United States Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Memorandum
Date: 12/4/78
To: Mr. Moore
From: J. O. Ingram
Subject: RYMUR
PURPOSE: To report information received from the San Francisco Office regarding information received relative to the Peoples Temple “hit list” and to report instructions pertaining thereto given to San Francisco.
RECOMMENDATION: None. For information.
DETAILS: On 12/4/78, Supervisor Chuck Hiner, San Francisco Office, telephonically advised SA [name deleted], coordinator FBI HQ Command Post, that Susan Jones [Suzanne Cartmell], adopted daughter of the Reverend Jim Jones, told interviewing Agents at San Francisco on the evening of 12/3/78 that she had knowledge of a Peoples Temple “hit list”. This list identified individuals that were to be killed at the instructions of Jim Jones if he (Jones) or the Peoples Temple Church were destroyed.
Susan Jones stated that a written document setting forth the objectives of the hit list and identification of individuals to be killed is in the personal possession of former Peoples Temple member Terri Buford. It should be noted that investigation is underway at this time to locate Terri Buford to serve her with a subpoena duces tecum. Susan Jones expressed extreme fear for her life and requested that the source of our information be kept confidential.
CONTINUED – OVER
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Ingram to Mr. Moore Memorandum
RE: RYMUR
Susan Jones identified the following individuals as being on the ”hit list”:
Former President Richard M. Nixon;
Former California Governor Ronald Reagan;
San Francisco Mayor George Moscone (deceased);
Willie Brown, Democratic Assemblyman, California;
Quinton Kopp, San Francisco City Supervisor.
Additionally, Susan Jones identified unnamed reporters from New West magazine and San Francisco Examiner newspaper as being on the hit list due to derogatory reporting regarding the Peoples Temple and Jones.
SA [Name deleted] instructed Supervisor Hiner to furnish the above information protecting Susan Jones as our source of information to Secret Service, appropriate local authorities covering areas wherein the intended victims reside. It was further instructed that all individuals and organizations mentioned as above be personally advised that the FBI was in receipt of information from a confidential source in connection with the investigation into the death of Congressman Leo J. Ryan of California, that the individual had been named as being one of several individuals designated for assassination by members of the Peoples Temple. These individuals were further to be told that the FBI could not provide protection, however, local authorities have been advised of the information and any further information developed would be made available to both the intended victims and to appropriate local authorities.
San Francisco was instructed to sutel confirmation of the above instructions.
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