DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
COMMUNICATION MESSAGE FORM
DATE: 12/4/78
CLASSIFICATION: UNCLAS
PRECEDENCE: PRIORITY
FM DIRECTOR FBI (89-4286)
TO FBI SAN JUAN (89-123) PRIORITY
FBI SAN FRANCISCO (89-250) PRIORITY
LEGAL ATTACHE OTTAWA PRIORTY 1
BT
UNCLAS
RYMUR.
Re San Juan teletype dated December 1, 1978, regarding interviews in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Bridgetown, Barbados, particular reference made to interview of Charles Touchette.
The Bureau noted that San Juan’s interview of Charles Touchette, although thorough, is essentially negative regarding his knowledge of the People’s Temple (PT) operation, the murder of Congressman Ryan and any conspiracy to commit that murder or to assassinate other government officials of the United States. Charles Touchette is the father of Albert Touchette, who is now deceased. Albert is prime suspect in the murder of Con-
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gressman Ryan. Sufficient evidence has been developed by the FBI which establish probable cause for Albert’s arrest had he been returned alive to the United States from Guyana. San Francisco is aware of that evidence and Albert Touchette’s alleged role in the PT.
Further, although Touchette says that he was the administrator of the PT until the summer of 1977, he had no knowledge of any contingency by the PT regarding assassination of U.S. government officials or trouble that would ensue as a result of Congressman Ryan’s visit to Jonestown. This seemingly contradicts information furnished by Mrs. Clare Janaro which is set forth in retel indicating she signed statements alleging willingness to assassinate public officials as well as blank pages of paper later filled in with incriminating information.
The above, along with San Juan’s comment that Touchette and the others interviewed in Trinidad and Barbados appeared at times to be deceiving, indicates the possibility Touchette was untruthful in his interview.
San Juan should provide, if available, current U.S. address on Touchette and his itinerary re arrival in this
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country. Touchette should be reinterviewed and San Francisco should consider use of polygraph examination in this interview.
For information Legat Ottawa, Touchette advised that while he was administrator of Jonestown, Guyana PT camp, church moneys were deposited in either the Royal Canadian Bank or Bank of Canada. FBI is in receipt of information moneys possibly deposited in name of Esther Mueller and later transferred to Barklays [Barclays] Bank, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.
Legat Ottawa should determine from [name deleted] the existence of such a bank and any such account, account number, date opened and closed, authorized signatures, current balance, number and amount of transactions, as Department of Justice has advised US government desires knowledge of assets of PT church and may bring civil action to recover either expenses of recovery operation in Guyana or return funds which rightfully belong to existing church members.
Lead for San Juan will be set forth in separate teletype re Barclays Bank, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, once negotiations between FBI HQ and Department of State regarding FBI coverage that lead are completed. Armed and dangerous. Suicidal
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tendencies.
[Page 5]
Note:
Above sets forth additional leads developed through a review of San Juan’s interviews of PT members at Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, and Bridgetown, Barbados.