Brown commuted 23 death sentences (the first time in his second day after taking office) and allowed 36 executions, including the highly controversial case of Caryl Chessman in 1960 and Elizabeth Duncan-the last female put to death before a national moratorium was instituted.
Brown commuted 23 death sentences (the first time in his second day after taking office), including a commutation for Erwin "Machine-Gun" Walker. Brown allowed 36 executions, including the highly controversial case of Caryl Chessman in 1960 and Elizabeth Duncan-the last female put to death before a national moratorium was instituted.