LOS ANGELES, Mar. 7 – Charles Manson Friday lost the right to defend himself in a stormy courtroom session which led to the arrest and jailing for contempt of three of his followers.

The boisterous outburst erupted after Los Angeles Superior Judge William B. Keene ruled that Manson’s recent actions convinced him that the hippie leader is not capable of acting as his own attorney.

Manson shouted back:
“There’s no love in this court.”

His statement touched off a turbulent scene in which several members of the nomadic tribe Manson calls his family leaped to their feet in the spectator section and hurled insults at Judge Keene, who until Friday always had handled the defendant gingerly.

“You’re making a mockery of justice completely,” Sandra Good, 26, screamed.

“You’re a joke,” shouted Catherine (Gypsy) Share, 27, who with Mrs. Good has been among Manson’s most loyal followers.

Bearded Mark Ross, 25, echoed their sentiments.

His patience worn thin, Judge Keene, shaking his finger in their direction angrily held all three in contempt and ordered them jailed for five days for what he termed their “outlandish” behavior.

Another of Manson’s followers, Cathy Gillis, escaped a contempt citation when the judge said he was unable to determine if she joined the others in their remarks about the court.

When Judge Keene challenged Miss Gillis to “say something,” she declined, preferring to smile at the judge rather than join her friends behind bars.

The disorders began after Manson first got the hint that Judge Keene intended to appoint an attorney to defend him.

“I never said I was capable of being a lawyer,” Manson exploded. “I just didn’t want to lose my voice.”

It wasn’t until the long-haired defendant said he could not understand the court’s “mumble jumble” that Judge Keene decided he had had enough.

“That’s another indication that you are incapable of being your own attorney,” the judge explained.

During a brief shouting match between Manson and Judge Keene, several of the defendant’s followers rose to their feet. They groaned and quickly sat down when bailiffs moved in their direction.

The court then made the order that Manson no longer will be representing himself, found him to be indigent and appointed Charles Hollopeter to defend him.

Hollopeter, said Judge Keene, “is a recognized, highly capable, trial lawyer,”

“I won’t accept him,” the obviously shaken, but angry Manson cried out. “You can kill me, but I won’t take him.”

After telling Manson that if he did not want Hollopeter and desired to hire his own attorney at his expense he could do so, Judge Keene adjourned court.

It was as Manson was being led from the courtroom that he suggested that the court lacked love. His followers jumped to their feet again and hurled their insults at the judge.

After leaving court, Manson, appearing to ramble erratically, told photographers “There’s no justice in the courts…there’s no justice in your hearts.”

It was Manson’s own actions which led to Keene’s decision, although the judge admitted that he had been thinking about it for some time.

Earlier in the week Manson filed a 17-page brief in court in which he asked that he be freed from jail so he could prepare his defense. He urged that a commission be appointed to study the administration of justice in the courts.

As Manson impatiently ran his long fingernails up and down a pencil Friday, Keene reviewed the document with him and even asked that Manson read and explain portions of it.

Manson, after slowly reading several lines selected by the court, accused Keene and co-prosecutors Aaron H. Stovitz and Vincent T. Bugliosi of not protecting his rights and charged that the court, as well as he, are on trial in the case.

Before deciding to appoint a lawyer, Keene said, he reviewed the file and transcripts and all of Manson’s appearances in three different courts.

Manson and four other members of his family are scheduled for trial before Keene on March 30. A sixth defendant, Charles D. Watson, still is in Texas fighting extradition.

All are charged with the slayings last August of actress Sharon Tate and six others.

By RON EINSTOSS