</s>FAIR MEMPHIS F31 KAN CITY 1254 PM URGENT 4/25/63 PM TO DIRECTOR, MEMPHIS, MIAMI, ST. LOUIS FROM KANSAS CITY 44-760 1P - WURKIN. J. L. RUDDLL, POST OFFICE INSPECTOR, KANAS CITY, NO ., ADVISED IN ADDITION TO INFO IN PRE-SENTENCE REPORT FOR JAMES EARL RAY DATED APRIL TWENTYSI, FIFTYFIVE, USDC, WDM, PREVIOUSLY. FURNISHED YOUR OFFICE, COULD FURNISH! FOLLOWING INFO: SUBJECT AND WALTER RIFE, J. J. ARRESSTED ON MARCH JENTYTYT2, FIFTYFIVE, IN HANTIBAL, WO. WE ARE DRIVING FORTIVINE LINCOLN, MICH IAD SEEN PURCHASED AKMACKER ON ONTORS, ONE THREE FIVE NE THIRTYSIX ST ., MIAMI, FLA ., AND ON THIS CAR THEY TRADED IS A FORTYSIX OR FORTSVEN NASH, THIS PURCHASE POSSILLY COULD HAVE BEEN MADE ON ASOUT MAY FOURTEEN, FIFTIFYFOUR. HE ALSO STATES WHEN APPROVENDED, SUBJECT AND RIFE HAD BEEN STAYING AT PARK HOTEL, MONTGOMERY CITY, MISSOURI. MIAMI, AT MIAMI. CONDUCT INVESTIGATION AT AMACKER MOTORS, FOR ANY INFO THEY MAY HAVE RE SUBJECT. ST. LOUS AT MONTGOMERRY CITY, CONTACT PARK HOTELS. FOR ANY INFOS THEY MAY HAY HAVE RE SUSJECT. P ARMED AND DANGEROUS. SHEPHARD P END MEN F31 MEMPHIIS 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations from April 1968 focusing on James Earl Ray's movements and potential connections to Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. Key actions include tracking Ray's alleged sightings in Georgia, Alabama, and Canada; reviewing driver’s license records, selective service registrations, and tire impressions linked to a white Mustang; and monitoring individuals like David Wilson and Richard Harrell for possible ties to Ray. The FBI coordinated with local law enforcement and agencies in Memphis, Birmingham, Mobile, and other locations to gather information on Ray's whereabouts and activities. References include an article about Ray distributed to service station owners and teletypes regarding tire evidence potentially connected to his escape. Additional records reference VA files indicating Ray’s birthplace in Alton, Illinois, and his claim number for education/training allowance. The FBI requested Continental Offices to review stolen cars from Georgia post-1968 and investigate Ray's involvement. Walter Terry Rife was interviewed, while searches for Reverend Gault in San Francisco yielded no results. Photos of Ray taken at Missouri State Penitentiary in 1966 were distributed to offices. Charles Stein’s visit to New Orleans with Marie Lee (his sister) is noted.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Suspect in MLK Jr.’s assassination; aliases include Eric Starvo Galt, W. C. Herron, Harvey Lawyer, James McBride, James O'Connor, James Walton, James Walyon, John Willard, "Jin."  
- **Walter Rife**: Companion of Ray during car purchases and travel; interviewed by FBI.  
- **Albert James Walton**: Identified as someone who recognized Ray’s alias "James Waltow" and linked him to an individual in Fort Payne, Alabama.  
- **William Raymond Sterly**: Employed at Boca Ratón Club; no confirmed connection to Ray.  
- **Mr. Bright**: Hialeah-Miami Springs Bank official who provided information on Ray’s financial activities.  
- **David Wilson**: Linked to Ray via prison records and anonymous calls.  
- **Richard Harrell**: Investigated for potential connections to Ray.  
- **Maritaela Adams**: State Selective Service official.  
- **Reverend Gault**: Unidentified minister sought in San Francisco.  
- **Charles Stein**: Associated with Marie Lee; visited New Orleans in December 1967.  
- **Marie Lee**: Sister of Charles Stein; interviewed in New Orleans.  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Central to investigations involving the Lorraine Motel and Rebel Motel.  
- **Miami, Florida**: Site of car purchases by Ray and Walter Rife (1964).  
- **Montgomery City, Missouri**: Park Hotel where Ray allegedly stayed in 1955.  
- **Jefferson City, Missouri**: Location of the Missouri State Penitentiary where Ray was incarcerated (1960–1967).  
- **St. Louis, Missouri**: Mentioned in hotel and employment checks.  
- **Birmingham, Alabama**: Investigated for Ray’s movements.  
- **Mobile, Alabama**: Mentioned in FBI coordination efforts.  
- **Montreal, Canada**: Alleged sightings of Ray; anonymous calls about his presence.  
- **Georgia (Millen)**: Location of stolen cars reviewed by Continental Offices.  
- **Florida (Pensacola)**: Mentioned in FBI tracking efforts.  
- **Illinois (Quincy, Chicago)**: Addresses linked to Ray’s potential locations.  
- **Arizona (Flagstaff)**: Mentioned in FBI tracking efforts.  
- **San Francisco, California**: Search for Reverend Gault conducted.  
- **New Orleans, Louisiana**: Charles Stein’s visit with Marie Lee.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: MLK Jr.’s assassination at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis; FBI investigations into potential suspects.  
- **April 25, 1963–1968**: Ongoing FBI efforts to track Ray’s movements, verify his aliases, and review military and employment records.  
- **Car purchase investigation**: Examination of a 1946–1947 Nash vehicle bought by Ray and Rife in Miami (possibly May 14, 1964).  
- **VA record checks**: Review of Ray’s rehabilitation and education files from the Veterans Administration.  
- **Tire impression analysis**: Linking a white Mustang to Ray’s escape.  
- **Anonymous calls**: Allegations about Ray’s presence in Montreal, Canada.  
- **Distribution of article**: About James Earl Ray sent to service station owners via the Alabama Service Station Association.  
- **Requests for stolen car review**: FBI asked Continental Offices to examine Georgia post-1968 thefts.  
- **Photo distribution**: Ray’s 1966 prison photo shared with FBI offices.  
- **Charles Stein’s visit**: To New Orleans in December 1967, staying with Marie Lee.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted nationwide investigations into Ray’s activities, aliases, and potential connections to MLK Jr.’s assassination.  
- **Veterans Administration (VA)**: Provided records on Ray’s military service and rehabilitation files.  
- **Continental Offices**: Requested to review stolen car records from Georgia post-1968.  
- **Alabama Department of Public Safety**: Involved in verifying hotel records and employment history.  
- **State Selective Service Headquarters (Montgomery, AL)**: Checked Ray’s selective service registrations.  
- **Alabama Service Station Association**: Distributed an article about James Earl Ray to service station owners.  
- **Local law enforcement agencies**: Including sheriffs in Missouri and Florida, involved in verifying hotel records and employment history.

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_80-04-part_1_of_4.pdf

Document Summary

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