</s>ME 44-1987 10 RUSSELL LEE MARTIN, Missouri State Penitentiary Number 08014, was contacted by the Little Rock Division and stated he was well acquainted with JAMES EARL RAY while both were incarcerated at the Missouri State Pentitentiary. MARTIN recorded the pardon after helping solve a narcotics ring appointingly three months ago. appointently three months Ago. Prior to RAY'S RAY, RAY sold narcotics to other inmates. He stated that RAY was a loner and had very few friends. MARTINS said that if RAY WAS a loner and had few Arkansas, area and knew that MARTINS was there, there, he would contact him. FRANK JOSEPH GUINAN, currently incarcerated at at the Missouri State Penentitentiary, has number 09927. He recalls JAMES EARLY RAY as an inmate and believes he was addicted to to "JAMES RAY AS an inmate who believes he has addicted to inmate, were receiving this material at the Mississippi State Penitentiary through a guard who was later transferred to one of the farms and subsequently fired for smuggling to into the farm and fame. or 70 years ago, but, named JIMMY CARPENTER, who would have known RAY. But, he never knew them to cell together. STERLING JUNIOR HILL, 9104 Walnut, Kansas City, Missouri, was an inmate at Missouri State Penetitentiary at the same time that JAMES EARY RAY were incarcerated there. HILL was the same that JAMES EARL WAS a later prisoner of nursing. The time was never a close friend of RAY's RAY would come into the hospital a few times on sick call. Although he knew RAY to speak to me, he nover had an extended conversation and knew very little concerning his personal life or friends at the prison. He described him as a lonel who always acted like he was troubled. 57 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary:  
The documents detail accounts from inmates and individuals regarding James Earl Ray's activities during his incarceration at various prisons, including Missouri State Penitentiary, Mississippi State Penitentiary, and Men’s Training Center in Moberly, Missouri. Inmates describe Ray as a loner with a history of drug use, escape planning, and illicit activities such as selling narcotics and organizing burglaries. Some inmates mention conversations about potential motives or connections to individuals with interests in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., though no direct evidence of involvement in the assassination is provided. Ray's alleged interactions with other prisoners, including Carl Drake, Walter Nolan, Jimmy Owens, Frank Guinan, and Sterling Junior Hill, are noted. The documents also reference his plans to travel to Mexico and Canada post-escape, as well as interactions with FBI informant Charles Calvin Bookman, who claims to have received a phone call from Ray in 1968. Additional accounts include Ray's alleged drug distribution network, voter registration trips to New Orleans under George Wallace’s political party, and potential prejudice against Black individuals. A separate document references travel records for Paul Bridgeman and Ramon George Sneyd during 1968, including airline tickets and a redacted SSN [SSN REDACTED]. The text also notes Bureau advisories on passport information and mentions of a shooting incident involving Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., though the connection to the assassination investigation is not explicitly clarified.  

Key People:  
- **James Earl Ray**: Suspected in MLK’s assassination; described as a loner, drug user, escape planner, and alleged narcotics dealer.  
- **Carl Drake**: Inmate at Missouri State Penitentiary; operated a book shop with Ray and considered one of his closest associates.  
- **Walter Nolan**: Longtime inmate who claimed Ray planned escapes and distrusted other inmates as informants.  
- **Jimmy Owens**: Prison associate of Ray; described him as a professional thief with connections to Mexico and Canada.  
- **Frank Guinan**: Inmate at Missouri State Penitentiary; recalled Ray’s drug use and smuggling activities.  
- **Sterling Junior Hill**: Inmate who noted Ray’s troubled demeanor but had no close relationship with him.  
- **John Kenneth Hurtt**: Inmate at Missouri State Penitentiary; housed with Ray for two to three weeks in 1966; claimed Ray discussed escape plans.  
- **Milton Zavalcofski**: Inmate at Missouri State Penitentiary; recalled Ray’s presence and escape attempts.  
- **Charles Calvin Bookman**: FBI informant in Los Angeles; claims to have received a phone call from Ray in 1968.  
- **Rita Stein** and **Marie Martin**: Associated with Ray through voter registration trips to New Orleans.  
- **Paul Bridgeman**, **Ramon George Sneyd (Sheyd)**, and **J.E. Jurman**: Mentioned in travel records and airline ticket checks.  

Key Locations:  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary**: Primary prison where Ray was incarcerated; multiple inmates provided accounts of his behavior.  
- **Men’s Training Center, Moberly, Missouri**: Site of Ray’s incarceration; referenced in escape planning and woodshop work.  
- **Mississippi State Penitentiary**: Mentioned in relation to Ray’s alleged smuggling activities.  
- **Leavenworth Prison, Kansas**: Reference to Ray’s incarceration.  
- **St. Francis Hotel, Los Angeles**: Associated with Marie Martin, a waitress linked to Ray.  
- **Sultan Room, Hollywood Boulevard** and **Serrano Avenue, Los Angeles**: Locations tied to Ray’s alleged activities.  
- **New Orleans, Louisiana**: Site of voter registration trips under George Wallace’s political party; referenced in travel records.  
- **Industrial Canal area, New Orleans**: Mentioned in travel context.  
- **Houston, Texas**, **Raleigh, North Carolina**, **Baton Rouge, Louisiana**, **Toronto, Canada**, and **Atlanta, Georgia**: Locations tied to travel investigations.  

Key Events:  
- **Ray’s escape attempts**: Multiple inmates noted his repeated efforts, including plans involving the Mexican army for identity concealment.  
- **Alleged drug trafficking**: Ray described as selling narcotics, operating a “3 for 2 loan business,” and distributing amphetamines through inmate networks.  
- **Discussions about Dr. King**: Inmates speculated on potential bounties or motives related to MLK, though no direct involvement in the assassination is confirmed.  
- **Voter registration trips**: Ray allegedly participated in voter registration activities in New Orleans under George Wallace’s political party.  
- **FBI informant interactions**: Charles Calvin Bookman claimed to have received a phone call from Ray in 1968, during which Ray described himself as “hotter than a cow marshal's pistol.”  
- **Travel investigations**: Airline records and ticket checks for Sneyd and Bridgeman during 1968; mention of a redacted SSN [SSN REDACTED].  
- **Shooting incident involving MLK**: Document references a shooting incident, though its connection to the assassination investigation is not explicitly clarified.  

Key Organizations:  
- **Prison systems**: Missouri State Penitentiary, Mississippi State Penitentiary, Men’s Training Center, and Leavenworth Prison.  
- **FBI**: Involved in tracking Ray’s movements and criminal activities via informant Charles Calvin Bookman.  
- **U.S. Postal Inspection Service**: Mentioned in relation to Ray’s criminal activities.  
- **Political party associated with George Wallace**: Contextualized in voter registration trips.  
- **Trans-Texas Airways** and **VA (Veterans Administration)**: Referenced in travel records and ticket checks.  
- **Bureau (Federal Bureau of Investigation)**: Involved in passport advisories and travel investigations.

MLK Declassified Files

44-mm-1854_v5-part_4_of_9.pdf

Document Summary

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