Evening star., 1948-12-16
Hiss Denies Guilt
On 7 Perjury Counts;
Trial SET for Jan. "a
Continued From First Page }

mony was false because Mr.. Hiss
furnished Mr.. Chambers copies of
numerous secret, confidential and
restricted documents, writings, notes
and other papers, the originals of
which had heretofore been removed
and distracted from the possession
of the Department Of State in vio-
lation of Title 18, United States
Code, Section 1921"
Basis of Second Count.
In the second count, the indict-
ment said Mr.. Hiss perjured him.
self in the following testimony:
@. Now, Mr.. Hiss, Mr.. Chambers
says he obtained typewriter copies
of official state documents from
you.
A. knew he has.
@. Did you ever see Mr.. Chambers
after you entered into the State
Department?
A. I do not believe I did. I can
not swear THAT did not see him
some time, say in the fall of SO,
and I entered the State Department.
September l, 1895.
@. Now, you say possibly in the
fall of '36?
A. That would be possible.
@. Can you say definitely with
reference to the winter of 1896, I
mean, say December, 1896?
"A. Yes, think can say definite
ly did not see him.
@. Can you say definitely that
you did not see him after January
II, 1887?
"A. Yes, I think I can definitely
say that.
Exclusive Of Hearings.
"Mr. Whearty Raymond p.
Whearty, an assistant United States
attorney: Understanding, of course,
exclusive of House hearings and ex-
elusive of the grand jury.
"The witness: Oh, yes"
The jury charged this testimony
was untrue in that Mr.. Hiss did
see and converse with the said Mr..
Chambers in or about the months
of February and March, 1898, in
violation of Title 18, United States
Code, Section 1921"
The indictment did not charge
any violation of espionage laws, but
stated it was relevant to the in
vestieatfon to determine if such
laws were violated and if Mr.. Hiss
had knowledge of such violations.
United States Attorney John F.
x. McGohey refused to discuss
with newsmen whether Mr.. Hiss
was protected by the statute of
limitations against possible charges
of removing secret papers.
The indictments were distributed
to the press about five minutes after
the jury was discharged.
The only business transacted after
the jury entered the courtroom of
Judge Clancy at $40 pm. was a
statement that the jury had been
unable to complete it's investiga-
ton of all matters that came before
it. 1t was said that the unfinished
business would be taken up by the
new grand jury, but officials refused
to say what this matter would be.
The jury whose term expired yes
terday previously had indicted IL
top Communist Party leaders on
charges of advocating the violent
overthrow of the United States Gov
ernment.
Both Mr.. Chambers and Mr.. Hiss
the. accuser and the accused in
a controversy over reported espion-
age in Government circles here in
1937-8-appeared daily before the
grand jury since December 6, when
it began an investigation of the
controversy.
Ride in Same Elevator.
AS climax to their daily appear
ances, both rode to the street from
the 14th floor of the Federal Build
ing in the same elevator yesterday.
Others in the elevator said Mr..
Hiss was grinning, while Mr.. Cham
bers, unsmiling, kept his eyes on
the floor.
The controversy which led to the
indictment of Mr.. Hiss began last
August 3 when Mr. Chambers, them
highly-paid senior editor of Time
magazine, accused Mr.. Hiss of being
member of prewar underground
organization in Washington seek
ing Communist infiltration of the
Government.
The charge was made as Mr.. Hiss
testified before the House Commit
tee on Un-American Activities. Dom