[Editor’s note: The last three pages of this eight-page serial is a memorandum written by an FBI agent in August 1978 concerning an interview he had with a former Temple leader. The interview subject, whose name is deleted, is Tim Stoen. Other deleted information from the memorandum – designated by brackets – is known to the editor and has been indicated by red type.]
Transmit [illegible word] by Facsimile
To: ATTN.: MR. MONTIFIORE DIV G
From: FBI SAN FRANCISCO
Date: 11/19/78
Time Transmitted: 7:16
Subject: PEOPLE’S TEMPLE OF THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST
JAMES JONES, aka Jim Jones, Temple Leader
Please deliver immediately to Supervisor [name deleted], Division 6.
Mr. [deleted name] attached are the pertinent serials involved in captioned case.
[Page 2]
United States Government
Memorandum
CHARLES HINER
SUPERVISOR SQ 10
Date: 11/19/78
To: [name deleted]
Subject: PEOPLE’S TEMPLE OF THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST
JAMES JONES, aka Jim Jones, Temple Leader;
On November 19, 1978, at 12:30 am, a Mr. [deleted name] who lives at [deleted address], Ukiah, Ca. 95482, [deleted telephone] contacted the writer.
Mr. [deleted name] advised that the PEOPLE’S TEMPLE of Ukiah, Ca. was shipping large crates (supposedly arms) to Guyana. Mr. [deleted name] said that their [there] is evidence to support his claim that the PEOPLE’S TEMPLE stores these large crates in the rear of the building until they are shipped to Guyana via the Temple’s own ship.
[deleted name] work number is [deleted telephone] if he can not be reached at home.
This information being furnished to aid in the possible investigation of the PEOPLE’S TEMPLE.
[Page 3]
United States Government
Memorandum
SA [Special Agent] ROBERT F. PEVAHOUSE
Date: 11/18/78
Subject: PEOPLE’S TEMPLE OF THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST
JAMES JONES, aka Jim Jones, Temple Leader;
INFORMATION CONCERNING
On 11/18/78, [deleted name], Investigator, District Attorney’s Office, San Francisco, California, advised his office had in the past conducted extensive investigation concerning the People’s Temple, although they do not have current case open in this regard. This investigation included monitoring of messages between the People’s Temple in San Francisco and their settlement in Guyana.
In view of the reported killing of Congressman LEO RYAN and others in his party at Guyana today, he wants to advise any information they have which may be of interest to this office would be made available. He can be reached through his office, telephone [deleted] or at his home, telephone [deleted].
[Page 4]
United States Government
Memorandum
SA [deleted name]
Date: 11/18/78
Subject: PEOPLES TEMPLE OF THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST
JAMES JONES, aka Jim Jones, Temple Leader;
INFORMATION CONCERNING
On 11/18/78, [deleted name] Reporter with the Examiner Newspaper, telephonically advised than in connection with the reported story that Congressman LEO RYAN had been killed in Guyana, he had been in contact with the member of the RYAN party in Guyana. He advised this person indicated several other people with him felt that members of the Peoples Temple in the Bay Area will try to harm the families of the people in RYAN’s party. Mr. [deleted name] stated the person he spoke with in Guyana did not hear any specific threats, but, both he and several others in the group were afraid their relatives would be harmed.
Mr. [deleted name] stated his source wanted him to call the FBI in San Francisco and furnish them with the following list of names of members of the Peoples Temple who might be responsible for any assaults on relatives in the Bay Area, if they should occur:
SANDY BRADSHAW aka Sandy Ingram
LEONA COLLIER
JUNE CRYM
TOM ADAMS
TIM CLANCY
TERRY BUFORD
TED HOLLIDAY
BONNIE BECK
CLAIRE JANARO
MIKE CLINGMAN [KLINGMAN]
PATTY CHASTIN [CHASTAIN]
PAT MARTIN
JEANNIE BROWN
TIM JAMES CARTER
[Page 5]
United States Government
Memorandum
Supv. Charles Hiner
Date: 11/19/78
Subject: People’s Temple of the Disciples of Christ
At approx.. 12:30 pm, writer was contacted by Mr. [deleted name] of Portland, OR. Mr. [deleted name] telephonically related information concerning the possible development of suicide pact within the People’s Temple.
According to Mr. [deleted name], Jim Jones, (leader of the People’s Temple) has initiated a suicide pact among his followers. In accordance with the suicide pact, Jones’ followers are to complete the execution of the hit list which names several of the party’s enemies. After the completion of this hit list, the followers are to execute their children and then commit suicide.
