The San Francisco call., 1909-10-14
Convicted ReyOlutionist Pays
Death Penalty After Sem
tence by Court Martial
PLEAS FOR CLEMENCY
IGNORED BY ALFONSO
Life of King Threatened BY
Sympathizers With Doomed
Man in Two Countries
EMBASSY IN PARIS Is
M0BBED BY SOCIALISTS

IDARCELONA, Oct. l3.-Prof.
n Francisco Ferrer, the Spanish
educator and convicted revolu-
ZIONIST, was shot today. The execution
was at the fortress of Montjuieh,
where the prisoner had been confined
since his condemnation by court mar
tial- The doomed man faced the firing
squad without finching and fell dead
at the first volley.
Ferrer. except for momentarv ex-
preston of emotion Immediately pre-
ceding his death. retained his COM
posure to the last His attorney. M.
Galcoran, who had defended the pris-
oner so loyalty as to bring about his
owe arrest for improperly addressing
the court. had obtained permission for
brief talk with the revoIutionist be-
fore the latter was led to the ditch
where he was TO die
Daughters Efforts in Vain
To his attorney Ferrer spoke feeling
ly of the work for which he had sacri
feed his life and OF the future Of his
daughter, whose brave attempt to save
his life touched the father more deeply.
apparently. than any other incident OF
his trial and conviction.
On Ferrer's arrest HIS family was
left dependent upon this daughter who
at once found employment N biscuit
factory When it was known that her
father had been sentenced TO death thu
daughter made a personal appeal TO
King Alfonso. calling upon him in the
name OF his known generosity and
chivalry to spare her fathers life.
Doomed Man Breaks Down
When these facts were related bv
GaIceran. Ferrsr broke down. II was
but passing emotion. and presently the
undaunted revolutionist was again him
self
Ferrer declined to receive the last
sacramsnts and turned away from the
tvs priests who had been sent by the
prison authorities to offer him the finas
consolation OF the church.
When the hour of his execution ar
rived ne walked bravely through the
prison yard to the ditch in the shadow
OF the encircling wall. Without A
culver he faced the u infantrymen
who. at the word of command. hred
the voIley had died away. Fsrrsr lay
dead upon the ground
Kings Life Threatened
With the execution OF Francisco Fer
rer. the authorities have removed from
the affairs OF Spain one long suspected
of Revolutionary activities and who. be-
cause OF his education and influence.
was deemed of peculiar danger to the
state.
The decree of the court martial was
carried out IN the face of protests from
sympathizers not only in Spain. but in
parts of France.
In Paris and Rome attacks were
attempted upon the Spanish embassies.
which. however. were protected by po-t
lice and soldiery. Many petitions for
cIemency were addressed 10 King Al
fonso. who also was threatened with
death should he not spare Ferrer's life.
Arrested for Rebellion
Ferrer was formerly a director of the
Modern school OF Barcelona and was re-
peatedly accused OF teaching revolu-
tionary doctrines. In 1906 he was ar
rested. charged with completely with
Manuel Morales in the attempt upon the
life OF King Alfonso on the day OF the
acquitted.
September 1 last he was arrested.
charged with having melted the rioting
in Barcelona last summer. This out
break. which spread through the Cata-
lonian provinces. was in the nature
OF a protest against the sending OF
Spanish troops against the Moors on
the Riff coast. and for time as
sumed alarming proportions.
II was alleged that Ferrer was a
principal in the uprising. At his trial
documents were submitted alleged to
have related TO revolutionary move
ments and 10 have included the proc
lamation Of a Spanish republic.
Spanish Embassy Attacked
a PARIS. Oct. 13.-Ten thousand men.
headed by M. Juarez. leader OF the So
cialists in the chamber CT deputies. and
NJ valiant. socialist deputy. tonight
marched to the Spanish embassy. where
IL was the intention TO hold a demon
stration in protest against the exscu-
tion of Ferrer.
The police surrounded the building
and repulsed the sursing crowds after
a sharp scufie- The procession then