</s>FD-302 (Rev. 1-25-60) EDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGAT Date May 8, 1968 1 JAMES EDWARD "TED" RICHARDSON, Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) #49362, was interviewed at this place of employment, the Jefferson Cleaning Shop, 1650 South Jefferson, located at the rear of this establishment. RICHARDSON furnished information that he was born at Chillicothe, Missouri, and entered the MSP on a murder charge from Trenton, Missouri. In May, 1935. He was sentenced to "death row" from Trentoni, Missouri in May, 1955. He has been committed He was released from MSP to March 30, 1965, and has resided in the St. Louis area since time. He described RAY as one of the "nuts" or "cowboys" who according to RICHARDSON were small the hoodoos or would be involved in most type of petty thieves or gangsters going on inside most of any type of petty thieves and gangsters. RICHARDSOM stated he knew subject RAY only casually since he worked more than 20 years in the hospital in the institution under Doctor HUGH W. MANLEY, RICHRARDSON stated the head some publicity concerning RAY escaping shortly after it occurred but had heard nothing indicating that subject RAV had been in St. Louis or made any contacts in the St. Louisiana area. Ray had been time. He described Ray as one as the inmates who used narcotics or medicine was one of those inmates. He stated that this most frequent encounter with RAY was upon the occasions of RAY's reporting to the hospital for sick call. On 5/6/68 at St.Louis, Missouri File # SLi: 44-775 SA CLETIS B. BIDEWELL/Mb SA WILLIAM H. WARFIELD by Date dictated 5/16/68 This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the Fbi. and is licensed to your agency it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into James Earl Ray’s movements and associations in Missouri during 1968, following his escape from the Missouri State Penitentiary. Ray was described as a quiet inmate with no notable criminal history beyond petty theft and drug use. Inmates like Ted Richardson, Donald Rigger, and James Russell provided information about Ray’s prison life, escape attempts, and potential associates. Richardson noted Ray’s frequent visits to the hospital for sick calls and his reputation as a narcotics user. Rigger claimed Ray had connections with Mexican nationals and expressed interest in military structures for identity concealment. Russell mentioned Ray’s escape led to reduced privileges at the penitentiary and speculated about his post-release activities. The FBI sought information on Ray’s whereabouts, including potential hiding places linked to associates like J.D. Daily, who was suspected of harboring Ray on a farm near Portageville or Wardell, Missouri. The documents also include details about Ray’s prior convictions, prison transfers, and interactions with other inmates. A separate summary notes that James D. Dailey was investigated as an associate of Ray, a suspect in the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., though no direct evidence of involvement in the assassination was found. Interviews with Dailey and his relatives confirmed he had no known ties to the case or property holdings linked to Ray. Surveillance and property checks in Missouri were conducted to verify potential connections between Dailey and Ray. Another summary references J.D. Daily (also referred to as James Earl Ray) and his alleged criminal activities, including a 1955 burglary at Kellerville, Illinois, and possible assistance in prisoner escapes from the Missouri State Penitentiary. Informants described Daily’s business operations in Wardell, Missouri, and potential ties to gambling and disputes with local residents. No direct evidence of involvement in MLK’s assassination was presented.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray (suspect in MLK assassination)  
- J.D. Daily (also referred to as James Earl Ray; suspected associate of Ray)  
- James D. Dailey (investigated for associations with Ray)  
- Ted Richardson (inmate at Missouri State Penitentiary)  
- Donald Rigger (inmate at Missouri Training School for Men)  
- James Russell (inmate at Missouri State Penitentiary)  
- Lillian Johnson (Dailey’s sister)  
- Hazel Terrell (Dailey’s sister)  
- Homer Townsley (informant providing details about Ray and Daily)  
- Bobby James (provided information about Daily’s business operations)  

Key Locations  
- Missouri State Penitentiary (Jefferson City, Missouri)  
- Missouri Training School for Men (Moberly, Missouri)  
- Portageville/Wardell, Missouri (suspected hiding places for Ray and Daily)  
- St. Louis, Missouri (FBI office, residences, and businesses)  
- Kellerville, Illinois (site of 1955 burglary linked to Ray)  
- Jefferson City, Missouri (mentioned in context of prisoner escapes)  

Key Events  
- Ray’s escape from the Missouri State Penitentiary in 1968  
- FBI investigations into Ray’s associations and potential whereabouts  
- Interviews with Dailey and his relatives confirming no ties to MLK assassination or property holdings  
- Surveillance of Dailey’s residences and business locations (LaFont’s Cafe, Half-Way House)  
- Investigation into Daily’s alleged criminal activities, including burglary and prisoner escape assistance  
- Property checks in New Madrid County, Missouri, to verify farm holdings linked to Ray  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Missouri State Highway Patrol  
- St. Louis Police Department (intelligence unit)  
- Local law enforcement (Missouri, Illinois)  
- Missouri State Penitentiary and Missouri Training School for Men

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_81-01-part_5_of_9.pdf

Document Summary

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