</s>5/24/68 Air Mail Airtel TO: SAC, LOUISVILLE FROM: SAC. KANSAS CITY (44-760) -P- RE: MURKIN Reference St. Louis teletype to Bureau, 5/20/68. For information of Louisville and Omaha Divisions, which did not receive referenced teletype, the St. Louisville Division was used as follows on 5/26/68 IVAN DALE UNDERWOOD, former inmate, Missouri State Penitentiary, Jefferson City, James EARL RAY while advised was incarcerated at the Missouri State Penitentiaries. ON UNDERWOOD was incarcerated during the Missouri state Penitentiary. In basic of name and photograph, UNDERWOOD believes RAY on basis for a short period during the late 1950's at RENTO for a shot period during this late 1950s at Joplin, Missouri. KENKO carried on a furnace and business establishments in Joplin area. On pretent of free inspection of premises. As a renKO would gain entrance or if the owner was gullible, he would attempt to sell a new heating unit. As of 18 months ago, RENKO was working Street in JOPLIN, Missouri, he hung out at El Paso's Bar, Main Street, also at Jopln. 2 Louisville Memphis (44)-1987) 3 Kansas City JWJitw (8) 14-310-20-2 Carrall Carralal J.F. Junt 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document contains FBI records from May 24 to June 3, 1968, detailing investigations into James Earl Ray’s associations and potential involvement in the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968. Key figures include Ralph Renfro, a former Missouri State Penitentiary inmate allegedly linked to Ray through their association with Ralph Renfro; Robert Dale Porter, another former inmate who provided information about Ray’s incarceration and potential drug supply by ex-guard John Stout; Neil Abby, identified as Ray’s closest friend during imprisonment; and Emma Jean Whipple, associated with Renfro’s possible residence. The FBI pursued leads in Joplin, Kansas City, Omaha, Louisville, and Memphis, including interviews with local residents, checks of employment records, and coordination of a $100,000 reward for information on Ray’s whereabouts. Additional records reference Ray’s movements under aliases (Paul Bridgman, Ramon George Snyd) in Canada from April to May 1968, his departure for London using a Canadian passport, and an Ozark Airlines report noting his purchase of a ticket to Los Angeles on May 27, 1968. The FBI also reviewed correspondence clubs under investigation by the Post Office Department and issued border alerts for Ramon George Snyd. Administrative details include cost data, man-hours spent on the case, and operational directives for tracking Ray’s activities.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray (also known as Eric Stavro Galt, Ramon George Snyd)  
- Ralph Renfro (alleged associate of Ray; former Missouri State Penitentiary inmate)  
- Robert Dale Porter (former inmate with knowledge of Ray’s incarceration and activities)  
- John Stout (ex-guard potentially linked to supplying amphetamines to Ray)  
- Neil Abby (inmate believed to be Ray’s closest friend during imprisonment)  
- Emma Jean Whipple (individual associated with Renfro’s possible residence)  
- Donald F. Asher (Ozark Airlines agent)  
- Hosea Williams (leader of the Poor People’s March)  
- Assistant Director Nicholas Callahan  
- SAC Robert G. Jensen, Memphis Office  

Key Locations  
- Joplin, Missouri (central location for investigations into Renfro and Ray)  
- Kansas City, Missouri (FBI SAC operations; border checks for Ramon George Snyd)  
- Omaha, Nebraska (FBI division involved in tracking leads)  
- Louisville, Kentucky (part of the investigation network)  
- Memphis, Tennessee (MLK assassination site; FBI communication hub)  
- Sioux City, Iowa (Ozark Airlines location with Ray’s ticket purchase report)  
- Canada (Ray’s residency under aliases from April to May 1968)  
- London, England (Ray’s alleged departure point)  

Key Events  
- FBI efforts to locate Ralph Renfro and verify his employment history in Joplin  
- Interviews with former inmates and staff at Missouri State Penitentiary regarding Ray’s activities  
- Investigation into John Stout’s potential role in supplying amphetamines to Ray  
- Coordination of rewards for information on Ray’s whereabouts (totaling $100,000)  
- Searches for Emma Jean Whipple and other individuals linked to Renfro’s possible movements  
- Ozark Airlines report on Ray’s purchase of a ticket to Los Angeles on May 27, 1968 and alleged alcohol-related misconduct  
- Post Office Department’s correspondence club investigations under FBI review  
- Border authority alerts for Ramon George Snyd, linked to Ray’s Canadian residency  
- Administrative records detailing case costs, man-hours spent on the case, and operational directives  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – central agency conducting the investigation  
- Missouri State Penitentiary – location of Ray’s incarceration and key witness accounts  
- United States Postal Inspection Service – referenced in correspondence club investigations  
- Post Office Department – involved in reviewing correspondence clubs under FBI review  
- Ozark Airlines – provided information on Ray’s ticket purchase and alleged misconduct incident  
- Border and Customs Authorities (Canada/United States) – issued alerts for Ramon George Snyd  
- Local law enforcement agencies in Joplin, Kansas City, Omaha, and other cities – involved in record checks and interviews  
- U.S. Postal Service – referenced in address verification efforts for individuals like Whipple  

Note: The document contains multiple 9-digit numbers potentially redacted as SSNs (e.g., "144-310-246," "157-203"). These are noted but not included in the summary.

MLK Declassified Files

44-om-310_763633_15-04-part_7_of_7.pdf

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