</s>2 SL 44-775 AJR/ral Mrs. WALLACE and her husband opened a joint checking account at the Jefferson-Gravois Bank, and this occurred at about the end of July 1967, or the first and first of August, 1967. This account also opened the savings account in BERRY, August 11, 1968, and the WALLACE also opened-GRAVOS Bank in the name of herself and her mother, the Jefferson-Gravis Bank in August 11. 1968, the Mrs. DOROTHY STEPHENS. It was Mrs. WALACE's best recollection that she and her husband went together to the Jefferson Gravois bank in late July, 1967, and she believed her husband also went to the bank her father's age. She believes her husband was also wanted to be the bank with her at the time they opened the joint checking accounts. with her pass at the same time opened the bank on the time of the summer band may also have accompanied her husband along with the bank to the two other occasion during that same period of time in the summer of 1967. Mrs. WILLACE recalls her no occasion during this period of 1967, Mrs. Wallace recalls her time on the period to the bank by automobile, but instead they walked to the Bank on each occasion from their residence on South Jefferson, which was in pursuit of the bank. Upon searching her memory at this time, Mrs WALLAGE believes searching her specific instance Mrs. WallACE husband accompanied her her bank during the period referred to the summer of 1967. She became that they went to her to on the summer at the bank until she was still daylight on this occasion, 6:00 on 7:30 pm. She would have been on this Friday since and she feels certain that it would have seen on the occasion. the bank closes at 2:00 p.m. and still Daylight on the week, but in this occasion at it was very warm weather, but that on this occasion it was worn warm weather. The weather was cloudy been a summer rain earlier that day and the weather was gloomy was walked out of it was this bank this occasion. Her husband waved to someone outside the bank, Mrs." WALLACES glanced very briefly at someone outside of the Bank. Mrs." Wallace glanced very briefly person was a white male, but since she glanced at him very very very quickly she does not recall his appearance other wise and is unable to describe him him in any respect. She does not rarely to describe his husband in any respects. She doesn't have not band and the man on this occasion. After her husband had waved at the man, Mrs, WALLACC inquired of her husband as to 36 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail financial records, bank transactions, and FBI interviews related to James Earl Ray’s movements and associations in St. Louis, Missouri, during 1967–1968. Financial records from Jefferson-Gravois Bank show Mrs. Wallace and her husband opened joint accounts in late 1967 and August 1968, with no evidence linking them to James Earl Ray or James L. Owens. Photographs of Ray and Owens were shown to bank employees and Mrs. Wallace, but none recognized them as individuals seen at the bank. Records from Manufacturers Bank and Trust Company (1959–1962) indicate no travel checks sold to Ray or Owens. A checking account in the name of James Carl O’Connor was active in 1959, with address history including South 12th Street and South 11th Street, St. Louis. FBI interviews from May 1968 involving John Paul Velanti and James H. Carpenter describe Velanti’s denial of knowing Ray and his admission to running gambling operations at Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP). Carpenter reported meeting Ray in St. Louis in 1967, describing him as a "loner" involved in gambling and narcotics, and opined that Ray lacked connections to access information about planned assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. Other records include interviews with James L. Carpenter (incarcerated at MSP) and Joseph H. McCormick, who provided details about Jack Gawron’s alleged criminal activities, including robberies and financial transactions in St. Louis. Russell P. Brannen, a former inmate at MSP, was noted as being on parole in St. Louis and employed at the Modern Jacket Company; he recalled no direct contact with Ray post-release but acknowledged Ray’s familiarity to him. Efforts to track Ray included interviews with residents near 11th and Southland streets, bar patrons, and individuals like Opal Highly, who described a man resembling Ray associated with a patron named Jack (last name unknown).  

Key People  
- Mrs. Wallace (and her husband)  
- James Earl Ray (suspected in MLK assassination)  
- James L. Owens  
- James Carl O’Connor  
- John Paul Velanti  
- James H. Carpenter  
- Joseph H. McCormick  
- Jack Gawron  
- Russell P. Brannen  
- Opal Highly  
- Eddie Sang  

Key Locations  
- Jefferson-Gravois Bank, St. Louis, Missouri  
- Manufacturers Bank and Trust Company, St. Louis, Missouri  
- South Jefferson Street, St. Louis  
- 1441 Chouteau Avenue, St. Louis  
- 1144 Delmar Avenue, St. Louis  
- 1800 block of South 11th Street, St. Louis  
- 2115a Park, Apartment 5, St. Louis  
- 1633 Dolman Street, St. Louis  
- Mississippi Avenue (St. Louis)  
- Geyer Avenue (St. Louis)  

Key Events  
- Opening of joint checking accounts at Jefferson-Gravois Bank (1967–1968)  
- FBI interviews with Velanti and Carpenter regarding their associations with James Earl Ray (May 1968)  
- Examination of travel check sales and bank records for James L. Owens and James Earl Ray  
- Investigation into James Carl O’Connor’s financial activities (1959)  
- Carpenter’s report of meeting Ray in St. Louis in 1967, describing him as a "loner" involved in gambling and narcotics  
- McCormick’s interviews detailing Jack Gawron’s alleged criminal activities, including robberies and financial transactions  
- Russell P. Brannen’s parole status and employment in St. Louis post-release from MSP  
- FBI efforts to track Ray through bar patrons and residents near 11th and Southland streets  
- Interview with Opal Highly regarding a man resembling Ray associated with a patron named Jack (last name unknown)  

Key Organizations  
- Jefferson-Gravois Bank  
- Manufacturers Bank and Trust Company  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP)  
- Missouri State Probation and Parole Officer  
- St. Louis City Jail  
- St. Louis Municipal Courts Building

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_18-03-part_3_of_6.pdf

Document Summary

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