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Law Office 11/2/77
June Crym
Melissa Jackson –
She had gone to Los Angeles and obtained a copy of the transcript from her latest court hearing; I read it and she was right, the Judge did say, in response to her attorney’s specific question, that “all restrictions on the ability of Petitioner (Melissa) to remove the minor children (from the state) is deleted.” Last year’s order had stated “both parties are restrained from removing the children from the jurisdiction of the Court which this Court finds to be the State of California…” So it would appear she no longer has an order against her taking children out of state. I told her if she still wants to, she should ask her attorney to get this wording put in the order from the latest hearing, apparently it was left out. She showed me tonight a letter she received from [her] husband saying he’s coming from L.A. to SF to visit the children the weekend of 11/12. She’s objecting (1) because she doesn’t want him to take the kids; (2) because the court order specified he visit first and third weekends of each month, and this will be the second weekend.
I told her to call her attorney in L.A. collect and explain the situation and ask him to tell Ronald’s attorney her feelings re. visitation on the second weekend. I also reminded her that if Ronald followed the order of the court, he would be up here this coming weekend because this is the first weekend of the month.
She said if Ronald does come, she’ll take the kids and go out of the state. I told her to think about that a long while as it would be hard for her. I told her we could not tell her to take the kids and go.
She agreed to call her attorney.
Then later tonight after service, she asked me if they could go to the f.l. [Freedom Land]. [Marginal note “NO!”] I explained times are very close now, that we are under close scrutiny, that I could not definitely say yes or no, but that the timing now was difficult and I was doubtful. [Handwritten addendum to paragraph: “Both Ludella and Melissa are not bearing up well under the pressure.”]
Marie Mills, guardian of Kay Rosas’ child, Lee Anne Thompson, and foster mother of several children:
The parents of two of her foster children came to visit for 3 days a week ago.
They returned home, but mailed her a letter, COPY ATTACHED, which comes out pretty heavy against the church, for its security, etc., asks that she [balance of sentence struck out: “she return the children’s passports to their parents, and the letters of authorization they signed to let the children go on a trip.” Handwritten comment: “They should be returned.”]
Marie is foster parent of 6 children. She obtained permission from a social worker for them to travel with her on a “vacation” this year. However, the temporary nature of the permission, plus the hostility of the parents of the 2 children above, make it very difficult at this point to see any permanent travel. [Handwritten annotation: “Absolutely not”] Harriet [Tropp] and [Eugene] Chaikin are familiar with this case.
Bea Jackson
Has property in Abilene, Texas. As far back as 6/5/74, Bea was getting letters from City of Abilene saying this property was in violation of City Codes because it needed to be cleared of debris. Chaikin wrote letters looking for a buyer in Abilene; we got an offer. Then it turned out title was not clear in Bea’s name – there must be another person in joint ownership, perhaps a deceased husband. An attorney in Abilene wrote back saying some years ago Bea had another attorney there working on this, to clear the title out that
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attorney died. Chaikin had Bea look through her papers but she had no further info on this, so he wrote a letter back offering to settle the whole thing for $100. in 11/76. Got no response; 6/23/77 City of Abilene threatened fine of $200 if Bea didn’t get property cleared of debris. Now we’ve received a property tax bill of $10.46 on this same property. I would like to forget this – if we were going to sell this piece for $100 and the title is tied up on it, and Bea is overseas, we could let the taxes go unpaid and the City will eventually sell it for taxes. The time and legal expense of trying to clear title would be more than
$100. [line crossed out: “However, it is this woman’s property, and I would like for Harriet or someone to talk with her about it and get some feedback.” Handwritten notation: “We’ll talk with her. I agree with June.”]
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Glenn and Setsuko Smead
23 October, 1977
Hello Marie,
We arrived home after a pleasant trip. The only casualty was the cat. She just disappeared. Kimiko was fitted for glasses in LA by a Japanese Optician and in the office she could see better than with her old ones.
Waiting for you to bring the lotus root turned out to be a unique experience for us. We walked to the gate with the children so we would be sure to know where you would be coming in, intending to go back to the car and wait for you. I could not help noticing the security measures and this attracted my interest; a watchman at the gate, a back-up guard walking in the unmistakable manner of one carrying a gun, and three large dogs that barked only when a non-member appeared. It seemed a bit much for a church. As I turned to go back to the car I locked eyes with the brown dog. The longer I watched the more fascinating it was. He was barking as though he would tear a leg off if he had the chance, but his eyes and body language were saying something else. Also he continued to look straight into my eyes, a very unusual thing for a dog. I had the feeling that he was trying to tell me something.
By then the gateman had communicated with the inner office and people came out to talk to us. I commented on the security measures and the practice of barring parents from church services attended by their children and received the same stereotype responses as I heard two years before. I knew it was bullshit and told them so.
Marie, I know you are a sincere person and believe in what the church is doing, but you have not told us what goes on in a “Business” meeting. I now understand that the–term “Business” has a special meaning. To clarify a point, we granted permission for the children to go on a trip during the summer of 1977. This period is now past and we want to know more about the sponsors before we extend or renew that permission. For the present, we ask that you send us the passports for Bobby and Carol also to return the letters of authorization we have sent you. When we have learned more about Peoples’ Temple we will reconsider our decision. Any information you can provide will be considered. [Handwritten annotation: “Send the stuff back”]
In Love and Light
/s/ Glenn & Setsuko
[Handwritten notation at foot of page “Letter sent to Marie Mills by parents of 2 of her foster children”]