The Clearwater Sun Morgue

"A study of the paper does not show a political or intelligence angle. Only evidence that the paper attacks everyone. Any Good News is converted to attack. This paper (Clearwater Sun) may influence the two other papers that have offices in Clearwater (St. Petersburg Times and Tampa Tribune, I believe) or these two influence the Sun... Our target on this, very confidentially, is ownership or control of the paper. So, as you know, the finance information on the paper, its debts, its income (and how it could be cut) are prime information needs. Also detailed info on the posts of the staff editors, etc."
- Memo re: Operation China Shop, Henning Heldt (Snow White felon), Nov. 10, 1975

Sun articles in chronological order

• Scientologists plot city takeover, Nov. 3, 1979
  "In December 1975, top church leaders were plotting to use the United Churches of Florida, their front group, as an instrument to 'make allies of religious and local government opinion leaders,' according to the documents. The next step, Scientology correspondence shows, was to attempt to discredit or alienate groups or persons who did not support the United Churches."

• Scientologists find few sympathizers after latest revelations, Nov. 3, 1979
  "According to documents now being studied in federal court, the Scientologists have used various tactics to discover information of interest to the organization. One of the tactics included a fake hit-and-run accident designed to compromise former Clearwater mayor Gabriel Cazares, an outspoken critic of Scientology."

• Judge rules papers available to public, Nov. 3, 1979
  "The papers - largely confidential top-secret memos between sect leaders - include details of a Scientology scheme to 'take control' of Clearwater by discrediting and spying on public officials. The documents also show a concerted far-reaching Scientology espionage campaign against government agencies such as the FBI, CIA, IRS and Justice Department, and private groups such as the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association, long viewed by the church as 'enemies.' "

• Shocked officials say they'll fight, Nov. 3, 1979
  "Church of Scientology documents released Thursday that outline the Scientologists' intention to control or 'take over' the city left local government officials wondering Friday how the group planned to reach that goal - and what the city should do about it."

• Sect front started to launder cash, Nov. 7, 1979
  "United Churches of Florida, the Scientology front group established in Clearwater in November 1975, was designed to be a tax shelter that could launder sect revenue nationwide, top-secret Scientology documents show."

• Of grudges and lies, Nov. 7, 1979
  "This newspaper doesn't intend to forget, forgive or turn its back on the past history (or the future plotting) of the Scientologists in Clearwater. We hope our readers' memories will be just as long and intractable as our own."

• Judge OKs hearings on sect, May 1, 1982
  "The Church of Scientology's request to prevent Clearwater from holding public hearings to investigate its operations was denied Friday in federal court."

• Sect role in city's hearing up in air, May 2, 1982
  "When Clearwater Mayor Charles LeCher convenes the city's public hearings on Scientology Wednesday, one of the main players may be conspicuously absent: the Church of Scientology itself. Paul B. Johnson, the sect's Tampa lawyer, said Friday that if the hearings proceed as mapped out by city officials, the church will not participate."

• Michael Flynn: idealistic, involved, May 2, 1982
  "But most recently Flynn was hired by Clearwater to act as its consultant during its public hearings into operations of the Church of Scientology. In that capacity, he will introduce witnesses and testimony gathered during his battles with the church. The hearings are set to begin Wednesday."

• Sect still scrapping in five local lawsuits, May 2, 1982
  "The lawsuit filed this past week by the Church of Scientology against the city of Clearwater brings the number of local legal scraps the sect is involved in to five."

• Sect victims' fund asks for rent-free stadium use, May 3, 1982
  "The Scientology Victims' Defense Fund has requested that Clearwater waive rental fees for the organization to use Jack Russell Stadium for a forum planned for May 22."

• Petitioners back hearings on sect, May 4, 1982
  "The petitions were presented to commissioners at their Monday work session by Robert Bickerstaff, a member of the Scientology Victims Defense Fund."

• Hubbard's son will testify today, May 5, 1982
  "The son of L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology, is scheduled to testify today in the opening round of public hearings on the sect, the city's hired consultant said Tuesday."

