</s>CG 44-1114 RJ/D/laj 1 Re: CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT, COOK COUNTY JAIL AND ILLINOIS STATE PENTENTIARY, JOLIET, ILLINOIS, RECORDS REJECT On April 19, 1968, the records of the above listed police agencies were reviewed and the information concerning the subject which is set forth on the following pages was obtained. The records of The Chicago Police Department, Bureau of Records and Communications, under card no. 334468 revealed the following information concerning JAMES RAY: Date and Place of Birth Height: Height: Alton, Illinois Weight: 5'11" Weight: Complexion Lish Ibs. Build: Light: Ligh: Build: Blue Byes Blue Marlal Status Slinger Occupation Slinger Place of Employment Labor: Place of employment Address Slinger: Address (9 months) (9 month) Date and Place of Arrest (9 West Delaware Street Arresting Officers (2) Chicago, 5/6/52 19 West Delaware Streeet Charge Mc DONOUGH, 5'6/62 Mc DONOUG, GREEN (Indicted 5/9/52) Complaintants LEWIS KNOX (G95 North Paulina (G945 North Paula EARL DOCKER) (1015 North Clark Chicago Police Department No. D90696 - 91 - 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document contains records related to James Earl Ray (JAMES EARL RAY) from various law enforcement and administrative agencies. It details his arrest in 1952 for robbery, including police reports from the Chicago Police Department, Cook County Jail, and Illinois State Penitentiary. Ray's physical description, employment history, and prior arrests are noted. A 1952 incident involving Ray being shot by Captain George Green during a pursuit of a robbery suspect is described. Medical records from Cook County Hospital and Bridewell Hospital mention gunshot wounds to his forearms sustained in 1952. Veterans Administration files detail his military service (enlisted February 19, 1942; discharged December 19, 1962) and educational benefits claims. A neighborhood investigation into property at 853 West Fullerton Avenue links Ray to a former tenant, Mrs. Beatrice Foulks, but no connection to Martin Luther King Jr. or the assassination is present in the text.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray (subject of records)  
- George Green (Chicago Police Department officer involved in 1952 incident)  
- John McDonough (retired Chicago Police Officer)  
- Mort Rothsting (attorney handling Veterans Administration records)  
- George J. Potts (Treasurer and Business Manager at McCormick Theological Seminary)  

Key Locations  
- Chicago, Illinois (police departments, residences)  
- Cook County Jail, Illinois  
- Illinois State Penitentiary, Joliet, Illinois  
- Cook County Hospital, Illinois  
- Bridewell Hospital, Illinois  
- 853 West Fullerton Avenue, Chicago, Illinois  

Key Events  
- Arrest of James Ray for robbery on May 9, 1952 (Chicago)  
- Shooting of Ray by Captain George Green during a 1952 police pursuit  
- Medical treatment for gunshot wounds to forearms at Cook County Hospital (May 6, 1952)  
- Veterans Administration records detailing Ray's military service and educational benefits claims  
- Neighborhood investigation into property ownership at 853 West Fullerton Avenue  

Key Organizations  
- Chicago Police Department  
- Cook County Jail  
- Illinois State Penitentiary  
- Veterans Administration (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)  
- McCormick Theological Seminary  

Summary  
The document contains investigative records from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) regarding inquiries into James Earl Ray's activities and potential connections to Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. Investigations were conducted in Chicago, Illinois, between April 26 and May 1, 1968, focusing on Ray's alleged residences, employment history, and associations. Key details include:  
- **Nicholas Landis** reported an empty lot at 459 St. James Place (formerly an apartment building) and stated he photographed Ray in the neighborhood during the 1950s.  
- **Max Remick** and his wife were identified as former managers of an apartment building at 495 James Place in 1950, though they could not recall specific residents or confirm Ray's presence.  
- **Combined Insurance Company of America** was noted as occupying a building at 5050 North Broadway in 1968, with records indicating American Television Inc. occupied the same address in 1950.  
- **Bill Sutter**, owner of a body shop at 500 North Broadway, denied recognizing Ray's photograph from three decades prior.  
- **Edward Donald and Norris Schwartz** (liquor store managers) stated they could not recall anyone resembling Ray at their location in 1950.  
- Investigations into Ray's potential residences included addresses such as 61 East Cedar Street, 2725 North Pine Grove, and 24 North Clark Street, with some locations noted as vacant or unoccupied by the time of the inquiry.  
- **Thomas Castronovo** (personnel manager) and **Sol Burrows** (owner of Neo Products Company) provided employment records for Ray, noting he worked at Neo Products from April to July 1950, with a Social Security Number redacted.  
- **William Jackson** (Borg-Erickson) confirmed Ray's address as 61 East Cedar Street in 1952, later changed to 2725 North Pine Grove.  
- **Arby Corporation** and **American Television Inc.** were reviewed for records, though no direct links to Ray or MLK were found.  
- **Roy Willis** (Richfield, Minnesota) recalled Ray's association with a Springfield, Missouri, police officer in 1955, but no conclusive evidence was provided.  
- **Milton Dean Batchelder** (inmate at Illinois State Penitentiary) claimed to have knowledge of the MLK assassination and mentioned interactions with individuals named RAY or RYAN, though details were vague and unverified.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray: Subject of investigation; alleged connection to MLK's assassination.  
- Nicholas Landis: Reported photographing Ray in Chicago's 1950s neighborhood.  
- Max Remick: Former apartment manager at 495 James Place, 1950s.  
- Bill Sutter: Body shop owner at 500 North Broadway; denied Ray's presence.  
- Edward Donald and Norris Schwartz: Liquor store managers in 1950; no recollection of Ray.  
- Thomas Castronovo: Personnel manager at Shelter-Globe; provided employment records for Ray.  
- Sol Burrows: Owner of Neo Products Company; noted Ray's employment in 1950.  
- William Jackson: Borg-Erickson employee; confirmed Ray's address history.  
- Roy Willis: Minnesota resident with vague recollection of Ray's association.  
- Milton Dean Batchelder: Inmate at Illinois State Penitentiary; claimed knowledge of MLK assassination and interactions with RAY/RYAN.  

