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FBI Catalogue Jones Speaking
FBI preliminary tape identification note: Labeled in part “10/28/78 JJ”
Date cues on tape: Events of date match date on identification note
People named:
Teri Buford (by reference)
Bible verses cited: None
Summary:
(Note: This tape was transcribed, and this summary was written, by Katherine Hill. The editors gratefully acknowledge her invaluable assistance.)
As this short tape opens, an unidentified man declares that “he” – presumably Jim Jones – is fine and will be on his feet that night. “He’s going to get all of our enemies,” the young, likely African American male says defiantly.
Two short segments follow of Jones speaking about a traitor who has taken thousands of dollars from the Temple, an action which caused him to have a heart attack. He warns Jonestown residents not to talk or speculate about who the traitor might be, especially since he “can and will take care of the [traitor] without any difficulty.” Given that the date for this tape is at the end of October 1978, the traitor is undoubtedly Teri Buford, who left Georgetown with Mark Lane about that time.
The balance of the tape is recorded R&B and soul music.
FBI Summary:
Date of transcription: 6/13/79
In connection with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s investigation into the assassination of U.S. Congressman LEO J. RYAN at Port Kaituma, Guyana, South America, on November 18, 1978, a tape recording was obtained. This tape recording was located in Jonestown, Guyana, South America, and was turned over to U.S. Officials in Guyana and subsequently transported to the United States.
On May 24, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape numbered 1B68-20. This tape was found to contain the following:
The tape begins with an unknown male who states, “He’s fine, he’s alert. He’ll be on his feet tonight. Our enemies can’t kill him … he’s gonna get all our enemies. If he has to hire the Mafia he’ll get our enemies.”
JONES comes on and says, “I’m disturbed with a traitor … who stole our money … Traitors caused my heart attacks . . . Our enemies will die … All enemies will die – every last one of them.”
The rest of the tape is pop music.
Differences with FBI Summary:
The summary is accurate and meets the FBI’s purposes.
Tape originally posted June 2012