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Charles Watson Speaks Out: formerly "Manson's Right-Hand Man Speaks Out!"
Charles Watson Speaks Out is an interview with Charles Watson, covering ten intriguing subjects chapter by chapter. It provides something for everyone, including factual information for the historian, counsel for parents in raising successful children, research assistance for students, and answers for teenagers. Those searching will find the Truth and see at last how to stop the pain.
165 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 24, 2013
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February 2, 2014
A book of sorts written by Charles "Tex" Watson, a follower of Charlie Manson's during the time of the killings. Tells his version of his life and his purported conversion to Christianity after being convicted and going to prison. Read with much skepticism.
January 1, 2014
Since reading Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry at the age of 11, the winding and disturbing story of the Manson crimes has stuck with me. This interest not only led me to read many other true crime books over the years and honed an interest in psychology but also to re-reads of this grandfather of the true crime genre on a regular basis.
If you have read Helter Skelter, you will quickly recognize Charles "Tex" Watson as the personal executioner of seven people on the nights of August 8 and 9, 1969. If you have kept current on the post-sentencing lives of the incarcerated Manson Family members, you will also know that Watson alleges to have become a born-again Christian, started his own ministry while in prison as well as marrying and fathering children. Yes, after butchering a pregnant woman begging for her life and the life of her child, this individual was allowed to become a father himself.
So why would anyone be interested in reading what this murderer has to say? I can only answer for myself but as a continuing student of abnormal psychology and true crime, I am always willing to open another book on the Tate murders. Oh, and it was free for my Kindle.
So let's talk about this "book", or truthfully, answers to questions submitted to Watson by an investigative journalist. If you're looking for Watson to take any accountability for his horrific crimes, you won't get it here. Ever the conman, he places the blame for the vicious murders on Manson, on drugs, on alcohol, on the times, even on rock and roll music. Basically on anyone but himself. And while I do think that the crimes wouldn't have happened without Manson, I can hardly keep a straight face and accept that Flower Power played any part whatsoever in the brutal and senseless butchering of people.
While the crimes themselves are questioned (naturally), Watson gives little input other than the aforesaid placing of blame. He claims to be sorry, so sorry for the pain and grief he caused but has no good reason for why he has chosen to not say these simple words to the families of his victims. He claims that his words would mean little. An apology for the cruelest act possible apparently would mean little but this collection of words we're supposed to swallow. Okay.
What infuriated me perhaps more than anything else was Watson's assertion that neither he nor the Manson "girls" who also participated in the killings derived any type of enjoyment or pleasure from their acts. He opines that they killed their victims as a matter of course, expediency, obeying their ultimate master, Manson. Again, as someone who has read multiple accounts of the crimes and seen crime scene photos and autopsy reports, this is yet another example of Watson's posturing and attempts to con the reader. His victims were physically and emotionally tortured - - hardly dispatched from this life quickly and robotically.
Watson also claims that he wanted to leave the so-called Family but was too afraid of Manson to do so. He wants us to believe that he was Manson's little minion, merely following orders, but he was very assertive and brutal to his victims and Manson was not there. He could have walked away at any time. He made a choice and he made that choice because he was a cold-blooded, vicious killer who wanted to hurt people.
I was put off by the religious quotes and assertions heavily laced throughout the pages. I have nothing against religion and my own beliefs but I do not need a multiple murderer to lecture me on how I should live and how our society should raise our children. I also have no sympathy for Watson's bemoaning his circumstances and how the general public refuses to view him as anything but a murdering monster. I have no idea if he truly is a Christian but my gut instinct is that Christianity is merely a means to an end (i.e., incarceration) to him and maybe even a money-making venture. Should I be wrong, I still believe that he owes a debt to society and that is to be paid with his freedom.
I found it ironic and unintentionally humorous that while he states firmly that he prefers to be called "Charles" and "Tex" was a person he no longer is, he chose to use that very moniker on the cover of this book. Hypocritical? Yes. Looking to sell more books and make more money via the connection with the person he claims to no longer be? Absolutely.
