Document text
IY
M
_%¢ -1__92H711 8 dw
*5/.
E
2}
,'JV l
.
<5}
2;
I:
Q?, ,
.;.';92
la
Q.
,5?;».>».:~,
Q Y*35??
I f1_ .U QC
A FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION/PRIVACY ACTS SECTION
COVER SHEET
SUBJECT: CARYL CHESSMAN
FILE: 44-7760
F.
t
1
KR
I 2A-s
3*.
"A" 92!
1.
J
.4.
»k
fa»
W
it
,§
-<92 ~,92
.53: '
. T .1
3*»:1! ,
,92V. . _.... . .4...._.._.-.- ...,... ...,....1_>..._.,...;-._..,-¢¢.-.»_.»~._.._.=_A4.-.~..---.<»..._.A-A :1?LlB~>L_»_@7g_:4:>_A_}_,£4; ,_.___,_ A ___. __L_,______=._, , .
MMMMMMMMM
P
THE BEST COPY A
IN THE REPRODUCTION OF
THESE DOCUMENTS. PAGES
INCLUDED THAT ARE
BLURRED, LIGHT, OR
OTHERWISE DIFFICULT TO
READ ARE THE RESULT OF A
THE CONDITION OF THE
ORIGINAL DOCUMENT. NO
BETTER COPY CAN BE
REPRODUCED. -A
MMEMMMMMMMM
Y
1
2.!,
-x
Y>1
4}
Yv
Y
g}
w,
1'»,
Y
Q
A2
$1
, _
Kw
$1
92V,
P
Q?
A
£2
H
5}92
V
+§*~
t92 1 ,
|~
J J,Q
M
m
A._..___ -~ - -
.~ . -
__ ,.-/ I .;.__._. - K i . .1 F
.11 :4 ~.
.,..1 Assistant Attorney General ' July 1, lvah
Harrsn O1ney III_ 6
g, Direc or, FBI {J _ __ , _w' '
I '2 U§0§{%6§1%EQIf%%ECT$; " "
' CARYL CHESSHAN - VICTIM
i 'CIVIL FIGHTS '
, J g
There is attached a copy of-a letter
-2 dated June 22, 19§h, to the President of the
,@ *. United States from Wenzellgbrown who identifies .
q himself as Chairman of the American writers -
H Committee to Save Chessman. .,,/- -r / -
j I It is requested that fnllosing a review '
of the attached, you advise whether or not any
inyestigation is desired by this Bureau. --
" i " " l;.=;';n:¢;:r%"*""'
Attacnépi I "
W 1-arr "1'-H . . *.~929~-""-~ "~~"-"'"-*3
' WMA/ar U,
The Bureau received only a cony of the letter to the ?resident
and for-this reason the receipt of the copy is not oeing acxnowledged.Bureau files reflect that an individual possibly identical with Brown .
wrote a book entitled "Dynamite On Our Doorstep" which deals with theplight of the Puerto [email protected]. According to an article in the _"Daily worker" l2-20-k5, which was very critical, Brown had taught_ ,-English in the Puerto Ricah schools. He was also the author of a 000k .
entitled "Hong Kong Aftermath" and alYegedly was an American teacher
who was:repatriated on the Gripsholm. 00-3v77A! _NOTE:
Eagier office and stated~t§at hgigas ugder contract with ne orienoerg ,P blishin Com an of New ,ork y an was WP H8 a 50° 59° I "ghe Stati of geozgia." Brown requested the position of the Bureau
i
., t
W
5 92 .
V.-Ai
<
K. .
5%:
Q
t
5.2;
.-'"
=;?
92 ,
2 V!"/Y
Yirl;
tgm
3
= -<.-
. 1:
ab
I .@J, '71! -I
v "
9 ;v »;
5;?
YK."
Y;» ,,. ,
we-'
P .we
1 ~;»»§i"
9
1 4
v§3:f,;
g.,;.
A
Ae » 0
_; ,Qa/~ - ¢ H A __6 76>
zalez wrote an article at
_ I - Laqghing-Men The Caribbén .
'Hg8ldPOn"'h book by Wenzel1'Brown. 00-326817-S! -In t
-~¢:-' '. In anPeditor1a1 which appeared in the "Puerto Rtcan Libré"on 11-1%-A5 it was stated that one wenzell Brown had wr}tten a oookon Puerto Rico. This article was very critical of gee 00¬§.* §hi8zpaper however is an ant17American wpaper pub1iBh@ U E B89 mam of_the_N_at1onaiist Party 011.. Puerto Bic_0- <62-A7721-M55"! _. ,.-1 1' <3
, 3.-0
1 u
, I
p
n
.-,.»~, - .
I
° 0
1,0
I 1C I w
~
1
I 1
i
l.J
1
I
I
1
F .
;A.,
£2
9:
5.
!
>
ii.
F-
2 -
2.;
%
gs
t
E.
W
~
§..i<
-#1..Z1 5211+ 1'!
vi4=»<,,
Y»'~I*:.U '>vQ - 0 s
1. "', 9. ¢ 92_ '- _~,. _4! 92922 ~ F, 1 /-__ 1' ,3? if F. ;j u ' _ ..> '- 92; 4i J n° 22' ' 92§é§y~ ./a
~-/ --TL-'g .. ,t or The United smteé 1 " /M i M S ,»;lesid6.n 5% J»< d i " 1,7 ' r. . . 1.. " .- H . -149 unite Hou ~- ,,,"'
2. man is to be executed in San '~ ' MO The Presid°§§l~ 77/assL. ,- _- _// _ D I y l0 _ ~~;_ H I. _ . . ' ~ I:f » Chessman wp as convicted under the=YLitt1c Lindgergh Law". oi ¬alifornia ae~the "éed Light Bandit" responsible for the + '£1kidnap and rape ovary Alice Meza. _p I do not believe Cheesman is guilty of the specific crimeYof which he has been convicted. I believe that any person,l etudying the evidehce objectively muet feel a reasonable doubt '_ "-- of his guilt. ~ '
-.3 Chessman is guilty of other crinos, to wit, robbingbordellos end gambling dens operating openly in California.However, justice ca@got_be served by convicting e man of onecrime because he hee committed another
. As chairman of the American Writers Committee to Save
_Chessman, I ask t ' 'I,.
. hat you prevent_ _ a miscarriage of jnstice by_ »---_ examining certain doeunentary evidence collected by Hr. illiwu}§92 Jo Linhgrt, 8 dtective of Richmond, Celifornie, who was3 reteined by the_Committee to find the real "Red Light Bandit"lY92 I The evidence agengt cheesman is dependent almost solelyupon the testimony of Mary Alice Meza.' Miss Meaa'hus spent 'some time in inetitutions. *~ H -
The following reports on Miss Meza should be studied: ~
C92{_ E P! I/.1 - . __", J L./92 11¢ /1- '¢ ti ._i ,_ , E 2&3 /'i/// I; was DESWO D S " /I/ -.. / I, ' ' / . 962 -35'" ' -- '_- ~37 JAN 19 _ -".'::>@HDL'U».i{* "* " "
_/ /:. -e'~'_".1""0
'.
pun
A
92
W.
h
t
1*
W
E
;
w
"L
-J
~.
Mr
»
Ii; v
'<'_ _92
'
§
,v.
5
2
é
%
i. ~; Q H H-
92 4' I
92_'.' 4.!
september 30, 1949
auherior Court
Department 54
sen._w1111amé
~'F'_ile 108200 - -. Neeley, Judge.Le! --
- 1
0- I '1.of State of California for Los Angules ,
1
.-11' '
MARY ALICE MEZA 5Drs.: C. W. Olsen, and G. R- Thompson_
teport of Coupselor Mrs. Rose Weisler:
Mary Alice Me£§ is a 19 year old single girl, who makes her}
with her mother She h b ' D. as sen employee for tne last 8 month:
a messenger, working for the count-. T " * + l
youngster Mary_ y he no-ner states, as r
Alice attended convent, and at high school*ng<
lbhanged to public schools. was morass rsszs THAT rnzs mrce
Accouwran jz
snn wAé'An zxcsnpsxw swuonuw,ems CIiA2=£GLS *
circus PE3R3 ~$.LI'l'f. ;*-msvros
sou" IN n;"arz £;Cif >0L ms: 3'1?!-'!IE§»
IiOT AS GOOD. _I&L'30: SHE "C! ""'l HIE 1' t" ' " '-L '0'-i"E;L.41.l
S,1'UDENTS, Arm BECAUSE -rum czwnrs 1'»:-*:r " 1» =".- s X i}92/30, or- M .::.aT,u:::'FRI E1-IDS . " -
L 5 About a yeer anq a halL ago, she had s very unfortunatetI ,.. , _experience was kidnapped ah attaced RK and wont through a greatdeal of Court Action. FOLLO:.*I?~!G mm, zaozw.-'::n, THU -3:21,; 01:!»:-
FOLLOWING THIS.
and suspicious,REFER TO 'I1iIS.- .§'1§{Z.' ?~JOTiI§5R I"i.JELS TIIIVZ SHE HAD
*;' 15% HF."However, of late, she has become very fearful
was depressed and olsted alternvtelv 'Q1. ,
n
3
f
'!',
1,-. ,~3'1.f >
.;.§,
+6»!
2Q
H$3J.
92...
4'24M <~
»~.
Lt 1' ,-
A»
W I
W.! ,1.92J|;
4 ii 4'11 Ix "M.at u-r3*-Y,
"J?
._;'
. I;
I la;
I£3;
t
vV92.»:
E
QM ~ ,.92H g _".. Q Q l hi W
Q
92 _' _ Z .92_/. ,;. .;< J '
Statement of Dr. G. N. Thompson: ' .. " I;
The patient'is quite ill. She has numerous symptoms as f
have been indicated. She is delusional and hallucinated. THEE
- 4 1 '
ISSOME QUESTION OF THYROID'DISTURBANCE HRE, and some studies
'ere in progress; and In regard to this, I think it is incidente
1 to her mental disorder in this case, but it may~be well to have
that completed. I thought the case should be completed, perhag
2 to the early part of the week, so that could be done.
Court: Do you hays same feeling, Dr. Olsen?
Statement of Dr. C. W. Olsen: -
Yes, in this ease the reactive features, the circumstances
that upset her emotions and also the_physical features are a
little more prominent than in most cases. I WOULD LIKE TOTAKI
ADVANTAGE OF THYROID EXAMINATION, and I recommend a continuance
_ for
The
Thw
Theone week. '
Patient: I want to tell you something.
Court: All night, go ahead. I -
4 __
Patient: Idon't know whether I could or not. I can't thh
very well. I may have, of course, delusions, I think I em
possessed. Of.c9urse I can't be sure because I don't have too
great ability to think straight -- when you are nuts, you don'1
t 0-~ .
' know what it means I think I am possessed. I am wondering if 1
92 »
-Icould have an exorcist. Is it possible because I think I am
'~- possessed? -_ 1 _ '
- Father not served.
¢fv
<
A
Q
'92
1'.92 I
off
35* 9292
$
>1»: %,
to
1,; 92|~ 1> Iii;1' if9! »
92 m1;Lu.
wk.-~
K
tr
WwinM
*2/£4 _
'1%"
-~~92
,
41;? 92,= ,T"
1 >Y ;.-it -z- . -J ._. - DI .,..
492.-./7 .1 _'i___ ! - 1
I
CERT. OF MEDICAL EXAM: . _
Hr. U. J. Olseh,-and Dr. G. U. Thompson: '
General physiceI*condition, mental state:
Sthtes she thought people could read her mind add were copy££'
- =her. They repeated everything she dld.would hear people say
things as she who walking along street. 'They would soy anythin.w.. _. .
about two years ago and - thét entered hor%mind. was kidnapped
' ._'there wag "attempted rape and sodomy?.
Tentative diagnoois of mental health:
u Schizophrenic, Pranoid type. Poosible Thyrotoxicosis. 1
_ Continued to October 9, 1940, for further medical study re thy?
Committed to Cadarillo, October 9; l949. " '
. SUEEARY RE MARY ALICE HEZA -
At 1 A M, Jan. 22, 1946, Kiss Eeza wan molosted'by a nan
she described as. joet a little taller than herself, who 1
is 5'4" or 5'5 .tall boin~ shorter than the usual. . Q man, browni
hair, light brovh.sk1n, brown eyes, a large hooked nose, fid
' linear scar near right eye, who, Hiss_Meza thought to ho. 15
I
and who clalmeq to be Italian. On September SO, 1343, one yeg"
eight months andteight days after-Kiss Heza was molest her
" mother took steps to have her committod.' miss Rose oisler, ir
her report of interview with mother, states: V -M -
"The mothartstatea, as a youngster, she Harv Alice mega!
attended convont,_and at high school changed to public school.
ii "W? H
3,2
.2, .3
PlQ
W
F3
{"1
t
92§," *-Q, 1
~21,
K!.£3
W
92;'; I
4»,W5 ,
M92.
,.
1,
4
B
A I
x IIH»?
4V
4
X.,uv-Z C
k -T,-92e
'11 >
;. ..~11¢_ Cont! ,
1- .'._ STUDENT, BUT IR HIGH SCHOOL, HER STUDIES WERE NOT AS 4009. jl
sax ssnmmo TO HOT MIX AS WELL wITn THE OTHER STUDENTS, AND
. s§cAusE or HER CHANGES IN MOODS, DID NQT RETAIN HER FRIEmos§
A "About a year and a half ago she had a very unfortunate
experience, was kidnapped and attacked, and went through a gr:
deal of court aétion. FOLLOWING THIS, HOWEVER, THE GIRL DID F-
1
i
1 ~ REFER TO THIS. THE MOTHER FEELS THAT sat HAD ADJUS1E
FoLLow1e THIS." - ' ' ' 'L. I :1."-'
- 5
"W After reading these reports, a deep feeling of sympath§?m;
be felt for Miss Meza, but can one give such credence te her
" A contradictory testimony that one can send a man to his death or
the weight of itgl *
During Chessman's trial, the official court reporter died
leaving his records in shbrthand. Stanley Frazer, the uncle oi
District Attorney Miller Leavy's Wife was called in to transcri
the notes. The accuracy offhe transcription, for which Fraser
was allegedly paid $6,000 has been repeatedly questioned;
The following reports on Frazer would appear to challenge-
his accuracy: ;,;
I
Q .-<.:> J .
.-
S.{'AlELi"JY F'¥'Z.f92ZL'
FILE," HUI-133?? 1428-956-UNIT l
3-@_>S ,',;GZ.L?TS C !U1~i'I'Y Gz.-iZZER!92L HOS}*'IT!aL
1200 NURTII S'll'92TE S'I.7 {-Z5515 L
E.-01% -"92I-IGJLES I53-_, '-'-¬ALIFORI§IA
FRAZER was ADHITTED AUGUST 15, 1955, r_F ,».¢- n
coma FDR TannT!;F0un 4! nouns AT 1532 scuwn CLELAI0- ,-I
nnvrvs *_. .-_-;
> L_=:,§.'..J J. ,
EAST'_LO-5 AZ~IG¬3L.I'I-'3, C§;LIF=1">R3Z.T..A.' .7111 .?i.4L_-.~3 F3bZ5ORZi',£Jl J '30 Ei:1_1f§'I T!-.Cl§,'3'
TAIRTY 0! SLS_i*.'IIHG TABLETS. IN THE !IQ_3}I.PAL R§5lC !?{DS
T13 FOLLO':'lII92Iu NTATIOI92S. _I .
