Charles Manson. He and his cult, “The Family,” together killed seven people, bloodied and butchered. The people who he and others killed, the Tate and LaBianca families, were wealthy and well-off. What could have made them do such a thing without pity or remorse? Read on…….. MANSON: The Man Himself In 1954, Manson set up a commune-based cult, drawing in hippies, drifters. and the unemployed at the Spahn Ranch, near Los Angeles. Manson had lovely ideas and his followers or “Family” regarded him as a Christ-like figure.
They indulged in free love practices, pseudo religious eremonies, and used drugs such as marijuana and LSD. The Black Panthers were a major black movement in the 1960’s. After killing a leader of this movement in self defence, Manson grew scared on the promise of revenge from the Black Panthers. Scared, Manson ordered his followers to practice guerrilla tactics and they did so, without question. Manson sad he taught love because in love there is no hatred, but John Flynn, a man who testified at his trial, testified to some very incriminating admissions by Manson.
Barbara Holt, a “Family” member, fled the group before a raid. She later showed up as a prosecution witness, a potential danger to Manson, so faithful members of the “Family” tried to kill her with a hamburger laced with LSD. Before her testimony, another “Family” member, Gary Hinman, who had also fled he group, was killed because he had betrayed the “Family. ” As you can see, the punishment for crossing the “Family” was severe. Manson makes claims to thirty-five murders. Although he was convicted for others, there was not enough evidence to bring him to trial for the thirty five.
THE MOTIVE BEHIND THE MAN The driving force behind Manson’s killing was hard to prove and hard o believe. Manson had a plan in his head. When the Beatles first released “The White Album,” it was a hit. Manson listened to it often. He had a great devotion to the Beatles, who he believed spoke to him across the oceans in their lyrics and songs. Manson saw the 4 Beatles as the 4 Angels that announced the ending of the world in the bible. (Armageddon) On “The White Album” there are two song titles containing the word revolution. These are “Revolution 1” and “Revolution 9. ” Manson thought the Beatles were talking about a black/white revolution.
The word ise can be found in “Revolution 9” and could be depicted as a prediction of a Black uprising. One song in particular, “Helter Skelter” seemed unexceptional to the normal ear, but was given a weird interpretation by Manson. Man saw the Blacks as stupid and felt he had to show “Blackie” the way. His plan to kill seven wealthy white people and to blame it on the blacks would start his plan of a black/white revolution which he called “Helter Skelter. ” He attempted to frame the black people by writing “Death to Pigs” in the victim’s own blood and carving the word “war” in the tomach of his victims.
Manson denied allegations that this was the motive behind the murders but many of Manson’s followers said that Manson often spoke of this revolution, “Helter Skelter. ” Another controversial song on the album was “Sexy Sadie. ” It was believed by Manson that the song foretold his murder trial when Susan Atkins made a crucial mistake on the witness stand. She made the “Family” appear to be murderers of the seven butchered victims while Manson felt he was convincing the jury of their innocence. Manson believed he foresaw this even before the trial.
