Author Archives: cielodrive.com

Linda Kasabian Says She Didn’t Try to Stop Killings

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 19 — Linda Kasabian, the Manson “family” member who turned state’s witness, testified during cross-examination that she did not try to prevent the murders of the Tate victims or go for help while they were being killed. […]

Watson ‘Calm’ During Tate Slayings

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 18 — Charles “Tex” Watson was calm and composed when he led three young women on a murder foray at Sharon Tate’s estate in August 1969, one of the women testified Tuesday. Linda Kasabian, formerly a star […]

Lawyer says Tex Did Kill But Was Only A Zombie

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 17 — Charles “Tex” Watson did commit some of the Tate-LaBianca murders but he was “no more than a zombie, a mindless automaton” blindly obeying Charles Manson’s orders, his attorney said Monday. “Watson’s motive was simple,” said […]

Watson Trial To Open Today

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 16 — Opening statements and testimony are set to begin today in the trial of Charles “Tex” Watson, with attorneys aiming to depict Watson as a youth driven to insanity by drugs and the mesmerizing dominance of […]

Manson Says He Slashed But Did Not Kill Hinman

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 15 — Charles Manson, in a surprise move today had admitted slashing musician Gary Hinman with a sword, but indicated he did not kill him. The 36-year-old condemned murderer testified Friday outside the presence of the jury […]

Witness Says He Split With Manson Over Killings

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 13 — The drug-dominated culture of the Charles Manson family was vividly described in court here Thursday by a witness who said he decided to quit the group when he realized that he would be expected to […]

Manson Slashed Hinman, Witness Says

Ella Jo Bailey, a former member of the Manson family, testified yesterday that Charles Manson spoke about slashing Gary Hinman with a sword. LOS ANGELES, Aug. 13 — A prosecution witness testified yesterday that Charles Manson, walking up and down […]

Manson Family Member Tells of Shea Killing

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 12 — The plaintive words, “Why? Why?” were the last uttered by cowboy actor Donald J. (Shorty) Shea before dying at the hands of the Charles Manson “family,” according to bizarre and gruesome testimony given Wednesday in […]

Witness Claims Defendant Admitted Murder of Shea

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 12 — A young man who quit the Manson family in disillusionment, testified yesterday that Steve Grogan admitted to him that he (Grogan) killed movie stuntman Donald (Shorty) Shea. Paul Watkins 21, quoted Grogan as saying he […]

Officer Declines Comment on ‘Confession’ by Manson

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 12 — An investigating officer in the second murder trial of Charles Manson yesterday declined to confirm or deny the cult leader confessed to him that he ordered the slaying of Gary Hinman. Manson reportedly told Sheriff’s […]

MANSON CONFESSION; Tells of Order To Kill Hinman

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 11 – Cult leader Charles Manson today in court calmly admitted to a detective that he had struck musician Gary Hinman in the head with a sword, held a gun on him and then ordered his death. […]

12 Jurors Seated For Watson Trial

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 11 — After six days of questioning, prosecution and defense attorneys have settled on a jury of six men and six women to try Charles “Tex” Watson in the killings two years ago of actress Sharon Tate […]

Crude Knife Found Outside Manson Cell

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10 — A knife, fashioned from metal spoon, was found last week outside Charles Manson’s maximum security cell at the Hall of Justice jail, a bailiff told a Superior Court judge Monday. The disclosure was made after […]

Travel Topics: Death Valley

STOVEPIPE WELLS, Calif., Aug. 8 — People come here on purpose in August, about 20,000 of them. Death Valley at midsummer is a cultivated taste. It is hard to see the grandeur for the heat ripples in the air. One […]

Cult Member Identified as Key Witness

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 8 — The prosecution on Friday revealed the identity of a key witness in the second murder trial of condemned killer Charles Manson. Dep. Dist. Atty. Anthony C. Manzella told Superior Judge Raymond Choate the witness is […]

Judge Ousts Manson After 3 Outbursts

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 6 — Charles Manson was ousted from his second murder trial again yesterday shortly after he looked at a mannequin of one of his alleged victims and remarked, “Now we’ve got two judges.” Manson 36, is on […]

Manson Pal’s Jury Hears of Cries

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 6 — A jury was assured yesterday that the screams heard by Miss Barbara Hoyt came from the missing Donald J. “Shorty” Shea, the cowboy actor for whose murder Steve Grogan, 20, a Charles Manson followers on […]

Witness Tells of Hearing Shea’s Screams in Night

Barbara Hoyt, witness in the Steve Grogan case, hides her face from the cameras yesterday. She is appearing as a prosecution witness. Steve Grogan was 23 years old when he was arrested in connection with the LaBianca murders. He was […]

Barefoot Manson On Trial

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 5 — A barefooted Charles Manson appeared unconcerned in court Tuesday as the prosecution set out to prove his participation in two more slayings. Los Angeles County Dep. Dist. Atty. Anthony C. Manzella Jr., in an opening […]

Prosecution Claims Motive In Manson Murder Trial

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 5 — Charles Manson thought Donald “Shorty” Shea was responsible for his trouble with the law and that was the motive for the movie stuntman’s alleged murder, the prosecution claimed yesterday. Dep. Dist. Atty. Anthony C. Manzella. […]