• Sect hearings open calmly, May 6, 1982
  "So began testimony in the much-awaited and much-publicized hearings that city officials said could result in two ordinances aimed at curbing Scientology solicitation and alleged fraudulent activities."

• L. Ron Hubbard's son says his father 'destroys' foes, May 6, 1982
  "The son of L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology, testified Wednesday his father was obsessed with controlling people and 'destroyed' those who opposed him and the church."

• 'They'll take the Kool-Aid', May 6, 1982
  " 'If Hubbard decides to leave this planet he'll take the others with him - they will take the Kool-Aid,' Walters said referring to the poisoned drink Jones and his followers swallowed in a November 1978 murder-suicide at Guyana."

• Fort Harrison: 'horror house', May 7, 1982
  "Instead of paradise, she said, as many as 10 staff people were crowded into dirty, insect-infested rooms... There was great pressure to sell church services, she said, and at one point the staff was fed nothing but rice and beans for a week when sales dropped below quota."

• Sect founder's son thinks dad is dead, May 7, 1982
  " 'OTs (advanced Scientologists) think they can do it all - see through walls, leave their bodies and fly to other countries, travel to distant stars,' he said. 'They look at a Black Jack table and figure they can do it. They lose it all. It puts their feet back on the ground pretty quick.' "

• Writer says sect harasses her, May 7, 1982
  "It has been 11 years since freelance writer Paulette Cooper published what she calls 'the book that launched a thousand suits.' And it has been about a week since she was served with the eighteenth lawsuit filed against her by the Church of Scientology."

• Sect witnesses recount fear, deception, 'suicide', May 8, 1982
  "Meister, the day's final witness, said he went to Morocco in 1971 to identify his 22-year-old daughter's body after a Scientology minister notified the family she committed suicide. But he said a picture he saw led him to believe otherwise. The .22-caliber, long-barreled pistol that killed her was tucked beneath her folded arms as she lay on a cabin bed aboard Hubbard's ship, he said. A bullet hole pierced her forehead."

• Hearings 'an audit' of sect's founder, May 8, 1982
  " 'This is an auditing session,' said George Kelly, who has attended all three days of the hearings. 'This is L. Ron Hubbard's auditing session and Michael Flynn is the auditor.' "

• Witnesses tell of break-ins, conspiracy, May 9, 1982
  "In a story of international intrigue, a former senior executive of the Church of Scientology testified Saturday about a worldwide sect network involving infiltrations, conspiracies and smuggling."

• Sect to counterattack, city told, May 9, 1982
  "Walters predicted all city commissioners will be sued, a 'massive' public relations campaign will begin, city government will be infiltrated by sect agents and that officials may be harassed."

• Sect to participate in hearing today?, May 10, 1982
  "During the hearing's first four days, 16 witnesses told stories that alleged the Church of Scientology is a world-wide operation that routinely engaged in covert criminal activity against government officials, ex-Scientologists and others considered 'enemies' of the sect."

• Sect lawyer calls hearings 'a Roman Circus,' walks out, May 11, 1982
  "Calling Clearwater's public hearings on the Church of Scientology a "Roman Circus," the sect's lawyer walked out on the proceedings Monday. 'The Church of Scientology has been embarrassed and scandalized,' said Tampa attorney Paul B. Johnson before leaving."

• 16 witnesses unlock sect's closed society, May 11, 1982
  "Of the 16 who testified, Flynn said he represents Lavenda Van Schaick and Paulette Cooper directly in separate lawsuits against the Church of Scientology. He said he is involved also indirectly in lawsuits filed by Ernest and Adelle Hartwell and Janie Peterson."

• Scientology starts publicity campaign, May 11, 1982
  "At a 10:30 a.m. press conference, Scientology spokesman Rev. Hugh Wilhere announced the beginning of an 'open house' publicity campaign. Less than an hour earlier church attorney Paul B. Johnson of Tampa had told the Commission he would not use the four days set aside for church rebuttal."

• A $1.29 value, May 12, 1982
  "Is there one additional citizen here who, as a result of the hearings, has only now concluded what the majority concluded long ago: that Scientology is not the kind of enterprise this community wants in its midst?"

