Inside the Manson Jury: From Deliberation to Death Sentence

by Jury Foreman, Herman Tubick, Rick Ortenburger (Editor)

INSIDE THE MANSON JURY: From Deliberation to Death Sentence
Jury Foreman Herman Tubick with his wife Helen wrote a book in 1973 culled from his notebooks and journals about his experience as a sequestered juror during the infamous Manson Trial. It was put into a drawer and discovered by his daughter in 2017.Lawyer/ Journalist and Manson expert Deborah Herman has combined this historic artifact with excerpts from the original trial transcript to reveal the larger picture of the crime and trial that captures our collective consciousness to this day. Just in time for the release of Quentin Tarantino's depiction of Manson in his new movie "Once upon a time in Hollywood," this book provides facts that can put to rest the Manson legend once and for all.
INSIDE THE MANSON JURY: FROM DELIBERATION TO DEATH SENTENCE (Micro Publishing Media, Inc, on sale September 1, 2019, ISBN 978194406886 ($17.95) is a look inside the experience of the Manson Trial as it was in 1970 and 1971. This riveting book will interest even those not familiar with the case because it lays it out in a logical order what evidence led to the verdicts and how Manson tried to control the outcome in any way he could.
The book includes editor's notes by co-author Deborah Herman, also known for her collaboration with Dianne "Snake" Lake in the writing of her poignant and compelling memoir of survival, MEMBER OF THE FAMILY (Morrow, 10/24/2017) which is a disturbing and powerful testament of her time with one of the 20th Century's most notorious criminal figures: Charles Manson. Lake was the final major witness in the nine and one-half month trial. She was only aware of her own testimony. Lake says of INSIDE THE MANSON JURY: "Manson was a master manipulator. I am grateful to the jury for bringing him to justice." If anyone still has any doubt why Charles Manson was convicted of the crimes as a conspirator and whether or not he controlled his followers, this book should dispel those doubts. Manson was his own worst enemy and continued to unravel as his efforts were thwarted. He didn't even bother to hide his not so veiled threats against key witness, Linda Kasabian, as he imitated a knife slicing her throat. Herman and Helen Tubick couldn't possibly have anticipated the continued interest in Manson and the case when they put their book aside for posterity. Tubick's book was written without an agenda unlike many of the Manson books to follow. He was simply preserving information he instinctively knew could serve a greater purpose when the time was right.
In INSIDE THE MANSON JURY, we see in detail the larger picture of the trial, and how the Man, the young co-defendants and acolytes believed was the second coming, really only cared about himself. He was willing to sacrifice them all for his own distorted sense of grandiosity. The book is a must have for any Manson aficionado. It can also benefit any trial lawyers who ultimately find themselves on either side of a sociopath. The book reveals new information such as at least one juror during deliberations questioning whether or not Leslie Van Houten should be found guilty of the crimes. It also shows information that, although it might have been available in pieces, when seen in context with Manson, his behavior, the testimony and the behind the scenes antics, paints with a much broader brush stroke than ever before. For example, many people are unaware that during the trial, but on a Sunday, a time bomb was set off near the District Attorneys office.
INSIDE THE MANSON JURY is the only book that does not glorify Manson but rather shows through facts that readers fascinated by the subject should remember the victims and the destruction left in Manson's wake. In this case the message is clear, these crimes were senseless and horrific. Although Manson tried to manipulate the Court as he had controlled his followers, the legal system worked. Manson's threats were hardly idle, yet there were witnesses brave enough to stand against him to see that justice prevailed. They, too, should be remembered as well as the jurors who sacrificed nine and one-half months of sequestration to do the job they were given.

320 pages, Paperback

Published August 15, 2019

Reviews

[Debi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was actually written in 1973 but put in a drawer for decades. Mr. Tubick died decades ago but it was passed to family and released just recently. The fact that none of the jurors didn't end up in a nut farm after serving on this jury for nearly a year shows the type of people they were because in the end they had to decide if these monsters should die for their crimes. It was very interesting from his view points especially regarding how much was kept from the jury throughout the trial.
An editor/co-authors were included to add addendums and such which helped. However, I would have thought they would have done a much better job at actually editing the book. Lots of stupid mistakes and some BIG mistakes throughout....there are 2 different ages listed for Mr. Tubick's daughters at the beginning when discussing both of them being nuns. Also, 2 very different ages listed for Steven Weiss the young boy who found the murder gun...and misspelling of Roman Polanski at the very end.
All of the attorneys involved are now dead but Stephen Kay and Irving Kanarek who was Manson's attorney who often acted crazier than his client....I believe that he's 99 years old now.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grateful for the insight from Mr Tubick, and it sheds light on another aspect of the Manson murders. This group of amazing people were sequestered for 9.5 months in a hotel on one of the most brutal and bizarre murder trials ever. The book describes the mundane daily routine, and the building frustration they felt as time dragged on for the trial. It reads like a rough around the edges book (it’s a little choppy at times and editing is a little rough, with spelling errors and things) written by the average working American man. I thank them for such a job well done.

[Todd Sittaro · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was somewhat disappointed. I was expecting to hear about the Manson trial from the perspective of the jury and, to some extent, I did but I really wanted an introspective as to what the jury members thought when they witnessed the shenanigans that went on in that courtroom. What did they make of Manson carving and “X” in his forehead? What about the outbursts from Manson and the girls, Manson lunging at Judge Older, Manson holding up a newspaper with a headline that Nixon proclaims Manson guilty and how did it affect their ultimate decision? The author spent too much time demonstrating his lack of bias and what a good person he is that he never got down to how he felt. It was ladened with “nice” talk. By that I mean, if there was an issue with a juror, for example, the author would describe the juror in such euphemistic and politically correct terms that you couldn’t even tell what the problem was. You need to call a spade a spade. He needed to just come out and say it. I would ask the author: “What do you think?” and even though a juror is not allowed to discuss the case with the other jurors until deliberation, there must have been an exchange of knowing glances at each other while that crazy-ass stuff was going on in the courtroom. It is THAT that I wanted to hear about. I wanted a flavor of what it was like in that courtroom and how it affected their decision making. He did document some of these incidents but he expounded in such a matter-of-fact way, as though this is just the normal course of action in a trial. I’ve seen many trials and NO IT’S NOT NORMAL. Just one incident like that is worthy of prime time news coverage and a river of newspaper ink. He needed to just take a point of view and, right or wrong, back it up with his reasoning so the reader can then evaluate the situation for his/her self.

The book wasn’t a total loss as it did introduce some tidbits that I had not already known and also covered what it was like to be sequestered for so long on such a high profile trial. In that respect the author covered some of the human aspects, which was fine, though there was a chapter that just should have been eliminated. It was just letters from friends and family that had nothing to do with the trial.

I’m glad to have read the book but, all considered, the Kindle price should have been south of $5.00.

[Patrick Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different angle to the Manson trial and the trials and tribulations of the Jurors who were sequestered for over 9 months. I enjoyed this book. some of it was repetitive and a lot of misspellings but over all an enjoyable read.

[Will Duane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite but very interesting. The focus wasn’t as much on the trial itself but more about the jurors in the trial

[Sam Douglass · Rating 2 out of 5]

very slow