LESE MAJESTE IN GERMANY.

Evening Star, Issue 12883, 4 August 1906, Page 9

LESE MAJESTE IN GERMANY.

The Supremo Court of Appeal of the German Empire at l#eipzig estublisned a, remarkable precedent connected with the law relating to lese majesty. 1% has ruled that a person may be guilty of insulting the reigiuug monarch by uttering or puolishing statements derogatory to the character and dignity of liis ancestors. Sixteen years ago the editor of the ' Volkszeitung' was indicted on a charge of insulting the present Emperor by publishing a criticism qi his grandiatiier, William 1., whereby William U«. could feel offended. The Public Prosecutor, at that time p eased for a sentence of three- years' imprisonHieut. The Court acquitted the eduor on the ground that historical research would bjscome impossible i| it became a criminal offence to pass an unfavorable vt\d-ct un dead monarch?. The Public ProceLiitor appealed to the Supreme Court of the Empire, which, however, confirmed tjie sentence of the Ix>wer Court. A-tiutner cane of the same kind endtd differently. Five months ago uie ' beipziger Volkszeitung puoli.iikd an article which contain d s.-arp criticisms on the ancestors oi th present i\i. g ol Saxony. Th<: editor of the ' Leipziger Volkszeitung' was indicted for lese majeste, and sentenced to sis months imprisonment. He apSealed against the sentence to the Supreme ourt of the Empire, which upheld the . decision of the TLower Court, The editor i must, therefore, go to prison for six months for criticising bygooe monarchy of 1 the House of W^ttm*