BB-26-a
Lisa Layton’s case:
In January 1978 Lisa Lane came to Georgetown. She brought approx $4000 with her, which she declared of course. She gave it to her daughter Debbi soon after arrival and asked her to put it in safekeeping for her, and open a bank account in her (Lisa’s name). Debbi said it would not be a problem.
After Debbi left, Lisa asked Maria Katsaris to check about her bank account. Maria checked and there was no such account in existence. Nor was there any such account in existence. Nor was there any account in Debbi’s name.
While Debbi was in Georgetown, she was the only person with a key to a red locked cashbox. Both Guyanese and some US dollars were kept in the box, and anyone needing money from that box (for purchases etc.) had to go through Debbi. Approx one week before she left she said she’d lost the key, and could not get into it. During about the same time, two persons Patty and Jerry Parks came into Georgetown, carrying with them about $9500 in personal funds with them. They gave that money to Debbi asking her to put it in safekeeping for them while they were in Georgetown. The day before she left, Tim Carter and Debbi Touchette saw her with a roll of US dollars in her hand. After she was gone, Tim and Debbi forced open the box and found only some Guyanese money. No US dollars were there.
Patty and Jerry Parks will assign their claim to Lisa. Have [Charles] Garry check into this and send the proper forms.
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BB-26-b
8R1 [Temple HAM radio call letters]
Lisa:
Even though I did not wish to go, I reluctantly consented – because if I were terminally ill I would choose to die in Jonestown.
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BB-26-c
Georgetown, County of Demerrara
Cooperative Republic of Guyana
Affidavit s/ Lisa P. Layton
I, Lisa P. Layton, being duly sworn, declare:
That I arrived in Guyana on 6 December, 1977 with my daughter Deborah Layton Blakey. I had in my possession approximately $4800 (US) of my own money which I declared upon entry. Because I was going to live in the interior of Guyana, where there are no banking facilities, I gave the $4800 to my daughter and asked her to open an account in Georgetown in my name. She said that she would do that, and that it would be no problem.
On or about 13 May, 1978, my daughter Deborah left Guyana without telling me. I asked my friend Maria Katsaris, to check the banks in Georgetown, to see if a bank account had been established in my name is Deborah told me she had indeed established such an account. Not long after I made my request to Maria, she informed me that she had contacted the banks and found that no such account had been established. I can only conclude that Deborah kept the Money for her own use.
/s/ Lisa P. Layton
Dated 5 July, 1978
Witnessed:
[2 blank lines]
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BB-26-d
[Letterhead of Dr. H.S. Searwar, St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital, Georgetown]
19th July, 1978
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
Miss Liza Layton is suffering from Terminal Cancer. Her condition has improved somewhat since admission to hospital. She is being discharged to return home to be near her relatives and friends.
It is quite safe for her to travel by air.
/s/ H.S. Searwar
H.S. Searwar
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BB-26-e
[Letterhead of Dr. H.S. Searwar, St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital, Georgetown]
22/7, 1978
To whom it may concern
This is to certify that Mrs. Liza Layton is fit to travel by boat.
/s/ H.S. Searwar
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BB-26-f
[Copy of page BB-26-c, with two changes: the words “being duly sworn” are struck from the first line; and the end of the last line reads, “Deborah kept my money for her own use.”
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BB-26-g
[Letterhead of Dr. H.S. Searwar, St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital, Georgetown]
19th July, 1978
Mrs. Liza Layton was admitted here on 10th July, 1978. She has had Carcinoma of the Bronchus and had a Lung removed. She now has spread to the other Lung and Liver. She is receiving Gravil injections, Stemetil Tabs, and a tonic Vitaplex.
/s/ H.S. Searwar
H.S. Searwar
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BB-26-h
I, Lisa Layton, hereby agree that the Straight Note executed by Laurence L. Layton on February 12, 1975 in satisfaction of the Deed of Trust and Assignments of Rents recorded March 13, 1975, in the amount of $13,500.00, concerning the real property in the City of Berkeley, County of Alameda, State of California, commonly known as 657 Vistamont, Berkeley, California, described as follows:
Portion of Lot 15, Block G, Berkeley Woods, filed November 21, 1917, Map Book 1, pages 338 and 339, Alameda County Records, described as follows: [legal description of property follows]
has been fully paid and satisfied, and that said Note and all other sums and indebtedness secured by said Deed of Trust have been fully paid and satisfied by Laurence L. Layton.
