Monday, July 30, 2012

Rare photos from the Spahn Ranch raid

These photos are all from the Spahn raid. Hearing/reading that there was an arsenal of weapons there didn't really sink in until we saw these photos. The visual of what was out there is pretty frightening, wouldn't you say?









33 comments:

AustinAnn74 said...

Well, doesn't everyone know that the Manson family were nothing, but a peace-loving "family" who wanted nothing, but to mind their own business, make love & play music away from the establishment? In order to do so, one must own an arsenal. (hahaha)

Kimchi said...

(2nd photo) - if they'd only have known the murder car was at their fingertips...8 days after it happened.

Looks like they only got 5 rifles - my husband has more hunting rifles than that... they consider that an arsenal? Sheesh..

Farflung said...

If I’m reading this correctly, the raid was the result of some stolen Volkswagens….

Spahn Warrant/Report

Manson is having work done at Butler’s Buggy Shop which modifies dune buggies (10202 Topanga Canyon Blvd).

Manson’s friend, ‘Patricia Joan Baldwin’ (Mada(e)line Cottage?) sells a Volkswagen to Butler?

Butler checks the engine number from ‘Baldwin’s’ Volkswagen and matches it to a vehicle stolen from the storage yard at…. HIS shop. That took a large set.

Butler informs his partner/brother, who happens to be an LAPD officer (tough luck).

Several days later, a couple Sheriff’s deputies visit Spahn’s where Manson brags/warns the officers about the number of rifles aimed at them.

Search warrant is applied for and issued. So short of getting on his knees and begging to get busted, what else could Manson have done to draw more attention to his operation?

Matt said...

and he still blamed it on Shea.

Anonymous said...

HAHA, if ya think that is a arsenal, I would hate for ya to see my collection!!

Farflung said...

About the license plate number…. GYY 435.

The police report has this plate associated with two different vehicles. One which is a Ford with a VIN of (B9LS141622) which is a 1959 Ford Fairlane (Tudor or Fordor) 500 (Galaxie series), built in Long Beach, but without a connection to a registered owner via DMV files.

The same plate number is also tied to a ’62 Ford Fairlane, Convertible (500 XL) VIN (2R41L123678) made in San Jose and registered to John Orville Kidd, 517 ½ Washington St, Venice. Formerly a small apartment building which has been demolished from what I can gather from historical images.

According to the report, BOTH cars were in the impound lot of Sommers Towing. Did John Kidd report his car stolen or did he lend it to someone? Real nice having his plates traceable to those killings.

The car in the second photo looks like the ’59 with the reeded tail light and the ‘rocket plume’ center, with a hint of the last gasps of a fin, on the upper right. The year and month registration tags indicate this was the rear plate from the other car (at least they thought about that). California does require front plates.

What good does it do, to have Kasabian driving that night, purportedly with the “only valid license” when the whole ruse would fall apart as soon as the officer asks for the registration? Has anyone been pulled over and just asked for a license?

Cuntry Trash said...

Tex says he drove, that Kasabian DIDN'T drive. I don't believe she drove. i think Sadie also said Tex drove.

As for the weapons, Danny DeCarlo admits in that video interview on YouTube that he brought the guns there.

Farflung said...

Kasabian or Tex driving maybe somewhat secondary to the inference: she was somehow selected for the unique condition of having a valid driving license. Manson told her to get some clothes a knife and her license. Perhaps I’m confusing this with some other lore and fable.

Either way, without a valid registration or plates that match the model of car, your jig is up as soon as the cop calls in the tags. Why was the valid license mentioned or even an issue? I’m missing something continuity wise. I’m getting a feeling of some deflection regarding Linda’s participation where the only reason Manson used her, was because she had a license and NOT because she was some team member just as savage and ruthless.

Al said...

I was always curious as to the deal with Kadabian and her license. If you are going to commit murder make sure you get there legally! That has to be something Bug dreamed up

cielodrivecom said...

There was a pretty lengthy and interesting article written about Linda Kasabian in early 1970. At the time, Atkins was still the star witness. The article was by a Harvard student that happened to hitchhike with Linda to New Mexico, after she left Spahn in August of 1969. 

Lets just say the Linda Kasabian in this article is nothing like the sweet and innocent girl portrayed by Vince Bugliosi.

LINDA KASABIAN: Was She Yana the Witch?

orwhut said...

Was the story of Yana and the hot Volvo ever verified?

Al said...

Hmm the story seems awfully detailed. I too wonder if it has been verified.

eviliz said...

