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: Unidentified Individuals Speaking
FBI preliminary tape identification note: One Bud 90/ Marsie [Marcie] talking to PC
Date cues on tape: Late August 1976 (Marceline Jones reports Don Beck “will be in sometime this week.” Beck’s passport stamp indicates he arrived at JFK in NYC from Guyana on 28 Aug 76)
People named:
Part 3:
Forbes Burnham, Prime Minister of Guyana (by reference)
Temple members:
Part 3:
Ben Bowers
Jean Brown
Archie Ijames
Part 1:
Johnny (speaks)
Eva (could be Eva Pugh)
Archie Ijames’ son (could be Thomas Ijames)
Nora
Part 3:
Jack Barron
Don Beck
Harold Cordell
Greg Frost
David Betts “Pop” Jackson
Luvenia Jackson
Marceline Jones (speaks)
Tish LeRoy
Les Matheson
Kay Nelson
Michelle Touchette
Bible verses cited: None
Summary:
The tape consists of two short segments, one at the beginning of each side of the tape.
Side one consists of two unidentified women encouraging a young boy named Johnny to sing, but – aside from a message of gratitude to Jim Jones (which he speaks rather than sings) – Johnny doesn’t cooperate.
On side two, Marceline Jones is about to tape a greeting to the Planning Commission via telephone, but before she does, she and an unidentified male discuss a few administrative issues and how they are to proceed with them. There is not much context for these issues – especially since the tape begins after the conversation is underway – but in handling at least one issue, Marceline is confused as well. “What is this projected 800 dollars cost? I don’t understand. Will [Jim] understand it?”
In the greeting which she tapes, Marceline reports news from Jonestown and Georgetown, although it appears she herself is not in Guyana. She extols the progress which the pioneers have made in the construction of the buildings in Jonestown, and proclaims the beauty of the project. She reports on some of the individual workers, especially those who were “troublesome” in the States but who have found meaningful lives in the settlement. She also tells of a long distance healing which faith in Jim brought about, as well as of the power of merely evoking Jim’s name. “[The pioneers] told of singing a song in route on the ship to Father, and it kept the boat from sinking.” The message is optimistic and upbeat.
FBI Summary:
Date of transcription: 3/14/79
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 March 6, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape numbered 1B47 #120. This tape was found to contain the following:
Side A: Consisted of a woman encouraging a child to sing to JIM (JONES). The rest of this side was blank.
Side B: Consisted of a telephone caller telling of the wonderful transformation of People’s lives that have gone down to Guyana. This lasted for a few minutes and the rest of this side was blank.
Nothing was contained thereon which was considered to be of evidentiary nature or beneficial to the investigation of Congressman RYAN.
Differences with FBI Summary:
The summary is accurate and meets the FBI’s purposes.
Tape originally posted June 2005