B-1-l-7
[letterhead of law firm of Luckhoo & Luckhoo, Georgetown, Guyana]
26/6/78
My dear Charles,
This serves to acknowledge with grateful thanks your kind letter.
I now await John McRae’s assessment. Bless you & thanks!
I told our friend the character who has gone to the US with some of their funds cannot be brought back & the Criminal Action can only be initiated if she returns here. I wonder whether you acting for the People’s Temple might not write her and you are in & seek to [illegible word] the fear into her that unless she returned the money we will seek to take action.
With personal regards & warm wishes for your health & happiness & thanks!!
Lionel
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B-1-l-8
[Letterhead of Eugene Chaikin]
July 22, 1976
Ms. Paula Adams
P.O. Box 893
Georgetown, Guyana, South America
Dear Paula:
Our friend has asked me to try to find some sort of health insurance that will cover people over 60 years of age. As you know, our present policy doesn’t. I surmise that there may be health insurance companies who have agents or offices in Trinidad who might offer such coverage and may not have agents in Guyana. When I looked for health insurance we only looked through all the agencies in Georgetown. Is there any way that you could check with the insurance agents in Port of Spain to see if there are any others that write this kind of insurance? I am sure that there is a Port of Spain telephone directory some place. Then you might be able to write a series of letters. I wish you would please do this because our friend is very much concerned that we try to cover this – largest single unprotected area that we have down there.
I am going to continue to try to work on the problem up here as well. I contacted Blue Cross and we did have it checked through their underwriting and sales department but no soap.
I just saw the films that our friend brought back from Jonestown. They were exquisite. You just can’t imagine how homesick they made me feel – I really wanted to be there with you all so badly.
I was impressed with the good work that has been done, the electrical systems, the arrangements for the animals; everything looked very, very nice.
Here, we are all well and working like beavers. Our levels of activity seem constantly to be increasing. We look forward to the coming day when we all may be together.
Very, very truly yours,
/s/ Gene
Gene
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B-1-l-9a
Eric Clark
7 Brickdam & Mandet Place
Stabroek
Dear Eric:
I am writing you on behalf of Peoples Temple in the hope that cur communications will be improved in the future. I wish to offer you my apologies for difficulties in communications that have occurred in the past due to no one’s fault. It is my hope that by putting specific questions to you in a written form, and by receiving written replies from you, we may better facilitate our relationship.
The first issue is that of VINCENT LOPEZ, JR. Vincent was born on 26 February 1963. Accordingly, he is now 15 years and [illegible number] months of age. He first came to the project in June of 1976 and has remained there ever since. He was sent here by his legal guardian, one ’Walter Jones, Jr. The guardianship was formally established in the Superior Court of Alameda County, California.
From the time that he entered Guyana, he has been here ever since; and his guardian, who brought him here, was in Guyana only once briefly in 1976. For all intents and purposes, Vincent is a self-supporting member of our community. Neither Vincent nor I have received any communication from Walter since July of 1976. Consequent on my being down here, last month I arranged to have a motion filed to be released as attorney of record in the guardianship case because I was not in a position to make the formal court reports required in that I had no way of communication with Walter Jones. [Handwritten notation: “This motion was granted.”] Nevertheless, Walter Jones has been for several years a member of the group in the United States that has been functioning with hostility towards our community. He is the lover of Grace Stoen and the person that she ran off with at the time she abandoned John; and, of course, Vincent was abandoned by Walter as well in the process. (Grace left with Walter after Jim Jones refused to be whitemailed by her into marriage. She took up with him out of spite. He is a known racist and hated blacks, Indians, etc. She was told in the first place that Jim Jones was not romantically involved with her and he told her that. Her husband had asked him to do it to keep her from lying and hurting people as she had strong right wing press connections at that time.)
Our question is simply put: What defenses if any would exist in the event that Walter Jones were to attempt to retrieve Vincent from Guyana using legal process? Secondly, if defenses do exist, is there anything we can do between this date and Vincent’s sixteenth birthday to better secure his legal right to remain in Guyana? If–adoption is an alternative, please simply outline the steps that should be taken. (I believe that his mother is dead and his father is in jail.)
The next subject deals with a financial transaction that we would like to enter into which would require, we feel, your help in obtaining government approval.
We say whitemailed: because of the derogatory use of black, as in black, black balled, blackened your name, etc. – is racist usage.
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B-1-l-9b
We are presently holding checks (mostly Social Security income) issued from the United States in U. S. dollars to residents of Jonestown, which have been endorsed by them in blank. We need to utilize these funds which would total perhaps several thousands of dollars for the purchase of certain equipment in the United States and England to be sent here: primarily mechanical equipment and sheet aluminum. We don’t have that much margin and we are not yet self-sufficient by any means and with all of the work that our free medical clinic does, taking so many Guyanese in our headquarters, and giving the free medical care here in what one news agency called the best free medical clinic — free or otherwise that he had ever seen.
Due to certain provisions of the United States relative to the administration of Social Security funds, it is in our best interest that these funds be deposited in a bank in Guyana. What we would like to arrange is that the checks be deposited in the Bank of Guyana, and the checks then would be forwarded to the United States where they would be deposited with a bank there for the purpose of collection.
We would then like those funds made available for our use in the United States or England either by (a) re-deposit in an account which we would establish, or (b) by means of drafts written directly from the Bank of Guyana’s New York account. In that we have ordered goods in the United States and England, the funds would remain unused for a period of three to four weeks only. We would like you to approach the officials of the Bank of Guyana and, if possible, work out this transaction, giving us the detailed steps of how it is to be completed.
We would of course be most concerned about the charges the bank would impose for this service. In that we would be using the bank as agent for collection of the checks only, it appears to us that normal bank charges with respect to currency exchange transactions would not be applicable. We are hoping that this particular item would receive your immediate attention in that we are currently very much pressed to receive the goods that can be purchased with these funds.
