[Editor’s note: The 49 pages of Mark Lane’s diary, which were originally withheld in their entirety – and which were referenced on page 13 of this serial – were released to author Jeff Guinn pursuant to a FOIA request in the summer of 2017, fourteen months after Lane’s death. The pdf of the diary is here; the text is here.]
FBI Airtel
Date 12/21/78
TO: DIRECTOR, FBI (89-4286)
FROM: SAC, MEMPHIS (89-110) (P)
SUBJECT: RYMUR
00: San Francisco
Enclosed for the Bureau are the following:
1 xeroxed copy of an FD-302 containing results of interview of Mark Lane on 11/27/78;
1 xeroxed copy of an FD-302 containing results of interview of Mark Lane on 11/25/78;
1 xeroxed copy of an FD-302 containing results of interview of Mark Lane on 11/29/78;
1 xeroxed copy of an FD-302 containing results of interview of [name deleted] on 11/25/78.
It is noted that Mark Lane made available to ASAC Richard H. Blay a manuscript comprised of 49 pages which recounts his recollection of the events leading to and during the massacre in Jonestown, Guyana. Lane stressed the need to keep the contents confidential. Lane was assure the dissemination would be held to an absolute minimum consistent with the FBI’s investigative needs, but under no conditions would the contents be divulged. This manuscript is attached to FD-302 containing results of interview on 11/27/78.
[Page 2 consists of a photocopy of a manila envelope]
[Pages 3 and 4 consists of an interview with by a prisoner who was in custody in a county jail at the time of the deaths in Jonestown, and whatever information he might have had is unrelated to the events of November 18, 1978. It was not transcribed]
[Page 5]
FD-302
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Date of transcription 12/13/78
Mark Lane was interviewed at his residence, [address deleted]. He furnished the following information:
At the request of William Hunter, United States Attorney, Northern District of California, San Francisco, California, a list of items designated to elicit information on which an opinion can be rendered on the granting of immunity to a valuable Government witness was read to Mr. Lane. Mr. Hunter requested that Mr. Lane provide information regarding these items without furnishing the identity of the potential witness. These items and Mr. Lane’s response are as follows:
1. The position or roll [role] the witness held in the People’s Temple (PT).
Mr. Lane would not furnish information to this item because it would identify the person involved.
2. Any specific information that trouble of any type would occur during Congressman Leo J. Ryan’s visit to Guyana.
The potential witness had no specific knowledge trouble would occur during the visit.
3. Any specific knowledge of the acquisition, storing, licensing or shipment of weapons by PT members.
The potential witness has specific knowledge but Lane gave no details.
4. Any direct knowledge of threats to harm any public officials, current or former PT members, as a result of persons attempting to expose the PT, infiltrate the PT or inducing any member to leave the PT.
The potential has direct knowledge about general conversations regarding threats, but has no specific knowledge.
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5. Any knowledge concerning the compromising and/or corruption of public officials.
The potential witness has no knowledge regarding compromising and/or correction of public officials.
6. Any knowledge concerning the gathering or caching of monies.
The potential witness has knowledge of this matter.
7. Any information concerning any contingency plans.
The potential witness has knowledge regarding contingency plans related to mass murder and suicide.
8. Any personal knowledge regarding illegal activities on the part of Jim Jones and/or any PT members.
The potential witness has personal knowledge regarding illegal activities on the part of Jim Jones and other members of the PT related to money and guns and possibly other matters.
Lane reported he will contact United States Attorney William Hunter or Assistant United States Attorney Robert Breakstone, San Francisco, California, possibly on the evening of November 29, 1978. He declined to furnish any information regarding the location of Terry [Terri] Buford until such time as he can confer with either Mr. Hunter or Mr. Breakstone.
