Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson Hardcover

by Jeff Guinn

  Chapter Eleven: The Bible and the Beatles

  It’s impossible to see into someone’s heart and know for certain what he believes. Did Charlie think the Beatles were speaking to him through the songs on the White Album? Did he truly expect a worldwide race war called Helter Skelter, and that he and the Family could hide in a desert bottomless pit for hundreds of years and then reemerge to rule the world? Did Charlie take the Bible literally and expect the appearance of armored locusts and multiheaded dragons to herald the Second Coming of Christ and the end of the world?

  I believe that the historian should provide context as well as recounting what happened when—the why as well as the what. But in the convoluted case of what Charlie Manson really believed, the reader’s educated guess is as valid as mine. During the nearly two years that it took me to research and write this book, I wrote regularly to Manson requesting an interview so I could ask him these critical questions. He responded by turning my letters over to a friend, with whom I exchanged a series of letters and e-mails that culminated in his advising me to keep writing to Charlie—maybe he’d eventually agree to see me. He didn’t.

  Based on my research, and interviews with Phil Kaufman, Gregg Jakobson, Patricia Krenwinkel, Leslie Van Houten, and cousin Jo Ann—all people who knew him well—my opinion is that Manson was a skilled con artist who could convince others because he first convinced himself. Pat Krenwinkel suggested in one of our conversations that “he probably made himself believe that at least some of it was true.” It should also be noted that in 1968–69 many people believed that the Beatles were in some sense social prophets, and in America there was widespread fear that some form of extended racial conflict was imminent. It was a time when any terrible thing seemed possible. As Bob Schieffer observed to me, “The country was falling apart.”

  He demanded that they pay special attention: Leslie Van Houten interview; Watson, Will You Die for Me?, p. 83; Bugliosi, p. 241.

  they needed “a damn good whacking”: Charlie might have believed the Beatles were speaking to him, but in his memoir George Harrison said that he didn’t write this line in “Piggies.” His mother, Louise, suggested it.

  he gravely asked everyone for comments: Stephen Kay interview.

  not just because the Beatles said so: Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten interviews. Pat says that as much as Charlie talked about the Beatles, he emphasized his interpretations of the Bible even more.

  John, the narrator, has been banished: Harold Lindsell (editor), The Harper Study Bible (HarperCollins, 1964), pp. 1861–63.

  For imaginations fueled: Mary F. Corey interview.

  Just as the Bible foretold: Patricia Krenwinkel interview.

  they’d begin to feel budding wings: Leslie Van Houten interview.

  any deserters who weren’t killed: Ibid.

  There was an unexpected defector: Watson, Will You Die for Me?, pp. 85–89.

  Charlie had no inkling of this: Gregg Jakobson interview.

  But there was a personal dilemma: A. E. Hotchner, Doris Day: Her Own Story (Bantam, 1976), pp. 272–74.

  youthful rebellion was a worldwide phenomenon: Ambrose, Nixon, pp. 262–64.

  Protesters were out in force: Bob Schieffer interview.

  He began by insisting: Ambrose, Nixon, pp. 263–64.

  In January, Black Panther leaders: Mary F. Corey interview; Hayden, p. 225.

  When he replaced Tom Reddin: Domanick, To Protect and to Serve, pp. 221–22.

  Charlie used the news to support: Leslie Van Houten interview.

  Altobelli let Gregg Jakobson talk him into: Gregg Jakobson interview.

  They had trouble finding the right place to live: Bugliosi, p. 28; Sanders, p. 57.

  Polanski and Tate were interested: Bugliosi, p. 28; Sanders, p. 117; Gaines, p. 215.

  Squeaky was sent to sweet-talk George Spahn: Bravin, p. 95.

  Charlie sent several Family members: Bugliosi, p. 247.

  Now he conducted lengthy desert survival courses: Karlene Faith, The Long Prison Journey of Leslie Van Houten: Life Beyond the Cult (Northeastern University Press, 2001), p. 37.

  And now there were guns, too: Felton and Dalton, Rolling Stone.

  Charlie never suggested that the Family members would ever attack anyone: Patricia Krenwinkel interview.

  Charlie ordered the women to experiment: Leslie Van Houten and Patricia Krenwinkel interviews.

  He managed to get the dune buggy through the doors: Leslie Van Houten interview.

  Just as work on the dune buggy started: Watson, pp. 91–93.

  Gypsy grabbed the chain: Leslie Van Houten interview. I would like to have asked Catherine Share (Gypsy) about this, but beyond one general off-the-record phone conversation she refused to be interviewed unless she was paid. I never pay for interviews.

  He explored the possibility of signing them up: Bugliosi, p. 247.

