Morey, Pell Give Testimony In Trial Here

Morey, Pell GiveTestimony In Trial Here

Convicted Murderers Tell Story Of Attack On U-M Hospital Nurse

Convicted murderer William R. Morey III admitted this morning at the circuit court trial of Daniel E. Myers that he slugged University Hospital Nurse Shirley Mackley last Sept. 11 in front of Couzens Hall.

Myers, 18- year-old Ypsilanti youth, is charged with armed assault with intent to rob in the wrench attack on Miss Mackley.

Both Morey, who turned 19 Sunday, and Jacob Max Pell, convicted with Morey in the Sept. 16 slaying of Nurse Pauline A. Campbell, testified this morning as prosecution witnesses. They were brought here from state prison at Jackson.

Visiting Judge Presides

Visiting Judge Edward A. Wes-tin of Benton Harbor is presiding, over the trial.

Morey, much more informative than Pell, described in detail events which occurred on Sept. 11.

Myers, Pell and Morey drove to Ann Arbor, then to Milan, where they bought some beer, and then back to Ann Arbor the night Miss Mackley was slugged, Morey testified .

“Dan wanted some accessories for his car,” Morey said, so they drove around Ann Arbor, including the University Hospital area. That’s when we got on the subject of hitting someone."

Miss Mackley, who happened to be walking across the street from the youths’ parked car, was the victim.

“I was going to take a swing but not hit her,” Morey related. “I aimed for a spot about six inches behind her.”

The blow actually struck Miss Mackley behind the right ear. The nurse, who testified briefly yesterday afternoon as the trial opened, exhibited the wound to the jury.

Picked Up By Police

After Miss Maekley failed to collapse from the blow, the youths drove off and went towards the downtown area, Morey said, where they were picked up by officers as suspects in a reported fight that had just occurred.

Taken to the police station, the youths were questioned but then released when their descriptions did not fit those of the parties being sought by police.

On cross-examination by Myers' attorney, Louis E. Burke, Morey admitted that there had been no talk of robbing anyone in Ann Arbor.

Pell, much more reluctant to testify, at one point refused to answer any more questions put to him by Prosecutor Douglas E. Reading. Both Pell and Morey are serving first degree murder life prison sentences for the slaying of Miss Campbell.