NASHUA, NH, Dec. 31 – Reduced charges and dismissal of another charge on a technicality was what finally resulted in Nashua District Court July 28, in the riot trials of Linda Kasabian Christian and nine others in connection with an incident in Litchfield on April 18.

Mrs. Christian, the state’s star witness in the Tate-LaBianca murder trials of Charles Manson and his followers in California, was arrested with the others following a bonfire and altercation with Litchfield police and fire fighters in the usually quiet community along the Merrimack River.

The evening of the incident, Easter Sunday, Litchfield fire fighters had been called to a field off Route 3-A for a blaze seen by a neighbor. At the time, the forest fire index in the state was high, and a ban had been issued on outside burning.

When fire fighters arrived on the scene, they were met by a large group of persons. They extinguished the fire, but before they left, they were told the fire would be re-lighted.

On their second call to the area, fire fighters were joined by local police, and together they entered the site, only to retreat when confronted by the large gathering.

State police reinforcements, along with more local police were called in and moved in on the area, where the arrests began.

Felony charges of rioting and interfering with fire apparatus, were lodged against all of the members of the group arrested, but they were later dropped by Atty. Leo Lesieur, town counsel, who prosecuted for the state. They were charged with disorderly conduct, all misdemeanors, and these were reduced to violations by Nashua District Court Justice Aaron A. Harkaway.

A charge of resisting arrest lodged against Mrs. Christian, was dismissed on a technicality by Justice Harkaway, due to an improperly worded complaint.