HEAVY nnrnxan
- wnouunr mmmuzns ow NAFTA wan; AFTER HIM
wznmn rs Room, TAPED UP HIS WIFE Ann HIHSELF
an Isufw suns How an cos L@osa
cuneuzc ALCOHOLISM0
H5? .¢'.-KS 2"?§lLZJ;'%SED f*.UTJS7. 19, 1953.
RECGRD IN, REPORT OF POLICE BEZIN-1} XIOTIFIZSD OZ- .RZIi5§.i} l§:ID .,92.no _svzcrna.
559845
DATE
1-14-1940
, 1941'6
s-:;1e41
9-2i?-1944
4-24-1945
9-15-1945
10-2119 0
3-17--1951
3-25-1951
12-21-195110-19-1945I 4146011 -" '-
3'IY FRAZER, E-}.!Ii1{ S. Df92l*IOl'A, 1894
I
I
1
vCHARGE
502V C . -
PROB. LIC.
sass w
LIC. susr.
1208 D }?U§"=.K
D RUHK
TER}.¬I?*§.'92'£i'lD
S TA TU TE
DRUEIK
DRUI-EK
DRUNK
502 V C
502 V C-
I3 SUY.§D
90 DAYS
BY. .I X '
G115 U D!-. LE5
H-l§'iID.'92 I23
GA RTWI-FA
LOS ."#.1§ ".'-Y~..*" L515
LO S AI! Gt-I I.-,7.;S
AN GELES
ISis?! DIIQG- !
'»'!}'!ITTI.§R -
, .
a r~ *1'"nls! ~.:.'.4i.:ib<!W1! R5
92
W
{
m
$1
4' :'
WM
"!;»
£1 ._»¬ii f3;!:f<'
L,
5*
J} f 1
%
vu5 $.71,
w+
,-5 92
;£=§':"
>l,"*5
£~'1-1
gay .
:>?,~¬~
%
a_» <n1. -1&1xii._ Ev,~ v ~. ».;. _¢w%1-v,~.92 ><I V4» .- v
?%
v,Kl
3;]: -23?: 3':
.13 ~aw. .,V V Cont!
DATE
3-11-1952
5-26-1952
2-21-53 2
{'1 'QMR@§
..~502 V C0' .I
cxwy
Los AHGELES
1735 L.A. COUNTY
.' 508 V C - _LOS 3La3
-".1755 L.A. COUNTY -.| .' ~
SSNTENCED 90 DAYS I3 COUNTY
JAIL. GUT PROBATTOH OH-CGH-
DITEOH PAY $250.00.FIHE.
SUSPENDEDLIC..
SHERIFF L.A. B21857?i . ,_ '-'f92*92 .' .'zi. - r? -=-ATT. FOR DurULTiD Afhuhim.'0 __ .. . Y,
1 i ' '922 '
O
I
-u
--92¢
Copies of the following sword statements have bean plnceé
in my pbééossion as chairman
2,.
STATE OF CALIFORNIA!_
COUNTY OF
; PAT.
J ThatS»! S
LOS ANGELES!of the Committee.
H. DAILEY, being first duly sworn, doposes and'
' ' . -~s
he wdrked as an investigator for the defendant in the
case of People v. Chcssman.
That0
he testified for tho defense in'tha casj of the Peo'l P1.
1_-' '4v, Chessman. -
That he
Y.
<
:1
»
V
1,
1 -c
<
r
I
I~f92
71.
zl ,92
3% ,
4
:1
I3.
4,
W
51».
E.
E
I
§92
Ea
ml
T»
§;»
¥
H
xv¢3c * ~ ~
' I, '. - ' .-n .- - ~ n . ..92,r . -Q .
>3 I ,_a /W =92 !P I ' "
. Cont! .
92 ¢ - , .1- 15 to 13, page 766, are seemingly garbled and whilc caizfygui
' to bu otharwisq &'roasnnah1y accurhto transcript of the Lostimo
itnppears condqnsed rather than entire." " "
~ " _ i__S/ Pat H. Dailqy
{_ Subscribed and sworn to before mo' '
" this 22nd day of?June, 1949.
5/ Linclon Hollané, Jr.
.~ Notary Public in and for the County
;~ of Ios Angales, State-oi California D
ih seal! 1 ~' *'__A W '
. 3
-¢-v-.TE OF CALIFCRHIA
-92 Q"cor_m-"i'! 01* L08 mw
WILLMAH GREEK, boing first duly sworn, dcposcn and says:
That affian*testificd as a dcfons ass in the cnso Q1
c People v. Chessman. _ -
n - -, -That he has-read the reporter's transcript, pages 786 to '
' 792; inclusive; and that while-it is rather accurate it appears
abridged and nabent1re; w '
That the acnitude and conduct of the-deputy district '
' attorney to thc affiant was sarcastic, onaggcratcdly disbc1ievF
_ pr¢
'- and belligerent and that the questions and comments of the cpx~
m
w
H
92
3»1'
Lff
Li,
v '1!
M1'.
far
g 1
HI"
n
B-1,,
ii.
fax
92 Y
at
@
7;; t
3;!
M,9,
M
i
x
VQ92:-.-r " -*
I 92 '
4 Cont! D
Subscribed and sworn to before me_
this 16th day of June, 1949. -
s/ Lincoln Holland, Jr. .Notary Public in and for the County of _
10% Angeles, State of California
Sea1!- p iv
swam or cAmFoR}f1A !*' ! ss
comrry or LQS ANGELES ! _ - I
HARbLD LLOYD DOTY, being first duly sworn, deposes and say
That affiant testified at the trial of the People _v. Chess
and that he has carefully read the reporter's transcript of_thi
P 1 . . .
testimony, pages 714 to 725, inclusive. _
H That the testimony on pages 714 to 725 is not entirelyno. _
complete or accurate and in some noted instances is glaringly
inaccurate: for example, the question and answer of blood
' relationships on page 723, lines 4 to 6,-because the question.
was not asked and the affiant is in no way related to the0~ , '
defendant, either by blood or marriage. __
40 1 _ - 0
That the mistakes shown by defendent in his MOTION TU -
_ coax-mow AND AUGMENT aacoao are true. ~
L
~»
s "F.s
1éi
¢
?
'1
,
!
~
4
Y
5,;0 92 " -0
s ' ! -K 092.¢ 1'!
STATS O? CAZIFOREIA ,
. .;
<92; ?I O? LOS AKGELES; _ .. _ ,
HALLlE'L. CHESSHAN, being first duly sworn, deposcs 5
..,,.
swys: » __' ~rh_
. That affiant has read the entiro portion of the reporter's
transcript, Peoblc v. Cbessman, wherein her testimony was given
pages 648 to 657$-inclusive, and that this is an inaccurate ano
incomplete report of her testimony. _ j H.
That both those general and specific mistakes, omissions
and arrors claimbd by the de?ondont in his Y"?IC¥ T i I A.
AU&HHNT RECORD are accurate, to the personal knosledgo of the
Rrrianz. ' ' '
Thnt'whi1c,>ln every instance, affiant is not able to rope
because of the elapsed time her verbatim testimony she is nblc
to recognize those specific errors shown and to state her test~
imohy has been abridged; that she clearly testified the defends
was,ln her presence, at her home, all day and evening of Janur, N
and all the ovenin s,11s4s, in the évcning of January 17, _
v
and part of tho early morning of January 21 and 22, -
. ~~
1 0
1
a
!
A,v' -4
i
*1}
£321
3.1. . _ '~ - ~ ~
,
J
strum on CALIFORNIA g
' CCUQFX OP LOS ANGELES; _ .
_ I.~UCILLE=3_ RU_iI_'H'fGRBEHE, being 1'ir_st July 3'./or-n, 0:1 and
. -ux-
Q People v. Qhessmsn,trial.~ ,.. i ~"- ' - ~
That she has¥read the reporter's transcript of this
~, testimony, pages 767 to 785A, inclusive. it
' That'1n its_ontircty this is not n true tvanncript oi the
-O testimonyi i t '- O
U That she agrees with the inaccuracies claimed in the ""
defendant's MOTION TO CORRECT AND AUGMEHT RECORD. Witness furl;
states thht the correct spelling of her name is Lucile Ruth Gre
T7 _ S/ Lucile Ruth Green J
. __Subscribed and sworn to before mo
thiszlth day of June, 1949.
S/Lincoln Holland; Jr.
,Notary Public in and for the County of
Los $ngeles, State of California '
s sea1! - , - - .
»' - T ~ w
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES! -
- 1- ~.-/4 4
WHITTIER S. CHESSMAN, being first duly sworn, doposes and
- , says: " ~
That affiant testified as a voir dire-witness for the def»
' That affiant has read the reporter's transcript of this M
._ .
. testimony, pages 1060 to 1064 inclusive. _
o .' ~ ..- 0 _
That the cross examination testimony is incomplete and
grossly inaccurate; ' ~ .
W I1_¢
. IThat she appeared end testified es a defense witness at thr
Q" ~
1;
;§ .my
F , 92
,,
r,»
~35
,»,
it
rig;
K
:5
%
E,
7.
,2
sf
E,*1
3- "/.. .» V -- 0 0 .
2' -'.~ ._ g ! .-A ' : . " "
In
0
0. ;, ; I .".~.v~. !-'-._§ _ ,. _ . ~ "
That.while_the affiant cannot recall the word for word
questions and answers, he remembers clearly the text.
That on cross examination the affiant testified clearly to
bruises on the chest and abdomen, that he did not answer sf?irw
atively the defendant_stated he "got hurt in s running gun figh
other than to reply in_the affirmative the defendant sts%=* is
had been creased in the head by a bullet. '
That_this testimony, by its transcription, now ¢vnw¢;s Q
different_apparent meaning than was originally intendeq by afTi:P F ' I
answers from tho_way the questions.were oriinally frwmod.
' ~- J_ ' 8/ Whittier S. Chessman.~, ._'
Subscribed and sworn to before me
this_l6th day of hne, 1949.S/Lincoln Hol1and,Jr.
Notary Public in and for the County ofLos Angelos, State of California
S681! _'> _ l. _ '
. v. .» . -. . . . .' _ 92.,; _ _ . . I
ti .I I .s There are many-strange facets to the case and senminply ,powerful influences are at work to silence Chesoman permanently;
Can any innocent individual.be harmed_by a full re~examinatof the case? The Committee is at work trying to find the.real "Red Light Bandit" who, we believe, will tally with the cririnsldescription of his*victims. It should be noted that Choxsman issin:feet tall, weighs l90lbs and is of American stock. He is
-A !H f % :>>'0]j§C6 M62 Zimz .- UNITED GOV _/ Mg, ]$oardman.-Mg, 1Jichols.........., - _ Mr. Bul92'non'tv..------= To = D2!8CtOI _ ' - DATE J }_-.:>,-]__{}'§11'Q;1'3;i>§---..11-d'3Ial eureau of Investigation 'Mr.T¬.1-..r ,;. . . tar L13__- [.5 -A
"-~_-%._,> _. ._ 92-~___
aiarren Olney III, Assi__§tant Attorney Genera-1, wo= ,-*§j;¢é§;;_jj§
Criminal Division ~ H . Mm 521'.-1.9 - lhh 1;2;-_292¥31!env92='<5-Unkn?w92p Subjects; - - '
Cagy /Chessman - Victim
Civil Rights FROM :. V%92
,'l:,i&,*SUBS92EC'I:'|l':05!!! ..-- '
- 51;, Q.-ikmanv»
Miss 4:=.92<1.§-/"
Reference ia__§nade to your memorandum -of July l, 1951;, on _.2 - ' _""-f .1
~ the captioned-subject. Since the events complained -of occurred 2
. V A ;
. --sometime before June 19!-£9, and the three-year statute of limitations 4
would bar anr prosecutive action by the Department, no investig,"at3.on.;'*umaw
.5 - Iis de_,sired.".'-» ' __REC0RDED _ , _- ~_ w 4 2 u 2?;
92 ..- SA r~-.. :92; a
_ I v,-. I -§. "' '_...u._.. . " ~ * U!,'_92j x _92~ _ J -- . /~ >5;-.-. - i ,CSTROXED My J I ! ii, / X 92_' /
- m v I I A L1 ,1" '
a GUL 201% ~ *
I 4
W1
1
--w
O
£2 5 E -3 ~ _ I I I. $9 __ ' 92 . 00$! am 1~*92~""; 929292 K V6-1!/t .~;/i . Flf 3 70 - X {92_!-e:='&J>
N .H.» -hi
5: .
. *1?! : .
_ -'J,.-_-.fa:"' . 1; . M... '
i - , . .. - .~ .. -:1 ' ' 3 - -
fl--l"';"' '
_.1-I__ .
-,_ . < ~ .1
. ~' - -
I .
§
51 - ~ I - _...:__. _ _ _4 ;-uak-pnu.,~___e:-5; ~_-~_-w_,-,..;-_v__,,_;__7___ _V___ __W_*__7___v =_7__ _ AU"
92
,_
Q.
o
V-_,
&92 '>4
3; -
23¢
wv
'7 ,
M1
ggl
1;».
3'
>1
fr
aw
4/7
if-
k.
I
4
1
;
».
§;@
v
{5 .3 ". ._!
I .Q 92- . .,_
-x 92------"* ~ 4,4 /7
. '3 '- . - . .. - ,-./ ,,.1 an/I /-1» ' / 9.. / ,
X4.-¢'.4,{_, _. _ ,.._, ._
! /1}-xi-<u¢';»c»a.:£j . C. J-'92,
if
N" "7
_ f?14/&z'=-»<'/C/ 7"*¢"'*v<7"/." "~'/
' .t~ - . * .- 7 ' 7 ' " 'L-cw//-'7_ C/7 -,7 /1,u_1./ Lo /K"?/L/n/1:,» .
»¢@¢¢-#'&*7 @@/~w@»W¢ vr,*-=/:,-i/ 1-""-T1!/I//.~$:/____ Z2?
.4 -92.
___~,._.._.§___ . ¢<.,¢¢,e.a-
J / _%,//2.»;
H%xV%%Q%
1 ,a_¢ I 4 I W
4/6"
* 1
4. -4.-=-_=L
92 _=; .' vY 2 I I g! _ .'in"" 1" ' » -+/-
5'1 } =¢"'::,!~
Ir
77@03. ¢
I- .,= 1955
_._.,'. » 92 ___ _ .., -».. r
_ 5. .- ~. 1__Y' .0
0- IdI
.w/..
w
¢--
..,,
1
flml
Ii;
T5.
ya
r-
I
51'
57.9
tag
i _.KM
. I
.-1
hi
lK
t
1
,..'
:4
1.
it
92
't. '.
lift "'§"'" 4?/Qfiu.
-5?it L0 %.zZ 1 . -r/
___» _____ _______/______ _ ._._.
_ ,_ F / SAN FRANCISCO M-Sex terror-pirlg ¢i4!ist Caryl Chessman's latest date" - 1 -with death in the San Quentin gas.',J"-1,6~
$12 a'uth'or_ ol_ Ce-ll 2456, Death
Q
q .
AQ-
k92.. .. ---or-
Sex Terrorist
Wins Slay ~_-"~J*,A___ A./;_;.. /.~Ld_4", ave.~ ./ . - ~-s-5" -" /-"1"
.-1? /J41; G '
0l Exetulion. *5
. ,_- ~ " 92_,-r ~ 2
chamber was put_ off by court
order yesterday--the filth stay for
0w._92 his prison address sJu ' T . » Yl.
n
0-
. _92~0- ,~~I
a
, s
I
The chief judge of the Nlnlll u.s.i - I
Circuit Court ot Appeals ruled
there was a probable cause for
appeal" in behalf of the 33~year-old
Chessman, convicted ol kidnaping
andattempted rape during forays
in lovers' lanes of Dos Angeles.*" gair|7""55Td Clal_ 3
ence Linn, assistant attorney gen-
eral ol California, who has borne
;nuch of the stateega proceedinvs S'1rr'B?iFf. Chcssman 55%
llad live stays oi execution.
