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Undated, final page of Jim Jones Affidavit
I did nothing either with respect to the church or with respect to my own personal legal affairs without first consulting him and getting his legal approval. From sometime in 1969 through the summer of 1972, and again from January of 1973 through the summer of 1975 he was my, and the church’s, only legal adviser. Everything that was done in connection with Maria Katsaris, James Cobb, and Mabel and Wade Medlock, was done with his informed advice and consent. I was very greatly saddened by his departure in 1977.
I have read the affidavits of Jack Beam, Eugene Chaikin, Joyce Parks, Maria Katsaris, Kay Nelson, Laeticia Leroy, Harold Cordell, Carolyn Layton Prokes, Carol Stahl, Terri Buford and Mike Prokes, and Harriet Tropp, and to the extent that I have personal knowledge of the things therein described, they are true and correct. I did consult privately with Tim Stoen about the Medlock gift, and Maria Katsaris’s problems with her father. I did consult with Tim Stoen about problems with Jim Cobb. In fact, I consulted with him privately in addition to publically about most of the problems of the church which had any kind of legal implication. I am sure that over the years he, through his legal knowledge and activities, gained more confidential information about Peoples Temple and its members than any other living person.
[blank signature line]
James W. Jones
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Undated, final page of Harriet Tropp Affidavit
Rev. Jim Jones, to the island of Grenada on a church business
project.
Another time, in late Fall of 1976, Tim Stoen, Carolyn Layton Prokes and myself met another ex-member of the church at
the apartment of Phyllis Houston at 998 Divisadero Street in San
Francisco, California. The woman we met there was Joyce Cable
Shaw. She had been living in the midwest, but returned for the
funeral of her husband, Robert Houston, Jr. Tim Stoen advised
that nothing be said to her, except in writing. At the time,
both Carolyn and I thought that this was a little ridiculous,
since there was nothing improper about the content of the
communication. Tim Stoen insisted, however, and he produced a
notebook with a message typed on one of the sheets inside,
covered with plastic, for Joyce Shaw to read. As I best recall the message said something about our esteem for her late
husband, and our hope that she would not try to pressure Mr.
and Mrs. Robert Houston, Sr. to take their grandchildren,
Patricia and Judy Houston, out of the church. The children’s
mother was a member of the church and still is. I think we were
concerned that Joyce might attempt to persuade the grandparents
to obtain custody over the children. Again, this was during the
period of “Moonie” conservatorship cases, and we were concerned
about that issue.
[blank signature line]
Harriet Tropp
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Undated pages of Eugene Chaikin Affidavit
familiar with all of the affairs, corporate, financial, religious and otherwise of the church structure. It is difficult to imagine any other person in the entire organization of this large church – which by the end of 1973 had some 20,000 members, maintained a fleet of 11 Greyhound-type busses which it serviced itself and regularly moved that caravan all over California and annually across the United States – who was more intimately familiar with all of the affairs of the church than Timothy O. Stoen. He seemed one of the most dedicated persons I have ever met – his life was his job and the church. He hardly took out time to eat and sleep. I suppose that his position can be best expressed by the office that he held for a number of years – Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Chief Legal Counsel.
The Guyana meeting occurred as follows. On or about April 23, 1977, at the San Francisco church we received a message from Tim Stoen requesting that Harriet Tropp and I come to Guyana for a legal conference. We were to drop everything and come at once. We did so and arrived in Georgetown, Guyana, as reflected by the date stamp on my passport, on April 27, 1977. We went at once to the house kept by the Peoples Temple Guyana organization at 41 Lamaha Gardens, Georgetown, and began a conference that continued til May 1, 1977 when, again according to the date stamp on my passport, we returned to the U.S.A. The conference lasted over 60 hours, allowing only time for some sleep. It took place in the large master bedroom in the rear of
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the dwelling. Present were Carolyn Layton Prokes, Terri Buford, Timothy O. Stoen, Jim Jones, Harriet Tropp and myself. Marceline Jones, wife of Jim Jones for [blank space for insert] years, was there from time to time.
Several subjects were discussed in detail. Among those was the risk that conservatorships might be attempted against some of the members and strategies to avoid them. Individual cases were discussed. In particular, we discussed the Maria Katsaris case. I can recall Tim Stoen saying that her father, Steve Katsaris, was an evil man, very dangerous to the church; that he was very hostile and would stoop to any level; that he was a “no good bastard” or words to that effect. He told us that Maria had told him in detail about how her father had molested her, that he personally had reviewed the facts and believed that Maria was telling the truth. He advised that he suggest to her that she come to Guyana to avoid the jurisdiction of the court; that if that were not immediately possible she should stay inside the San Francisco church and not go out; and that she should stay away from her father altogether but should write “nice” letters to him to mollify him. He also suggested that she disclose the
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facts that he had molested her, feeling that such disclosure would deter her father from further pursuit of her.
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Country of Guyana
Northwest District
City of Jonestown
Embassy of the U.S.A.
Before me, [blank space for insertion of name], Consul of the United States of America, personally appeared Caroly