</s>FD-302 (Rev. 1-25-40) FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION 1 Date 4-29-68 1-29.68 JOHN DE LEONARDO, Credit Manager, General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC), 8961 Pa. Boulevard, furnished the following information to SA EARL II. BROWN. Contract number 329 929 was used by JOHN RAY, 1982 Arsenal, St. Louis, Missouri, as a registered major on Contract number 239 929 as a prior prior to JOHN RRAY, 1982 February 7, 1968, for an Ideal Draft Prize Program for a cash sale price of $68 with a particular mortgage on sale price to $68.00. payments of $38 per day and one payment of $34.94 are to be made. payments $1.25 per day in one the meter. The cooler is to be a payable $25 per year and one 1982 1982 Olive Boulevard, St ., a Sales at the Grape Vine- tion, 7599 Boulevard,St. Ais. The signer of a co-mortgator was CAROL PEPPER, 2025 Bellevue, St .. ais. Sales at The Grapesboro- was CAROLL PEPPER, 2025 Bellevue. St. at carolwood, Missouri. GMC records reflect at CAROLPEPPER has a checking and savings account of Manufacturers' Bank, St Louis, Missouri. Since JOHN RAV is f/s signer as a checking looks to him as being legally. (table for payments on this cooler, which was sold by MIKE BURK / Frigid Sales, and who is said to be well acquainted with JOH JAY. GMAC records fur a/r reflect that CAROL PEPPER's husband is a plumber empl. / a by New Market Hardware, Sarah and Laclede. A Xerox copy of the chattel mortgage in question is attached. 4-26-68 ft Louis, Mississippi File # SL 44-7775 SA EARL E. BRJ /ral Date dictated-4-28-68 by 3/12 This document contains neatit condemations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the Fbi. It as the FBI and is loomed to your agency(it) and its cont. not to be distributed outside your enquiry. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary:  
The documents detail FBI investigations into individuals suspected of involvement in or connected to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). Key figures include James Earl Ray, whose financial ties and family connections were scrutinized, including his alleged father Bill Ray and relatives in Alton, Illinois. The FBI examined property records, such as chattel mortgages for an Ideal Draft Beer Cooler involving John Ray and Carol Pepper, lease agreements for the Grapevine Tavern in St. Louis, Missouri, and liquor license applications. Delano Elmer Walker, incarcerated in Mobberly, Missouri, was investigated for 1965 threats against MLK, while Benny K. Pinkestion and Lawrence Donald Stout were linked to potential conspiracies. Financial transactions, transportation checks at St. Louis Lambert Airport, and inquiries into Ray’s relatives in Elsberry, Missouri, were also explored.  

Other investigations included Reverend Floyd Brower’s statements about the assassin’s origin, funeral services for Mayford Clinton Benfield in Kennett, Missouri, and connections to Robert Boshier/Bob Bossier, alleged ties to Ray. Richard L. Brey was flagged as a suspect with a Missouri license check, while Annie Coleman and Ollie Oleto were named in a letter alleging involvement. James Eugene Gault faced identity fraud investigations, and Benjamin Franklin Gibson was linked to the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). A Greyhound Bus incident on April 19, 1968, involved Charles Warren Hale as a potential suspect but was later ruled out. Donnie Leon Harden’s military records were reviewed, though no direct ties to the investigation were established.  

The FBI also tracked Thomas Robert Henderson, who claimed to be MLK’s assassin during an interview with Reverend Oliver W. Gibson on April 8, 1968. Henderson described himself as a former military personnel with alleged narcotics ties and mental instability, possessing counterfeit checks. Robert Dean James (Jesse James Jr.) was questioned for potential connections, while Aaron Isaac Lotion’s service records were reviewed. Claims of domestic abuse and mental health issues by Harden’s wife were noted.  

