Monday, August 8, 2016

Tom O'Neill Interview on the Tex Tapes


This interview has been made available to MansonBlog readers by the copyright holder (not the interviewee or the interviewer).

The participants are the interviewee (Tom O'Neill) and the interviewer (Catscradle77), and has been edited for length and continuity.

The subject is the Tex Tapes. The date is October 4, 2014. For one reason or another this interview has been suppressed until now.

Enjoy.






66 comments:

David said...

Thanks, Matt. interesting stuff.

starviego said...

How did Tex avoid the draft back in 1963, when he turned 18? Because he went to college? Yeah, but then he dropped out, and should have been drafted then.

Unknown said...

Starviego:


Laurel Canyon is tricky, especially when wet, and the friend who
was driving us skidded into a head-on collision that messed up my knee badly enough to put me in the hospital for an operation. Although the whole thing didn't seem all that important at the time, the accident and the lawsuit that followed had a number of consequences later — keeping me out of the
army, involving me with two lawyers (who would later come to Texas and fight for the right to represent me in order to obtain the publicity such a trial could bring them), and creating an insurance claim that would later be the excuse for a bizarre odyssey back to Death Valley, looking for Charlie after I'd run away from him.

From Tex's book: Will you Die For Me

bucpaul2812 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
starviego said...

" the accident... had a number of consequences later — keeping me out of the army... "

Thank you, but this doesn't really answer the question. How long between when he dropped out of college to when he busted up his knee? Two to three years, at the very least? Why wasn't he drafted during that time span?

Unknown said...

He went back to School for a while in California after dropping out in Texas...

Unknown said...

My parents had made me promise that if I moved to California I'd finish school, so I enrolled at Cal State Los Angeles, majoring in business administration.

that was 1967- his accident was in 1968... the California Dreaming chapter of his book tells the chronological story of what he was up to.

Farflung said...

There's an article about a woman from Henderson, NV, and her struggle with the justice system.

She owns a hair salon staffed with her family (5).

The article, published yesterday, outlines what it's been like keeping her brother's killers in prison. Her brother was Jay Sebring.

ColScott said...

At around the 46 minute mark O'Neill says that he would not have met with Tex and asked him an unexpected question because that "is not how I work."

Yeah... so then how come I know of multiple persons, including Nancy Pitman, Col Tate and Col Tate's widow and others who were threatened that if they didn't sit down with O'Neill for the "book" he has been working on he would make sure they regretted it, or words to that affect? I don't think journalists tell people that if you don't talk to me I am going to alert your neighbors and friends as to who you are.

If we ever get this book it will be as much a study of Tom as it is anyone else.

ColScott said...

I got so incensed thinking about this O'Neill shit and no doubt someone will defend him so I went back and found Nancy's email and quote it here


To say that Oneill is a "snob" or an "elitist" is rather generous. Oneill began with harassing my family and my elderly 90 year old parents.. I got his email address off one of the many "business cards" he left and asked him what he wanted. Here is a sample of what Tom Oneill sent me when he felt sure I lived in Bend, Oregon & I have cut and pasted directly from his email: "I will stay another day here and hope you change your mind and agree to meet, or at least speak with me over the phone. I think it will ultimately serve both of our best interests. If you choose not to, then I will have to take a different approach and contact your family members -- since they are referred to in these police interviews -- and vet the information with them. And if they won't speak to me, or if they don't have the answers, then I'll have no choice but to attempt to determine who are the people in your life now that you are close to and may have shared this information with, and then ask them." Then he went to the local newspaper in hopes they would pressure me to talk to him. Had I been working in Oregon he would have gone to my employer. I am sure that is the tactics he employed to ruin Steve's livelihood over in California. Can't get what he wants so he ruins someone's life or livelihood & actually manages to make it look (via you guys) like it was Steve's fault. Because in your blog you guys make it sound like Steve had that coming,

DebS said...

