Edith Roller – August 15, 1978 – Tuesday

Transcript  |  Annotation  |Source:89-4286-C-3-A-1 (##) | Month Index


Had breakfast. Worked on the map on my bed. There are some areas on the west coast from about Guinea to the Cameroons where I am not sure of the outlines. I ran into some trouble as the squares had not been exactly measured because of the overlapping of the paper, which I had taped together, besides the inaccuracy of my drawing

Of the different people in the cottage, Barbara Smith, who is being trained as a nurse is the one who seems to give the most trouble. Edith thinks she takes things that don’t belong to her. Yesterday in the morning she urinated in her can and left some urine on the floor, didn’t wipe it up. Edith didn’t want to speak to her about it, but I did. She said she hadn’t seen it.

The girls who moved to No. 48 still have their crates in our cottage and Edith is complaining. Marthea Hicks and her companion, Chris Lund, have moved into the loft of our cottage. They are occupying in the space above me. Laura and Phyllis are on the other side.

Had lunch.

Lois gave current events to the adult class and are expecting a test tomorrow. I continued work on the map.

I took my shower.

Made yesterday’s journal entries. At 4.00 when the children were out of school, I returned to work on the map in the school pavilion.

I had dinner at 5.30.

Went home to get my pillow. Eddie Washington saved me a seat as she usually does in one of the front rows. I listened to the news.

Before Jim came in Jann Gurvich made an announcement canceling the use of typewriters for the personal histories being prepared for Freed’s visit with the aim of including them in the book he plans to write on Jonestown. She said the work was being held back because typists did not have enough typewriters. Some people had typewriters which they refused to lend for the process. She specifically named me, the only one I heard publicly mentioned. She asked people who would make a typewriter available for two weeks to raise their hands. I put up my hand, the only one I saw. When Jann came to me I told her I had agreed to lend it to Dick Tropp for afternoons and evenings use while I used it in the mornings. She said Dick Tropp had not told her (he has actually borrowed it only once).

News tapes were played in the pavilion.

Jim mentions radio ban against us. He has gone entire week without sleep. We can now call people in the states but they are under orders not to talk to us (even our own radio operators) though we are working out methods to get around the ban to some extent.

Paper was passed out for test.

Jim called for concentration on evil deeds of Tim Stoen, Deanna Mertle and Liz Foreman. Songs, applause, shouts were used to bring justice down upon them. He implied that he would use his mental power on our enemies.

Test put off until later in the week. Jim goes over questions visitors might ask and possible answers. We don’t show horror movies or read horror books such as “ The Blood of Dracula”. We don’t make fun of people. We encourage good behavior by rewards. Jim teaches children not to cry when they don’t have a serious problem. Some children cry when they don’t get their way then no one will come when they are sick or need help.

Rosie Ruggiero turned in her sister for something she’d done against the cause.  Liane Harris and Joan Pursely, carrying hundreds of dollars, were accosted by a robber who demanded it. They laughed, said they didn’t have any. He went away.

Word from doctor in Bobby Stroud’s case. two great and unusual aspects. Doctor encouraged. This child should have been dead or paralyzed for life.

Jim said we sent help to Africa children when no one else would help.

Freed said Stoen was a CIA agent before coming to the Temple. He was healed early. He was a transvestite, that’s probably how they got him. Jim gave test questions.

Two teddy bears planned for exhibit for Prime Minister were stolen.  Jim asked but no one confessed. Jim says he’ll meditate.

Brian Davis would not participate enthusiastically in demonstration against conspirators, witnesses testified. Jim said if we all followed this anarchistic example the first night we all wouldn’t sleep; the second day we wouldn’t eat. Terry Carter reminded him that Jim saved him, took him back into the Temple when he was on his way to Juvenile Hall.

Also specified as not showing any enthusiasm in the anti-conspiracy demonstrations were Vincent Lopez and Garnett Johnson.  Hue Fortson told of Vincent selling or giving away much property in Georgetown and on the ship Mike Prokes told of more stealing Vincent did, but also of good work he did in kitchen.

Janet Lenin confessed she borrowed the bears to use them for a pattern. She didn’t ask Ruby Carroll but had put them back. Jury finds Vincent guilty 2 weeks in PSU.

Billy Jones guilty of fooling around during working time and had a snack while cancelled out a warning. Garnett: Jim gave a day for non-participation.

Willie Malone tore up some valuable paper though told not to. Johnny Jones said you can’t tell him anything. He can’t conform even on the floor. Jim said it used to be necessary to be a gangster when he was on the streets. It’s not necessary here and Tony Linton has same characteristic, always has smart answer.  All his peers were required to come up and tell some truths to Willie. Jim speaks much of kindness and showing it.  Older people should quit shouting at children and children should be kind to older people. We all have a problem of shouting when we can be kind. It is a general flaw. Tony Linton said he would change his attitude. Jim said little children are biggest responsibility you have. You don’t know what you’re doing for them to copy. Willie got a warning.

John Harris charged with not coming as soon as necessary to care for a complaint of some of the piglets keeping.

Some reported for not taking medicines or keeping appointments. Jim warned next time they did it they’d have quite an afternoon with Mother who is very severe.

Rose McKnight took sandwiches from a lunchbox. She has a weight problem. She went on PSU for stealing. Kenny Wilhite accused of stealing fruit from a tree; he said he was urinating. Keith Wade wrote him up. A witness to the front gate was called. Anthony Hicks used wrong toilet one day and used it again next day. He had praises which wiped out penalty.

Mary Rodgers got four doughnuts Sunday though she is on a special diet. She says she didn’t eat them; she gave two to Poncho and another to a friend. Lois reported her weight is up. Jim says she is a hypertensive person and will have a stroke if she doesn’t get her weight down.

Herman Gee gave a worker a hard time leaving the movie the other night. He pleads guilty, gets a warning. Jim says not to let him get near a visitor; he’s one of the people who tells all their aches and pains. Five people reported not losing enough weight. Jim gave them warnings. He said he worries so over them when he passes them he puts a strain on the office and harms the community; medications will cost $40.00 a week.

Orde Dennis asks for special consideration. She’s still under surveillance at work. She attacked Jim and then attacked Jerome Simon who was giving her medication grand mal. She said the medication made her sicker than the attacks. Jim reprimanded her for thinking she knew more than the doctors did. He said she would return to a normal work routine soon. I remember the day of the last alert on a day alone to it when Orde was up asking about release from surveillance and it was revealed then that she had attacked Jim physically–I believe with a cutlass. On the latest occasion she had bit Simon.

The witness to Kenny Wilhite’s case said she saw him put something to his mouth but she couldn’t tell what it was. He still insisted he had not taken any fruit that day. Jim asked him if he had ever done so and he admitted he had.  The jury dismissed the case for lack of evidence.

Jim dismissed the meeting about 1.30.  I was in bed about 2.00.