LOS ANGELES, Dec. 6 – The search for missing Atty. Ronald Hughes was temporarily halted yesterday, Ventura County sheriffs deputies reported.

Det. Carl Shoenberger said the actual physical search for the 35-year-old lawyer in the Sespe Hot Springs area of the rugged Los Angeles National Forest was called off after a report that a missing persons report had been filed by Ally. Paul J. Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald is representing Tate-LaBianca murder trial defendant Patricia Krenwinkel

Fitzgerald said he had received a call from Mrs. Anita Hughes, the missing lawyer’s mother.

Mrs. Hughes, who lives in New York City with her husband John, asked Fitzgerald if she should come to California to help in the search for her son.

Fitzgerald said he advised Mrs. Hughes against making the trip at this time, but said he filed a formal missing person report at the family’s request.

Authorities said detectives will requestion several persons before the search for Hughes is resumed.

However, Shoenberger said he didn’t know when the search would continue.

The search had been resumed briefly earlier yesterday for the missing Hughes. However, a 22-roan team searching along Sespe Creek near Sespe Hot Springs failed to locate him.

Hughes, who represents Leslie Van Houten in the Tate-LaBianca trial, has been missing since last Monday.

It is believed that the portly, bearded attorney went to the Hot Springs last weekend and apparently was in the area when heavy rain storms swept in.

The search party, including hunters, hikers and members of the Ventura County Sheriffs Dept. had been flown from the Santa Paula Airport into the wilderness area where Hughes was believed to have vanished.

Searchers Thursday located an auto containing transcripts of the Tate-LaBianca trial, the first physical evidence to indicate the bearded attorney had been in the area.

The trial transcripts were found in a small foreign auto belonging to James Forsher 17, who claims he drove Hughes to the Hot Springs last Saturday.

Forsher told investigators he last saw Hughes about 7:30 am last Saturday, just a few hours before the storm hit.

Investigators also have located two other persons who saw Hughes at the campgrounds Saturday morning, but no one who had seen him afterwards.

The 13 transcripts and a book listing the evidence in the case were flown to Los Angeles

Trial Date Set For 6 Members Of Manson Clan

Trial date of Jan. 13 has been set for six members of the Manson “family” arrested on a loitering
charge during their vigil outside the Hall of Justice downtown.

The vigil has been underway since the start of the trial of cult leader Charles Manson and three
female followers who are charged with murder and conspiracy in connection with the Tate-LaBianca slayings in 1969.

Trial of the loitering case was scheduled for Division 20 of Municipal Court.

Police said the six, who were each armed with a hunting knife, are Craig Hammond 20, Bert Townsend 18, Charles Lovett 18, Sue Bartell 19, Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme 22, and Kathy Gillis 21. All are charged with loitering.

They were arrested when they refused to identify themselves, police said.