New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-17

was convicted of treason in that, after
war had been declared. he aided Ger
man reServists to go home and take
their places IN the German army. He
was convicted and sentenced TO death
lie appealed The Court OF Appeal
consisted Of FIVE Judges Of the High
Court Of Justice, the Lord Chief Jus
tee presiding. The conviction was
quashed on two grounds
First, that IL was not proved that
Alters, at the time ne committed the
acts, knew that war had been de
elered lie could not legally know IT,,
said the Lord Chief Justice in deliv-
cring the judgment Of the Court, until
IL had been published in the London
Gazette, where it did not appear till
Thursday, August 6, and which was
after the offences. He was not en-
titled TO know it from the statement
of the Prime Minister to the House
Of Commons. or from the Press. or
from anything but the Gazette, which
not one person in a thousand ever
sees This seems 10 me 10 confuse
two separate things, viz. what would
constitute legal proof Of the declara-
tion in an action at law, and the
knowledge upon which every man acts
in the conduct of life. Alters knew,
as the whole world knew, that war
had been declared on Tuesday, Au-
gust i.
Second, the judge who tried the
case an eminent Judge and lawyer
Mr.. Justice Sherman omitted to state
20 the jury that Ahlers in giving aid
and comfort TO the enemies Of the
King, might have had an innocent or
even laUdable motive. In other words.
YOU are not traitor If you have
good motive for treason.
These, so far as l can make out, are
the two chief grounds upon which the
Court Of Appeal held that Alters had
not had a fair trial and set him free.
The authorities responsible for the pub
lie safety do not seem to be convinced
that Ahlers is a desirable person TO
keep in the northeast part Of this King
Dom. where more raids are thought
likely TO occur. They have moved him
further south and he Is kept under sur
VIGILANCE.
Out Of the German official anU un-
official war reports daily published at
length by the English papers there
flashes now and then gem Of purest
ray serene; like this:
According TO an article IN the Co
locne Gazette one Of the burgomasters
Of Munich, who has returned wounded
from the front, has published the fol-
lowing statement in an Augsburg news
paper: TIL English are abso utely
ruthless and in no circumstances give
quarter. Any German, whether wound
ed or unwounded, who falls into their
hands, is Immediately shot The Co
loCne Gazette apponds the following
note: This is confirmed from other
quarters.
| make n present of this 10 Count
Bernstorff and Herr Won Dernburg. II
is quite as credible as most of the lit
erature they have poured out on the
American public.
A conversation between German
General visiting England last spring
and an English friend. who asked him
about the probable cause of war be
tween Germany and France, should one
occur. The German General said:
"Oh. it's all plain sailing. We shall
be ready and the French will not. Our
first objective Will be Paris. We shall
reach Paris in ten days from the dec
laration Of war and take it inside OF
week"
lie paused; then added:
Unless the Kaiser takes personal
charge of the campaign. In that case
Heaven only knows what will happen.
C. W s