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from June [Crym]
Notes from meeting with [Temple attorney Charles] Garry: Jean B [Brown], June C, Jim McElvane, 5/18/78
Re TOS [Timothy Oliver Stoen] libel suit:
Garry’s comments:
“It’s bad enough to quote Maria [Katsaris], but when you say “we know it’s true”, that’s bad. To accuse someone of a crime is libel per se. We’re not only repeating what Maria has said in describing her dad’s molestation of her, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to judge. How do we know it’s true? No witness… It’s his word against our word.”
This gets us into a malice situation, by our publishing the statement – shows intent of malice, which is why TOS seeks punitive damages.
The libel suit opens a “Pandora’s box for demanding our financial records.” But they have to win in court before they can tie up our assets.
Garry sees a conflict of interest in TOS having been attorney for PT and then turning around and suing us. TOS will argue this is separate, has nothing to do with what he was privy to when he was our attorney.
The corporation should deny complicity with the statements issued in the releases, with [Lee] Ingram or any other party being spokesperson for the group. They spoke of themselves only, not on behalf of PT.
Garry sees further down along the road, once we get served and are in the suit, trying to get venue changed to SF, not Mendocino County where it was filed; he is considering putting TOS on stand under voir dire – inquiring as to TOS’s state of mind, ability to speak – but this is limited cross-examination – just one possible tactic of many which he will consider along the way.
Right now he wants IMMEDIATELY in detail Maria’s description of Katsaris’s sexual molestation of her – when, where, how, how many times, any witnesses, when she wait so long to tell of it, was she afraid of retaliation, embarrassment, what was your reason for telling it at all, every specific description possible.
He says Sandy Ingram [aka Sandy Bradshaw] should not attend any public functions, including services here, and that she definitely should not be around to accept service. He is worried about her statement to the Press Democrat that “we know it’s true”…
Re LA asian case: AG has requested an extension of time to file opening brief 1 month.
Re Opportunity blood tests by UC doctor: the child has to be present as well as all parties. But he gave permission to write to the doctor and ask if these tests can be conducted out of the country.
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TIM STOEN: [handwritten word: “chameleon”]
I. Staunch anti-Communist – Christian – Rotarian
1960 Wheaton College (Illinois) graduate
1961-62 Rotary Foundation Graduate Fellowship
1962 Trip to East Germany, “…to see what it is like behind the Iron Curtain”.
“I saw … what a police state can do to individual human beings … the most startling and disconcerting experience of my life.”
“The restrictions of the communist police state are as bad as you read about…”
“It is extremely difficult to have an underground spying system because you can’t trust anybody.”
“But when you see what people like you and I have to go through. They just want one thing. They want freedom to think and act as they see fit.”
All I can do is anguish about the problem and pray to God that it won’t last forever.
1962 Address to Rotary Club: “The first thing I noticed was the blank expressions on the faces of everyone. You could tell they were just waiting for the day they might have some freedom.”
“Fifteen hours in Communist hands.”
“Stoen had a happier experience in West Germany … a little old lady recognized him as an American. ‘She told me that she loved Americans for the kindness she received from them at the close of World War II.'”
1965-67 Prosecutor – Deputy District Attorney
II. Conversion to Socialism
1970-76 Joins Peoples Temple – a socialist collective in Redwood Valley. Served as chief legal counsel to Rev. James Jones, a Marxist and outspoken critic of inequities and injustices within the United States as well as throughout the world. Tim Stoen advocates concepts of extreme revolutionary orientation, beyond the limits of humanitarian socialism practiced by Temple members as taught by Rev. Jones. Serves as Deputy District Attorney in Mendocino County, and maintains membership in several social reform programs – ACLU, NAACP, Legal Aid and Defense Association.
1976-77 Turning again to former conservatism
Moves to San Francisco to take on the job of prosecuting alleged voter fraud, mainly aimed at Delancey Street Foundation, a progressive prison rehabilitation movement which has been politically progressive.
1977 Takes up prosecution of Chicano bus drivers union members. Called to South America by Rev. Jones to help establish Guyana project, thus never completing his surprising new project.
August, 1977 Stoen returns from South America to “set the record straight” on allegations that he was afraid of Jim Jones. While no longer a member of the organization, he makes clear “I have always made known my esteem for Jim Jones.” Claimed he was suing New West and Mendocino Grapevine for slander, that he intended to set up law practice in Ukiah, and establish an organization of “idealistic young lawyers” to fight for the rights of the religiously persecuted. He has “worked with the US legal system long enough to trust it” and states, “I’ll put my trust in the system”. Steals a line from Charles Garry, “I’m a street fighter. Someday people will come to appreciate that I’m a street fighter.” At this point, his beliefs are still allegedly
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“closely linked with those of Rev. Jim Jones.”
Feb. 1978 Stoen claims he is forced to a head-on collision with a man he highly respects because he has decided to claim fraternity to John Victor [Stoen] and to represent his ex-wife [Grace Stoen] in efforts to take John Victor from his natural father, Jim Jones. Stoen explains why he signed documents admitting Rev. Jones’ paternity: claims it was an “act of faith” to show that he was a good follower. His opinion at the time, he says, was that the documents would be ineffective in a court of law. At this point, he claims that this one custody case is his only quarrel with a great man, Jim Jones.
April 1978 Forms a small band of followers which he calls “Concerned Relatives” most of whom are former members with no relatives in Guyana. Runs the organization out of his Montgomery Street law office. Leads this little band in a demonstration to the door of San Francisco Peoples Temple to hand over a petition alleging human rights abuses. Later the same month leads the same band on a demonstration in Los Angeles. Now he is accusing Rev. Jones of every conceivable kind of crime, but with no facts, no evidence to back his claim. He is in association with people who, according to the owner of the Ukiah Daily Journal, are threatening to “hire mercenary soldiers to raid Jonestown by force.” He has filed three lawsuits against the Temple. One is representing a couple who told their niece in Guyana that “You ought to all be killed. Every one of you.”