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150 / THE ALGER HISS TRIAL
so how could Hiss recruit him as a spy when they never saw each other? Mrs. Massing's testimony is not true.
Why didn't Chambers tell the truth right away? Why did he lie so many times? Why did he lie here? Dr. Binger testified that Chambers is a psychopath. That's why he lied so many times. A psychopath is easily influenced to turn against someone and use methods such as have been described here. When Hiss told Chambers he was a deadbeat, Chambers didn't forget.
In coming to a close, let me contrast the two men. Hiss lived a normal life of an American boy. Chambers was brought up in a home that was skeptically indifferent to religion. When Hiss graduated from college, he went to law school. Chambers dropped out of college and became a fanatical Communist. His brother had asked him to join into a suicide pact. In 1932, when Hiss was in New York working as a lawyer, Chambers was in the Communist underground. In 1936 and 1937, when Chambers was getting secret documents from Wadleigh, Hiss was working at the State Department. Everyone who knew Hiss highly respected him.
I believe in the innocence and honesty of my client, and I believe by your verdict you will put the stamp of honesty on Alger Hiss.
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