A Closer Look; A Closer Look; Peoples Temple

Third. Thing. Good evening and welcome once again to a closer look. I'm Velva Davis. Tonight we'll report on some of the background behind the People's Temple including the political influence of the Reverend Jim Jones and the ongoing investigation into that cold. We'll also have a report from

Phil Bronstein about events today at the San Francisco temple. In our studio we have a number of guests including a temple defector a special investigator from the district attorney's office. Assemblyman Willie Brown and writer Phil Tracy who has often written extensively about People's Temple as well as Dr. Carlton Goodlatte. Reverend Jim Jones his personal visit with the bodies of at least four hundred nine men women and children some shot to death. Most apparently poisoned have been found at the Guyana jungle camp of people Stempel among the bodies were those of the temple's fanatical founder the Reverend Jim Jones his wife and at least one of their children. Jones had been shot in the head and was one of the few to die from a bullet wound. All the dead were believed to be Americans many of them from the Bay Area. Most had reportedly stood in line to take doses of cyanide laced koolaid from a large tub. The mass deaths apparently occurred about an hour or more after Saturday's ambush which left the Bay Area Congressman Leo Ryan and four others did.

Guyana troops whipped through the nearby jungle today in search of the remaining five to seven hundred Americans who were at that camp by dark. They had only located 12 survivors. A special phone number has been set up by the State Department for the families of those and Diana seeking information about their loved ones. That number is area code 2 0 2 6 3 2 6 6 1 0 0 0 That's area code 2 0 2 6 3 2 6 6 1 0. Here in San Francisco the mood at the People's Temple has been one of apprehension and waiting. The Temple members awaiting inside on a large press group outside. Phil Bronstein has been there for the last two days and Phil now has this report for us. For the last two days the People's Temple Farrel Street in San Francisco here has been like the Patty Hearst story a media event. The crush of reporters international national and local has been met with virtual silence from the some 25 temple members left at the temple headquarters here. They're guarding the gates a

few at a time and the reporters and cameramen have jumped at every movement even photographing each other reading the paper. Two network camera crews NBC and CBS had hired private guards to protect them and some of those reporters had known the NBC killed in Guiana. The major movement over the last two rainy days has been relatives of Temple members coming to find out about the welfare of their family members. They talk to the press curse the temple and sometimes attack the temple gates frustration. We've got. That right back up there with the gun and when he got back I got most of the relatives refused to be photographed. They were worried about possible reprisals against their kids. Yesterday one young man came who had a mother and a brother at the temple here. And he came back as much money.

I've gotten two letters. Two letters in this one I'm going to be just a function. I mean that doesn't even sound like him. Temple members drove in and out periodically but early yesterday a temple spokesman did read a statement saying the temple here deplore the violence and at first a temple spokesman said their shortwave radio communication with Jonestown was down. Later they said it was working but that they hadn't had contact since Saturday afternoon. The only real shift in activity came when a package was left at the front of the temple on Geary and the bomb squad defused what turned out to be some drinking glasses in a box. The only person allowed in initially who wasn't a temple member was Tom Fleming from the black newspaper The Sun reporter whose publisher Carlton has steadfastly supported the temple. But late yesterday Deputy Police Chief took a tour of the temple.

He came out after two hours to say the 25 temple members were all right that they were waiting for word from Jada and didn't know any more than anyone else. We asked him about any local investigations regarding the temple currently underway. There had been some investigation some time ago not by the police department but by other entities. I can't tell you what the conclusion of that investigation or if it has either included it is not in the San Francisco Police Department regarding this particular building. We will keep four officers here 24 hours a day. As long as it's necessary to protect the safety of the people in the building and the property on the spot. Today even after the mass suicide reports it was much the same at the temple. More waiting more relatives and a lot of hecklers reflecting a neighborhood hostility towards a temple we found was pretty widespread that hostility was there despite the fact that most temple members left like their neighbors in the Western edition are black and working class. This

afternoon the media crowded swelled even more if that's possible. And we're told by idea after a second visit the temple members were alive and well. We continue to receive police protection and we're unhappy about the loss of their friends. They're people just like anyone else the media's told the press. Over in Berkeley former members of People's Temple met with the press today under a blanket of tight police security. Nancy Stockman reports. The entourage of press people began early this morning inside this house in Berkeley. Inside a small group of former members of the People's Temple gathered to discuss their experiences with reporters. They spoke of beatings tortures and a fanatical paranoid leader. They also talked about unconfirmed reports from Guiana. They characterize Jim Jones as a madman and they waited to learn of his fate. Outside Berkeley police patrol the area a precaution taken by the city because of recent instances of violence and intimidation. Some people inside the house waited for news of relatives in Indiana. Wanda Johnson is

