The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-03
ItnIy's Former Premier Charged with
Wrecking Banks and Illegal
Traffic in Decorations.
SPEECH TO THE DEPUTIES
PLEA FOR REST IN HIS OLD AGE AND
RELIEF FROM CALUMNY.
Cbina's Answer to Germany's De-
mands-Bnfon Pasetti's Suicide
for Love of Mrs. I<ittinger.

ROME Dec. 2.-To-day the Chamber of
Deputies appointed a commission of five to
inquire into the charges against Signor
Francesca Crispi, former premier, in ON
nection with the Bank of Naples scandals.
and the alleged illegal traffic in deco-a-
tons. The proceedings are the result of
the recent decree of the Italian Court of
Cessation, which quashed the Judicial in
dictment brought against him on the
ground that the ordinary tribunals of JUS
tice were not competent to deal with such
charges brought against former member
of the government, or his conduct while in
the government. The Court o. Cessation
held that such charges must be dealt with
by Parliament which was the contention
of Signor Crispi and the judicial proceed
ings were thrown out.
The special commission was appointed
after an impressive speech by Signor Crispi
in which he declared that he desired the
most ample and complete discussion of the
whole question: and did not dread the light
which, he said, could reveal nothing against
him. Il am the victim of calumny,v he as
serted, land should have brought suit
against my calumniators if the matter had
not been referred to the Chamber" Signor
Crispi recalled his past labors on behalf of
Italy and he admitted that there had been
times when he had erred. lie claimed, how
ever, from his conquerors an unbiased
judgment, and asserted that nc was pre-
pared to testify before the commission and
omit nothing, so that the matter might be
probed TO the deepest adding pathetically,
but it will be very hard at seventy-eght,
after devoting sixty-three years TO the
service of my country"
of no rod Nyi0
lent Interruptions and the president of the
Chamber formally cautioned two Socialist
deputies who were particularly virulent.
Signor Crispi. after order was restored,
said: II remain calm even in the face of
my adversares' invectives. l have a serene
conscience, and l shall die, when my time
comes, with the name of Italy upon my
lips. But l ask to be allowed to pass my
last days quietly. If italy needs me- l shall
always be ready to serve her, but / do not
have and never have had ambition for
power"
At the conclusion of his speech number
of the deputies gathered about him to con-
graduate him and shake his hand
Signor Crispi, the most brilliant Italian
statesman since the days of Cavour, is
called upon to face, in his extreme old age,
binary felonies. He has already been sub
jected to the humiliation of magisterial ex-
animation in connection with the charges
of completely in the gigantic frauds that
wrecked the Bank of Naples, the Bank of
Rome. the Bank of Sicily and other kindred
institutions. The Crspi Cabinet was driven
from Office as the result of these scandals.
in each case the insolvency of the bank
appeared to have been brought about
through the matchmaking extortons to
which it was subjected by leading politi-
clans and government officials of the day.
Most of this dishonesty took place during
the administration of Crispi Not even his
most relentless enemy has ever accused him
of plunderng the banks to add to his
private resources. On the contrary, his
countrymen, for the most part, accepted his
assertion that the money extorted from the
institutions was used by him for the secret
service of the government and in electoral
expenditures.
Unfortunately for Sgnor Crispi the judi
cial authorities. who inquired into the cir
cumstances that led to the failure of the
banks. discovered that among the most
voracious of the plunderers was Signora
Crisp the veteran statesmans wife. II
stated at the time that from one bank
alone something like 10000.0Ga francs (about
81 C00,0O0) found its way into her private
banking account; and it was urged. and is
still urged, that Signor CriSpi, not being Il
rich man, must have known of his wife's
predatory demands, as I'm no other way
could he have accounted for the large sums
of money she expended upon her establish
ment while he YVES in power.
Last spring. when the matter was before
the courts. Il friend of Signor Crspi under
took to explain the transactions which led
MP 10, the collapse of the Bank of Naples.
According TO this story Signor Crispi, just
before the elections in 1885, asked the Bank
of Naples for q loan of 100000 lire for cleo
tion expenses, the money to be repaid TO
the bank from the secret service funds.
Then came the downfall OF the CriSpi Cab
met with only little more than hall OF
the loan repaid. Crispi told King Hunbert
of his predicament, and his Majesty gave
10000 lire toward the remainder OF the in
debtedncss Baron Blanc furnishing what
was necessary 10 make up the full amount.
Thus according TO the story, Slgnor Crispl
repaid the bank in full.
courts and now before the special commits
sion OF the Chamber Of Deputies, We're
again revived, with talk of prosecution,
SignOr Crispi FASTENED from Naples 10
Rome demanded an audience with the
king showed him the receipt of the bank
for fun payment and demanded that his
Majesty put ar end to what Crisp charac-
terized as 1.-The campaign OF injustice the
ex-pFenlier. according to the story declared
that unless his prosecutors were calieu on
lie would defend himself 10 the last. adding:
I'm such case. sire, TWO persons will go
into eXile--I. poor man, and you with
your Millions"
The Socialist press interpreted this au-
dacious language to be threat or dis
closures that. in consequence OF tip. KING
Humbert had saved the whole of his large
deposits In the Bank of Naples just before
81. ch aV1oa