</s>1.0.245 (REV. 4:13-60) H. S. D. Department of Justice (MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILE) FEDERAL BUREAU of INVESTIGATION Volume Number: Serialle Bureau File Number: See also D.S. MURY 18-38250 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations in May 1968 into James Earl Ray’s movements, physical descriptions, and potential connections to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Key efforts include witness accounts of Ray’s sightings in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, including Richard Van Scoy’s observation at a railroad depot on April 27–28, 1968, and Henry Clayton’s confirmation of a similar individual. Walter L. Dudley, a car wash employee in Madison, Wisconsin, was investigated for his physical resemblance to Ray but was noted as darker-skinned. The FBI also pursued leads involving a 1953 dark green Chevrolet Panel Truck with Arkansas license plates, tracked near Westfield, Wisconsin, and associated with a white female driver and a nervous male passenger described as older than Ray. Investigations included fingerprint checks, employment records, and inquiries into potential deceased persons linked to Ray. A $100,000 reward was offered for information leading to the arrest or conviction of King’s killer. Administrative details include FBI case management procedures, document routing, and form numbers.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray (suspect in MLK assassination)  
- Richard Van Scoy (railroad detective who observed Ray)  
- Henry Clayton (baggage clerk at Milwaukee Road Railroad)  
- Walter L. Dudley (car wash employee temporarily working in Madison, Wisconsin)  
- John Eugene Gawron (alleged associate of Ray; claimed knowledge of a 1959 bank robbery)  
- Everett Tyner (informant claiming knowledge of Ray’s location in Beloit, Wisconsin)  
- LEO BROTKOWSKI (individual checked for identity and criminal history)  
- Evin Hinnenberg (Milwaukee County Morgue official)  
- SA Michael S. Soja, SA William Y. Doran, SA Eldon J. Mueller (FBI agents involved in the investigation)  

Key Locations  
- Milwaukee Road Railroad depot (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)  
- Octopus Car Wash (Madison, Wisconsin)  
- South Park Street, East Washington Avenue (Madison, Wisconsin)  
- Pardeeville, Wycena, Wyocena, Westfield (Wisconsin)  
- Richmond, Virginia (police records on William Walton)  
- Milwaukee County Morgue (322 W. Kilburn Ave., Milwaukee, Wisconsin)  

Key Events  
- Observation of an individual resembling James Earl Ray at a railroad depot in Milwaukee on April 27–28, 1968.  
- Interview with Henry Clayton confirming the sighting and describing the individual’s appearance.  
- Investigation into Walter L. Dudley’s employment history and physical description at the Octopus Car Wash in Madison.  
- Tracking of a 1953 Chevrolet Panel Truck with Arkansas license plates near Westfield, Wisconsin, including witness accounts of its movements and occupants.  
- FBI checks for fingerprints, employment records, and criminal histories of individuals associated with the vehicle or Ray’s alleged activities.  
- Inquiry into potential deceased persons matching James Earl Ray’s description in Wisconsin.  
- Distribution of identification orders for Ray to charitable organizations like Salvation Army and Rescue Missions.  
- Offer of a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of King’s killer.  
- Confirmation by Milwaukee County Morgue that no unidentified deceased individuals remained undetected since April 1, 1960.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Milwaukee Road Railroad  
- Wisconsin State Traffic Patrol  
- Local police departments (Superior, Ashland, Pardeeville)  
- Milwaukee County Morgue  
- Chicago Tribune  
- Salvation Army and Rescue Missions  
- Selective Service System  
- Motor Vehicle Department (Madison, Wisconsin)  
- Credit Bureau of Madison

MLK Declassified Files

44-mi-388_749561_06-03-part_1_of_7.pdf

Document Summary

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