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Entry #10 Bye!

“A more comprehensive description of her condition will necessitate further study. But at this time we might suggest the possibility that she may be suffering from a condition of Folie à famille, a kind of shared madness within a group situation.

Dr Joel Hochman 

in his psychiatric report on Susan Atkins

Susan Atkins was one of the most notable Family members at the time. Accounts of her “snitching” on herself were on the rise before the trial as she had told a fellow inmate of what really happened on the nights of the murders. She was considered to be the “whacky” one of the Family, behaving like an adult with the mentality of an innocent little girl. The Family only made this “habit” of hers worse. She can be seen as the embodiment of the Family, as she had participated in both the “good” and evil deeds of the Family. She has been through the good and bad days of Manson and the group, being an early member at that. It’s no wonder why she can be seen as sharing the madness of the Family as she has seen and witnessed the rise and fall of the group alongside Manson for a while.

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Entry #9 ...

“I lived with Charlie for one year straight and on and off for two years. I know Charlie. I know him inside and out. I became Charlie. Everything I once was, was Charlie. There was nothing left of me anymore. And all of the people in the Family, there’s nothing left of them anymore, they’re all Charlie too.”*

Paul Watkins 

*From the Robert Hendrickson documentary film, Manson

Paul Watkins was a notable Family member, having close ties to Charles Manson. His ideology having Charlie, or Charles Manson, be everything and anything to someone was like a virus, infecting and getting into the minds of every Family member. Charlie became less of a notable person and more of a way of life or philosophy. He had impacted each and every single one of his members whether it be emotionally, mentally, or physically. He had engrossed the minds of everyone who had taken a liking to him, changing them into one of “his people.” 

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Entry #8 Oh no.

“Before his disappearance, Ronald Hughes, the missing defence attorney in the Tate-LaBianca murder trial, confided to close friends that he was in fear of Manson.” 

Los Angeles Times

Ronald Hughes was an attorney who represented Charles Manson on his behalf in legal matters. It was during a camping trip that Hughes had disappeared from and eventually discovered murdered, the cause of death still unknown till this day. His notion of fear is justifiable as Manson was known to be intimidating and dangerous. Somehow, Manson and his followers seemed as they were communicating despite having no way to do so. Hughes felt like his life was at stake when he was with Manson. The thought of being another victim of the Family was always on his mind. In a sense, Hughes was dealing with the devil.

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Entry #7 >:(

“Mr. and Mrs. America - you are wrong, I am not the King of Jews nor am I a hippie cult leader. I am what you have made of me and the mad dog devil killer fiend leper is a reflection of your society ... Whatever the outcome of this madness that you call a fair trial or Christian justice, you can know this: In my mind’s eye my thoughts light fires in your cities.”

Statement issued by Charles Manson 

after his conviction for the Tate-LaBianca murders

Charles Manson strongly believes he is not at fault for the murders he was just convicted for. Since society has treated him unfairly, (horrible childhood, failed music career, etc.) he believes he has every right to do the same, but worse. Society has moulded him into what he was, a crazed man with a huge following. These murders were only the tip of the iceberg of what Manson had planned to do He had darker thoughts in his mind than what the public had known of him. And they weren’t prepared for them. 

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Entry #6 Wow.

“If the tale that is unfolding were not so monstrous, aspects of it would break the heart.”

Jean Stafford

Serving her time in the courtroom, Jean Stafford was witness to the trial of Charles Manson and other Family members. The story being told of what had happened was inhumane, to say the least. Vivid descriptions of both murder scenes along with an account of a suicide being told, nobody was mentally ready for the hearing of Manson. The archived evidence made all matters worse. Photographs of the crime scenes and alleged murder weapons were brought forward to the court, getting uneasy and nervous feeling from the judge, jury and courtroom. 

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Entry #5 Do you know who I am?

“I may have implied on several occasions to several different people that I may have been Jesus Christ, but I haven’t decided yet what I am or who I am.”

Charles Manson 

In the Family, Manson was seen as a higher being, a religious figure of sorts. No Family member saw him as just an ordinary man; they believed he had all sorts of powers, and that he had displayed them before their eyes. It could be said that they saw Manson as Jesus Christ or the reincarnation of him because of his kindness, tranquillity, and loveliness towards the Family. Outside of the group, the public depicted Manson as the devil, for being the one responsible for ordering the murders. However, Manson himself did not declare himself as either or, as he felt that he didn’t need to. That was something for the others to decide.  

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Entry #4 Why?

“If I’m looking for a motive, I’d look for something which doesn’t fit your habitual standard, with which you use to work as police - something much more far out.” 

Roman Polanski to Lieutenant Earl Deemer 

At this point in the investigation, LAPD and other collaborating agencies/police departments have already gathered enough evidence to convicted Charles Manson and some other Family members for the Tate and La-Bianca murders. All that was missing now was the motive. What reason did Manson have to send people of his to commit homicide? That was on the minds of everyone during that time. LAPD had some ideas as to what the motive might’ve been. Some speculated it was to garner attention to the Family. The writings in blood weren’t just for the police, but for the whole world to see. Others believed it had to do with Manson and the residents of both households. Allegedly, Manson had relations with someone from both households and unfinished business. Whether it be overdue money owed or anything drug-related, Manson had unfinished business to attend to.

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Entry #3 Not bad.

“No sense makes sense.”

Charles Manson  

Charles Manson saw society and other forms of order with a hateful gaze. He thought nothing of rules and despised those with power, money and authority. What others deemed to be immoral, nonsensical or insane, he thought of like the complete opposite. What others wouldn’t or couldn’t understand, he fully understood. The statement, “No sense makes sense.” makes sense to Manson and others who thought like him, The Family. The mindset the Family had at the time was something that didn’t make sense to a sane human. The way they lived life and acted didn’t make sense to anyone who wasn’t like them. Their “philosophy” or what they thought of life was so bizarre, it didn’t make sense. Nobody could understand why or how Manson thought like he did or why he acted in such a bizarre way, thus things that didn’t make sense made sense to Manson.

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Entry #2 How are you?

"You have to have a real love in your heart to do this for people.”

Susan Atkins,

telling Virginia Graham why she stabbed Sharon Tate

The Manson Family were notorious for committing heinous acts on behalf of Charles Manson, their leader. Everybody who's heard of the murders wondered why’d they do such a thing. Many believed that the murderers were on drugs, specifically LSD. At the time, LSD ran rampant on the streets since this was the hippie era of California. Regardless of this, nobody how or what this drug did to a person’s mind. Others believed that the Family was filled with lunatics or “mind controlled” or “hypnotized” individuals that Manson had gotten friendly with. Susan Atkins, an early Family member and Tate murderer, had said that the motive or reason the murders had been committed was to see on behalf of their “love” for the Family and Manson. All Family members and been deeply devoted to Manson and his beliefs and considered this devotion their “love” for him. They saw all The commuted murders acted on behalf of their love for Manson and so thought it was righteous and felt no remorse nor guilt.

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Entry #1 Hi.

“How does it feel

To Be

One of the

Beautiful People?”

The Beatles, “Baby You’re a Rich Man,” Magical Mystery Tour Album

The Beatles and their music had an impact on the Manson Family for the better or worse. Charles Manson had an obsession with the group, believing he was their biggest fan and often taken the meaning of their songs to a whole nother level. This lyric from the song “Baby You’re a Rich Man,” I believe is to reference the members of the cult. The reason being is that the Family viewed society as evil and ugly, it being run by “pigs.” In this connotation, the Family members would be the “beautiful people.” This could also be interpreted as the victims being the “beautiful people.” The murderers did mention how they’re releasing the victims into salvation or a better place.