</s>Report Form FD-285 (Rev. 5-12-55) FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION REPORTING OFFICE OFFICE OF ORIGIN DATE INVESTIGATIVE PERIOD ST. LOUIS MEMPHIS 6-25-68 5/7 - 6/21/68 TITLE OF CASE REPORT MADE BY TYPED BY JAMES EARL RAY, aka - SA HAROLD R. DOBSON W.B. FUGITIVE 10482; WF 442-A; CHAMBER CABINS - CONSPIRACY; DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR .- UFAC - ROBBERY VICTIM REFERENCE: Report of SA HAROLDR. DOBSON, SLMO, 5-10-68. STATUS: LEADS: THE ST. LOUS OFFICE: AT ST. Louis, MO .: will continue efforts to determine subject's whereabouts and activities 4/23 to 7/18/67. ADMINISTRATIVE: ACCOMPLISHMENTS - None CASE PENDING OVER ONE YEAR - NO PENDING PROSECTION OVER SIX MONTHS - NO. APPROVED SPECIAL AGENT DO NOT WRITE IN SPACES BELOW IN CHARGE OPPIES MADE: 5 - Bumpkins (44-38861) 4/4 775-1001 5 - Atlanta (44)-2836) 5 - Birmingham (44-(44-1740) (Info) 1 - Birmingham(44-1440) [Info) SEARCHED 1 - Chicago (44)(44-1144) (Into) SECHAZED File Striped 1 -Chicago (44(44)-1148) (Ino) 1 - Springfield (44(-1987) (info) FILED 3 - St. Louis (44 -7775) (INFO) 5-12/2 2013 RELEASE UNDER E. 14/76

Summary  
The document is an FBI report (FD-285) from May 1968 detailing investigations into James Earl Ray, a fugitive linked to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. The case involves multiple jurisdictions including St. Louis, Memphis, and Missouri. Key elements include telephone number inquiries, interviews with individuals like Carol Pepper, Jerry Raynes, and Circuit Judge John C. Casey, legal proceedings related to Ray's 1959 armed robbery conviction, and administrative updates on the investigation. The report notes Ray's escape from prison, his alleged presence in St. Louis, and potential connections to bank robberies. It also includes discussions about legal motions to vacate convictions and concerns over public order during planned hearings.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray (subject of investigation)  
- Harold R. Dobson (FBI agent)  
- Carol Pepper  
- Jerry Raynes  
- John C. Casey (Circuit Judge)  
- Albert Pepper  
- William R. Burton (FBI agent)  
- John D. Schneider (attorney)  

Key Locations  
- St. Louis, Missouri  
- Memphis, Tennessee  
- Portageville, Missouri  
- Wardell, Missouri  
- Brosely, Missouri  
- New York, NY  
- Washington, D.C.  

Key Events  
- Investigation into James Earl Ray's whereabouts and activities (May 1968)  
- Telephone number inquiries and interviews with informants  
- Legal proceedings regarding Ray's 1959 armed robbery conviction  
- Discussion of motions to vacate convictions and public order concerns  
- Mention of bank robberies in a southern state linked to Ray  
- Administrative updates on case status and FBI operations  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Missouri State Penitentiary  
- St. Louis County Court system  

Summary of FBI Document (FD-302, May 24, 1968)  
The document details an FBI investigation into James Earl Ray’s activities, part of the broader inquiry into the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). Ray was arrested in St. Louis, Missouri, in June 1967 for burglary and served probation sentences. His movements and interactions with others are central to the investigation.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray (primary subject)  
- Jimmie Crawford (contact of Ray linked to a 1964 bank robbery in Alton, Illinois)  
- Carol Pepper (mentioned as someone Ray might have encountered)  
- James H. Carpenter (allegedly identified by Ray as a co-conspirator in the 1964 robbery; later found to be incarcerated at the time)  

Key Locations  
- St. Louis, Missouri  
- Alton, Illinois  
- Memphis, Tennessee  

Key Events  
- Investigation into Ray’s activities and alleged connections to criminal enterprises  
- Details of a planned bank robbery in Alton, Illinois (1964), involving Ray and Crawford  
- Gun transaction with a friend, including a revolver with a damaged cylinder repaired with adhesive tape  
- FBI determination that James H. Carpenter was not involved in the 1964 robbery as claimed by Ray  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  

Additional Document Context  
The provided text includes historical law enforcement and FBI investigative records from the late 1960s, focusing on prison escapes, parole violations, and criminal investigations in Missouri and Illinois. Key themes include:  
- Investigations into individuals like James Henry Ramsey (a fugitive parole violator) and Jack Eugene Gawron (arrested for burglary in 1967).  
- Criminal activities such as drug trafficking and organized crime within prison systems.  
- Operational details of James Earl Ray’s alleged escape from prison via a bread delivery truck, involving guards like Burkhhardt.  
- Interagency collaboration between the St. Louis Police Department, FBI, and Missouri State Penitentiary to track fugitives and investigate criminal networks.  

Key Individuals Mentioned  
- James Henry Ramsey (fugitive parole violator)  
- Jack Eugene Gawron (arrested for burglary in 1967; wife Gloria Jean Ramsey was a victim of a car accident)  
- James Earl Ray (central figure in multiple reports, suspected of prison escapes and drug-related activities)  
- Herbie Phelps and Ray Clantor (inmates associated with James Earl Ray)  

Historical Context  
The documents span 1963–1968, reflecting increased law enforcement focus on prison security, parolee monitoring, and organized crime. They highlight the era’s heightened awareness of drug trafficking networks within correctional facilities and public interest in high-profile cases like MLK’s assassination.  

Significance  
These records provide insight into mid-20th-century law enforcement strategies, including interrogation methods, informant networks, and interagency collaboration. While not directly referencing MLK’s assassination, they reflect the broader context of investigations into James Earl Ray’s activities during this period.

MLK Declassified Files

44-sl-775_742351_06-02-part_1_of_6.pdf

Document Summary

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