The following seems almost an impossible propaganda to come even from Germany at this time, but especially from one of the sources named. The "Pathfinders League," of Stuttgart, we assume to be a Social (practically Soviet) organization, but the "Christian Young People's Societies," must be at least a quasi-religious body. A circular sent out and published by these organizations on July 22 last says:
"War is the most exalted and holiest expression of human activity. Some day the hour of battle will strike for us, too, when we, as officers, go forth against the enemy. The people, which is a minor politically, will then fall into line of itself. In the days of secret, happy expectation there then goes from heart to heart the cry: 'With God for King and Fatherland!' Still and deep in German hearts there must live the joy of battle and a longing for it. So, let's laugh to scorn those old women in men's breeches who fear war and wail that it is horrible and criminal. No and again, No! War is beautiful, and it is glorious to die for the Fatherland and the hereditary ruling house. Our great ally above will lead us splendidly."
In New York City there is a municipal ordinance requiring landlords, who are to give tenants under a lease hot water, to furnish it or be arrested, fined and, if thought wise by the magistrate, imprisoned. Recently a landlord in the Bronx was found guilty of failure to supply hot water, and it appeared that the landlord and tenant had somehow become on unfriendly terms; that there was a special valve in the house which permitted hot water to go to one apartment and to be shut off from another; and that the landlord closed down the valve to shut off the hot water of the complaining tenant. Thirty days in prison and a fine of $250 was the penalty imposed by the Justices in Special Sessions.
Among the important decisions in the Court of Errors and Appeals in this State on Nov. 14th last was one unanimously confirming the conviction of the negro, George Washington Knight, for the murder of Mrs. Edith Marshall Wilson, the church organist at Perth Amboy, in March last, which murder the prisoner had confessed. (See N. J. L. J., April, 1921, p. 102). Although the Court was unanimous in upholding the conviction of Knight, three of the Judges, Chancellor Walker, Justice Kalisch and Judge Black, differed with the view of the majority as to the constitutionality of the Mackay Act of 1921 (Laws, Ch. 349), empowering the Court of Errors and Appeals to review the sufficiency of the evidence in criminal cases, where the defendant elects to take up the entire record. Mr. Justice Kalisch wrote a minority opinion, concurring in the affirming of the conviction but differing with the majority as to the constitutional question involved. Chief Justice Gummere, in the main opinion, said that the statute of 1921 was not novel, but is similar to an Act passed more than twenty years ago, but subsequently repealed, under which the Court of Errors set aside a conviction for murder in the first degree. The first ground of attack was that the Mackay Act violates the provisions of the Constitution relative to trial by jury, which provides that the guilt or innocence of a defendant shall be determined by an impartial jury. The Court said, however, that the question of the verdict being in accordance with the weight of the evidence cannot be raised by the State, but only by the defendant. Therefore, the Court held, the constitutional protection afforded by a jury trial is not lessened by the law under which the accused may elect to have the evidence reviewed. The Court also held that the right given the Court of Errors to order a new trial where the evidence seemed insufficient was not a novel proposition, but was rather extending to the reviewing tribunal a power now existing in the trial Court; that such an extension of power, provided it does not trespass upon the inherent powers of any other Court, is not unconstitutional. Having decided the legal questions involved, the Court reviewed the testimony upon which Knight was convicted and concluded it was sufficient to justify the jury's verdict of murder in the first degree. Later, Mr. Justice Bergen, before whom the Knight trial was held, resentenced the prisoner to be electrocuted.