Lane met Dr. Lawrence [Laurence] Schacht in September, 1978, at Jonestown, Guyana, at which time Dr. Schacht gave him a thorough and complete examination. Lane understands from previous conversations with Jim and Marceline Jones that they met Schacht several years ago and at the time he was a drug addict. Schacht was rehabilitated from drug addiction through the efforts of Jones and they sent him to medical school at the University of California, Irvine, California, where he graduated number two or three in his class. In later conversation with Jones at Jonestown, Lane learned that
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Schacht was not licensed to practice medicine. Lane was requested to investigate procedures for obtaining appropriate licensing in Guyana for Schacht. Lane contacted Hamilton Green, a ranking Guyanese official, and determined that if Schacht could routinely travel to Georgetown, Guyana, to practice medicine under the supervision of licensed Guyanese physicians, he could possibly thereby receive his license. Lane communicated this information to PT officials and later was informed by his client, identity not revealed, that Schacht was not allowed to leave Jonestown under any conditions because the PT feared he would not return.
Lane knows nothing regarding Schacht employment background. At the time Congressman Ryan was attacked at Jonestown, Lane asked Jim Jones to get Schacht for Ryan. Jim Jones said he would, but Schacht never made an appearance. Dale Parks, respiratory assistant in the clinic at Jonestown, who survived the shootout at Port Kaituma, Guyana, was an associate of Schacht at Jonestown. Lane could furnish no additional information regarding Schacht’s involvement with the PT.
[6 lines deleted] could furnish no information regarding Schacht’s participation in the acquisition of cyanide poison, the extent of his participation in the conduct of the mass suicide, or his involvement, if any, in the conspiracy to kill Congressman Ryan.
Through his client, Lane is aware of the existence of contingency plans known as the Last Stand Plans (LSP). The LSP include (1) mass suicide, (2) killing of defectors, (3) killing of hostile reporters, and (4) killing of public officials in order to politicize the event in state one.
To his knowledge, there was no standing list of public officials to be assassinated. The names were to be chosen at the time the plan was implemented. Selection of those to be eliminated was to be made without regard to
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their party affiliation or whether they made public statements concerning the PT. Even those persons who made statements supporting the PT could be included among those chosen under the plan. Lane understands that this plan has been formulated for some period of time and the principal PT members involved in the formulation of the plan were Tim Stoen and Sandy Bradshaw. Stoen has defected from the PT, and Bradshaw is in charge of the PT at San Francisco, where she reportedly resides at the present time. Stoen and Bradshaw did extensive research into the use of various poisons for the purpose of carrying out the LSP.
Lane has no knowledge of a prepared “hit list”, but his client states it is common knowledge, based on statements made at conferences and other meetings. Journalists Lester KInsolving, Marshall Kilduff and Phil Tracy, as well as all defectors and aides to defectors, which Lane considers himself to be, are to be eliminated under the plan.
Jim Jones became personally angry with Lane because Lane counseled the members of the Parks family to leave with Congressman Ryan and his group as opposed to waiting one week at Jonestown before departing, as requested by Jones.
Lane reported that Sandy Bradshaw would be in charge of implementing the contingency plans. Lane feels that Lee Ingram, coach of the PT basketball team at Jonestown, who with the members of his team, was not in Jonestown at the time of Lane’s last visit because they were away to play a scheduled game with the Guyanese national team, is the type of person who would be involved in eliminating people under the plan. This is a personal observation, not based on any direct evidence. He has heard through an unnamed source that the PT basketball team has been involved in “sharpshooting not of the basketball type.”
In regard to the shipment of guns to Jonestown, Lane pointed out that he had never heard of the PT or Jones until about two and one half months ago. In September, 1978, Lane visited at Jonestown and on this occasion observe it to be a pastoral community and so no evidence of the presence of firearms. He did not hear any derogatory information regarding the PT until his client informed him of actual conditions within the PT about three weeks before the Ryan incident. It has been reported in the press that Charles Garry, a PT attorney, had encouraged members of the PT to obtain firearms for self-defense purposes. In his first visit to Jonestown, Lane commented to several people
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there that “anyone being in the jungle would be crazy not to have a rifle at least to protect himself from ocelots and snakes.” The Jonestown people replied they had no weapons at all but that they had been attacked by people from the bush and had no weapons.
