Serial 1681-04

[Editor’s note: An earlier version of the report beginning on page 2 was released – with more deletions – by the Treasury Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms pursuant to a request under the Freedom of Information Act and posted at http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=18295. However, some information was released in the earlier document which was deleted here; the additions to this document are indicated by red type.]

[This section of Serial 1681 covers page 13-17 of the FBI Report of January 12, 1979.]

FD-302

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Date of transcription 1/9/79

On December 13, 1978, Special Agent [name deleted], US Treasury Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) provided SA [name deleted] a list of tracings of weapons located in Jonestown, Guyana.

Attached hereto is a copy of that list.

[Page 2]

The following are traces of 31 firearms that were received from the ATF liaison via the State Department of 176 guns presumably found at the People’s Temple encampment at Jonestown, Guyana. The following are the firearms:

  1. Smith & Wesson, revolver, 4″ barrel, .38 special, serial number C911747, traced to a [name deleted], city unknown, DOB: [identifying information deleted], OCA 16159, Date of Transfer March 10, 1973.
  2. Walter [Walther] Automatic Pistol, PPK Model, 9mm serial number 138188S, licensed to Eugene B. Chaikin, Redwood Valley, Ukiah, California. Chaikin is an attorney for the People’s Temple and is reportedly in Guyana or in route to the United States. DOB: 12-18-32, Date of Registration is 08-04-71.
  3. Smith & Wesson, revolver, 2″ barrel, 5 shot, .38 caliber, serial number 273666, registered to Michael J. Prokes, Redwood Valley, Ukiah, California. He is the ex-newsman and public relations officer for the People’s Temple and a member of the security force. DOB: 05-31-47, OCA A16613, Date of Transfer April 3, 1974.
  4. Sturm-Ruger, 10/22 carbine rifle, serial number 116-53921, registered to [name deleted], San Francisco, California. DOB: [identifying information deleted]. Date of Transfer 03-15-77. Purchased from Bob Chow’s Gun Shop, San Francisco. Known temple member – presumed dead.
  5. Liberty, No. 21 revolver, .22 caliber, serial number 48805, registered to Zielpha Lisa Ross [Elsie Zilpha Ross], 228 ½ W. 59th, Los Angeles, California, DOB: 07-05-1888. Date of Transfer December 13, 1969. Known temple member – presumed dead.
  6. Sturm-Ruger, revolver, .357 caliber, 4″ barrel, serial number 158-12987, registered to Timothy Maurice Swinney, Redwood Valley, Ukiah, California. DOB: 09-28-38, Date of Transfer April 25, 1972 from Yokayo Rifle Shop, Ukiah.
  7. Ruger Automatic Pistol, .22 long rifle, serial number 13-11054, registered to okay okay baby yeah I will Edward Kice, Redwood Valley, Ukiah, California, DOB: 01-04-48, Date of Transfer June 28, 1975, sold by Rod’s Liquor and Sports, Ukiah. Known temple member – presumed dead.
  8. Winchester Rifle, .243 caliber, serial number 72-24208, registered to [name deleted], Redwood Valley, Ukiah, California, DOB: [identifying information deleted] Date of Purchase 03-09-77. She is present spokesman for People’s Temple. She picked up gun and ammunition the day before leaving for Guyana. [name deleted] of Yokayo Rifle Shop, where the gun was purchased, taught her how to shoot the weapon and advised he knew it was going to Guyana.

[Page 2 of report]

  1. Browning Slide Action Carbine, .30-06 caliber, serial number 75866M9, registered to [name deleted], San Francisco, California, DOB: [identifying information deleted] Date of Purchase September 16, 1969 from Roos-Atkins, San Francisco. Known temple member – presumed alive.
  2. Sears & Roebuck, Model 54, .30-30 caliber, serial number 273810, registered to Louis Curry, 32 Arkansas, San Francisco, California, DOB: 10-06-38, Date of Transfer 08-22-77, OCA 0480700.
  3. H&R Model 922, 9 shot revolver, .22 caliber, serial number K8657, no state or Federal records for this period of time, manufactured in 1950, to Crown Jewelry, Mazoola [Missoula], Montana.
  4. High Standard Automatic Pistol, Model 101, .22 caliber, serial number 512543, registered to [name deleted], California, Date of Transfer 02-27-58, OCA 401794.
  5. Smith & Wesson revolver, 6″ barrel, .38 caliber, serial number S820402, to Universal Hardware, Los Angeles, California on 04-02-46, no records available.
  6. Olin Winchester Signal Flare Launcher, .25mm, serial number 029432, no model number – unable to check.
  7. Colt Automatic Pistol, .25 caliber, serial number 318752, sold to Montana Hardware, Butte, Montana 1922, no records.
  8. Winchester, Model 88 Rifle, .308 caliber, serial number 82976, firearm manufactured in 1959, no disposition records kept by Winchester.
  9. U.S. Army Carbine M-1 Model, .30 caliber, serial number 3094280, military weapon – military has no record of this firearm.
  10. Remington Model 742, .30-06 caliber, serial number 15824, date of manufacture was 1952 – no records available prior to 1957.
  11. Western Field Model 880A, slide action rifle, .22 long rifle, no serial number – unable to trace firearm without serial number.
  12. Remington, Model 742 carbine, .308 caliber, serial number 46316, date of manufacture was 1955 – no records available prior to 1957.
  13. Winchester, .30-30 caliber saddle gun, serial number 36519, no long gun records prior to 1968 – unable to trace.
  14. Remington, Model 11 Shotgun, .12 gauge, serial number 773398, discontinued in 1942 – no records available.
  15. Remington, Wingmaster, .12 gauge Shotgun, Model 870, serial number S946514M, Remington advised this is not a serial number, unable to trace. [name deleted], California, DOB: [identifying information deleted], POB: FL, CA number H0588466, Date of Transfer March 22, 1975 from Yokayo Rifle Shop, Ukiah.

