</s>FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION 1 Date: 4/17/68 1 Reverend BILLY MAX WUELNER, Bethel Community Church, 21st and Military Avenue, Baxter Springs, Kansas, voluntarily appeared at the Joplin, Missouri Police Department, and furnished the following information: On Wednesday, April 3, 1968, approximately 2:30 PM, he attended a church meeting at the Blue Castle Restaurant in Baxter Springs. Kansas. Around 1:45 PM, he was: sitting in his church, Kansas. He wanted to meet at the blue Castle in his church. He also requested a prayer session and he was play the piano. Healso requested a Prayer session during their brief conversation, CLEVELAND indicated he had been in mental instruction, CLEveland indicated he has been in Mish-hiking and a friend. CLEveland was observed in Springfield, hitchhiking was not accompanied by anyone. He indicated he was born on the road for approximately five days. He indicated he held on the right side of the road did not have any luggage, however, was carrying a dark color tuesday top-coat. He left hitchhiking in Springfield. Missouri. top-coat. He went to the Springfield, 30 PM, Reverend WUELLNER advised he could furnish no further information except to state this was the only time he had observed CLEVELAND, and further noted CLEVELANDA could play the piano quite well. Reverend WELLNER personally confronted CLEVELANEAND, at the City Jail in Jopln, Missouri on the night of April 9, 1968, and positively identified CLEVELANNDA being the individual referred to the above. He converted with CLEVELANI, and stately identified CLEveland as being the and stateally identified CLEVLAND as being as above; nor was there any doubt in his mind as to the right as he left the church shortly before 2:00 PM on April 3. 1966, he he, however WUELNELLNER went directly from the church to his board meeting at the Blue Castle Restaurant. Reverend WeLLNER added he could furnishing no additional information and knew of no background data regarding CLEVELANG. 4/9/68 Joplin. Missouri KC 44-760 4/13/68 SA ROBERT E. HICKAM.ENY Date dictated by This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the F&L. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency.<loc_92><loc_918><loc_936><loc_916><loc_936><loc_92><loc_931>Rond its contents onto the distributed outside your agency, 150 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
On April 9, 1968, Lyn Ray Cleveland was arrested in Joplin, Missouri, after being identified as a hitchhiker matching the artist’s conception of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassin published in the *Joplin Globe*. The FBI and local police investigated his connection to the assassination but found no evidence linking him to the crime. Cleveland, described as white, male, 34 years old, was booked for “Hold for Investigation – Homicide” but released after interrogation. His father, Garland Cleveland, later stated he would be contacted through Palmer, Texas. Virginia Uhlauer, manager of the Corral Motel, noted Cleveland’s interest in televised coverage of MLK’s funeral procession and confirmed his resemblance to the artist’s depiction. The FBI also reviewed records of David L. Wilson (arrested in 1967) and other individuals like Vincent Walker and Lawrence Rand, who were checked for potential ties to the assassination.  

On April 5–14, 1968, the FBI investigated James Earl Ray, Vincent Walker, and Lawrence Rand for potential connections to MLK’s assassination. Delta Flight 157 departed Memphis on April 5, 1968, with stewardesses noting passengers and their movements. Lupy Dealo, a limousine driver in Houston, transported six individuals from the flight, dropping them at hotels including the Rice Hotel, Downtown Motel, and Mibby Hotel. Hotel records were checked for matches to suspects but found no confirmed identifications. The FBI also investigated laundry tag markings and potential suspects like William Leo Beer, James Herman Silver, Donnie Leonard Harden, and others, who were eliminated due to lack of evidence or fingerprint matches. Claude Chester McClaren Jr., a man resembling MLK’s assassin in photographs, was tracked through Honduras and Mexico but later ruled out. Other individuals like John A. Gaula, Tom Roselli, Graham Robert Smith, and Earl Ray (possibly James Earl Ray) were considered suspects but found to be unrelated. The document also includes inquiries into a car with Louisiana license plates, hotel records, and miscellaneous investigations at dance studios and restaurants.  

Key People  
- **Lyn Ray Cleveland**: Arrested in Joplin, Missouri, on April 9, 1968; matched artist’s conception of MLK’s assassin but no evidence linked him to the crime.  
- **Garland Cleveland**: Father of Lyn Ray Cleveland; stated he would be contacted for future inquiries.  
- **Virginia Uhlauer**: Corral Motel manager who observed Cleveland’s behavior and reported his resemblance to the assassin’s artist’s conception.  
- **James Earl Ray** (implied): Suspect in MLK’s assassination, referenced in later FBI documents as a fugitive; connected to Vincent Walker and Lawrence Rand via investigative leads.  
- **Vincent Walker** and **Lawrence Rand**: Checked by FBI for potential ties to the assassination; no conclusive links found.  
- **David L. Wilson**: Arrested in 1967, reviewed by FBI as part of broader civil rights-related investigations.  
- **William Leo Beer**, **James Herman Silver**, **Donnie Leonard Harden**, **John A. Gaula**, **Tom Roselli**, **Graham Robert Smith**, and **Charles Ray Johnson**: Investigated as potential suspects but eliminated due to lack of evidence or fingerprint matches.  

Key Locations  
- **Joplin, Missouri**: Site of Cleveland’s arrest and police investigation.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Location of MLK’s assassination on April 4, 1968; departure point for Delta Flight 157.  
- **Houston, Texas**: Arrival location for Delta Flight 157; hotels including Rice Hotel, Mibby Hotel, and Downtown Motel.  
- **Galveston, Texas**: Location of laundry tag investigation.  
- **Honduras** and **Mexico City, Mexico**: Travel routes tracked for Claude Chester McClaren Jr.  
- **Beaumont, Texas**: Residence of Tom Roselli (barber).  
- **Rice University, Houston, Texas**: Academic affiliation of Graham Robert Smith.  

Key Events  
- **April 9, 1968**: Lyn Ray Cleveland arrested in Joplin after matching the assassin’s artist’s conception; released without charges.  
- **April 5–14, 1968**: FBI investigation into James Earl Ray, Vincent Walker, and Lawrence Rand for potential connections to MLK’s assassination.  
- **April 5, 1968**: Delta Flight 157 departed Memphis, with six passengers dropped off at Houston hotels.  
- **April 10, 1968**: Lyn Ray Cleveland released from custody by his father, Garland Cleveland, for travel to Palmer, Texas.  
- **April 5–14, 1968**: FBI reviewed records of David L. Wilson (arrested in 1967) and other individuals as part of broader civil rights-related investigations.  
- **Laundry tag markings** investigated as part of the broader inquiry.  
- **Claude Chester McClaren Jr.** tracked through Honduras and Mexico, with his appearance compared to MLK’s assassin.  
- **April 5–14, 1968**: A car with Louisiana license plates linked to James W. Hammons via a gas purchase.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations into MLK’s assassination, suspects like James Earl Ray, and related individuals.  
- **Joplin, Missouri Police Department**: Involved in Cleveland’s arrest and initial investigation.  
- **Delta Airlines**: Provided flight details and stewardess reports for Delta Flight 157.  
- **Houston Police Department**: Investigated hotel records for matches to suspects.  
- **Rice University**: Academic affiliation of Graham Robert Smith.

MLK Declassified Files

44-ho-1509_sec_005_ser_366-401-part_5_of_8.pdf

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