</s>ME 44-1987 TOR/acp 1 ASSOCIATES Missouri State Penitentiary RESIDES at BILLY BROWN ABBY, interviewed at Dallas, Texas, and BILLY BROWN ABBY. Interviewed at Dallas. Texas, he acquired with JAMES EARL RAY during the period 1961 - 1964 while serving at St. Mark Stark, Seagoville, Texas. He was acquainted state Penitentiaries. He had 9-year sentences at the Missouri state Penitentialary. He and RAY worked in the prison bakery. state Penentiary. He found the prison bakerry. sale of the amphitheatre powder and bonzardine at the inmates. These items were being obtained in the Prison bakery. inmates, These items was being obtained by RAY, apparently considered a good player; were mild and play poker and was timed to persons not knowing him well. He did not have any special interests and did not know if any opinions regarding the Negroes, who did not express any opinions, clothes, drinking, and the outside world in general. RICHARD BEAN, MSP (07604), is serving life for murder at the Mississippi State Penitentiary and worked in April 1967 in the hospital of the prison. RAY was known to him by sight and though he did not associate with RAY to him in sight and thought he did no not associate within RAY RAY was very quiet and there was information about the kitchen. as his personal habits and no beliefs. He also had no knowledge to RAY's associates. JULULUS MAURICE BLOCK, formerly of the Missouri State Penitentiary, is currently incarcerated at the Federal Penitentiary, is current incarcerated at at the federal bakery with JAMES EARL RRAY. RAV was characterized as the loner, known to purchase the physical favors of homosexuals while he was Missouri State Penentitentiary. Although it is while he wanted to seek sexual relations with women outside the prison walls. RAY reportedly stabbed one inmate in the Missouri State Penitentially while the victim was held by another inmate. Reportedly RAY used to steal locks from different doors in the backyard and kitchen area and practice picking these locks later in the day. 47 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary:  
The documents detail inmate accounts of James Earl Ray’s prison life, drug use, escape attempts, and alleged smuggling networks during 1960–1968. Ray, a fugitive by 1968, was incarcerated at Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) and Leavenworth, Kansas. Inmates described his erratic behavior, including planning escapes, distrust of others, and drug trafficking via Mexico. Testimonies mention his alleged $10,000 bounty for MLK’s death, racial animus toward Black individuals, and ties to smugglers like Mateo Lopez Garcia. While no direct evidence links Ray to MLK’s assassination is provided, his criminal network and post-escape movements in Mexico and the U.S. were central to the investigation. Later summaries reference Eric S. GALT, Rita Stein, and others with indirect connections to the case, including alleged ties to James Earl Ray and activities in Los Angeles and New Orleans. These accounts highlight fragmented witness statements, inconsistencies in timelines, and unresolved questions about Ray’s motives and whereabouts.  

Key People:  
- **James Earl Ray**: Central figure; described as a loner with drug use, escape attempts, and smuggling ties. Allegedly discussed MLK’s assassination in prison but no direct involvement confirmed.  
- **BILLY BROWN ABBY**, **RICHARD BEAN**, **WALTER L. NOLAN**, **JULULUS MAURICE BLOCK**, **GEORGE BEN EDMONDSON**, **LILLIRIDGE**, **OWENS**: Inmates who provided accounts of Ray’s behavior, smuggling activities, and alleged racial animus.  
- **MATEO LOPEZ GARCIA**: Smuggler linked to Ray’s operations in Mexico.  
- **CARL DRAKE**: Ray’s closest prison associate; no direct link to the assassination.  
- **Charles Calvin Bookman (FBI #8923555)**: Met Ray in 1967; inconsistent and unreliable testimony.  
- **Neal Abby**: Ray’s prison friend, possibly facilitated escape attempts.  
- **Donovan Johnson**: Prison worker involved in Ray’s April 1967 escape plan.  
- **Eric S. GALT**: Mentioned in fragmented accounts with ties to Rita Stein, Marie Martin, and James Earl Ray; no direct MLK connection confirmed.  
- **Rita Stein**, **Lorraine Callaway**, **Marie Martin**, **Jerome Wallis Vernon**: Individuals linked to GALT’s activities, including travel, laundry services, and alleged criminal networks.  

Key Locations:  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP)**: Ray’s incarceration site; described as a hub for smuggling and escape planning.  
- **Campeche Bay**, **Torreón, Mexico**: Alleged smuggling routes tied to Ray’s operations.  
- **Los Angeles, California**: Site of Ray’s 1967–1968 movements, including interactions with Charles Calvin Bookman.  
- **New Orleans, Louisiana**: Mentioned as a potential refuge for Ray or GALT.  
- **St. Francis Hotel (Sultan Room)**: Associated with Eric S. GALT’s activities in Los Angeles.  
- **St. Louis, Missouri**: Linked to Jerome Wallis Vernon’s laundry business and James Earl Ray’s parole history.  

Key Events:  
- **Ray’s escape attempts** (April 1967): Involving a bread box delivery system; no confirmed inmate assistance.  
- **Drug trafficking network**: Ray and associates sold amphetamines to inmates, with guards allegedly bribed for supplies.  
- **Alleged $10,000 bounty** for MLK’s death: Mentioned by inmates but not substantiated.  
- **Ray’s racial animus toward Black individuals**: Implied through statements like referring to MLK as “Martin Luther Coon.”  
- **GALT’s activities** (1965–1968): Included hotel stays, laundry services, and alleged connections to Mexico and criminal networks.  
- **Jerome Wallis Vernon’s testimony**: Noted GALT’s clothing matched items found near the assassination scene.  

Key Organizations:  
- **FBI Identification Division**: Provided fingerprint records for James Earl Ray.  
- **Home Service Laundry and Dry Cleaning Company** (operated by Jerome Wallis Vernon): Linked to GALT’s activities.  
- **International School of Bartending**: Associated with a photograph of Eric S. GALT.  
- **U.S. Postal Inspection Service**, **Los Angeles Police Department**, **Missouri State Penitentiary**: Agencies involved in monitoring Ray and related investigations.  

Social security numbers are present in the summaries but have been redacted for this summary.

MLK Declassified Files

44-ph-1368_sec_007_ser_456_only-part_2_of_3.pdf

Document Summary

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