The herald., 1897-12-03
CHARGES
OF FELONY
Brought Against ltaly's
Ex=Premier
NOT MERE POLITICAL CRIME
BUT BLACKMAILING OF BANKS
FOR MILLIONS
Whe Aged Statesman Makes Pathetic
Speech, Which Does Not Ex-
plain His Wife's Conduct
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated PreSs Speciai NHe'
ROME, Dec. 2.-Today the chamber of
deputies appointed a commission of five
to inquire into the charges against
Signor Francesca Crispi, former pre-
r1ier, in connection with the Bank Of
Naples scandals, and the alleged Illegal
traffic in decorations.
The proceedings are the result of re-
cent decision of the Italian court of cas-
sation which quashed the judicial in
dictment brought against him on the
ground the ordinary tribunals of justice
were not competent to deal with such
charges brought against a former men,
Der of the government or his conduct
while in the government The court of
cessation held that such charges must
be dealt with by parliament, which was
the contention of Signor Crispi and the
judicial proceedings were thrown out
The special commission was appointed
after an impressive speech by Signor
Crispi in which he declared that he de-
sired the most ample and complete dis
cussion of the whole question and did not
dread the light, which, he said, could
reveal nothing against him.
ct am the victim of calumny," he as
serted, "and should have brought suit
against my calumniators of the mat
ter had not been referred to the cham
ber."
Signor Crispi recalled his past labors
on behalf of Italy and he admitted that
there had been times when he erred. He
claimed, however, from his compeers an
unbiased judgment and asserted that he
was prepared to testify before the COM
mission and to omit nothing so that the
matter might be probed to the deepest
adding pathetically, "but it will be very
hard at rs, after devoting 63 years to the
service of my country"
This passage of the speech provoked
violent interruption, and the president
of the chamber formally warned two
Socialist deputies, who We're particular
ly virulent.
Signor Crispi after order was restored
said:
"I remain calm even in the face Of my
adversaries' invectives. I have a Sc
rene conscience. and I shall die, when my
time comes. with the name of italy upon
my lips. But ask to be allowed to
pass my last days quietly. If Italy needs
me I shall always be ready to serve her,
but 7 do not have and never have had
ambition for power
At the conclusion of his speech n num-
Der of deputies gathered about him to
congratulate him and to shake his
hands.
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 humiliation of
magisterial examination in connection
with charges of completely in the frauds
that wrecked the Bank of Naples, the
Bank Roman, the Bank Of Sicily and
other kindred institutions. The Crispi
cabinet was driven from Office as the re-
suit of these scandals.
In each case the insolvency Of the
bank appeared to have been brought
about through Matchmaking extortions
to which it was subjected by leading pol
iticians and government officials of the
day. Most of this dishonesty took place
during the administration of Crispi.
Not even his most relentless enemy
banks to add to his private resources.
On the contrary his countrymen for the
most part accepted his assertion that the
money eXtorted from these institutions
was used by him for the secret service
of the government and in electoral ex-
pendituros. Unfortunately for him the
judicial authorities, who inquired into
the circumstances that led to the failure
of the banks, discovered that among the
most vicious of the plunderers was Sig
nora Crispi, the veteran statesman's
wife. 1t was stated at the time that
from one bank alone something like TO-
100000 francs (about $4,000, 0O0) found its
way into her private banking account:
and it was urged and is still urged that
Signor Crispi, not being a rich man.
must have known of his wife's preda-
tory demands, as in no other way could
he have accounted for the large sums Of
money she expended upon her establish
ment while he was in power.