Murder, Conspiracy Indictments Sought Against Top Hippie
December 6, 1969
LOS ANGELES - An indictment charging murder and conspiracy will be sought
against the wild-haired, hypnotic leader of a wandering band of occult-oriented
hippie types, says a prosecutor in the slayings of actress Sharon Tate and six
others.
The grand jury action against Charles M. Manson - who, followers say, called
himself "God," "Jesus" and "Satan" - will be asked on the basis of vicarious
liability, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Vincent Bugliosi.
In vicarious liability, he said, a person who joins in a conspiracy, is
criminally responsible for any of his coconspirators' crimes that further the
object of the conspiracy.
Manson, 35, has not been charged in the murders. Susan Atkins, one of
his followers, first linked his clan to the killings but said its chieftan was
not there when the victims died, authorities reported.
The gaunt, dark-eyed Manson remains jailed in the mountain community of
Independence on charges of possession stolen cars.
The closed grand jury hearing into the killings of Miss Tate, blonde wife of
film director Roman Polanski, and six others was continued until Monday with 10
more witnesses expected to testify. Six told their stories Friday.
Miss Atkins, 21, principal witness at Friday's hearing, described "all the
details" of the stabbings and shootings, her attorney said, and told the grand
jury she was hypnotized by Manson. She has said she was at the murder
scenes and that Manson had ordered the victims slain.
"If the grand jury sees the evidence as we do, we'll have an indictment of
murder against Manson," said Aaron Stovitz, another deputy district attorney
prosecuting the case.
Stovitz said murder counts would be sought against at least five other
persons, including Miss Atkins.
Prosecutors said the case probably would not go to trial for at least three
months because of its complexity.
Miss Atkins, prim in a pink velvet dress bought for her by her attorney, said
softly she would answer "anything they ask me."
Her attorney, Richard Cabellero, also a grand jury witness, said she repeated
everything she had told him - describing how a band of black-clad
Manson-followers armed with guns and knives killed Miss Tate and four others
Aug. 9, then killed a rich market owner and his wife the next night to prove
they hadn't lost their nerve.
Five other witnesses entered the courtroom amid camera lights and shouted
questions. All refused to comment to newsmen.
On the death night, Aug. 9, the occupants were Miss Tate, 26; Abigail Folger,
26, a San Francisco coffee heiress; Jay Sebring, 35, a jet set men's
hairdresser, and Voityck Frokowsky (sic), 37, a Polish playboy.
All were stabbed or shot. Steven Parent, 18, a friend of Miss Tate's
caretaker, was killed outside the house.
The maid who found the bodies, Winifred Chapman, testified Friday.
Stunned by crowds of spectators as she arrived at the Hall of Justice, Mrs.
Chapman shivered visibly and was supported by a friend.
The father of young Parent arrived to testify, accompanied by his wife
Juanita and teen-age daughter Janet. All walked silently with their heads
down. Parent presumably spoke about his son, who had visited the caretaker
the night of the slaying. Parent has said his son did not know any of the
other victims.
Among those against whom authorities say they will seek indictments are:
- Charles D. Watson, 24, held in McKinney, Tex.
- Patricia Krenwinkel, 21, held in Mobile, Ala.
- Linda Kasabian, 19, arraigned in Los Angeles on murder charges.
Mrs. Kasabian, whose husband was not identified was arrested in Concord, N.H.,
where her lawyer said, "she fled in fear" of her life after the Tate murders and
the murders of Leno LaBianca, 44, wealthy market owners, and his wife Rosemary,
38. The LaBiancas were slain in their house the night after the Tate
murders.
Al Matthews, Mrs. Kasabian's lawyer, said she too was hypnotized by Manson,
whom she described as "a very remarkable man" with "a charismatic aura."
Mrs. Kasabian, who was a member of Manson's commune, feared his mesmerizing
powers of "black magic," said Mathews, and now her attorney wants her protected
- placed in the prison infirmary because she is five months pregnant.
"Considering the testimony by Miss Atkins concerning the hypnotic state which
Manson put her in," Matthews said, "to have him and my client see each other
might act as a turn-on."
With her story told, Miss Atkins also fears "black magic" retribution from
Manson, Caballero said.
"She still fears him," said Caballero, explaining that Miss Atkins thinks of
Manson as "a super god" with the power to read people's minds and control their
thoughts.
"She's trying to break away from Manson," he said. But after her
testimoney she felt she was "a marked woman."
Caballero said he hoped Miss Atkins' testimony would save her from the gas
chamber and also that by telling her story she would purge herself of her fear
of Manson.
