Harley O. Teets

Harley Oliver Teets (14 November 1906 in Terra Alta, Preston County, West Virginia – 1 September 1957 in Marin, California) 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".

Harley O. Teets

Harley Oliver Teets (14 November 1906 in Terra Alta, Preston County, West Virginia – 1 September 1957 in Marin, California) 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".