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: justice gndl Chessman HEN Caryl ‘Chessnean™ finally was executed yesterday, it had been 12 ears (less 19 days) since a jury, which ad an option in déciding his penalty, oted the death sentence. Meanwhile, he ad been granted seven court stays and reprieve. “No case in modern history,” said ov. Edmund G. Brown, “has received wore careful scrutiny by’ both state and » ederal Judiciary.” The Governor, a vehement op) ponent _€ cap‘tal punishment, personally ex- mined every phase of the case and ported : ¢’ “The record shows a deliberate career ‘f robberies and kidnappings, followed y sexual assaults and. acts of perver- ion, accomplished atthe po i n ofa vaded gun.” . - Chessman’s criminal record dated ‘ ack to 1937. His 1948 conviction em- vaced 17 different crimes, within 20 ays. Included were four kidnapings, n attempted rape and two cases in hich women were forcibly compelled to ommit acts of perversion. His second victim, a 17-year-old girl, 3 still hopelessly confined in a mental , 10spital—possibly doomed for life. The question is not whether Chess- an was guilty, There is no reasonable wht about that, despite his denials. Neither is there doubt that he was just- ly: tried. in any other country in the world would ‘Chessman and his attorneys have: re- ceived from a judicial system so many opportunities of review and appeal. Indeed, his attorneys used this scru- pulous judicial attention to their own delaying tactics—which took 12 years— to claim that their delays constituted punishment enough. The question is not justice for Chess man, The question is whether or not the’ state—any state—should inflict capital punishment for anything. Hf there were some way that mon- sters like Chessman could be kept safe- ly under lock and key, society would probably be more ready to abolish eapi- tal punishment. Th Californi ble ‘for_parole A glib Sian like Chessman probably would have been freed, and by now would have com- mitted sever al additional heinous attacks. When the duration of a jail term more nearly approaches the ‘sentence handed down, and when a life term means just that, the abolition of capital Punishment will be «more readily tained. The basic point is not punii ment or revenge; the basic point is the protection of society. — ye Nor is there any doubt that - ris elvis GO" York Journal-American New York Mirror we Hass XY ee céligian on . hose Apa ~ WC. Sul — a Tele. Room - — Ingram Gandy The Washington Post and_t: Times Herald The Washington Daily News __. The Evening Star -New York Herald Tribune New York Dally News —__,_ “"WewAork Post The New York Times The Worker The New Leader The Walt Street Joumai MAY 3 1960