• Manson ‘Kin’ Urged to Accept Trial

Manson ‘Kin’ Urged to Accept Trial

LOS ANGELES, Apr. 29 – A defendant in the Sharon Tate murder case appealed to Charles “Tex” Watson Tuesday to stop fighting extradition from Texas so the “Manson family” would stand trial with “the strength of unity.”

Leslie Van Houten, 19, sent a letter from Los Angeles to Watson, 24, who is jailed in McKinney, Texas, fighting his removal to California where he is charged with the Tate-LaBianca slayings.

“You know the strength of unity,” Miss Van Houten wrote. “Myself, as well as the others, would like very much for you to be with all of us throughout this trial.” Attached to the letter was a poem to Watson written by the tall lanky brunette.

Charles Manson and four of his followers, including Miss Van Houten, are scheduled to go on trial in Los Angeles June 15.

Copies of the letter were released by Ira K. Reiner, Miss Van Houten’s attorney, who said he had conferred with Watson’s attorney, Bill Boyd, before letting her write the appeal.

The letter read in part:
“In spite of what anyone may tell you, the family still is. No matter how many miles, institution bars and confusion may try to separate us, we become closer. One cannot be divided.”

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