And while the journalist/interviewer/author asked a few good questions, there was a serious lack of follow up. Maybe because the questions were submitted on paper, with Watson replying and no opportunity for the journalist/interviewer/author to expound. If so, it's a disappointment. Case in point - Watson claims that Manson and one other Family member returned to the Tate/Polanski home after the murders and changed the crime scene. There was no follow up question, not even a "Did Manson tell you this himself?"
In short, I found this book to be a self-serving piece of garbage with an ultimate goal of rehabilitating Watson's image and securing his release from prison. I don't believe for a moment that he is truly rehabilitated nor that he belongs anywhere but where he currently is. It's been 45 years since the crimes and he still has yet to take full responsibility for his part on this particularly sad part of American history. Tex Watson was a conman in 1969 and he remains a conman in 2013.
Would I recommend this book? If you're a serious true crime aficionado with particular leanings toward the Manson crimes, sure - - but don't expect real information or any truth from him. And only if you manage to snag this book for free, as I did. Otherwise, give it and its posturing "author" a pass.
©Psychotic State Book Reviews, 2013
If you have read Helter Skelter, you will quickly recognize Charles "Tex" Watson as the personal executioner of seven people on the nights of August 8 and 9, 1969. If you have kept current on the post-sentencing lives of the incarcerated Manson Family members, you will also know that Watson alleges to have become a born-again Christian, started his own ministry while in prison as well as marrying and fathering children. Yes, after butchering a pregnant woman begging for her life and the life of her child, this individual was allowed to become a father himself.
So why would anyone be interested in reading what this murderer has to say? I can only answer for myself but as a continuing student of abnormal psychology and true crime, I am always willing to open another book on the Tate murders. Oh, and it was free for my Kindle.
So let's talk about this "book", or truthfully, answers to questions submitted to Watson by an investigative journalist. If you're looking for Watson to take any accountability for his horrific crimes, you won't get it here. Ever the conman, he places the blame for the vicious murders on Manson, on drugs, on alcohol, on the times, even on rock and roll music. Basically on anyone but himself. And while I do think that the crimes wouldn't have happened without Manson, I can hardly keep a straight face and accept that Flower Power played any part whatsoever in the brutal and senseless butchering of people.
While the crimes themselves are questioned (naturally), Watson gives little input other than the aforesaid placing of blame. He claims to be sorry, so sorry for the pain and grief he caused but has no good reason for why he has chosen to not say these simple words to the families of his victims. He claims that his words would mean little. An apology for the cruelest act possible apparently would mean little but this collection of words we're supposed to swallow. Okay.
What infuriated me perhaps more than anything else was Watson's assertion that neither he nor the Manson "girls" who also participated in the killings derived any type of enjoyment or pleasure from their acts. He opines that they killed their victims as a matter of course, expediency, obeying their ultimate master, Manson. Again, as someone who has read multiple accounts of the crimes and seen crime scene photos and autopsy reports, this is yet another example of Watson's posturing and attempts to con the reader. His victims were physically and emotionally tortured - - hardly dispatched from this life quickly and robotically.
Watson also claims that he wanted to leave the so-called Family but was too afraid of Manson to do so. He wants us to believe that he was Manson's little minion, merely following orders, but he was very assertive and brutal to his victims and Manson was not there. He could have walked away at any time. He made a choice and he made that choice because he was a cold-blooded, vicious killer who wanted to hurt people.
I was put off by the religious quotes and assertions heavily laced throughout the pages. I have nothing against religion and my own beliefs but I do not need a multiple murderer to lecture me on how I should live and how our society should raise our children. I also have no sympathy for Watson's bemoaning his circumstances and how the general public refuses to view him as anything but a murdering monster. I have no idea if he truly is a Christian but my gut instinct is that Christianity is merely a means to an end (i.e., incarceration) to him and maybe even a money-making venture. Should I be wrong, I still believe that he owes a debt to society and that is to be paid with his freedom.
I found it ironic and unintentionally humorous that while he states firmly that he prefers to be called "Charles" and "Tex" was a person he no longer is, he chose to use that very moniker on the cover of this book. Hypocritical? Yes. Looking to sell more books and make more money via the connection with the person he claims to no longer be? Absolutely.
