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Letter to Debbie Layton from Lisa Layton
April 27, 1978
Debs – all is fine with Lenora and me. We moved from Tr.5 [troolie 5] to the one Clara and Kay are in because we need our former one for guests. We surely are having our share of guests, as you know. The Troolie we are in now stays cooler during the day than our former one. Everyone is congenial. In a way I feel more comfortable now that there are several of us instead of just Lenora and me, because people always ask about just 2 of us being in the old Troolie and I felt uncomfortable about that. The walking is good for me! Here are some of the new things we will be doing. Don Fitch is going to look into building a shithouse structure on wheels. That way we can roll it off and burn what’s in the pit and then roll it back, instead of building a new toilet. Also we have started to grow wing beans which are as high in protein as soybeans. They grow here and some of the humid climates elsewhere and are little-known. J. read us a research and scientific reports from US universities on the subject. It would mean a meat substitute and a great boost to feeding hungry people in the underdeveloped countries. The wing bean is a legume and puts nitrogen back into the soil – therefore acts as a fertilizer at the same time.
Paula is also in our cottage but she is hardly ever there. When we had the journalist visiting us I did some translating for his wife who spoke no English and just a little high school German. I went along on the tour of the premises to the piggery and tried to translate to her what J. said to her husband. He spoke English and understood it well. Our socialist classes are getting really good. Harriet [Tropp] and Vernetta [Christian] are my teachers. Harriet is excellent. J. gives us the news now every day and we will have
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tests. He repeats them many times which gives most everyone a chance to get the news at one time or another. Everyone – old and young are taking notes. We all had to turn in a 2-page report on the news last socialist class and high schoolers a 3-page report. We have maps of Africa, South America, Guyana – in short the world hanging in the pavilion and everyone is studying. It really is a great thing how everyone is studying and learning. J. is such a great teacher. It’s really wonderful to see all the seniors taking notes and discussing the news. Guess I am repeating myself – I was writing and trying to listen to news at the same time!
Looks like you will have to boiling your drinking water or use bleach in Georgetown or maybe I got the wrong impression? Someone said that you had problems with your water; if that is the case you are responsible to see to it that it is boiled.
Be sure to write to the old asshole!
I wrote to Larry and comrades on the 3rd and 4th floor.
Last night all of Jonestown had a test on world events. There were 15 questions. One set for under 65 years and the other 15 for over 65. I did okay. Dad read the questions to us.
So long – hard to share & other comrades.
Peace and love, Lisa
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Statement of Lisa Layton following Debbie Blakey defection
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This is a short explanation of what happened to me after I found out that my daughter Debbie Blakey had left us (for good I suppose). An the circumstances under which she left. – When Jim first told me, I was shocked and could hardly believe that this was really true. For the longest time I rationalized, trying to understand her behavior, but as time went on and statements were published about us in the States, which she had made, I slowly realized that she was committing an evil act against us.
It was a terrible realization and as much as I tried not to let it get me down, and as loving and understanding Jim Jones was, trying to comfort me, it had its bad effects. My health, which was good after a serious cancer operation in the States last September started to go down. I lost weight, started to feel weak and developed several physical complaints that I hadn’t had up to that point. I worried constantly, and Debbie’s leaving us became an obsession. – I have heard about people
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dying of grief or a broken heart and I suppose that this was what was happening to me to a lesser degree in the sense that I was not dying. –
Jim requested that Dr. Schacht give me a complete physical, and I had x-rays and just about every test imaginable. All of them were negative. Anyway, I was put in our hospital for complete rest, special foods and vitamins, and I am recovering. –
Debbie is the youngest of 4 children. When she was 7 years old her oldest brother left for college, followed by her sister and another brother, all within 3 years. They all left for UC at Davis. During the same time I decided to take a job, and my mother-in-law came to take care of Debbie. It was during this period Debbie became a problem. First her grades became poor. As she got older she began to associate with the delinquent element
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in her classes. We moved her from Garfield Junior High to “Bentley’s” (a private school) and back to public school, all in Berkeley. Then we enrolled her in El Cerrito High and next at the High school in Davis, California, where she stayed with friends of ours. As a last resort center to a Quaker boarding school in Ackworth, England.
Even there she continued to be a problem. She did meet a fine young man in her school, whom she later married and who was a member of our group here now and has been for many years. – The reason I am giving her background is to explain her personality. – She underwent a complete change when she became a member of Peoples Temple some 10 years ago after her older brother (who was also with us) introduced her to the group. She became dependable, and very capable and efficient. Besides working for the church she completed training as an operating room
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technician.
After my right lung was removed at Kaiser Hospital in Oakland, California, she and another young friend cared for me at the Temple. It was during this period that I became very attached to her.
The care I received was beautiful – but that is beside the point, even though it may explain in part why I became so attached to Debbie.
I have heard of people having split personalities, but never normally have had an experience with such a person. I am wondering at this point if this is Debbie’s problem.
Lisa P. Layton
July 2, 1978
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Letter to Debbie Layton from Lisa Layton
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Dear Debbie – I have been in extensive care for [illegible word] now. I got sick after I heard that you left and how you left. It was a terrible shock to me and somehow I have not been able to get over it. I am receiving the best of medical care. Even though, I cannot get rid of the feeling of a great [illegible word]. It is with me at all times. Actually what you have done is worrying me into the grave. This is pretty strong language but it is true. – I had the worst guilt feelings thinking back to the time when you were little and how I failed you by keeping things confidential that you trustingly told me and I discussed these matters with your Dad. Also I did not support a strongly enough when Wanda [illegible name] became hysterical because you told one of her children the babies were not born through the navel. However all of that is just history now.
You know that we are socialists and making
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a beginning in a new land. You also know that what we have done with our agriculture is spectacular, and could not have happened without cooperation. It looks to me that you really did not understand socialism in its beginning stages. You gave up 3/4 up the hill – and that is a shame – Right now we are planning to build 100 more houses. Phil [Blakey] keeps at picking up lumber for us. Larry is working 1/2 time with x-rays and the rest of his time with the Alaskan sawmills. Also we are getting another sawmill to speed up production. There are constant changes and improvements –
The best thing that could happen to me personally is your return. Others have left in the past and come back. You
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know how forgiving Jim is. – What I cannot understand is that after leaving as you turned around and told lies and twisted stories. I read copies of the paperwork that were sent to us by either you or [Tim] Stoen. Why did you participate in their evil efforts? Were you afraid that something might happen to you if you had asked Stoen not to bother you? I wish you would stop harming us. And I wish you would come back. People have left before and returned and were lovingly received by Jim and all the rest of us. I surely hope you will go back to your old pattern, because you won’t make it this time.
I love you –
Mom
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Ms. Lisa P. Layton
PO Box 15157
San Francisco, California 94115
[letterhead of David S. Saxon, President, University of California]
May 25, 1978
Dear Ms. Layton:
I am embarrassed to write you so long after your formal retirement date, but I want you to know that I am most impressed with your long service am very pleased that you have found the University worthy of your commitment for so many years.
I am grateful for your help.
Sincerely,
/s/ David S. Saxon
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