Been turned down by the State
Supreme Court on one appeal and
three applications-for a writ of
habeas corpus. _' ,
Been rejected by the ll.S. Su-j
preine Court in five Iapplicatlonst
tor a writ of review. .
Been turned down by the U.S.
District Court in live applications
lor a writ of haheas corpus.
Lost a' previous appeal in the:
game U.S. Circuit Court of Appealswhere esterda s sta was antd >' y yr _ xv!-_ed-_- . --' *
K What next?
Chessmanfs attorneys have 10
days to dra '.up the appeal they
intend to make. Linn has 10 days
._in which to reply. Chessman's at-'torneyshthen ,havo 10 more days!to retort. 92,'|
I
1 I
appeal? 'lhe:-tijanscript made of
The cer who too own the
trial notes in shorthand died before
-he could complete transcribing
them. The transcription was com-
s0r's notes ]/*4; p 1,f-u?/~1'_;,/tn u@m9 :
/ 1 k k 4 :
pleted by a substitute who could
not make out all of his predeces-LW
I 0--.__
O
0
4
Q
0
~- , _ .-'2
the long. long legal maneuvers. well ought to be_final." "
In a footnote. he said; In Sacramento, Gov. Goodwi-
Ina range; co,,,,,,,,/,,i]n<-right told a_ press conferenrr, 'ith its lawlessness. quite likely has W35h@d 111$ hands 05 l_l1¢¬l"-lhe would have been executed infma" C359 and W°u1dY92°t1nl9l'92'' 92 1short proceedings under 'JUdE¬i Chessman's counsel said, l
lynch. However, it is an outstand- ever, they were agreed the 1
ing principle of our American lawllias been exhausted insofar
1 "_ ~ , 14 Ki.%92 -<1 j ! . 1 x 1 I
J!
I0 0
;i January 21, 1955 3
'. - ~ - P _ I _; 4 ~_. -. _ /1 I. f _,_ ; _ _ __. _. _- ' -' / I -92__/.; 'éw y
»!__y,__rr'92i
vEKTOQ
"'" Dear Br. Wi11ey:§',9°s# ¢H_HW .
_ Your letter of January 12, 1955, withi enclosure, has been received. '
~ LI appreciate the interest which prompted 'you to make your-observation concerning this matter available to me. 1 " '
~b ' ' ' Sincerely yours, --
- . » John Edgar Hoover
Director
'~».0
~
NOTE: Correspondent enclosed a newspaper clipping reportingte*hBjf@0t ihi aG¢ry1 Chessman, Sex Terrorist, had been H,granted a fifth stay of Execution from the courts. 0
n0 I
- ' O ¢
Q c
n
-
~92 92 F I Tolson ______ _' ' i / /.1 "1 I
'§$$$""' l ELT:dJg - ' / .' . ~ 1', § I , >_ B¢lmon1_______.. ' ' - V '.- {H " _ _ 'H3tbo________ -' ! 92- e ; /NOW»-- ' . -1-Parsons '7 ' ' " ...
Roscn
Tamrn__....._--
Sizoo __»----
linlerrowd ..__' ~4-.__..
_..___..____'_.. Tele.Room .._ /1 ?;1 MAILED k '092 '4' I '. _.r <~ on 7» -» ~ JA§'%2Oh~J _ ,M -=-' COf:'||~.92 _ 1
:=_{aI-iZEL.l'_l,¢_'il __ ___'_;___ _;, 'jm_ _ ___V __;?_*,_V_____1;_;__W _ W___ 7 ix iévt _ in _~ 7
Ix 7'5
2 1,
=
,.1~
;/
*i:~=
1.
,., ._ =.-_..._. . iriwwf ii J ____Li __ ..-, I
2- - §_ » ' ' ' 7 - '.*q ,1;
Q¢l3 "1,/vii
¢ ~ ~ ~
""_ _~_T 4; UJ~»¬92»<.1 *7!?/uw .5;Z[7¢~M/~°/J, . .
~ J <>».+~°~W" A Z1%Wu/ J
{ - 1 °¢¢¥ M5 own; 'QAQ£Qi% ¢;~ 4&J@»{g §? ACL "@ "% -I' ¢~
.-, . '- " ,. ; I1 " A .,¢ -.,.;¢Wx92. MM UL / ""J°
;_zL/;'.§ QA
MW QAMW 5 <>~ ow <=M- J "p °" FQ
_ 1 , .v'--- .
92I1 > djw I ~ ,1
I*~ »JmI1 Q. - -1 Q 1.:*_______._J . J gab.»/@ @~ W
,_ 12 Q/A 4 /Qyvek Q41 eh Owwk.. 1 . 92
it ,-the J2-L 194/Qxnw °~' 67"";-L'§92!
K ?n~'_ ;_-W JQQJE/V -140
éi ,,zl"11, .,;4A ;4',¢, _/_,¢_¢4;,,,
é @.,-1.h92°°;'R' ' If ./_1,,92@~ ,,Wg>,wW
.' ;@*~Mi@ »@@&»+4f? @I§'4Z;;;F*3r+#g; @;@;"" x£c0R0£0 "7";?L Tl é __ _ 1'//' ' '1 5 '@ _A L; A » <9~ w-A L/iwwéféim O4;
_ YD: I~92 , > }:3923 '*, 92 . ./, 4..i
3 'rTY
5-A
0
3
_,...;.@->
»!'!!!'"
. ._ = .-
4?
I.
1P
F
F"
3!
I
92
1
1
11....
9-min-
1
i
Y1 4Hit
I--'Mq -
1
. I
1?. .A I
I
1
4
- "V ..
_ ___J_;4 I __ _, '_ % wi ~ U _ ____' A _ ___ V Hap N V _A_ w__ Jr up _92 _ %H;__m_¥_ z NW __;_ "I 4 __92m_I__un;_" H_ h____~ _M wk? in H1 "__"______'_ z __ _______w_ ___$__M I Flw ._A_923§¬ I/TH ,A £1 _ W M _ __ W _ __ 1 92_ _ _&n_M___ 'A___ ____h__H_92_____A"_4_ I_ M__"____92U_§_U _Uv_H_g .' H L _%U___%__WNw_m _ W 92 _H$____J :__uw______H __M_M ___ _ _ _ mi V _ 9 . _, ;_J:h_ H W I _W__4"4_>_F_ I____ ____h_ _f§'w__ 92 _____M_hW> N _v _ V __ >_V . _ A __> V V_ I _ _ _ _ ___ __ *l_4___M____LIV _ 3? . _
_ _ _ my in _ >_ _ 7 > ¬___ _U __A __I ____ _ > _ _ _ H V M _ W Y a _ Qkdwm _~ % WSW W M M MM MWMMM_MWL N_ _
W M Q W
Jww_%nW '_¢_M fw9
1% %%9w gM W?/w_w%mAM L_K
Mow @MW&b_M@%W J0/xww% M Mg kw M?% _ pg WWMMM%MW&MM_pW%M
i _ * Wu /WW aw Q; nWi ___92> I ?tF92_V _ < _ IMAM. _ E ? 7m F > 92 {K my >
WW ; _____ Q Q , ______ _ I H L__ _ ____ }%WU__"__Hh _%____V _ __ t__ AN ¥_____n _ v __ _ xi _M_>_S5 gm
h_HH__ _____ __ ____. > v J; A _92 V, w_J__¢__M_U_,92 h W : _q1_V_ H I F K 'i__ __ I_u_f_>q __
¥__ !__ __W 5;? _A _ M If _%U_ ___wM Z &_ _92% u _V . V _ _ _ __4 v-_ _ __92_. _> I In _h7_ _ >_ w; _n_>J > WUW4 _H_m V A _ _ _ _ >___7_, A _ _ _ __*4 > __ ' I_ _ _ I _ J __ N 92 M W _ __ WM Wm M b %/Wm W_ Jwwwfli M /WM _ _mAM~»%__J Ml FL bun
M r % M ! W mo @ %1L@JW W 53% %
J M? M%i%W%¢wM HEWAl haw /MW M '_ I F U7 _ hAup§?{ _ H
Y __ i _ N>
.92
92;-
.1
I_ . ~~~ Y ~ ~,_- Q .___4*_. »4___._.____-l
11:;
:2»
W
9292
F,
1
1?;
2 T
$2 J
éw
Q,
1.!
¢iii
7;
£3?
ii;
$3
#1-_92'
.. < ii " <
e F, 5* 4. -K -. .1, ! "'92
JECDRDEL; ..- ~,~~a.- I J
71 _
,. ;- _ "3 '
,-,..---'
"92929292!h
CV
2
~
i
. olson ._--
iuardman ._-
;ichols
?<-lmonl ----
rarbo _...--
*ohr _,._._---
-1150138 -d--15F»..051!!! g
'amm _,_.¢-'
.~ ,0 _,____
.nze|-rowd ---
ck. Roam --
alloman _-
undy- - ~ .. £25? .":-5 ._04* .11 -- July 13, 1955 -*
_ 8 .._
0. 0
u
.1~
Ra. // , '
"re/0 _ ~ -
.;Foute 1 .
atchez, Mississippi
'Rmwmi Dear Kiss Ferryhill: _
» 4 -
, ,' ' Your letter of July 7; 1955, has been ~
received. I would like to inform you that it
is not my policy to interfere in matters such ¥
as you mentioned..>;, ~ ~. -~,.<. .-9 -._
In view of your erpreseed inte"esjin juvenile delinquency, I an faking ihe liorigqf sending material which you nay find interesting. =
. erely yours,_
I I
» ..'a"
II r - John dgcr Fooaer ,
¢ Director
' _ . - -1'7""/'i How gggg Is Your;YoungsterP .
/ You Can Help Stop Juvenile Crime
- The Story of the ?BI A -
f Juvenile Delinquendy @Syracuse!
M NOTE: Correspondent requests Director intercede on- behalf of a stoy Qf e¢ecution for Cgrylgbhessmon, euthgrpf, "Cell 24_55.Dea'th now; who bi.->3/!beé.;r_zg 5E"n'té"r_i'5étZ'to death; i" /W; ~'>T,*_is7<= Of Q93-_i;_@,1..".oE££_;__ - . '
"W '. '1' ' -" -. 1 ", , 4, .
Vi H '.1/ 92-. ~-_ K 5' 92. 41/ ' 1! , ['1 92.92 ../ / .. 1 i -.H I r I & !/l.¢92 v-~./ . v/ P "n Q '
/92 _ .- ~ = Q
0
orrrcz l£Efi_>§ZANDUli~ -1? zmrrin __-S'TATE=S' cg ;E'RNJ.IENTI-5 U
T 3 yr. Tolson DATE: .June £1, l9§7
RROM' : L. B. hchols -
SZIBJECIIF '_-~ " . , l
- Irving Kaufman told me he had run across two exceedinglygond'guotations which might be used gfectively some place along
the line. The quotations are as follows.
" " We are admonished from time to time not to adjudicateon the basis of fear=qf foreign totalitarianism. Equally so shouldwe not be guided in the exercise of our reviewing power over' legislation by fear of totalitarianism in our own country." Concurring Opinion of Mr. Justice Frankfurter In the Matterof the Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus for Harry A. Groban and Nathan Groban, Appellants - IN'RE GROBAN - Supreme Court of
fthe United States - Feb. 25, 195?! 92 -
92P "We meddle mischievously with the law when we issue 4¥'the writ today. We do not act to remedy any injustice that has - ~-been demonstrated. When the whole history of the case is COn81d8P8£we seize upon a technicality to undo what has been repeatedly ,sustained both by the California Supreme Court and by this Court.I would guard the ancient writ jealously, using it only to preventa gross miscarriage of justice. Dissenting Opinion of Justice JDouglas in Caryl;Qhe§§mgn u. Harley 0. Teets, Warden - Decided
June 10, 195?! M
cc - Mr. Tamm /6i%$;cc - ur. Jones '3/ '1 vILBN:rmf , /
! ' ' W
0
1_/
' I I _J _:/ . J y
..._-.._-.- --._-_-_ ---1--vnu - ~ . _.¢n mzcontut .
116 aw:-; -26. £957
B."_ I 92 " " v-1&1.
_92
_-.4 -..
" . P .- '74 92'}92,=".929292 2' O E3 _/'_Iwe»
.- ._ " . " _ -
_r~ e M1 ;_~_p¢_:~___" A_ '_ e____-4 _ __ _ _
4- __
!
W
ii ;'<'.92 -,,.,
-x
':f~
E.
it
$-
311
I ,Va
A
*1
%*
g .
g» SM
4 > Mr. To on _/ gv3;.m 7/.._I/*rv' 'n5__/-»/ . at. ocmmu _.7 . 1 4 ' -,' - ' <"'Mr>..1%*?¥4§<>._v1," 92Mhmw~ »'
I
U980
'="a.wvux.::s'rz.Y Panmajap. § bPm::o:: F022 "ms ccsszzr amen s§'-* 11* sew.¥?¢§T§§§z§AR%§§s¥R§a§r§cs ianranzea DXD 225? P.%2Ti¢§PI'.iE.. _cmzsstms was lmwez as -mi "222; Lagcm Bf<i*2Di': : $.25mwzcisb 15149142: cu _a1 coverrsj G? a1r:m;=ze'F;% {mu s;[email protected]: we nzwru sxmrzreczs mu 15 Paisow s .2-nmcss. A _ _us aonuwc oft zzcurzcu IN CALIFGRI-$1'S_GAS csz:=r-mzn av v:;.m5c2.@s Xmam-zuvnss cmssmm wen rm/.-2 aw 1-m'mz'<; T§i_E_BE§T=SELLI§&G rwvam S2assAw.r£: now" mm "mam. av oanw..- _u=.- ¢s ms as.I!* um sivamsaeount gnn2n2:v_a1:*a sum coax": uwgw-cs as -rm: c1.Am o?92a
Czczssuam ' . 1. - 2 }/92 ;92_NTa_.- P m'.";_o n :-r,__,4Z_,
' ""-"L" i~?'~=cn '.v. 1 .92.»_ ._ _'.__.4_ »._92 ! ~c-54:. Tumm _*.l.____
/Mr. T:'oltei..,_92.'_,L"Mr. x92=e@§-fa. "_.|_Tele. Ru?! _______;-
. Mr. H011 n .__.' ' Miss G033!? '_.
A, _ R 9292J I ~92/_ 92].'7~ 3' ,
.-- /' JQ 0 -
-.92 92 92
. 92_
. - ¢' 92
¢ ggiqmn-109' @_g;._f§:_g§§g5g_wA1 we nova? Bacon» or azswam. we-is _
I. ,
° ,........__._.___.._.__.'..~;- .._ - 92, » -- '-- -»_-- ~-- »_ ~__._ __._.
Q 4
. _ s/1c-:=122sPR
'1
9
I
1 4 __
0
.,.92
5
K
M
r
'E
§"
s
I
ii
5'=
Fa
M
411
I
s
5;,
I1
$7?
¥ I
92:J¢
W
/E ,an
4 §?'
$1-'
ii?