Dated: 12-4-77
/s/ Lisa Layton
Lisa Layton
[Note receivable of James R. Randolph]
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BB-26-i
[Government form of the Public Employees Retirement System of benefits due to Lisa Layton, to become effective on November 1, 1977.]
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BB-26-j-1
from Lisa Layton
Re: Dr. Laurence Laird Layton
I left San Francisco on December 5th, 1977 and arrived in Georgetown, Guyana on December 6th. I came with Debbie Blakey. We arrived in Jonestown on December 17th at 2 AM.
Many years ago my ex-husband, Dr. Laurence Layton, was teaching at John Hopkins University previous to his working at the Dugway Proving Ground, Tooele, Utah. He taught at the school of hygiene and Public Health. He at that time attended Quaker meeting with me and our children. His decision to go to work for the Army in the capacity of Chief of Chem. Warfare caused great disappointment to members at the Quaker meeting who tried to talk him out of taking this post. Also I talked to him trying to talk him out of this too because I felt it was morally wrong but he wouldn’t listen to any of us. He said he needed the money.
He moved ahead by himself to Dugway and it was left to me to move all the household goods – me and the children.
He always had trouble getting along with his superiors which may also have been a reason for his leaving John Hopkins Univ. where he had been for 6 years. He stayed at Dugway for 3 years and then joined the Navy working for the Naval Powder Factory in Maryland. He was Associate Director of Research and Development. He did classified defense work. I never liked the Defense Dept. as I considered myself a Quaker and felt was work was morally wrong.
My father, Hugo Philip, gave me $3000 and also gave Laurence $3000 in one year to save the gift taxes ($3000 can be given as a gift without having to pay taxes.) He gave $3000 to each of his 2 sons-in-law (my dad did) with the specific understanding that they would turn the money over to my sister and myself. My brother-in-law turned the money over to my sister, but my husband
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BB-26-j-2
written by Lisa Layton
refused to turn my money over to me. Instead, he kept it and bought a car with it. At that point I became convinced that I could not trust him.
On one occasion my husband hit me in the face for no reason when he was intoxicated after a party.
He never kept any confidences. Any problems that I tried to discuss with him concerning the children – he immediately turned around and confronted them with the information I had given him – which destroyed their confidences in me. He resented the fact that the children trusted me and did not trust him.
My husband continually belittled me and called me a slut because I was not a virgin when I married him. This fact he would insinuate in front of company all my married life which made me scared to death to have company. He will tolerate no criticism in any shape or form. He insisted that I not ever introduce him as Mr. Layton but only Dr. Layton which was a constant embarrassment to me.
/s/ Lisa P. Layton
Lisa P. Layton
June 27, 1978
[Handwritten additions]
He continually tried to embarrass me and criticize my opinions or ideas. He often did this in front of other people. He never failed to ridicule me about things I said or did after company had left. He was extremely racist, and opposed to intermarriage. Any discussion of this matter made him extremely hostile, acting out his southern racist upbringing. He never wanted it known that I was Jewish and our 4 children were 1/2 Jewish. Consequently I lied about my racial background and was always fearful that I would be found out. In later years he let me know in a roundabout way that this was ridiculous.
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BB-26-j-3
However it was too late then, since I had lied about being Jewish for so many years. I did tell my children when they started college about their racial background and felt relieved when they didn’t mind one bit. His mother who lived with us for many years never knew and neither did the rest of his family. He has always been a complete opportunist, and as the political climate in this country changed so did his anti-Semitism. When I was first married to him 36 years ago, he called my Dad Mr. “Phillips,” which was inaccurate since his name was “Philip”. When I called his attention to the fact that my Dad’s name was not “Phillips,” he said “Yes, I know that, but ‘Philip’ is a Jewish name and Phillips is not. He always thought highly of people who had made it and considered those who hadn’t trash. He used the term trashy, relating to people a great deal. He showed contempt for those who were down and out, which included his own children when they seemed tired or discouraged. He had no concern for people and their welfare. All that he was concerned about was appearances and status and all that made him look good.
Lisa P. Layton 6/27/78