Q691 Summary

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 Intermagnetics 90/ “12/2/77 Wade Medlock/Clara Johnson”

Date cues on tape: Tape contents consistent with preliminary note

People named:

Bible verses cited: None

Summary:

Wade and Mabel Medlock were longtime members of Peoples Temple in Los Angeles, and donated significant amounts of money – more than anyone else in the church, Wade says during the course of this tape – as well as property. Now the Medlocks feel they’re in a financial bind, but when Mabel asked to get some of their money back so they can survive, members of the Temple’s council not only refused, according to Wade, they threatened to kill her.

Wade is angry, and expresses some disillusionment with their longstanding commitment to the church. Their responsibilities to Mabel’s mother prevent them from thinking about going to Guyana, but even without that, his vow to “go down and talk to the federal folk” about getting some of the money back suggests a deeper alienation.

That alienation extends only to the council, though, and not to Jim Jones himself. After Mabel was threatened, Wade says, “I called Father through the Spirit. Father came. Father told me what to do. And the only thing that I know, Jim will live up to his word, but there isn’t a council member – I mean, not one, I mean, not one – is worth a damn.”

The Medlocks would not prevail in their request for living expenses, and eventually, they would fall away from the church altogether. More significantly, they would eventually sue the Temple over the loss of their money and property, and would become two of Tim Stoen’s clients in his legal actions against the Temple. In the process, they would join the ranks of Jones’ most vilified enemies, judging from references to them in several tapes recorded in Jonestown, including Q 594, Q 188, and Q 051.

FBI Summary:

Date of transcription: 3/8/79

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 2, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape numbered 1B62-8. This tape was found to contain the following:

Side “A” Telephone conversation between male and female about ten minutes long. Rest of tape was blank.

Side “B” Some music, rest of tape was blank.

This tape was reviewed, and 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 May 2013