*5;
it
:3.E 6
1;
r92 » ~ " t Mr. Tolson __.._<12} 9"! Mr. Nichols .____ __- -' ;! 92~»~» Mr. Bourdmon _ '
Mr. Belmont ___
Mr. Mohr _______.._
Mr. F :r:=ons ___
r.-1:. 92.».C!.
Mr. Tumxn .__ ...-__
Mr. Trouer ____ '
Mr. Necse __..__
Tele. Room i.-4;» ~
~ Mr. Hollomun ._
Miss Gandy.__.._.
0
go
~ -
. _ D
_ ADD x casssmz . W '5 E. _; .~ cuzgsmu 1s»m mi n»:A'ru_-ma-use AT s_¢==.~s aumerm 1:;z=:;se';_»_1=:-:. c,-§1.1z::>:n-.<1:=~.- mgaggggris count A_C'1'IQN_ cam on cnzssmwg rm-m mxrxozw T0 °i'1-3E92
mu. wr: nonfat" mmman snxni 3'1s_ rang, cox~'3§§?§;§'§ W.}f_§-3 95;;-:r;sLg:=g:::g.gun P890!-Z$SisC Iremzws Ar; m-mm: Ur ccx<zsbl¢1>m~; can-<gI§11cm u_¢je».~»1 A 5 _,Sgtogfhgg gkgggfaggoggfovggnggs%0Agggré§cy ccazssww us... am! we men my
§§11aournLzmxm: nu: rnc*r'_*r»-1m: rm: x-;1sic>s:2' er cész PF:?E3E:~ITS *
many cmmm IN rm: ;}:mn1.s as zncuws m ms: AZe§<$:.%.u.>-'EHFaT§¬¬¬ 0?nmm. JUSTICE ea cameo? ALLOH ram czncu:¢1s'u.:e<:z we saw: us z='ac:E<; '- L _6/10991235? 92HUD!-915$ REL! F S0 CLEARLY C!%LLED~I-0R¢" -
1 4 ..,
w
Q s
% I. .
I
' -.
WWy_ i.
3
Y
S
/
v
,1.
i,1,92
$1»
r~i
l 92
A,=,~
,.
EX
J
1%
.3, Q
$9!
W!
cI:
§- ,,
*, QW
{'26.
-2iii»
n
V»..
&:*!0 92 ;~ Mr. Tolson ___._ I Mr. Nichols __._
1 - Mr. Bocrdmun __
- Mr. Belmont __
" Mr. Mohr ..____.
Mr. Parsons ____.
Ml. RC1.:~:..' ..;. ._._
Mr. Tamra _.--_.___ ..
Mr. Trotter -_--__ -'
Mr. £92'eu.s¢ __.-._-
Tele. Room __.
' Mr. Hollomcn ._._ "
Miss Gandy ._._
Q0
1
I-10
92
. " > 0
i ADD 2 cazssmnu .kits: HIGH count osnznzn TEE saw xssnxuc to nzsznmxws wnzvxsn TE
¥ER£AnY1uAccusAc1£s IN THE TRIAL c E _ ~w "r I; -' 6,1°__JE12&SP lo on T REPCR1-R s R_CORL 0? LB _
>
I IQ I 1
Q I
-
M
92._
KP
H
I7;
%;.:>
4.
F1
"0,
92
I!
h
by y,
w
Hw
h
e
_.ma7
1;;
%
K
Y
V"
,-. ,13%.
ltiw.
it
0;.
i7»or
n
ii:
Wk .
_92.!
4
4;-git;
5342;»
Ire 92, .._. , _ . . 4 .- - f~~- -
" tk _ .- V 92 :I- -$ gt! ,. 6; , > ./ --
$7?/
own. of Ovazrzpa Lean! ~ ' '
~ auolzizzal 29, Qua["sc '3
~ an/zada -
December ll, l9§Z
A I R M A I L
V
. a
O . go . v fr , I I IFr; -John Edgar Hoover X? Z V "h936.- 30th Place f I
Whshington 8, District of Columbia
5
92_ --" :v - ' 92.
1 I - My dear Mr. Hoover: _ _ ....
9 . - 2 st I _ 'Quite some time ago I believe Author Wbnzell Bron , Chairman of the Writer'sCommittee, organized to save the life of Caryl W} Chessman just two days before 'he was scheduled to be executed on July 30th_l§§E'i'§aHwQuentin's ugly gas chamber.Copies of documents're1ating to the case had been forwarded to the President of theUnited States, yourself and a ndmber of other high government officials. The Com-mittee believed that certain facets of the case were strange enough to warrant a *
v
I
N
z
I
e
, y
L;
Y». »
VM<../,1;
5?»?
P ~<l
W-. 2-
. _92 H _
!.
CORDED -. . ...._ .. .. . . _e .. .92
, .- AA-' .4 .1 * .1- s.
I
92 - '- r;
F ., .. . - - - December 18 195'? » Z/1" -' - 4- "' / '. / - 92¢
<1
Q
- -4. ..
y .570 - /
aszeo-vs-.w ~ > ~
L/' 1
l
-1D.
I
Fig?
é
4L .' til,
1011 ___i__-
ols .__--
.Jman .__--
non! ____--
f _____¢___§-
ions __._.---.
:11 _..---4.
1m ._.__.-__'
"er ___.,--
-se ____--
-e. Room _.--Dear Mr. Todres: '
_ 1.
. ,-» Ijhave received your lettegboi December 11
requesting information concerning Caryl Chessinzui and ti1- j -..-taken by,,the FBI.-" ~ . - - » - . ~
- ~pa-
. . 0
_ Chessman was indicted and tried in the courts oi the
_ State of California for offenses not within the investigative jurisdiction
of this Bureati; For your further information, data in the files oi the
FBI is ,eqnIidetiai_§iiid available for official use only.
1";--
,92~ Sincerely yours,
.'.'.-'-31¢; Ii -' ~.* 92 4
"' Z, -, "5 __ J. Edgar Hoover14, "1
- L ¢- ~ - P~" . . _,. ,. ~ _ >r.. V F John Edgar Hoover < 6 V iM/WE" ' 4 1 Director ' >"
. =DECl919S7 " i ~ ~
_ _,, ___-.v -3, COMM-Fil T _ . ' , _}92._ -
. ' J /I
NOTE: . Correspondent is not identifiable in Bufiles. Chessman is known
as the "red light bandit" -of Los Angeles and was convicted on 17 8i2C0untS
of lgidnaping, robbery and sexual assault in 1948. While awaiting execution, -
became to public attention by writing best-selling novels entitled "Cellr
~24§5 Death Row" and" Trial by Ordeal." In July,-,1 1954,; one, Wenzell Brown,
' who identied himself as"Chairman of the American Writers'5Comn1ittee
to-Save C_hessman,;sent the Director a copy of information addressed to the » '
Presidentzof the U. S.' a11egin'g that there is doubt-that-Che_ssman was guilty ",,.of the crir'nes"of which he had been convicted. This 1ett'er'was' not acknowledgec
.*-;'_"but was referred to the Department as a possible Civil Rights violation on 7- 1.-
54; and the Department advised that no investigation was desired. The .U. S. '792,;,Supr;eme_Court ordered new State C alif.! Court hearings concerning Chessmanlemon in.Ju1 ~~19,57 0 the basis t1" tthe ~ t d fh' ' ' 1t~' ' -1+, P . ' nq<;yJ;.§I3raud921i1ently prepalraed. Tgqghlis i§§°1§1r§cto1§ §<§t§?1 %'w1~f§% Eiavesqr P911 'b1md ]l1St1C¬' the_lJ';S.S.C. has becomel HI" 4--7766! l:~*
,.
.2.
M
s.
>
1
E6»
::]:»':~' '1 -"
M v,l§-'
¥_.':
k 92§
W,
if *VF,
~46
r_r
. ; ,7,
..;1 v
1
ii?
J. .m
, ,."i .-m.~I?92
,_.m.
;_=m,.
cl~"1 92>3 I9zz
@vg.;1,1
$14 ii>,r.1~
QM
W
r." , '~ 2K, 3
92
OWN.
_ 6/Monftal 29, Quzsc
' Gamda _
x
Q4
Mr.,_John Edgar Hoover, Director
_Federal Bureau of Investigation
United States Department of Justice -
Washington 2S, District oi Columbia V
Dear I-Ir. Hoover.¢ ~1
! -
=1
C/'
0
s.I
F
,*.ii.=s G111-'1.92
December 30,
0
¢
;z _ "*4
A This will acknowledge your kind letter under date of December 18th 1957,
concerning Caryl Chessmanfand advising that this case is not within the in-
vestigative jurisdiction oi" the FBI. . P:x,»fl?
I
.2
,.
simply to know if Author Wenzell Brown contacted you with various documents ;
relative to the above controvers al cause, and what your reaction was at that '.
.time in regard to this most unusualmove for a most unusual case. Would you
clarify tnis specific point} -92 The basic reason and cormnts of ty letter to you of December llth 1957 was
with kindest regards, and every best wish to you and yours throughout the
year ahead, I am,
0~ 92-
-9292 /.-_ ,1! I ___- m /7 2_,/ ' ' 92__ .
I
~-.*1 -s- 0
...~ '
1
0 .; . ~ _ ' < ,4
92I. I Y,. .,"4" '1'; "xi.
I 1- I
.. .-;1
gown of czyam Ati
4'1/ animal 29, '.Qu.££zc
X
if
4%»
7 921.r
qt AE? V Q7»t
ii;
TV,-V
,>,._'!ti 'X.'i
>1"
{ii} 92
wk, it
Q51; ~
v"_>v : ;weA ,311%-r
1;,-~
&'?~.»< ', at,
4
TitYi t%vK~~
UK
15$;
;1=,92§}.
~13,
.'. 1
W
,,
M;-I'1: .ail???
l.-mg;
92Canada . _/5 J .5 .. - -1..43 _". T:;;»_X92_:
.6. J~»
r~: -
I L, »
. §Iv<.L=:
.. -I
February l
_, 1
~ 92'
Mr. John Edgar Hoover
1035 Thirtieth Place_
Washington 8, District of Columbia
pJ
0
Dear Mr. Hoover: '
v
_ On-December 30th 1957 I wrote to you in furtherance to your communication
under date of December 18th 1957, but to date I have not heard from you. It is .
quite possible that this letter-.could have gone lost in the heavy Christmas mail.
I am, therefore, enclosing a._ cé'.i'bon copy of it for your information.
y Although this is not of the greatest urgency I would, however, appreciate
a personal reply at your earliest possible convenience.
With} kindest regards, I am,
1 I ..,I g -. Q
1 ~..s /I-:7 ,//
I /I /
*1/' . 'e osur " . 4 '__ En 1, .8 _ - :=,_:_,. iii]: // C 7Sincerely yous,:'/ V _,/" .- ,6. ,- . I _/, J /L/0
_.- /,1/I5' _/'
.10;
M
I
5
<1
M
M.
3: '.7-1
.r.4;
Ba
W1;
F1. ,
xi,r *-
W»*<>.
kl
3*:
h}
M
F P
.~.~92
_11
I
92
time in regard to this mo$t-unusual move far a most unuuual case. cqld youclarify t§ia specific pb1pt¢ ' V _ .-_
-yen; ahead, I an, -/1 . 1 __ ~ .13 ' if ,3 ._
I
92-92- 92, " ', '1 ,7_9, Ir8.1
Q _ Q '1:
' _ _ December 30, 1957
4
Hr.'John Edgar Hoover, irector .
Fpdaral Bureau oi Investi§2tionUnited States Department of Justice -~
Washington 25, D;atr1ct of Columbia. . _.
Pear r. Mooverz ,
This H111 aokndw}ed§a y0¢v.k1nd letter under date of Dacmmbsr 161%concerning 3arJI Chaasman and advising that this case is not wit i*
vastigative jurisdiction 02-te FBI. _ -
The_basic reason and cosnts of my letter to yam of accnhar 1113 1?§7 wassimply Lo knnw if Author Esnzell Ercpn contnotod yea with varicus Qctcrtnisrelative to the abovu controversial cause, and wtat your reaution van at Llav
' Iwith kindest rvgarda, and every best wigh to ynu and yoJrs throughcui the _
Sincerely yours,
. 47¢ .
I
I~
0
O O
-
0. , J i. _;._ r_'_:} .. »_1~=/_ ~/-7,- .
1 J; L; - ' V 'm'zcLéw1@;E 1.1 a .~ _
1|
' '92.
.6<j
-i »_._. _ =...»..__/ -.._~. ., 92 _ .- . .. ., . .. _9 OUice MGM .§§;- - UNITEL, t ff! }OVERNMENT
9 »92To = Mr, Neé%'%,,/ V nun; February 19, 1958
"I. - . " *" Tclson ,.. ,.. " I' _ -' 92 . . ' - Ilaciaols ._.FROM i M. jA. _ bocrdmon'_ ,- _-" I _ Belmont' .1 » Mohr ____ . 2 _ 1'! Parsonst
"1/_HosenlTamm _§
Trotter __._
' Nease.___92 ' gs Tele. Room .
../92R ? ,-sunjmcr =,
ADA
_ _ _ _ Holloman ._
, Gan y .___7A 1 " Aletter from captioned ' ' ldated.2-13-58 hasnbeen receiv_e"_<__l_'i-with a copy of a umcaon"which nt to the Director dated 12- 30-57.It is~noted thatis seeking information from the Director concerning Ca_ry_l_,_ __ I¢:Chessman, the "red light bandit" of Los Angeles who was convicted on 17 counts of -»_k'i_dn'aping', robbery and sexual assault in 1948, and who has been sentenced to'be rexecuted, but the United States Supreme Court ordered new State California!. Courthearings in the case in July, 1957, on the basis that the court record of his original
trial was frauglulently-prepared. , ,~--_
_first wrote the Director on December 11, 1957, and requested
information concerning the case and desired to know what the Director s reactions
were to various documents which had been supplied by one Wenzell Brown, an
author, who is Chairman of the,Writer' s Committee which was organized for the
sole purpose of preventing Chessman s execution. It is noted that in July, 195-11, the
afore-mentioned Brown sent the Bureau a copy of information alleging that there was
doubt that Chessman was guilty of the crime for which he had been convicted. Noacknowledgment was made of the receiptof this information from Brown. i His '
letter was referred to the Department in July-, 19 5f}, and the Department advised .that no in e ' ation was desired. By letter of December 18, 1957, the Director ' '.advised that inasmuch as Chessman was indicted and tried in the courts of. ,
the State 0 a ifornia for offenses not within the investigative jurisdiction of theFBI, "the-Director could offer him no assistance. It was also pointed out that data '
in the files of this Bureau is_confidential and available for official use only. '
~ In his letter of December 30, 1957, reiterated his request "
for the Director s reaction to the documents presente by Brown. His commuiucatimwas afforded no acknowledgment since it was obvious that his intentions were to.""}"3l.;.draw the Director and the FBI into the Chessman case and into the controvers- bwhihas bben-instigated by Brown and his associates. Likewise, it appears thatilis continuing his efforts in this regard through his letter of 2-13-58, and since he ha;
already been advised of the lack of FBI jurisdiction and our inability to assist him," itis not believed this letter should be dignied with a reply. ' ff» 7 7 '/ 0 - /
. ..;._ .,: ,R.EC!M192A/lE,NDATION: That no acknowledgment be ma'd<=.§'£>£- 1e1ter5if15;53
February 1s, 1958. ,_.,_._ Q . .1,APR 101958 gr ' "92i*92§§"<;92;_:~_*,___,__I92'.92 ~ @.92¢-.~ "'"'" t
CBF:iii .! Ll!» - V" Q ' I.
