biography
| name: |
Chessman, Caryl (Whittier)
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nickname The Red Light Bandit
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| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1921–60)
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| biography:
| Convict and writer, born in St Joseph, Michigan, USA. He was sentenced to death in 1948 on 17 charges of kidnapping, robbery, and rape, but was granted eight stays of execution by the Governor of California amounting to a record period of 12 years under sentence of death, without a reprieve. During this period he maintained his innocence and conducted a brilliant legal battle from prison, learned four languages, and wrote the best-selling books against capital punishment Cell 2455 Death Row (1956), which was also filmed, Trial by Ordeal (1956), and The Face of Justice (1958). His execution provoked worldwide criticism of US judicial methods. |
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