Experience had taught me that innocence seldom utters outraged shrikes. Guilt does. Innocence is a mighty shield, and the man or woman covered by it, is much more likely to answer calmly: 'My life is blameless. Look into it, if you like, for you will find nothing.' That is the tone of innocence.

Witness was a bestseller for more than a year and helped pay off Chambers' legal debts. Certain cover stories that present special difficulties or call for a special literary skill are written by Senior Editor Whittaker Chambers. Since Chambers still presented no evidence the committee had initially been inclined to take the word of Hiss on the matter.

Whittaker Chambers born Jay Vivian Chambers and also known as David Whittaker Chambers (April 1 1901 – July 9 1961) was an American writer and editor. After being a Communist Party USA member and Soviet spy he later renounced communism and became an outspoken opponent later testifying in the perjury and espionage trial of Alger Hiss.