| − | '''Caryl Whittier Chessman''' (May 27, 1921 – May 2, 1960) was an American criminal who gained international notoriety as a death row inmate in California. Convicted of a series of crimes including [[kidnapping]] and [[sexual assault]] in the infamous [[Red Light Bandit]] case, Chessman's prolonged appeals and literary efforts made him a symbol of the [[death penalty]] debate in the mid-20th century where the political left openly advocated for leniency for the most vicious and violent individuals. | + | '''Caryl Whittier Chessman''' (May 27, 1921 – May 2, 1960) was an American criminal who gained international notoriety as a death row inmate in [[California]]. Convicted of a series of crimes including [[kidnapping]] and [[sexual assault]] in the infamous [[Red Light Bandit]] case, Chessman's prolonged appeals and literary efforts made him a symbol of the [[death penalty]] debate in the mid-20th century where the political left openly advocated for leniency for the most vicious and violent individuals. |