In the first picture it looks like a young Ed Gein holding the gun. lmao

Matt said...

Good call, Liz. That does look like Ed Gein. LOL.

Farflung said...

As told by Kasabian and Share:

Manson Docu-drama

(0:07-0:26) Kasabian is ‘tasked’ with killing Nadir with Atkins (known for her self control) and Grogan (known for his deep thinking) performing some poorly defined role.

(0:40-1:48) Now this knocking on the wrong door intentionally, is retold as almost heroic for reasons which I don’t quite understand. What precisely kept Sadie and Clem from bum rushing and killing who ever opened that door? Or is the fact that no one else was killed enough information to validate the “Intentionally Going to the Wrong Door” story?

(4:06-4:25) Share certainly didn’t take her own advice and split once the omni-feared Charlie was locked up with a death sentence. This is revisionism while portraying yourself as a martyr at its finest.

Manson conclusion

(0:38-0:57) August 13th and Linda bolts to New Mexico and goes into hiding. I guess the Harvard student’s story still stands as a possibility. I do wonder if Linda had dropped a dime on what happened while she was in hiding, if Shorty Shea would have survived.

A.C. Fisher Aldag said...

Yaknow, there were about fifty to seventy-five people at the Ranch of Acclaim, many of them cowboys.

When you look at that photo of guns, yeah, that's a lot... for ONE person. For fifty to seventy five people, it's way below average for a rural community.

Anonymous said...

If that story is actually Linda, I guess "she was cut from the same cloth as the other family members"
BUG, ya got yet another thing wrong!

TomG said...

Way below average for a rural community???

It's way below for the girlfriendless, small to average American teen, who somehow builds up an arsenal of weapons without ever having a job!

In 1969, they were against My Lai and the Viet Nam War. Today, they are against the Affordable Health Act.

Gotta draw that moral line somewhere.....

Shak El said...

Any yet they used a crappy gun that has a history of jamming(at Crowe) and knives that even broke (Atkins) when they had better weapons available.

Shak El said...

Farflung, I have never had police ask for registration. They usually call your license in before they approach your car and if your drivers license match all they ask for is proof of insurance (at least in SW Missouri)

Shak El said...

A.C. has a point about the guns...my ex's father had more than whats in that picture and all of them legal

Shak El said...

Any yet they used a crappy gun that has a history of jamming(at Crowe) and knives that even broke (Atkins) when they had better weapons available.

TomG said...

Crappy gun that jams? Knives that broke?

This wasn't a paramilitary group executing a hit. This was a carload of hippies, and it was too early to go to bed.

TomG said...

Shak El......from SW Missouri.....which would have been one of my first five guesses. ( then they ask for proof of insurance. ) Sounds like a Cops Episode on TruTV.

revatron said...

Wow, I guess I had never read the Spahn raid report before. Manson actually DID brag to the police about rifles aimed at them, and admitted that the loaded banana clips were his.
That makes him 100% crazier than I thought. He truly thought he was untouchable.
I wonder who the informant was. ??

Matt said...

Um, the informant was CM himself. He wasn't right smart (as they say here in the south).

AustinAnn74 said...

I am almost positive that what is shown in these photos isn't an arsenal either, Jesse2112. Remember, I am Austin Ann, from TEXAS. Enough said....

cielodrivecom said...

You should see Leno's gun collection

Farflung said...

Here’s some California background information which some may fine odd or perhaps droll:

California Car Registration Requirements

You read that correctly, make sure you sign your registration, before you mount it in such a way that it can be read from outside the car.

Ahhhh the good old days in California when you would display your name, address and social standing via type of vehicle parked on the street. Sure made stalking that shapely girl who just locked her car a heck of a lot easier with her name and address in plain view.

This was the norm in California till the mid 60’s when the mandatory requirement for public display was removed and replaced with being required for traffic stops. Makes for a silly bit of trivia too, most living in the state have no idea this was ever a practice. Insurance, seat belts and smog compliance were still in the development stages then.

revatron said...

Matt said...
"Um, the informant was CM himself. He wasn't right smart (as they say here in the south)."
Heh, yes he was informative, wasn't he? But probably not the informant I speak of. I suspect a Satan's Slave.

Is there a detailed list of the weapons seized? I want to believe they had more than what is shown in the pictures.

eviliz said...

cielodrivecom said...
You should see Leno's gun collection.

Do share please.

cielodrivecom said...

I will in the coming the weeks

Zarathustra said...

They even had a lawn mower engine in thet arsenal. Wow