Special Agents [2 names deleted], United States Secret Service, Memphis, Tennessee, participated in this interview.
[Page 10]
FD-302
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Date of transcription 11/28/78
Mark Lane, Attorney Law, [several words deleted], was interviewed at his residence. Present during this interview was Secret Service Agent [name deleted]. At the outset of the interview, Mr. Lane indicated he was representing a client who had been a member of the People’s Temple and stated immunity must be granted to this individual, otherwise he would not be free to divulge all the information. He stated this client was anxious to speak and in view of the fact she had confided in him as an attorney he felt he must protect his client. It was pointed out to Mr. Lane that the immunity would have to be granted by the Department of Justice and this request would be brought to their attention.
Mr. Lane advised he is presently working on a diary which will relate his knowledge of the incidents at Guyana, as well as his involvement and knowledge of the People’s Temple and Rev. Jim Jones. He stated he would make a copy of this available upon his completion, which we anticipated would be in the evening of November 26, 1978. Mr. Lane stated that after this diary was completed, he would be willing to answer any questions which would assist in this investigation.
Lane expressed fear that his own safety was in jeopardy and indicated he had called the People’s Temple in San Francisco on the previous evening and indicated strongly to them that he did not want to be harassed nor did he want any of his loved ones bothered by any members of the People’s Temple. Lane indicated he was concerned as his knowledge of this recent mass murder and suicide that occurred in Jonestown was merely stage one of a four-stage program. He explained stage one was a mass murder or suicide of the members of the People’s Temple. Stage two basically requires that all surviving leadership members condemn the actions of those who had led the congregation in this suicide. Stage three was that all defectors would be sought and killed. Stage four consisted of killing numerous public officials. Lane explained he was not aware of the identities of any public officials to be killed.
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Lane revealed that an investigative reporter by the name of Gordon Lindsay had done an 88-page report of Rev. Jones’ People’s Temple it which he did an in-depth and accurate portrayal of the situation as it existed. Lane felt this report would be useful in this investigation. The report was never published as its authenticity could not be verified by the “National Inquirer” for whom Lindsay had done this report.
Lane mentioned that there was supposedly $3,000,000 in the cabin of Rev. Jim Jones in Guyana. He pointed out he had read recently in the paper that a half million dollars had been recovered and he feels now that one of the church members has apparently made off with the additional money. He also mentioned to ships that belong to the Temple which he was of the opinion contained a considerable amount of valuables belonging to the Temple. He related the names of the ships as the Cucho (phonetic) [Cudjoe] and the Masalon (phonetic) [Marceline].
Lane also indicated that he felt Attorney Charles Garry was aware of the violent potential of Rev. Jones as he was aware a radio transmission between Guyana and attorney Garry in San Francisco had been monitored on October 6, 1977. During this conversation, Jones related to Garry that he was going to kill everyone in Jonestown. According to Lane, Garry pleaded with Jones not to kill these people. Lane was of the impression this information had to be known to the Government of the United States.
Lane related that he was only involved with Jones and the People’s Temple for a short time prior to the massacre. He stated Rev. Jones was obviously quite disturbed and posed a threat to Congressman Ryan. Lane stated he advised Ryan of his concern that something of a violent nature could happen if he visited the site in Jonestown. Lane stated he did not feel he could prevent the Congressman from going to Jonestown as it would appear his whole intentions were to prevent Congressman Ryan and his party from visiting the site at Jonestown.
Lane advised he would have his diary completed as soon as possible and would answer any questions after that.
[Editor’s note: The following page also appears as Serial 1681-26 with the same deletions.]
[Page 12]
FD-302
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Date of transcription 11/28/78
Mark Lane, Attorney at Law, [several words deleted] was contacted at his residence regarding a copy of the diary he was to have prepared. Secret Service Agent [name deleted] was present during this interview.
Lane made available a manuscript consisting of 49 typewritten pages, double spaced. Attached is a copy of that manuscript.
[Page 13]
FOIPA Deleted Page Information Sheet indicating all 49 pages were withheld from release.