</s>Arl 44-2386 JRP:Sja Date Amount of Check April 5, 1968 $60 April 21, 1968 $80.64 HEMBREX stated during this five or five or week period, he had made two loans to DOVA in two checks, one for $30 and had for $10. HEMBREEX advised that if DOWDA were to have been employed five days days week, his checks was paid for the first time in two weeks. His checks that all of the checks was due to the DOVA may not have possibly worked all five days of the week, but again stated that this was due due to weather, stating that in rainy-type weather was it was impossible for them to work. HEMREX stated that DOVA had been a satisfactory. employee while working for him. 37 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary:  
The documents detail FBI investigations into James Earl Ray’s activities during his incarceration at Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) and subsequent escape, focusing on financial transactions, prison associations, and alleged connections to drug networks. Ray, an inmate at MSP, discussed plans to leave the facility legally or illegally, with guards noting no apparent escape opportunities. Inmate Wade reported Ray earned $1.50 monthly from bakery work and stored money in personal items, avoiding prison accounts. Speculation surrounds Ray’s escape method, including a bread box possibility, though no confirmed evidence exists. The FBI sought to trace Ray’s financial sources, potential underworld ties, and associations with former inmates or parolees like Willie Show (paroled from Chicago) and Lieutenant Dickson/Dixon (MSP guard allegedly involved in smuggling). Inmate Robert Lynn Powell, linked to Ray, is identified as a suspect in a 1967 bank robbery in Leadville, Missouri. Ray’s financial records, dental X-rays, and interactions with individuals like Vincent Walker and Lawrence Rand are under review. The FBI also investigates potential connections between Ray and unsolved crimes, including the deaths of unidentified individuals in Kansas. Inmate Curtis, incarcerated with Ray at Jackson County Jail, mentioned discussions about alleged bounties on President Kennedy’s and Martin Luther King Jr.’s heads during their incarceration.  

Key People:  
- **James Earl Ray**: Subject of FBI investigations; discussed escape plans, financial dealings, and interactions with inmates.  
- **Wade**: Inmate providing details about Ray’s prison earnings and escape speculation.  
- **Willie Show/Schoaf**: Paroled inmate linked to Ray; associated with Chicago.  
- **Lieutenant Dickson/Dixon**: MSP guard allegedly involved in smuggling or item transfers.  
- **Robert Lynn Powell**: Suspect in 1967 bank robbery in Leadville, Missouri; identified as a potential associate of Ray.  
- **Vincent Walker, Lawrence Rand**: Individuals potentially connected to Ray’s activities.  
- **Curtis**: Inmate incarcerated with Ray at Jackson County Jail; mentioned discussions about bounties on MLK and Kennedy.  
- **John Eugene Gatton, David Brydon, Phillip Baker**: Attorneys or associates linked to Ray’s legal cases.  
- **William F. Scholl**: Paroled inmate connected to Ray.  

Key Locations:  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP)**: Central location for Ray’s incarceration and prison-related investigations.  
- **Jackson County Jail, Kansas City, Missouri**: Site of Ray’s incarceration with Curtis.  
- **Jefferson City, Missouri**: Home of MSP; referenced in inmate records and FBI inquiries.  
- **Leadville, Missouri**: Linked to Robert Lynn Powell’s alleged bank robbery.  
- **St. Louis, Missouri**: Investigative hub for FBI efforts.  
- **Kansas City, Missouri**: Mentioned in telegrams related to Ray’s financial tracking.  
- **San Francisco, California**: Referenced in FBI telegrams about Ray’s movements.  

Key Events:  
- **Ray’s escape from MSP** (undated but referenced as critical event; speculation on methods and funds).  
- **Investigations into Ray’s financial dealings and networks** (May 1968; focus on potential underworld ties or smuggling operations).  
- **Discussions about bounties on MLK and Kennedy** (inmate Curtis noted these conversations during incarceration).  
- **Review of Ray’s financial records, dental X-rays, and prison interactions** (to verify connections to unsolved crimes).  
- **Investigation into 1967 bank robberies** (Columbia National Bank, Mineers State Bank; Robert Lynn Powell identified as suspect).  
- **FBI efforts to locate Ray’s associates, including former inmates and parolees** (e.g., Willie Show, Vincent Walker).  

Key Organizations:  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted interviews, financial tracking, and investigations into Ray’s activities.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP)**: Central to prison-related inquiries and inmate interactions.  
- **Department of Corrections, Missouri**: Mentioned in inmate records and financial reviews.  
- **Chicago Police Department**: Referenced in context of bank robbery investigations.  
- **Local law enforcement agencies** (e.g., Jefferson City, St. Louis) involved in tracking Ray’s movements and associations.

MLK Declassified Files

44-kc-760_404058_171-03-part_3_of_9.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search