I
t
<
~11
I»
r/-*1-'
9;;
Ii?
if
t
[I
I»
I
$3!
I 44:,
It <L5,.
I
tp-it
r IW; '
W, ;
it5.
Ti:v Y
kt
Q
J
F
£2T Yl 1 i i
r .
II 9.0w ~ '
1
0
I
toI92/~.92J' .-
D
l
,__,aa.,.L.,-vvu
OFFICE OF DIRECTOR
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
March 17, 1958 "
The attached clippings which appearedQ .
in the"Dai1y Trojan','.L0s Angeles,concerning the Caryl Chessman case
were sent the Director from the
University of"Southern California,
Daily Trojan Editorial Office, LosAngeles, California. '' 4
1
gww-Q?
-
' n:r:1'50
92 } -
V:Mr. To om}--____
Boardman-_____..
Beimont
..Mr: MohrMr. uease T
¬Mr. Parsons L.
j'_'j;__*?9§%f!'t=-.-..->..~;7¢*....
Mr. Tanm IMr.
"»;'i Mr.
Mr. Trotter
gr. Jones
-Mr»..CIayt0n '
Teie. Room
Mr. HoHoman____,...._
Miss Ho92mes_____.____;___
fuss candy I pa_r
l:_i _I.v"..,_ 92
Ll
*2
1
I. .... .. *1" 92 ' l- ,
- .1 . . e ~~ - ' - -- _- 92 ' * * W -~-»* "_. V. 1-:'_-nnr.=4_,.;* f _.£T'i"*.eT-l;.':v¢,~.. /<__, _ " ' ' i ._ . _ -
0
W
1
~<
i
92 ' _ .- ' ¢x- '. - .l _ ~
0" *
s .-W 2.
_92a
0
I
I
¢ 1
1 -'
4
iv
an
gr _ ;3.1 tt§i':§
ill:
,1 ,
Ni
,..
J
11,,
ll
all IiW,t ,
F
é
Q:
1' ,
,.
l
,.. -
A
.r
' l:U
-,~,4
it
it
rw
V
¢
v
l
i
v
IV;_ ' muss OFSTUDY'_
l a diiors ilnlerv.. ,
Tolson ___._--
Boordman __-
Belmont
-L; .r_.______----.
Elvis! . ._, -~»~--<-
}4;:..u»'-2 ,~-_-~
Rcserl .__._--'-3-
Tomzn __.._.._--
Trotter ._._-_---
Cluyton
Tele . Room __--
Holloman ___-
Gand'y ._._-_--
Few Caryl, Chessman
Death Roy/s -Ten-Year Reside
i___ , y __ 7' .,..___. _s.__..-._.__..__._. .-_-_.., 2 __.
-,.»-u ~'5 u
Did you have the opportunity to go to college '
hen you were younger?
"I have 'had a seniester of junior college, and a s
m ster of university work. I did fairly well. '
"I'd like you to elaborate on your work load. and
how you achieve these results that you have. Do you
plan ahead, or do you go step by step?
Well, much like a soldier on a battlefield, I think
that you simply plod through fr0m~day to day. Ithink
that you have to have an overall objective, of course,
which was supplied for me with the return of the death
penalty, and the other judgment of conviction. It was dif-
ficlllt to anticipate the problems that would arise, or the
next step that would necessarily have to be made in the
litigation. I have had ito meet so many emergencies and
many deadlines, and I didnt know exactly what a parti-
cular court or judge might rule, so consequently when I
had to come up against a new problem, I had to meet
it as such rather than taking it arbitrarily, or trying Lo
anticipate exactly what each court would do, or read its
mind." 3 -
Well, it's been A-uggested to us that your cell
lights are on until. the early hours of the morning,
and that you expand your efforts in many extra-cub
ricular activities, and it's also been suggested to us-
how you approach these things. You don't allow your~
self to get too far involved, so you can get through1I
.0
92
0
Wash. Post ond
Times Herold .
Wosh. News_ ._____._
Wash. Star .____i
- N. Y. Herold .____'___
Tribune . '
N. Y. Journal-_____
American . ~
. Y. Mirror .____
Y. Daily-News ._
ll;
i
V
, iI
?.*?~I
3
2 .
X
4.:-
L;J '
ii:
:9;
ix
,,
r
W
ll 92
Y
lg.
iii:
l lat
1
1,,
J.
.,.,V
.73
i.
l
:332"
ii
Tl
'0/
l ,inl L,3ii it
inl l
» ._ _ . 4 l. -92 ~._ .. ._ . _
_92 ~~s
5!-153kl""'_-1lglill»lV¬ly, I've had to<i.=Zve a foi~ly-'eli,;-iii.-i-wilt 4"
day to get all of the work done, and on the Death Row of
¢092lrse it's true that the lights are left on all night, and
92"'i turn them oft when you're ready to go to sleep, or
.. iu lieu, :~.u lilo .ll92=5l, =.. 3;iuirs of how much you want
ii 9292'.0i'k. or hon lung _92-on waiit to work, or tile conditions
under ivllicli you ivaiit to work. I've been willing to do
a lot of work, and 9292.l_lCl't. the chive came froni_.as you sug-.
gested of course, is supplied initially by the fact that I.was facing an ultimate, and constantly confronted withl
it, and often right at -the door, almost literally, of they
8115 chamber. But beyond that, I felt pretty strongly aboutl
some of the subjects, connected with my own problem, and
so there were some thingsfl wanted to say, a1id'I Tfelt that *
they simply had. to be said, and I didn't know how muchi
time I had left, and that too was quite an incentive which ,
probably normally wouldn't be encountered in a more}
normal situation." ~ -.,~-
5 I almost had to learn empirically by the trial and
, error process whether I could handle my own case. I didn't
'know in advance whether I could or not, for there were
ya great many handicaps being locked in a death cell*
=securing books, doing research, getting materials that wereneeded, transporting or having this matter mailed to the,court, and dozens of attendant or related problems, so Ii
had to just feel my way, as it were."
Did you just wake up one morning and. say that
1 you were going to my to do it yourself, or did you
I ieel that even before you went in that you were going
to light it yourself as mueii_ as you could?"
I believe that my decision was probably made at the
time of the jui'ys return of the_guilty verdict. I was very
much angered by it, an-cl I decided almost at that point,
altnougn the decision was almost emotional -ratlier than
lnteliectual, I would put in colloquial terms really get in
and dig on this myself. I was determined if possible to
give Lliese death selitences back to the State of L;aiilornia;l;ll'JSC, and consequently, it was almost at that point that-lit was an emotional dedication you might say to the proj i.
ect." ~ .
I-lave you ever started your own law lillrary, as
an auorliey would? ., _"uh, I have many bboks of my own that I felt were
particularly needed, and in addition to that 1, had to pre-
p-ilre a book in maiiuscript lorm of my -own with regard,
to ieuelal practice and procedure that related to state?CUui't Uulli/l92;blOll$ in erlinlnal cases, because 1' could midi
llotlilng directly in relation to eeri;lorai'l, what eoiistltuted,
a iedelal question, new the questions had to be pl~esenteu,§iiiteipretatloii and court rules, and things of that nature."=
'-.-lave you ever tnougnt about liecomlng an attor-t
l
ie :" - ~-' 1l yrhis-is probably the trauma of this experience. I
doubt ii rd eve; -want to see a law book agaill."<
l"i92_iiulii you continue to be a pl0f6SSl0llal1 7? i£"g"VCT" l ~i your lreeuoin.' ' A _ 11"l. aiii ueterliilned to become a novelist woith his
and l mink given another ten years l i»;-*,';li1&K0
i grade. ,!= ..~ - 7 - -, - -- IDo you leel that your books li_.iw had llli. some.
impact that you waiitell Liium to li:i92'l-1'"
"L UCllC92¢ tliat the books, coupled Willi U16 ¢1l>'<'>l_h=1
had a vely llealtny social impact in the. sense tnf¢_i'i;»L1_92very nature-tile controversial nature-oi this case, D111
the lact that the other side of the picture could be P"
seilteu by a man behind bars, has had a very Sillllililliellect, in my opinion, on public opinion, and it could platcliis pl-eolern llgllt in perspective and right in the I0"], ground oi me public mind, which.I think is a very healthfthiiig and something that is very critically needed. _1 Ive been accused and probably with considerable Jll- tification of being a paniplileteer, and I don't nil-lid thr
designation a bit. This 'pi-elile-in you referred to, is it the problem
l l your case, or of capital puiiishnient'." I.._ . .».-..__..______--»
' Well, not capital punishment per se, let's just so
i, theory -of retribution or retributive justice is the 10*:
lically or socially valid approach to the problem of criii:
1 inality." Well. going on that, from the sociological al'i'{-,lc,
lioiv do vou feel that society should t:ikc'care oi those
who offend or coiitiiilizilly bi-eak society's laws?" ,1 Well, all I_can answer is to give a personal exampl
iI, of course, have been diagnosed psychiatrically and th
word has also been used epithetically as a constitution:
psychopath or a sociopath or by whatever term you rl:
pleased to employ to dcsigiiate one who apparently is .
odds with himself or his fellows and is a hopeless sol"t -
a being or person and I feel that Ive demonstrated rath-
conclusively, without beatiiig my own drum liere, that
is possible to help t.he_se people or to help themselves fii
themselves and they are capable of doing sonielliing cf
ative as well as something negative or destructive or 4
odds with the social system."
_ And what about those who can't be rehabil'i-
tated?"
_' That begins with the prcniise that there :ir =':hc.
who cannot be rehabilitated. I would say there are llllqil¬
tionably those who cannot learn to adapt themselves
the rules of social living under the present-methods -
approaches that is being used in this problem, but I don
feel that, as a consequence, we should say that it is-ii:
possible completely to reach those men. or to give the
an opportunity to make some sort of satisfactory adjus
iment that is acceptable to themselves and to society. 3
I
Y
1;
.,.
E _
aw "
gr.Z .'§-vs
M,§:
....4
, ,>,' . .
f_l,.
3 .
f},
ivii A
1@:¬K_,.'<
. V
51%
mg '
M,
is!
:;"§92
w» .14.v§?a"
:%?i?~
S
"W.
w 0- Q ,1
9*?
$5.
31% .M
>9.
rm?
Q1. a I
Q
- uV; .
~.,.
__ 92-v_5;;;5;;;- " .3 ,_ :5-.~l~17"-.<.. _>1 _.,, 92- .
1;?-'3=§=§~§'l¬ . .. . .I.»
- a. .;.
' =-=:""<-$;;;II§_f::;
. ,'-I.'=I'£:i>$3i-;I;-
: ..=&.z;¢<>.=;:;..1;.»;:.-. ~.=:=-:_,
. :'.'I':f:1;51:}E§;§:5:I1;=-I_E;.;:1-;.'=
-._-#4; -:-'_/.¥5.!5~ ,<;._+.,:;:;;;-_¢;;. '§;:<-;'-:-;-;3;-*..;.-.::-;- -:-'1» - _ '.2.<1;V:;:=.,=3;:3¢?1:>E¢=E'-2
Ha.
9
-'
~
=92-': --;;.=,- '1.->.-'-I ;-.;'
r. - vii; 1-=l§;;Ea-. Izl===.%Ii22>§>:=Ii=i;
-. ~$ ,1
24"" 5 5 :="1:5>:=1-'~'t2~:=.: - . :I-4IT'?;1j---:1=-1=i====.'.~.=.=-..s.-".. - ' 1 .:.;fi:§§é5:;§§I:§:P_§~3l§¬>J§1.:»§5:?! _
»- - A - .. :1. .;:;.x;.;;._.- .- .
-. -.~ 33;-;: ~
1;; _;~AJ :$=¥~
~ v-x:
¢'-=.-:-»:-.~f-!<-.".i;-: I.':;'=;-;-:<->-<:- -,;<:=.~..-.;._ .-_
-=¢._;,.;:¢ ..='»~ :1 . .1 »>-~-..92:<-...~-. .. .-,,-<- ~
it-'1;-:-.~,-;.=.>~e-
_ , *4,-.;.._.-. .5.--A:~ ;.'.-_:,_=:; 53:5. ._.;.;;- ~_ '-f-;:1 4 :'*<-=-=-;=;».~"--:-:1,+: .:;:,s_=- ~-. -.;.;.;; -,,.;- ; -_----:=92.e<u-: .~:;;.~.- ,-; .. ;=»;=:=.=;-¢:==:-w-=;.<<:~:- .a I ' ' .
.- -.;.;.;. 1_..;..;.;¢. , ...;.;:;:;;;-. _¢_<;;; -'j:;.;;§5-.;#;-:_. ...1I5.=¢$:IF1:;$#i$.;;*>.::k-,. . 'I>::;:=:=.::-:'->-4-s;;;.§@1~<'1.~ -< ' -92":1t===2::»--?<.<¢="=1""2=».=~:s:a%¢i=@----=.;- =1» ; <.1~=¬=5-.:¢-2:555.-_..=3;f;.<; . .
-==.'<1=:e:%.5 'é%'P i ~ .52:-= ~ -' '- 5
_§~.:;.=.:. I: 'if1l§:i1'$E=I-E511"=<- -"-92 -"
E21 =¥.'_<i&i:===11=r"'1= ' =.'>- sZ'i=1'i?l==-1 1 .' ' ""§""55? '33-l 5Zr :»:;-VIE
.4 __._,__. ,,.9292'..,-._._.
1. s_g;:».;.~@~ »; - ~;
--. . . Z .~. ' . _. 4 5
"§'=': 1- :-;-. »<. -. -. -. .; -Z.->=<>.'>-:_~;,-H, .<=.:1";:11<;-='.51:1,;,'E92¬2¢E=:33E'.'=j;- f,-weji.
>-,;-; ;:,_-_.<-_-.-,;;:;:.-4 ;;_92 ._, W . 3 ._ _~ 1° g - ~ -. .
»,~~',"=:-:"?- '*~' .'-~'~.¢.;.-2 '*<§,,_92.". V .14 ..,~,;~-5.5-.._ <1 1, 9 M ' 3=§";i5'7?T ?-""~}i r.. ~" --:_- 4. .--:'~=:~": .- :':~$§1.§11'~:-:<14>": '»> >;§;-L ;;,;_§¢~1?: -~ ';.g.;:;;;¢;:;¢;:=_;;,- »-.~ .- 3;»-<-.-.;;:._: . _. :;;';;
;§:;'_<j;¢=.»».;;;-,._; 45;. __;s_._-.1 . __. .1 _»» .~.~>ri-==;;£=§.'2i;f:i:1~f==;E;1
=-.1.-<=;:;,;z.¢ .
z ._;:
.
I or-:;
-fr. .:._; ;..
~
"ell;-E-. ..-:»:.=-.-.':-.<=;z1.>$
.<,--.-,:- . .»:9 ' " '< . "
- . .,<:=;_:-2; e, ',_¢_-. 1»-_.~';..,-;-;:-.~_.»->.~~;».' :-; ' ¢-.»"'~=" ->. ~ . ..-;-:->:-" f ,
. : .->-4;. .; . _-. ;._.;. _ .t_;3.-5,.;;5:;;5_;.;._:-.-.-.;-.
.=: <=;::=? .-E<~=r:i:E:?~; -E1
' .1vs .1.
. .~--;.<=;-.
.-g =<1=~.'~:~=;":1=;».=§;
92' -.
