ISSN: 2710-4028 DOI: https://doi.org/10.54208/0008 99
run the entire defense himself” (Bugliosi with Gentry
1974:200–201). Manson, furthermore, had his court-
appointed attorney removed and acted as his own
attorney for most of the pre-trial period (Bugliosi with
Gentry 1974:200–202). Two weeks before the start of
the trial, he hired Irving Kanarek to represent him
(Bugliosi with Gentry 1974:295), perhaps because
Kanarek was legendary for his obstructionist tactics in
the Los Angeles courts (Bugliosi with Gentry 1974:278).
Throughout the trial, Manson repeatedly disrupted
the proceedings with his attempts to manipulate the
case and create a spectacle. On the first day of the trial,
Manson appeared in court with a bloody X carved into
his forehead, causing several courtroom observers to
audibly gasp when he entered the room. Within days,
his co-defendants and other Family members holding
a vigil outside the courthouse also carved X’s into their
foreheads (Bugliosi with Gentry 1974:311). When
President Richard Nixon commented on the case,
declaring Manson guilty during the trial, Manson held
up a newspaper with the headline “MANSON GUILTY,
NIXON DECLARES” in front of the jury. Because
of Manson’s actions, the judge ordered the jury to be
questioned, delaying the trial, and the incident held
the potential for an overturned verdict on appeal if
Manson were to be found guilty (Bugliosi with Gentry
1974:324–327).
Pathological lying is another indicator of psychopathy.
Hare posits that “[l]ying, deceiving, and manipulation
are natural talents for psychopaths” (1993:46). They
do not fear being caught and, when challenged, simply
adapt their stories to further their agenda (Hare
1993:46). Manson’s relationship with Beach Boy Dennis
Wilson was the basis for several of his more outrageous
lies, which were formulated to lead others to believe
that he was a legitimate musician. Wilson first met the
Family in 1968, when he provided transportation for
two hitchhiking Family members. Over the next several
months, Family members, including Manson, stayed
at his Sunset Boulevard home, appropriating and
damaging his possessions at a cost of approximately
USD100,000. During this time, Wilson, attracted to
the Family’s lifestyle, recorded one of Manson’s songs
with the Beach Boys and introduced him to others
in the recording industry. Despite Wilson’s efforts,
Manson was unable to secure a recording contract. In
August 1968, Wilson moved out of his home and had
his manager evict the Family members. He had little
contact with Manson until August 1969, when Manson
asked him for money and threatened his son’s life when
Wilson refused (Bugliosi with Gentry 1974:250–251
Sanders 1971:61–62, 97–99, 242).
Manson used his relationship with Wilson as the
foundation for lies about his standing in the recording
industry. In May 1969, when his contact with Wilson
was minimal, Manson told his parole office that he
needed permission to travel out of state because he was
touring with the Beach Boys. When his parole office
requested a verification of employment, Manson said
that it was impossible because the band had already left
on tour. At that time, he also mentioned that “he had
a song on the hit parade and that he had just recorded
an album which was going to be released in about a
month” (Sanders 1971:191).
Manson also used the Beach Boys’ gold records stolen
from Wilson’s home to create the impression that he was
connected to the band. In late 1968, Manson presented
a gold record to Arlene Barker, the grandmother of a
Family member and owner of the Barker Ranch, where
the Family was eventually arrested. The gold record
was given as a gift for allowing the Family to stay on her
property. He also “told her that he was the composer
or arranger for the group” (Bugliosi with Gentry
1974:128–129 Manson and Emmons 1986:154).
While his relationship with Dennis Wilson and the
Beach Boys was short-lived, Manson made outrageous
claims about his connection to the group and his own
prominence in the music industry.
Conning and manipulating are behaviors highly
indicative of psychopathy. According to Hare, “[t]he
callous use of the lonely is a trademark of psychopaths”
(1993:147) and they “have no hesitation in making use
of people’s need to find a purpose in their lives, or in
preying on the confused, the frail, and the helpless”
(1993:148). Hare also states that psychopaths “can be
very astute at determining what those weaknesses are
and at using them for their own benefit” (1993:49). Prior
to the Tate-LaBianca murders, Manson manipulated
young adults (most of whom were women)12 into
12 Moffitt describes the female Family members as follows: “[T]hey
were among the walking wounded of American family life in the late 1960s.
They had no clear idea of themselves, the world or their place in it. They
did have needs: for love and affection, for a role, for a secure environment.
