</s>KC 44-760 II. PRINTENTIARY RECORDS 40 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into individuals linked to James Earl Ray, Paul Bridgeman, and Jackie Kline in Missouri and Kansas during 1967–1968. Records from the Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) include inmate files for Melvin Oliver Grilly, John William Meyries, Nathan J. Murphy, Ray Eugene Warren, Robert Boshers, Paul Bridgeman (also known as Paul Osborn), and James Earl Ray. These records cover incarceration dates, parole status, addresses, familial relationships, and criminal histories. The FBI investigated Bridgeman’s movements in Kansas City, Missouri, including his arrest for robbery and disturbing the peace on March 19, 1968, and his associations with Kline, who resided at the Netherlands Hotel. A handwriting analysis of 176 applications from the Belsaw Locksmithing Institute was conducted to link them to Ray, though this connection is not explicitly stated in the document. Additional records include Ray’s purchase of a Channel Master Model 6502 radio from the MSP canteen on April 21, 1967, with no serial number documentation. FBI inquiries also explored Ray’s employment history and familial ties. References to Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral appear in context of business closures in Atlanta, Georgia, affecting hotel operations on April 9, 1968.  

Key People  
- Melvin Oliver Grilly (MSP #0203)  
- John William Meyries (MSP #0348)  
- Nathan J. Murphy (MSP #047825)  
- Ray Eugene Warren (MSP #01968)  
- Robert Boshers (MSP #070908)  
- Paul Bridgeman (also known as Paul Osborn, ASP #1014)  
- Jackie Kline (resided at Netherlands Hotel, associated with Bridgeman)  
- James Earl Ray (inmate #00416 at MSP; linked to Belsaw Locksmithing Institute and Bridgeman)  
- Sandra Lauguen (reported interactions between Kline and Bridgeman)  
- Mrs. Katherine Tavernaro (linked to Kline’s employment and financial issues)  
- Marvin W. Heeren (poultry salesman with international business ties)  
- James Wilson Brown (convicted of murder in Kansas City, Missouri, 1959)  
- Mr. M. J. Stewart (Treasurer, MSP)  
- Mr. Harry P. Luckenhoфф (Acting Manager, Gordon Sound System)  
- Mr. Paul Stueder (Manager, Show-Mr Electronics, Inc.)  
- MAKIE HOOKER (contacted regarding Ray’s family connections)  

Key Locations  
- Missouri State Penitentiary (Jefferson City, Missouri)  
- Kansas City, Missouri (Netherlands Hotel, Belsaw Locksmithing Institute, Roland Park Police Department)  
- Springfield, Missouri  
- St. Louis, Missouri  
- Rollin, Missouri  
- Gulfport, Mississippi  
- Chicago, Illinois  
- Johnson County, Kansas (probation records for Bridgeman and Kline)  
- Kansas City, Mississippi (police department files on Brown)  
- Atlanta, Georgia (business closures due to MLK Jr.’s funeral)  
- Jefferson City, Missouri (Gordon Sound System, Show-Mr Electronics)  
- Excelsior Springs, Missouri (Sunset Amusement Company)  

Key Events  
- Inmate records and parole status checks for multiple individuals between 1963 and 1968.  
- FBI investigation into Paul Bridgeman’s movements and associations in Kansas City, Missouri, including his arrest on March 19, 1968, for robbery and disturbing the peace.  
- Jackie Kline’s stay at Netherlands Hotel (May 22–June 2, 1968) and association with Bridgeman.  
- Handwriting analysis of 176 applications from Belsaw Locksmithing Institute linked to James Earl Ray.  
- Purchase of Channel Master Model 6502 radio by James Earl Ray from the MSP canteen on April 21, 1967, with no serial number documentation.  
- FBI inquiries into Ray’s employment history and familial connections.  
- Sandra Lauguen’s reports on Kline’s interactions with Bridgeman and their travel plans.  
- Mrs. Katherine Tavernaro’s account of Kline’s employment as a nurse, financial troubles linked to stolen checks from Bridgeman, and departure from town.  
- James Wilson Brown’s 1959 conviction for murder in Kansas City, Missouri.  
- Business closures in Atlanta, Georgia, due to MLK Jr.’s funeral on April 9, 1968.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP)  
- Kansas City Police Department (Missouri and Mississippi)  
- Johnson County Sheriff’s Office (probation records)  
- Belsaw Locksmithing Institute  
- Gordon Sound System  
- Show-Mr Electronics, Inc.  
- Trust Company of Georgia  
- Gordon Johnson Industries, Inc.

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_17-01-part_4_of_5.pdf

Document Summary

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