[Editor’s notes: The letters on this page derive from several sources, principally FBI Section 126 • EE-1 • Letters to Dad (N-Z); FBI Section 130 • EE-2 • Letters to Jim Jones; and FBI Sections 121-123 • BB-31 – BB-32 • Tim Stoen, D Touchette.
[Insofar as possible, these letters have been arranged in alphabetical order of the writer’s last name. Unless otherwise noted, the letters retain their original spelling and grammar.
[Peoples Temple member often used old reports and documents as scratch paper, using the reverse side of these pages for their letters. We have labeled and transcribed those scratch pages which include information about Jonestown.]
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Undated Note to Jim Jones from Chris Talley
EE-2-s-8a – 8b
Dad;
I did try to cut my wrist after you talked to me – it was before I was on the floor with Thurman [Guy]. I only wrote you a letter after you talk to me so I would know what to do about Ricky, and that I was carrying broken glass with me and that I could have run. I told you those things to let you know that I have control of myself. I didn’t use anything or do anything after you talked to me.
Chris Talley
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Letter to Jim Jones from Ron Talley, July 1978
EE-2-s-1a
31/7/78
Dad;
In the last couple of weeks Christine has been negative around me a few times. It has been for petty gripes about things like being able to type the news or Edith Roller not wanting to allow any talking after 11:00 PM in the cottage where her & Christine live.
One important thing she told me was that she listened to the 2 engineers from Georgetown under the house. I thought that was very poor judgment to tell me that.
Christine is a very passive female and I’m sure she has an attraction for me. Some people have asked me if Christine is my girlfriend because they see me with her and I usually don’t spend time talking to women very much so it must be very noticeable. The female I am most attracted to is Shanda James but I don’t intend to pursue it. Not that it could possibly be a mutual attraction.
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EE-2-s-1b
I am very happy here in Jonestown and find my job on Vacuum Storage very challenging and satisfying. Once in a while every argue with someone over a paint and I feel it is my fault for being stubborn when I feel I’m right. I feel I can work harder at my job and will do so in the future. I need to be more humble in all aspects of my life here because I am so very lucky to be here with you. Thank you for giving me another chance in this cause and teaching me and the whole community about the world picture and socialism. Socialism isn’t completely structured in some countries but whatever socialism a country has is better than all the filthy shit capitalism has to offer. You have provided us with a very rewarding socialist experience and it is improving every day.
Thank You Dad
Ron Talley
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Letter to Jim Jones from Ron Talley, September 1978
EE-2-s-6a – 6b
Dad;
I was saddened to hear about the violence in town during the visit by Don Freed. I can’t seem to understand people and why they do shit like that. The first time I’ve had to catch up on things I’ve wanted to do since I got here and it’s really been nice. It’s too bad we have to be geared to the people who probably won’t ever get the idea of what you are teaching us here. It’s not your fault, they don’t get it, Dad, they just refuse to see. I don’t like all the structure needed to control this shit and I don’t feel I need as much as some because I do want to be here and this is my home but I’ll go along with whatever it takes. I’m thankful to be here no matter what happens.
I still like some decadent music and laugh and joke too much but I don’t think these things will hurt anyone or divert me from my work here. I’m very interested in food storage and planning.
This is a good life for a guy like me, Dad, so I want you to know that you’ve done more than anyone else ever did for me and I won’t forget it. I’m sure there are many who are grateful for what you’ve done for us, so there is a lot of success here even though some won’t try to line up.
Thank you again
Ron Talley
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Undated Letter to Jim Jones from Ron Talley
EE-2-s-7a – 7d
Dad;
Christine [Talley] spoke about Debbie Blakey and said she told the papers that we put kids on ant hills, that we locked them in a box, that there were speakers all over town & fields that play sermons about religion all day. She told how she got drunk on some wine in the SF Temple. Also how Rick Cordell was screwing up on a trip to Chicago & how Jack Beam had to punch him in the nose once. I told how Rick bothered me about my bus driving and then told me how he was sexually attracted to me later. She said her mother writes that she really doesn’t feel that Christine is free to come and go as she told her. We talked of what sm asshole David Wise turned out to be.
Christine’s input was mostly on these subjects and she had very little input when Penny & I spoke about Tim Stoen & Deanna Myrtle [Mertle] being traitors & mentioned a few shitty things they had done.
I think Christine does miss the States and when the subject comes up she doesn’t come up with much negative to say about the States & conditions there.
I think Christine as a sexual attraction toward Sebastian McMurray [McMurry] and myself but she does not come around Sebastian since he got confronted on the floor. She is very paranoid in general as though her every move might give something away. I will continue to talk to her and let you know what she says.
The reason I have been talking to her is that she has an electric coffee pot and sometimes would give me some coffee or heat some up for me.
I hope I have not let you down by talking with her. I usually talk for a few minutes every other day.
I enjoy my job working on the barrels and find it very rewarding to see how well I can do it. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to live without looking for a drug or something to blank my mind out.
