CHATSWORTH, Jan. 31 – Things haven’t been going well for the “family” of Charles Manson since his arrest in the Sharon Tate and LaBianca cases. Take, for example, the plight of Manson clan member Bruce Davis when he agreed to return to Spahn Ranch with some friends for a television interview.

Somehow the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department got the word that Davis was to appear at the ranch and they attended the open-air press conference as well. The paper in their hands wasn’t for taking notes. It was a warrant for Davis’ arrest issued by the Sheriff’s Department in Inyo County.

Davis was loaded in a sheriff’s car and whisked up north this week to face charges stemming from a stolen dune buggy ring bust in Independence last October.

The clan now lives in a house in North Hollywood, on Chandler Blvd.

These pictures were taken by free-lance photographer Cliff Barnes, of Chatsworth. His preoccupation with the Spahn Ranch scene over the past several months has resulted in a picture chronology of the once-home of the accused band.

“Squeaky,” is actually 21-year-old Lynn Fromme. She is a long-time Manson family member and was arrested during the Independence raid as well.

“Brenda,” Is Nancy Pitman, 19. She goes by the name of Brenda McCann, and was recently re-arrested concerning a forgery charge and booked in Van Nuys. She is presently free on bail.

Barnes reported the staff at the ranch commented the clan “women” would spend hours making pillows and cushions for Manson’s “dune buggies.” He found one such converted vehicle parked near the green trailer where the women lived.

On the bed of the truck was a water-soaked buffalo hide rug. After capturing it on film Barnes learned that most of the materials used in making rug handicrafts had been removed by police as evidence.

Though police can’t comment on such evidence due to a court order, it is believed some of the evidence found came from the Topanga Canyon home of murdered Gary Hinman.

Barnes said “Armed Guard on Duty” posters have now appeared at the ranch. As of yet no guards have been seen — just signs.

Then there was the night the green trailer caught fire and mysteriously burned to the ground. Lt. Bob Helder, officer (LAPD) in charge of the Manson investigation, said no cause of the fire had been established and it wasn’t known if the flames were set to destroy some vital clue that could have eluded police crime lab technicians.

To photographer Barnes the most familiar Manson family members still around town are “Squeeky,” “Gypsy,” “Brenda” and “Bruce.”

Whoever took over the leadership of the family has been careful not to boast about it, police reported. Said Lt. Fielder, “We have an idea who it is but it’s not certain.”

Barnes was at the ranch when deputies and LAPD probed a cave across the highway from the ranch. He followed officers as they searched the creek that meanders through the old movie-set ranch. No evidence was found — at least, none for publication.

The abject poverty of the family and the lack of defense funds seemed to be solved for a time when tapes of Manson’s voice were to be released by “Family Jams Inc.”

The joy was short-lived when the family of Jay Sebring, one of those murdered with Sharon Tate Polanski, took court action which would cause any earnings of Family Jams’ efforts to be impounded by the court.

Meanwhile, back at the jail, Manson hasn’t lost his desire to organize a new family. He asked the court’s permission to form a corporation with six other county Jail inmates. He wanted to call them “Family of infinite Soul Inc.” Permission was refused.

By JIM NEWSOM