</s>1 SLI: 44-775 HRD:Jb RE: PEPPER LIQUOR LICENSE On May 7, 1968, St. Louis United States Attorney VERY L. RIDDLE advised Special Agent HAROLD D. DORSON that pursuant to a current project undertaken by his office to determine the nature and extent of criminal ownership of liquor dispensing establishments in the St.Louis Metropolitan and state liquor control officials in the United States Post Office had secured the cooperation of the United Post Office and State Liquor Control Officials in the State Liquour Control licenses located in St. Louisville, St . Louis County and Jefferson County, Missouri, in which detailed information line for the return of such questionsnaires was originally scheduled for May 1, 1968; but returns to date have been sparse which necessitated setting up a new dead-line of June 1, 1998. Mr. Riddle stated that returns are to be forwarded to the Star Liquor Controller Office by mail that will be that cause answers in such returns by certain target owners may cause presentation of the matter to a Federal Grand Jury or presentation to the mail constitutes a scheme for liquor Control Office through the mail constitutions a scheme of use of the mail in furtherance as a scheme to defraud. Mr. RANDLE emphasized that questionnaire and been sent to all tavern owners in the area and that no individual owner would have been singled out for any special attention. Mr. RADDLE stated that he wanted to be sure that his project would not interfere with our investigation of this case was in any way. He was confidently advised of the identities of subject's brother and sister, JOHN RAY and Carlton Taver, He was further advised it does not appear Vine Taverner, he was further aware of the his project could interfere with the investigation of this case. 3/13 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI inquiries into a guest named James Ray who stayed at Congress Airport Inn in St. Louis, Missouri, between April 18–19, 1968. The guest registered under the name "JAMES RAY" with Allstate Insurance Company, paid $79.79 in cash for room and tax, and was assigned Room #114. A green 1967 Plymouth car was parked outside the room during his stay. Staff noted the guest’s appearance as a slender man with dark hair, wearing a white shirt, light sport coat, and dark trousers. The guest left without checking out on April 19, 1968, and the car was removed from the premises by noon that day. A night auditor later identified the guest as resembling James Earl Ray, whose photograph appeared in local media, though no direct confirmation of identity is provided. Records indicate prior instances of unregistered guests skipping payments at the motel.  

The FBI also investigated multiple suspects linked to MLK’s assassination, including Willard Benfield, Jr., Robert Boshier, Benjamin Franklin Gieson, Annie Coleman, and Ollie Otto. These individuals were examined for potential connections to the crime, but no direct evidence or fingerprints matched them to the suspect. Lookalike investigations focused on men with physical traits similar to James Earl Ray, such as Richard L. Brey and Greyhound Bus Passenger Charles Warren Hale, though none were confirmed as the assassin. Witnesses like Reverend Floyd Browder and Mrs. Anna Dawson provided unverified claims about potential killers, which were later retracted or dismissed.  

Key People  
- **Betty Crafe**: Clerk at Congress Airport Inn who reported a phone call to Room #114 and outgoing calls from the guest’s room.  
- **Walter L. Brooks**: Manager of Congress Airport Inn, described the guest’s appearance and noted the car was removed by April 19.  
- **Harvey Mink**: Night auditor at the motel who identified the guest as resembling James Earl Ray and mentioned a wanted poster for him.  
- **Iva Tracer**: Clerk who processed the guest’s registration and later compared photographs of the guest to James Earl Ray.  
- **James Ray** (registered guest): Stayed at Room #114, paid in cash, and left without checking out.  
- **James Earl Ray**: A man whose photograph was circulated by authorities; his resemblance to the motel guest was noted but not confirmed.  

Key Locations  
- **Congress Airport Inn**, 3433 North Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri: The motel where James Ray stayed and where staff provided details about the guest’s stay.  

Key Events  
- Registration of "JAMES RAY" at Congress Airport Inn on April 18, 1968, with payment in cash for Room #114.  
- Observation of a green 1967 Plymouth car parked outside Room #114 during the guest’s stay.  
- Guest left without checking out on April 19, 1968; the car was removed by noon that day.  
- Staff noted the guest’s physical description and later linked him to James Earl Ray via photographs.  
- Prior records indicated unregistered guests skipping payments at the motel.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted inquiries into the guest’s stay and potential connections to James Earl Ray.  
- **Congress Airport Inn**: Motel where the guest stayed, with staff providing details about registration, room assignments, and observations.

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_10-05-part_4_of_5.pdf

Document Summary

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