William Thomas
                         P.O. Box 27217
                     Washington, D.C.  20038
                         (202) 462-0757
                                             February 4, 1992
To whom it may concern,

The following is accurate and correct to the best of my knowledge
and recollection.

I have known Jimmie Wayne Powell since about 1984.  During that
time we have had many discussions, and Jimmie has made very clear
his belief that humanity is not behaving as he believes the Creator
would like humanity to behave.  My discussions with him have left
me with the impression that Jimmie feels as if the white race's
mistreatment of the native Americans is perhaps the ultimate
example of humanity's misbehavior and disrespect for the principles
of the Creator. 

Because of his strong empathy for native Americans, I assume,
Jimmie is very interested in Indian history and contemporary native
American issues, and displays reverence for Indian traditions and
rituals.  More than once he told me about a time when, in the midst
of a drought in California, he danced nonstop over several days for
rain.  He said that after his dance it began to rain, ending the
drought.

With, I am convinced, the utmost sincerity Jimmie believes he has
a key role to play in leading humanity back to harmony with the
Great Spirit.  It appears to me that Jimmie has some difficulty in
articulating his beliefs so that others will accept his concepts to
the extent that they are willing to follow his lead.

In Lafayette Park, in July, 1988, as I recall it, while much public
comment was focused on the unusually sparse amount of rainfall that
had fallen in the Washington, D.C. area, Jimmie expressed
consternation because people weren't taking his opinions as
seriously as he would have liked.   I think that Jimmie made a
comment to the effect that he needed to do something to gain some
credibility so that people would take him more seriously, but --
regardless of exactly what Jimmie said to prompt me -- I suggested
that he do a raindance.  

I reasoned that a raindance in Lafayette Park would attract public
attention, and, if it began to rain, at least some people would be
favorably impressed.  I did not, however, specifically suggest that
he do the raindance in Lafayette Park, which, to me, seemed the
logical site for a public demonstration intended as a bid for
public credibility.

At that time Jimmie was staying in a National Park Service
campground located in Greenbelt, Maryland.  He drove off, and I did
not see him for a several days.  After a few days the Washington
area was visited by very heavy rains.  After the rain Jimmie
reappeared in the Park.  He told me that he had taken my advice and
done a raindance.  I asked him what good that was going to do,
because no one had seen him dancing.  He told me that the National
Park Service Ranger, named Carlstrom, had seen him dancing and
commented to him about it.

                In service to Objective Reality,