-Caveat Lector-
"Sociopathic cult leader Jim Jones had very important friends
who aided and abetted his "family." Yet, to this day, they
remain unrepentant. These community leaders, through their
endorsements, helped fuel the People's Temple descent into hell
culminating in the Jonestown massacre ...
"George Moscone --assassinated by Dan White only 9 days after
Jonestown-- wasn't the only Jim Jones ally to feign innocence.
Current San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown was even more shameless.
"There were clergymen as well, such as Jesse Jackson, and
Rev. Cecil Williams, head of the city's Glide Methodist Church.
"A number of individuals in the District Attorney's office
colluded in the cover-up, and newspaper editors (in the Hearst-
controlled media empire) --even when presented with damning
evidence YEARS BEFORE JONESTOWN-- somehow "neglected" their duty
to expose the activities of Jim Jones until it was too late."
__________________________________________________
MADMAN IN OUR MIDST:
JIM JONES AND THE CALIFORNIA COVER-UP
by Kathleen Kinsolving and Tom Kinsolving
November 18, 1978. Guyana, South America.
It is 5:00 p.m. California Congressman Leo J. Ryan finishes
loading a trunk onto a small Guyanese plane at the Port Kaituma
Airstrip. He, along with his congressional delegation and several
members of a news crew, have just left Jonestown, the People's
Temple Agricultural Project. Ryan's legislative aide, Jackie
Speier, was so terror-stricken before the trip that she put her
last will and testament inside her desk on Capitol Hill and made
certain Ryan did the same.
As 15 defectors and relatives of other Temple members are
climbing the stairs of their planes, a tractor-trailer suddenly
roars onto the runway. Aboard, armed with pistols, rifles, and
shotguns, are nine Temple gunmen. They quickly aim their weapons
and unleash a murderous fusillade. The delegation scatters, many
fleeing into the jungle. But eleven are wounded, and fatally
struck down are Ryan, three journalists, and Temple defector
Patricia Parks.
Ryan lays dying beside critically wounded Speier, whispering
that he wants her to take his place in the next election. Moments
later, one of Rev. Jim Jones's hitmen finishes off the
Congressman with a shotgun blast to the head.
Six miles away at Jonestown, "Dad" stands before his flock
of over 900 in the pavilion. Jones turns on a small tape recorder
and begins rambling. "What's going to happen here in a matter of
a few minutes is that one of those people on the plane is going
to shoot the pilot. I know that. I didn't plan it, but I know
it's going to happen. And we better not have any of our children
left when it's over ...
"So you be kind to the children and be kind to seniors, and
take the potion like they used to take in ancient Greece, and
step over quietly, because we are not committing suicide -- it's
a revolutionary act ... I don't know who killed the Congressman.
But as far as I'm concerned, I killed him ...
"Lay down your life with dignity. Don't lay down with tears
and agony...I don't care how many screams you hear; death is a
million times preferable to spend more days in this life ... No
more pain. No more pain ... That's what death is, sleep. Have
trust. You have to step across. This world was not our home."
The final minutes of tape record the gruesome sounds of 913
lives being snuffed out -- 276 of them children. The nurses take
babies from their mothers and inject a purple concoction into
their mouths. Armed guards surrounding the pavilion menace those
who hesitate to dip their cups into vats of cyanide-laced
Flavor-Aid. But many Temple members drink willingly. Children
scream in a chaos accented with eerie background music, which
slowly fades into a ghastly silence. Like his enemy Leo Ryan, Jim
Jones dies a violent death. One of the cultists, or Jones
himself, fires a pistol into his brain.
In the days following the massacre, San Francisco Mayor
George Moscone appears before a swarm of reporters. The mayor,
who ironically will fall victim to a deranged gunman later that
month, has been one of many that fortified Jones's rise to power.
He appointed the madman to head the city's housing authority in
1976. But Moscone is in no mood for a mea culpa, telling the
reporters: "Anybody who wants to connect the mayor of San
Francisco with the slaughter that took place in another continent
really is reaching far out -- it must be made very clear that
nobody, other than the people directly involved, is responsible
to a superior being, and those that are yet to be found, ought to
be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Today, 20 years, later, images of bloated corpses, scattered
syringes, poison drink, and dixie cups are what most Americans
likely remember about the People's Temple. The tragedy was
written off as a "mass suicide" led by "a maniac in the jungle."
There is, however, more to this story. Much more.
The sociopathic cult leader had some very important friends
that aided and abetted his "family." Yet, to this day, they
remain unrepentant. These community leaders, through their
endorsements, helped fuel the People's Temple descent into hell.