And while the journalist/interviewer/author asked a few good questions, there was a serious lack of follow up. Maybe because the questions were submitted on paper, with Watson replying and no opportunity for the journalist/interviewer/author to expound. If so, it's a disappointment. Case in point - Watson claims that Manson and one other Family member returned to the Tate/Polanski home after the murders and changed the crime scene. There was no follow up question, not even a "Did Manson tell you this himself?"
In short, I found this book to be a self-serving piece of garbage with an ultimate goal of rehabilitating Watson's image and securing his release from prison. I don't believe for a moment that he is truly rehabilitated nor that he belongs anywhere but where he currently is. It's been 45 years since the crimes and he still has yet to take full responsibility for his part on this particularly sad part of American history. Tex Watson was a conman in 1969 and he remains a conman in 2013.
Would I recommend this book? If you're a serious true crime aficionado with particular leanings toward the Manson crimes, sure - - but don't expect real information or any truth from him. And only if you manage to snag this book for free, as I did. Otherwise, give it and its posturing "author" a pass.
©Psychotic State Book Reviews, 2013
November 30, 2017
Não achei essa coisa horrorosa que comentam, não. Esperava ler o que um conhecido assassino tem a dizer e foi isso que li.
Meu problema começou logo no início do livro (que é uma entrevista, caso você não saiba), quando o Charles começou a citar a Bíblia em toda resposta, como se estivesse justificando que tal coisa aconteceu daquela maneira porque Jesus/Deus/whatever ainda não tinha iluminado o caminho dele. Ugh. Continuo com a opinião de que é um livro filler pra quem se interessa pela história macabra e curiosa da Família Manson, mas tem melhores. O próprio Charles Watson já escreveu outro livro infinitamente melhor que esse.
Meu problema começou logo no início do livro (que é uma entrevista, caso você não saiba), quando o Charles começou a citar a Bíblia em toda resposta, como se estivesse justificando que tal coisa aconteceu daquela maneira porque Jesus/Deus/whatever ainda não tinha iluminado o caminho dele. Ugh. Continuo com a opinião de que é um livro filler pra quem se interessa pela história macabra e curiosa da Família Manson, mas tem melhores. O próprio Charles Watson já escreveu outro livro infinitamente melhor que esse.
October 9, 2019
Written by a murderer and cult member who is supposedly reformed, I should have anticipated that the writing quality would be low. However, I wanted to give it a chance.
To avoid being excessively negative, I will just say that I am glad this book was offered free on Amazon. At least I didn't pay for it.
To avoid being excessively negative, I will just say that I am glad this book was offered free on Amazon. At least I didn't pay for it.
August 11, 2014
i don't know why this book made me angry, but it did. i guess i wanted someone who made such an impact on the media and, in turn, the formative years of my life... i wanted him to have something dramatic to say. here is a man who was the muscle of the Manson family, the man who actually did the killing that Charles Manson dreamed up, the man who destroyed the image of peace-loving hippies everywhere. and here he is in this book sounding like every other evangelical christian i've ever heard (and i've heard hundreds if not thousands) giving his testimony of how God saved him from being a crazy mixed up kid caught up in the clutches of fill-in-the-blank till he finally sees the light and becomes just like everybody else. curious, too, that his conversion comes with a deep conviction that the death penalty is wrong and only born again christians are worth paroling. i guess that makes me angry because i am opposed to the death penalty and i don't like seeing that position taken for convenience sake. oh well. if you're a born again christian who likes hearing what you've heard over and over and over again, this book is for you. i should have passed on this one.
December 24, 2014
I was disappointed in this book. It mostly said to read HELTER SKELTER if you wanted to know about what happened. I also felt like I was being preached to the whole time instead of getting his perspective on what happened and what his life is like at the time of this interview.
January 4, 2015
An interesting interview from Charles " Tex" Watson about his Manson years.It's not really a book about Manson but what Watson has to say about things.
February 20, 2016
If i could give this book no stars I would. What a preachy, god bothering, hypocritical self-serving work this is.
