Acknowledgments
We would like to thank those of you who have
participated in this project. Many people have
helped to make it successful.
First, the many clergymen, radio personalities,
video interviewers and others who have helped
to generate the questions for the following interview;
we are deeply grateful for your stand that everyone's
life has redeeming value.
Our thanks to the many high school and college
students who have had to ask us countless questions
about the Manson family and the murders, due to
assigned reports. Hopefully this interview will
be of help to you. We did it with you in mind.
God's best to you.
Lastly, our thanks to Pat, Cheryl, Janis and
Karen who have spent many hours at the computer
on this project. May God's richest blessings be
upon each of you for your commitment to the work
of the ministry.
Dedication
This book is dedicated to my father and mother,
Denton and Elizabeth, who endured so much because
of my past foolishness. Thank you Mom and Dad
for your unconditional love, flowing from our
Heavenly Father above.
Preface
It was the summer of love, 1967, when a young,
21 year-old All-American Texas kid dropped out
of college and left his family for California.
Two years later his name and participation in
the Manson murders would make headlines around
the world, Charles "Tex" Watson, Mass-Murderer.
Stories are often told of young people in rebellion
who run away from their families, not able to
deal with their pain in a positive way. Sadly,
many of these youngsters don't live to tell their
stories as Charles Watson has, so their lives
can't be a lesson for the families of other rebellious
children.
The life of Charles Watson was a failure in California.
He enrolled in college to finish his senior year,
but dropped out in order to make a living instead.
Soon he allowed rebellion to take over. When he
accidentally met up with Manson, his life went
downhill fast. The effects of his sin - drugs,
illicit sex and joining the Manson family - were
not his root problem, but rather his own willful,
deluded self -- his unbelieving heart.
Charles Manson was a loser many times over. He
was the son of a prostitute. He lacked a proper
education, but was self-taught in many subjects
during his years in prison. He was a master of
disguise. He learned how to manipulate people
with his charismatic personality. Slowly, he gathered
his followers, mostly girls, along with a few
faithful men. Charles Watson became one of these
followers in 1968 - Manson's right-hand man.
Manson used a cult mentality, drugs, music, psychology,
Scientology, sorcery and a combination of mystical
skills to beguile his followers so that they would
be willing to kill, and give their lives for him.
To this day, Manson has followers around the world
who carry his message of hate, deception and destruction
forward.
Manson's "helter skelter" philosophy
prophesied a world in chaotic confusion. He believed
the blacks would be blamed for the murders and
retaliate against the whites in an all out race
war. His family would escape to the safety of
the desert where the blacks would eventually come
to him for instructions.
After the murders in 1969, Watson turned from
Manson and returned to his family as a prodigal
son. He has used his many years in prison productively.
The interview you are about to read is one project
with which he felt it necessary to be involved.
Never attempting to shift blame from himself,
he hopes to share new insights into the Manson
madness, and to share positive solutions to problems
in society, including victim mentality, the death
penalty, prison reform and forgiveness. He prays
that many will learn and be touched by these efforts.
"But God hath chosen the foolish things
of this world to confound the wise; and God
hath chosen the weak things of the world to
confound the things which are mighty…"
(I Corinthians 1:27).
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