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UNITED STATES GOVE ¢ “SENT, a ey - Memorandum ¥ ia tos Mr, nang] | pate: 2/17/60 FRoM :W, D. Griffith SURJECT: APPEAL OF CARYL CHESSMAN ” ' |REFERENCE TO OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA | ae _ HANDWRITING EXPERT J. L. STERNITZKY oe i On February 16, 4860, the Washington Capital News Service carries an item concerning a final appeal in behalf of Chessman to’ Justice Felix Frankfurter (Chéssman is to be executed Friday morning in California's gas chamber.) The news item states Chessman's appeal "included an affidavit by an Oakland, Calif., handwriting expert J. L--Sternitzky, who said a substitute snorthand reporter vino transcribed the trial forged some of his notes."" The Director has asked "What | do we know of him?" a _ There is no record in Bureau files definitely identiiiable with | this ‘ | individual. toe \ oe Ly San Francisco advised by teletype today that Sternitzky is eighty years old and retired head of:Oakland Police Department Cneck Detail. Sternitaky - retired from Police Department in 1949, after twenty-eight years service. During his service with the Police Department Sternitzky qualified in court as an expert on handwriting with respect to fraudulent checks only. Stérnitzky now does a ye a little general investigative work, is considered honest although due to his age“ itis considered he has a “fading mind," : San Francisco teletype quotes an item appearing this morning in the * San Francisco papers concerning this matter which is pertinent to Sterniizky's affidavit . “Most of the documentary evidence has been considered and rejected by Policeman, J. L. Sternitzky, who says he is a handwriting expert and that some of the shorthand notes of Chessman's original Los Angeles trial are , forged. " REC- 66 464 YEO | state or Federal courts. An example is an affidavit from a former Oakland RECOMMENDATION: None, “For your informations vie ee fie - 43h . , 1- Mr, “DeLoach, Room 5640 le F... iff FEB et 1960 : WDG:mb tt 7 ek 3 2PEB 25 fe oo