awaited his execution ond eath rows Riley's Pertvesen mental condition
deterioated to the extent that the prison chaplains and the warden bes
came convinced that he was insane, A special sanity MaAKXNXXaax XK
trial was held and by a split decision of nine-to-three, the jury de-
clared him sane, This decision was also upheld by the Supreme Court
on appeal and when the Governor declined a commutation of sentence,
he was asphyxiated at San Quentin Prison on February 20, 1953, After
having been practically in a stupor for several days preceding his
execution, Riley became hysterical ten minutes before the death march
began and he was dragged, screaming and crying, from his cell to the
death chamber, After he had been forcibly strapped into the chair
“fd just before the cyanide pellets had been dropped, it was noticed
that he had managed to free his arms from the straps and was endeavor-
ing to loosen the other straps, The proceedings were halted and
guards reentered the chamber and strapped him securely for a second
time, Once again, he managed to free his arms AMM as the pellets
were dropped and he had also managed to free his chest strap and was
working on the one about his waist when the poisonous air hit him,
SACRAMENTO BEE, Sacramento, Calif,, 2-20-1953; 217 BACIFIC (2nd 6 p35
235 PACIFIC (2nd). 381; DEATH ROW CHAPLAIN by Eshelman, pages 128
TRIAL BY ORDEAL by Chessman - CALIF#BOOK AND MAG.
awaited his execution ondeath row, Riley's #4KaxKxax mental condition|
deterioated to the extent that the prison chaplains and the warden bes
came convinced that he was insane, A special sanity HaAKXHX XOX XK
trial was held and by a split decision of nine-to-three, the jury de-
clared him sane, This decision was also upheld by the Supreme Court
on appeal and when the Governdr declined a commutation of sentence,
he was asphyxiated at San Quentin Prison on February 20, 1953. After
having been practically in a stupor for several days preceding his
execution, Riley became hysterical ten minutes before the death march
began and he was dragged, screaming and crying, from his cell to the
death chamber, After he had been forcibly strapped into the chair
“fnd just before the cyanide pellets had been dropped, it was noticed
that he had managed to free his arms from the straps and was endeavor-
ing to loosen the other straps. The proceedings were halted and
guards reentered the chamber and strapped him securely for a second
time, Once again, he managed to free his arms HMM as the pellets
were dropped and he had also managed to free his chest strap and was
working on the one about his waist when the poisonous air hit him,
SACRAMENTO BEE, Sacramento, Calif,, 2-20-1953; 217 RBACIFIC (2nd £935
235 PACIFIC (2nd) 381; DEATH ROW CHAPLAIN by Eshelman, pages 128~
TRIAL BY ORDEAL by Chessman - CALIF*BOOK AND MAG.
awaited his execution ondeath row, Riley's 4¥Ma@Xktax mental condit:
deverioated to the extent that the prison chaplains and the warden bed
came convinced that he was insane, A special sanity MigieXHixi00:
trial was held and by a split decision of nine-to-three, the jury de=
clared him sane, This decision was also upheld by the Supreme Court
on appeal and when the Governor declined a commutation of sentence,
he was asphyxiated at San Quentin Prison on February 20, 1953, After
having been practically in a stupor for several. days preceding his
execution, Riley became hysterical ten minutes before the death march
began and he was dragged, screaming and crying, from his cell to the
death chamber, After he had been forcibly strapped into the chair
“thd just before the cyanide pellets had been dropped, it was noticed
that he had managed to free his arms from the straps and was endeavor-
ing to loosen the other straps, The proceedings were halted and
guards reentered the chamber and strapped him securely for a second
time, Once again, he managed to free his arms aif as the pellets
were dropped and he had also managed to free his chest strap and was
working on the one about his waist when the poisonous air hit him,
SACRAMENTO BEE, Sacramento, 2-20-1953; 217 BACIFIC (2nd), 6
235 PACIFIC (2nd) 3815 peter Ron GAPLAM by Bshelnan, Dee De SPS
TRIAL BY ORDEAL by Chessman = CALIF*BOOK AND MAG.