February 10, 2016
If you're looking for real information and gory details of the Tate-LaBianca murders, you won't find it here.I read this book for free on Googles book and I'm glad I didn't waste my money on this sanctimonious joke.Boy, Tex sure knows how to play the victim, don't he? He turned himself in....He fought extradition because the trial was becoming a circus. He had problems with his parents....Shifting the blame on Manson and drugs yada, yada, yada
In addition,While reading (Manson's Right-Hand Man Speaks Out)in which the interviewer asked him if he had any second thoughts about committing the murders --"his response was 'how do I carry this out'? instead of 'oh my god, why should I take another human's life?- like a normal human being with conscience
Tex Watson also clams that neither him or the girls enjoyed murdering these innocents victims and felt like he had to do it? I don't believe that for one second-total bs.According to his OWN tedious book,(Will you die for me) he states he felt no remorse for the murders, no revulsion at the incredible brutality of the killings--felt nothing at all. Not even fear of what happened if he were to get caught. What is important is the fact he ruthlessly butchered innocent people and bragged about it. Even laughed and said they looked like chickens running without their heads. Yet, he is given the right to marry, have children,. What chance did he give Sharon as she begged for the life of her and her unborn baby? ---Susan Atkins on the other hand incidentally bragged to cell mates about the family's involvement in the Tate, LaBianca murders.So yea this man is full crap. If Manson had told him to go kill himself , um I wonder.Everyone has free will, no one can make you do anything at all, you either consent, or are forced....I don't believe that Tex is remorseful at all, his remorse is centered more around being caught , remained incarcerated and the loss of his freedom.
Morever,He's the one who orchestrated what happened that night. If he didn't want to do it, why did he not just take the car and the girls and drive as far as the car can take him?The victims murdered had suffered horribly before they died. HORRIBLY!!! The victims begged, screamed and cried for their lives but were tortured anyway.He enjoyed hearing Tate and the others beg for their lives. Watson enjoyed seeing the blood gush from their throats after her slit them. And in this interview, Watson is trying to deflect blame to Manson and drug abuse. A few years after his conviction he told a psychiatrist, I could kill you right now and feel nothing about it..He had no problem climbing up and cutting off the telephone wires, then climbing the walls to get in the house. He had no problem distinguishing between Abagail folger and krenwinkel when krenwinkel was chasing Folger. He had no problem asking the girls to hide in the bushes as Steven parent was driving. He knew what he was doing.Absolute, 100% bs. Tex, along w/ the others that actually went out and did the killing, all know that they acted on their own. "Do what Tex says". That's all Manson said
The bottom line is,Tex Watson - was the REAL catalyst of the Manson murders. Charles Manson ordered the murders and looked scarier & got all the publicity ... but Tex the was the real butcher and his role was far more egregious than the girls or Manson.There is not that much control in the world, to make me kill for another. Tex, just like the rest of the "family," still till this day blame Charles Manson for the heinous crimes that were committed. Tex Watson could have turned away, but he WANTED to kill. Linda Kasabian had the same choice and she didn't do it. Sociopaths/psychopaths never take responsibility over their own actions. It is always someone else's fault.
Let's consider:
As Steven Parent tried to drive away, they had just arrived. They were hidden in bushes, plus Parent hadn't been exactly looking for lurking killers. They could have just let him go.
Yet, Tex deemed it necessary to step out, stop him and shoot 4 times, not knowing how far the sound would echo, whether it would alert the household .
Sharon pleaded with this devil to just let her have her child but her wishes were not honored---Tex stabbed her pregnant body until she stopped crying, "Oh, Mother, I need you! Mother, Mother, Mother ... " The sheer terror that girl must have felt, watching & listening as this sadistic butcher massacred every one of her friends before her, knowing that it was now her turn. His book says he slept like a log that night.
In addition,Voytek Frykowski... was shot twice, struck over the head with a blunt object 13 times, and stabbed 51 times.I still can't get over the beating this guy took. Wonder how many wounds were delivered after he had given up the fight. Looks like overkill.. maybe Tex was unleashing all his anger on him. He sure did the worst of it attack wise. Just can't imagine the fear and panic running through him...and then at some point..just giving in with no more fight left in you. Makes me wonder what his last thoughts were.
