The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-03
CHARGES AGAINST CRISPI.
4 Committee Appointed by The Chan
Der Of [eputits to Investigate.
The OUTCOME OF A RECENT DECISIOl
OF tho Court Of Cessation which Quashsl
the Judicial Indietment--The Ex-Pre-
mier's Pathethic Plea Charges
Which lie Must Face.

ROME. Dec. 2-To-day the Chamber OF
Deputies appointed committee OF i've to
inquire into the charges against signor
Francesca Crispl, former Premier, In con-
nection with the Bank OF Naples scandals
and the alleged Illegal traffic IN eecora-
tions.
The proceedings are the .esult Of the
recent decision Of the Italian Court OF
Cessation, which quashed the judicid
Indictment brought against him, on
the ground that the ordinary tribunals OF
Justice were not competent TO deal with
such charges brought against former
member of the government or his conduct
while in the Government. The Court OF
Cessation held that sucn charges must
be dealt with by Parliament, which Was
the contention of Sgnor Crispi, and the
judicial proceedings were throwG out.
PATHETIC PLEA.
The special committee was appointed
after an impressive speech by Signor
Crispi, I'm which ne declared that he de-
sired the most ample and complete dis
cussion OF the whole question. dnd did not
dread the light. which, he said. could
reveal nothing against him.
II am the victim OF calumny." he as
serted. and should have brought suit
against my calumniators IL the matter
had not been referred 10 the chamber"
Signor Crspi recalled his past labors
on behalf OF Italy and admitted that had
been times when he had erred. lie claim
ed. however. from mis- conquerors an un-
biased Judgment and asserted that he
was prepared 20 testify before the com
mttee and TO omit nothing, SO that the
matter might be prObed 10 the deepest
adding pathetically:
But Il will be very hard at seventy.
eight. after devOting sixty-three years Il
the service of my country"
This passage Of the speech evoked VIC
lent interruption, and the President OF
the chamber formally cautioned two So.
cialist deputies who were particularly
Yrulent.
Sgnor Crispl, after order was restored
said:
Il remain calm even In the face OF my
adversaries invectives. | have a serene
conscience. and | 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 III Italy needs me
shall always be ready to serve her. but
do not have and never have had, amhl-
tion for power"
At the conclusion OF his speech a num-
ber Of the deputies gathered about him
to congratulate him and To shake his
hand.
THE CHARGES.
Sgnor Crispi. the most brilliant Italiat
statesman since the days OF cavour. Il
called upon 10 face. I'm his extreme old age
not accusations OF political crimes. but
ordinary felones.
He has already ben subjected 10 the
humiliation Of magisteria examinations
in connection with charges of completely
in the gigantic frauds which were COM
mitted on the Bank Of Naples. the Bant
OF Rome. the Bank OF Sicily. and other
kindred institutions
The Crspi Cabinet was driven from
Office as the result OF these scandals. I'm
each case the insolvency Of the balk III
peared TO have been brought aoout
through the blackmaillng eXtortions. 10
which II was subjected by leading poll
ticians and government officials Of the
day Most Of their dishonesty took place
during the administration Of Crispi. Not
even his most relentless enemy has ever
accused him Of plundering the banks TO
add 10 his private resources. on the con-
trary his cOntrymen for the most part.
accept his assertion that the money cx-
torted from these institutions was used
by him for the secret service OF the gov
ernment and i'm electoral expenditures.
Unfortunately for him. the judicial au-
thorities who inquired into the circum-
stances that led up 10 te failure Of the
banks discovered that among tho most
voracious Of the plunderers was Signora
Crspi. the veteran statesman's wife. II
was stated that the time that from one
bank alone something like ten millions
OF francs about 100000 round it's way
into her private banking account and n
was urged and Is still urged that Sgnor
Crispi. not being n rich man. must have
known Of his wife's predatory demands.
as IN no other way could he have account
ed for the large sums of money she ex-
pended upon her establishment while ne
was I'm power.