</s>DL 44-2649 (MR. G. W. BURKS), Texas Ranger, advised on 5/2/68, he had not heard from (SMITH) and had not been able to develop any information as to his whereabouts. He stated (SMIT) might have been known well as his talked to a number of contacts. SMITH(but) not not able to locate (SMITE) He stated SMITH( talks big, brags, tells big stories, and is one of the biggest big, big stories. (MR, GLEN HAWKINS) Detective, Fort Worth D. was contacted on 5 /6/68. He advised he is well acquainted with JAMES ALLEN SMITH. He made inquiries through all his sources but has turned any information on (SMITT), MANAGAN) or (SMITCH) might not taking advantage of the situation, he left Fort Worth, but is lying low. (HAWKINS had never heard of further related he would not believe (SMIIH) or any of the big stories he tells. (MR_ FRED FICK(s) recontacted on 57/768, at which time he advised he had not received any information as to the whereabouts of (SMTH) The case at Houston has been called but he obtained a postponement for 60 days. (SMITH). No further investigation being conducted to locate ARMED AND DANGEROUS. 3 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document contains fragmented communications from May 1968 detailing federal law enforcement investigations into James Earl Ray’s potential connections to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968. It references FBI efforts to locate Ray through surveillance of Carol Pepper’s residence and the Grapevine Tavern in Memphis, Tennessee, where John Larry Ray (Ray’s brother) was identified as the owner. The FBI sought passport records from Rhodesian authorities to verify Ray’s travel documents and reviewed legal proceedings related to his 1959 armed robbery conviction and escape from Missouri State Penitentiary in 1967. An anonymous letter dated May 9, 1968, referenced “Ben Dape” (likely Ray) as an armed individual. Melvina Tyler, identified as Mrs. Ray, was interviewed but provided no information about Ray’s whereabouts. The document also notes a body discovered in Acapulco, Mexico, potentially linked to Ray but not directly tied to King’s assassination.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray (suspected assassin of MLK; subject of investigation)  
- Carol Pepper (sister of James Earl Ray; residence under surveillance)  
- John Larry Ray (brother of James Earl Ray; Grapevine Tavern owner)  
- Melvina Tyler (Mrs. Ray, former tavern owner in Peoria, Illinois)  
- Eric S. Galt (individual linked to Ray’s activities and the John Birch Society)  
- Roger L. Miller (subject of credit bureau checks; wife Katherine Miller provided family details)  
- Law enforcement agents: G.W. Burks, Glen Hawkins, Fred Fick, SA John E. Connor, SA Elgin E. Olrogg  

Key Locations  
- Fort Worth, Texas (law enforcement discussions on tracking Smith)  
- Memphis, Tennessee (Grapevine Tavern; Ray’s alleged residence)  
- Peoria, Illinois (Melvina Tyler’s residence)  
- Rhodesia (passport records review for James Earl Ray)  
- Acapulco, Mexico (body discovery referenced in unrelated case)  
- San Francisco, California (hippie establishments monitored for Ray)  
- Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston (locations tied to phone call investigations and John Birch Society)  
- Italy (San Gimignano, Siena; James Ray’s reported residence before returning to the U.S.)  

Key Events  
- FBI requested technical surveillance on Carol Pepper’s residence and the Grapevine Tavern to locate James Earl Ray.  
- Investigation into Ray’s potential travel documents via Rhodesian authorities.  
- Legal proceedings reviewed for Ray’s 1959 armed robbery conviction, including his 1967 prison escape.  
- Interview of Melvina Tyler (Mrs. Ray) yielded no information about Ray’s whereabouts.  
- FBI examined Eric S. Galt’s 1967 letter referencing the John Birch Society and Ray’s potential Rhodesia travel.  
- Credit bureau checks confirmed Roger L. Miller’s family ties to Earl Ray, including his wife’s sister married to Ray.  
- Toll records from Los Angeles to Philadelphia analyzed for connections to Ray or suspects.  
- Italian Intelligence Service provided information on James Ray’s movements in Italy and return to the U.S.  
- FBI field offices coordinated follow-up investigations into suspects and travel records.  
- May 14, 1968: FBI teletyped requests to San Francisco police departments to monitor hippie establishments for Ray.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- U.S. Department of Justice Communications Section  
- Missouri State Penitentiary  
- Rhodesian authorities (passport records review)  
- Italian Intelligence Service  
- John Birch Society (FBI sought records from its Boston headquarters)  
- Local police departments (Alameda, Oakland, San Francisco, etc.)  
- Crime Laboratory (San Francisco Police Department)

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_12-02-part_2_of_4.pdf

Document Summary

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