cae ee
ee SG
Be le
| GPS Leen siffpmrers DIR, paperback by Brian, mylib
Riley, a 29-year-old diminutive black man who was blind in one eye
-and partially deaf, was a resident of Sacramento, Calif,, where he
was employed as a dishwasher at the Red Hen Club, 1117 Ninth St,
Shortly after eight o'clock on the morning of July 18, 199, he en-
KEXKAREANEX tered Bedell's Restaurant, a few blocks from the Red Hen,
through a rear door opening on an alley and went directly to the
office where he robbed two women employees who were counting receipts
of $926 in cash and a $56 check, As he went back through the corridor
leading to the door opening into the alley, he passed Walter Hills, a
laudry deliveryman, who was making his rounds, Fearing that Hills,
who also delivered to the Red Hen, recognized him, he turned and shot
him in the back, inflicting a fatal wound, Riley then fled to the Red
Hen where he changed clothes and hid most of the money, He then hid
out in the basement of a nearby building where he was captured one
hour and forty-five minutes after the murder, At his trial, where he
pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity, he claimed
that the shooting was accidental, saying that he had tripped in the
cérridor and the gun acciden :
who he had pabhcctaee another eyewitness eertitiod thee Heres cup teuers
lills after he passed him, turning around to do so, His conviction
was affirmed by the California Supreme Court on appeal, While he
a (op ee Le aiffiperers DIE, paperback by Brian, mylib
Riley, a 29-year-old diminutive black man who was blind in one eye
and partially deaf, was a resident of Sacramento, Calif., where he
was employed as a dishwasher at the Red Hen Club, 1117 Ninth St,
Shortly after eight o'clock on the morning of July 18, 199, he en-
KEXRAMEAKEX tered Bedell's Restaurant, a few blocks from the Red Hen,
through a rear door opening on an alley and went directly to the
office where he robbed two women employees who were counting receipts
of $926 in cash and a $56 check, As he went back through the corridor
leading to the door opening into the alley, he passed Walter Hills, a
laudry deliveryman, who was making his rounds, Fearing that Hills,
who also delivered to the Red Hen, recognized him, he turned and shot
him in the back, inflicting a fatal wound, Riley then fled to the Red
Hen where he changed clothes and hid most of the money, He then hid
out in the basement of a nearby building where he was captured one
hour and forty-five minutes after the murder, At his trial, where he
pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity, he claimed
that the shooting was accidental, saying that he had tripped in the
cérridor and the gun acciden i
ins Hefhad Fobbee ane shothen crodttaeee onticl er thee teeaease
Hills after he passed him, turning around to do so, His conviction
was affirmed by the California Supreme Court on appeal, While he
PREYS SeMCHSADERERS DIE, paperback by Brian, nylib
Riley, a 29-year-old diminutive black men who was blind in one eye
and partially deaf, was a resident of Sacramento, Calif., where he
was employed as a dishwasher at the Red Hen Club, 1117 Ninth St,
Shortly after eight o'clock on the morning of July 18, 199, he en-
tered Bedell's Restaurant, a few blocks from the Red Hen,
through a rear door opening on an alley and went directly to the
office where he robbed two women employees who were counting receipts
of $926 in cash and a $56 check, As he went back through the corridor]
leading to the door opening into the alley, he passed Walter Hills, a
laudry deliveryman, who was making his rounds, Fearing that Hills,
also delivered to the Red Hen, recognized him, he turned and shot
in the back, inflicting a fatal waund, Riley then fled to the Red|
where he changed clothes and hid most of the money, He then hid
in the basement of a nearby building where he was captured one
hour and forty-five minutes after the murder, At his trial, where he
pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity, he claimed
that the shooting was accidental, saying that he had tripped in the
i accidentally dischar;
0 he had robbed! and Rootreekey Gates Eestarsed” chat Re"iaaeRoeY
im, turning anne to Oe ‘8 conviction
Ba errand oprane calatornaisorcensy Came’ ion eppeatae waalaihs
