LOS ANGELES, Dec. 12 – A chatty Charles Manson was arraigned Thursday in the Tate and LaBianca murders.

Despite his previous courtroom experience — he has spent about half his 35 years behind bars on a variety of offenses — the long-haired and bearded leader of a bizarre cult of hippies gave the impression of being a first offender.

He appeared to relish being in the crowded court at the Hall of Justice and did not miss an opportunity to engage in conversation with Superior Judge William B. Keene, who carefully explained Manson’s constitutional rights to him.

Manson, some of whose “Family” of alleged killers are behind bars in at least three states, was arraigned shortly after Dist. Atty Evelle J. Younger revealed:

— That he does not intend “in this case” to challenge a court-imposed “gag” order directed at all persons involved in the investigation, prosecution and trial of Manson and five others accused of the slayings.

— That the investigation is not limited to the Tate and LaBianca cases. He would not elaborate.

While Manson was being arraigned, sheriff’s deputies concluded their search of the Spahn Ranch in Chatsworth for some sign of a missing stunt man and beerhall bouncer, Donald O’Shea, 40, who disappeared about the time Manson and his cult lived at the ranch.

O’Shea, nicknamed “Shorty” because of his large size, reportedly had several clashes with Manson. About 10 deputies combed the ranch Thursday, concentrating on several wells, but no trace of the missing actor was found.

Manson, clad in buckskin jacket, pants and moccasins and heavily guarded by plainclothes policemen, listened intently to Judge Keene during the arraignment.

Asked if his name is Charles Manson, he brushed his long hair from his eyes and replied:

“Yes sir, it is.”

After Keene advised Manson of his constitutional rights, the slight, almost stoop-shouldered defendant, was asked if he understood them.

“I understand what you said,” Manson answered, but then he asked for some clarification as to what the court meant about his right to question witnesses called to testify against him.

Keene explained that he has the right, but only through his attorney.

After Manson said he does not have the funds to hire a lawyer, Keene appointed the county public defender’s office to represent him.

Dep. public Defender Paul J. Fitzgerald accepted the assignment, but only on the condition that there is no conflict of interest between Manson in the Tate and LaBianca cases, and any other persons now represented by his office.

Fitzgerald explained later that he is concerned about press reports that Manson’s Family is linked to the killing last July of Gary Hinman, a young musician.

Fitzgerald’s office is defending Robert Beausoliel, who together with Susan Denise Atkins, a codefendant in Manson’s cases, is charged with stabbing Hinman to death in his Topanga Canyon home.

At least one witness who appeared before the County Grand Jury in the Tate and LaBianca inquiries previously testified in court that Manson ordered that Hinman be killed.

He is alleged to have given the same command to members of his Family in the Tate and LaBianca cases.

At Fitzgerald’s request, Keene set Dec. 22 as the date for Manson to enter his plea. Fitzgerald said he also will be prepared at that time to notify the court as to whether there is a conflict of interest.

If such is the case, and if by then Manson does not make his own arrangements for a lawyer (several reportedly have offered to represent him), Keene will appoint a private attorney to defend him.

Manson, apparently seeing another opportunity to get himself on record, told the court he thought there was a conflict.

Keene, however, informed him that he will let the public defender’s office make such a determination.

Fitzgerald said later that Manson may have been referring to a “personal” conflict, possibly with other defendants, not a “legal” one, the only type the court would recognize.

After informing Keene that he prefers the middle name of “Milles” as opposed to “Miller” which was given him at birth, Manson made one other statement.

“Your honor, may I say something?” he asked.

Keene told him to wait until after the reading of the charges against him — one count of conspiracy and seven murders — but then, without giving the disappointed – looking defendant another opportunity to speak, postponed the matter until the Dec. 22 date.

When Manson next returns to court, he will be joined by at least two of his codefendants — Linda Kasabian and Leslie Louise Van Houten, who was indicted under the name of Sankston.

They were arraigned by Keene Wednesday with Miss Atkins. Her court appearance was set for next Tuesday.

Two others charged with the Aug. 9 slayings at actress Sharon Tate’s Benedict Canyon estate and the Aug. 10 LaBianca killings in their Los Feliz district home are fighting extradition.

Charles D. (Tex) Watson and Patricia Krenwinkel, who allegedly wielded the death weapons, are being held in jails in Texas and Alabama.

Younger said he believed that both should be back in Los Angeles within three weeks, explaining that authorities in those states normally are cooperative in such matters.

Flanked by Dep. Dist. Attys. Aaron H. Stovitz and Vincent T. Bugliosi, whom he said he selected to prosecute Manson and the others because of their experience, Younger was questioned closely about Keene’s so called “gag” order.

He said the order is similar to the one in the Sirhan case, which he noted that his office attempted to fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Younger said he doesn’t like the order, doesn’t think it is legal and even resents it.

But he said he will abide by it “in this case” because of the numerous defendants and the possibility that any comments made about one of them might harm the chances for a fair trial for the others.

He promised that in the future, in a case involving one suspect and one victim, he will challenge such an order by violating it, thus forcing a ruling on its constitutionality by the U.S. Supreme court, which refused to hear his office in the Sirhan case.

Younger said Stovitz and Bugliosi will be prepared to go to trial within the 60-day statutory period and that if there are any delays they will stem from defense actions.

He said his office will attempt to try all six defendants at the same time.

Meanwhile, in San Jose, chief of detectives Barton Collins said he was sending detectives to Los Angeles to question members of Manson’s band over possible connections with the slaying of two teenage girls there Aug. 2.

Collins said there are “similarities” between deaths linked to the Manson Family and the fatal stabbing of Kathy Snoozy, 15, and Deborah Furlong, 14, on a hillside south of San Jose, six days before the Tate killings.

Doctors said the two girls were each stabbed more than 300 times. They were not sexually abused.

Miss Atkins, the member of Manson’s band who told the grand jury about the Tate and LaBianca slayings is from San Jose.

By RON EINSTOSS