LOS ANGELES, Mar. 10 – Attorney Charles Hollopeter says his newest client, Charles Manson, is “pleasant, cooperative…and quite intelligent.”

“He’s got an interesting personality,” said the 59-year-old criminal attorney of the man accused of planning and leading the grisly killing of seven persons. “He’s very articulate.”

Hollopeter met with Manson Sunday night after being appointed by Superior Court Judge William B. Keene to defend him on charges of murder and conspiracy in the Tate-LaBianca slayings.

“We had a general get-acquainted conference,” Hollopeter said Monday. “He indicated he would cooperate with me.”

Manson, until Friday had acted as his own defense attorney. The 35-year-old hippie-style cult leader filed motions from his cell in the county jail law library section.

The last motion, 17 pages long ended Manson’s legal work in his own behalf. After reading it Keene termed the motion “outlandish” and ruled that Manson was incapable of defending himself.

“I’m glad to take the case,” Hollopeter said. “It’s an interesting case…very unusual. I do not know enough about the facts to venture any opinion about the outcome.”

Hollopeter said Keene had not contacted him about defending Manson until Friday.

“He asked me if I would take the case and I told him I would if it was agreeable to Manson,” Holloperer said.

Hollopeter said he will not represent the other five defendants charged in the slayings of actress Sharon Tate and four guests at her home last Aug. 9 and of market owner Leno LaBianca and his wife the following day.

“My client is Manson,” Hollopeter said “I have no fee arrangement with him. I assume the court will pay me.”

He said he doesn’t know if the case will go to trial March 30, the scheduled date.