Principal Tate Case Witness Flees State
Saturday, February 14th, 1970
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 14 – Shirley Nadell, a principal witness in the Tate-LaBianca murder case, has fled California because of threats to her life, her attorney said Friday.
Mrs. Nadell, 31, received the threats while in Sybil Brand Institute in Los Angeles from which she was paroled last week, according to Wesley Russell.
One, he added, was contained in a note thrown into her and reportedly signed by Susan Atkins, 21, a co-defendant with hippie cult leader Charles Manson and four others in the murders.
Mrs. Nadell was the informer who told police late last year that her cellmate, Miss Atkins, had described how the murders were committed, admitted her role in them and implicated Manson and the other four.
Miss Atkins later related a similar story to the grand jury and the indictment of all six persons accused of the slayings followed.
Mrs. Nadell and Miss Atkins were cellmates while the former was awaiting trial on charges of forging a narcotics prescription and the latter was awaiting trial in another murder.
Mrs. Nadell was found innocent, but was held in Sybil Brand for several weeks for violation of probation.
Homicide Lt. Robert Helder confirmed that Mrs. Nadell had left the state, but he said she would be available to testify in the Tate-LaBianca case if needed.
He said, however, she never filed complaints with police about threats. Sybil Brand authorities also said they had received no such complaints.
Russell said Mrs. Nadell received a note reportedly from Miss Atkins saying, “When I first heard you were the informer, I wanted to slit your throat.”
She also was the recipient of an anonymous note which said, “Death to squealer pigs,” he added.
Meanwhile, it was learned that Manson’s telephone privileges had been suspended by Los Angeles County jail authorities.
Sheriff’s Inspector Ralph C. Welch said Manson, who is acting as his own lawyer, had abused his special privileges by calling members of the news media and making lengthy statements which had nothing to do with preparing his case.
Pro per prisoners (those acting as their own attorneys) are permitted three calls a day.
Welch said he suspended the phone privileges after conferring with superior Judges William B, Keene and George M. Dell when he discovered Manson had given a long interview to a San Francisco radio station. Judge Dell, signed the order.
Manson, whose trial is set for March 30, is scheduled to appear in court Monday to argue a motion for a change of venue.
I don’t remember the name Shirley Nadell. I remember Ronnie Howard and Graham. The photo behind the caption is Ronnie Howard. Unless Shirley Nadell is her real name
Ronnie Howard went by Shelley Nadell
Thank you. Never heard that before
That’s the first time I’ve ever heard that name as wellI’m