Key Locations  
- 459 St. James Place (formerly an apartment building, now vacant).  
- 495 James Place (apartment managed by Max Remick in 1950).  
- 500 North Broadway (body shop owned by Bill Sutter).  
- 61 East Cedar Street and 2725 North Pine Grove (potential residences for Ray).  
- Illinois State Penitentiary, Pontiac (inmates including Batchelder).  

Key Events  
- FBI inquiries into Ray's residences, employment, and associations in Chicago.  
- Review of employment records from Neo Products Company and American Television Inc.  
- Investigation into potential connections between Ray and the MLK assassination via Batchelder's claims.  
- Search for Edward Paul Rivera (a separate case involving parolee records).  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Conducted investigations into Ray and related matters.  
- Combined Insurance Company of America: Occupied a building at 5050 North Broadway in 1968.  
- American Television Inc.: Occupied the same address as Combined Insurance in 1950.  
- Illinois State Penitentiary, Pontiac and Stateville Branch: Sites of inmate records reviewed.  

Summary  
The document details an investigation into a 1955 burglary of the United States Post Office in Kellerville, Illinois, where 66 blank postal money orders and other stamps were stolen. The case involved multiple individuals linked to fraudulent activities, including the passing of forged postal money orders. Key suspects included James Earl Ray (later implicated in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.), Walter T. Rive, Vernon McBrice, and others. The investigation revealed that the perpetrators drove a 1949 Lincoln sedan, which was traced to Miami, Florida, and linked to arrests by Missouri State Police. Money orders were recovered during the investigation, and both Ray and Rive admitted to casing post offices for theft. The case remained unsolved, with no direct connection to the Kellerville burglary.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray (JAMES EARL RAY)  
- Walter T. Rive (WALTHER T. RIVE)  
- Vernon McBrice (VERNON MCBRIDE)  
- JAMES WALTON  
- W.C. HERRIN  
- MC BRIDE  
- RIFF (likely a nickname for Ray)  
- RAY (used as an alias)  

Key Locations  
- Kellerville, Illinois (Post Office burglary site)  
- Alton, Illinois (money order transactions)  
- Miami, Florida (car sale and arrests)  
- Kansas City, Missouri (arrests and sentencing)  
- South Elgin, Illinois (residence of James Earl Ray)  
- Chicago, Illinois (investigations and fingerprint checks)  

Key Events  
- Burglary of the Kellerville Post Office on March 7, 1955.  
- Passing of forged postal money orders in multiple locations (Alton, Kansas City, Miami, etc.).  
- Arrests of James Earl Ray and Walter T. Rive by Missouri State Police.  
- Recovery of stolen money orders from a 1949 Lincoln sedan.  
- Investigation into the car's origin, traced to Miami, Florida.  
- Fingerprint checks for unidentified bodies in Chicago morgues.  
- Search for Ray among "hippie" communities in Chicago (1968).  

Key Organizations  
- United States Postal Inspector's Office  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Chicago Police Department  
- Missouri State Police  
- Illinois Secretary of State (license plate records)  
- Hyde Park YMCA (informants)  

Summary  
The documents detail two separate investigations. The first concerns Louis Lomax (also referred to as LOMAK or LOMAZ) and his criminal record, including sentencing at the Illinois State Penitentiary (Joliet) from February 10, 1950, to May 9, 1959. He was paroled on September 29, 1954, and released from parole on May 9, 1956. Records indicate he was a Negro male born in Georgia with dark maroon eyes, married to Dolores. His FBI number is 380 A, and his Chicago Police Department number is D72630. The second investigation focuses on an alleged chauffeur for Martin Luther King Jr., identified as Kelly Williams. A Robert P. Bennett reported that a man working as a chauffeur for King carried $200,000 in cash in a black bag at all times and was concerned about his job security. Charles Barr of Standard Oil of Indiana hosted a dinner party attended by Senator Wallace Bennett of Utah and others, including individuals linked to King’s chauffeur and the black bag detail.  

Key People  
- Louis Lomax (also referred to as LOMAK, LOMAZ)  
- Robert P. Bennett  
- Charles Barr  
- Kelly Williams (alleged chauffeur for MLK)  
- Senator Wallace Bennett of Utah  
- Dolores (wife of Louis Lomax)  

Key Locations  
- Illinois State Penitentiary (Jollet)  
- Chicago, Illinois  
- Washington D.C.  
- La Tour Restaurant, Chicago  
- Standard Oil of Indiana headquarters (910 South Michigan, Chicago)  

Key Events  
- Louis Lomax’s sentencing and parole records at the Illinois State Penitentiary  
- Alleged chauffeur for MLK carrying $200,000 in cash in a black bag  
- Dinner party hosted by Charles Barr in honor of Sophie B. Brown (White House member)  
- Attendance by Senator Wallace Bennett and other individuals linked to King’s chauffeur  

Key Organizations  
- Illinois State Penitentiary (Joliet)  
- Chicago Police Department  
- Standard Oil of Indiana  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- American Medical Association (mentioned in context of Dr. Frank Woolley)

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_81-02-part_3_of_4.pdf

Document Summary

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