FRANCISCO FERRER.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14325, 10 April 1912, Page 3

FRANCISCO FERRER.

Mr Joseph Geary sends us a lo_g letter in reference to tbe oaso of Ferrer, who. some two and a half years ago, was found guilty by the military authorities in Spain of being not only a participator in, but the instigator of, tho Barcelona riots. Tho case was debated at great length in our correspondence columns somo time ago, and we cannot lind space for a fresh discussion of'its merits. We may, however, givo a fresh pieco of information on the sul>ject, with which Mr Geary concludes his letter. He says:—

" Tho highest Court in Spain—against which there is no appeal—on 29th December, 1911, after having reviewed every scrap of evidence has given judgment in unmistakable terms- "The judgment .shows that in not ono of tho many claims against tho. estate of Ferrer, on account of loss sustained or damage done at the timo of the rebellion has it boon shown that Ferrer was in any way implicated either as instigator or participator. Further the Court ordered tho removal of tho embargo placed by tho Court-martial on the property of Ferrer and directed that it bo restored to tho Escuela Moderna and to the heirs of the martyr.'' Had there been the least evidence of Ferrer's guilt the .Supreme Military Tribunal of Spain would never havo consented to an order absolutely reversing the judgment of tho Courtmartial and thereby vindicating the memory of Ferrer for all time. As M. Vertongen says: t; This judgment creates a new position which will enable the friends of Ferrer, now in possession of pecuniary means, to pursue the process of revision with a view to the rehabilitation of his memory. It is now only a question of time when Ferrer will be avenged."