Doreen Rappaport, The Alger Hiss Trial,
Image No: 157
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Doreen Rappaport, The Alger Hiss Trial,
Image No: 157
   Enlarge and print image (39K)            << PREVIOUS   NEXT >>
The Judge's Charge / 159 not reveal to his friends his real character or acts. You decide all questions of fact. You decide the importance and credibility of each witness. Consider a witness's demeanor, background, and frankness or lack of frankness. Consider his accuracy of recollection. Was the witness's testimony supported or contradicted by other testimony? Did the witness have an interest in the outcome of the trial and color his or her testimony or withhold certain facts? Dr. Binger attacked Mr. Chambers's credibility. He said he has a psychopathic personality. You may accept his opinions about Chambers's mental condition and still find that he told the truth here. Mr. Chambers is the only witness who has sworn that Mr. Hiss was a spy. To convict Mr. Hiss, you must believe Mr. Chambers's testimony beyond a reasonable doubt and find other trustworthy evidence which corroborates that testimony. To find Mr. Hiss guilty of Count II, you must believe beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Chambers saw Mr. Hiss after January 1, 1937, and find trustworthy corroboration of his testimony or believe his wife's testimony. If you do not believe Mr. Chambers, or if you do believe him but do not find other confirming evidence, you must return a verdict of not guilty. You may find the defendant guilty or not guilty on both counts.