• Second Juror Out By Phone Threat

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Second Juror Out By Phone Threat

LOS, ANGELES, Feb. 16 — A second juror in the case against four Manson Family members has been excused by a Superior Court judge because of telephone threats against him.

The juror, Michael Flores, said he was upset and wished to be dismissed from the jury hearing the case against Kenneth Como, Mary Brunner, Catherine Share and Lawrence Bailey.

The four are accused of the robbery of a Hawthorne surplus store in August 1971.

Superior Court Judge Arthur Alarcon said he is “shocked and disgusted” that such a thing could happen before Flores was excused.

A woman juror had been dismissed for apparently the same reason earlier in the week, it was disclosed Thursday. According to reports, the woman had received similar threatening phone calls and was relieved of duty during a closed session.

Questioning of Flores was done in open court, but out of the presence of other jurors.

The jury has been ordered sequestered for the remainder of the trial. If one more juror is excused, a new jury will have to be selected.

The four defendants are charged with two armed robberies. The district attorney’s office alleges the robberies were committed in an attempt to free Charles Manson following his conviction on murder charges.

The suspects were arrested Aug. 21, 1971, when, police said, they were seen taking 143 weapons from the surplus store.

The other robbery the four are allegedly involved in is a $2,600 holdup of a Covina beer distributing company.

Judge Alarcon apologized to Flores Thursday and said those who made the telephone threats are “evil, slimy people who crawled out from under their rocks.”

Defense testimony continued Thursday, although the Manson Family members — including Charles Manson — did not appear as scheduled.

Miss Share’s attorney, Richard Hirsch, told the court he thought the appearance of the other family members would do more harm than good in the case against his client.

However, his opinion was disputed by Miss Share. She was repeatedly cautioned by Judge Alarcon to refrain from giving more testimony than was required.

Because of the apparent conflict, Hirsch and Howard Weitzman, who represents Miss Brunner, asked to be relieved as counsel. Their request was denied.

Miss Share had taken the stand against Hirsch’s wishes and she complained he was objecting too much.

Miss Share told the court she had no intention of robbing the store and that she did not have or fire a weapon that night.

“The police started shooting, and I ducked,” she said.

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