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UNITED, STATES GOVT “MINT ’ .: Memorandtun ‘s. TO :Mr. DeLoach DATE: 4-29-60 FROM :M, a fe? a ~ yy subject: THE DEATH PENALTY AND CARYL CHESSMAN CBS RADIO NETWORK WTOP - WASHINGTON, D. C. . 9:05 p. m. to 9:50 p. iq. EDT April 28, 1960 : aye The above-entitled program, a 1 Unit 1 production of the Public Affairs Department of CBS News,- was produced by Don Kellerman with associate procucers being Philip Gittelman and Arthur Rabin. The narrator for the program was Howard -:. Smith of CBS News. This.progranr was monitored by SA Sy of the pap Crime Research Section. - y The* ‘program opened.with a very dramatic recreation, throuch sound effects, of an execution. The hollow-sounding footsteps of a condemned man were -.0 approaching the death chamber, the heavy door slammed, cyanide pellets were heard dropping into water and thaithe bubbling effect as the pellets dissolved. vt Smith then introduced the central figure in the current controvers sy, Caryl Chessman who stated that once again he is faced with death. He said he is not anticipating it nor hoping for it and that he has no secret desire to leave this woric but ay gradually he has been compelled to realize what he is against. \ ard } 2} \ The narrator then gives a brief account of the crimes waich brough: about. Chessman's death sentence, leading up to the voice of one of Chessman's women vit.. ag." This apparently was Mrs. Johnson. who was suffering from infantile paralysis when * oO Chessman forced his perversions upon her. In an emotion-packed voice, this wos recounted her night of terror when Chessman assaulted her.. During her recital sre broke down, sobbing audibly. ” ve ta ane fs ° SNe Sere 4G . re aa The next voice heard was that of the death watch officer at San Quen matter-of-factly recited the events of the usual last day of a condemned men. Graviid he described the execution chamber and the manner in which the condemnea would strapped to the chair. Sound effects were heard in the background accompanying hi description. _ o5 t Ur oe pret nt r, be 4 Ny ~~ ae > \ . ho My og eh ot” NOT RPCORDED 2 a TEMsb6 SED tid a es — | 1 oO ’ cei ,