.; ~>..=:-.- 92;g92~.3.»;».:_; 1;-».-_4.=:; _ j :2 , ;}_§g¬_B__:> _-1" ':+- 1:.~<&: -= -- » :¢ <r" ~"§~'1*.2--;: .~:->1-.-.;¢_.;.-__.>. : 92 _-4', - » _.---.:
.~'§:-Y>,.T¬5:=-?.$:=:'=-., . Q .1
...-> .-» ~92 .-92<
s. --I -Y '>.
L3, .
~'.' ._
4-
_ - ="ij.:j'=_-'*. _"i
=:$*=~'<:1"<: -.~ _92.»;§§ 4 £11;-":_§;:q-5.-_':I::-:1:'-' ;'~ .I . 1- .= '*. ':-92 :-' ;e~":-1' t1:~:<*_~;:;:-';:»:%-
_<:--_~i'1;:z=1-.
i=:=,1~"@:1§='-'2'-<-»>'=@?.=. - 2,1.311 Q-Q-* ah-,
.1 _.',;r.?§;:' ,:1_1;;'-_~-¢<l;_.r~_ . .-;--:;~.- .- »
1 Z3-.1 '-.e"-~55 '1'?
,~:_
' 0
I .I
¢I4..
I ¢
m 1' 0I":.s... - 92- J,-<----. -_-92-.- --92-.-.-_~.~~.-..._~.»-.-.-..92~¢-.....,,-.-1" " "
_
:
¢:1
~- -aw. -- -'-"-'1'-">51-1;-.=-=4 _»' :">
_ ~92
- - 92 .
,:;I5¢'->521
1 1:: - -- 3.: ,;~
- @>~<===*:=_=~s-:.==~a_.-~ .=;===;_-
'* ~"5--" :;~1E5._-;:->_~ .1»; ~.>'. .
2:.;..-'1 = _'
I _ 53;; .-=_§ '1
I ..~. » .54; A --A. _: .:.§::.
92-.,'.1.-.-__ . .1
,:5 1: ;.1¥:.A%Y?L3 ~=;'=.:-:~
~:f-f .5 +1 - =~ -A -'-.11; '
-5.: ":_ ~.§'f.§3=".'={§ ' s Pi; "_.. . 6 ,_
.. ._ _ 92_v;._." .~v.:"= ~
:1, 1"
4; _ ~iE<j ii 4.~_. __¢~.:
< -:» "'-.- -V... :~. . ~.i
.- if .~: »;:-=.;.- '-.< -;.<,.; " J: :3: -<.,¢~ -,s;'-=1/21:33:12 -;<:';=>:':1, _ ,__ .
. -q'
. . "I
n0- '-I
- .4, .
=;~:->_~;<.» M-"
>-- ';»_:::q.
-.-.'l"92*,.;. -I
ricr Cour! -1% ne Count; of;.;- _
.=.~;- ..->;§-E3:5.-.;:a~<;§.*.:-E-- _-;~_'>;;;;;._
. "LE1? ~ >5
--¢ ~_ :-1':
».=.~'--1- _<':>?>-;:..1_::=;-1:f-'- ' '- ~
¢:>l'-jg?-51.3."--v=;~¢~=;*=-=<~2** ~- »:-: : ~ : ;_
_ : -jg j:
-- .,.';.~>;-,,@=;1;.92j;I_-5:" _ §;;¢._.
IE»--;i1;£1
:;.;2- .'~ "2 . ,92 r - ii!
9. :-:- - .:
:g~_ .:,
92-:5:-1;? ~ ;
5i H-M-M-MGiving thgughiful3 attention to the question of
-~ Joe Nex-<2 "L Caryl
&n~
1 _ Chessmen ;'.»re;>ares-
" swer as Jerry A. ~
1531255 ;.-_:-.:;:,..- >==; _ <-,;. right! readies his next 4_e_
of queshorung. The scene ls
the jury rcvm 0? .hF Supe-
'
L°$ A"9e'eS~ '
_ at Day Trgjan Phviln by Marun S.1"? Rubin!
< .¢
<;-',..-".,...~;;;:...;~.~.¢<~- < ,._.; 92 . t~M, . .
' v
¢
..,
I
, ..
I
-
- _l
i
:5
r
c
l
i
¥/
V :2
ii
in
Vs
é»
in
v~,.>53.,
,} .
;' {ti
age
., 5§i, l
ti-
iii
lit
Q .
V.
/
;.;.,_V5 1
- ' - . - .-D - 1" ah I FJ.-
" * ""'*. *n1ur.r rnoum '.~_-.-
' Special Events
' Joe Nevens, Special Evenls Editor
"4 -
Carylhessmanz 'i:_he
Face Across the Table
' I By JERRY A. BURNS
Daily Trojan Editor-inCli_ief'
This face across the table from you--with its clear
eyes staring right at you and its seemingly 0ver~sized nose
and liltllth-if might belong to an older war yeteran at-
ending night- school or to a social studies teachers at
..l¬ junior high school or to the attendant at the Union
Station on the corner. '_-** ' -,
But it doesnt. It belongs to Caryl Chessman pro-
nounced Carol! Chessman. You don't notice whether his
wrists still bear the marks of the handcuffs just removed
by the two burly sheriffs officers in the corner of the
room; you don't search for physical marks imprinted by
10 years in San Quentin. You just pinch yourself subcon-sciously and tell yourself that, yes, you are=really here
111 Los Angelcs County Superior Court chatting amiably
with one of, the most controversial criminal figures of
modern time. ,
But Chessmans firstl-words send fears flying. He is
friendly, well-spoken with a firm and modulated voice,
and willing 'to help out inexperienced interviewers. The
offhand manner with which he casually-answers yourquestions are good proof -that this isn't the first time hes
been put on the spot in_'an interview. hf _
You sit down, switch on the tape recorder and spendthirty minutes tossing-back ideas between yourself andthis condemned man fighting for his life daily in the
courtroom. When the session is over you _bid Chessman,
his investigators and the officers goodbye, promising tosee them again at 9 the next morning. ~ .2 l
Today's interview goes much better than__.yesterdays.Both you and Chessman are more relaxed, more sure ofyourselves. When the questions and answers end and the{ape slows to a stop, Chessman rises to go back to thecourtroom W£l¬l'¬ he will resume his debates with J. MillerLeavy, the assistant district attorney who prosecuted him
in 1948.X";Tolson .__----
D Boordmon .--~
Belmont __.-~-
I 92" ______,_,...
.§l-.'::~.':; ~-
P'~Zfst;h$ §~""7'I_"
- Roeen .__-=-'-
Taimn ___..--
Trotter __..---
Cloyton
Tele . Room _._-
Hollomun __----
-~ Gundy
f when hgs gone you snapthe.cover on tl:..;_*a~,1_.;'e-]corder,_thanl~: the officers and the investigators for theirllcind cooperation and leave the jury room and the Superior§Courts Department 67 behind. But somehow you don!ileave Caryl Chessman behind. Not only do you have him
icaptured on tape, but you just dont forget the man who
has been called every name printable and some not so
znice . . . the man about whom an anonymous author once
lwrotez Let Chessnian get his justice in Hell.
That's not the Chessrnan you remember. »You remem-
ber that he was neatly dressed, that he was warm ant:
friendly to you, that he seemed honest, sincere and wii.-
ing to help. And especially you remember that his vocabu-lary, his speech, his intelligence were as good as that of
any middle-class intellc-ctual. Why, this man no more fitsthe stereotype of a rapist-robbcr~convict than does your
:92ll1lV¬l'Sit/Y adviser.' But as you finally get off the elevator and leave thc
c zrt building one question still remains unanswered: .<fC. ryl Chessman--that friendly man fighting upstairs-tl%§
ed Light Bandit" who left a bloody path of rape an ci bery around Los Angeles in 1948. Y0ull probably nevi:
now.
Wash. Post and
Times Herald _
Wash. News ________
Wash. Stdr '____
. N. Y. Herold .____._.
Tribune _ "
N. Y. Journal-.i__.
American .
N. Y. Mirror _____
N. Y. Daily News ___
N. Y. Times __i.
Daily Worker ____,_U
rt '
ll.
~
9..
.92£12
xi
hti
. p ,
o Iv
c mama
Qggg ma ga- am Q _..»».¢_-... »... -I"
l-.up-@--1-'92'
: i -:-
+,-
. -By we sevens ~ -
Dally. Trojan_,Speeial Events
_ Thole probably is no more violent
virtues of study" than Caryl Chessman,
a date with death in the San QuentinEditor _
example of the
who has delayed
gas chamber for
ten years by expediently cracking the books."
Breaking all" precedents
uidcspread notoriety due to the
incongruous industry of a man
condemned to'death. These ef-
forts included three_ best-selling
autobiographical - b o 0 lt s. one
novel soon to be" published!
plus an extensive self-instruction
of the law. '-
Prison Lawyer
This study -of -the law by
Chessman, though. confined in
lcath Row and actually being
.:neduled for the gas charnber
on six separate occasions.»"pro-
duced an unusual'lcgal back-
ground. Chessman wrote "legal
briefs, reviewed cases from an
ever-increasing law library in
has cell and actually conducted
his own defense from his cell
and in the courtroom.
rimes committed by Chess-
-nan, and to which he has con-
fessed and the eventual judg-
!:.l=llf. of the man.is not the
province of this report. His
judgment and ultimate fate will
oe decided in the court down-
town, following the presentation
of arguments by the prosccutifon
.-- .-1 defense. The'Chessman case
has further ironic twists in that
14 people connected with the
':.se have since died. including
1.18 judge, Charles 'W. Fricke.
--.-ho rst sentenced Chessman
to death. .
Diet of Crime
Crime has many faces. it is
r, growing and major problem
m an apparently. progressive
civilization. In the southern Cal-
ifornia area alone, crime is at-
:1~.<,s; 9, staple diet in the daily
newspaper accqbnts. _.Q05 Angeles Police Chief Wil-
liam Parker. just _a few weeks
.-go, stated that tlielocal crime
rate is alarmingly on the in-
4-1-ease and pointed to the fabled5
l
i
t
l
2
i
92
1
l
sthe Chessman ' qaseigai-med.____?___._. __c.__..__._. .__. ... ..: .
Hi-Local Crhiifesi
Recently one of the biggestlocal car dealers and several of
his salesmen were convicted of.
defrauding and cheating manyi
of their customers. VA suburban
high_school principals teen-age
son committed mprder, appar-
ently" unexplained. a short time
time ago. _
Four of the first string of a local
junior college basketball team,
are making little ones out of big}
ones for acts of vandalism. Lastl
year an SC grid potential w-as'
jailed on robbery charges. And
also lzist year, two UCLA foot-
ballers were arrested for steal-
ing property from,_3r Westwood
apartment. =
School Crimes
Crime has many faces and
many facets. It operates on the
high school level and the col-
lege level, covering subjects of
vandalism. theft, violence. at-
tack, narcotics and a profound
disrespect for la9292'- and reason.
In Brooklyn reqently. a jun-
ior high school principal. who
probably dedicated his life to
education 'and the proper culti-
vation of youth. committed sui-
cide. The suicide was attributed
to pressures brought. about by
acts of rape C0lTl_lfl92ili¬d in his
junior high school by youths,
vi-he--i-:~._..'::.=.ality coin:-ri'm?t1"'the
-I3
'1
l
l
5a Ferrganflo Valley :1-ca-arer.qt§t'a"6r'r1'_ '_, im.ipaI_.ac.tivi.u;_. l ;' - i1l -' ¢I ... 1.! I- 2 - "' ' _, --r »'.- Chessman conducts nis own'dc-
lfensc and. pleads his case to theIt _ 1 C. -- -_~__.__.5 -~ ~ .. .
murder of this princip*a1Tt7r"'~92'as
this the act that reflected the
apathy of a reclining society?
Various Strain Also
Crime has many faces. Vary-
ing degrees of criminal acts
have been committed by mem-
bers of the various s0cial_ and
monied strata. The high-brow,
the low-brow" and medium-brow
have all had their day before
the bench and behind the bars.
Where then is the issue of
crime? 9292here- and when can it
be stopped or prevented? What
is the cost of crime? How then
does the rising crime rate af-'
incongruous I-Example ii
Perhaps exemplifying crime in
all its incongruitics is Caryll
Chessman. This man has goncl
the route from a series of crim-:
inal acts to imprisonment, to'
release. to crime again and now '.
'is facing the ultimate. The hack-;lground of Chcssman is then in-I . ~ - . ¢ _Qeiisificd by noting his mfchec-f
tlll ability, yet previously |92iSe
ability was exercised in criminal
acts. ' '
Considering this entire pic-i
turc. the Daily 'lrojan decided»
to secure an interview with
Chcssman._ Upon being granted:
the necessary consent from allI
ll
1
l
0feet the citizen, if noi in his
pocketbook. then as a potential g
victim of a violent criminal act? .l
parties and cooperation from
the court and the vcounty jail.§
the interview was set up. _ ;
Prcliininnry Resenreli l
Just before finals of last so-_
mcster, we took the tape re-'
corder to the Los Angcles
County Superior Court Building.
Preliminary background rc-
search was obtained by conver-
sations with lawyers, reporters,
police. close friends of Chess-_
man and his private in92"csti»gat-
ors. _
Chcssman is brought to court
each morning at 9330 a,m_ in
handcuffs under armed guard of>~ .-. .4...,..... .
92
J
Tolson ____.----
Boordmon ___---
Belnzonl .____---
. _, ._-I» O ' I|i>_"._'. ..-f
F03.-1;':a
i*..,.1-2|! _.__----
Tr.-::mi ___---~
'1'-rotter
Clayton ._.__.---
Tele . Poem .__._-
liollomon ..___-
Goody ___._---~
'........_-;';J<i'l:il llilm-;;-92--~ ___-;
. . _ln 9292'c:lneszl_'1y, Jan. 1.5_ ;..
5'51"! Judge Walter R Firm"-
arrned to have Chesgnqa
jbroulli over from the Los Ar.
roles County Jail at 9 a.m. fr.
this sp."z.i.'il intt-rvi;--.-.', Jum-
Evans s.<i'Zn l tho i92ji*92 1~n,,{;
-"l.liHi1lL' the courtroom who"
Chessnian was pleading hi; C25,.
for the half hour intc1'92'i4>w-_-']~;,.
mulll '11,-< ti-"uf<'0us in iiraniinU.~ 1.10 .Sll'lll .-.1- [;l¢;l;t;.92= for Hr
other inzcr92"ie9292' on Tiiursilz.
morning. '
_ Present in the jury mom dm-_
mg the ll1lPl92'|Q9292' 92vp,-,3 Ch.3_<_._
"." - i '° "T 313$ '>ii~v-so ir.-92'e.=
izgators. lh-~ in-ti 51- 92jif¬'s dog?
ties and your two Daily TI'0j';1.editors. "
Th9 r0'lO9292'ing gt-Q cl", San, 1.tarts of the questions all
L"5 °l'§ Of '31? tam-rec<>1"tl '-
hessman mir.-rvicw -.92~:'th spa ¢
!C'lllg the only limitations. L
. I1
Wash. Post and _____
Times Heroin -
Wash. News._____._
Wash. Stor __._i__
Y. Herold
Tribune '
N. Y. Journal-___i
American
N. Y. Mirror _._.i_.
N. Y. Daily News __.
N. Y. Times
Dolly Worker _______-
Thc Worker __.___.__~._
New Leader __.____.___._ -O i ""'.
92
.;
,,h
if,
.1,;_ _is<92,'i
»
xi .
1» _
1513/
"V.
it I
ii
, E,
{ .
v
l
»z
;.
ix;
>-<5.
