Evening star., 1949-06-03

at was because I was a Com
munist."
During most of the Stryker
rapid fire, Mr.. Murphy let Mr..
Chambers fend for himself. Such
pounding was in marked contrast
to the manner in which Mr..
Chambers was queried at open
hearings of the House Committee
on American Activities last
summer.
Occasionally, however, the Gov
ernment prosecutor objected TO
what he called "side remarks" and
''uncalled-fo phrasing OF ques-
tions by Mr.. Stryker.
There is only little time left
at this afternoons session and
II hope there won't be any more
objections from my young friend, ="
Mr. Stryker remarked.
Fl object and ask the court to
rebuke Mr.. Stryker." Mr.. Murphy
exclaimed. He has practiced
law long enough to know better"
| Judge Raps Defense.
Judge Samuel H. kaufman, who
at many points earlier in the day
had overruled Government objec-
tions, said sternly:
eve have made great progress
In this trial and I don't want 1t
spoiled by any side remarks"
"Then," said Mr.. Stryker. with
draw the hope"
The capacity of Mr.. Chambers
as a teller of the truth came
under immediate attack in Mr..
STRIKERS first question: "Mr.
Chambers, what is your definition
of an oath?"
Notes WPA Application.
When the witness said 1t con-
stituted promise to tell the
truth, the attorney declared it
should be regarded as "the OBJ
servation of a man who calls on
Almighty God to witness the truth
Of statement"
Noting that the 1887 WPA job
application signed by Mr.. Cham
bers did not mention Columbia
University, Mr.. Stryker asked If
"You left it out because you were
ashamed of some disgraceful cpl
sodes at Columbian"
mo" Mr.. Chambers replied. II
think didn't want to be traced" p"
Asked if he had lied to the CO.
lumbia dean in order to return to
college, Mr.. Chambers murmured:
my recollection of a thing so
long ago is very vague indeed"
"Oh," Mr.. Stryker shot back,
"it was vague only as to some
thing in 1924"
Mr.. Chambers admitted writing
letter to a friend that year ex-
planning he had told the dean he
wanted to return to college to
prepare for history teaching as
a profession. II lied to him
quite simply" the letter stated.
Says Lying Isn't Easy.
'In other words" Mr.. Stryker
interrupted, Lying comes easy to
you?"
st don't think So" the witness
replied.
Mr.. Stryker loudly cleared his
throat as he walked back to the
lawyers lectern facing the wit
ness chair and alongside the jury
of 10 men and two women.
You didn't tell the Govern
ment in 1887, did you, that you
had a job with the Daily Worker
and had written for the New
Masses?" Mr.. Stryker continued.
Certainly not" Mr.. Chambers
said, staring at the ceiling.
you took pay from the Gov
ernment, didn't you, knowing that
you got it by fraud and decep-
tion?" the lawyer asked.
That's right" the witness
agreed.
when you took an oath to de-
fend the Constitution and the
country from foreign enemies. it
was false from beginning to end
wasn't it?" Mr.. Stryker demanded.
"Of course" the witness nodded.
Tells of Bykov Meeting.
"It was perjury wasn't it?" the
defense lawyer hammered.
IF you like" Mr.. Chambers
conceded.
Earlier under direct examina-
tion. Mr.. Chambers related that
he and Mr.. Hiss met Col. Bykov
here under cloak and dagger cir
cumstances in 1887; that Bykov
asked Mr.. Hiss point blank"
whether he weuld procure State
Department documents that weuld
be of great help to Russia; that
Mr.. Hiss not only agreed but soon
thereafter began turning over
documents to Mr.. Chambers who
said he photographed them and
returned the originals to Mr.. Hiss.
He asserted he met Mr.. Hiss
at various Washington homes oc-
cupied by the Hiss family during
more than q year. When he
broke with the Communist Party
In 1898, Mr.. Chambers testified,
he gave some of the films in a
package to his wife's nephew.
Nathan Levine. in Brooklyn. with
out disclosing the contents.
He then disappeared by driving
to Florida in an automobile he
bought in 1897 for $500, Of which
$400 was lent by Mr.. Hiss. he
said. At Congressional hearings
Mr.. Chambers made no mention
of such a loan.
Judge Questions Chambers.
He told Judge kaufman and
the jury yesterday that he did not
disclose the documentary evidence
until Mr.. Hiss sued him for SLAM
der last fall and attorneys chal-