The late George Moscone wasn't the only Jones ally to feign
innocence. Current San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown was even
more shameless. There were also the clergymen, such as
flamboyant Rev. Cecil Williams, head of the city's Glide
Methodist Church. A number of journalists, as well, neglected
their duty to expose the very dangerous Rev. Jones until it was
too late. Renowned San Francisco columnist Herb Caen wrote
enough glowing praises that he was considered by the Temple to be
a close friend and ally.
There were some, however, that tried to stop the Temple
juggernaut.
Herein is an account of how courage under fire ultimately
was eclipsed by the corruption and weakness of California power
brokers, empowering a monster to destroy more than 900 men,
women, and children.
October, 1971. Indianapolis, Ind.
"Church Filled To See 'Cures' By Self-Proclaimed 'Prophet of
God'" was the first Jim Jones exposé ever published.
Indianapolis Star reporter Bryon C. Wells had attended afternoon
and evening "miracle healing services" at People's Temple in
downtown Indianapolis. There he heard Jones proclaim, "With over
4,000 members of our California church, we haven't had a death
yet! ... I am a prophet of God and I can cure both the illness of
your body, as well as the illness of your mind." Wells noted that
"people who were called upon in the evening to be cured had a
striking resemblance to some who were called earlier in the day."
Wells's second account, "State Psychology Board to Eye
'Prophet' Jones" reported that, for the first time, Jones would
be investigated. The State Board of Psychology Examiners would
decide whether they could prosecute Jones for practicing
psychiatry without a license, since he claimed he could cure
psychosomatic diseases. After careful scrutiny they concluded
that Jones was protected under the First Amendment, and state law
forbid prosecuting "faith healers."
Wells's first expose provoked a deluge of furious letters
and phone calls to the Star from Temple members. Jones,
meanwhile, claimed during services that he received 23 phone
calls from Indianapolis "hatemongers."
Nine months later, Wells received an alarming letter from
Indianapolis resident Georgia Johnson. Once one of Jones's
earliest followers, she was now a concerned mother trying to get
her two young daughters to return home from the Temple's other
base in Redwood Valley, California. Wells passed it onto the city
editor, who in turn handed it to Carolyn Pickering, the Star's
leading investigative reporter.
Although Pickering was a bit apprehensive when reading
Georgia Johnson's long-winded letter, she nevertheless set up an
interview. Her month-long full-time investigation into People's
Temple had begun.
August, 1972.
"Dear Tom", wrote Pickering to Executive Editor Tom Eastham
of the San Francisco Examiner. "The Star is contemplating sending
me out to your grand and glorious state to probe into a religious
cult operation in Redwood Valley, near Ukiah [California] ...
called People's Temple...
"... The fraud who conducts this holy organization is the
Rev. James W. Jones who once had a small church here ... If there
is someone on your staff who might have some knowledge of this
bunch, or could provide some entrees to state officials who might
be interested, I'd appreciate it."
Eastham told Pickering that he already had a reporter, the
Rev. Lester Kinsolving, investigating Jones. Kinsolving, who
wrote a weekly column entitled "Inside Religion", had contacted
Ukiah Daily Journal editor George Hunter on February 7th of that
year after hearing reports that the People's Temple charismatic
pastor was attracting thousands to his Sunday services. Four
days later, Examiner editor Ed Dooley received a letter from
Timothy Stoen, whose letterhead identified him only as "Attorney
at Law". Stoen, Jones's point man, sang the Temple praises.
It was obvious Hunter dutifully reported Kinsolving's phone
call to Stoen. Stoen elaborated on a long list of achievements,
such as Jones's past appointments to various positions of public
trust, "including Foreman of the Mendocino County Grand Jury ...
and that Jones was "the most compassionate, fearless, and honest
person I know of ..."
After being briefed by Eastham, Kinsolving contacted
Pickering and the two reporters began collaborating.<
September, 1972. Redwood Valley, Ca.
On the 10th, Kinsolving and photographer Fran Ortiz drove
120 miles north of San Francisco to cover the People's Temple
Sunday service.
Within a few minutes of entering People's Temple Sanctuary,
Kinsolving was interrogated by Stoen, who was wearing a
blue-green pulpit robe. Stoen then revealed himself not only to
be an (unordained) assistant pastor of People's Temple, but
ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY of Mendocino County. Ortiz was
ordered to leave his cameras at the church entrance; he refused
and was banished to wait outside.
As throngs of congregation were spilling out of buses
traveling from Los Angeles and Portland the night before,
Kinsolving was greeted warmly by Rev. Jones himself, a slim,
raven-haired, handsome 41 year-old donning a black pulpit gown
and white turtle-neck. Jones raved to the columnist about the
excellence of his weekly column, and let him know specifically
that he admired his "courage in exposing Cecil Williams for the
phony he is."
