Evening star., 1951-10-05

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But he did not call me a
Communist! It was typical Nc
Kellar language. I couldn't be
damaged by his picturesque Ian
guage. You'll have to read his
whole speech to get his nuances.
He did not say I was a traitor
to my country. He talked in
typical Tennessee language
I considered it a joke"
How about the other accu-
sations? Did they damage your
reputation" asked Mr.. Will
liarns.
II object to that question, "
Mr.. Pearson'S attorney cut in,
but the witness continued:
"You see, none of them asked
the public and my sponsor to
boycott me-"
Were you damaged when
President Roosevelt called you
a liar?"
Upset by Roosevelt.
THAT upset me quite a bit
But I don't believe I was dam
aged" Mr.. Pearson added Pres
ident Roosevelt had referred to
other news men and even some
newspapers in much the same
manner.
Did President Truman, at a
press conference in 194S, call
you a 1iar2'"
Il don't recall that"
did former President Hoover
brand a statement you made at
a Chicago round table confer
ence as a lie?"
He took vigorous exception.
In a debate I had said he was
procuring or rounding up dele
gates in the South. Later ]
produced the record showing
that the Republican State
chairman for Georgia had been
paid $4,000 to swing the dele
gates for Hoover" He added
there was an instance in Flor
ida also.
Regarding Senator Nc
Carthy's charges that Mr.. Pear
son had Communist Party
members on his staff, Mr.
Williams asked the witness how
long David Karr worked for
him.
Mr.. Pearson said for about
four years. from 1914 to 1948
as a leg man while he had a
staff of about three or foul
members.
Under questioning, Mr.. Pear
son said Mr.. Karr contributed
two or three" articles to the
Daily Worker years before
when he was only II, and these
had been for the purpose of ex.
posing German Bund activities
Convinced He Wasn't Red.
The colummst said he coult
not hold this against his EN-.
ploye, adding: Il am convinced
now he never was a Commu.
MIST"
In 1916 or 1947, the witnes.
said. he went to FBI Director
j. Edgar Hoover, after Mr.. Kar,
told him he had seen anothe,
staff member. Andrew H. Older
having dinner with known Com
munists.
Mr.. Hoover. he said. informed
him Mr.. Older was a member OF
the party. but that Mr.. Kar,
was not, although he may have
had some early association,
with the Reds.
Under questioning he said he
hired Mr.. Older in 1943 and dis
charged him in 1946 or 1947
after Mr.. Older admitted to him
that he was a Communist.
Mr.. Pearson was then asked
about his radio report in Janu-
ary. 1949, as to a jewel robbery
at the home of the late James
Forrestal.
Did you say a man who runs
out OF his home leaving his wife
to cope with a jewel robbery
alone lacked the courage to
make an able Secretary of De-
fense?"
L think I said something to
that effect He did 60 out
the back door to dodge the pro-
ceedings resulting from the rob-
berry"
Wasn't Secretary Forrestal
upstairs and asleep at the time
of the robbery?"
II do not know. He was in
the house, I believe. The rob-
berry took place at the front
door"
WAS Mr.. Forrestal aware of
the robbery at the time?"
Il don't know"
Impression Story Left.
when you reported the rob-
berry, did you seek to leave the
impression that Mr.. Forrestal
ran away and jumped over the
back fence while his wife was
being robbed?" Mr.. Williams
demanded.
Il meant he ducked out of the
whole embarrassing situation.
One doesn't leave his wife
to face a police lineup and go
through a whole Interrogation
alone. if he has any regard for
a lady," Mr.. Pearson replied.
Under questioning, the wit
ness said the robbery apparently
occurred around 3 am, in an
automobile at the front door,
and Mr.. Forrestal did not leave
for several hours.
do you believe your radio
account was a fair statement of
the factS?"
II think it was an abbre-