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152 / THE ALGER HISS TRIAL
mental condition, I would have called psychiatrists.
Chambers was on the stand for six days. He was sincere. He did not evade questions.
Chambers does not deny that he became a Communist. But in 1939, when he was back loving his country, he saw the dangers of communism. So he told the authorities that Communists were in our government.
Now did these two men know each other well? Fact Number 1: Chambers said he lived in Hiss's apartment on 28th Street. Hiss admitted it. Some mooch comes and says he can't find an apartment, and you give him one, and throw in the furniture and the gas and electric and the phone, and an old Ford. Imagine a lawyer making such a deal.
Fact Number 2: Chambers said Hiss gave away his old Ford to the Communist party. Hiss said he had a Ford and Chambers used it. The car ended up with Rosen. Does that confirm what Chambers says? Yes.
Fact Number 3: The rug. Count II of the indictment says Hiss didn't see Chambers after January 1, 1937. But Professor Schapiro showed us the invoices from the rug dealer who shipped two rugs to Washington around December 29, 1936. And Mr. Hiss told you, "He gave me a rug; I have it."
Fact Number 4: Chambers got furniture from the Hisses. He has that furniture on his farm today. He told us Mr. McLean saw it.
Fact Number 5: On August 9, 1937, Chambers
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