Explain Alger hiss communist activities and trials

The grand jury charged Hiss with two counts of perjury—it did not indict him for espionage since the period of limitations had run out. Chambers was never charged with a crime. Hiss went to trial twice. The first trial, presided over by Judge Samuel Kaufman, started on May 31, 1949, and ended in a hung jury on July 7

adopted the practice of proskynesis, a persian court custom that involved bowing down and kissing the hand of others, depending on their rank.