L-1-a-1
[Letterhead of Joseph Freitas, Jr., San Francisco District Attorney]
May 1, 1978
Ms. Jean F. Brown
PO Box 15157
San Francisco, CA 94115
Dear Ms. Brown:
I have received your letter expressing your views concerning the child custody dispute currently pending between Mr. and Mrs. Timothy O. Stoen of San Francisco and the Reverend Jim Jones, now in Guyana, South America.
On November 18, 1977, the Superior Court of the State of California in and for the City and County of San Francisco order this office to “…take all actions necessary to locate Reverend Jim Jones and to secure Reverend Jim Jones’ compliance with his order…” Paragraph 4 of the court’s order states:
“It is ordered that Reverend Jim Jones will immediately deliver the minor, JOHN VICTOR STOEN, to the Petitioner, GRACE LUCY STOEN, or to her authorized representative.”
This office is now representing the Superior Court pursuant to Section 4604 of the California Civil Code. We still hope to be able to obtain voluntary compliance of the Reverend Jim Jones with the court’s order. Our role is that of attorney for the court and not as an advocate for either of the parties to this dispute.
Your expression of interest and concern is appreciated.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Joseph Freitas, Jr.
Joseph Freitas, Jr.
District Attorney
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L-1-a-2
[Letterhead of Law Office of CBS Television, Los Angeles, California]
June 20, 1978
Dear Mr. Chaikin:
Re: People’s Temple
This is in reply to your identical telegrams of June 4 addressed to Television Station KNXT, and on June 12 address to KCBS Radio in San Francisco, in which you asserted that their news stories about People’s Temple and its members are defamatory and interfere with the right of privacy of individuals.
Please be advised that the KNXT News coverage you mention was a straightforward series of television reports on a controversy in which certain individuals asserted that People’s Temple is holding some of the relatives who are People’s Temple members against their will in Guyana. The reports were factual and included interviews with persons who had differing views. However, Kathy Hunter was not mentioned, as you allege in your mailgram. The KCBS Radio reports were also similarly factual, and did include an interview with Kathy Hunter. An American State Department official also appeared on the KCBS series who voiced doubts that persons were being held against their will in Guyana.
We believe each of the stations’ reports to have been fair and factual news coverage. Accordingly, we must deny your charges.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Roselyn Brassell
Roselyn Brassell
Assistant General Attorney
Eugene B. Chaikin, Esq.
c/o People’s Temple
1859 Geary Boulevard
San Francisco, California
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L-1-a-3
[Letterhead of US Sen. Alan Cranston]
November 29, 1977
Mr. Richard D. Tropp
The Congregation of Peoples Temple
PO Box 15023
San Francisco, California 94115
Dear Mr. Tropp:
Many thanks for sending me the booklet describing The People’s Temple Agricultural Project in Guyana. I appreciate your bringing this to my attention and hope you will continue to keep me informed of the activities of the Peoples Temple.
Sincerely,
/s/ Alan Cranston
Alan Cranston