Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-03
A CRlSPI INQUIRY.
COMMITTEE APPOINTED AT THE
EXPERIMENTS REQUEST.
BANK and DECORATION SCANDALS.
Sad Situation OF the Italian States
man-Churges Against Him Not of
Political Crimes, but of Ordinary
FeIonies-His wife's Extravaganza.

| ROME, December 2.-To-day the Cham
Der OF Deputies appointed a COM
mittee Of five TO inquire into the charges
| against Signor Francesca Crispi, the
former Premier, in connection with the
Bank OF Naples scandals, and the al
legged Illegal traffic in decorations. The
proceedings are a result of the recent de-
cision 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,
against a former memoer OF the gove,n-
ment, or his conduct while in the gov
eminent. The court OF cessation held
that such charges must be dealt with by
Parliament, which was the contention Of
Signor Crispi, and the judicial proceed
ings were thrown cut.
The special committee 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
.eyeal nothing against him. Il am the
victim OF calumny," he asserted, "and
should have brought suit against my |
calumniators If the matter had not been |
referred to the Chamber"
Signor Crispi recalled his past labors |
on behalf Of Italy, and admitted that
there had been times when he had erred.
He claimed, however, from his con-
querors. an unbiased judgment, and as
serted that he was prepared to testify
before the comm ttee, and TO omit no
thing, so that the matter might be prObed
to the deepest adding, pathetically, But
Il will be very hard. at rs, after devoting
g years to the service OF my country"
This passage in his speech provoked
;iolent interruption. and the President
If the Chamber formally cautioned two
Socialist deputies. who were particularly
iirulent.
Signor Crispi, after order was restored.
aid: II remain calm, even in the face
# my adyersaries' invectives. / have a
creme conscience, and ! shall die, when
ny time comes, with the name Of Italy
lpon my lips. But l ask to be allowed TO
iass my last days quietly. If Italy needs
ne. shall always be ready TO serve her;
MT / do not nave. and never have had,
mbltion for power"
At the conclusion Of his speech a num-
er of the deputies gathered about him
1
and
CRISPIS SAD FATE.
Signor Crispi, the most brilliant Itaian !
tatesman since the days of Cavour is {
allied upon TO face. in his extreme old Z
se, accusation not OF political crimes. !
ut of ordinary felonies. He has already I
cen subjected 10 the humiliation or G
agistrational examinations In connec- /
on with charges of completely in the n
gantc frauds that were committed on
lie Bank OF Naples, the Bank OF Rome a
10 Bank of Sicily, and other kindred in II
buttons. The Crispi Cabinet was driven a
ON office as the result of these scan
lis.
In each case the insolvency OF tne
INK appeared 10 have been brought
)out through the blackmailing extortions ! -
which IL was subjected by leading
liticians and government officials or
e day. Most OF their dishonesty took
ace during the administration OF Crispi. CT
1t even his most relentless enemy has In
er accused him of plundering the banks IN
add to his private resources. On the
ntrary, his countrymen for the most :,
TT accept his assertion that the money n
torted from these institutions was used | G
him for the secret service OF the y
vernment and In electoral expenditures
Unfortunately for him. the judicial au-
orities who inquired into the cfrcum- 90
'nces that led up TO the failure of the A
nks, discovered that among the most o.
racious or the plunderers was Sgnora -,
spi, the veteran statesman's wife. II -
s stated at the time that from one
TX alone something like ten millions OF
mes tabout s2Oo0,000) found their way
o her private bank account. and n I.
g urged, and Is still urged thai Ctaoo~ he
spi, not being a rich man. must nave str
own of his wife's predatory demands. tn
IN no other way could he have ac- !
'nted for the large sums Of money she Al
'ended upon her establishment while 10
was in power. Err