EXECUTION OF FERRER

Otago Witness, Issue 2902, 27 October 1909, Page 57

EXECUTION OF FERRER

SPANISH MINISTRY RESIGNS. LOXDOX. Octobei 20. The Daily Chronicle's Madrid correspondent reports that the Anarchist element is actively preparing to avenge , Senor Ferrer. : Threatening letters are pouring into the Palace, and King Alfonso has abandoned his daily outings, while Ministers are escorted by large bodies of detectives on bicycles. In the House of Commons, in reply io a question a-s to whether the Government had appealed to Spain for clempnc/ towards Ferrer, Sir E. Grey declared that the Government would not depart from it* rule regarding non-interference with the internal affairs of other countries When the Hou.-e refused to accept hi< motion for an adjournment, Mr Gra\-son , shouted " Shame, you cowards." The Ferrer protests in Britain are checking the growing cordiality between | the Labour party and the Nationalists, as the latter resent the attacks made upon Catholics and Jesuits. j October 21. I There were many violent scenes in the Cortes, the President breaking two bells , in his endeavour to restore order. I October 22. i The Independent Labour party held a I Ferrer demonstration in the Memorial : Hall. Dr Clifford moved a resolution which | condemned the inaction of the British , Government during the trial and since. I The Rev. J. Campbell, of the City Temple, wrote that the execution was an atrocious crime against liberty and justice. PARIS, October 20. 1 M. Pichon (Foreign Minister) refused . to permit an interpellation in the Senate regarding the execution of Senor Ferrer. , BRUSSELS, October 20. : There was a disorderly scene in the Belgian Chambers owing to the Socialists trying to interpellate the Government in connection with the death of Ferrer. MADRID, October 21. The Spanish Cabinet has resigned. October 22. THe immediate cause of the resignation of the Spamislh Ministry was the accusation by the Minister of the Interior that the Opposition Leaders by their leniency in 1906 had been responsible for the attempt made on King Alfonso's life. Senor Morel's brilliant reply on behalf of the Liberals denying the accusations forced Senor Hauxa, to resign. A new Ministry has been formed, w ith Senor Moret as Prime Minister. Senor Pir-ez Cabellers takes the portfolio of Foreign Aff<iir.«, and General Luquc that of War. MELBOURNE,' October 20. Ferrer resided for four months in Victoria, and spent a month with his brother, who is a farmer at Bendigo. SYDNEY, October 25. The Socialist-Labour party here adopted a resolution protesting against Ferrer's execution, which it characterised as a murder. PROIEST FROM CHRISTCHURCH. CURfSTCHURCH, October 21. At a meeting of Socialists held in Chrifitehureh last evening follow-in » motion was carried unanimously :—": — " That this meeting of Christchurch Socialists ex-pre*-es its indignation at the dastardly murder committed by the Spanish Government in the execution of Comrade Ferrer." WELLINGTON, October 24. 't a meeting of Wellington this .iftarnoon the following resolution was adopted: — " This meeting records its deep abhorrence of the official murder of Ferrer, the Robert Owen of Spain, whose work has been recognised as "worthy of wide recognition, and earns the encomiums of the Catholic bi&hops~of the Philippines." HOW THE ARREST WAS MADE. Fianciseo Ferrer, who is alleged to have seen implicated with Moral in tj>e Calle Vlayor outrage on tho occasion of the wedling of King Alfonso, as well as participating in the Barcelona riots, was arrested in lie village of Alella. about 30 kilometres rom Barcelona, on September 1. According to the story of a certain section if the- Continental press, Ferrer had fled o Belgium passing through France. The >re«s of the Continent went co far as to say hat he had gone to Belgium for the purpose if buying arms and organising a fresh out>reak. It subsequently transpired that Ferrer ie\er left Cataluna, but hid himself in a avo he had dug under his country house .t Mongat All inquiries made of him at longat were- replied to by a lady friend. \> her alone the existence of the cave wa« nown. and ehe was in the habit of keeping .•atch night and day over people approachig tho country house, and apprised Ferrer f the presence of anybody, when he imlediately ensconsed himself in his cave. Fener, according to the correspondent f tho London Daily Telegraph, Mas rreeted in the following way: — Sereno. 10 night porter at AMIa, noticed tail clean-shaven, intelligent-looking

i>:an pa=jjn,? e-:ly one morninar. a"d asked him whence ho came. The man, who Fe'ier. became insolent, and Se/eno cul'ed for the public guaid on duty, who imn:ecliare'v came to his assistance. The public guard, being suspicious, interrogated Ferrer, who invn jdiately confessed his identity. Fcrr«i had always been known as affecting a long grey beard and moustache, and had shaved off both to elude tho police. The Spanish Minister of rhf> Ti.terior, 'n subsequently referring to the arrest, stated that, after his arrest, Ferrer said he had no intention to escape, bicause he knew his presence before the authorities was ieqtwted. He war. taking ceitain dispositions before giving himself up, and urged tha.t he should be allowed to go free again, as private affairs claimed his attention the present Further, the Home Minister stated that Ferrer ],yd some business t:. tian^act in the branch Bank of Spain at Barcelona. A lady presanted herself at the bank, inquiring whether a financial transaction cc uld be carried out by her without the presence of Ferrer himself. She was told it coul-l, but that Ferrer's signature wao necessary to legalise tho transaction. She left, and returned two days after, accompanied by a brother of Ferrer, with powers to sign for the latter, and the tiansaction was completed. It was this transaction, the Ho'n3 Minister believed, that led the authorities to suspect that Ferrer had not left for th" Continent, but was in hiding 1 somewhere in L'ataluna.