</s>Jd1/260-J22 SEARCHED INDEXED SERIALIZED APR ?? 1988 FEB1-KANSAS CITY 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary:  
This document comprises a series of FBI teletypes and memos dated April 20–23, 1968, detailing an investigation into James Earl Ray as a suspect in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The memos reference Ray’s alleged movements, associates (e.g., Vernon Elmo Rife, Curtis), potential hiding places (e.g., Oregon’s Rogue River area), and prison-related activities. Key details include:  
- Ray’s alleged escape from Leavenworth Penitentiary in 1967.  
- His possible connections to a "Oakland Terrace Men’s Club" in Panama City, Florida, and employment with Mrs. Bill Morris of Edgewater, Florida.  
- A woman claiming to have seen Ray in Panama City with a woman from Alton, Illinois.  
- Investigations into his financial sources and potential involvement in burglaries or robberies.  
- Mention of a fingerprint record (Ref 9 Classification M 4 W 101 12).  

Key People:  
- **James Earl Ray** (primary suspect; also known as James Ray, Earl James, etc.).  
- **Vernon Elmo Rife** (alleged associate; possibly involved in prison escape).  
- **Curtis** (mentioned in prison context).  
- **George/Don McBride** (possibly linked to Ray’s Florida activities).  
- **Jimmy Carpenter** (prison worker who may have aided Ray financially).  
- **Bud Talbert** (night clerk at a Kansas City hotel reporting a man matching Ray’s description).  
- **John Jones** (taxi driver who picked up a passenger resembling Ray).  
- **David L. Wilson** (involved in a traffic stop in Lebanon, Missouri, where he allegedly met Ray).  

Key Locations:  
- **Leavenworth Penitentiary**, Kansas (Ray’s prison).  
- **Panama City/Edgewater**, Florida (alleged sightings of Ray and his employment).  
- **Rogue River**, Oregon (suspected hiding place or relative ties).  
- **Alton**, Illinois (woman from Alton linked to Ray).  
- **Kansas City** (hotel where Ray was allegedly seen).  
- **Memphis, Tennessee** (FBI office involved in the investigation).  

Key Events:  
- FBI agents sought to confirm Ray’s identity, track his movements, and investigate financial ties.  
- Requests to contact law enforcement agencies in Missouri, Florida, and Oregon for leads.  
- Mention of a "third unknown man" associated with Rife (Vernon Elmo Rife) and Curtis.  
- Investigation into Ray’s alleged prison escape and debts to Jimmy Carpenter.  
- A guard (Lampere) noted Ray’s interest in Oregon’s Rogue River area and sawmill work, suggesting possible hiding spots or relatives there.  

Key Organizations:  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)** (conducting the investigation).  
- **Leavenworth Penitentiary** (Ray’s incarceration site).  
- **U.S. Savings Bonds** and **payroll savings plans** (internal administrative tasks mentioned in the text).  
- **Executive Order 14176** (referenced as part of handling classified information).  

Notes:  
- The text includes garbled or unclear sections (e.g., "FRI #30644434," "14-700-253").  
- References to "FD-36" and "PLATINUMEXT" suggest internal FBI coding systems.  
- Administrative mentions of non-existent entities like "Employers Overload" or "Employers Overpaid" (likely typos for real companies).  
- The investigation reflects broader efforts to locate Ray during the 1968 civil rights era, with fragmented details and logistical challenges.

MLK Declassified Files

44-kc-760_404058_169-04-part_2_of_3.pdf

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