Thinking about what these poor souls last thoughts were and what they went through is so sad. If there was any 'peace', it only came when the victim's bodies and hearts couldn't take any more and they passed. Tex was making sure no one in that house had any chance of surviving and then some.Those lives weren't taken with any dignity-but in the most horrific manner possible.
I also love how conveniently Tex leaves out Shorty Shea's murder... he tries to skip over it and acts like he left the Ranch to avoid more murders. He was reportedly one of the main attackers who murdered Shorty.With that being said, this man should NEVER be RELEASED!It Should be referred to as Watson murders. Though both Manson and Watson should not be released from prison, both are sociopaths, and even if they never want to kill anyone or set up someone to be killed, they do not deserve to be living as free citizens based on their past criminal actions and depraved behaviors.He was shown more mercy than he ever showed any of his victims when the Supreme Court over turned the death penalties in 1972. You can bet he celebrated that. I don't care if he believes in god -He needs to stay in prison .Shifting the blame on Manson,drugs and turning to Jesus are just ways for him to sleep better at night
In addition,While reading (Manson's Right-Hand Man Speaks Out)in which the interviewer asked him if he had any second thoughts about committing the murders --"his response was 'how do I carry this out'? instead of 'oh my god, why should I take another human's life?- like a normal human being with conscience
Tex Watson also clams that neither him or the girls enjoyed murdering these innocents victims and felt like he had to do it? I don't believe that for one second-total bs.According to his OWN tedious book,(Will you die for me) he states he felt no remorse for the murders, no revulsion at the incredible brutality of the killings--felt nothing at all. Not even fear of what happened if he were to get caught. What is important is the fact he ruthlessly butchered innocent people and bragged about it. Even laughed and said they looked like chickens running without their heads. Yet, he is given the right to marry, have children,. What chance did he give Sharon as she begged for the life of her and her unborn baby? ---Susan Atkins on the other hand incidentally bragged to cell mates about the family's involvement in the Tate, LaBianca murders.So yea this man is full crap. If Manson had told him to go kill himself , um I wonder.Everyone has free will, no one can make you do anything at all, you either consent, or are forced....I don't believe that Tex is remorseful at all, his remorse is centered more around being caught , remained incarcerated and the loss of his freedom.
Morever,He's the one who orchestrated what happened that night. If he didn't want to do it, why did he not just take the car and the girls and drive as far as the car can take him?The victims murdered had suffered horribly before they died. HORRIBLY!!! The victims begged, screamed and cried for their lives but were tortured anyway.He enjoyed hearing Tate and the others beg for their lives. Watson enjoyed seeing the blood gush from their throats after her slit them. And in this interview, Watson is trying to deflect blame to Manson and drug abuse. A few years after his conviction he told a psychiatrist, I could kill you right now and feel nothing about it..He had no problem climbing up and cutting off the telephone wires, then climbing the walls to get in the house. He had no problem distinguishing between Abagail folger and krenwinkel when krenwinkel was chasing Folger. He had no problem asking the girls to hide in the bushes as Steven parent was driving. He knew what he was doing.Absolute, 100% bs. Tex, along w/ the others that actually went out and did the killing, all know that they acted on their own. "Do what Tex says". That's all Manson said
The bottom line is,Tex Watson - was the REAL catalyst of the Manson murders. Charles Manson ordered the murders and looked scarier & got all the publicity ... but Tex the was the real butcher and his role was far more egregious than the girls or Manson.There is not that much control in the world, to make me kill for another. Tex, just like the rest of the "family," still till this day blame Charles Manson for the heinous crimes that were committed. Tex Watson could have turned away, but he WANTED to kill. Linda Kasabian had the same choice and she didn't do it. Sociopaths/psychopaths never take responsibility over their own actions. It is always someone else's fault.
Let's consider:
As Steven Parent tried to drive away, they had just arrived. They were hidden in bushes, plus Parent hadn't been exactly looking for lurking killers. They could have just let him go.
Yet, Tex deemed it necessary to step out, stop him and shoot 4 times, not knowing how far the sound would echo, whether it would alert the household .
