09-03-part_2_of_6.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search