Evening journal., 1897-12-03
CRISPI TO Be TRIED.
Italy's ex-Prenier to Answer
Charges of Fraud.
BANK OF NAPLES SCANDALS REVIVED
Chamber Of Deputies Appoints Commits.
sion TO Inquire Into Charges -signora
Crispi One OF the Piunderers.
King Humbert Involved.

StgnOr francesca Crlspl, FORMER pre-
mier in connection with the Bank OF
Naples scandals and the alleged illegal
traffic in decorations.
The proceedings are the result Of the
recent decision Of the Italian court of
cessation which quashed the judicial
indictment brought against him on the
ground that the ordinary tribunals Of
Justice were not competent to deal with
such charges brought against a former
member Of the government or his con-
duct while in the government. The
court Of cessation held that such
charges must be dealt with by parlla-
ment which was the contention of Sig
nor Crispi, and the judicial proceedings
were thrown out.
The special commission was appoint
ed after an impressive speech by Slgnor
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. II
am the victim Of calumny," he assert
cd and should have brought suit
against my calumnlators 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. He claimed, however, from his
conquerors an unbiased Judgment and
asserted that he was prepared TO tes-
tify before the commission and TO omit
nothing, SO that the matter might be
probed TO the deepest adding pathetic
ally but Il viii be very hard at IS.
after devotlng 63 years to the service
of my country"
This passage Of the speech provoked
violent interruption. and the president
of the chamber formally cautioned two
Socialist deputies who were particular,
~ virulent.
Signor Crispi, after order was restor-
ed, said: Il remain calm even in the
face of my adversaries' inveetives. I
have a serene conscience, and / shall
die, when my time comes with the
name Of Italy upon my lips. But I ask
TO be allowed to pass my last days
quietly If Italy needs me, / shall al
ways be ready TO serve her, but / do
not have and never have had ambition
for power"
Al the conclusion of his speech a
number OF the deputies gathered about
him to congratulate him and to shake
his hand
Signor Crispi, the most brilliant Ital-
ian statesman since the days OF Cavour,
IS called upon TO face, in his extreme
old age, not accusations OF political
crimes. but ordinary felonies. He has
already been subjected to the humilia-
tion Of magisterial examination in cons
nection with charges or completely in
the gigantic frauds that wrecked the
Bank Of Naples, the Bank Of Rome. the
Bank of Sicily and other kindred insti-
tutlons The Crispi cabinet was driven
from Office as the result Of these scan
dals. In each case the insolvency Of
the bank appeared to have been brought
about through the blackmailing extor-
tions TO which II was subjected by lead
ing politicians and government officials
of the day. Most Of this dishonesty
took place during the administration OF
Crlspi
Not even his most relentless enemy
has ever accused him of plundering the
banks 70 add TO his private resources.
On the contrary, his countrymen for
the most part accepted his assertion
that the money extorted from these in
stitutions was used by him for the Sc.
eret service fund Of the government and
In electoral expenditure
Unfortunately for him the judicial
authorities who inquired into the cir
cumstances that led up 20 the failure OF
the banks discovered that among the
most voracious Of the plunderers was
Signora Crspi, the veteran statesman'a
wife. It was stated at the time that
from one bank alene something ike
io,OOo00O francs (about 50. 1000. .O0O) found
its way into her private bank ac-
count and II was urged and Is SIN
urged, that Signor Crispi not being n
rich man, must have known Of his
wife's predatory demands, as in no 9TH
er way could he have accounted for the
large sums Of money she expended upon
her establishment while he was in
power.
Last spring, when the matter was be-
fore the courts, friend Of Signor Girls
pi undertook 70 explain the transac-
tons which led UP to the collapse Of the
Bank of Naples. According 70 this
story, slgnor Crispi. just before the
elections in 1895. asked the Bank OF Ma
pies for a loan Of 100000 lire for cleo
tion expenses. the money 70 BE repaid
to the bank from the secret service
funds Then came the downfall of the
Crispi cabinet, with only a little more
than half Of the loan repaid
Crispi told King Humbert Of his pre-
dicament and his majesty gave 10000
lire toward the remainder of the indebt-
edness, Baron Blanc furnishing what
was necessary to make up the full
amount Thus, according to the story,
5ignor Crispi repaid the bank in full.
When the accusations, recently be-
fore the courts and now before the spe-
cial commission OF the chamber OF dep
uties, We're again revived. with talk o,
prosecution, Signor Crispi hastened
from Naples to Rome. demanded an au-
dience with the king. showed him the
receipt OF the bank for full paym ent
and demanded that his majesty put
an end to what Crispi characterized as
"the campaign of injustice"
The ex-premier according TO the sto.
~, declared that unless his prosecutors
Sgere called off he would defend himself
10 the last. adding. In such case
sire. two persons will so into exile,
as a poor man and you with your mil
lions"
The Socialist press interpreted thii
audacious language TO be a threat o
a. "a