The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-03
TRIAL OF S|GkOR CR|SP|
Charged With Plundering Banks
and Selling Decorations.
A VICTIM OF CALUMNY
lie Asserts That the Investigation VIII
Reveal Nothing Against Him Sixty
Three Years In the Service
OF HIS Country.

" N'lAllfS allNlil'u t'ililtrSiNh W
fivc to inquire into the charges against
Signor Francesca crispi. the former
premier. IN connection with the Bank
of Naples scandals, and the alleged
illegal traffic In decorations. The pro-
ceedings are the result of the recent
decision Of the Italian court OF claims
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 former mem-
her of the government or his conduct
while in the government. The court
Of cessation held that such charges
must be dealth with by parliament.
which was the contention II Signur
Crispi, and the judicial proceedings
were thrown out.
The special commission Was appoint
ed after an impressive speech by Signnr
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.
Il am the victim of calumny.' he as
serted. and should have brought suit
against my calumniators IL the matter
had not been referred to the chamber.
Signor Crispi recalled his past lahors
ON behalf of Italy and admitted that
there had been times when he mud
erred. He claimed. however. from his
compeers an unbiased judgment and
asserted that he was prepared To testify
before the committee and omit nothing
So that the matter be probed To the
deepest, adding pathetically. But IL
will be very hard at ~ years. after de-
voting 81 years Ia 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 were
particularly virulent-
Signor crispi. after order Was re-
stored. added; Il remain calm even
in the face of my adyersaries' invect-
ives. I have "A serene conscience. and
] 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. II Italy needs me l shall al
ways be ready TO serve her: but I do
not have and never have had ambition
for power"
Al the conclusion of his speech a
number Of the deputies gathered about
him 90 congratulate him and to shake
his hand.
Signor Crispi the most brilliant
Italian statesman since the days OF
Cavour. is called upon To face, In his
extreme old age. not accusations OF po-
litical crimes. but ordinary felonles. lie
has already been subjected to the
humiliation Of magisterial examination
In connection with charges of compile.
ity in the frauds that wrecked the
a.L .f Nanl.as Hanna "a.
Bank of Shelly and other kindred In
stitutions.
The Crispi cabinet was driven from Of
fice as the result OF these scandals. Ia
each ease tn" insolvency Of the bank APP
p.ared To have been brought about 10y
the blackmailing extortions Ia which they
were subjected by leading politicians and
government officials of the day Most ul
this dishonesty took place during the adj
minlsiration Of trispL Not even his most
relentless enemy has ever accused him of
plund.ring the banks To his own private
advantage. ON the contrary. his country
men for the most part ace, pted h asser-
ton that III" money cstOrt"d from these
institutions was used by him for the Sc.
cTet service of the government and .lec-
| toral expenditures. Unfortunately Tor him.
| the judicial authorities Nho inquired into
| the causes that led to the failure of the
banks discovered that among the most
VorariOus of the plundercrs was sisnoTa
Cflspi the veteran statcsmAn's wife. II
was stated al tho time that from one
bank alone something like ten millions
of francs tabout ss010 OUOl found its way
into her private banking account and
IL II sun urged that Signor crispl not
being a rich man, must have known Of his
wife predatory demands. as In no Other
way could he have accounted tor the
large sums of money she exp endcd upou
h'r establishment while he WAS In publ,
life.
when the matter was before the court.
"A friend of Signor crispi undertook I,
explain the transactions whi,h I'D Z,
the eollnps. of the Bank of Naples Ac
cording to this story. Slgnor Cfiapi JUS
before the elections In 1886 asked IN.
Bank of Naples for loan q 5000 y,
for election expenses the money a. b,
repaid to the bank from the secret scr
Vice funds. Then came the dowufJl nj
the crispl cabinet. with only a little m1l,
than half the loan repaid.
Crispl told King lIumb,rt OF lis prcdicl.
mcut and his majesty gave lN,lUl hr'
toward the remainder of the indebted.
ness. Baron Blanc furnishing What was
necessary In make up Tho fu'l amount.
Thus. according to the story, : nor Crit.
~ ftihln tue hAnk w fAll W NfN tNt Ni
cusatluns recently before the courts ard
NOW before the special commission ~ N
chamber ~ deputies, were bring revived
with tax oi prosecution. Sigror q lsnl
FASTENED nom naples 10 Home demand u
an audience with the kuy. showed htT
the receipt uf the hank Tor fun pawn ul
and demanded that hts msirst put lr
md 60 what Crispi characterized ~ th,
campaign 0f uWsti,"
The rN-prcmlcr. according ~ The story
declared that unless his prosecutors were
called ~ he would defend himself tu
the last adding "ln such a e.ts,. sire. two
persons VIII "a into "Ni'c-L as a poot
man. and yuu With Your millions
Tho socialist pres interpreted this suda,
oloUs language tO hD threat ~ dtf,
''o.UrrF thUt ir consequence Of uf
Elrg l'urh.ft h1l -1yrd the whole mat.
tor ~ Bis 1rgr DEPOSITS ln the Bank U.
Nauirs iGst b'tuus the .fa-h come