Caryl Chessman biography

Synopsis

Crimes

Chessman was just 27 years old when he was arrested in Los Angeles on suspicion of being the notorious thief and sexual predator known as the 'Red-Light Bandit'.

The Bandit was known to approach victims in 'Lovers Lane' spots and flash a red light resembling that used by police in order to stop motorists. He would then rob the vehicle's occupants and sometimes abduct women and force them to perform sexual acts.

During the trial Chessman repeatedly refuted claims that he was the Red Light Bandit, but could not provide evidence corroborating his innocence.

Although Chessman signed a confession, he later recanted, saying that it had resulted from police brutality.

It is still unclear as to whether the 'Red-Light Bandit' was a single person—many claim it was simply a useful moniker used to describe the acts of a number of criminals. Despite such speculation, Chessman was charged with the entire crime spree attributed to the Bandit.

In some cases the evidence strongly pointed to Chessman. Two women testified that he had robbed and sexually assaulted them by making them perform fellatio after they had persuaded him not to rape them.

In all, evidence pointed to his involvement in 17 cases, ranging from robbery to kidnapping. Unfortunately for Chessman the 'Little Lindbergh' law, which was passed in California in 1933 after the public outcry over the Lindbergh case, enforced severe penalties on kidnappers.

Chessman found himself facing a far more serious sentence when the prosecution successfully argued that he had 'kidnapped' his victims by moving them some distance from their cars. Any crime relating to the Lindberg law meant either life in prison or the death sentence.

Chessman didn't do himself any favors by representing himself in court. His demeanor was interpreted as arrogant and matters weren't helped by the fact that the court stenographer died early on in the trial.

The transcription was now undertaken by a relative of the prosecutor, without Chessman's approval. That relative, a chronic alcoholic, made indiscriminate changes and couldn't even interpret his own handiwork in a court of law. But despite such judicial bungling even Chessman's own defense lawyer George T. Davis thought the defendant difficult. However, Davis became fond of Chessman over the years and even though he believed him to be arrogant he also thought of him as a 'decent and sensitive guy'.

"California was determined never to give him a retrial," said Davis years later. "Our only hope was to get the case into a federal court."

During the trial Chessman repeatedly refuted claims that he was the Red Light Bandit, but could not provide evidence corroborating his innocence.

Eventually the jury determined that one of the kidnapping counts included bodily harm of the victim. The jury did not recommend mercy, so the death sentence was automatically applied.