Evening star., 1948-08-28
Probe
Continued From First Page.)

trying for weeks to collect enough
evidence to prove which man has
been lying, Among other things,
1t has sought evidence to determine
the extent of the prewar relation-
ship between the men and whether
Mr.. Hiss knew Mr.. Chambers as q
Communist going under the party
name Of Carl" or, as Mr.. Hiss
claims, a free-lance writer going
under the name Of George Cros-
ley"
Questioned About Farm.
Before going on the radio last
night, Mr.. Chambers was closeted
with the committee for two hours
for questioning on the purchase Of
"dilapidated and remote" farm
house near Westminster, Md.
The committee has sent an inves-
tigator to check on reports that:
Mr.. Hiss contracted to buy the old
farmhouse a few miles from West
minister, Md. on April 13, 1886; paid
$l20 on the $3.50 purchase price and
then dropped the purchase when the
owner died and the heirs wanted
more money.
Mr.. Chambers bought the old
place on March IL, 1887.
Talk to Real Estate Agent.
Committee Investigator Donald T.
Appel was dispatched late yesterday
to interview Edward w. Case, West
real estate man who has said
he handled both the Hiss and
Chambers deals.
Mr.. Case told reporters yesterday
he first heard from Mrs. Hiss on No
vember S. 1885, inquiring about a
place he had offered for sale in q
Baltimore newspaper. He said he
got letter from Mr.. Chambers on
February 3, 1896, giving no return
address. but asking Mr.. Case to ad.
wise New York attorney If he had
a small piece of rural property at
between $500 and $3.50.
There after, Mr.. Case said, Mr..
Hiss started buying, dropped the
deal. and Mr.. Chambers finally
bought it. e..
Mr.. Mundt, who participated in
the questioning Of Mr.. Chambers
last night, said Mr.. Chambers told
the committee Mr.. Hiss drove him
over from Washington to see the
house either just before or shortly
after Mr.. Hiss made his downpay-
ment. ..-....
Mr.. Chambers testified that Mr..
Hiss told him he wanted 1t for
summer week ends.
Used Farm rs "Hideout."
Later, when Mr.. Chambers went
to the same neighborhood in search
of a house. the old farm was one
of those he visited, he said. He
recognized it, he told the committee,
as the one he had seen earlier with
Mr. Hiss.
He said he used 1t as a "hideout"
after quitting the Communist Party.
He and his family, Mr.. Mundt said
Mr.. Chambers testified, lived In the
place for several months. They now
live in another house in the same
neighborhood.
Mr.. Mundt said Mr.. Chambers
identified the house from pictures,
but said it looked different from the
way 1t was when he bought it.
Mr.. Mundt said Mr.. Chambers
testimony on the farmhouse was
significant because:
l. 1t establishes another point OF
relationship between Mr.. Hiss and
Mr.. Chambers since it was through
Mr.. Hiss that Mr.. Chambers first
came to see the house.
2. 1t establishes that Mr.. Cham
bers was known in non Communist
circles at that time under his right
name although Mr.. Hiss has testi-
fed he knew him only as George
Crosley"
g. 1t justifies public hearings,
since the real estate man would
never have thought TO go through
his correspondence If he hadn't read
about Mr.. Hiss and Mr.. Chambers
in the newspapers.
Mr.. Mundt was asked II Mr.. Hiss
would be questioned about the real
estate mans correspondence shows
letters from both Mr.. Hiss and Mr..
Chambers and Il wouldn't know
what other questions to ask Mr.,
Hiss"
Asked why Mr.. Chambers had not
volunteered information about the
farmhouse earlier, Mr.. Mundt said
Mr.. Chambers testified he had
thought about 1t once but when ne
came before the committee he "over-
looked" it.