</s>FD 245 - Rev 3.3.83] H. S. Department of Justice Full Office The FOIPA Processed FEDERAL BUREAU QUALITY NO. 907-981-SULG STATION NO. 2 FEDERAL BUREAU of INVESTIGATION Bureau File Number 44-38816l ENTIRE FILE REVIEWED A.H.ITCKERNATION CONTAINED FOR HISTORICAL REIN IS UNCLASBISIED DATE/DATE /3/3/BLY/SPICUET DO NOT DESTROY "DO NOT DISTROY: Series: 847 DO NOT ESTROY HISTORICIAL VALUE, PENDING LITIGATION HISTorical VALUE" NATIONAL ARCHIVES" See also Nos. See Vol. 1 for DO NOT DESTROY HISTURICAL VALUE Stitigations NATIONALARCHIVES Yesto 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The text contains fragmented legal records from the Los Angeles County Superior Court, dated October 1949 and November 1949, referencing a criminal case involving James E.M. Ray. The documents detail burglary charges against Ray for alleged thefts at Forma's Cafeteria on October 7–8, 1949. Key elements include arrest procedures by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), preliminary court proceedings in Municipal Court Division 6, and probation assessments conducted by the Probation Department. The case involves witnesses such as Mr. Krajbern and George Russell, who described Ray’s actions during the alleged burglary. Probation officers John J. Zuck and Robert V. Stidoff evaluated Ray’s criminal history and eligibility for probation. The documents also reference court case numbers (S.C. No. 129438) and district attorney numbers (D.A. No. 155921). Notably, the text includes corrupted or illegible sections, including a mention of "James Earl Ray," which does not align with the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., suggesting potential OCR errors, misfiled records, or unrelated entries.  

Key People  
- **James E.M. Ray**: Defendant accused of burglary at Forma's Cafeteria on October 7–8, 1949.  
- **M. Ward**: Court official involved in the case.  
- **C.S. Smith Roaddy**: Manager of Forma's Cafeteria.  
- **N.G.Mes. Lee Strepham**: Assistant manager of Forma's Cafeteria.  
- **Mr. Krajbern** and **George Russell**: Witnesses describing Ray’s actions during the alleged burglary.  
- **John J. Zuck** and **Robert V. Stidoff**: Probation officers assessing Ray’s suitability for probation.  

Key Locations  
- **Los Angeles, California**: Central location for police, court, and cafeteria.  
- **Forma's Cafeteria**: First-floor establishment with an office on the second floor; fire escape accessed by Ray during the alleged incident.  
- **Alton, Illinois**: Ray’s uncle’s residence referenced in probation records.  

Key Events  
- **October 7–8, 1949**: Alleged burglary at Forma's Cafeteria, with witnesses reporting Ray crouching near the building and fleeing via a fire escape.  
- **Arrest on October 10, 1949**: Ray arrested by LAPD officers after exiting cafeteria premises.  
- **Preliminary examination** at Los Angeles Municipal Court Division 6, where burglary and other charges were filed.  
- **Probation hearing**: Assessments of Ray’s criminal history, employment status, and rehabilitation potential.  

Key Organizations  
- **Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)**: Involved in Ray’s arrest and investigation.  
- **Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department**: Mentioned in identification procedures.  
- **Probation Department**: Evaluated Ray’s eligibility for probation, noting his lack of local ties and history of minor offenses.  
- **Superior Court of California** (Los Angeles County): Handled the criminal case and probation proceedings.  

The documents do not reference Martin Luther King Jr., the assassination investigation, or related individuals.

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_83-03-part_1_of_8.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search