Sharon pleaded with this devil to just let her have her child but her wishes were not honored---Tex stabbed her pregnant body until she stopped crying, "Oh, Mother, I need you! Mother, Mother, Mother ... " The sheer terror that girl must have felt, watching & listening as this sadistic butcher massacred every one of her friends before her, knowing that it was now her turn. His book says he slept like a log that night.
In addition,Voytek Frykowski... was shot twice, struck over the head with a blunt object 13 times, and stabbed 51 times.I still can't get over the beating this guy took. Wonder how many wounds were delivered after he had given up the fight. Looks like overkill.. maybe Tex was unleashing all his anger on him. He sure did the worst of it attack wise. Just can't imagine the fear and panic running through him...and then at some point..just giving in with no more fight left in you. Makes me wonder what his last thoughts were.
Thinking about what these poor souls last thoughts were and what they went through is so sad. If there was any 'peace', it only came when the victim's bodies and hearts couldn't take any more and they passed. Tex was making sure no one in that house had any chance of surviving and then some.Those lives weren't taken with any dignity-but in the most horrific manner possible.
I also love how conveniently Tex leaves out Shorty Shea's murder... he tries to skip over it and acts like he left the Ranch to avoid more murders. He was reportedly one of the main attackers who murdered Shorty.With that being said, this man should NEVER be RELEASED!It Should be referred to as Watson murders. Though both Manson and Watson should not be released from prison, both are sociopaths, and even if they never want to kill anyone or set up someone to be killed, they do not deserve to be living as free citizens based on their past criminal actions and depraved behaviors.He was shown more mercy than he ever showed any of his victims when the Supreme Court over turned the death penalties in 1972. You can bet he celebrated that. I don't care if he believes in god -He needs to stay in prison .Shifting the blame on Manson,drugs and turning to Jesus are just ways for him to sleep better at night
August 29, 2019
Not really insightful
The entire focus seemed to be overboard with the religion. While I think it's great when convicted murderers find a way to take accountability and find a path to being a better person, there seems to be a total disregard of the many people that live honest & decent lives without believing in the christian or any god. Maybe that's what he has to hold onto to be at peace, but it felt very preachy and out of touch with reality.
The entire focus seemed to be overboard with the religion. While I think it's great when convicted murderers find a way to take accountability and find a path to being a better person, there seems to be a total disregard of the many people that live honest & decent lives without believing in the christian or any god. Maybe that's what he has to hold onto to be at peace, but it felt very preachy and out of touch with reality.
December 27, 2020
I was only interested in reading about Tex's thoughts and what made him do what he did at the time. I wasn't really interested in him talking about how he found Jesus afterwards. There seemed to be too much of that.
June 20, 2024
Not worth it
He went from complete obsession with one cult to another and doesn't seem to understand the hypocrisy and ridiculousness of it. He actually might have been more sane when he was following Manson.
He went from complete obsession with one cult to another and doesn't seem to understand the hypocrisy and ridiculousness of it. He actually might have been more sane when he was following Manson.
August 1, 2015
As effective leader of murderous Family squads once they left Manson and Spahn Ranch, the only thing interesting about Tex, now, is to what extent he is willing to be forthcoming on the complex and confusing mass murders he has confessed to and is convicted for. In this volume, this is Tex' summation of motivation: "Manson thought he had to take things into his own hands when he saw that his prophetic philosophy, Helter Skelter, wasn't happening on its own. He needed money to finance
Helter Skelter, you know, for guns, knives, dune buggies and the like. He tried to get money
from musician Gary Hinman, but ended up having him killed instead.
When one of the family members, Bobby Beausoleil, was arrested for the murder, I was shocked! Then, a few days later, when Helter Skelter still wasn't “coming down,” Manson thought a copycat murder would spring Bobby, and bring down Helter Skelter at the same time.
He had built the Helter Skelter philosophy, and when it didn't happen, the copycat murder idea just gave him an excuse to start it. And at the same time, he thought the police would think the
real killers of Hinman were still free to commit the Tate-LaBianca murders. Therefore, they would let Bobby go..."
