SACRAMENTO, Jan. 6 – A federal judge today reduced the bail of Sandra Good from $50,000 to $20,000 and ordered Susan Murphy freed without bond in the government’s case accusing the two Manson cultists of conspiring to mail threatening letters.

“I feel the bail on this woman is too high,” U.S. District Court Judge Philip C. Wilkins said in cutting Miss Good’s bond. However, the judge specified that the $20,000 must be posted in cash or as a corporate surety bond before she can be released.

Wilkins allowed Miss Murphy to go free by signing a $15,000 personal appearance bond. In effect it means she goes free on her signature, leaving the government only the right
to sue her if she fails to appear for her trial.

The two women, former roommates of Lynette Fromme, sentenced to life in prison for attempting to kill President Ford, are accused of conspiring to mail 171 “death list” letters to corporate executives across the country.

During the two-hour bail hearing which preceded Wilkins decision, Miss Good, 31, a longtime follower of mass murderer Charles Manson, told the judge she knew she was going to be arrested three months before she was indicted by a federal grand jury.

She said she could have fled at that time if she wanted to.

Miss Good offered to write to the imprisoned Manson and promise not to jump bail pending her trial.

“If I lied to him. I would be in fear of my life,” she told the judge.

Miss Murphy, 28, an admitted alcoholic, also said she knew she was going to be indicted because an FBI agent questioned her about the letters which she described as “warnings” and not threats.

Wilkins said he felt Miss Murphy “is a follower in this matter and not the activist Miss Good is.”

Wilkins ordered the two women to appear in court Friday for further proceedings before federal Judge Thomas J. MacBride, who has been assigned to hear criminal matters in federal court the first part of this year.

It was MacBride who sentenced Miss Fromme to life in prison Nov. 26.

The two women have yet to enter a plea to the charges and as of yet no trial date has been set.

By MAX MILLER