Summary prepared by Fielding M. McGehee III. If you use this material, please credit The Jonestown Institute. Thank you.
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FBI Catalogue Jones Speaking
FBI preliminary tape identification note: Labeled in part “Voice of Peoples Temple KBLE”
Date cues on tape: None
People named:
Maria McClain (speaks)
Bible verses cited: None
Summary:
In this undated tape, Jim Jones cures a woman of the rheumatoid arthritis which has resulted in her being in a wheelchair for seven and a half years. He also heals her as-yet-unborn child of a condition which would have made it “born a mongoloid.”
The FBI identifies this tape as being prepared for radio broadcast, and the tape note from the Temple supports that. There is a slightly more polished aspect to the tape, in that it has a gentle fade-out rather than a harsh tape edit, but the voices of people – including Jones – crying out still overwhelm the microphone at times.
There are also two versions of the short healing. The second has slightly better audio quality. It also includes a single sentence which was edited out of the first version.
FBI Summary:
Date of transcription: 5/30/79
In connection with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s investigation into the assassination of U.S. Congressman LEO J. RYAN at Port Kaituma, Guyana, South America, on November 18, 1978, a tape recording was obtained. This tape recording was located in Jonestown, Guyana, South America, and was turned over to U.S. Officials in Guyana and subsequently transported to the United States.
On May 24, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape numbered 1B68-5 (5 inch). This tape was found to contain the following:
A radio broadcast where JIM JONES is curing people.
Differences with FBI Summary:
The summary is accurate and meets the FBI’s purposes.
Tape originally posted July 2011