  Charlie next considered sending some of the women: Patricia Krenwinkel interview.

  Then the Family tried turning: Watson, Will You Die for Me?, pp. 91–99; Marynick, p. 308; Sanders, p. 125.

  the Straight Satans would join the Family as middlemen: Gregg Jakobson interview.

  It helped that the two women: Leslie Van Houten interview.

  particularly club treasurer Danny DeCarlo: Bugliosi, p. 101; Gilmore and Kenner, p. 90.

  Shorty Shea sometimes volunteered: Bravin, p. 97.

  Charlie gathered his followers and explained: Leslie Van Houten interview.

  they liked slipping pills to members: David E. Smith and A. J. Langguth interviews; Faith, p. 114.

  he reported after a trip to Barker Ranch: Sanders, pp. 103–4; Livsey, pp. 76–77.

  he took out his frustration on Watkins: Vincent Bugliosi interview.

  Gregg Jakobson might have agreed: Gregg Jakobson interview.

  Charlie assembled small squads of followers: Watson, Will You Die for Me?, p. 75; Michelle Phillips, pp. 172–73.

  In mid-March, Charlie received word: Watson, Will You Die for Me?, p. 99.

  Charlie had informed the women that he wanted: Patricia Krenwinkel interview.

  The new tenants threw a memorable housewarming party: John Phillips, with Jim Jerome, Papa John: An Autobiography (Doubleday, 1986), pp. 290–91.

  according to subsequent police reports: Bugliosi, p. 32.

  On March 23, Shahrokh Hatami looked out: Sanders, p. 120; Bugliosi, p. 226; Gaines, p. 215. Several individuals I contacted for interviews wanted money to talk to me, but Shahrokh Hatami’s demand for $12,000 was the most excessive. His proposed deal included not only an interview but rights to reproduce four of his photographs of Sharon Tate. I declined.

  One of Little Paul Watkins’s ongoing responsibilities: Bugliosi, p. 289.

  Rudi Altobelli kept his promise: Sanders, p. 120.

  Sometime in April, Voytek Frykowski and Abigail Folger: Ibid., p. 123.

  deputies of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office raided Spahn: Bravin, p. 96.

  then the cops would think they were nuts: Leslie Van Houten interview.

  he would act like “Crazy Charlie”: Ibid.

  Tex Watson was arrested in Van Nuys: Bugliosi, p. 156; Watson, Will You Die for Me?, p. 120.

  some of the Family thought the belladonna: Leslie Van Houten interview.

  so irritated by his pushy new attitude: Phil Kaufman interview.

  Some of the women in the Family felt afraid: Patricia Krenwinkel interview.

  He had his own hopes: Gregg Jakobson interview.

  Chapter Twelve: Thwarted Dreams

  During an interview with Oui magazine published in 1981, Bobby Beausoleil stated that Manson never came to Gary Hinman’s house on the night of July 25, 1969. He claimed that prosecutors invented Charlie’s participation in the murder “because they wanted to get Manson into the act.” But Susan Atkins, who was also there, was adamant in her grand jury testimony, in her book Child of Satan, Child of God and in her unpublished memoir that Manson arrived at
Hinman’s house, slashed Hinman’s ear with his sword, and eventually told Beausoleil to kill Hinman after Hinman continued to insist he had no money to give to Beausoleil and the Family.

  Then and later, Beausoleil was adamant that he never joined the Family, another way of making it clear that he never served or took orders from Charlie Manson. My sense is that such claims suit Beausoleil’s swaggering personality so he can take sole responsibility for the Hinman murder. Beausoleil said that Susan Atkins and Mary Brunner went along because they knew Hinman, liked him, and thought it would be a social visit. Susan wrote that Charlie sent her and Mary along to assist in Hinman’s murder, and that they were chosen because they left a child at Charlie’s mercy back at Spahn.

  I had hoped to interview Beausoleil, but learned that he had agreed with filmmaker Steven Martin to decline all interviews while they cooperated on a documentary about his life.

  America was seething: Tom Hayden, Bob Schieffer, and Mark Rudd interviews; Reeves, p. 61; Hayden, pp. 69–70.

  the sharpest-eyed among his followers realized: Catherine Share, Manson, History Channel (2009).

  Melcher arrived at the ranch: Hotchner, pp. 289–90; Gaines, pp. 215–16.

  He recalled later that Charlie’s songs: Hotchner, pp. 290–91.

  Charlie went to a surplus store in Santa Monica: Sanders, p. 138.

  Everyone was kept working at a feverish pace: Leslie Van Houten interview.

  as they guided him toward their car: Bugliosi, p. 185; Gaines, p. 216; Hotchner, pp. 291–92; Felton and Dalton, “A Special Report,” Rolling Stone.

  it was the classic producer’s tactful turndown: Gregg Jakobson interview.