Key People:  
- **James Earl Ray** (central suspect; investigated for financial ties, family connections, and alleged involvement in MLK’s assassination)  
- **Bill Ray** (alleged father of James Earl Ray; linked to Alton, Illinois)  
- **Delano Elmer Walker** (incarcerated in Mobberly, Missouri; investigated for 1965 threats against MLK)  
- **Benny K. Pinkestion** (linked to threats against MLK; associated with Cairo, Illinois)  
- **Lawrence Donald Stout** (suspected co-conspirator; photographed by FBI)  
- **John Ray** (subject of financial investigations via chattel mortgages and GMAC contracts)  
- **Carol Pepper** (co-mortgagor for Ideal Draft Beer Cooler; Grapevine Tavern associate)  
- **Reverend Floyd Brower** (made statements about the assassin’s origin in Pensacot County, Missouri)  
- **Robert Boshier/Bob Bossier** (allegedly linked to James Earl Ray)  
- **Richard L. Brey** (suspect with Missouri license check)  
- **Annie Coleman, Ollie Oleto** (named as potential killers in a letter; no further details provided)  
- **James Eugene Gault** (investigated for identity fraud/impersonation)  
- **Benjamin Franklin Gibson** (linked to KKK)  
- **Charles Warren Hale** (noted on Greyhound Bus but ruled out as suspect)  
- **Donnie Leon Harden** (military records reviewed; no direct ties established)  
- **Thomas Robert Henderson** (claimed MLK’s assassination; tracked by FBI)  
- **Reverend Oliver W. Gibson** (interviewed Henderson about MLK’s death)  
- **Robert Dean James** (alleged look-alike suspect; linked to Memphis, Tennessee)  
- **Aaron Isaac Lotion** (military personnel under investigation)  

Key Locations:  
- **St. Louis, Missouri** (Grapevine Tavern, Manufacturers’ Bank, Union Electric Company, FBI investigations)  
- **Mobberly, Missouri** (prison for Delano Elmer Walker)  
- **Alton, Illinois** (linked to Bill Ray and his family)  
- **Cape Girardeau, Missouri** (pizza parlor where alleged identification of Ray’s father occurred)  
- **Kennett, Missouri** (funeral services for Mayford Clinton Benfield)  
- **Senath, Missouri** (First Methodist Church, Dorothy Jones’ residence)  
- **De Soto, Missouri** (Robert Boshier’s alleged residence)  
- **Columbus, Ohio** (Greyhound Bus route to St. Louis)  
- **High Ridge, Missouri** (James Eugene Gault’s listed residence)  
- **Birmingham, Alabama** (Donnie Leon Harden’s military service records)  
- **Hayti, Missouri** (where Robert Dean James was questioned)  
- **Memphis, Tennessee** (linked to Robert Dean James’ employment)  
- **Fort Houston, Texas** (mentioned in Harden’s wife’s letter)  
- **Jefferson Barracks, Missouri** (Veterans Administration Hospital referenced for Robert L. Plunk)  

Key Events:  
- FBI investigation into John Ray’s financial ties via GMAC contracts and chattel mortgages.  
- Examination of liquor license applications for the Grapevine Tavern and its owners.  
- Inquiry into Delano Elmer Walker’s 1965 threats against MLK and his mental health history.  
- Exploration of James Earl Ray’s family connections, including Bill Ray and relatives in Alton, Illinois.  
- Transportation check at St. Louis Lambert Airport regarding international flights.  
- Reverend Floyd Brower’s statements about the assassin’s origin (April 8–9, 1968).  
- Funeral services for Mayford Clinton Benfield in Kennett, Missouri (April 4–5, 1968).  
- Investigation into Robert Boshier/Bob Bossier’s alleged connection to James Earl Ray (April 25, 1966).  
- License check on Richard L. Brey (May 3, 1968).  
- Greyhound Bus incident involving Charles Warren Hale (April 19, 1968).  
- Investigation into Myrlie Haggertt’s impersonation of a singer (April 16–17, 1968).  
- Review of Donnie Leon Harden’s military records (April 9–10, 1968).  
- Henderson’s confession to Reverend Gibson about MLK’s assassination and possession of counterfeit checks.  
- FBI tracking of Henderson and other suspects.  
- Investigation into Robert Dean James’ potential connection to MLK’s death.  
- Review of military records for Aaron Isaac Lotion and Joseph M. Pritchett.  
- Claims of domestic abuse and mental health issues by Harden’s wife.  

Key Organizations:  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)** (conducted investigations into threats, financial records, and potential conspirators)  
- **Ku Klux Klan (KKK)** (linked to Benjamin Franklin Gibson)  
- **U.S. Army and Reserve** (Donnie Leon Harden’s service records reviewed)  
- **Veterans Administration Hospital (Jefferson Barracks, Missouri)**  
- **Military Personnel Records Center (St. Louis, Missouri)**  
- **Southern Coach and Body Company** (employment records referenced for Harden)  
- **Joseph Schultz Brewing Company** (reported cash-on-delivery practices for beer sales)  
- **Manufacturers’ Bank, St. Louis** (financial records linked to Carol Pepper)  
- **Union Electric Company** (provided utility service records for the Grapevine Tavern)

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_81-01-part_8_of_9.pdf

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