For some reason, too, they had a large measure of unfocused hostility that
Charles Manson had the expertise to recognize” (1974).
run the entire defense himself” (Bugliosi with Gentry
1974:200–201). Manson, furthermore, had his court-
appointed attorney removed and acted as his own
attorney for most of the pre-trial period (Bugliosi with
Gentry 1974:200–202). Two weeks before the start of
the trial, he hired Irving Kanarek to represent him
(Bugliosi with Gentry 1974:295), perhaps because
Kanarek was legendary for his obstructionist tactics in
the Los Angeles courts (Bugliosi with Gentry 1974:278).
Throughout the trial, Manson repeatedly disrupted
the proceedings with his attempts to manipulate the
case and create a spectacle. On the first day of the trial,
Manson appeared in court with a bloody X carved into
his forehead, causing several courtroom observers to
audibly gasp when he entered the room. Within days,
his co-defendants and other Family members holding
a vigil outside the courthouse also carved X’s into their
foreheads (Bugliosi with Gentry 1974:311). When
President Richard Nixon commented on the case,
declaring Manson guilty during the trial, Manson held
up a newspaper with the headline “MANSON GUILTY,
NIXON DECLARES” in front of the jury. Because
of Manson’s actions, the judge ordered the jury to be
questioned, delaying the trial, and the incident held
the potential for an overturned verdict on appeal if
Manson were to be found guilty (Bugliosi with Gentry
1974:324–327).
Pathological lying is another indicator of psychopathy.
Hare posits that “[l]ying, deceiving, and manipulation
are natural talents for psychopaths” (1993:46). They
do not fear being caught and, when challenged, simply
adapt their stories to further their agenda (Hare
1993:46). Manson’s relationship with Beach Boy Dennis
Wilson was the basis for several of his more outrageous
lies, which were formulated to lead others to believe
that he was a legitimate musician. Wilson first met the
Family in 1968, when he provided transportation for
two hitchhiking Family members. Over the next several
months, Family members, including Manson, stayed
at his Sunset Boulevard home, appropriating and
damaging his possessions at a cost of approximately
USD100,000. During this time, Wilson, attracted to
the Family’s lifestyle, recorded one of Manson’s songs
with the Beach Boys and introduced him to others
in the recording industry. Despite Wilson’s efforts,
Manson was unable to secure a recording contract. In
August 1968, Wilson moved out of his home and had
his manager evict the Family members. He had little
contact with Manson until August 1969, when Manson
asked him for money and threatened his son’s life when
Wilson refused (Bugliosi with Gentry 1974:250–251
Sanders 1971:61–62, 97–99, 242).
Manson used his relationship with Wilson as the
foundation for lies about his standing in the recording
industry. In May 1969, when his contact with Wilson
was minimal, Manson told his parole office that he
needed permission to travel out of state because he was
touring with the Beach Boys. When his parole office
requested a verification of employment, Manson said
that it was impossible because the band had already left
on tour. At that time, he also mentioned that “he had
a song on the hit parade and that he had just recorded
an album which was going to be released in about a
month” (Sanders 1971:191).
Manson also used the Beach Boys’ gold records stolen
from Wilson’s home to create the impression that he was
connected to the band. In late 1968, Manson presented
a gold record to Arlene Barker, the grandmother of a
Family member and owner of the Barker Ranch, where
the Family was eventually arrested. The gold record
was given as a gift for allowing the Family to stay on her
property. He also “told her that he was the composer
or arranger for the group” (Bugliosi with Gentry
1974:128–129 Manson and Emmons 1986:154).
While his relationship with Dennis Wilson and the
Beach Boys was short-lived, Manson made outrageous
claims about his connection to the group and his own
prominence in the music industry.
Conning and manipulating are behaviors highly
indicative of psychopathy. According to Hare, “[t]he
callous use of the lonely is a trademark of psychopaths”
(1993:147) and they “have no hesitation in making use
of people’s need to find a purpose in their lives, or in
preying on the confused, the frail, and the helpless”
(1993:148). Hare also states that psychopaths “can be
very astute at determining what those weaknesses are
and at using them for their own benefit” (1993:49). Prior
to the Tate-LaBianca murders, Manson manipulated
young adults (most of whom were women)12 into
12 Moffitt describes the female Family members as follows: “[T]hey
were among the walking wounded of American family life in the late 1960s.
They had no clear idea of themselves, the world or their place in it. They
did have needs: for love and affection, for a role, for a secure environment.
For some reason, too, they had a large measure of unfocused hostility that
Charles Manson had the expertise to recognize” (1974).
