TESTIMONY OF PAUL WILLIAM DELANEY, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS COUNSEL, RICHARD L. GEMSON
Mr. Wheeler. Will the witness state his full name, please.
Mr. Delaney. Paul William Delaney.
Mr. Wheeler. Will you spell the last name?
Mr. Delaney. D-e-l-a-n-e-y.
Mr. Wheeler. When and where were you born, Mr. Delaney?
Mr. Moulder. May I ask, Mr. Delaney, are you represented by counsel?
Mr. Delaney. Yes; I am.
Mr. Moulder. Will counsel identify himself?
Mr. Gemson. R. L. Gemson. I am a practicing attorney here in Seattle.
Mr. Moulder. Proceed, Mr. Wheeler.
Mr. Wheeler. When and where were you born, Mr. Delaney?
Mr. Delaney. I was born in 1903 in the State of Minnesota.
Mr. Wheeler. How long have you lived in Washington?
Mr. Delaney. 51 years.
Mr. Wheeler. Advise the committee of your educational background, please.
Mr. Delaney. I went to school in this State: through grammar school and high school; I attended the University of Washington 2 years. I didn’t graduate.
Mr. Wheeler. What 2 years was that?
Mr: Delaney. I think in the years 1923 and 1927.
Mr. Wheeler. What is your present occupation?
Mr. Delaney. I am an architect.
Mr. Wheeler. How long have you been so engaged?
Mr. Delaney. Well, I grew up in the construction business. I have been a licensed architect since 1950 or 1951. I can’t state accurately.
Mr. Wheeler. How were you employed prior to that?
Mr. Delaney. I came to Seattle in 1941. I worked at Sims Drake Puget Sound. It was a contracting firm here. I worked with a construction company after that who built defense housing. After that I worked, the last year of the war—in my recollection—at Boeing Aircraft Co.
Mr. Wheeler. When did your employment terminate with Boeing Aircraft?
Mr. Delaney. When the war was over.
Mr. Wheeler. In 1945?
Mr. Delaney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Have you completed your employment background?
Mr. Delaney. Do you want me to bring it up to date?
Mr. Wheeler. Yes.
Mr. Delaney. As soon as the war was over I went to work as an architectural draftsman. I went then with an architect by the name of Collins. I think he left in 1950 or 1951, and I have been alone since then.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you ever know Barbara Hartle?
Mr. Delaney. May I confer with my attorney?
Mr. Wheeler. Yes, sir?
(The witness confers with his counsel.)
Mr. Delaney. On the advice of my counsel, I must invoke the fifth amendment, on the grounds that it might tend to incriminate me.
Mr. Moulder. As previously explained by the committee because your counsel advises you to take or invoke the fifth amendment that does not compel you to do so. If you prefer, you may state that you decline to answer the question on the grounds of the fifth amendment.
(The witness confers with his counsel.)
Mr. Delaney. Yes; that is correct.
Mr. Wheeler. Mrs. Hartle has advised the committee that you were a functionary of the Queen Anne section of the Communist Party during the years 1943-45. Is she correct in that statement?
Mr. Delaney. May I again confer?
Mr. Wheeler. Yes.
(The witness confers with his counsel.)
Mr. Delaney. For reasons previously given, I decline to answer this question.
Mr. Wheeler. Our investigation has also developed information that you were chairman of the Hilltop Club of the Communist Party in the year 1948. Is that correct?
Mr. Velde. What was the name of the club?
Mr. Wheeler. Hilltop, H-i-l-l-t-o-p.
Mr. Delaney. Pardon me one moment.
(The witness confers with his counsel.)
Mr. Delaney. I decline to answer that question on the grounds previously stated.
Mr. Wheeler. Our investigation has also developed that in the year 1943 you were issued Communist Party book No. 28704. I doubt, if you recall the number of the book, but were you issued a Communist Party book in the year 1943 by the Communist Party?
Mr. Delaney. I decline to answer for the reasons previously given.
Mr. Wheeler. In the year 1945 were you issued Communist Party book No. 42131.
Mr. Delaney. I also decline to answer that for the reasons previously given.
Mr. Wheeler. In the year 1947 were you issued Communist Party book No. 55934 by the Communist Party?
Mr. Delaney. I decline to answer for the same reasons previously given.
Mr. Wheeler. Are you a member of the Communist Party today, Mr. Delaney?
Mr. Delaney. I must—I decline to answer that for the reasons previously given.
Mr. Wheeler. I have no further questions, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Moulder. Mr. Velde?
Mr. Velde. Have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?
Mr. Delaney. I must—I mean I decline to answer that.
(The witness confers with his counsel.)
Mr. Delaney. For the reasons previously stated.
Mr. Velde. I have no further questions, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Moulder. Mr. Delaney, we have heard many arguments against persons coming before congressional investigative committees and making accusations or statements concerning other people, and that those people do not have the opportunity to clear themselves or make explanation of the charges made against them, such as Mrs. Hartle has testified concerning you and your activities.
This committee has very carefully in each instance given the person so mentioned an opportunity to come before the committee to deny, affirm, or explain the charges made. And that opportunity is being presented to you today by a subpena issued upon you for your appearance here.
In reply to the questions propounded to you, I understand you decline to answer because of the protection afforded you under the fifth amendment of the Constitution of the United States. Is that right?
Mr. Delaney. That is correct.
Mr. Moulder. Do you wish to make any explanation, or to deny or affirm any of these statements or charges which were made by Mrs. Hartle concerning your communistic activities?
Mr. Delaney. May I confer with my counsel?
(The witness confers with his counsel.)
Mr. Delaney. My counsel instructs me to state that I decline to answer that question on the grounds of the fifth amendment—on the ground that it might tend to incriminate me.
Mr. Moulder. The witness is excused.
(Whereupon the witness was excused.)
Mr. Moulder. Counsel, proceed with the next witness.
Mr. Wheeler. Mr. Jacob Bitterman.
Mr. Moulder. Will you hold up your right hand and be sworn?
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony which you are about to give before this congressional committee will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Mr. Bitterman. Yes, sir.