The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-12-03


Scandals Touch Him Very Nearly,
Though He Never Feathered His In
dIvidual Nest With the steaiings-Bui
His Wife Did-Defies the King.
Rome. Dec. To-day the chamber OF
deputies appointed commission OF hv5
to INQUIRE into the charges against
Signor francesca Crispi, former premier,
ia 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 qaashed the judicial in
iictment 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 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.
81 am the victim of calunny," he as
serted, "and should have brought suit
against my calumniators If the matter
rad 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.
be claimed, however, from his conquer
ors. an unbiased judgment, and assedted
that he was prepared to testify before
me commission and to omit nothing, so
that the matter might be probed to the
Geepes, adding alphabetically, ''but it will
he very hard, at rs, after devoting sixty
taree years to the service of my coun-
Try"
This passage of the speech provoked
violent interruption, and the president of
the chamber formally cautioned two So
ciaEst deputies, who were particularly
virulent.
Signor Crispi, when order was restored,
said:
81 remain calm, even in the face of
NY adversaries' invectives. 1 have a Sc
rene conscience; and I shall die, when
my time comes, with the name Of Italy
upon my lips. But 1 ask to be allowed
10 pass my last days quietly. If Italy
needs me, shall always be ready to
serve her; but 1 do not and never have
had ambition for power"
At the conclusion of his speech num-
Ser of the deputies gathered about him
to congratulate him and to Shake his
hands.
Signor Crispi, the most brilliant Italian
statesman since the days of Cavour, is
called upon to face, in mis- extreme old
age, not accusations of political crimes,
but ordinary felonies. He has already
l,een subjected to the humiliation of mag
LITERAL examination in connection with
charges of completely 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 office as the result Of |
these scandals.
In each case the insolvency of the |
bank appeared TO have been brought |
about through the blackmailing extor- |
tons TO which 1t was subjected by lead |
ing politicians and government officials /
Of the day. Most of this dishonesty took |
place during the admins tration of |
Crispi.
Not even his most relentless enemy |
mas ever accustd him OF plundering the |
banks TO his private resources. On the |
contrary, his countrymen for the most |
part accepted mis- assertion that the
money extorted from these institutions
was used by him for the secret service
Of the government and in electoral ex-
penditures.
Unfortunately for him, the judicial au-
thorities who inquired into the circum-
stances that led to the failure of the
banks, discovered that among the most
voracious Of the plunderers was Signora
Craspi the veteran statesman's wife. II
was stated at that time THAT from one
bank alone something like 10000 600
francs about S2,0oa,000 found its way
It was urged, and is still urged. that
Signor Crispi, not being a rich man,
must have known of his wifes 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
Last spring, when the matter was be-
fore the courts, friend of Signor Crispi
10 explain the transactions
which led to the collapse OF the Bank of
Naples. According To this story. Signor
Crispi, just before the elections in 1895.
asked the Bank OF Naples for a loan of
aV,VS lire for election expenses, the
money To be repaid from secret service
funds Then came the downfall of the
Crispi cabinet with only a little more
than half the loan repaid.
Crispf told King Humbert OF his pre-
dicament, and mis- majesty gave 10000
toward the remainder Of the indebted
ness, Baron Blanc furnishing what was
necessary 10 make Up the fun amount.
Thus. according 70 The story. Signor
CTispi repaid the bank in full.
When the accusations. recently before
80 ~NN'AN - <AdA 4fSN "SAV4S the Sspectai !
commission OF the chamber of deputies.
were being revived. with talk OF prose
cution, Signor Crispi FASTENED from Ma
Piles 70 Rome. demanded an audience
with the king, showed him the receipt Of
the BANK for full payment and demanded
thet his majesty put an end to what
Cr1sPi Characterized as 'the campaign
Of Injustice"
The ex-premier. according TO the
story,. declared that unless his persecut-
ore were called of ne would defend HIM