Manson Wanted A Racial War, Friends Say
Kill Whites, Put Blame On Blacks
December 7, 1969
Los Angeles Times
By Eric Malnic
Times Staff Writer
Charles Manson talked of triggering a war between blacks and whites by
killing whites - including white police - and making it appear that blacks were
responsible.
Friends recalled:
"He said he was building a bunch of dune buggies. He said he was going to
mount machine guns on them."
"He said he'd take his army of dune buggies and kill every white mother -
every white pig - between here and the desert."
"Then he was going to make an exodus - take his people to a big hole in Death
Valley and hide there. From there he could just sit back and watch the
revolution."
"You see, he hated the establishment. It wasn't that he felt it owed him
anything. He just didn't belong."
"He had strong anti-black feelings, too. They came from those years he spent
in a penitentiary, I think. But he didn't talk about it much. It was just one of
those feelings you get."
Charles Miller Manson, 35, the leader of a hate-oriented band of young nomads
accused in the Sharon Tate and LaBianca murders, sits in the Inyo County jail
today, charged simply with possession of stolen dune buggies found at his most
recent headquarters near Death Valley. But he is accused of sending his cult
from an earlier encampment near Chatsworth on raids that may have led to as many
as 11 deaths. All the victims were white.
The people who quoted Manson are hippie-members of a Topanga canyon community
frequented by Manson before he led his group into the desert.
These hippies pride themselves on their reputation for mutual love and
peacefulness and curse Manson for the notoriety he has brought the "long-haired
people." But they also respect him.
"He simply overpowered you," said a slight, nervous teen-age youth who
frequents a dilapidated restaurant that is a social center for Topanga Canyon
hippies.
"It was the way he looked at you. His eyes did strange things. When Charlie
talked, people listened. Some people listen too close, I guess."
One of those who listened closely was Susan Denise Atkins, 21, a member of
Manson's band. She reportedly has told the county grand jury she took part in
the Tate and LaBianca murders wander hypnotic spell cast by Manson.
The youth said Miss Atkins - who then used the name, Sadie Glutz - praised
Manson constantly to anyone who would listen and spent much of her time
attempting to recruit new members into the cult.
"Sadie said the only way to join was to agree to give up your life for all
the members of the group," the youth said.
"She handed me an ax and said 'Go ahead and kill me,' she said. That kind of
shook me up."
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