Blaze Costs Manson His Jail Rights
Tuesday, September 14th, 1971
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 14 — Charles Manson’s jail privileges have been revoked for 10 days after the condemned killer set fire to the bedding in his cell yesterday authorities said.
Manson, who has been sentenced to death in the Tate-LaBianca murders, is on trial at the Hall of Justice in the alleged murder of movie stuntman Donald (Shorty) Shea, and the slaying of Topanga Canyon musician Gary Hinman.
The Sheriff’s Information Bureau confirmed that Manson set fire to blankets and to a towel in his Hall of Justice cell yesterday morning before going to court.
As part of his punishment, he will not be allowed to have visitors during the 10 days.
After the session ended yesterday in the courtroom of Superior Court Judge Raymond Choate, Manson’s attorney, Irving Kanarek, told the jurist that jailers had beaten Manson up twice that morning.
Judge Choate asked Manson about the allegation.
“We had a little thing going and bounced back and forth a few times,” Manson replied.
When the judge asked Manson if he was hurt, the cult leader answered, “I live in violence all the time.”
Except for brief appearances before and after the court session, Manson was not present in the courtroom.
Judge Choate ordered him to remain in a holding cell adjacent to the court after Manson reportedly told jailers he would “punch the judge in the jaw.”
Manson has been ousted from the courtroom almost daily since the Shea-Hinman trial began because of his verbal outbursts before the jury which is trying him.
The fire did not damage anything except the bedding and the towel, but it created quite a bit of smoke, according to sheriff’s deputies.
The trial will resume today before Judge Choate.
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