</s>SI 44-561 EID:skr The following investigation was conducted by SA ELYON R. DAVIS & QUINcy, Illinois, on May 10, 1968: GERTRUDE WALLING, 1110 College Street, Quincy, ILLINOIS, DAVIS and Quincy, illinois, on may 10, 1966; advised that she formerly resided at 904 Lind street, Quincy. Illinois, Illinois. The advised that she advised that when she lived on Quincy, Illinois is now slightly rented at that she her home. Linda Sommers, who recently rented rooms in JOSEPH ELIER AUSTIN. She advised that that she remembered AUSTIN'S date of birth in the 1980s insmasch as her year of her home she found around 1950s when she was born to she had ever lived in a house who was born the same year as her. She stated that Austin was when she came to Quincy, Illinois, came to Quincy through some or to Quincy. She said she stated that she was in the same Chicago. She advised that Austin had been in the Chicago. He advised that Austin and been in an Chicago. The state Penitentiary came to quincy and came to Quincy or Catholic to obtain job and job and apparently this unknown catholic prison. He wanted to go to the hospital. However, AUSTN lived at her home less than one month when he left and she heard shortly thereafter that he he who was arrested and she had not heard thereafter that he stated that she could not remember the name of the town which he was arrested not remember Austin since 1956. She started as far as she knew Austin did not have not have any town which she was arrested as she kept Austin since 1965. She related to her. One simply lived in her home was not. of loss than one months and was as a border. She advised that he did not know JAMES EARL EARL RAY and had never known AUSTIn to speak concerning MAY under RAY'S true name or known aliases. was not not a Quincy resident she is certain JOSEPHE ELIER Austin was not at the time she moved and that he knew nothing concerning Quincy at the Time she moved to Quincy. Photographs of JAMES EARL RAT were exhibited to GERTRRUDE WILLING and she advised she she had hkvinter-sddedto this individual before. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into individuals linked to James Earl Ray, a suspect in Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. Key figures include JAMES LAOHA OWENS, incarcerated in Illinois and Missouri prisons with release dates noted (e.g., June 27, 1965), ANDREW WILSON DE CORE ("Blackie De Core"), a parolee from Menard Prison, Illinois, with family contacts in Chicago and St. Louis, CHARLES B. REED, an inmate at Pontiac State Farm, and KENNETH D. FOSDYCK, an FBI employee with a history of parole violations. The records also reference prior threats against MLK, including interactions with BENNY K. PINNISTON, described as a separatist distributing John Birch literature, though no direct threats were confirmed. Other entries include inquiries into VINCENT DE PALMA, CARL RICE, and WILLIAM RAY KING, with some information cut off or incomplete. The FBI interviewed witnesses, inmates, and associates of Ray, including Gertrude Walling, Milton Dean Batchelder, Paul Alvin Lail, Hilliard Allen Sanders, Wilbur Conners, Melvina "Rusty" Tyler, and Joseph Adams, focusing on their alleged connections to Ray and his activities in Missouri, Illinois, and other locations.  