An hour and a half after listening to the congregation
ranting praises of Jones, Kinsolving was feeling weary and bored.
His photographer suddenly approached and implored that they
leave. Once inside the car, Ortiz informed Kinsolving that he was
able to photograph not only the many busses, but one of the
Temple guards as well. "And Les," Ortiz added, "he was carrying
a .357 magnum."
Stoen sent a letter to Kinsolving two days later, disclosing
the Temple's finances and apologizing for his Treasurer's refusal
to provide the information. He continued gushing about "this
wonderful group of people and their remarkable pastor Jim Jones
... Jim has been the means by which more than 40 persons have
literally been brought back from the dead this year.
"I have seen Jim revive people stiff as a board, tongues
hanging out, eyes set, skin graying and all vital signs absent
... Jim will go up to such a person and say something like "I
love you" or "I need you" and immediately the vital signs
reappear ... Jim is very humble about his gift and does not
preach it..."
On Sept. 17th, Kinsolving's first expose, "The Prophet Who
Raises The Dead", featured excerpts from Stoen's letter. It made
the front page of the Examiner.
The second article, published on the18th, was "'Healing
Prophet' Hailed as God At S.F. Revival". If contained a quote
from one of Jones's followers who, during a special service in
San Francisco, shrieked: "I know that Pastor Jim Jones is God
Almighty himself!"
The third expose, on the 19th, was "D.A. Aide Officiates for
Minor Bride', which reported on the Georgia Johnson affidavit
charging that Stoen officiated the marriage of Mildred Johnson, a
minor. Shortly afterward, Mildred was placed on the Mendocino
County welfare and forced to turn over her $95 monthly welfare
check to the People's Temple.
The Sept. 20 story, "Probe Asked of People's Temple",
revealed that earlier that year Ukiah Baptist pastor Richard
Taylor had asked Mendocino County District Attorney Duncan James
to investigate Tim Stoen's conduct surrounding Temple member
Maxine Harpe's suspicious suicide.
Rev. Taylor had also requested that Sheriff Reno Bartolomie
investigate the Temple on the suicide issue as well as many
others. But no action was taken. So, on September 19, one day
before Kinsolving's fourth expose appeared, Rev. Taylor wrote to
State Attorney General Evelle Younger with yet another request:
"What is of utmost concern is the atmosphere of terror
created in the community by so large and aggressive a group ... I
sincerely believe ... questionable activity is going on, I do
request that your office conduct an investigation."
As Kinsolving commuted into work on the morning of the 19th,
he was greeted by a long picket line in front of the Examiner.
150 members of the People's Temple would march that day for nine
hours protesting the articles. They carried signs proclaiming
"This Paper Has Lied", "Government That Governs Least Governs
Best", and "This is Invasion of Privacy of Religious Services".
Kinsolving watched the spectacle from his desk window,
amused. His editor Tom Eastham dropped by and suggested that he
"ought to go down and welcome them." Kinsolving replied, "I'll
do better than that, I'll go down and take up a collection!"
Eastham had gone ahead and contacted television stations,
who by now were there in full force. Kinsolving was soon
parading through the picketers with a borrowed policeman's hat,
announcing, "We're passing the hat, ladies and gentlemen, an
opportunity for sweet charity to come out from amongst you."
KRON-TV, a station owned by the San Francisco Chronicle
(which was scooped by the Examiner once again), covered the story
and added a segment that was as much People's Temple propaganda
as legitimate news. The station invited Jones into their
television studio to answer questions.
But the news editors took footage of Kinsolving commenting
on Jones's hypocrisy, enlarging the reporter's face and
freeze-framing it as the volume of his voice was turned into a
high-pitched shriek.
The special effects then dissolved into Jim Jones quietly
seated in a chair, answering questions with angelic aplomb.
After watching the KRON-TV program, Examiner publisher
Charles Gould sent a blistering memo the next day to Kinsolving:
"You did not show charity, compassion or consideration when you
harangued the peaceful, picketing parishioners seeking a
collection. You seemed to be playing the role of bully and bigot
... They have every right to practice their religion...
"I caught about one minute of [the] interview with Reverend
Jones. He came off as [a] low-key, soft-voiced, convincing
believer. A charlatan he may be, however he definitely knows how
to make friends and influence people ... you should never let
another man of God beat you at your own game. Jones did.
Yesterday, at least."
Nonetheless, three days later, the Examiner awarded
Kinsolving a $100 bonus for the People's Temple stories.
