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UNITED, STATES GOVT “MENT se Memorandicn °; To :Mr. DeLoach FROM M. k. Het (Y supject: THE DEATH PENALTY AND CARYL CHESSMAN - a CBS RADIO NETWORK WTOP - WASHINGTON, D. C. 9:05 p.m. to 9: 50 p. m. EDT April 28, 1960 f The above-entitled program, a Unit 1 production of the Public Adfairs being Philip Gittelman and Arthur Rabin. The narrator for the program was Ho Smith of CBS News. This.progrant was monitored by S\ iy of the Crime Research Section. : . . The*program opened-with a very dramatic recreation, through sgund effects, of an execution. The hollow-sounding footsteps of a condemned man were - approaching the death chamber, the heavy door slammed, cyanide peliets were heard dropping into water and thaifhe bubbling effect as the pellets dissolved. Smith then introduced ‘the central figure in the current controversy, in Caryl Chessman who stated that once again he is faced with death. He said he is not R anticipating it nor hoping for it and that he has no secret desire to leave this worle but ve gradually he has been compelled to realize what he is against. \ The narrator then gives a brief account of the crimes wnich brou Chessman's death sentence, leading up to the voice of one of Chessman's wom This apparently was Mrs. Johnson. who was suffering from infantile paralysis ‘ Chessman forced his perversions upon her. In an emotion- -packed voice, thi recounted her night of terror when Chessman assaulted her. During her re broke down, sobbing audibly. The next voice heard. was that of the death watch officer at San < matter-of-factly recited the events of the usual last day of a condemned man. fal he described the execution chamber and the manner in which the condemned would be & strapped to the chair. Sound effects were heard in the background accompanying his 4 4 ~~) description. Ypres ayy " NOT ee “vil a 167 SEP. 2.1960 — SSS