“The knowledge principle has practically little application here, though it would be available to show a knowledge of the nature and injurious effect of a lethal weapon.”[57] We point out that in this case “knowledge of the nature and injurious effect of a lethal weapon” is of first importance. The defendants had full knowledge of the character of this lethal weapon--a judicial system deliberately fashioned into a headman’s axe. In fact, most of them directly and actively fashioned it. Consequently, under each of the categories of the substantive law of murder, which we have heretofore expounded, and particularly under the second, proof of prior acts, including crimes of those defendants and of others of which they had knowledge, are clearly relevant. The same type of evidence shall be offered under the following rule relating to the intent principle: “The intent principle receives constant application; for the intent to kill is in homicide practically always in issue, and is to be proved by the prosecution, and the recurrence of other acts of the sort tends to negative inadvertence, defensive purpose, or any other form of innocent intent. For this purpose, therefore, the evidence is receivable irrespective of whether the act charged is itself conceded or not * * *.”[58] Also the rule of anonymous intent authorizes the introduction of proof of such other crimes and of the crimes of others. “The principle of anonymous intent finds occasional application, particularly in poisoning cases. Other instances of death by poison under somewhat similar circumstances serve to negative the supposition of inadvertent taking or of mistaken administration, even though the person responsible for the other poisonings is not identified; and thus, a criminal intent having been shown for the act charged, by whomsoever done, the defendant may be then shown to be its doer.”[59] This Court shall be called upon to determine whether a so-called judicial execution was a true judicial decision or poison handed the defendant in a disguised chalice having the exterior appearance of judicial purity. When we produce innumerable cases of such acts, can a defendant be heard to say he did not know his monstrous chalice was lethal and intended it so to be? Also the principle of design or system is applicable for identical reasons. “The principle of design or system finds here frequent application. It supposes that a design or plan in the defendant is to be shown, as making it probable that the defendant carried out the design or plan and committed the act; and it receives former similar acts so far as through common features they naturally indicate the existence of such a plan, design, or system, of which they are the partial fulfillment, or means. This principle is fully recognized in the precedents * * *.”[60]