a former member of the People's Temple whose son Tommy is among those children feared dead. She agreed to send her son to Ghana four years ago six months ago her husband unsuccessfully tried to rescue the boy from the Jonestown settlement. Ellen Jeannie Mills operate the Human Freedom Center where today's gathering was held. Although mills left the People's Temple in November 1975 he has received a number of threats in the past three years. He explains his feelings about the People's Temple to leave People's Temple yet you decide you'd rather die than to continue to go there and she's a pediatrician and the mistreatment of people who. Were far from here. Like people from their homes all their properties. You had to decide that you're ready to die when you left the church. The wedding continued throughout the day as reports of the mass suicides were confirmed. Those waiting here concerned about their safety the safety of their families. And we're following the aftermath of shootings and mass suicides which occurred this weekend.

The assassination in Guyana has touched off an intense investigation involving a network of law enforcement teams across the country. Pamela Young reports on the status of that investigation although police authorities in San Francisco Los Angeles Mendocino County and Indianapolis had been previously warned of illegal activities within the People's Temple. Those investigations had either been stifled or were proven inconclusive. The FBI which now leads the inquiry into the guyin assassinations is poring over these inactive files and stalemated investigations for clues as to how why and possibly who is responsible for allowing the situation to go so far. The FBI is receiving special assistance from law enforcement in Indianapolis where Jones began his ministry 20 years ago and Mendocino County where his church took root. It was there in Ukiah where Jones apparently established a pattern of popularity among political figures. In Los Angeles a spokesman for the disk from the district attorney's office told the L.A. Times that their

six month investigation had been deliberately squelched because of Jones Jones's influence among local politicians. The spokesman said his office had received letters from influential people trying to head off the investigation. Jones delivered large blocks of votes he said our investigation went nowhere in San Francisco the DA's office had received complaints ranging from child abduction to homicide. A frustrating one year investigation proved inconclusive. The FBI is now delving into this apparent immunity from prosecution that Jones had miraculously acquired throughout his 20 year career. The FBI is also concerned that Jones's doctrine is still embrace by possibly hundreds of followers. Investigators are determined to learn not only the motivation behind the Guyana massacre but what to expect from the remaining members of the People's Temple. Well aside from being a religious leader the Reverend Jim Jones also wanted to be a political force in this day and now as Roland Post reports he was

well on his way to achieving that goal. Roland. Reverend Jim Jones's desire certainly to control and dominate the bodies in the church members Jones also understood the value of the advantage of an elected officials in San Francisco became a conspicuous unwelcome part of the Democratic Party. One of the many candidates George Moscone 1976 appointed the Reverend Jones as chairman of the San Francisco Housing Authority to explain influence on the political life of the right people. Martin Luther King. That's where they take place.

Martin Luther King's death meant he had a reputation at that time. People. Who better to appoint to the housing authority especially when nobody else wanted to. They don't get paid for it. It's a job where I thought he was ideally suited any served well in the short period of time there and it wasn't until the charges were made against him and he was sent over to the district attorney for investigation that he resigned and left for Guyana never to be seen at least by me again. Well for a brief period the Rev. Jones had more influence on the Democratic Party and consequently on San Francisco politics than the mayor really gives him credit for. First of all Jones because he was a high and he had ran a highly disciplined organization was able to

turn out bodies of political rallies and events. Jones also provided his favorite local politicians a forum with which to speak to several thousand people who would do to flee cheer to precinct work and ultimately vote. He also had the enthusiastic backing of most of the black leaders in the community including the city's black newspaper The Sun reporter and its publisher Dr. Ludwig. The People's Temple is in the district that Assemblyman Willie Brown represents Assemblyman Willie Brown you have been noted to have attended many functions given by People's Temple who have been associated with him in some way. I wonder if you might tell us that. Did he have some influence in the Democratic Party. I would assume that anyone who would produce a large number of precinct workers in election day to get out. Anyone who had any form which people who are seeking public office go in and make their pitch and having

five people vote a certain way that person would have some influence. I wish it wasn't limited to the Democratic Party as such. I think Mr. Milton Mark enjoyed the blessings. That same opportunity. I recall that the press enjoyed consider a lot of respect from Mr. Jones I recall when the Fresnel for those four persons incarcerated in Fresno for not giving up their notes at the time they were required to do so by the court. There was a banquet in their honor at People's Temple and those four reporters received an award and that fall in any event in which members of People's Temple had journeyed down to Fresno and picketed with a number of people who were engaged in that. So it wasn't just Democrats as such. It wasn't just those of us who had the political jurisdiction in which the Temple happened to be located. It was a man who was doing outreach work that demonstrated a quality of goodness that people wanted to be identified.

