</s>KC 44-760 TJC:ksw 1 The following investigation was conducted by SA THOMAS J. CONNOLLY on May 3, 1968: AT KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI. Mr. R. RAY E. ENWRIGHT, Chief of Security, Pendix Corporation that: 2200 Bannister Road, Kansas City, Missouri, advised that: 22000 Indicate that LARRY C. H. Hirschson, 14505 East 37th, Independence, Missouri. was c. Hinson, Bendix on March 13, 1963, and has lived at above address since January 13, 1962, and was cleared of evidence. and received a copy of the AQC clearance May 31, 1963. and is presently employed as an apprentice tool-room machinist. ENWRIGHT stated that the payroll records for Bendix Indicate the U.S. Department of Public Safety and Public Safety, that the April 5, 1963; from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM. ENRWRIGHT advised that the security precautions at Bendix, Simpson would have to clock himself in and out. ENWRIGHTC Displayed a photograph of LARRY G. SIMPSON taken for the security badges at Bendrix and he bore no resemblance to the photographs of JAMES EARL RAY. 136 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into individuals associated with James Earl Ray, suspected in Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. SA Thomas J. Connolly (May 3, 1968) reviewed Bendix Corporation records for Larry C. Hinson, cleared of evidence in 1963, and noted security measures at the facility. SA Ray Homesley (May 3, 1968) interviewed inmate Glen Buckley, who claimed to know Larry Ray and Jimmy Ray, both associated with KKK activities and possibly linked to Jackson, Mississippi. Buckley stated Ray was released from Topeka, Kansas, and had a conditional parole violation. Investigations into the Blackstone Hotel (April 19, 1968) found no records of James Earl Ray or aliases. Walter Terry Rife’s file (Leavenworth Penitentiary, 1955–1960) noted his correspondence with family and plans to marry Katherine Doris Buskirk upon release. Missouri motor vehicle records (April 19, 1968) showed no license for Ray. Credit reports on Robert Dale Porter and Mary L. Porter revealed marital issues, arrests, and a divorce filing in Kansas City. Delta Airlines records (May 1, 1968) were checked for passenger SLATTERY but yielded no results. Reverend Billy Max Wellner (April 3–9, 1968) identified Lynn Cleveland as a hitchhiker with possible ties to Ray, noting his nearsightedness and dark tweed coat.  

The FBI FD-302 form dated April 17, 1968, details the arrest of LYNN RAY CLEVELAND in Joplin, Missouri. Personal items seized included identification cards, pamphlets, a library card with an SSN (redacted), and other belongings. Cleveland was suspected of involvement in MLK’s assassination based on local media reports but no evidence linked him to the crime. He claimed not to have been in Memphis or Birmingham at the time of the murder, citing inconsistent travel history, including claims of staying in Springfield, Missouri, and hitchhiking between cities. His father, GARLAND CLEVELAND, expressed concern over his son’s arrest and legal actions against media outlets.  

Lynn Ray Cleveland was arrested on April 9, 1968, after requesting directions to Tulsa, Oklahoma, from Mrs. Virginia L. Uhluer at the Corral Motel. During the encounter, Cleveland inquired about a funeral procession for MLK, making a comment suggesting both King and Billy Graham should focus more on their own religious purposes. Uhluer noted Cleveland resembled the artist’s conception of King’s assassin, though no direct link to the assassination was established. Cleveland was released under Executive Order 14176 after being booked at the City Jail.  

On April 23, 1968, David L. Wilson was identified as a suspect in Missouri records with details including height (6'3"), brown hair, and Florida driver’s license G172074. Records indicated no prior connection to the investigation. Robert Boschers, an inmate at Missouri State Penitentiary, was described as white, male, 6'3", with brown hair and blue eyes. His file noted a history of burglary and alcoholism, though no direct ties to the assassination were found. The FBI investigated individuals linked to nicknames like “Cowboy” (Melvin Gridley) and “Dago,” with no conclusive identification. James Earl Ray was identified as a fugitive connected to MLK’s assassination, with agents tracking him across multiple cities including St. Louis, Kansas City, and Memphis.  

Key People  
- **Glen Buckley**: Inmate who claimed knowledge of Larry Ray and Jimmy Ray’s KKK affiliations and movements in Mississippi.  
- **James Earl Ray**: Suspected assassin of MLK; linked to associates like Larry Ray and Walter Terry Rife.  
- **Lynn Ray Cleveland**: Arrested suspect in Joplin, Missouri; resembled the artist’s conception of King’s assassin.  
- **Walter Terry Rife**: Former inmate at Leavenworth Penitentiary; corresponded with family members and had plans to marry Katherine Doris Buskirk.  
- **Mary L. Porter** and **Robert Dale Porter**: Individuals linked through credit reports, divorce filings, and arrests in Kansas City.  
- **Garland Cleveland**: Father of Lynn Ray Cleveland; expressed concern over his son’s arrest.  
- **David L. Wilson**: Suspect with no direct link to the investigation.  
- **Robert Boschers**: Inmate at Missouri State Penitentiary with a history of burglary.  
- **Melvin Gridley**: Identified as “Cowboy” in prison records.  

Key Locations  
- **Kansas City, Missouri**: Central to investigations involving Bendix Corporation, Blackstone Hotel, and FBI efforts to track Ray and associates.  
- **Leavenworth Penitentiary**: Site of Walter Terry Rife’s incarceration (1955–1960).  
- **Baxter Springs, Kansas**: Reverend Billy Max Wellner’s location where he met Lynn Cleveland.  
- **Topeka, Kansas**: Mentioned as a release point for Larry Ray.  
- **Joplin, Missouri**: Site of Lynn Ray Cleveland’s arrest and encounter with Mrs. Virginia L. Uhluer.  
- **Springfield, Missouri**: Mentioned in records related to Wilson and Boschers.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee** and **Birmingham, Alabama**: Linked to MLK assassination.  
- **Kingman, Arizona**: Claimed travel location by Cleveland.  

Key Events  
- **April 3–9, 1968**: Reverend Billy Max Wellner encountered Lynn Cleveland hitchhiking near Springfield, Missouri, who later was identified as potentially linked to Ray.  
- **April 9, 1968**: Arrest of LYNN RAY CLEVELAND in Joplin, Missouri, after inquiring about MLK’s funeral procession.  
- **April 10, 1968**: Fingerprints and palm prints of Lynn Cleveland obtained in Joplin, Missouri, noted for his nearsightedness.  
- **April 19, 1968**: Blackstone Hotel records checked for Ray’s presence; no matches found.  
- **April 23, 1968**: David L. Wilson’s record check at Missouri State Penitentiary.  
- **May 1968**: FBI investigations into inmates with nicknames and fugitive James Earl Ray.  
- **Ongoing tracking**: Agents monitored potential suspects across multiple cities, including St. Louis, Kansas City, and Memphis.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted multiple investigations into Ray’s movements, associates, and financial records.  
- **Bendix Corporation**: Reviewed for employee Larry C. Hinson’s clearance status.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary**: Site of Walter Terry Rife’s incarceration and parole history.  
- **Joplin, Missouri Police Department**: Assisted in identifying suspects and reviewing arrest records.  
- **Springfield Public Library (Missouri)**: Location of library card with SSN found on Lynn Cleveland.

MLK Declassified Files

44-kc-760_404058_171-02-part_04_of_10.pdf

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