Mr. [deleted name] supplied SF FBI with the names of a [deleted name] who is reportedly an ex-member of the People’s Temple. [Deleted name] indicated that [deleted name] has a list of members of the People’s Temple who are planning attacks on enemies of the Temple. Upon receiving a telephone call from [deleted name], writer determined that the given names appear on the memo written by SA [deleted name] on 11/18/78. [deleted name] indicated that she can be reached at [deleted phone].
Be advised that SFPD, (Officer [deleted name]) and the District Attorney’s Office (investigator [deleted name]) have been notified of the above information.
[Page 6]
United States Government
Memorandum
SA [deleted name]
Date: 8/28/78
Subject: PEOPLES TEMPLE OF THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST
JAMES JONES, aka Jim Jones, Temple Leader;
INFORMATION CONCERNING
Attached to and considered a portion of this memo are various newspaper clippings relative to captioned church. Additionally, attached is one copy of a transcript of a radio broadcast between captioned church members in the US and Guyana, South America, and one copy of code names used in the broadcast. Attached broadcast and code list was supplied by [TIMOTHY OLIVER STOEN]. Also attached is an affidavit of [DEBORAH LAYTON BLAKEY] regarding the threat of possible mass suicide by members of the People’s Temple, a copy of the letter to all US Senators and Members of Congress dated 3/14/78 People’s Temple stationary and signed by [PAMELA GAIL MOTON] and an affidavit of [deleted name, almost certainly YULANDA CRAWFORD] showing the teachings and practices of Reverend JAMES WARREN JONES in Guyana, South America.
July 28, 1978, this Agent interviewed [STOEN] who is an [deleted information] at his office, [deleted address] San Francisco, CA 94102, telephone [deleted number] at the request of Mr. [deleted name].
[STOEN] explained he had previously been associated with captioned church as a member and is [deleted information] for the church. He advised that he had known the pastor, JIM JONES, for several years and at the time he had been considered a high officer in the church. [STOEN] advised he had been attracted to JONES due to his very liberal philosophy has promise of utopia for
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the oppressed masses. [STOEN] stated that he has since determined that JONES is a “phony humanitarian” and is in fact a “power-hungry con.”
[STOEN] advised that JONES and 1,100 church members had moved to what was supposed to have been a Utopian community in Guyana, South America, which is known as Jonestown. He said Jonestown is in fact a forced labor camp located in the middle of the Guyanan jungle. [STOEN] described the community as being closed to the outside world and under the complete domination of JONES, will not allow anyone to leave.
[STOEN] advised that JONES has such a charismatic hold on the 1,100 church members but very few have attempted to escape and that the ones that have made such an attempt could not get through the dense jungle and were soon recaptured to be punished by being given an opportunity for self-examination and self-criticism while housed in a “tiger cage.” [STOEN] stated that he [deleted information] have been in Guyana, but he [deleted information] had escaped. He advised that [JOHN STOEN] continues to reside with JONES and Jonestown and JONES refuses to give [JOHN STOEN] up. [STOEN] stated he has brought this matter to the attention of the US State Department and has filed a suit to obtain [JOHN STOEN] in Guyana. He advised that to date his attempts to obtain [JOHN STOEN] have been unsuccessful.
[STOEN] advised that the majority of the background the church and his conflict with the church is contained in the attached news articles. He stated he and some of the former members of the church have taken up a legal battle against JONES and the church. He advised that as a result JONES has become angry with [deleted information]. He advised that [deleted name] who has [deleted name] in Jonestown, lives in [deleted] and has been in contact with the FBI. He advised that Deborah Layton had recently escaped from Jonestown and made statements to the press regarding the conditions in Jonestown. (See attached news clipping.)
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[STOEN] stated that he monitors radio broadcasts between JONES and members of the People’s Temple in San Francisco and that he has become concerned that JONES may be plotting to kill [deleted information] and himself. [STOEN] stated that it is possible that one of JONES’ enforcers, DONALD EDWARD SLY, maybe flying to the US from Guyana be in Miami, Florida, inward to San Francisco for the purpose of neutralizing the above group. He stated that it is possible that SLY may be carrying explosives with him. [STOEN] went on to explain that the above is an assumption made by him, that he has no evidence to back up his feeling, but he feels that JONES has the potential for committing such an act.
[STOEN] stated he is not aware of Jones having done anything illegal and he has no evidence that JONES is actually plotting against him or anyone else’s life. He advised he was aware there was no grounds for the FBI opening an active investigation in this matter. But he did want to make his information a matter of record with the FBI in the event something did happen that fell within the scope of the FBI. [STOEN] also advised that [deleted name] has advised him she is sorry she has become involved in the controversy about JONES and she does not desire to speak with the FBI or police. [STOEN] stated he is in an unusual position because [deleted name] is not only a friend and associate, but since he is her legal counsel.
RECOMMENDATION: File for reference.