</s>PAG FOUR THESE TAVERNS IN FIFTYEIGHT THROUGH SIXTY. RIVERVIEW IS IN REMOTE AREA AND DOES NOT ADVERTISE. ROSE'S PLACE IS ON OLD US HIGHWAY SEVEN EIGHT, NEAR DORA, ALA. CONCERNING THE ALL-STATE CAFE AND NIGHT CLUB, IDENTIFIED BY BRITTON AS ANOTHER PLACE REFERRED TO BY RAY IN CONVERSATIONS WITH BRITSON IN PEN, THIS IS COMBINATION CAFE IN NIGHT CLUBS. WITH CAFE IS ON THE GROUND LEVEL AND OPERATED BY ED AND ELEANOR HOLLIST. UNDERNEATH THE CAFE IS NOTORIOUS NIGHT CLUE AND DRINKING JOINT, WHICH IS OPERATED BY HOLLIS' BROTHER, HAROLD HOLLISS. THIS PLACE HAS BEEN IN OPERATEDBY THE HOLLIESES SINCE FIFTFYSEVEN. BOTH ED AND HAROLD HOILLIS STATE PHOTOGRAPHICS OF SUBJECT NOT IDENTICAL WITH ANY CUSTOMER KNOWN TO THEM, EITHER DURING PERIOD FITTYSEVEN THROUGH Sixty, OR SINCLE APR, SIXTEVEN. Both FIFTEYSVEN. MANIE MITCHELL, AND GLADYS KEY ALL FURNISHED 10-5 OF RAY, AND ALL STATE THEY WILL COOPERATE WITH FBI, ESPECIALLY IN VIEW OF REWARD OFFERED BY MEMPHIS NEWSPAPERS. ELEANor HOLLISH AND HER COOK, MYRTLE NELSON, IN ALL-STATE CAFE, BOTH IDENTIFY SIXTHY SEVEN AND SIXTVEIGHT PHOTOS OF RRAY AS PERSON THEY HAVE SEEN IN CAFE, BUT BOTH STATE THEY ARE UNABLE TO FURNISHE ANY OTHER INFORMATION WHATSOVER ABOUT THIS INDIVIDUAL, INCLUDING DESCRIPTION END PAGE FOUR 2005 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary:  
The documents detail FBI investigations into James Earl Ray’s movements and potential associates following his escape from prison in 1968. Key figures include John Eugene Gawron, who lived with Ray’s mother prior to her death and was interviewed extensively but denied harboring Ray. James D. Wallacey and James Laoma Owens were allegedly seen at Jefferson-Gravio’s Bank SL in 1967; bank records under their names and aliases were checked. Walter Ellsworth Nolan, claimed as Ray’s closest associate before his escape, was investigated through phone call analyses involving Carmen Patton, with calls traced to locations like Leamington, Utah, and Burlington, Iowa. John Larry Ray (Ray’s brother) operated the Grapevine Tavern, while Jerry Ray (another brother) was noted for potential contact with Ray. The FBI also pursued leads on a bank robbery in the Deep South, possibly linked to Ray, and investigated claims of a man seen near Ray’s residence. Discrepancies in witness statements, such as conflicting timelines and alleged interactions with Ray, were noted.  

Key People:  
- **James Earl Ray**: Accused of assassinating Martin Luther King Jr., under investigation for harboring and financial ties.  
- **John Eugene Gawron**: Lived with Ray’s mother; interviewed but denied knowledge of Ray’s whereabouts post-escape.  
- **Walter Ellsworth Nolan**: Claimed as Ray’s closest associate pre-escape; phone calls traced to multiple locations.  
- **Carmen Patton**: Landlady of Nolan; linked to phone call investigations.  
- **John Larry Ray**: Operated Grapevine Tavern; interviewed but unavailable due to customers.  
- **Jerry Ray**: Brother of James Earl Ray; noted for potential contact with Ray via family network.  

Key Locations:  
- **Jefferson-Gravio’s Bank SL** (Memphis, TN): Checked for financial records linked to Ray and Owens.  
- **Leamington, Utah** and **Burlington, Iowa**: Locations tied to phone calls traced during investigations.  
- **St. Louis, Memphis, and Kansas City**: FBI offices involved in tracking leads and interviews.  
- **Grapevine Tavern** (Memphis, TN): Operated by John Larry Ray.  

Key Events:  
- **Bank record checks**: FBI examined accounts and safety deposit boxes at Jefferson-Gravio’s Bank SL under Ray’s name and aliases.  
- **Phone call investigations**: Traced calls to locations like Leamington, Utah, and Burlington, Iowa, linked to Nolan and Patton.  
- **Witness interviews**: Gawron, Ramsey, and others were interviewed for potential knowledge of Ray’s whereabouts or activities.  
- **Discrepancies in testimony**: Conflicting accounts from witnesses, including timelines and alleged interactions with Ray, noted by investigators.  
- **Harboring concerns**: Gawron and others flagged as possible harbors due to proximity to Ray’s family and financial ties.  

Key Organizations:  
- **FBI (Memphis, St. Louis, Kansas City)**: Conducted interviews, phone number checks, and bank record reviews.  
- **Southern Railway (KCSO)**: Checked employment records for potential connections to suspects.  
- **Credit bureaus**: Used to verify employment and personal details of individuals like Walter Ellsworth Nolan.

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_85-01-part_3_of_4.pdf

Document Summary

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