The next subject matter deals with our new Guyanese corporation. We would like to know its status at this time, further, we have the following questions: First, is it required that Guyanese citizens be directors of the corporation? If so, what percentage of the directors? Further, we would wish to knew if it is possible that certain prestigious Guyanese such as yourself might be willing to sit as members of the Board, and, if, in your opinion, it would be to our best interest to make such an arrangement.
As you know, we keep funds in an “external account.” There seems to be some question as to whether or not changing these accounts from, the old corporation to the new corporation would in some way affect the status of those funds. If it would not, please let us know. If it would make a change, please indicate the nature of the change in status that would take place as a result of the transfer of funds to the new corporation’s account.
We would also appreciate knowing if any steps have been taken to transfer our agricultural lease in the Northwest Region, and our real property in Georgetown. If this has not been done, we feel it should be done at this time. Please draw and forward to us all of the documents or instruments that might be required in order to complete this transaction.
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B-1-l-9c
I realize that it will be some additional effort to reduce your answers to these questions into writing, but it is our hope that ultimately it will create a savings in time on both of our behalfs in that questions that have been put’ need be answered only once, and that we will have a clearer line of communication and a more accurate reference for our concerns. If you would be so kind as to prepare a memo or letter of response, we will see to it that someone from our Georgetown office will pick it up from your office as soon as he or she is notified that it is prepared, and will see to it that it is forwarded to me in Jonestown.
Please accept our warmest regards to yourself and your father.
Cooperatively yours,
/s/ Eugene B. Chaikin
Eugene B. Chaikin
P. S. In an act of showing hostility to Jim’s child, she would take the child into the garage and would tell him that she was going to make love. (The child has it implanted in his brain; we haven’t talked about it for some months but I presume he still has it there though we have tried to get his mind off of it.) He was locked in this garage and listening to them jump up and down on beds and it put a shock on him that caused him to jump off a balcony. If she were a .sane woman and not filled with insane passions Jim would never have gone through this — so much cost, and put our people through so many dangers and made the conspirators much more vicious against us.
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B-1-l-10
(Rough of letter to Eric Clarke)
Clarke & Martin
Solicitors
7 Brickdam & Mandet Place
Georgetown 11, Demerara
Guyana
November 12, 1978
Dear Eric,
Thanks for your replys to my recent letters. They were helpful. I am enclosing the original LEASE OF STATE LAWS FOR MIXED FARMING PURPOSES which was granted to the original Peoples Temple Corporation, formed by Act of Parliament. We do wish you to begin the transfer, but please inform us first if the transfer procedure requires the publication of a notice, or any mention In the Gazette. There is also the conveyance to the Lamaha Gardens property, which I believe is in the Georgetown office. I am asking them by a copy of this letter to take that to your offices as wall.
You may recall I asked you a question concerning collection of debts from the U.S.A. While I was interested in the Jurisdictional aspects, I was really more concerned about the practicalities of the matter. Namely : 1) would local courts require original accounts, documents, etc and an official of the company to prove the claim?, and 2) would local courts honor the same paper in the hands of a Guyanese assignee for collection? Could the assignment itself be proved by the Assignee? What I am trying to figure out is whether there is a real problem of a creditor from U.S.A,, where we have several large lawsuits pending against the parent corporation, attempting the collection of a Judgement against the subsidiary corporation, or our new corporation. Any thoughts that you might have on the matter are most welcome.
Regards.
Yours sincerely
Eugene B. Chaikin
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B-1-l-11 is duplicate of B-1-l-10
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B-1-l-12a
June 20, 1978
Mr. Eugene E. Chaikin
P.O. Box 893
Mission Village
Georgetown, Guyana
Re: Guardianship of Vincent Lopez, Jr.
Alameda Superior Action No. 204 108-7
Dear Mr. Chaikin:
At June Crym’s request, I appeared for you at a citation hearing in the above-captioned matter. The citation asked that you appear and explain why an inventory, appraisement and account should not be filed in the Lopez guardianship. At the hearing, I told Judge John Sparrow that:
1) You have been and will be outside the United States for an unknown period.
2) The Lopez file shows that in April 1977 you had prepared a first account showing no assets and no income in this estate. The account was never filed because you were unable to obtain the Guardian’s signature.
3) On August 19, 1977, you sent a letter to Walter Jones, in care of Joseph A. Mazor and Associates, P.O. Box 99717, San Francisco, California 94109, containing a substitution of attorneys. The substitution, apparentlv, was never signed, returned to you and filed.
Judge Sparrow asked some questions about the minor’s assets and income, and whether he is in “South America with some group.” 1 told the Judge that the only information which I could relate is what is shown in your file. At my request this matter has been continued until Wednesday, September 20, 1978, so that I may obtain further information from you.
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B-1-l-12b
I wish to file a motion, on your behalf, to withdraw as counsel for the Guardian, and an affidavit in support of your motion and in .response to the citation. The following information should be set forth in your affidavit:
a) That I am authorized to appear in this citation on your behalf.
b) The approximate date you left the U.S., and the approximate date you plan to return, if known.
c) What efforts you made to reach the guardian and file an inventory and account. The response or lack thereof by the guardian.
d) The last date, time and place you had any contact or communication with the guardian.
e) Any information you have about the assets and income of the Ward. (The petition states, “The extent of the estate of the minor is unknown at this time but will consist mainly of county benefits received monthly for the care of said minor.)
I would suggest that your affidavit be prepared so as to comply with Evidence Code Section 1454, a copy of which is enclosed.
Very truly yours,
James Herndon
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B-1-l-13a
[irrelevant letter]