</s>FD-302 (Nov. 1-25-60) FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION 1 Date: May 2, 1968 MENT, the NEW MARKET/HARWARE, 4064 Lacleado. PEPPER stated of employ- ment, the New MarkET/Harware, 4054 Lacleade. PIPPER stated in the had never seen subject RAY, 4084 Lacleod. PAPPER stated that he had Missouri State Penitentiary at the time time married CAROL RAY. subject's sister. He denied having any information whatsoever concerning the present whereabouts of subject or having been escape from either directly or indirectly any subject since its escape from the Missouri State Penentiary at Jefferson City, Missouri. With respect to subject's brother, JERRY RAY presently residing in Chicago, Illinois, he stated he had not seen JERSEY in a couple of months. When question concerning the subject's brothers, a man, a woman, and a man who was in his subject's one month, he further stated he did not mix with his wife's relatives and her contact with them was her own business. When questionfully concerning any communication from the Missouri. State PenENTiary addressed to the Abbott's PEPPER Stationary Company, 712 Shendonah, St. Louis, Missouri, PEPPERS Stationary, 714 Shendoah, ST. Louis. but he was not aware of any mail addressed to this stationery company. In discussing this matter, he admitted that his wife information concerning this matter. He admitted that this wife information concerning his attention to the possibility that if such a letter had been sent it very well could have been stolen from the mailbox and never received as they have had in the past checks stolen from the never received they have have in the Past wife CAROL PEPFER was asked if he would discuss this matter with his wife CAROLL PEPPER was asked he would consider whether or not she had ever received any mail or any money mailed to her addressed to his Albert J. Pepper StationaryCompany, 7124 Shenandoah, or he agreed to do so. During the entire course of the interview, PEPPPER appeared friendly, but obviously volunteered no information whatsoever. It was pointed out to PEPPEER that this matter would undoubtedly be discussed with him again at some future date and he was apparently agreeable to this suggestion. On 5/2/68- 5/2 /68- at St.Louis, Missouri File # SLi: 44-775: SA CLETIS B. BIDEWELL/mjb <loc_421><loc_894>SA ROBERT S. STEWART 261 Date dictated 5/68 by This document contains neither recommendations or conclusions on conclusions as the FBI. It is the property of the FBI, it the Fbi and is licensed to <loc_90><loc_940>your agency; it and the contents are not to be distributed your agency.

Summary:  
The documents detail FBI investigations into James Earl Ray’s activities and his brother John Larry Ray’s statements regarding Ray’s whereabouts and potential involvement in Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. The investigation includes interviews with John Ray at the Grapevine Tavern in St. Louis, Missouri, where he denied knowledge of his brother’s location or actions post-escape from the Missouri State Penitentiary. Ray claimed last contact with James Earl Ray occurred in 1967 and had no further involvement. FBI agents sought information on Ray’s movements, financial transactions, and family connections, including his mother Lucille Ray and sister Carol Ann Pepper. Records from the MacArthur Hotel in St. Louis mention Ray’s brother’s registration dates but found no direct ties to MLK’s assassination. The investigation also notes Ray’s criminal history, employment, and alleged harassment of his sister by reporters. Additional surveillance tracked JERRY RAY (brother of James Earl Ray) in St. Louis during May 1968, including his movements near the Grapevine Tavern owned by Carol Pepper. A 1960 Desoto automobile linked to JERRY RAY was observed traveling through St. Louis and into Illinois. Surveillance documented interactions between JERRY RAY, JOHN LARRY RAY, and their family members, with JERRY RAY reporting plans to return to Chicago by May 8, 1968. The State Liquor Control Office reviewed Carol Pepper’s liquor license (number 6243) for the Grapevine Tavern, noting prior ownership by GORGINE AUDREY W. O'NEZ.  

Key People:  
- **James Earl Ray**: Accused of assassinating MLK; subject of FBI investigation and surveillance.  
- **John Larry Ray**: Brother of James Earl Ray; interviewed by FBI in 1968, denied knowledge of his brother’s activities or location.  
- **Carol Ann Pepper**: Sister of John Ray; owner of the Grapevine Tavern in St. Louis, where John Ray was interviewed.  
- **Lucille Ray**: Mother of James Earl Ray; mentioned as part of family background.  
- **JERRY RAY**: Brother of James Earl Ray; subject of surveillance in St. Louis during May 1968.  
- **SA PATRICK W. BRADLEY, ALBERT J. RUSHING, EARL BROWN**: FBI agents involved in surveillance and interviews.  

Key Locations:  
- **St. Louis, Missouri**: Central to the investigation, including the Grapevine Tavern and MacArthur Hotel.  
- **Grapevine Tavern (1982 Arsenal)**: Location of multiple surveillances and interviews; owned by Carol Pepper.  
- **Mississippi Avenue**: Address associated with property inquiries related to James Earl Ray.  
- **Jefferson City, Missouri**: Site of the Missouri State Penitentiary where James Earl Ray was incarcerated.  
- **Illinois State Line**: Crossing point observed during vehicle tracking of JERRY RAY’s 1960 Desoto automobile.  

Key Events:  
- **FBI Interviews (April–May 1968)**: Conducted to track James Earl Ray’s movements and potential connections to MLK’s assassination.  
- **Hotel Registration Records**: Reviewed for James Earl Ray’s brother’s stays at the MacArthur Hotel in St. Louis, with no direct links to the assassination.  
- **Surveillance of JERRY RAY (May 1968)**: Tracked movements near the Grapevine Tavern and Illinois State Line, including interactions with family members.  
- **Review of Carol Pepper’s Liquor License**: Examined for the Grapevine Tavern, noting prior ownership by GORGINE AUDREY W. O'NEZ.  
- **Vehicle Tracking**: Observed 1960 Desoto automobile linked to JERRY RAY moving through St. Louis and into Illinois.  

Key Organizations:  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Led the investigation into James Earl Ray’s activities and his brother’s statements.  
- **Missouri State Highway Patrol**: Provided license plate information related to James Earl Ray’s movements.  
- **State Liquor Control Office (Missouri)**: Reviewed liquor license records for the Grapevine Tavern.  
- **Metropolitan Police Department (St. Louis)**: Involved in liquor license applications and records checks linked to Carol Ann Pepper.

MLK Declassified Files

44-sl-775_742351_03-01-part_7_of_9.pdf

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