Thank you again
Ron Talley
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EE-1-T-7 – T-10
Undated note to Jim Jones from Ron Talley
Sunday
Dad;
Last night I spent 2 hours with Christine and Zaretta [Zuretti] Langston and her sister studying news. She did not say anything negative but I think that is because she knows I will report her. After that I was with her on the crew that makes night workers sandwiches with a few other people but that was just work & not much talking. I think it will take awhile before she would say something I might report.
I will keep you posted on what goes on from now because we have a study group for the news with myself, Zaretta [Zuretti] & Mary Anita [Marianita] Langston, Christine & possibly Dorothy Rollins & more may be added. If you feel that it would serve no purpose for me to spend so much time talking to Christine since she knows I will report I could just sort of drop out of that study group & get into the one that is going to start in cottage 47 where I live.
Thank you Dad
Ron Talley
P.S. I’m glad we are going to cut down on some of these planning committees & just get to work building Jonestown.
I was getting kind of frustrated going to committees & sub-committees & we did not seem to come up with any final solutions but just formed more committees each time we meant [met].
I am very satisfied on the barrel project and find it a challenge but very rewarding at the same time. I feel our food will be safe & clean for years and I’ll work very hard to that end.
I’ll never cease to be amazed by the way you have come up with the funds to take care of our needs. In the 9 months I’ve been here it’s been millions. You been planning while I was sleeping & working while I sat on my ass in the states. I do feel guilt for this every time you tell how much an item costs or I research further into our food storage & find out how much you are paying just for a meal here. Thank you for caring about us Dad.
Ron Talley
For Dads eyes only [written on the letter outside of letter when folded]
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EE-1-T-11 – T-14
Undated note to Jim Jones from Ron Talley
Dad;
Last Wednesday during our study group the subject of Debbie Blakey came up and during the conversation Christine said that a lot of people are coming up now and saying “Yea, I knew Debbie would be a traitor she never worked hard in San Francisco.” Christine said if they felt that way it was their responsibility to write it up & not wait until now and talk about it. She said Debbie had been her friend in the states and she was a hard worker there, then she said Debbie is a bitch.
Sunday Christine was in the food line complaining loudly about how slow it was going (it was going very slow compared to the usual). Later in the day I talked to her and she said “I’ll probably get written up for what I said in the food line this morning. Since then she has not been confronted this last few days I think she will have more to say to me. Christine seems to want to spill her guts if someone will just sit down and listen. She is a very passive female as I get to know her better & spends a lot of time on her own comforts and luxuries.
During our day off on Sunday I did not see any decadent behavior nor did others I asked about it. Many worked around cottages or washed clothes. There were not any groups of youth just hanging around but there was some music coming out of some cottages. If we do this more we will be able to see how it will really effect [affect] people. I think it kind of took people by surprise and they really didn’t know how to act. I know that I didn’t have anything planned and I spent a lot of time just reading and resting.
This new program for administration sounds real good to me and will cut away some of the time consuming committees & red tape so we can get something done. It looks like you are making a system that people can relate to better and & minipulate [manipulate] less.
Thank you Dad
Ron Talley
For Dad’s Eyes Only
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Undated Letter to Jim Jones from Bernice Thomas regarding Tim Stoen
EE-2-s-2
[Editor’s note: Spelling errors corrected throughout.]
dear Jim I think the reason you are sick because the way Tim Stone [Stoen] and all the rest of them that went up the church is doing and Tim Stone is the cause of it and the people here is not doing right they won’t do right they act like they hated one another and they act like they hate you and you do so much for us all and we all do so little to show you we do appreciate it Tim Stone is the cause of Chris [Lewis] being killed and that hurt you.
Bernice Thomas
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Confession of Gabriel Thomas, January 1978
EE-2-s-12a
[Editor’s note: Spelling errors corrected throughout.]
1-31-78
Dear Dad
This is my confession for holding up my hand last night when I did not understand all of the rules. I haven’t been here long now Dad and I am trying hard to learn all the rules. So please forgive me for this time, and I will try hard to be right the next time.
Thank you Dad
Gabriel Thomas
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Undated note from Scott Thomas
EE-1-S-102 – S-103
To: Dad
Re: Homosexual Feelings and Act’s
From: Scott Thomas, Jr
About 3wks ago – me and Marvin Janaro engage in a homosexual act. I suck his dick & he suck mine. We was going to do it in the boy’s shower but somebody came in – so we went to the boy’s shower by the cottages. There that’s when Dale Parks came in and wrote it up.
In the counciling session it was explain to me that what we did was anarchist. Even though I already knew about the rules. I am doing 3 months with Linda Sadler at the same time this happen. A decision wasn’t made if I should tell Linda Sadler what I did. So they told me to write it up and ask you.
Every so often I get this (urge) feeling to have an affair with a guy. I just want to have sex with the person (man) to release the sperm. Also to experience that “good feeling” [so-called Good Feeling] before a person gets ready to sperm.
