The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-03
CRISPI SAYS HE IS A
VICTIM OF CALUMNY
Investigation May Show King Hum.
bert In a Questionable Light.
Blackmailing Plots That Drove the
Crispi Cabinet From Office
One Of the Most voracious Plum
derers Was the Premier's Wife
His Own Grave Mistakes-Rob-
bed Peter to Pay Paul-Humbert
Came to His Aid.

Rome. Dec. 2-Today the chamber OF
deputies appointed a commission OF
five Il. inquire into the charges against
Signor Francesca Crispi, former pre-
raier. in connection with the Bank OF
Naples scandals ard the alleged illegal
traffic in decorations
rhe proceedings are the result OF the
recent decision of the Italian court OF
claims. which quashed the judicial in
dictment 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 lor
his conduct while in the government.
The court of cessation held that such
charges must be dealt with by parIla-
ment. which was the contention OF Sig
nor C1.ispi. and the judicial proceedings
were thrown out.
The special commission was ap-
pointed after an impressive speech by
Sienor Crispi. in which he declared
that he desired the most ample and
cononlete discussion of the whole queS-
ton and did not dread the light. which
he said could reveal nothing against
him.
y am the victim of calumny," he
asserted. and should have brought
suit against my calumniators II the
latter had not been referred to the
chamber.
Signor Crispi recalled mis- past labors
on behalf of Italy, and he admitted
that there had been times when he had
erred. He claimed, however, from his
eonuuerors an unbiased Judgment and
asserted that he was prepared to tes-
tify before the committee and omit
nothing, so that the matter could be
probed to the deep, adding, pathetl-
cany. but it will be very hard at Is,
after devoting 60 years TO the service
of nv country" This passage OF the
speech provoked violent interruption,
and the president of the chamber for
ulally warned TWO Socialist deputies,
who were particularly Ylrulent
Signor Crispi said, after order was
restored: I remain calm, even in the
face of my adVersaries inyectves. l
have a serene conscience, and snail
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 L shall al
ways be ready to serve her, but 1 do
not have, and never have had, ambl-
ton for power.
At the conclusion of his speech a
number OF the deputies gathered about
him to congratulate him and to she,,-e
his hand.
HISTORY OF THE CRIME.
Signor Crispi, the most brilliant ItaI-
ian statesman since the days of Cavour,
IS called upon to face, in his extreme
cid age, not accusations of political
crimes, but ordinary felonles. He has
already beer subjected to the humilia-
ton o. magisteridi examination in con-
oh, of ifaif ~
in the frauds that wrecked the bank OF
Naples, the Bank of Rome. the Bank of
Sicily. and other kindred institutions.
The Crispi cabinet was driven from Of
ice as the result of these scandals.
BLACKMAILING.
In each case the insolvency of the
bank appeared TO have been brought
about through the blackmailing eXtor-
lions to which it was subjected by
leading politicians and government Of
ficials OF the day. Most Of this diShon-
esty took place during the administra-
fion OF ClisDi. Not even his most re-
lenUess enemy has ever accused him OF
plundering the banks TO his private re-
sources. On the contrary, his country
men for the most part, accepted his
assertion that the money eXtorted from
these institutions was used by him fol
the secret service of the government
HIS WIFE A PLUNDERER
Unfortunately for him, the Judicial
authorities who inquired into the causes
shat led to the failure of the banks
discovered that among the most Vorac-
ious Of the plunderers was Sigaora
Crispi the veteran StateSmanS wife. i
was stated at the time that from ont
pank alone something like ten millions
Of francs (about $2,000,0 00) found it,
way into her private banking account
and it is still urged that Signor Crispi
not being q ricf man, must have know
OF his wife's predatory demands. as IL
no other way could he have accounted
for the large sums of money she eX
pended upon her establishment, while
he was in public.
HIS GRAVE MISTAKE.
Last spring, when the matter was be
fore the courts, friend of Signor Girls
pi undertook to explain the transactions
which led to the collapse Of the Banl
Of Naples According TO this story
Signor CrisDi, just before the elections
in 1895. asked the Bank of Naples for
loan OF 100000 lire for election expen
ses. the money to be repaid to the banl
from the secret service funds. Thel
came the downfall Of the Crispi cabi
net. with only little more than hal
the loan repaid.
Crispi told King Humbert of his pre-
dicament and his majesty gave 100, 90
lire toward the remainder of the in
debtedness, Baron Blanc furnishing
what was necessary 70 make up the full
amount Thus, according to the story
Sienor Crispi repaid the bank in full
THREATENS HUMBERT.
When the accusations, recently befor
the courts, and now before the specia
commission of the chamber OF deputies
were being revived. with talk of prose
cution, Signor Crispi FASTENED from
Naples to Rome, demanded an audienc
with the king, showed him the receip
OF the bank for full payment, and de
rnanded that his majesty put an end t
what Crispi characterized as 1.-The cam
paign of injustice"
The ex-premier, according to tn