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documents and built a machine that duplicated the ten or so characters that FBI agent Feehan said proved that the documents had been typed on Hiss's Woodstock.
Elizabeth McCarthy, a documents expert, examined samples from both typewriters. She concluded that experts would have great difficulty distinguishing samples from Tytell's machine from samples typed on the Woodstock. She studied Feehan's testimony, and she concluded that if a document expert applied Feehan's standard to specimens from both machines, the expert would conclude that a single machine had been used to type both sets.
The judge turned down all of Hiss's motions for a new trial. Hiss appealed to the court of appeals. A panel of three judges turned down the appeal.
Hiss appealed to the United States Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, to review the case. The justices voted 4 to 2 against hearing the case. Justices Frankfurter and Reed disqualified themselves from the decision because they had been character witnesses for Hiss at the trial. Justice Tom Clark disqualified himself because he had been Attorney General when Hiss was indicted.
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