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@~ -RiS-350. (Rev. 7-16-63) Watson Takes Stand, Tells of (Mount Clipping in Space Below) She said she did not hear ‘aim_her.son in 1969 until he alled on, about bout Aug. 20 and to her. “he had met. a man called Jesus. named Manson. iat cae) ist accused of the, seven Sharon|\ ‘Watson told. her there was Tate-Leno La Bianca \murders, took the stand in }y Watson, Speaking/sin a slow drawl, was alert and attentive ' as he answered questions posed. by his: attorney, Samuel Bhb- He described his youth in a | tiny’ Texas town, saying that he} was in the top 10 of, his high school class; earned 12 varsity letters in sports, and spent his summers working as an onion packer. He said he dropped out of, North Texas State. University at:! the end of his junior year in| 1967 and mioved:to California be- cause the move seemed, “like an adventure.” Absent from the: courtroom to- day. was Mrs. Elizabeth Wa’ his mother, wno testified yesyer day that he. was: her “pride joy” during his formative years. She said Watson, was an “‘A’. student and an. all-district foot ball halfback, track star an basketball player, sports. editor of his high school newspaper, and .a regular churchgoer who sometimes “led services from the pulpit for the preacher,” The grey-haired witness tol the Superior ‘Court. of Judge Adolph Alexander that. Watsoi left North Texas University i 1967 after three: year's:at.the <ol- lege and. went. to California) athara_i3°'19§8; -he- fell ins with ‘Charles: Manson’s hinnie band... “were. murdered at the actress’ |, lgoing to be'a racial revolution land that. the Manson “family” great time they were all hav- ing,” she'said. ’ Miss Tate and four others} Benedict: Canyon estate'pn -Aug.}: 9, 1969. Rosémary and Leno La|! Bianca died the following night.} Manson ‘and three women fol- lowers have been convicted and sentenced to death for the kill-| ings which the prosecution con- tends were carried out: to pro- voke a race war, ! Mrs. Watson: began to cry) when she described an Oct. 3, 1969, telephone: call from. her: son in. which she. said he asked for money to buy clothes and an airplane ticket home:. Mrs. Watson, who said her husband will:not appear as a .de- fense witness in the trial, stated ‘that. when her son arrived in Copeville, ‘Texds, on Oct, 4; 1969, he. had, changed so much that “had we not’ Known he was our boy we ‘wouldn't have fjown him . . «He acted high ified, = “He kept talking about what al q {Indicate page, name of newspaper, city and state.) Az} Herala- ~Examiner “os “ngeles, Calif. Date: 9/1/71 Edition: 8 Star Author: Editor: Title: Character: or Classification: Submitting Office: Log Angeles [_] Being Investigated Die 7 reid SEARCHED. va D i Cea oan FILED. ..¢ 19 BEF el =