It all seems too convenient that the truth is the Vincent Bugliosi conspiracy theory: race war and spring a bro from the pokey. I would think Tex could, now, offer insight and confession on the facts that came out in a trial covering his crimes but for which he was separate off in Texas. Having it fall on Manson and fit Bugliosi's theory seems a protective, not forthcoming, admission.
Since this book was published in 2003 and revised in 2012, we not only have Tex (between sermonizing and quoting scripture) touching on early Manson Family Scientology ties, but reflecting on such events as the Heaven's Gate mass suicide, the Harry Potter books ("The material used in the Potter books results from years of research of occult history and
practices."), the 2012 Aurora shooting, etc. While proclaiming personal responsibility, Tex's avowed Xtianity gives him a
presumptive causal link of evil music to evil acts:
"In July, 2012, a gunman shot and massacred dozens of people in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. The gunman was reported to a have been listening to violent hard rock music for months prior to the shootings. He even left the stereo at his apartment set to turn on with the volume set on high at the time of the shootings, in an attempt to lure police into setting off booby traps he had left. The music that was set to play on the stereo was violent, alternative rock.
In August, 2012, a gunman committed mass killings at a Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. This gunman was described in the August 7, 2012 edition of USA Today as a “neo-Nazi musician.” Mark Potok, a senior fellow at the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Alabama stated, “The lyrics to the songs these bands sing could not be printed in any newspaper in this country. They are incredibly vile. They call for the murder of all Jews and all black people. When we say it is hate music, we’re not kidding.”
Going back to the Manson Murders, Tex was the man on the scene and in charge as much or more than Charlie, but Tex goes right for the "just following orders defense":
Q: Would the crimes have happened without Manson's order?
Definitely not! Bugliosi, the prosecuting attorney, agrees that Manson was the catalyst. We would never have gone out on our own and killed people.
Reading about the forgiveness support from Rosemary Labianca's daughter Suzan LaBerge and her support for his (failed) parole attempt led me to do some research which uncovered the theory they knew each other even before the Labianca murders and maybe this, somehow, led to the selection of the Waverly house.
In her book Restless Souls: The Sharon Tate Family's Account of Stardom, the Manson Murders, and a Crusade for Justice, Alisa Statman alludes to a plot between Tex Watson and Suzan LaBerge.
Apparently, they even lived 200' apart at one point, possibly an amazing coincidence:
"Suzan and Tex lived an estimated 200 feet apart in nearby apartments in Los Angeles for six months prior to Watson’s move into Manson’s home base, Spahn Ranch. Suzan’s then-boyfriend was a member of the motorcycle gang Straight Satans that often frequented Spahn Ranch.
“There’s lot of speculation that they knew each other. And take that where you will — you can only imagine what that might mean,” Statman said."
Helter Skelter, you know, for guns, knives, dune buggies and the like. He tried to get money
from musician Gary Hinman, but ended up having him killed instead.
When one of the family members, Bobby Beausoleil, was arrested for the murder, I was shocked! Then, a few days later, when Helter Skelter still wasn't “coming down,” Manson thought a copycat murder would spring Bobby, and bring down Helter Skelter at the same time.
He had built the Helter Skelter philosophy, and when it didn't happen, the copycat murder idea just gave him an excuse to start it. And at the same time, he thought the police would think the
real killers of Hinman were still free to commit the Tate-LaBianca murders. Therefore, they would let Bobby go..."
It all seems too convenient that the truth is the Vincent Bugliosi conspiracy theory: race war and spring a bro from the pokey. I would think Tex could, now, offer insight and confession on the facts that came out in a trial covering his crimes but for which he was separate off in Texas. Having it fall on Manson and fit Bugliosi's theory seems a protective, not forthcoming, admission.
Since this book was published in 2003 and revised in 2012, we not only have Tex (between sermonizing and quoting scripture) touching on early Manson Family Scientology ties, but reflecting on such events as the Heaven's Gate mass suicide, the Harry Potter books ("The material used in the Potter books results from years of research of occult history and
practices."), the 2012 Aurora shooting, etc. While proclaiming personal responsibility, Tex's avowed Xtianity gives him a
presumptive causal link of evil music to evil acts:
"In July, 2012, a gunman shot and massacred dozens of people in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. The gunman was reported to a have been listening to violent hard rock music for months prior to the shootings. He even left the stereo at his apartment set to turn on with the volume set on high at the time of the shootings, in an attempt to lure police into setting off booby traps he had left. The music that was set to play on the stereo was violent, alternative rock.