O'Neill is a little like Sanders in that he will dig up stuff, put his own spin on it and present it as fact. He's not worth 2 cents as a researcher because he will believe lies as long as it makes for a good incriminating story. He burned me with that Wendy Bucklee shit and I will never trust him again.

Matt said...

He "tried" to pull a fast one Deb but you didn't bite. You only published what you could verify.

Unknown said...

He threatened Col Tate ? How does one get away with threatening a military intelligence guy.

Sounds like a piece of work

Matt said...

This is like old times. I'm tearing up a little...

Patty is Dead said...

Windy the windbag lpao

ColScott said...

Ask Statman about the Col Tate threats she has all the deats. I would but we have a dispute over Narnia and so I cannot.

Unknown said...

Lol. Fair enough. I'm not really in contact with Miss Statman but I will take your word :)

ColScott said...

Statman is here. She is like Jadis, in every corner of the blog and of your life. Every day is winter but never Christmas. But she will come if you call her and supply Turkish Delight. But only your faith in Aslan (the Col) can ultimately save you St.

Unknown said...

lolol :) Ok Well again- I will take your word lol

Zelda Formaldehyde said...

Thanks for posting the interview. I was unable to tune in the day Cats did it on her site.
O'Neill basically got played. The ol' boys network stooged him.

starviego said...

"I enrolled at Cal State Los Angeles"

Is that the one where Tex didn't show up for class--even one time?

There is something missing to this story. What about when he was working for Branff Airlines--shouldn't he have been drafted then?

Penny lane said...

I wanna go to the Manson showing...the only downside of living15000 km away from the Mansonblog action ! Robert why not take the Manson show on the road...internationally..CARN !!!!!

Farflung said...

The first draft lottery was held on 1 Dec '69, one day before Watson's 24th birthday.

The fact that he was single and male made him eligible. College could provide a deferment until graduation.

The ceremony has some old guy pulling out birthdates from a glass bowl, with each birthdate given a successive number (1-366).

The highest number called for induction was 195. That was when you were drafted. Since Tex was born on 2 Dec, his induction number was 328, among the highest, and with little chance of being called.

Two others who engaged in some pre-emptive machinations to "delay" (not avoid) the draft were Trump and Clinton. Both had very high numbers as well. Strange times indeed.

Unknown said...

It is my understanding that Trump used several educational deferments and then when those expired he got another deferment for a foot problem.

Farflung said...

My experience around several CEOs, was to observe the most risk adverse people on the planet. They wanted all 52 cards stacked in their favor, along with the jokers. Paradoxically they refer to themselves as entrepreneurs.

The draft was poorly executed for Viet Nam and beyond. I volunteered for the military, then finished my term and received an honorable discharge. Because of my age, the first thing I was required to do as a reestablished civilian (aka rainbow), was to... Wait for it ... You got it... Register for the draft. So, life's fair.

Unknown said...

By the way...

As I do every year on this day. I will say a prayer for Sharon, Gibby, Rosemary, Jay, Voytek, Steve, Gary, Shorty, Leno to Rest in Peace, and that their families may have some sort of peace.

At the Center of this case was a tragedy. For all the motive and Family conversations/debates we have- this was a real tragedy for many people. Today, That comes to the forefront of my mind.

Robert Hendrickson said...

IF anyone wants to videotape the Q & A after the MANSON showings TONIGHT at the New Beverly Cinema in Hollywood, just make sure I get a copy and Matt also. He will POST it here, later. IF anyone asks, just say you are doing it for me.

On another note, I recently saw an "IN-PRISON" documentary which, among other things, documents the Black and White race CONFLICT, behind bars. GEE willikers Mr. Politician, ya THINK maybe Charlie Manson got the idea for Helter Skelter in PRISON.

BUT not to worry, more RECENTLY, the Supreme Socialist's of the land came up with a hum-dinger of an idea - "Integrate" the really Bad-Ass Zulu Warriors with the Aryan Brotherhood killers. Like have THEM cell together! Hey, how about Charlie Manson and a Black Muslim shacking-up together?