  The constant danger for gurus: David E. Smith interview.

  Terry Melcher had betrayed Charlie: Catherine Share, Manson, History Channel.

  “stopped pretending that he wasn’t angry”: Leslie Van Houten interview.

  Charlie made a few last-ditch efforts: Hoskyns, Waiting for the Sun, p. 184.

  On Charlie’s command they began stealing: Patricia Krenwinkel interview.

  Charlie learned where Terry Melcher lived: Hotchner, pp. 296–97.

  Charlie began suggesting that the creepy-crawls: Watson, Will You Die for Me?, pp. 121–25.

  Pat Krenwinkel left with a biker: Patricia Krenwinkel interview.

  Charlie put her in his dune buggy: Leslie Van Houten interview.

  Word reached him that Brooks Poston had left Barker Ranch: Sanders, p. 103.

  He told Watkins that any delay: Vincent Bugliosi interview; Bugliosi, p. 247.

  he joined Paul Crockett: Livsey, p. 151.

  The Family suffered an additional loss: Bugliosi, p. 133.

  Charlie decided to work another contact: Watson, Will You Die for Me?, pp. 127–30; Bravin, pp. 98–99; Marynick, pp. 373–74; Bugliosi, pp. 280, 417; Stephen Kay, Phil Kaufman, Vincent Bugliosi, and Mary F. Corey interviews.

  He used the Lotsapoppa incident as proof: Leslie Van Houten interview.

  “it wasn’t peace and love and hippies anymore”: Catherine Share, Manson, History Channel.

  Bob and Linda Kasabian were living: Bugliosi, p. 257.

  A vivacious woman named Gypsy: Linda Kasabian, Manson, History Channel; Gregg Jakobson interview.

  the moon walk was viewed with skepticism: Leslie Van Houten interview.

  Bobby Beausoleil provided the perfect excuse: Bardach, “Jailhouse Interview,” Oui.

  On Friday, July 25, longtime Family member Bruce Davis: Ibid.; Gregg Jakobson interview; Atkins, pp. 111–19; Atkins unpublished memoir, pp. 22–23; Bravin, pp. 98–99; Watson, Will You Die for Me?, pp. 131–34; Sanders, pp. 180–85; Udo, pp. 127–30; Livsey, pp. 41–42.

  Susan also couldn’t resist bragging: Stephen Kay and Leslie Van Houten interviews.

  Yeller was sickened by Susan’s comments: Patricia Krenwinkel interview.

  some of Gary Hinman’s friends dropped by: Sanders, pp. 187–88.

  they were picked up by Saladin Nader: Ibid., p. 189.

  Charlie announced that he would drive north: Bugliosi, pp. 274–75.

  At Cielo Drive things were hectic: Sanders, p. 195.

  Beausoleil didn’t take Kitty Lutesinger: Bardach, “Jailhouse Interview,” Oui; Watson, Will You Die for Me?, p. 134; Sanders, pp. 192–93.

  Charlie was also being braced by the law: Bugliosi, pp. 275–76.

  They talked about the White Album: Ibid., p. 276.

  Beausoleil called Spahn Ranch: Sanders, pp. 192–93.

  Someone remembered seeing a movie: Bravin, p. 99. Patricia Krenwinkel says that, although she wasn’t part of any copycat murders speculation, comments of others that she heard afterward indicate that such murders were discussed.

  Housekeeper Winifred Chapman arrived: Bugliosi, pp. 50–53. All of my references to August 8 activities at Cielo and by Sharon Tate, Voytek Frykowski, Abigail Folger, Jay Sebring, and William Garretson are based on an LAPD timeline included on these pages of Helter Skelter.

  Charlie and Schram arrived back at Spahn: Sanders, p. 194.

  Charlie’s instinct was to run: Bravin, p. 99.

  One suggestion was launching an assault: Atkins unpublished memoir, p. 26.

  Charlie ordered Squeaky to give Mary Brunner: Ibid., pp. 99–100.

  there were conflicting recollections: Susan Atkins recalled that Sandy and Mary were sent “to buy escape supplies, including rope” in anticipation of the Family trying to break Bobby Beausoleil out of the L.A. County jail (Atkins unpublished memoir, pp. 25–26); Nuel Emmons wrote that Charlie told him they were sent to fetch food for a special Family supper that night (Emmons, pp. 196–98).

  Each was being held on $600 bail: Watson, Will You Die for Me?, p. 135.