In August, 2012, a gunman committed mass killings at a Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. This gunman was described in the August 7, 2012 edition of USA Today as a “neo-Nazi musician.” Mark Potok, a senior fellow at the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Alabama stated, “The lyrics to the songs these bands sing could not be printed in any newspaper in this country. They are incredibly vile. They call for the murder of all Jews and all black people. When we say it is hate music, we’re not kidding.”
Going back to the Manson Murders, Tex was the man on the scene and in charge as much or more than Charlie, but Tex goes right for the "just following orders defense":
Q: Would the crimes have happened without Manson's order?
Definitely not! Bugliosi, the prosecuting attorney, agrees that Manson was the catalyst. We would never have gone out on our own and killed people.
Reading about the forgiveness support from Rosemary Labianca's daughter Suzan LaBerge and her support for his (failed) parole attempt led me to do some research which uncovered the theory they knew each other even before the Labianca murders and maybe this, somehow, led to the selection of the Waverly house.
In her book Restless Souls: The Sharon Tate Family's Account of Stardom, the Manson Murders, and a Crusade for Justice, Alisa Statman alludes to a plot between Tex Watson and Suzan LaBerge.
Apparently, they even lived 200' apart at one point, possibly an amazing coincidence:
"Suzan and Tex lived an estimated 200 feet apart in nearby apartments in Los Angeles for six months prior to Watson’s move into Manson’s home base, Spahn Ranch. Suzan’s then-boyfriend was a member of the motorcycle gang Straight Satans that often frequented Spahn Ranch.
“There’s lot of speculation that they knew each other. And take that where you will — you can only imagine what that might mean,” Statman said."
December 10, 2017
Too preachy & phony
States he gets many questions from people & students. Questions geared toward opportunity for his preaching, not like genuine interview.
States he gets many questions from people & students. Questions geared toward opportunity for his preaching, not like genuine interview.
August 31, 2019
Religious crap
Boring Christian indoctrination. Don't waste your time. It's basically a long sermon, and hard to take seriously from a murderer
Boring Christian indoctrination. Don't waste your time. It's basically a long sermon, and hard to take seriously from a murderer
February 27, 2021
Excellent
Brings Christ and the forgiveness we all need into blazing clarity. The last section on who Jesus is so inspiring.
Brings Christ and the forgiveness we all need into blazing clarity. The last section on who Jesus is so inspiring.
October 20, 2021
Very preachy. I thought there'd be more thoughts by author on general conditions in The Family, but most of it was hearing repeated comments about salvation, etc. Didn't learn anything new...
September 23, 2019
If you are a historian or true crime buff, don't waste or time on this one and instead read Will You Die for Me? by Charles "Tex" Watson.
Read
July 23, 2015I have actually been in contact with Charles Watson for nearly a decade. We have been writing each other for years and I have a hard time associating the man I know now with the person who committed this crime, although he has indeed told me about his part in it and he has also expressed his sorrow that he took the lives of so many people. This book is quite graphic. He wrote this at time when he was still the person he was when he committed the crime. The man I know now has turned to God and I know that sounds very cliché, but I really feel this way. He has been with me through many hard times, writing to me, offering prayers of support and strength. Do I think he should ever get out of prison for what he did? Absolutely not, and I have told him that. Do I think he is a changed man from the one who committed the murders? I absolutely do. Read this book and then read his Free Book called I Will Kill for You and you will see the difference. Also check out his website that his friends keep up for him. He writes it, but they put in online for him....AboundingLove.org Hard to put both men in the same body.
July 22, 2014
I got this book for free so I thought I would try it. Turns out that it was pretty good. He answers the questions honestly. Even the hard ones.
April 3, 2015
Flawless testimony
January 21, 2016
very interesting to see the picture of who he was then and who he is now.
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