LOS ANGELES, Feb. 22 – The woman who first linked the hippie Manson family to the Sharon Tate murders is being given special protection in jail because of reported threats to kill her, the woman’s lawyer said today.

Mrs. Ronnie Howard, 35, was sentenced to one year in jail earlier this month on a drug trafficking charge.

In 1969, Mrs. Howard gave police their first break on the sensational murders of film actress Sharon Tate and six others when she revealed that her cellmate, Susan Atkins, had confessed to her in confidence of taking part in the murders.

Miss Atkins, now serving a life sentence, was then in jail awaiting trial for another murder, that of Los Angeles Musician Gary Hinman.

Mrs. Howard was awaiting trial on a check forgery charge. Mrs. Howard’s lawyer, Wesley Russell, said today he was concerned for the safety of his client because of the number of Manson family members now in California jails. Besides Miss Atkins, they include leader Charles Manson and five of his followers.