Manson’s Motions Rejected
Saturday, February 7th, 1970
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 7 – A Superior Court judge Friday denied a motion to dismiss murder charges against Charles Manson, high priest of a nomadic cult and accused mastermind of the seven Sharon Tate-LaBianca slayings.
The 35-year-old Manson, who is acting as his own attorney, emerged briefly from solitary confinement to appear in court and charge his constitutional rights had been suspended.
He sparred verbally with Judge Malcolm M. Lucas, saying there was “nothing bad” about him in the transcript of the murder indictment for the deaths of actress Sharon Tate and six others.
Throughout, Judge Lucas firmly and calmly ignored most Manson’s sarcastic barbs, then denied the motion for dismissal of the charges on grounds of insufficient evidence. Lucas also denied a petition for freedom on a writ of habeas corpus and ordered Manson to return Monday for the setting of a trial date. Manson was placed in solitary tor violation of jail rules at meal time.
At another point Manson pleaded for a delay in arguments on the motions.
“My constitutional rights have been suspended in the county jail,” Manson said. “I have no pencil. I told you I just came from solitary confinement. I have no pencil. I have no books.”
At mid-afternoon, Manson was brought into court again when Leslie Van Houten, one of his followers who is charged only with the slayings of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, appeared to change attorneys. As a principal in the case, Manson is entitled to witness all pertinent proceedings.
Outside the Hall of Justice, Susan Bartell, 19, was arrested on a traffic warrant while en route with a group of friends to the hearing for Manson. She was taken into custody to answer the traffic warrant for which bail was $34.
Also in the group was Catherine Myers, 22, whose grandmother owns the land in Death Valley where Manson and his followers lived at the time of his arrest last October on auto theft charges.
A score or more of his friends — apparently part of the so-called “Manson Family” — attends each session and act as runners for him.
By JOSEPH ST. AMANT
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