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Summary:  
The documents detail investigations into James Earl Ray’s prison activities at Missouri State Penitentiary (1965–1967), his alleged discussions about assassinating Martin Luther King Jr., and connections to a prison-based organization called "Cooley's Club." Ray was incarcerated as a "walk boy" in J Hall, interacted with inmates like Johnny Valenti and Boston, and participated in a lottery system. The text mentions an unverified $100,000 reward for MLK’s assassination offered by the Businessmen's Association, which Ray allegedly sought to investigate. Ray attempted an escape from the penitentiary but failed, with vague references to prison killings. The document also includes garbled or corrupted sections, including repeated phrases like "2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176," suggesting OCR errors or incomplete records.  

The text further describes FBI investigations into Ray’s movements post-conviction, including surveillance of his residences in Alton, Illinois, and financial tracking of his spending between April 1967 and April 1968. The FBI sought to verify Ray’s status as a fugitive, checking state vital statistics, morgues, and international records (e.g., Mexico City, Ottawa). It references unsolved bank robberies and burglaries potentially linked to Ray, though no direct connection to MLK is established beyond his conviction.  

Key People:  
- James Earl Ray (convicted of MLK’s assassination)  
- Johnny Valenti (inmate at Missouri State Penitentiary)  
- Boston (inmate involved in prison lottery system)  
- Cooley's Club (prison organization with ties to guards and alleged racketeering)  
- FBI agents (including SA Elyon B. Davis, BA Leonard A. Wississen)  
- Gertrude Walling (rented room to Joseph Elmer Austin)  
- Elizabeth Roth (credit bureau records linked to Austin’s criminal history)  
- Thomas Gavin (testified about Carl Hoffman’s alleged 1963–1964 shooting incident)  
- Chief Riggins (confirmed Ray’s arrest circa 1954–1955)  

Key Locations:  
- Missouri State Penitentiary (J Hall, 1965–1967)  
- Alton, Illinois (Ray’s residences under surveillance)  
- Goshen, Indiana (investigation into Joseph Elmer Austin)  
- Quincy, Illinois (credit bureau records and Gertrude Walling’s testimony)  
- Springfield, St. Louis, Chicago, Indianapolis (Illinois locations mentioned in credit bureau records)  
- Robertson County, Tennessee; Ashland City, Tennessee; Guthrie, Kentucky (locations tied to Joseph Elmer Austin’s criminal history)  

Key Events:  
- Ray’s prison activities and alleged discussions about assassinating MLK (1965–1967).  
- FBI surveillance of Ray’s residences in Alton, Illinois, and financial tracking of his spending.  
- Investigation into Ray’s status as a fugitive, including checks with state vital statistics, morgues, and international law enforcement.  
- References to unsolved bank robberies and burglaries potentially linked to Ray.  
- Gertrude Walling’s testimony about Joseph Elmer Austin’s 1956 rental history and prior arrests.  
- Elizabeth Roth’s credit bureau records detailing Austin’s 1963–1964 arrest in Tennessee for kidnapping and robbery.  
- Thomas Gavin’s testimony linking Carl Hoffman to a shooting incident possibly involving James Earl Ray.  
- Chief Riggins’ confirmation of an earlier arrest of James Earl Ray (circa 1954–1955).  

Key Organizations:  
- Missouri State Penitentiary  
- FBI (including agents SA Elyon B. Davis, BA Leonard A. Wississen)  
- Credit Bureau of Quincy, Inc.  
- Illinois State Penitentiary  
- Central State Hospital (Nashville, Tennessee)

MLK Declassified Files

44-si-561_sec_008_ser_436-528-part_6_of_8.pdf

Document Summary

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