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UNITED STATES GOVE Memorandum Mr. Tamn DATE: 2/17/60 FROM :W.D.Griffith SURJECT:APPEAL OF CARYL CHESSMAN REFERENCE TO OAKLAND. CALIFORNIA HANDWRITING EXPERT J. L. STERNITZKY : On February 16, 1960, the Washington Capital News Servics carries. an item concerning a final appeal in behalf of Chessman to Justice Felix Frankfurter (Chessman is to be executed Friday morning in California's gas chamber.). The news item states Chessman's appeal "included an affidavit by an Oakland, Calif., handwriting expert J. Ir. Sternitzky, who said a substitute shorthand reporter wno transcribed the trial forged some of his notes." The Director has asked "what I1 do we know of him?" There is no record in Bureau files definitely identifiable with this individual. : San Francisco advised by teletype today that-Sternitzky is eighty. years old and retired head of-Oakland Police Department Check Detail. Sternitzky. retired from Police Department in l949, after twenty-eight years service. During his service with the Police Department Sternitzky qualified in court as an expert. on handwriting with respect to fraudulent checks only. Sternitzky now does a little general investigative work, is considered honest although due to his age. it is considered he has a "fading mind." San Francisco teletype quotes an item appearing this morning in the. San .Francisco papers concerning this matter which is pertinent to Sternitzky's aifidavit "Most of the documentary evidence has been considered and rejected.by state or Federal courts. An example is an affidavit from a former Oakland Policeman, J. L. Sternitzky, who says he is a handwriting expert and that some of the shorthand notes of Chessman's original Los Angeles trial are forged.". REC- 66 RECOMMENDATION: None. For your information. 131 1 - Mr. DeLoach, Room 5640 WDG:mb 52PEB 25 19