  Chapter Thirteen: Tate

  Charlie Manson has always insisted that he didn’t order the Family to murder anyone; he just allowed them to do what they wanted. Tex Watson is equally adamant that Charlie told him to go to Cielo and murder everyone there. Based on all we now know of Manson’s manipulative techniques, they are both in some sense telling the truth, though each is clearly trying to place the blame on the other.

  My description of the five murders at Cielo during the early hours of August 9, 1969, is drawn from five sources: Tex Watson’s Will You Die For Me?, pp. 135–44; Susan Atkins’s Child of Satan, Child of God, pp. 124–35; Atkins’s unpublished memoir; Linda Kasabian’s pretrial interview with Vincent Bugliosi as recounted in Helter Skelter, pp. 258–63; and my two extended interviews with Patricia Krenwinkel at the California Institution for Women in Corona on April 21–22, 2012. There are some contradictions, mostly over small issues that different people remember in substantially the same way with a few small differences. I’ll address these in the chapter notes and explain why I’m inclined to accept one version over another.

  Krenwinkel dismisses Kasabian’s description of her horrified reaction to the Cielo slayings, insisting that Kasabian was a fully supportive participant although she did not kill anyone. Krenwinkel says she is certain that Kasabian never asked anyone to stop.

  My account of the initial murder site investigation comes from two sources—Bugliosi in Helter Skelter, pp. 3–24, and Steve Oney’s excellent article “Manson: An Oral History,” which appeared July 1, 2009, in Los Angeles Magazine. Bugliosi worked directly from the police reports, and Oney interviewed Sgt. Michael Mc-Gann and Officer Danny Galindo.

  Charlie Manson imbued two core beliefs: Leslie Van Houten and Patricia Krenwinkel interviews.

  Falling back on Dale Carnegie: Phil Kaufman and Gregg Jakobson interviews. Both Kaufman and Jakobson offered numerous examples of Charlie persuading Family members that what he wanted them to do was originally their idea or ideas.

  caring for Altobelli’s dogs: We know there were at least three dogs, and Tate also owned a dog and several cats. William Garretson was vague in his testimony about the dogs, though we know that at least the Weimaraner was in the guesthouse with him when investigators arrived at
the murder scene. Susan Atkins made reference to one of the dogs being in the house during the murders, but none of the subsequent police reports mentioned any sign of an animal being actively present—there were lots of bloody footprints, but no bloody paw prints. In any case, the dogs did not play a critical role in what happened at Cielo that night.

  the three women didn’t know yet: Patricia Krenwinkel is adamant that Tex Watson did not mention killing anyone until the four intruders were over the fence at Cielo.

  Tex slashed at him with the knife: In Helter Skelter, Bugliosi writes that he doesn’t know the order in which Tex used the .22 Buntline and his knife. Tex recalls that he fired “and at some point used the knife.” From her hiding place in the bushes, Pat thought Tex “tried stabbing first and then shot.”

  Pat was shaking: Patricia Krenwinkel interview. From the outset of the investigation, police and prosecutors could not understand why William Garretson was not murdered. Now we know. It seems impossible that Garretson didn’t hear anything that night—besides gunshots there were screams from the victims, and Tex and Pat chased Frykowski and Folger out onto the lawn, killing them there. I tried and failed to locate Garretson during the research for this book. But in a 1999 interview with the E! network, Garretson stated that he heard noises he thought were firecrackers popping when Watson shot Steve Parent, that he heard screams, that he saw a girl chase another girl outside the main house and then heard someone saying, “Stop, I’m already dead.” He didn’t know what was going on, he said, but he was too scared to look out the window.

  Susan held Tate while Tex stabbed her: Initially, Susan Atkins bragged that she stabbed Sharon Tate to death, but she changed her story to holding the pregnant woman while Tex slaughtered her, and Susan stuck to this version for the rest of her life. In his memoir, Tex says he killed Tate. This version agrees with Krenwinkel’s recollection of the August 9 events: First Tex helped finish off Abigail Folger, and then he went inside to murder Tate: “The murders were mostly done by Tex because none of the rest of us were really ready for that.”

  Charlie got into the Ford: Manson told Nuel Emmons that he went to the murder site with an unidentified Family member. Krenwinkel remembers Manson meeting them with Nancy Pitman at the entrance to Spahn Ranch, but doesn’t know whether Pitman went with Manson when he drove to Cielo. That Manson did some murder scene rearranging seems beyond doubt; he put a towel over Jay Sebring’s head, which led to suggestions in the media that hoods were placed over the heads of all the victims, a description that encouraged further speculation about the killings being part of some Satanist ritual. Charlie also placed a pair of eyeglasses close to Sharon’s and Jay’s bodies, a particularly blatant red herring since he wouldn’t allow Family members to wear glasses.