The question now that I think it probably is being asked by people tonight and I think probably has to be asked is. With political figures who are political figures simply willing to overlook elements of the Reverend Jones in their interest in winning his support because he had something to deliver. Nobody seemed terribly suspicious about the way he ran the church and it's a very disciplined strict operation and there is no question not one politician to my knowledge saw and received Mr. Jones a supporter in Jones's board ever questioned or the method of his run in the church I don't question the method of running the church or many of us don't question the method of running on Dilantin street or any of the other organisations that are highly disciplined and that can deliver bodies on less there are some allegations presented in the first allegations ever presented in a negative fashion on People's Temple were presented by our article in New West authored by Mr

filtration Mr Marshall pilgrim that was the first time anybody ever said anything negative publicly about about People's Temple and at that time the allegation was not one that would have prompted anyone to come and so exasperated as to withdraw all their identification. We have Phil Tracy with us so we'll be talking about those charges that he wrote about. We thank you very much Simon Brown for being with us to at least discuss the political implications of this. We'll be back in just a moment. But we do have several guest in our studios tonight to discuss the implications of this dreadful

episode. Dr. Carlton Goodland is the publisher of The San Francisco Sun reporter who was a close friend and the personal physician of Rev. Jones L. Mills is a former member of the People's Temple now a bitter opponent he is currently staying at the Human Freedom Center in Berkeley. Under police protection Phil Tracy along with Marshall killed off of the San Francisco con Chronicle wrote the first major expose a People's Temple for New West magazine in August of 1907. And Bob Graham is a special investigator for the San Francisco District Attorney's Office. He headed the yearlong investigation of the People's Temple activities here. Also joining us is Phil Bronstein in Long Island post. I suppose we ought to start with. At the beginning and maybe that would be with you as a sommelier Brown said it was the first serious word that something was wrong a People's Temple came from your article. Why do you think that it taken that long if all of these things have been going on well and in part because the Reverend Jones convinced members of the

temple inside and those who had left that it would be dangerous for them to talk to the press. The very example mention the present before where they had an awards dinner. In point of fact told members of the temple that he through that procedure had bought off the press he had earlier in 1974 1973 made a series of contributions for the protection of the First Amendment there was small change stuff and that was it was it was totally new. I'm serious. I mean there was never an attempt. Nobody none of the papers thought it was a bribe. But Jones told his members that it was so they were fearful of the press he also told them that he had had information and all the public officials in the city of New York the city of San Francisco rather and that that he was going to use that information and for that reason these public officials were in his pocket. None of this was true. QUESTION And one question I have Phil do you think that the public officials who sought support and got support from Reverend Jones should have known more

about him and they did. You heard the explanation and Mayor Moscone early on that you know from what they knew there was no reason to be suspicious of this man and the man that they knew was not the man apparently was down and that I'm sure they have that information. Well I don't I don't I don't think it would I don't think that you can say that they should there wasn't some things that they they could have asked. This man traveled around with bodyguards 10 or 12 of them sometimes and that was certainly suspicious a man who preaches integration city of San Francisco doesn't need 12 bodyguards that this is not a racist city. That temple had its doors regularly locked and when people came to services they were often searched. That was certainly very strange. And all these charges that the reverend had made for several years about being under constant harassment campaign by the Ku Klux Klan and the American Nazi Party. My experience of the year that I was here in San Francisco was that neither one of those organizations

had had any any any strong membership in the city or in fact I never even heard of mention. Let's hear from Dr. Goodman who was a friend. Even yesterday I had trouble believing what's coming out of the list. Yes I do know that the first time you have to burn out you have to take another flare and this is a

doctor discussing this afternoon and you seem to feel that although it was unfortunate people people were dead that there was some justification for it. Well from my point. The man as well as his rascality not interned with his bones and as a psychologist I've been a psychologist for 40 years. Understand and I also understand the organization and I'm not particularly concerned about the inner workings of the organization. How do you feel about the people who took their lives. The people Ryan because he was warned not to calm

