Yorty Seeks to Limit L.A. Mayors to Two Terms

May 3, 1961: The Times editorial page backs Mayor Norris Poulson, who lost to  challenger Sam Yorty. Although Yorty advocated a two-term limit for mayors, he served three terms and was seeking a fourth when he was defeated by Tom Bradley. And in case you are keeping track, The Times endorsed Yorty against Rep. James Roosevelt in 1965 (I can’t imagine The Times of this era endorsing a Roosevelt, can you?), Bradley against Yorty in 1969 (Bradley was defeated) and again in 1973, when Bradley won.  I have been rummaging around the Daily Mirror HQ for my copy of “Maverick Mayor: A Biography of Sam Yorty” by The Times’ Ed Ainsworth. Must be in the annex, a.k.a. the garage.  On the jump, Deputy Dist. Atty. J. Miller Leavy is awarded damages over his appearance in the film “Justice and Caryl Chessman.” Leavy said he was promised that the film would only be shown on television and not in theaters. “Justice and Caryl Chessman” is being shown with “Cell 2455, Death Row” at the Roxie in San Francisco later this month. And Spade Cooley is hospitalized for heart trouble while being held in the killing of his wife. Some stories refer to Cooley as “the king of western swing,” but the Bob Wills fans would argue with that.

Paul Coates, March 22, 1961

 

March 22, 1961: Paul Coates publishes a personal testimonial from a woman advocating free school lunches for children. “It breaks my heart when I hear people say it's a waste of money to feed hungry kids at school," she says.

Matt Weinstock, Nov. 26, 1960

Nov. 26, 1960: Caryl Chessman is dead – but far from forgotten, Matt Weinstock says. DEAR ABBY: My husband and I are beside ourselves. Our 21-year-old son has been going with a girl. We did not disapprove of her, but when they asked permission to announce their engagement, we told them we wanted them to wait a while as the girl is only 18 and our son is presently in the Army. To our amazement....

Fleeing Cubans Force Airliner to U.S., Oct. 29, 1960

Oct. 29, 1960: ONLY IN ARCADIA -- Mrs. Mae McClain hides these days when the garbage man comes by. Her husband recently caught a big shark off Catalina and brought it home to show the children. It was eventually placed in the refuse can and she happened to be watching as it slithered out, mouth first, as the frightened gentleman upended the container. CONFIDENTIAL TO SCHATZIE: The distance between your boyfriend's ears is just one block. That "prove your love" line is pretty stale.

Paul Coates and Matt Weinstock, Aug. 13, 1960

Aug. 13, 1960: Paul Coates gets a letter from Parkey Sharkey, who is looking for money to publish his book.  Architect Henry Drefuss has designed a $1,000 newsstand to go with his new California Bank Building at 6th and Spring, Matt Weinstock says. DEAR OVERLOOKED: It's pretty hard to overlook 192 pounds of anything -- even when it's stacked five feet eight, Abby says.

Paul V. Coates and Matt Weinstock, May 9, 1960

May 9, 1960: Paul Coates plays with the announcement of special TV news for children, and imagines what it would be like as delivered by Sheriff John. (Beverly Aadland has been a naughty girl again) … And  Matt Weinstock takes another critical look at Cynthia Lindsay’s article about Los Angeles in Harper’s (subscribers only), the precursor of her “The Natives Are Restless.”  More about “Natives” on Wednesday.

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, May 4, 1960

Forest Lawn doesn’t want Caryl Chessman’s ashes!

May 4, 1960: John Milton Addison is a spellbinder without peer. He’s a millionaire who claims he isn’t selling anything but himself, Paul Coates says.

Chessman’s Execution a 'Breath of Fresh Air,’ Times Says

Los Angeles Times file photo May 2, 1960: A hearse carries the body of Caryl Chessman out of San Quentin.

May 3, 1960: Caryl Chessman is executed after a last-minute plea goes awry when a judge’s secretary calls the wrong number for Warden Fred Dickson. One of Chessman's victims remains institutionalized and may never be released, the woman's mother says.

CHESSMAN DIES

May 2, 1960: Don Dwiggins of the Mirror News writes: “At exactly 10:03:25, an unidentified guard tripped a lever that sent cyanide pellets dropping into an acid bucket beneath Chessman's seat. “Chessman seemed to tense noticeably, held his breath, and then sucked strongly. For the next 8 and three-quarter minutes, Chessman died. “On inhaling the first breath of the deadly hydrocyanic fumes, Chessman stiffened. His eyes rose upward. He threw his head back and gasped. “Then, Chessman focused his eyes on a single electric light bulb overhead and directly in front of him. It was 10:05 -- two minutes after the pellets dropped. “Veins in Chessman's throat swelled full and a thin film of perspiration glistened on his forehead. He gripped the arms of the steel chair with taut fingers. “His body slid downward against the chest strap and his head rolled suddenly to the left. Again, Chessman threw his head back. A single tear glistened in the corner of his right eye and the lids slowly closed for the last time. “Chessman's mouth opened and a rasping cough began. “Coming at approximately 30-second intervals, the death cough shook his body and left a spasmodic trembling through his shoulder and neck muscles. “On the fourth gasp, Chessman's head dropped forward against his chest; the mouth still open. Slowly, Chessman's fingers relaxed their grip on the chair. “For long minutes, there was no sound in the steel vault surrounding the lethal chamber, other than the monotonous drone of the exhaust fan sucking the deadly fumes from the chamber.”

Chessman Execution Today!

Los Angeles Times file photo From left, UC history professor Richard Drinnon; actors Marlon Brando, Steve Allen and Shirley MacLaine; and UC professor Eugene Burdick enter the governor's mansion in Sacramento to urge Gov. Pat Brown to spare the life of Caryl Chessman.

May 2, 1960: Caryl Chessman spends his last hours typing letters to friends. Before being transferred to a cell next to the gas chamber, he shook hands with 17 of the 18 men on death row. One inmate was asleep and Chessman didn't want to wake him, The Times said. He told the others, "I'll see you in the morning." An officer said that was a standard remark for men taking the six-floor trip, The Times said. Chessman made no request for a final meal, The Times said. He was served fried chicken, French fries, vegetable salad, pie and coffee. On Feb. 17, 1972, when the state Supreme Court overturned California's death penalty, former Gov. Pat Brown praised the ruling, saying: "The decision will do more to expedite criminal trials than anything in the last 100 years." Gov. Ronald Reagan criticized the court, saying it had put itself "above the will of the people."

Court Rejects Chessman’s Appeal for Clemency

Trout season opens – and The Times’ Saturday sports cover features a cartoon by Alex Perez.

April 30, 1960: Caryl Chessman’s long fight to avoid the gas chamber is just about over. On the jump: Dick Clark tells a congressional panel that he never took payola … and Chuck Dressen says, “ Don Drysdale really studies the hitters. You don't have to tell him how to pitch to the hitters. He tells you.”

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, April 29, 1960

We Are Told You're Nothing but a Procal     I'm not complaining.  I'm perfectly happy with my job.  I enjoy these daily tete-a-tetes with you.     But the unpleasant realization is slowly awakening within me that the first major decision of my journalistic career -- after venturing west some dozen years ago -- was a wrong one.     I decided then I should write for the entertainment of the local folks.  Become one of them.  Adapt myself.     So instead of standing around and gawking at the native sand marveling at their curious mores, I did my level best to blend into the Southern California landscape.      I never once let on that I was thunderstruck by the behavior patterns of my new neighbors.  Not even in letters home to Mom did I admit that Southern Californians were different than their forefathers east of the Alleghenies.  (If I had, she probably would have sent me a bus ticket and made me go home.)