Unknown said...

I hope someone does tape that- I would love to watch...

DebS said...

Thanks Farf! For those that need a visual regarding the draft lottery, look here-

http://www.historynet.com/whats-your-number.htm

Unknown said...

From the Beverly website:




Manson (Director in Person!) {Sold Out!}

Rare screening!

Director Robert Hendrickson will join us, schedule permitting, to discuss the film!

Manson remains one of the most powerful documentaries on Charles Manson, chock-full of actual footage of The Family shot at the Spahn Ranch, linked to interviews with prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi, ranch owner George Spahn, as well as Family members, Mary Brunner, Bruce Davis, Lynnette “Squeaky” Fromme, Sandra Good, Steve ‘Clem’ Grogan and even Manson himself. There is also an extensive look at Manson’s criminal background and misfortune-filled upbringing prior to his evolution into a guru for the dark side of sixties counterculture. The film was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Documentary in 1973.

Marc Edward Heuck discusses Manson on the New Beverly blog.


There is that word GURU again lol people love that word

grimtraveller said...

Robert Hendrickson said...

On another note, I recently saw an "IN-PRISON" documentary which, among other things, documents the Black and White race CONFLICT, behind bars. GEE willikers Mr. Politician, ya THINK maybe Charlie Manson got the idea for Helter Skelter in PRISON

I think his prison experience certainly contributed, combined with being a Southern man, having stayed awhile with strict Biblical relatives, having been shat on by the system that should have been taking care of him and some seriously potent Owsley's acid, among other things.
HS doesn't strike me as "an idea you come up with." It was something a lot more potent than that.

starviego said...

The million dollar question:

Who was the Black Muslim that lit the fire in Charlie's brain?

Did anybody ever come across an interview with Phil Phillips, Charlie's cellie at McNeil Island, who reportedly has info on that subject?

grimtraveller said...

Robert has a golden interview with him in "Death to pigs" that is both illuminating and entertaining.

prefeteria said...

ColScott – your email from Nancy implies that O’Neill is responsible for outing Grogan.

For some reason I thought that this information was originally publicized on the departed Brett’s web site?

What’s the missing link?

Manson Mythos said...

Did anyone see the recent news articles about Black August?

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
ColScott said...

Preferteria- I don't know

Bret outed him as Adam Gabriel

Tom may have done some other vile shit.

goomba said...

Farf said: "The first draft lottery was held on 1 Dec '69, one day before Watson's 24th birthday." "Since Tex was born on 2 Dec, his induction number was 328, among the highest, and with little chance of being called."

The draft lottery was only for 19 year-olds if memory serves me right. Watson was 19 in 1964 so would not have been in the lottery.

Farflung said...

The initial draft was for all single males born between 1 Jan '44 and 31 Dec '50. Tex was 2 Dec 45.

The subsequent lotterys were for a single birth year, and did not surpass draft number 95. Until the draft was stopped, but not the selective service registration program.

The draft for WWII was modified to include men in their mid forties. So the rules are best characterized as fluid. But the Nam era draft suffered from extreme porosity, recalled as rules which didn't exist.

These exemptions which favored the wealthy (those who benefit most from the American lifestyle), were abandoned in favor of an "all volunteer" military, which attracts those in an economic stratum, which would have ironically, been drafted into the military anyway. Strange history indeed.

DebS said...

Goomba, you are partially correct. Farf you are correct, too!

The 1969 draft lottery did include all men born between the years Farf stated but the order in which the men were called was by age and the 19 year olds went first.

From this website-
http://www.historynet.com/live-from-dc-its-lottery-night-1969.htm

"An estimated 850,000 young men would learn their draft futures in the first lottery. Every male aged 19 to 26, whose draft status had not already been resolved, had a stake in the outcome, as it would determine the order in which men born between 1944 and 1950 were called to report for induction in 1970.

