[Editor’s note: This handwritten document was written by Jonestown resident Daisy Lee Stroud, who wrote a similar account published here.]
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Dear Dad,
I’m writing according to my statement. Daisy Lee born Dec 5, 1956 in S.F., Ca. was a college student at the community college of S.F. left school during the 3rd year. I was employed at the San Franciscan Center taking care of patients. My parents are still in the States. Fung Trey Lee she is a seamstress and Yew Lim Lee is a [illegible word]. They lived at 644 Jackson St., SF, Ca. It is located in Chinatown. I came to Guyana in early Sept. 1977 – with a passport stated two week visit and after the two weeks I went to the immigration & ask for a permanent stay which was granted. I was asked where I was living in Georgetown. I told them in Campbellville. I couldn’t remember the lot number. Then he asked who stays at the house with me. I said “Terry Carter.” He then asked what is her occupation, I said “she is a housewife.” I was then asked about her husband, his name & occupation. I told him Lou [Lew] Jones and he’s in agriculture in the interior. Once again he asked about Tim Carter. I told him he [is] also from the interior and works in agriculture. He asked me how long I have known Tim. I said, “I’ve known him since I came.” He [went] further on with more
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questions about the Peoples Temple. What is Peoples Temple? I said “Peoples Temple does humanitarian work. We provide food, housing, clothing for the people. We administer free medical treatment to the people who come. We also adopt needy children.[“] He asked who is the leader, I said “Jim Jones”. He asked Ms. Jim Jones and the interior. I answered yes. Last question about Peoples Temple. He wanted to know the population. I said “there are over a thousand.” He asked what I do in the interior. I told him I am a schoolteacher. He also asked what I teach. I told him I teach children ages 8-9 to read & write subjects, English, math, Science, agriculture. Before he let me go he asked about me to go up the exit. That was why I was arrested he said. I told him I wouldn’t to the exit because I was curious, it was my first time to the Pegasus [Hotel], and I was also curious where the lad was going so I followed him. I didn’t know who the land was, I never met him before. It all started when I met the lad by the exit, he asked if I lived in
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the hotel, I responded no. I guess if he lived there, he said no. Immediately after we spoke the language of the exit & I followed him. He asked if I knew Cathy Hunter [Ukiah Journal reporter Kathy Hunter]. I told him no. I never met her before. [He] asks if she’s a friend of Tim’s. I said “no”. Have they spoken to each other in the hotel. I told him they haven’t. Then [he] asked how I did I know she was staying at the Pegasus. I didn’t want to say it and I didn’t want to lie because he said if he checks & sees that I lie will be arrested. So I said Tim told me. He asked me how Tim knew. I said I don’t know. And why was I at the Pegasus. I said “I was there to see if Hunter has left yet.” He asked why & who is she. I said she is a journalist from the states (I can’t remember if I said California are not). She writes bad things about Peoples Temple. He didn’t ask why she writes bad things. That was the last question he asked. I was arrested at the exit at 4:30 PM by the hotel manager
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and three policemen. At the exit they asked about Cathy Hunter, I told them I didn’t know who she is. I didn’t know what they were talking about. One of the men said that I was constantly making phone calls. I said “What’s wrong with that. I paid for the calls.” Then he said the phone number you were calling was calling in to find out about Miss Hunter’s flight. I said I still don’t know what you’re talking about. Then they took me into the swimming pool area where they questioned more, ask my name, and Tim’s & why we were there. I refused to answer, having a nasty attitude, not even looking at them. Again they asked questions. I said I didn’t have to answer nothing. Then one said, “you know who we are.” I was silent. He responded he’s a police & showed his ID card. I didn’t make any difference. I still refused to answer until he said “if you keep this up (remaining refuse to answer) I will not
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be in here much longer (Guyana).” With that threat I answered because I didn’t want to cause a crisis. So I told him my name, where I was from & Tim’s name. But I refused to answer our purpose at the hotel. A minute later I was taken out of the hotel to the police station. In the car when asked what Tim and I were drinking. I said Pepsi. He asked how many, I said about 4. Then he asked why that many. I said we were drinking. He asked why we drink Pepsi instead of liquor, do we have a religion against that. I said no, we don’t like to drink liquor, that’s all. I said what’s wrong with drinking Pepsi. He didn’t respond to that. I went into the building. He took me in to see one of the heads. I answered the same questions I was asked earlier, but not more. I said I don’t have to say anything I have my rights. He said what rights do you have. I kept silent. I figured if I asked for my rights, he might have lied. I was taken into a room, one of the police named Naugh who wrote my statement called the
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captain and asked my name, birthdate, where I lived in the states, and staying in Georgetown. I was silent. He said you better tell the truth. If we find you [are] lying you will be arrested. I didn’t want to be arrested, that would cause crisis, so I gave him the information. Then we sat down and started the statement. Before he began with the statement, he said you didn’t do anything, just that you entered a restricted area. I said if I’ve known it was restricted I wouldn’t have gone in. There were no signs saying restricted. I just assumed that it was open to the public. This is how it is in the states. When there’s no sign is open to the public. Again he asked why. I said I was curious. I also said if it [was] your first time at the Pegasus, you’d probably be curious too. This was the last question. Then I was asked to sign after I read it. I didn’t [know] whether I should sign or not. And I signed it. Dad – I didn’t want to or mean
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to hurt you and the family. I apologize for my stupidity. Also, I’m thankful to you for my operation. I feel much better now and have more energy. I will work hard like I never before. Thank you for giving me the best. I feel guilty about the whole [illegible word]. This guilt will always be there.
Thank you Dad, Daisy