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Harley O. Teets

December 18, 2023

Harley Oliver Teets (14 November 1906 in Terra Alta, Preston County, West Virginia[1] – 1 September 1957 in Marin, California[2]) was the warden of San Quentin State Prison from 1951 until his death in 1957. During that time he presided over executions performed in San Quentin's notorious gas chamber. Teets is probably best known for seizing the manuscript of one of condemned prisoner Caryl Chessman's books, arguing that since it was written on death row, it constituted "prison labor".

Career edit

Teets began his career in correctional service as a guard in various federal penitentiaries. He reached the level of lieutenant before being hired as a captain at California's Folsom State Prison in the 1940s. He became associate warden under Clinton Duffy at San Quentin State Prison, and succeeded Duffy as warden in late 1951.[3] Teets remained warden until his sudden death from coronary thrombosis in 1957.

In the 1930s, San Quentin had a reputation as a violent and corrupt institution. Duffy had done much to reform San Quentin during his tenure as warden.[4] An investigation of alleged brutality during Teets' tenure was prompted by a series of articles in the San Francisco Chronicle written by a young Pierre Salinger.[5]

Under Teets, a 1953 contest, open to all inmates, resulted in artist and inmate Alfredo Santos painting four giant murals on interior walls of San Quentin's South Block.[6]

Teets was known to be compassionate toward condemned prisoners, often sitting with them prior to their executions in San Quentin's gas chamber.[5][7]

References in popular culture edit

References edit

  1. ^ http://johnteets.com/p368.htm Teets family tree
  2. ^ "HARLEY O. TEETS, A PRISON WARDEN; Chief of San Quentin (Calif.) State Penitentiary Dies-- Seized Chessman Book". The New York Times. 1957-09-03. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  3. ^ . 2003-06-08. Archived from the original on 2003-06-08. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  4. ^ . 2012-10-23. Archived from the original on 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  5. ^ a b (Howard)
  6. ^ http://www.sfweekly.com/2003-07-23/news/hidden-treasure/1 2010-12-07 at the Wayback Machine Hidden Treasure, SF Weekly July 23, 2003
  7. ^ . 2008-03-30. Archived from the original on 2008-03-30. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  8. ^ Rouse, Russell (1958-01-17), House of Numbers (Crime, Drama, Film-Noir), Jack Palance, Harold J. Stone, Edward Platt, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), retrieved 2023-06-15
  9. ^ Kulik, Buzz (1977-09-25), Kill Me If You Can (Biography, Drama), Alan Alda, Talia Shire, John Hillerman, Columbia Pictures Television, retrieved 2023-06-15

December 18, 2023
harley, teets, harley, oliver, teets, november, 1906, terra, alta, preston, county, west, virginia, september, 1957, marin, california, warden, quentin, state, prison, from, 1951, until, death, 1957, during, that, time, presided, over, executions, performed, q. Harley Oliver Teets 14 November 1906 in Terra Alta Preston County West Virginia 1 1 September 1957 in Marin California 2 was the warden of San Quentin State Prison from 1951 until his death in 1957 During that time he presided over executions performed in San Quentin s notorious gas chamber Teets is probably best known for seizing the manuscript of one of condemned prisoner Caryl Chessman s books arguing that since it was written on death row it constituted prison labor Career editTeets began his career in correctional service as a guard in various federal penitentiaries He reached the level of lieutenant before being hired as a captain at California s Folsom State Prison in the 1940s He became associate warden under Clinton Duffy at San Quentin State Prison and succeeded Duffy as warden in late 1951 3 Teets remained warden until his sudden death from coronary thrombosis in 1957 In the 1930s San Quentin had a reputation as a violent and corrupt institution Duffy had done much to reform San Quentin during his tenure as warden 4 An investigation of alleged brutality during Teets tenure was prompted by a series of articles in the San Francisco Chronicle written by a young Pierre Salinger 5 Under Teets a 1953 contest open to all inmates resulted in artist and inmate Alfredo Santos painting four giant murals on interior walls of San Quentin s South Block 6 Teets was known to be compassionate toward condemned prisoners often sitting with them prior to their executions in San Quentin s gas chamber 5 7 References in popular culture editTeets is acknowledged in the title credits of House of Numbers a 1957 film noir shot at San Quentin 8 In the 1977 movie Kill Me If You Can about the trial and execution of Caryl Chessman Teets is played by character actor Edward Mallory 9 References edit http johnteets com p368 htm Teets family tree HARLEY O TEETS A PRISON WARDEN Chief of San Quentin Calif State Penitentiary Dies Seized Chessman Book The New York Times 1957 09 03 ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2023 06 15 The TRUE Story of Barbara Graham Part I 2003 06 08 Archived from the original on 2003 06 08 Retrieved 2023 06 15 CALIFORNIA Mister San Quentin TIME 2012 10 23 Archived from the original on 2012 10 23 Retrieved 2023 06 15 a b Howard http www sfweekly com 2003 07 23 news hidden treasure 1 Archived 2010 12 07 at the Wayback Machine Hidden Treasure SF Weekly July 23 2003 Race in the Death House TIME 2008 03 30 Archived from the original on 2008 03 30 Retrieved 2023 06 15 Rouse Russell 1958 01 17 House of Numbers Crime Drama Film Noir Jack Palance Harold J Stone Edward Platt Metro Goldwyn Mayer MGM retrieved 2023 06 15 Kulik Buzz 1977 09 25 Kill Me If You Can Biography Drama Alan Alda Talia Shire John Hillerman Columbia Pictures Television retrieved 2023 06 15 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Harley O Teets amp oldid 1177212583, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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