The biggest change in the 1970 draft was that it reversed the age priority—instead of taking the oldest men first from the 18- to 26-year-old eligible range, local boards would now call the 19-year-olds first. The good news was that most men’s uncertainty over their draft status would be shortened. Prior to the 1970 changes, there was no system to determine the order of call by age—everyone between 18 and 26 was vulnerable to being drafted. Young men might wait years to learn their draft future. Since older men in the draft-age range were called first, younger men trying to move forward with careers or marriages and family could only wait and wonder if their lives would be interrupted by required military service."

David said...

Mr. Hendrickson,

I regret not being there tonight. I could not make this happen. I hope to be there next time and I hope you have a wonderful time. Sorry I missed it.

Robert Hendrickson said...

SAINT: When the "underworld" releases one of it's own to infiltrate the "overworld" ONLY tragedy can result. So WHY did the "overworld" create the "underworld"?

The ANSWER is in the question.

BTW: I just realized something new today: "Rise" written in blood could mean "Islam Rising."

orwhut said...

Robert Hendrickson said...
BTW: I just realized something new today: "Rise" written in blood could mean "Islam Rising."

If it meant "Lucifer Rising" and alluded to Bobby, we could score one for the "Love of Brother" motive.

grimtraveller said...

Robert Hendrickson said...

BTW: I just realized something new today: "Rise" written in blood could mean "Islam Rising."

Katie was that deep eh ? A cryptic femme fatale, no less !

Anonymous said...


"Rise" is actually a reference to the song "Colours" by Donovan. Krenwinkel was a yuge Donovan fan, and she wanted to start a race war between the "colours" :


"Yellow is the colour of my true love's hair

In the mornin', when we rise

In the mornin', when we rise"

David said...

Ziggy,

That is great! On more then one level. You made my day.

Patty is Dead said...

So Robert, did anyone tape your Q&A?

grimtraveller said...

ziggyosterberg said...


"Rise" is actually a reference to the song "Colours" by Donovan

There again, being a vegetarian with soon to be world renowned spelling issues, maybe she was trying to tell the world to eat more rice......

Anonymous said...


RE : "Manson" Screening last night. A girl on Facebook said that Quentin Tarantino was sitting behind her and he kept talking and kicking her seat, and she didn't know it was him til the Q & A. She also posted this picture from inside the theater. Does the screen look small or is it just me?

Robert Hendrickson said...

Don't know if anyone actually filmed the Q & A, BUT after the last Q & A it was "morning" and WE did "rise." How many waited until that time to MURDER, I also don't know, BUT someone was THEN humming musical notes to Helter Skelter. OOEEE!

The 'screen' does look small, because BEFORE the feature presentation they show 16mm newsreels, and then the SCREEN openes-up for the 35 mm feature. THIS illusion of morphing YOUR field of vision from "small" to "BIG" is an age old "brainwashing" TRICK. AND if you grow-up being a VICTIM of this "establishment" program eventually YOU will actually THINK you can watch a "little" head grow "bigger." AND then, when you SEE some "little" man, you may even THINK you have seen a "big" HEAD.

AND let's be honest, would you be happier dealing with a "little" head or a "big" head ?

Patty is Dead said...

Quentin Tarantino is the benefactor of that theater as per their website. Too bad Colonel wasn't there too, right?

Matt said...

AND let's be honest, would you be happier dealing with a "little" head or a "big" head ?

Trump as two...


Anonymous said...


Thanks for explaining that, Robert. And yes, a little head always makes me happy.

And Patty, I wouldn't touch that Colonel/Quentin question with a five foot pole named Roman.

Patty is Dead said...

What would a Tarantino Manson movie look like?

ColScott said...

Col was there with Max Frost and my supermodel wife to support Tobyann and Robert so Hatermint Patty can suck it.

Quentin asked a question too!!!

I was going to prepare a report. Supermodel wife recorded the first Q and A. But now I am fuming at the HATE!

Patty is Dead said...

No hate. Pinky promise.