the people he was about 20 people who were known enemies of the temple. And I don't want to invite him in and everybody be alive today because I would have been there for many months and I also feel that. Suicide can be explained on the fact that these are people in most of the blacks. It's very difficult to get that many people to leave home hearth and love money with poverty abounded and go six or seven miles from home but they were convinced that racism and sexism and classism this kind would never be destroyed. They wanted to have a new life a new beginning. But how do you explain the hostility of the neighbors now who are black and who are working class towards the temple and many relatives showed up who had been hostile on me said my mother my brother had been down there been giving money to Reverend Jones and I tried to tell him not to do it. Well you see I'm not a fanatic as far as religious people giving money to the Catholic Church property and that for years like we got church and me together. I've been taking

money and I don't worry about these matters. This is a problem that they have to deal with I have to deal with a person as a person who has a need and I can respond to a first responder as a physician and second he came my friend. And third he was a man who tended to practice the dogmas of Christianity. As far as I saw it yeah he had problems and as a local newspaper many of the complaints eventually gravitated to the New West magazine came to me and I said to these people you know I don't have anything to do with the entire organization. But if you take it to the attorney's office and let him be brought to a court of law. Let's hear from one temple member and then from the district attorney's office about what's happened. Mr Mills you were in that church you heard some of the things and we discussed that just as outsiders tell us what your views are. Well I think any politician after reading the New West article and after. Hearing the other or subsequent articles that came out in the Examiner to continue to

unquestionably be involved with Jim Jones is blind. I think that I think you Mr. Goodwood. Still have to reconcile the fact that Jim Jones cared nothing for you but what he could get out of you. Jim Jones used every politician. He had no respect for anyone I took a photograph of him hugging. I can remember the man's name a black associate mayor. Jim Jones. I was finger like this was my loyalty I showed Jim Jones his picture was a big joke. He cares for no one but Jim Jones. I have no hostility towards People's Temple. I'm very concerned about the people down there that are still alive. I'm sorry that we were unable to free these people from the prison camp before this happened. If we could have had people like you like all the other politicians don't

really listen to the first light that maybe something was wrong and started examining. Maybe we could have stopped this before it happened. Even at the time of the coma cause actually was happening that we had word to the United States government ahead of time that this might happen he had read it many times. Please get somebody down there. And I after it happened how long did it take to get somebody down or these bodies laying there so what attracted you just for just one moment when you really need to hear from the district attorney's office as to what happened with the investigation. I wouldn't couldn't anybody for being caught up in Jim Jones. I think he was a very shrewd man. He appealed to people on the civil rights on the injustices in the society. Mr. President I've made it maybe to hear from Mr. Graham what what did the district attorney's office find out once you started to investigate it.

Well we spent about eight weeks investigating intensively we talked to something over 100 people former members like Mr. Mills and some present members were willing to talk to us but not say very much. After about eight weeks we decided that we didn't have a criminal offense and we could prosecute in San Francisco. We sent some information to Mendocino County because we felt there was a possibility of prosecution up there we sent some information down to Los Angeles County because we felt there was a possibility of prosecution down there. But here in San Francisco we had no information. We dealt with the press. Mr. Tracy we interviewed Marshall killed off everybody who had any information to impart was interviewed. Nobody was able to come up with evidence of a criminal offense here in San Francisco. Do you think you see the advantages that swim with you when you are in charge is not a question for the district attorney's office and that is. Why is it that that when you had repeated testimony to the effect that young children were being beaten inside the temple why is it that that was not a

violation of law. Is there no laws in this in this city or state to protect young children from from physical abuse. Can you name for me one parent or one child who was available to discuss it with us in San Francisco San Francisco just she was in she was going to happen to a school where the beating occurred in San Francisco. Well when we interviewed his daughter she indicated to us that the beating had taken place in Mendocino. I have a copy of the interview on that. So so far I may be mistaken I mean we were told the magazine Oh my senior investigator talked to his daughter and she said it was Mendocino. So that's why nothing was done here. And there was no other there was no other name of a parent or child that was given to us here in San Francisco that we could interview and uses what I mean. There's a report out what worried me was the fact that you kept waiting for us to give you stuff oing out and solicit online and only thing we did we did over 100 interviews on our own. We had five investigators who work almost exclusively on this case for eight weeks and nobody likes to devote

eight weeks and come up with nothing. You know we worked very hard on me and I want to raise my brief time I do want to ask Dr. Goodwin one question is going to have a refinancing. Do you think Reverend Jones changed from the time you were left here you know he was a different man in Venezuelan one up here. I mean he was a man who appreciated the scriptures as we discussed in San Francisco. You know 20 20 situation here where the community but the people who are supposed to protect people from high places. And we could find that occurred in the black community.

And I think we're out of time. There is more that could be said. Thank you so much for watching.