Evening star., 1949-06-24

Thomas r. Murphy. and Judge
Kaufman allowed Il 70 6ow un-
checked.
Star Witness Appears
But none of several witnesses
yesterday. not even Mr.. Hiss htm-
self, Wed seriously with Mr.. Cowley
for the position Of the defense s
star witness yesterday.
Mr.. Cowley identified himself
as q Harvard man. writer Of maga-
zine articles. book reviewer and
the author of a number of novels
IL years a member Of the editorial
stafi of the New Republic
He testified that he had been
q Communist sympathizer. voting
that party's ticket in 1882 and
1884. Like Mr.. Chambers. he
turned from his Communist in
clinations when Hitler and Stain
mad their nonaggression pact in
1899.
He said that a meeting was
arranged between himself and Mr.
Chambers on December l3. 1910. at
the Hotel New Winston in New
York. He said he made O memo
randum of the conversation Of this
meeting. Over strenuous OBJ
1ections by Prosecutor Murphy
the jury not only heard Mr..
Cowley's personal account Of the
incident, but also listened to a
reading of the memorandum.
Here. in part. is the transcript
of Mr.. Cowley's testimony on di-
rect examination by Mr.. Stryker:
@. Now. Mr.. Cowley. will you
first. from your recollection-I be-
iieve that Is his honor's ruling
give his honor sand the foreman
and these ladies and gentlemen Of
the jury your recollection of what
Whitaker Chambers said to you
on that occasion.
A. Mr.. Chambers was at that
time writing an article which he
claimed-the article described to
me as dealing with writer's who
had jumped of the Moscow Ex-
press Cturned away from Commu-
mist sympathieS He wanted to
include In this article myself.
Waldo Frank. Granville Hicks,
Lewis Mumford and several
others. He wanted-the original
purpose had been to get my COM
ments on this subject which ! said
I would make to Mr.. Chambers di-
rectly. so he was holding a lunch
con with me to get my comments
on this subject. but he showed
himself
Mr.. Murphy: I object. May you
instruct the witness to record as
best he can the conversation?
Mr.. Stryker: I consent.
The court: Tell us what he
told you as nearly as you can
recall 1t. Mr.. Cowley.
Began to Talk Of Self.
Mr.. Cowley: After asking ques-
tions he began to talk about him
self. He told me that he had
joined the Communist Party in
1924 and had remained a men,
Der of the party until 1929, at
which time he said he was editor
Of the Daily Worker under Robert
Minor. He said that q certain
Harrison George had been in
triguing against Robert Minor,
and he told Minor, he, Chambers.
told Minor about that, and Minor
rushed to the control commits
sioner of the Communist Party
with his story and the. control
commissioner called up Whitaker
Chambers, who. In order TO avoid
testifying before the, control COM
mission of the party. resigned
from the party.
He said that ne stayed out Of
the Cornnaunist Parry" until 1884.
at which time he was called back
to become q member. Of an under-
ground Communist organization.
Then he began to talk about
work in the underground, and it
seemed to consist of-well. he said
he was a courier and there was a
great deal of conspiracy. secrecy
and minutes and reports.
Then he began 10 speak about
Communists in the Government at
Washington. He mentioned a
couple of names which had never
heard and then mentioned one
name which I did remember. that
of Nathan Witt of the Labor
Board. who. he said. was the first
Communist ever to be discharged
for Communist Affiliations from
the United States Government.
Then at this point he mentioned
another name which ! shall not
repeat here.
@. Well. I shall ask you to re-
peat 1t.
A. you snail?
@. Yes. now ask you to tell
the whole conversation.
A. He said another man is
Francis B. Sayre.
Mr.. Stryker: Just a moment.
should like at this point, II your
honor please. as an officer Of this
court, to state In the most en-
phatic way within my power that
we completely repudiate the idea
that the statement regarding Mr..
Sayre Is true, that we strongly and
sincerely understand and believe
that Mr.. Sayre was q completely
loyal member of the Government
at all times. We regret the use of
his name here, and do so only