Yet the Examiner held off on publishing the reporter's four
additional exposes because of fear of a lawsuit by the People's
Temple. They were already being sued by Synanon, a controversial
drug and alcohol rehab group. The remaining four stories dealt
with further investigation into the Maxine Harpe suicide, welfare
scam, "survival training", and Jones accusing a pastor of
propositioning two Temple choir girls.
Kinsolving pleaded with the editors to publish the remaining
articles; instead, they insisted he return to Ukiah to gather
more evidence such as sworn taped testimony and signed
affidavits.
On Sept. 21 "Former City Preacher Feels Heat of Publicity In
West" appeared on page one of the Indianapolis Star. Carolyn
Pickering elaborated further on what was already investigated,
including Temple defectors Marion and Opal Freestone tithing 25
per cent of their earnings but given receipts for only 10 per
cent. Four more of Pickering's exposés followed.
"Woe-Beset Woman Says 'Prophet' And Aide Harasses Her and
Mate" described how assistant pastor Archie Ijames told the
Freestones they had to tithe 25 per cent or their lives would be
in danger.
"Family Pleads With Aged Aunt Not To 'Throw Away Her Bible'"
told how 70 year-old Edith Cordell ignored her family and
followed Jones to California. "'Prophet', Attorney Probe Asked",
delved more into what spawned Rev. Taylor's investigation request
and the controversy surrounding Temple member Maxine Harpe's
alleged suicide.
"2 Firms Rev. Jones Founded Lax on Filing Tax Returns"
described how Jones never filed state tax returns on his two
corporations, Wings of Deliverance and Jim-Lu-Mar.
Like the Examiner, the Star suffered picketing and other
harassment including threats of lawsuits. But the Star didn't
back down, in stark contrast to the gutless Examiner. And the
People's Temple never sued.
Two days after his fourth article appeared, Kinsolving sent
off a memo to one of his editors, John Todd: "Let me briefly
outline my deep concern at present ... one of my very best
sources in Ukiah area phoned me in serious anxiety. The Ukiah
Daily Journal reported that the Rev. Mr. Jones had been
approached by some other Examiner reporters who wanted to hear
his side of the story. This came on the same day that my
articles abruptly stopped -- when so many in the Ukiah area know
full well that there is so much more to this story than what we
have so far exposed ...
"The widespread and inevitable conclusion will be that the
Examiner has been so overawed by that giant picket line and by
The Prophet's presence, that I have been removed from this story
and The Prophet has been able to traduce the Examiner just as he
has the Ukiah Daily Journal ... if all my evidence is threatened
by even the momentary impression that I have been removed from
the story, I wonder how I can possibly do the job which so
desperately needs to be done."
"Prophet Tells How He Revives Dead" was the headline
featured on the 24th, page one of the Examiner. Because Jones
and his attorneys had threatened a lawsuit if he wasn't entitled
to tell "his side of the story", the editors selected John Burks
and John Todd to conduct an interview with Jones.
Burks, who thought Jones resembled a "hick preacher" who was
"strange" and "looked like a really dim bulb", chose to use
Jones's own words which were often contradictory and
misleading.
Burks's story ran in the "bulldog edition" of the Examiner,
the first to hit the stands. By the time the late edition
appeared, Burks requested his by-line be removed, because the
editors had butchered the original article after Jones and his
lawyers paid a return visit to the paper. Therefore, two
versions of the Jim Jones interview were published.
This was the day after Kinsolving's home in Berkeley was
burglarized.
Returning from a UC-Berkeley football game, the Kinsolving
family noticed one of the front door's glass panels smashed in.
Their two small watchdogs were unhurt, and no valuables were
missing. It wasn't a "normal" burglary, Kinsolving realized, as
he checked downstairs in his basement office. Stubs were missing
from his checkbook and copies of future columns had been rifled
through his files.
Seven years later, two Temple defectors, Al and Jeannie
Mills, confirmed in a news interview this had indeed been a
People's Temple raid.
On the 29th Kinsolving sent another memo, this time to
editor Ed Dooley: "I have contacted Sheriff Reno Bartolomei to
ask for his comments on the latest requests for an investigation
of the case of Maxine Harpe who committed suicide. The Sheriff
confirmed reports that he is a trustee of the fund set up by the
People's Temple for the 3 Harpe children ... when I asked about
such details as why the childrens' father or aunt are not among
trustees of this fund -- and when the children are to receive its
benefits, he declined comment."
Kinsolving also stated that District Attorney Duncan James
was not available for comment. The reporter added that he "spent
two hours with Tim Reardon of the State Attorney General's
office" and "an hour with a Mr. Roby of the FBI in regard to
interstate telephone threats [and] rumors of an arms cache."
<cont'd>
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