</s>PAGE FOUR HE HAS NOT SEEN OR HEARD FROM BRIDGEMAN SINCE ABOUT SIXTY-FIVE. POST OFFICE INSPECTOR RUSSELL L. FAY, KANSAS CITY, MO ., STATES SWINGING SET CLUB IS NOW OUT OF BUSINESS. AND THE LOLLITA CLUBS IS OPERATED BY EARL V. KELLY, TWO SIX EAST EAST FIFTY-THIRD ST ... Kansas CITY, MO ., PRESENT RESIDENT OF TWO SIZ EAST Fifty-THIRD ST ... KSANSAS CITY, KANSAS City. MO .- PD PATROLMAN WHO STATES KELLEY MOVED FROM THIS ADDRESS LAST WEEK IN MAY SIXTLY-EIGHT AND LEFT NO FORWARDING. OFFICES RECEIVING THIS TELETYPE SHOULD CONDUCT INVESTIGATION TO IDENTIFY THE SUBSCRIBER TO THE TELEPHONES LISTED AND CONDICT NECESSARY INTERVIEWS TO LOCATE PAUL JAMES BRIDGEMAN AND INTERVIEW HIM REGARDING KNOWLEDGE OF JAMES EARL RAY. ARMED AND DANGEROUS. -P-P. End SEL ... JRR FBI ST LOUIS SI ... CEK FBI SPRINGFLD TKS AND CLR 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into James Earl Ray’s movements and associations following his escape from Missouri State Penitentiary in 1967, with a focus on his activities in Kansas City, Missouri, and surrounding areas during early 1968. Paul Bridgeman, a former inmate at MSP, reported meeting Ray in February 1968 at the Old Fortress Bar in Kansas City. Bridgeman described Ray as a "cool con" involved in selling intoxicants to inmates and alleged that Ray sought financial assistance, receiving $35, while discussing travel plans to Brazil, Cuba, and Australia due to his dislike of Black people. The FBI investigated locations linked to Ray’s potential movements, including the Pussy Cat A Go-Go nightclub in St. Louis (closed since 1966), Los Angeles venues like Di Rango’s or Ranos’ in Chinatown, and Santa Ana, California, where Joyce Martin (AKA Joyce Williams) and George Gill were identified as possible contacts. The FBI coordinated with offices in Memphis, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Minneapolis to track Ray, noting inconsistencies in his financial status during the period of interest, including enrollment in a dancing school and bartending program without apparent financial strain. Separate FBI memos from June 1968 under the "MURKIN" case detail telephone number investigations in St. Louis and surrounding areas, focusing on toll call records, subscriber information, and billing data for numbers like PR 6-9417 (Grapevine Tavern), FL 9-1372 (Pensicott County Hospital), and EV 9-1130. These memos reference Southern Bell Telephone Co., Southwest Bell Telephone Co., and other regional providers, with leads tied to locations such as Florissant, Kansas City, Granite City, Illinois, and Olive Branch, Illinois.  

Key People  
- **Paul Bridgeman**: Former inmate at Missouri State Penitentiary; met James Earl Ray in Kansas City, Missouri, in February 1968; provided details about Ray’s alleged activities and travel plans.  
- **James Earl Ray**: Suspected assassin of Martin Luther King Jr.; reported to be in contact with Bridgeman and associated with locations in Missouri, California, and Los Angeles.  
- **Beverly Hill**: Female associate of Ray described as white, 23 years old, blonde, and possibly a prostitute; last seen with Ray in Kansas City.  
- **Joyce Martin (AKA Joyce Williams)**: Contact in Santa Ana, California, allegedly associated with Ray via Bridgeman.  
- **George Gill**: Contact in Santa Ana, California, mentioned by Bridgeman as a potential associate of Ray.  
- **Carl Drake**: Subscriber referenced in telephone number investigations under the "MURKIN" case.  
- **Benjamin Grimm**: Watchman for National Lead Co., referenced in telephone number investigations.  
- **Mrs. B. Jagger**: Subscriber referenced in telephone number investigations.  
- **T. Edward UmpHres**: Area Security Supervisor, Southern Bell Telephone Co., involved in "MURKIN" case phone number inquiries.  

Key Locations  
- **Kansas City, Missouri**: Site of the Old Fortress Bar and High Hat Bar; location where Ray was reportedly seen and met with Bridgeman.  
- **St. Louis, Missouri**: Location of the Pussy Cat A Go-Go nightclub (closed since 1966), associated with Ray’s alleged activities.  
- **Los Angeles, California**: Mentioned as a potential location for Ray’s movements, including Di Rango’s or Ranos’ in Chinatown and the International School of Bartending.  
- **Santa Ana, California**: Home to Joyce Martin (AKA Joyce Williams) and George Gill, both linked to Ray via Bridgeman.  
- **Florissant, Missouri**: Location referenced in telephone number investigations under "MURKIN."  
- **Granite City, Illinois**: Location tied to phone number leads in the "MURKIN" case.  
- **Olive Branch, Illinois**: Location referenced in telephone number investigations.  
- **Grapevine Tavern (1982 Arsenal, St. Louis)**: Associated with PR 6-9417 in the "MURKIN" case.  
- **Pensicott County Hospital (Hayti, Missouri)**: Linked to FL 9-1372 in the "MURKIN" case.  

Key Events  
- **February 1968**: Paul Bridgeman met James Earl Ray in Kansas City; Ray allegedly asked for money and discussed travel plans to Brazil, Cuba, and Australia.  
- **June 7, 1968**: FBI coordinated efforts across multiple offices (Memphis, St. Louis, Kansas City, Minneapolis) to locate Ray, focusing on his associates and potential hideouts.  
- **Investigation of Ray’s financial status**: Contradictions emerged regarding Ray’s need for funds during the period of interest, as he allegedly enrolled in a dancing school and bartending program without apparent financial strain.  
- **Telephone number investigations under "MURKIN" case**: FBI reviewed toll call records, subscriber information, and billing data for numbers like PR 6-9417 (Grapevine Tavern), FL 9-1372 (Pensicott County Hospital), and EV 9-1130.  
- **Billing discrepancies and misdirected calls**: Noted in "MURKIN" case memos, including links to specific locations like Florissant, Kansas City, and Granite City, Illinois.  

Key Organizations  
- **FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)**: Conducted nationwide investigations into James Earl Ray’s movements, coordinating with local law enforcement and informants; involved in "MURKIN" case telephone number inquiries.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP)**: Site of Ray’s incarceration prior to his escape; Bridgeman was a former inmate there.  
- **Southern Bell Telephone Co. (St. Louis)**: Involved in "MURKIN" case phone number investigations.  
- **Southwest Bell Telephone Co.**: Regional telephone provider referenced in "MURKIN" case memos.  
- **National Lead Co.**: Employer of Benjamin Grimm, referenced in telephone number investigations.

MLK Declassified Files

44-sl-775_742351_05-04-part_3_of_3.pdf

Document Summary

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