• National image of Suncoast clouded by sect, Jan. 3, 1983
  " 'I believe the Scientologists are a group that is trying to take over our city,' echoes City Commissioner Rita Garvey. 'The impression I get is that whenever they have bad publicity, they just mount a whole public relations campaign saying they've changed.' "

• Scientology faces rival for Elks Club, Jan. 18, 1983
  "A private developer wants to buy the downtown Clearwater Elks Club, if the city of Clearwater will issue $600,000 in industrial revenue development bonds, his attorney told city commissioners Monday. The Church of Scientology offered the Elks $240,000 for the building in December."

• Elks decide to sell property to Scientology, Jan. 26, 1983
  "Clearwater City Commissioner Paul Hatchett seemed shocked by news of the decision. 'What?' he yelled, when called by a Clearwater Sun reporter after the Elks meeting. 'I can't believe what you're telling me! You've just completely floored me. I've got to get myself together. You mean to tell me they went for $240,000? I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight.' "

• Sale prompted by fear, Elks say, Jan. 27, 1983
  "Fear of legal reprisal by the Church of Scientology prompted the Clearwater Elks Club to sell its downtown lodge to the controversial sect, three ranking club members said Wednesday."

• A black day for the Elks, Jan. 27, 1983
  "The club acted irresponsibly and selfishly. Its members should be ashamed. Sale of the lodge building to the Scientologists will strengthen the sect's hold on Clearwater and place a significant piece of the city's tax base in limbo."

• Lodge offer stands, developer tells Elks, Jan. 28, 1983
  "Despite a vote by Clearwater Elks to sell their downtown lodge to the Church of Scientology, an attorney for local developer Charles Rutenberg said Thrusday a counter-offer to buy the building still stands."

• Angry residents' calls jam Elks switchboard, Jan. 28, 1983
  "The switchboard at the Elks national headquarters in Chicago Thursday lit up like a Christmas tree - two hours before the office opened for business. Residents of Metropolitan Clearwater, voicing strong opposition to the pending sale of the local Elks lodge to the Church of Scientology, took it upon themselves to let their feelings be known."

• Elks 'irreparably damaged' by press, Jan. 29, 1983
  "Elks members voted Tuesday night to sell their downtown club, at 516 Franklin St., to the sect for $240,000. Pride said the repercussions from the decision are like 'a bad dream.' "

• Feds eye alleged sect plot to corrupt U.S. judge, Jan. 22, 1984
  "The U.S. Attorney's Office in Tampa is investigating a suspected 1982 extortion plot by the Church of Scientology to entrap and compromise a Tampa federal judge who presided over a suit against the Clearwater-based sect, a Clearwater Sun investigation has revealed."

• Officials 'not surprised' by investigation into sect, Jan. 23, 1984
  "According to a month-long investigation by the Sun, the U.S. Attorney's office in Tampa is investigating the purported sect plot, which involved an attempt to lure U.S. District Judge Ben Krentzman aboard a boat equipped with drugs, prostitutes and hidden cameras and microphones. At the time, Krentzman was presiding over a $16 million lawsuit filed against the sect by Tonja Burden, who asked for compensation for alleged mental abuse, brainwashing, imprisonment and fraud, according to public documents. Sources told the Sun that Scientology officials anticipating an unfavorable ruling in the case and the elaborate extortion operation was implemented to compromise Krentzman."

• How do Scientologists continue to evade law?, Jan. 1984
  "For many months, the self-styled church has campaigned vigorously to convince the public that skulduggery attributed to it in the past would not be condoned by today's squeaky-clean administration. But the Machiavellian face of L. Ron Hubbard still looms behind the toothy smiles and sanctimonious utterances of the new administrators."

• Prior sect try at judge reported, Jan. 24, 1984
  "A current probe into a suspected 1982 extortion plot by the Church of Scientology to corrupt a Tampa federal judge might not be the first time law enforcement officials have investigated the sect's efforts to compromise a U.S. magistrate presiding over a Scientology trial."
  

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