One of the very few items found on Jim Jones’ body following the deaths in Jonestown was a single sheet of paper on which was written a note of farewell to the Temple leader. Described by the FBI as “a piece of lined notebook paper approximately 6 inches by eight inches,” the note was “saturated with body fluids.” It was dried enough so that it could be handled, but the note iself is stained, and the writing has not reproduced very well.

 

The note is signed with a single name – “Tish” – and is believed to have been written by Tish Leroy, also known as Laetitia Marie Eichler. A 48-year-old white woman with a background in accounting and office administration, Tish Leroy was on the Temple’s Planning Commission and in Jonestown’s Agriculural Office. She also represented Jonestown in a number of meetings with Guyanese government officials. Descriptions of her loyalty to Jones and the Temple he led are echoed in the words of this note.

 

The Tish Leroy note reads:

 

Dad

 

I see no way

out – I agree

with your decision –

I fear only that

without you the

world may not make it

to communism – Tish

 

For my part – I

am more than

tired of this wretched, merciless

planet & the hell

it holds for so

many masses of

beautiful people –

Thank you for the only life Ive known

 

The copy of the note was released by the FBI pursuant to a request under the Freedom of Information Act. The citation for two pages are “RYMUR 89-4286-484 p. 8” and “RYMUR 89-4286-998 p. 6.”

 

            Note from Tish Leroy