[Page 3 of report]

  1. J.C. Higgins, .12 gauge Shotgun, Model 60, no serial number – firearm manufactured by High Standard, no serial number – unable to trace.
  2. Foremost .12 gauge, Model 6670H, Savage Arms Company, no serial number – no serial number, unable to trace.
  3. Universal Firearms, .12 gauge Shotgun, serial number D3447. Went to Universal Sportings in Miami – business discontinued. Records showed acquisition but no disposition.
  4. Western Field .12 gauge pump action shotgun, serial number XMH-565D, above is a production number indicating Noble as the manufacturer – this is not a serial number, unable to trace.
  5. Remington, .12 gauge Shotgun, Model 870, serial number T019755M. Remington advised that serial number indicated is not a Remington serial number, unable to trace. [name deleted] DOB: [identifying information deleted], Ukiah, California, POB: [identifying information deleted], CA number H0588466, Date of Transfer 3-22-75 from Willits Feed and Sporting Goods, Willits, California.

A check with AFS/CII, Sacramento, California revealed that [name deleted], spokesman for the People’s Temple has purchased the following handguns: 1. Sturm-Ruger, .357 caliber, serial number 15120167, Date of Transfer 02-22-75, OCA G173064. 2. Smith & Wesson, .38 caliber, revolver, serial number 636J9, Date of Transfer 05-10-77, OCA F061061. This weapon was licensed to her to carry in a concealable manner. 3. Smith & Wesson, .38 caliber, serial number 13K8953, Date of Transfer 09-23-77, OCA G803902.

On December 5, 1978, Charles Geary [Garry] delivered three weapons to the San Francisco Police Department indicating that the weapons were in his possession for a considerable time and belonged to the People’s Temple. The three weapons were: 1. Smith & Wesson, .38 caliber, serial number 636J9, which was registered to [name deleted]. [Ed. note: This weapon was previously listed, in the immediately-preceding paragraph] 2. Sturm-Ruger, Security Six, .357 caliber, serial number 15327760, which was registered [name deleted] San Francisco. Also note: he purchased a Sturm-Ruger, 10/22 carbine rifle, serial number 116-53921 on March 15, 1977. [Ed. note: This weapon was previously listed, as entry 4 above] A check with AFS revealed no other firearms purchased by [name deleted]. The third weapon was a Smith & Wesson, Chief Special, .38 caliber, serial number J142065, registered to [name deleted], San Francisco. A check with AFS revealed no other firearms purchased by [name deleted].

On December 8, 1978 the following trace information was received for the three omitt[ed] omitted from the above list of 32 firearms:

  1. Remington, Model 788, .308 caliber rifle, serial number 6110319, shipped to Western Hoegle, Glendale, California on March 30, 1972; then shipped to White Front Store #231, San Francisco, California on July 12, 1972. Company out of business – no records available.

[Page 4 of report]

  1. Remington Model 700, .308 caliber bolt action rifle, serial number 6742465, shipped to American Arms Company warehouse, Massachusetts, on July 25, 1974; then sold to San Francisco Gun Exchange, San Francisco on September 29, 1974; then sold to Jack Lovell Beam, 224 Hanos Avenue, Ukiah, California on October 31, 1977. Identified as 5’10”, 200 lbs. WM, DOB: 11-25-25.
  2. AR7 Explorer rifle, .22 caliber, serial number 73270, sold to Powderhorn, Burbank, California on April 25, 1966. Out of business – no records available.
Originally posted on October 29th, 2017.
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