</s>FEDERAL BUREAU of 1997-14-04-A.P. 4067 4/4/01 INVESTIGATION Volume Number: Bureau File Number See also Nos. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
This document contains records related to James Earl Ray, including his familial connections, prison associations, and forensic analyses conducted by the FBI. It references handwriting comparisons between Ray and individuals such as Eric S. GALT, with the FBI Laboratory concluding that certain handwriting samples attributed to GALT were prepared by Ray. The document also notes the purchase of a Remington Model 760 rifle (serial number 461476) in Birmingham, Alabama, linked to Ray’s activities. Additionally, it details Ray’s interactions with prison inmates and his family members, including claims about his legal name changes and relationships with relatives such as JERRY RAYNES, JOHN LARRY RAV, and CAROL PEPPER. The FBI’s analysis of handwriting and potential connections to the assassination investigation are highlighted, though no direct link to Martin Luther King Jr. is explicitly stated in the text.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Central figure; subject of forensic analysis and prison records.  
- **JERRY RAYNES**: Claimed as Ray’s father; resides in Illinois.  
- **JOHN LARRY RAV**: Brother of Ray; incarcerated in multiple state penitentiaries.  
- **CAROL PEPPER**: Sister of Ray; married to ALBERT PEPPER, owner of the Grapevine Tavern in St. Louis.  
- **RICHARD BERMAN**: Prison associate of Ray; served time for murder.  
- **JULIUS MAURICE BLOCK**: Federal prison inmate who worked with Ray in the bakery.  

Key Locations  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary** (Jefferson City, Missouri): Ray’s incarceration and interactions with inmates.  
- **Birmingham, Alabama**: Location of rifle purchase (Remington Model 760, serial number 461476).  
- **St. Louis, Missouri**: Home to Carol Pepper’s tavern and some family members.  
- **Alton, Illinois**: Birthplace of Ray; residence of his uncle William E. Maher.  

Key Events  
- **Handwriting Analysis**: FBI Laboratory concluded that certain handwriting samples attributed to Eric S. GALT were prepared by James Earl Ray.  
- **Rifle Purchase**: A Remington Model 760 rifle (serial number 461476) was purchased in Birmingham, Alabama, linked to Ray’s activities.  
- **Prison Interactions**: Ray’s associations with inmates like Billy Brown and Julius Maurice Block, including alleged theft of locks and violent incidents.  
- **Family Relationships**: Documentation of Ray’s changing family name (RAY/RAYNES/RAVNES/RYAN/BERNES), legal disputes, and claims about his mother’s past as a prostitute.  

Key Organizations  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary**  
- **Illinois State Penitentiary**  
- **Federal Penitentiary** (where Julius Maurice Block was incarcerated)  
- **FBI Laboratory**: Conducted handwriting analysis on documents attributed to Ray and Eric S. GALT.

MLK Declassified Files

44-cg-1114_738662_06-03-part_1_of_4.pdf

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