• Jailmate’s View: Manson Shows Himself Superior

Jailmate’s View: Manson Shows Himself Superior

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 1 – In a large room sprinkled with blue-clad men, a slender, muscular figure holds the rapt attention of a five-men audience.

With a deft, slashing movement of his arms, followed swiftly by a well-executed face-high kick, he demonstrates a karate movement. Smiling at the group, the man — Charles Manson — tells them:

“It’s only one of several I know, but I never use that stuff, the thing is love, man, not violence.”

Yes, this is Charles Manson. No longer set apart from the common herd by his brilliant, psychedelic garb, but even now distinguished from the others by his unique and enigmatic self, Charles blends into whatever the moment demands, into whatever “scene” is playing. But he is capable of dominating, playing the leading role in a second’s notice…

He confided that it is not like it used to be, referring to those days when going to “knuckle city” was for the sheer fun of it, with the exception of a few deadly serious encounters over issues on which a man cannot compromise himself. Today, the fray is of a different nature, directed toward the faces of the establishment that scowl at, frown upon expression of self and soul.

Again, Charles finds he cannot compromise himself, accept the unacceptable, submerge his soul at the expense of a social conformity alien to his needs…

Any mention of current contention with the courts and the Man bring forth only Charles’ enigmatic smile. “The whole thing’s a real joke,” is his strangest comment. As for the courts or anyone else judging him, his views leave him unanswered. Any attempt to judge him is, in his opinion, akin to judging the image of the people reflected by him, the people judging themselves for their own failures.

“It’s like when they did the thing to J. C.” he’ll tell yah. “The people were uncomfortable knowing he was right and they were wrong. Like them, the people fear the disestablishment of their establishment through love.

“That’s why the Man and the people harass and crucify those of us who are one with love, those of us who through love know the truth, and who can see though their ‘game’ they try to force on us. The ‘game’ is fear! They try to control us, you and me, all of us, through fear. Law is an attempt to instill fear in us, but love is stronger than fear…”

On the Spahn Ranch. (in the San Fernando Valley) they found they could escape the harassment of the Man and enjoy the “oneness” with each other.

“The women there,” Charles explains, “are real women who know what the score is. A woman’s job is to take care of what a man needs. If we needed something, they just went into town and came back with it…

“…Up In Haight-Ashbury all of a sudden I had one, two, five, a dozen, 40 women. And I mean the kind that take care of business and who know I’m the boss. There was only one I had to teach that when I said ‘sit down’ I meant ‘sit down’. They liked and wanted to do stuff for me…

“I never told anyone to do anything like the papers say I did. It just isn’t in my makeup to even consider anything like that or tell anyone to something like that. I never told Susan (Atkins) to go anywhere or to do anything to anybody.

“Whatever she did, she did. It’s her mess, not mine. She’s sorry now. Did you know about her changing her story now? She sent word to me that if I’d get her a good attorney she’d shut up! She says her attorneys are selling her out. I don’t care how much she talks, she can’t say anything that can hurt me.

“She’s the one who’s in trouble, not me, and she brought it ‘on herself.”

Charles Manson’s air of confidence breeds great doubt as to his complicity in the crime charged against him. Most of his quips and other infrequent allusions concerning the Tate-La Bianca matter indicate a total lack of concern, a concern which a guilty person could not help but show.

His wit shines through on frequent occasions. Not long ago another man remarked to Charles: “Say, wouldn’t it be a gas if you beat ’em, Charlie?” A smiling Charlie replied: “It’ll be a gas if I don’t.”

“I don’t intend to give up my voice in the courts to anyone,” he adamantly intones. The deluge of offers of counsel confirms to Manson that it is the publicity rather than a defense that interests the counselors who wish to defend him. Private investigators by the numbers have also offered their services.

“They’re all looking for a free ride in the newspapers. They can’t seem to understand that this is my show, not theirs. And I’m going to be the one who puts it on. Everyone’s looking for a story, trying to get a piece of the action, but there isn’t going to be any story or action until it comes off in the courtroom. I don’t believe it will even get as far as court. I’ve got them, they don’t have me!”

His devastation of “stuffed shirt types” is amusing. “Most of them are only playing a part, anyhow,” he comments. “I can, and do, strip a person like that, leaving him naked for what he really is …”

Charles can play their game better than they can, with the end result that the opponent becomes painfully aware that his attempt is utterly fruitless and that Manson has pierced the veil and crumbled the facade presented. I’ve seen men here approach Manson, their initial demeanor haughty, aloof and superior, and watched Charles cut through them, whittle them down to size by dissipating the attempted superiority.

Strangely enough, when such a confrontation is ended, the man walks away considering Charles Manson a friend…

Likeable, effervescent Charles Manson’s philosophy of life is disturbing and thought-provoking. In person he is the antithesis of evil. Perhaps close description of him could be coined in four words: an apocalyptic, psychedelic Messiah!

By NEIL ROGERS
Rogers, a 41-year-old Long Beach area man convicted of a Torrance burglary in which an elderly caretaker was wounded, has been serving since Feb. 26, 1968 while appealing his sentence. He has served as his own attorney. Rogers says he was a graduate engineer working in design and building of machinery in the aircraft industry.

Of Rogers, Manson says: “Neil is an honest person even though he is in jail. I don’t know exactly what he wrote, but I know him and I know he wouldn’t say anything I didn’t say”

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