Saladin, Sultan of Egypt and Syria, destroys Jerusalem’s crusader army. 1250: Louis IX of France is captured by Baibars’ ...

The word ‘compelling’ stood out to Joe Rodota, a writer and political consultant who wrote a play about former Gov. Pat Brown and the 1960 execution of Caryl Chessman.

“Caryl Chessman has not sought executive clemency from me,” said Governor Brown last October. “To the contrary, he has declared that he seeks only vindication.

If the Caryl Chessman case thus far has proved somewhat of a travesty of California justice, Governor Edmund G. “Pat” Brown’s latest 60-day reprieve has compounded the errors.

Clearly no ordinary criminal, Caryl Chessman, grade-school educated, had an IQ of 136, and he argued his own case creditably in court.

Caryl Chessman's case inspired petitions and protests, from Los Angeles to South America. At the time, his 12-year stretch on California's death row was the longest on record.

Caryl Chessman’s case inspired petitions and protests, from Los Angeles to South America. At the time, his 12-year stretch on California’s death row was the longest on record.

On May 2, 1960, outside the front gate of San Quentin Prison, Marlene met Larry Bibbens at a protest of the execution of Caryl Chessman (their chance encounter resulting as much or more from an ...