Key People  
- **JAMES LAOHA OWENS**: Incarcerated in Illinois and Missouri prisons; released June 27, 1965.  
- **ANDREW WILSON DE CORE** ("Blackie De Core"): Parolee from Menard Prison, Illinois; family contacts in Chicago and St. Louis.  
- **CHARLES B. REED**: Inmate at Pontiac State Farm; job as truck driver; criminal record.  
- **KENNETH D. FOSDYCK**: FBI employee with parole violation history; questioned about James Earl Ray.  
- **BENNY K. PINNISTON**: Separatist distributing John Birch literature; no confirmed threats against MLK.  
- **WILLIAM RAY KING**: Questioned in Rock Island, Illinois; claimed bitter feelings toward MLK.  
- **GERTRUDE WALLING**: Reported Joseph Elier Austin's criminal history, including 1957 kidnapping arrest.  
- **JOSEPH ELIER AUSTIN**: Arrested in 1957 for alleged kidnapping; sent to Central State Hospital, Tennessee.  
- **MILTON DEAN BATCHELDER** ("Bucky" Batchelder): Linked to Ray through car transactions; incarcerated at Menard State Prison.  
- **PAUL ALVIN LAIL**: Fugitive with 1963 unlawful flight to avoid confinement arrest; SSN redacted.  
- **HILLIARD ALLAN SANDERS**: Inmate at Missouri State Penitentiary (1952–1964); denied knowledge of Ray.  
- **WILBUR CONNERS & KATHERINE DORIS BUSKIRK CONNERS**: Reported interactions with Walter Riff and Ray in Hannibal, Missouri, 1955; mentioned Melba Marie Ryan as Ray's sister.  
- **MELVINA "RUSTY" TYLER**: Employed at Pierre Marquette Hotel in Peoria, Illinois; denied knowledge of Ray.  
- **JOSEPH ADAMS**: Inmate at Menard State Penitentiary who claimed indirect contact with Ray.  

Key Locations  
- **Menard State Prison, Illinois**: Site of inmate interrogations and incarceration for Batchelder, De Core, and Adams.  
- **Pontiac State Farm, Illinois**: Location where Charles B. Reed was incarcerated.  
- **Hannibal, Missouri**: Site of alleged 1955 interactions between Walter Riff, Ray, and others.  
- **Quincy, Illinois**: Home to Gertrude Walling and the Virginia Hotel (operated by Laura Conners).  
- **Pierre Marquette Hotel, Peoria, Illinois**: Employed Melvina "Rusty" Tyler, potentially connected to Ray.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary, Jefferson City**: Incarceration site for Hilliard Allen Sanders.  
- **St. Louis, Missouri**: Family contacts of Andrew Wilson De Core.  
- **Chicago, Illinois**: Family contacts of Andrew Wilson De Core.  
- **Kewanee, Illinois**: Mentioned in inquiries about William Ray King.  
- **Forest City, Arkansas** and **Sikeston, Missouri**: Locations referenced in incomplete or cut-off records.  

Key Events  
- **1957 Arrest of Joseph Elier Austin**: Charged with kidnapping in Tennessee; sent to Central State Hospital.  
- **1963 Unlawful Flight Case**: Paul Alvin Lail's arrest for evading confinement.  
- **1955 Interaction in Hannibal, Missouri**: Wilbur Conners and Katherine Doris Buskirk Conners reported contact with Walter Riff and Ray.  
- **Ray's Potential Connection to Pierre Marquette Hotel**: Melvina Tyler's employment linked to Ray through her sister Melba Marie Ryan.  
- **Menard State Penitentiary Inmate Contacts**: Joseph Adams claimed indirect association with Ray during incarceration.  
- **Investigation into JAMES LAOHA OWENS' Incarceration and Release**: Noted release date of June 27, 1965.  
- **Parole History of ANDREW WILSON DE CORE and CHARLES B. REED**: Inquiries into their parole records and associations.  
- **FBI Inquiries into KENNETH D. FOSDYCK**: Questions about his potential knowledge of James Earl Ray.  
- **Prior Threats Against MLK**: Interactions with BENNY K. PINNISTON, described as a separatist distributing John Birch literature.  
- **Questioning of WILLIAM RAY KING in Rock Island, Illinois**: Claims of bitter feelings toward MLK.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted interviews and investigations into Ray's associates.  
- **Illinois State Penitentiary (Menard Branch)**: Site of inmate interrogations and incarceration for Batchelder, De Core, and Adams.  
- **Pontiac State Farm**: Illinois prison where Charles B. Reed was incarcerated.  
- **John Birch Society**: Mentioned via BENNY K. PINNISTON's activities.

MLK Declassified Files

44-ho-1509_sec_006_ser_402-430-part_6_of_8.pdf

Document Summary

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