- '1
I
tr.
4I - q, . 'P ._ . _.> . - ..,. 1 ' ' '>-"
_/ _
1. ' -'*~, .' "
'-ho have to obey at all times all tht illes. whelfher good~@ ¥>=f'6l"wollld you rather have a persoli WlC lll-
iividuality, who might perhaps create something of last-
nr: worth for society, but at the same be a problem to
P?-.i'. Bwause l believe hat, of course this is the old
..;;lll¢s'S oi the ;-lsii.1llOll llieory, but at the same time I
5;...-l: -that most people realize that there are those who
lo have problems, and who say that our goal is simply
'0 make everybody a law abiding citizen without thought
of what that might do to research, what it might do to,
letters, or arts, or artists, pr anything of that nature, why
I don't believe that youd have a very useful or very pro-
iuctive, or a"-very creative society. There are inevitably
._0ing tobe certain conflicts between the individual and
=he masses at all times, so when you say that you want
.0 prevent this,_Id have to ask you in turn, do you mean
"hat your objective would be "at all costs merely people
rho obey the law, independent of any consideration whe-'
her or not that" this obeying or submission mi the law
vould essentially mean that, and nothing more."
When "I jrefer to law or rule, I mean plain coin-
mon sense or good conduct, which most of the laws
are usually based. on. The acts that I am referring to,
are armed robbery, armed violence, and molestation,
and even stealing guns. These things I h_ave_ known
about, and these people are personally lM¢Ui8'1>l92t, and
they have done these things, and have realized what
they have done. Now you are referring to the indi-
viduals respect to the community, or to retain his
entity, which I certainly feel is a most important
thing. But the law itself, in reference to the whole
community should be applied to them, so this pro-
ductivity can continue, because these same people may
impede the progress of another porductive person by
the actions that they commit. t _ _"Well, thats true, of course there has to be a- line
Lrawn even if its arbitrary, but at the same tune, before
his interview began, we mentioned Cellini and Villon, and
lliink that they-would have a terrible time in today's
uciety, and yet look what" they have left for posterity.
Yitlon is said to have written some of the finest. literature
nd poetry that France has had, and of course ."
ls that the price to be paid then?" " 1
Well, in some instances, it seems to be the story at
rust. Now perhaps with the advancement in psychiatry,
0ull be able to find ways to channel those drives, and
ncialize these. people to an-extent more thanwe have
"one in the past. It seems to be, in some instances, in
reative fields, the inevitable price that must ,be' paid both
-y the individual, and the community. And, of course the
-.nal answer to that, Fm, unable to give you-. Em merely
ble to say that historically, it seems to be th~e_,ci1se."
While I was in the service, I saw how police in
0 her countries have handled suspects, and I even sawfiat some of the'common courtesies were not eve
e nsidered. As the severity of the _case 92v_a_s _greatc v "
1 e 'consider'§tion- grew proportionately I-ess.._And A
have also learned while talking with people in other-
l-ountries, and reading, how practices- similar to this
4,¢¢u; by law enformoment agencies in these coun-
lrics, For instances the deputies who are guarding you
ow They probably never have gotten a salary com-
mensurate with the work that they perform. To pro-
tect the average hard-working individual who is Pm"
92-ming for his family, raisin: children, and trying to
progress in his own way. and probably all he expectsl
l
l
.l.in school. In "-,3v of the background of this case?
wo'di:££Jccl that the decision by the court i
no in your favor and you were set free, what effect would have on these people who
or would this make them thin};
5, we opposite would be true. it what you're get-
; that they might interpret it as a license..th,em~
'be more violent. I feel that anyone who is famil/i this case at"all, and certainly there are many
.lQ that includes mostly those who have had difficulties
vith the law, have been aware how close I've been tr
, execution so long, and have commented on the nature 0:
this ordeal, an-ti how they donft feel that they would likr
to go through it. I don't believe that they ultimately woulf
reach the point where they would rationalize this I-hint
and say well, even though he did ten years in the deali-
lrow, that is still all right because he got out. So I cai
do this, and safely feel that I can get out In the firs":
place, if I do get out, it's only going to be because ulti-
mately there is going to be a decisibn that I wasnt guilt;
fto begin with on the charges. So that certainly I don?
feel that the potential criminality of someone else car
be equated with what might be done with me if the de-
cision is in my favor. On the contrary, I think that ll
would be an experience where they would feel, well, l
better watch out for this, or I might wind up, as a con-
,seq'uence of- having been on this side of the fence, in a
Death Row, in a. _prison for a long time, because it's easiei
once you have been in trouble, to be suspect-ed a seconci
,t-ime and a third time whether rightly or wrongly."
. Well, how about the notoriety of your case, do
I you feel that like the hooks you have ivritt-en, th_c
press, stories written about you, radio, television, and
press. Do you think that this has aided your case, or
detracted from it, or would you like to say anything
about that? . _
Yes, I definitely feel that it has impaired my abilitj,
to get back into court. I feel that there has been so much
controversy and such a great atmosphere of hostility and
prejudice in view of the nature of the offenses, that it.-=
extremely difficult for the thing to be weighed strictli."
as .3 matter of la92v, and here we run into perhaps one of
the greatest problems of all, and that. is, at what poinl
is the judiciary completely free to decide a case on ii.-_
merits, irrespective of whether it is a popular or an un-
popular case, and how much public opinion should in-
fluence the decision of the judiciary, and there again thr
independence of the judiciary is extremely important I
believe." ~ .-
FI have one fast mathematical question for _vou_
You once said that you were a gambler, and its obvi-
ous that you still are a gambler. Do you think that
your odds are getting better? -
, "I think that I am in a better position than I ever
have been. Once Ive had this day in court, and I W0lllri
like to say right now without going into the merits of
this case at all, that I feel that I have had procedural due
process at this hearing without question, so that thiscase
will be decided this time happily on its merits, I'm con-
fident of that. and I feel that its going to be a fair and
equitaiuirdecisiion. g g ' s--4,
»
fill
7
/
>
E.1"if.
.,.
>1-
,.,
l
»
»
i
1.,. pi
.9
gt:
,2?
,.
»i
27,
r
r
3
1.
A.
'5,
it
big.. 5;
at
'3-if
ill!l >i.iii
ii
5-3"
up »i Y,ck.
i:-
l Fl
g.
1!
<iit
ll
.92*la"
ll?Asa _ ._.._._ - . _.-_...-- -- . ' .92 - '- 0_ .- /-K ,..I less or griendless. I think that Inf, 4}good eiiahiia-le-e¬tlie ' ...1'092"@lse side of that coin. If I haclii--;. been able to litigate 1 -_ -*1 don; mp; may more 1;._w5 Wm 301% an;.+m»~.-.
llli$ case myself, and hadn't been able to hire attorneys
and private detectives to assist me, such as William Lind-iliart. 92v=~ T in .._l have been in a hopeless position.
"l think that iuusi pruple say the value of it is
*3-'-1 they Uiiiilc it's a dvicrrciif to people -who might
41¢ intending to couuuit criuies that would be puiiisb_-
effect on you before your prison, term began? Do you
think that the fact that California had a capital pun-
ishment law ever had any deterring effect on any-
thing you evcr did? _ '
f¬Cl3." . >
Do you think that most people in the criminal
world would p_i-efer life or capital pnnislifnent?"
"Well, a'r'e_you referring to ilife imprisonment with
out possibility of parole?"
Thats right. _, " - '
"Well, I can only ailswer for myself, andf not for most
people. I think that the question of course _is merely an
academic one, and is difficult or impossible for anyone
lo answer. Personally, no, I would not want to spend the
rest of my life in prison. No, tliats why I am litigating
this case as I am now, either trying to be ultimately vin-
dicated, or of course, be executed. I'm not looking for
any compromise whatever. For that reason, I-' can see no
lfuture in spending my life behind bars."'
' Before me I have an article in a national maga-
zine writtc-n by you, referring to iuitliorslijp in the
death house, and in itfyou refer to another man who
is condemned to death ivlio wrote a book, -and even-
tually walkcd out of prison, and as you put it, made
a lasting contribution, to American literature. Now
viewing that, and your comparison, I was just think-
ing, is it possible that an attitude might be takeni from this, that a person of literary potential or intel-i lcctual ability can be acquitted by supposed justice
and be sct apart from someone who does not have
92 these inward potentials?
I On the contrary, I think it should definitely not, but
of course you have to realize there's a price tag in effect,
on just this, and I sa'y that without being cynical, and
of course if someone is more intellectually capable, the?
odds are in hisfavor of surviving, the me_rits_of the case ;~aside merely because of his ability. But as far as just
bcing opposed, or the view that should be taken, I would
say certainly not. In fact I would feel that the person
who might be less capable mentally, or an illiterate, or
someone who is not qualified to protect himself, the law
should be morefdiligent in looking out for him.
In view of your background and experience in
prison and out, and your litigation procedures, wouldyou feel that stricter laws enacted could curb the ris-able by deatlullo you think that this ever had any H
Well, I think the opposite is true because the ten-92de_ncy of a person on my side of the fence, and I'm putting
.aside the question of guilt or innocence of any particular
crime now, is to react with a sort of defiant attitudel
toward the possibllity"of execution or the threat that if
you keep on, y-oure going to end up in the chamber.
that sort of thing I've developed in my first book. Insubsequent-books also, Ihave elaborated on this, and I,
think that rather than deterring, it has an opposite ef-1l
I
.
ll
l3 think that the laws at present are certainly adequt-1uvenough to cope with the problem, except P@1'192=1l>$ mii some special new circumstance may 21l'..¬f, 3 -it hut wonY be an isolated thing. On the other h.ind.'I l'I'?lii~¢ U11 lleffort to cope with a particular probiczu I7...» to be élljwith on every level,'and there has to be uiiqucstionabl. in my mind, a unified effort to do it. I think that in um
F they will all have to get together and decide what the_approach is going to be, and put it together as it--wenrather than doing something of an isolated job." Wel.., to try to pin it down in reference to school
and the home, do you suggest that a stricter code bej -exercised by the teachers in the examining -of homa-
work or extra-ciirricular activities, or should the par-
. eiits assign certain curfew hours for their children
, and be responsible for them? ' p
. Well, there is always a danger in that, but I wou.say that strictness alone is no solution to anything, blji cause you have of course youngsters who are in troub, perhaps as a result of too muchstrictness. On the othiihand, you have teenagers in trouble as a result of def, ciency in strictness. So I think that the thing that I shou'emphasizeis that this approach has to be_on an inc?
it vidual basis, and has to be met on that level, rather the
,. generally. W How inu,cli responsibility, if any, should a parent
have for the misbehavior of"his youngsters?"I Well,_are you talking about morallyglegally, I
what? Well, let's try legally."
R Of course there are certain applicable laws Iiilwhich put a certain limited responsibility in this respe-1 to certain offenses; however, I don't believe that the pa
, ent can be said to be responsible legally. If a teenag
bseems to be maturing much more rapidly, the parent h
{considerably a greater problem making a living for fl
{most part. I don't tliiuk that we should make the parci:
" Ernore responsible legally, because I don't think we woi;
tbe contributing anything ultimately to solving the pro
ilem." .
2 I've met people that I would say have rather, high
intelligciire, and sonic of these same people have got-
ten into trouble with the law, in prison and out,'and
"some have been on the verge of this same difficulty,
and yet they have terrific mental ability, I would as-
sume, in school and out. Some of them 92vli_o. have been
in trouble have been able to rehabilitate thciiisclves
through their owii .iniiialive and with outside help
And yet, these potentially loaded people will some day
erupt while someone is peacefully walking the streets:
and yet they have the intellectual or intelligence abil-
ity to reason, and _to stop these things. llow can you
cope with something like that? *%eii7-i*1hat'92vould be your goal!, merely socialreumir.
-~
'| 92Q,
it
1
I
It
MF-i
gt
1,9
7;
92.
w rt
A
Jr
v 1HUw
/tr
1
it iat i
it
ii
v t
>
1
ha,I ' /--» 9- -
£3,,
' J.. _. _
13>;1t:=;x¢w-am-;<¢»:-z ; .y3¢-55'.-'-1.1§~.g.-.-n~.¢.-.-.-.92'1v.-.~¢~v~ ~,<.-;92.>.924~vv~' -- '-'-'n92->'~'-':';-{: ;5:'5:;2'.Pl:Q_:':§:'i£:':'::':'k:I-'::.}:4:$%:¬¬lm: _ ~ . »' =E':jE;E»E= 1i=;E'E=E:}:5¢;:§:;:j:5:;-g£gE=:3§;:; -:¢- £$:£=E=£=E=.1£1:¢; 5:1
' =z:2>=e~=%a¢>=- -9" »»,-=;=;= 92Q;-0
;=:;=;:;::2; ~:=:=i2_;v-;::1%:2:;=§za12==' s -+.+;;==;_;=,-11 Efzc-_I¢.»:*~:<.~21;~;<.-:1'+t->1-:»;t:-.-:-"1:.<~.~ , ».. -.-;-;=-:-::»;,:-.:»;;-1:-<-$11, -:---: ;~ >.-- »;:[email protected]:_:;~
I"E5,=':E~I55§15'5""-.- aw , v -- '..¢., - .. ..». 1*-' ~ >-3%, -ft.-~ q »; " ¢-,<' -- . qr/>. - / . ,:1---1:" .<: -'1» ~92r;"-~ .==-.= * f.~§.3E1=j-§ 5§§:5§§E5:5i'l_-21}-'~?;;:§$§;§' ?wg§c§':?>:¥<: -5E';iE§E;.~.3:;EZ§;:iiii? 11-155; * :1-1.1.--:1.- ~ * >-;;;»¢+l~».=->f;z.*.:"-~>~="¢*, 1 * '
° " z. i¢'.*"" *1 "~"» F -,.,-. =1 * W £5-3 ;.+- ->_>#<<*-' .< .-- » i-'-:51-=-11:-"=='='&-;===-1==.;..:;*
_ -~:»é1,@~::*"-. i* R 1»;~¢__;_ ' ~_ F _.~
'2 ~ . D .-4 < V -_»-t _ ,-y -
A I 92 ~ .~.<~ ¢92~_._¢<¢.;-'-'~'>'-"-'-'-'--~'-'-'-" ~-">'-"-':-1.95:-;¥':5f¬"fZG<1>iI-7-2+" ' ¢'.tr.»'~:-:-:-:-:~.-.~.92>:»:-.e
, -.4 !
-'92_.
-
I
5_5$l':§»3¥.1:Zii:'£32Z»Z1Z1'~ "~" " " ':-$9.:-:»"3'3:-:51-5T~'-t-2+5?-2-t»:~7;@Z-ta-1:-:64'~ = " E1-5:511; 3: --===;i
H H » ?-1"L1."-I==£=55'?=¢-2-=.I§§é-5=51-==?:i%%>'.-_a=z=i==2.;<=:=--==¢ - - ' ~:-.2»;1z=1::;.==;::=1=:-Arms; -
= » '» " H» .- ~. "===5~-.,.~ 92 , -. , , .~ .1:»;.;m~i'!i=; '"
»92 ~: . »:<;;:;.=-e-.;:_.§;;:' X ,_ > _ .Q A _' . 92l 9292
- ~ 9Z . £,3_> t - 3§,f92.-Q." . . = ' ' Y ~~= ::E
" -'--x .<' . *-=-=>¢a=:=@:<:::=z=<z.?;" 3*» *1. ».* Y $<<"gi_ 5*-- z_v! '*£~» _ 1'---. ! ,'~$: -¢ J1" ..'.,¢.*;', " Q <~. _: >-.*;:,§::5:"~_1.*=<¢§».~:~ V-,.'1 1 .:t~*.; ,'2§** >f
ssq*ib ~ {$~'-3;, *1!» >. a
.' , 1.. t*92. - -Y . ,3; ~» , /=:-. _- ;§.i~. . "$_"1?f '51 v "#2. *~'. igtv. " 0 'Q"5'- S .¢=='1- R K,i --aw < <- * <;1.- ,. in *1-=- .
