</s>44-561-1 Volume Number CLASSIFICATION NO. Serials 6.51 69 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - <loc_443><loc_273><loc_441><loc_273>- - - - - <loc_444><loc_273><loc_443><loc_274>- -<loc_443><loc_282><loc_443><loc_280><loc_444><loc_277><loc_443>- - - <loc_444>- - - <loc_442><loc_289><loc_443><loc_288>- <loc_444><loc_288><loc_444><loc_289><loc_443><loc_290><loc_443><loc_289>-<loc_443><loc_290><loc_444><loc_290><loc_443><loc_290>- <loc_444><loc_291><loc_443><loc_290><loc_442><loc_290>- - <loc_444><loc_291>- <loc_442> <loc_291><loc_444><loc_289>- - <loc_443> <loc_292><loc_442><loc_293>-<loc_444><loc_291><loc_442><loc_292>- <loc_445><loc_292>- <loc_442><loc_292><loc_441><loc_292>- - <loc_443><loc_294>- <loc_441><loc_289>- - - <loc_444><loc_275><loc_444><loc_275><loc_442>-<loc_442><loc_276>-<loc_444><loc_442><loc_444><loc_442><loc_443><loc_442>- <loc_444><loc_277><loc_444>- <loc_443><loc_444><loc_444><loc_290>-<loc_442><loc_277><loc_442><loc_277><loc_443><loc_443>-

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigative activities related to James Earl Ray’s alleged involvement in the 1967 Bank of Alton robbery and subsequent inquiries into his movements, including connections to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The Springfield FBI office coordinated with divisions in Memphis, St. Louis, and Chicago to track Ray, who was suspected of ties to criminal networks. Laboratory analysis of hair samples from microscope slides (Q3, Q5, Q8) concluded they did not match evidence linked to a separate case (PC-A5498). The FBI pursued leads on Paul Bridgeman and others, including credit records and military personnel checks for Robert Jenkins, a potential associate. References to "armed and dangerous" warnings indicate ongoing threats from suspects or associates. In June 1968, the FBI focused on Ray’s financial activities, including deposits at the St. Francis Hotel in Los Angeles during late 1967-early 1968, his ownership of a white Mustang serviced there, and enrollment in dance and bartending schools. Investigations also examined Bridgeman’s claims of meeting Ray in Kansas City and Oklahoma, questioning his reliability due to alleged ties to homosexual communities. Coordination among FBI offices included displaying photographs of Ray and associates to laundries, dry cleaners, and informants for identification. Analysis of recovered brown hair from Memphis indicated it did not originate from the same individual as previously recovered hairs linked to Ray’s case. Clothing items allegedly connected to Missouri State Penitentiary inmates showed inconsistencies in laundry marks, raising questions about their authenticity. The FBI also investigated phone calls to Springfield from Memphis, including a call by Ruby Carpenter (Ray’s stepmother) on March 4, 1968, and discrepancies in witness accounts regarding Ray’s identification, with some unfamiliarity with his photographs and confusion over names like Jerry Raynes and Ruby Carpenter.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray: Suspected of Bank of Alton robbery and MLK Jr.’s assassination; subject of FBI investigation.  
- Paul Bridgeman: Alleged associate of Ray; subject of credit record checks.  
- Robert Jenkins: Military personnel, potential associate of Ray; linked to Ruby Jenkins.  
- Ruby Carpenter: Ray’s stepmother; allegedly contacted Springfield from Memphis on March 4, 1968.  
- William Maher: Ray’s uncle; interviewed about contact with Ray.  
- Deputy Demos Nicholas: Madison County SO officer; reported no evidence of Ray’s presence in Illinois.  
- Jerry Raynes: Possibly related to Ray; mentioned in context of vehicle title transfers.  
- Ray Bedzer: Owner of Ray’s Sporting Goods; telephone number ME 1-7777 registered to his business.  

Key Locations  
- Alton, Illinois: Site of Bank of Alton robbery.  
- Springfield, Missouri: FBI field office coordinating investigations.  
- Memphis, Tennessee: Site of MLK Jr.’s assassination and initial investigation.  
- St. Louis, Missouri: Location of telephone number ME 1-7777; Ray Bedzer’s business.  
- Los Angeles, California: Ray’s residence; St. Francis Hotel deposits.  
- Kansas City, Missouri: Mentioned in context of clothing evidence and communication with Springfield.  
- Modesto, Illinois: Linked to Carl Drake (brother of Carl Drake).  
- Olive Branch, Illinois: Residence of Ruby Jenkins’ parents.  
- Madison County, Illinois: Area where Deputy Demos Nicholas conducted investigations.  

Key Events  
- FBI investigation into James Earl Ray’s activities post-Bank of Alton robbery (July 13, 1967) and connections to MLK Jr.’s assassination.  
- Laboratory analysis of hair samples from microscope slides to determine connections to evidence.  
- Credit record checks and military personnel inquiries for Robert Jenkins.  
- Coordination between FBI divisions to track suspects and associates, including photographic displays for identification.  
- Investigation into Ray’s ownership of a white Mustang serviced in Los Angeles on February 13, 1968.  
- Verification of Bridgeman’s claims of meeting Ray in Kansas City and Oklahoma; questioning his reliability due to alleged ties to homosexual communities.  
- Analysis of recovered brown hair from Memphis indicating it did not originate from the same individual as previously recovered hairs linked to Ray’s case.  
- Examination of clothing items allegedly connected to Missouri State Penitentiary inmates, noting inconsistencies in laundry marks.  
- Investigation into phone calls to Springfield from Memphis, including a call by Ruby Carpenter on March 4, 1968; verification of telephone number ME 1-7777 registered to Ray Bedzer’s business.  
- Discrepancies in witness accounts regarding Ray’s identification, including unfamiliarity with his photographs and confusion over names like Jerry Raynes and Ruby Carpenter.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Conducted the investigation, coordinated field offices, and analyzed physical evidence.  
- Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP): Source of clothing evidence linked to inmates.  
- Southwesten Bell Telephone Co.: Provided information on telephone number ME 1-7777.  
- Local police departments: Including Alton PD, Kansas City PD, Memphis PD, St. Louis PD, and Madison County SO.

MLK Declassified Files

44-si-561_sec_017_ser_651-697-part_1_of_8.pdf

Document Summary

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