In the summer of 1978, Gordon Lindsay, a British journalist working with the National Inquirer, picked up the story of Peoples Temple, focusing on some of the reports of neglect and abuse that were emerging from Jonestown. After studying documents such as Deborah Blakey’s affidavit, meeting with members of the Concerned Relatives organization, and doing his own investigating – including chartering a plane that flew over the Jonestown settlement in June or July of that year – Lindsay approached members of the Temple in the States, as well as relatives who had visited Guyana, to conduct interviews for a story.

The Temple bristled at the questions. From Jonestown’s perspective, the reporter seemed to have already made up his mind of what he would find, and wanted only to confirm his most sensational charges. For that reason, the Temple began keeping track of contacts with the reporter, including transcripts of taped conversations, affidavits, and letters. Temple attorneys both in and out of Jonestown also drafted letters threatening legal action against the Inquirer should the weekly tabloid publish a story.

Lindsay was not deterred. He met with reporters and producers from NBC who were working on a series of stories about cults, and – in November 1978 – arranged to travel with Leo Ryan’s congressional party to Guyana. He flew with the reduced entourage accompanying Ryan to Port Kaituma. Upon Ryan’s arrival at the airstrip, a number of Jonestown leaders and two outside attorneys – Mark Lane and Charles Garry – negotiated the entry of the party into the jungle settlement. The only person denied entry was Gordon Lindsay.

Questions posed by Gordon Lindsay in telephone conversation with Tim Clancey, August 2, 1978, RYMUR 89-4286-NN-7-A, pp. 1-2
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Transcript of phone conversation of Tim Clancey with Gordon Lindsay, August 4, 1978, RYMUR 89-4286-NN-7-B, pp. 1-6
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Draft of undated letter to Gordon Lindsay, prepared for submission to Charles Garry, undated, RYMUR 89-4286-NN-7-C, pp. 1-2
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Affidavits of Barbara and John Moore regarding contacts with Gordon Lindsay, August 9-11, 1978, RYMUR 89-4286-NN-7, sections D-F
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