FERRERITIS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 222, 25 October 1909, Page 3

FERRERITIS

. DEMONSTRATION IN LONDON. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright London, Oct. 22 The Independent Labour Party held n Ferrer demonstration at the Memorial Hall. The Rev. Dr. Clifford moved a motion condemning the inaction of the British Government during the trial of Ferrer and since the trial. WELLINGTON SOCIALISTS' RESOLUTION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. At a meeting of Wellington socialists this afternoon 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 cams the encomiums of the Catholic Bishop of the Philippines. SIORY OF FERRER'S ARREST.

"Francisco Ferrer (says the Sydney Morning Herald) spent at least, tour months in Victoria, most of which time he was in Melbourne. A Spanish resident of this city knew him from the time he was a boy, working as a guard on the railway between Barcelona and Marseilles. He married young, and had two daughters, whom be brought to Australia. His brother was growing tomatoes at Bendigo, and Ferrer himself came out between eight and ten years ago. In Australia he gave no sign of his anarchist convictions." Tie game paper tells the following story of the arrest of FerrenC" After the revolutionary outbreak in the last week of July, three warrants were issued for the arrest of Ferrer. According to the Continental press he had fled from Spain, aad was in Belgium buying arms for the organisation of a rebellion. "He, iowever, never left Catalonia, nut hid himself in a cave which had been dug under his country house at Mongat. All inquiries made of him at Mongat were replied to by a lady friend. To her alone the existence of the cave was known, and she was in the habit of keeping watch night and day over people approaching the country house, and apprise Ferrer of the presence of anybody, when he immediately ensconced himself in his cave.

"Ferrer was arrested in the following way. The night porter at Alella noticed a tall, clean-shaven, intelligent-looking wan passing early in the morning, and asked him whence he came. The man, who was Ferrer, became insolent, and the porter called for the public guard On duty, who immediately came to his assistance. The public guard, being suspicious, intrreogated Ferrer, who immediately confessed his identity. "Ferrer had always been known as affecting a long grey beard and moustache, and had shaved "off both to elude the police. The public guard lo.st no time iir procuring a country carriage, known as a tartana.and ordered Ferrer to enter. Ferrer was handed over to the civil governor, who, after cross-examination of Ferrer, gave orders for him to be taken to the Carce Modelo."