About 3 or 4 days ago I have jack off in my bed. I know if I really wanted to; I don’t have to be going through these changes every time I get the feeling to do it with some guy. I am going to work on it.
Thank You Dad!
[Handwritten on reverse side of paper]: To: Dad Personal
To: Dad Personal
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Undated Confession to Jim Jones from Scott Thomas
EE-2-ij-11
To: Dad
c/o Maria K. [Katsaris]
Re: Russell Moton
Fr: Scott T. [Thomas]
(Fri night) Last night Russel & I had a homosexual affair in the Agriculture office. It was sometime after 12 midnight. After the entertainment last night, he came up by the PA. I told him I will meet him later. Then he said he would be in the agriculture office. When I came to the Agriculture office – it seem like he didn’t want to do it; I guess because he couldn’t find a place. Russell told me also that he had had an affair with Gary Tyler before. He thought I had already known about it from Gary. The agreement was I & him was supposed to meet in the tool shed in a house. I came there & waited for 20 minutes; so I left to check at the Agriculture office. All through the day when we came in contact, he smiled & spoke.
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Undated Letter to Jim Jones from Scott Thomas
EE-2-ij-12a
[Editor’s note: Spelling and grammatical errors corrected throughout.]
To: Dad
c/o Maria K. [Katsaris]
Fr: Scott Thomas, Junior
Re: Russell Moton
I told him that I have a problem which has been bothering me for several weeks. I told him I didn’t want to burden Dad with it, because I felt Dad would think badly of me, even though I really knew that he wouldn’t. I also told him that I didn’t want to write it up to Ava [Jones] or John [Moss Brown] because they might tell Dad. Told him of how Dad would say he’s tired of every fuckin complaints & why don’t peoples solve their own problems. Told him once when I told somebody my deep feelings – that person told me to write it up to someone else & that the person dissociated himself from me. Told him I was inhabited by people thoughts & what will people think of you after they found out about me. In response to all of this – this is what he said:
He told me about the time he had a homosexual affair with a guy outside the church & how it was mentioned publicly from the pulpit. He said he felt embarrassed. When it was mentioned, people who have thought of him as a good man, said “What…” (They was shocked by this). He told me that his friends didn’t treat him different after that. But for a couple of days he was at a low point. He said people forget what somebody has done in a day or two because other people are brought up on the floor, and there’s meetings after meetings; so a person tried to forget what you have done on the floor. He told me that Dad was tired of people who complain time after time about petty things. He said Dad wasn’t talking about the people who don’t ever complain who write things up. I told him I was a homosexual & I was attracted to him for some reason or another. He said I was attractive. Told him I wanted to have an affair (sex) with him. He asked me about Linda – what about her? I told him that Linda knows I mess around with guys & that she understood the problem I had and that she didn’t think of me any different than anybody else. He told me that Gary Tyler likes me. In response to this
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EE-2-ij-12b
I told him that before I went to Georgetown – 2 or 3 months before, I had an affair with him. I also told him that I told Gary in a nice way not to hurt his feelings that I don’t like him.
After all of this – he said he would go to bed & sleep on it. Also, last night – he said he will talk to me tomorrow night. Today when he came through the pavilion, he turned to me & smiled.
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The Writings of the Touchette Family
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Undated Note to Jim Jones from Le Flora Townes
EE-2-s-11
I think you worry more about your children being kidnap from you.
How to make money. Sell peanuts chicken or rice.
Le Flora Townes
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The Writings of Harriet Sarah Tropp
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The Writings of Rita Tupper [Lenin]
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EE-1-T-6
Undated confession from Ruth Tupper
I have a sexual attraction for Keith Wright
Ruth Tupper
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EE-1-T-18
Undated statement from Gary Tyler
Gary Tyler List of people I am attracted to
Name – What I like about the person
Keith Wright – I like his aggressiveness and physique
Jerry Wilson – I think he’s cute and gentle
Stanley Wright – His aggressiveness and physique
Sebastian McMurray – His eyes, smile, and strength and character
Chris Newall [Newell] – His build
Karl Burnett – His eyes, strength, body, and mannerisms
Joe Wilson – His aggression, strength, and physique
Ricky Johnson – His physique
Kenny Reed – His female mannerism and physique and his eyes
Lee Ingram – His aggression
Johnny Cobb – He’s cute
Ronnie Dennis – His body
Bruce Oliver – His physique and character
Ronnie James – His eyes, character, and understanding
Burrell Wilson – His looks
Preston Wade – His eyes and body
Calvin Douglas – His strength, body, and routy manner
Cardell Neal – His eyes and character
Johnny Jones – His eyes and character
Chris Rozynco [Rozynko] – His eyes and body
I have a sexual attraction for all of them; some more than others. Very few of them know it but they do respect it. I have been used by males. I’ve also been raped by males.
Gary Tyler
Thank you for your love and concern for all of us Father
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