I
O' 4 <4 , - / ~_- ..-:qc»-:-:-:-;.>:-:--:-:~. * ~ ' "'- "- . ' *:' < .4»--.-§---:1-1+:~:-er ,¢_<< -., -§"_§§>"" '_ § ; '92~.[92 __ A? {I-;;:_ K < -"92»{'%»-31",. ">7. 7:-E3592.: N 4, - = "P11- 1 L n .__ -=-.3xv 9, A ~42 wt. ..=;.<.- ~
-. 4:2-_,, "5 92 ' ~ _1;;---1 -<:=§.' ~_;: x < - » - 1» @-$_-92 >-
921§ 4 . '-4'~92'- sk
Y ".92"~.=: 5 . -~-,§< :- i; 3!?!-Q
*2,
"
~ er" 43 ._.i ;..-11.;-*1 - ,;»_.,.. *~>92 g ».-->:-::':.-:;:r.¢' V ~ » » ea l 4_-*J:~ 92 '}' 922 gt},.92$%§ ~ .', 92 * . ~ 7- 4 92 *1 £35: -Q
, , km? _ :2} {,1 ~*§¥§°~»~:X?! '* ~$ W» Q = 1i "7 - , 1:15; >;. ~- -j_ .»a- ~ ~ » 92" I
-.-Q »i ='.=~"'=F?s., ' _ .. . i=,:¢»~=.>.»< §" * Q.» M; -- , 4- » .1 ' .. . :s'.~.~'R. if Q '1"-*
- ..~¢ . '¢¢,___ ,. 4%
I
4..
0.v . _ 5 . . N 5 ~ . .. . .,;_:>=;:~;_-<.-.. - -;;.1>_ 1 >-;_92=. :4! is-92 »g;_»:&4:T§_;>-.,_ - .<P ,~~:----~;1_+$,<:». .'~ - - §l ;,=3< , -'v'."-er, »*» "
i~ s.- »¢%@§»_ »:>e-;@§§t
B -Y I
__ , $1 92-~1eq._92~,,-» R; an %>=§*.: x @1§~,'~:1.,>~.-~4- ¢ - < > 04 " .' 1»! * r'.: {$3 Q r 5-'51::»=. "~ 9 v-- >.
=- A ~r-<>>-.1%'r¢»;-é=1-
I
0-92
.,
uu. J»I
-or-"
¢I
,-
INNOCENT? His creased
forehead showing the pres-
sures he has been subiect
to, Caryl Chessman is caught
by the camera as he listens
to, answers, and smiies at
questions shot at him by
Daily Trojan Editors Jerry A.
Burns and Joe Nevens. ..
Daily Tl"D]Rl92 [92|92|~92F'S by Ma:-LinS. Rubin
92
--§
u
u
I
Q
is
r
I
/3 i,
21- l.»'4-' iW C.Ff, rF
;>~
Pi
5.?
ifK
t
2'. .E . ' .
he
ii,1,
LT
r1»;-~..
K .
E.
1
1.
Q}:92'.£¬' .
éét"? 1
l¢- .it I52,...
.-~ F .U ~~ a -- '. .>- .t
Perri"Two of theJCl1essman Interviewkwmi r W i i . [{...nl. .--
l m1_;_,:; ~.g;,,.'~ -.- ......-I-'
MANN-YZE5.< ' ' 1. .. Q _
'__ -
L____+_______ Joe Nevens, Special Events Editor
4" Ed. Note: Today the l!ail'_v Trojan completes the
running of the special tape-recorded interview with
convict~author and self-taught lawyer Cary..,' !l92ess-
- man. Interviewing Chcssman are Daily Trojan Editor-
in-Chjcj _.lcrr_v A. Burns and Joe Ncvens, Daily Trojan
Special Events Editor; The interview, was held in the
jury room adjoining the courtroom where the Chess-
man case is being '{-i-icd_. in the Los Angeles County
Superior Court Building, on Jan. 15 and 16.!
We spoke to those associated with your case, and
they stated emphatically that there are those who
cannot be rcliabilitatcd. With your background and
experience what about this individual, the one who
cannot be rehab.ilita_ted? '
_-_' You are pUtti192g'-me on the spot with a loaded ques-
tion because you are obliging me to answer first that there
are those. and I don".t feel that that's<'necessariiy t-r_ue.
There may be those who through brain damage or some-
thing are not able to control their own acts, but I think
that thats a medical problem, as distinguished from a
penalogical or a criminological one. Now if you mean sim-
ply that there are those who are committed to the propo-
sition philosophically, "that the way to exist is to exist
violently, or to exist bghpreying on society, I dont think
thats' true; because I believe that they have a problem,
and even though it may be buried inside themselves, I
think with the advance in psychiatric methods and psy-
chiatric tools and techniques, that we will reach the point
where we're able to look inside the man, and come cer-
tainly with more reasonable explanations for the crim-
inality rather than trypto punish, we'll try to approach
it with as much as any other mental affliction or aber-
ration and tr to treat it and correct it." ' . Y
-" I just wanted to~get that clear. Through your
experience, would you say that everyone under these
conditions could be approached and rehabilitated ._, .
gig:-m_the proper conditions?" 5Special Events Ipk _,.,,. _., . PUl5OI'l$ ...--+1
Z s_ ' I Torr-m ___-
2 ,. - t _ j Trotter
is _ _ ' , , . _ _ - - -" ' - - ' Clqylon _._---
, _ . ' . ' M i Tele. Room .--
' . ' Hollomon ._---
' ' . - = < * - Good! -"
n
--su1
0
-
J
¢
-.~
Wash. Post and ______
Times Herald
' Wash. News ..._____
Wash. Star .___-7~
' N. Y. Herald .____.-._
V Tribune ' '
N. Y. Journal-______
. American '
N. Y. Mirror _____.___
N. Y. Daily News __
N. Y. Times __.-__
Dciily Worker ___..__'_
' The Worker .._.____Y-
New Leo/tier ,--»--* r_7-5* - '
_ I G./v L1-41
40'./,,-.K_-/,. -/ I
_ ENCLOSURE. p __-»iDote _.:__--*1-la i ' 57 L
2?. '
,......
I
W vie.
5.
ssf }.5'|<~1. 1'
S-2
n, :4
-T
1 A.
E'1:
3', .
sf
,
P»!
,.
,,.
<3
!.
1
A
iv D
I 1
§§}a
HI>:§.~':
gff
!A1
, .~..'.Ra: .
"ll/, -
I
,§ ~ , v ___$ 1 1
G ~ - Y rm-. , Mr. I
Mr Nf'I:192J7 ii Mr: Pa:-.5?
E Mr. Rose:
Mr. Tann
O
1, Mr. 'r»-.,..-
dnoqmeal 29, _Qu.sl;ec " "Li 17:. Cm:-<
. . '%*w.u,éh J *"'f ;'m;.um¢'{ Miss Gan
i ....._.._...__- 92,.--_-a~¢
' April 1', I9;8 ;
!I.'§l'§~7._- ,~ -- i. 92 '1,92_/?92 '
I-
Q0
Mr. John Edgar Hoover, Director
Federal Bureau of Investigation
United States Department ofUustice
Washington 25, Dis"-trict of Elolumbia
Dear Mr. Hoover: i*,,. _ , 1 '
On February 13th 1958 I wrote to you enclosing a carbon copy of my previous un- ;p. . ranswered letter dated December 30th 1957, in reply to your communication under
date of December 13th 1957, but it appears that to date I have not received a ¢
reply nor a mere acknowledgement from you. ?
Lw
Tb reiterate my original request, although the Chessman case is not, as you pre-viously stated, within the investigative jurisdiction of the FBI, I understand 1
Author wenzell Brown, Chairman of The American Writer's Committee, contacted you ,around l9Sh relative to this highly controversial case. From a personal stand-oint, I would like to know what vo reaction was at that time concerning this ~ P ' * I ». , wi
most unusual'move with regard to a most unusual case.0 4 ~. __» H $4
It_is obvious that you are an extremely busy person occupied with matters of .paramount significance. However, I would deeply appreciate a personal reply from
you; . ' - , 1_
Q-'¢
r
./~
M.WU
x
jgl,
J.;92,<>
ii
%
51$? .
'* ', =
#2}
5»,
1-"Lwi
§,}1.I
F»?-'1
$2-T"2 x
.k,_.4?? igt .., .,
25*$3,
$1
is
% '321
My 92
3;
i
.
%
-
31
,~~ 1"3;;
Ki»;
v»
, 4
J
$53
#4gfv
,.;._g_ V~ . - .-."»_.._.,__>,-~ _ .-..._._,.._......__......._. -_. __ . . , , , _ . _.-..,..- ..-, .;,...... .._.~.__... ...-..... -A ... _ . .-.._._........<..A.,-....M.:92¢_»[email protected].
~ ..-¢->...,.- .,........_,_:_~.,..~.-_.1.-~. .»._.J.~.../ .-..->-., .~..=.-..._l;.:-;...,. ,. -.. .<. . ~<. ..¢. .1... ....... _ . -...-.».~ ..... . .- ._ -- » . - . ' ~ , . ' , | . _
. . . _92 92 6;
I Town of Uampslcad
_ . Montreal 29, Quebec
' Canada
.
._'_..
. 9
.
. _ ,¢'. "." -
._ ~ ~ q.~¢92 .
'92. .., . __-92 n Q» _ ,_,_§ "V-1-=A1¢»]. ;u1r.-an of Infomatibra '
- .. United Stat--2:; u'=:;.-ari-;~ mt or ~-.~._' §1il'1;Yf.Qn '>f it -.--L Q :h:m'§".'- __E= -2, Jle°11.l.vt O, i_,Q_;_1;15Q3_3
N .
.1
1:
,.._-_.__
~»-u--{A- -~
YZLISJCOFJ, Dilj-¢'%_,Qy .'92 P 1 U 1 ,: ,.,,_!at_; onJ61 Alli:-<212'b of aslwlzriion - tn
.v92. 'i*i-"13-1 ' ' Of H >;j.<.32"-Q].
-<1» _-Q;-"~u.|. .!'!1 5 _ __ ax, l _
1:17 such
I "uulri, '"j~;f¢,_4-:5
- . 5.-'13.. _ -.. 5. . n ,_ ...-_,,~ '" '->-§
- *~-'> #3 r-ac-em; -. ~ ~ @a<z1~. ~-== {
WV
'~1s,I=:a_/
v0a
!-I
~01» -
$1-4:-dE$>-5aw'* ~" 1.. ._. _..~ ,.,._ U-- ..
1
V
~ 11%.; ,4-_-J .._-».-;; 11* ,.-"'f s- »
Q " 1":/4-'.il_,£I-E ,.~
_ E
£2
- ;:<§_;/T34 F
.-5-'
_.;4! -__-
-= m_.~§ .1
$3. 1
ii?-i>"
-,.92."¢
92 . -._» ,._0-1., ,2.M5
;-' .1 .,.. ';
2 -1¢
. :'-'92.<~'
0%
., <1
_ - _ 92"~~'
: ,.~,
=J~:-::<:~,;
-- 4
»-0
IT." .1, 4
-. ."-1*." >- 92 -- 1 -.§'1':!~'-:-.7'. £'7.:.$Y;"~1'- 1 ' ~*" = ' - - 3%. vr __. , _!é_§_,_._e_f_3; ._ _s._
;'><_.-Y?-: ' -._. 92, TL > . J _ __
Q X >1 RUG. ~ > ,__v_ .-_~; -W4-._~v* ~ '~':-'.~""*"¬*, r*" . . 2:- .,
J iieen
~ 1 <- Rio do
Iarz1j""""' .~-.- .4A_ _
J _Jg1aei.1-Q en 216!
SGELLIBOR
GORE! IIG
"' __'§ »' ,0 ..- »
_ 7 _ e IIAGB no further action
Should en; additional pertinent inronuti
er Legat, the Bureau I111 be-- Ii4 - , <.
nets 6! _
Janene _
' 92 -v_ ~-I";-- 4 __., r .4t : ' , -c~ .. *
'8 ~~ H Y Vi[lb
0
Te
1?; L
§La;-
it-T
1+
ti '
M
FE? I-r,-_..
.
i
V
Krtr
I.-I
1.r =|»
4».,
t
:51" is:,.ix 2 .
~ 92c'
ff:" it I I |
~-~ ~_._,, _.._......._. ._..._;__._..._..____..0__..-__.__.-___-__W.._.______ .._ .... _ ._ _ ,___ .._._..._._ _. _, _... ..._.~.-I-I--¢-.~-_-.
so 42,1-79> __ ,XXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXX
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
FDIPA DELETED PAGE INFORMATION SHEET
_L¬ Page s! withheld entirely at this-location in the le. One or more of the following statements, where
indicated, explain ibis deletion.
M Deleted under exemption s! g! ! with 1'10 Segfeg-able
material available for release to you.
l:l Information pertained only to a third party with no reference to you or the subject of your request.
l:l Information pertained only to a third party. Your name is listed in the title only.
Document s! originating with the following govemment agency ies!, was/were forwarded to them for direct response to you.El
._____ Page s! referred for consultation to the following government agency ies!;I as the information originated with them. You will
be advised of availability upon return of the material to the FBI.
__._..__ Page s! withheld for the following reason s!:
[:1 For your information:
m The following number is to be used for reference regarding these pages:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
§ DELETED PAGE S!
Xuo DUPLICATION FEE X
"X FOR THIS PAGE X
xxxxxx_ XXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXX
w
1
1
2
£1
,1: .w
--;:~I '~24 -S J
17 ~11
;~f'§l,
>5
.
2'1 é jm»',,,¢?3~Ag; V$5-f id I 2 1.1? '
1.v92,_,:92
J.
$11
" *4 I' '.»
§:
-' 4=,,. 1;", _
lg; ¢~ ,1
3,,
':.;
£1.
er $1' , »_:.:* K#93
v¢g;r@;é
u W,-V .
é
"l::1 Pl
$12?"iii?f4 =_ V,,1 H,5-/» v,
J5:
.1. ~
9292?s§"
vi; Y
11;-.~@<"
92 z
92 "1-'1",;*<."?¢,Q1 W92 Mg92 $5 92 ,3,
F1? :1'~;_"¢~
A M
.r§$§1%
' 1"-51-1
5?
%$"<y?,{l
21~"/iM 4, ;"491-< 92=$36
I5} 0
0
I
. 8
IO92,l'
Own. Molllfcal - Z 61}, Q lb
- - 1
92
. ./92_u
3 ¢
Feeral Bur,United 5tat;:uD°f Investigation. ~ epapwa§hln3t°n 25, Disrmfmt of Justice lct of Columbia
Dear 5ir:- .
. . . Id<° n°t appear to hav 4October 13, 195,9 .
t° my elementary e - "81 an answer
nqm-1.Y I had wrg.way back on May 18 lvtsn t° the Bureau
th 1959. .
YOLLP3th1 ul1_-.1.
I '1.J 41»
" .
1
1
£1z.1!