Unknown said...

Wow this sounds like a hell of a night.. Please give some notice next time something like this goes down MR. H....

I am psyched to see what the Col puts together!!!

leary7 said...

I am such a huge diehard fan of DebS that if she says O'Neill is a dirtbag then that is good enough for me.
But I still feel compelled to take up the Col's challenge at least in theory. What O'Neill seems to be practicing is what I call "posse journalism" where you target someone you believe has info you want and you ride hard after them. I'm a bit taken aback by the Col's use of the phrase "or words to that effect" because obviously it makes whatever O"Neill said potentially more ambiguous. That said, even if O'Neill stated outright that the "target's" refusal to cooperate would be regretted that CANNOT be interpreted as a threat of violence or any kind of militant action. It obviously could mean that "I (O'Neill) am going to write this story regardless and if people see you as someone hiding the truth - as I do - they will most certainly react strongly and you will suffer."
The attitude of "posse journalism" is that the truth belongs to the public and if you possess such truth that should be known we're coming after you. Some would argue that Woodward and Bernstein practiced "posse journalism" during the Watergate story.

In the movie Spotlight which won the Oscar last year, the Micheal Keaton character does the "posse" thing with several people including his friend that eventually did corroborate the suspect list. In the movie Spotlight, it is made clear that the Boston Globe had the church scandal story five years earlier than when they eventually published it. I personally know they had the 'bones' of the story TWENTY years earlier. That is a example of a case where I wish some "posse journalism" had been practiced. Think of the number of abuse victims that might have been spared if that Spotlight series had been published in 1982 rather than 2002.
Point is...there may be a time and place where "posse journalism" can be tolerated or even accepted. Again, if DebS says the guy is no good that is all I have to hear - but I will still defend the practice "posse journalism" in certain situations.
The relevant question may be - is investigating a crime that took place nearly a half century ago one of those situations. It is an interesting question. I would venture that the majority on this board would say yes...but the majority of the general public would say no.

leary7 said...

I could of made that clearer....
"Posse journalism" accepts and even advocates the intimidation of witnesses and sources whereas 'straight' journalism frowns of such practices. It is sort of like the difference between the Queensbury Rules of Boxing and the rules of a streetfight.

Sime's World said...

"Rise" in Manson terms is a misappropriation from one of either two Beatles "White" album tracks. In "Blackbird" McCartney sings "Arise" but more pertinently, the end of "Revolution 1" Lennon sings (shouts) "Alright!" . This was clipped and fiddled with for "Revolution 9" where one could be forgiven for hearing "Rise" within the montage of the track, but it reality it is Lennon singing "Alright".

My best,

Simon x

leary7 said...

you know what was a great old movie about "posse journalism"? Absence of Malice with Paul Newman and Sally Field. There is a great climatic scene with that guy Wilford Brimley at the head of the table dispensing justice. Classic.

Matt said...

"Now we'll talk all day if you want to. But, come sundown, there's gonna be two things true that ain't true now. One is that the United States Department of Justice is goin' to know what in the good Christ - e'scuse me, Angie - is goin' on around here. And the other's I'm gonna have somebody's ass in muh briefcase."

Great, great scene!


Doug said...

http://killersontherun.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-pursuit-of-tex-watson-tapes-charles.html?m=1

Unknown said...

Tom O'Neill is a cockroach.

Jeff said...

re: Tom's book. I'm surprised a lot of the posters here aren't more interested in looking at the big picture here: finally a major publisher has published a book eviscerating the Helter Skelter theory and the legend of Bugliosi. It's by no means a perfect book but it seems does have some pretty compelling reveals (Bugliosi's crossed out notes regarding Melcher's visits to Barker Ranch post-TLB for example).

starviego said...

Reminds me of the old saying:

"If you tell a man something he already knows, he will thank you for it. If you tell something he doesn't know, he will hate you for it."

O'Neill's book is a revelation that will take time to work it's way through Manson research circles.