New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-06
xxALY.s BRILLIANT STATESMAN RUINED
BIZ THE EvIL-DOIN0 OF HIS WIFE
BONA LrNA's CONNECTION WITH THE ~.r,.-
HER BI-AcxMAr.INo pEPRKpArroNs ON THE
GREAT BANKs-rHE MURDER OF
NoTARBARToLo-HER RELATIONS
WITH THE QUEEN

sutes IN every sense OF the word his most
Vmpethetic partner. yet there are cases fortu
se1ev rare. where the wife is the evil genius Of
- husband. the cause Of his downfau and the
~" Oh ms rum One OF the most pitiful ex-
emples Of this kind is that Of Francesca rr,.n,
~ ana away the most brilliant statesman of
A0aay since the days OF Cavour the man who
nay be said to have elevated the kinpdor, =,
Sseiy to the rank OF a great Power. Bismarck
-" tne pienitude Of his arrogance and grand
.oereo IL necessary to treat him on a
soounS OF perfect equality. and yet now in the
osnueth year OF his age. he stands accused NOT
PonucaL crimes. but OF ordinary felonies and
subjected to the ignominy Of magisterial ex
n3uon In connection with charges OF COM
Ddicity In the colossal frauds that have brourh,
about the shipwreck OF the Bank Of Naples. the
sank OF Sicily. the Bank OF Rome. and other
Kindred institutions
In each case the Insolvency Of the hank .eer,s
% have been brought about through the black
n.inne extortons to which 1t was subjected nv
'eAoing politicians and government officials
- tne oay-bIackmail which naturally ended by
ensang the directors OF the institution 10 do
s0me plundering their own account since
ehey had to all intents and purposes nurcho.o,
ecquiescence thereto the part OF the author,
ues oy submitting and yielding to the shameful,
Anos made by the latter upon the excheouer
q the bank 1t was during the administration
= Crispi that most II not all Of this wholesale
hac
eenoeo thoroughly to warp the moral sense of
nation that from time immemorial has been TO
aowneo Tor Its financial integrity and thrift
eno 10 winch the civilized world is indebted for
sne origin or It's credit system and banking in
sututons. No one not even the most bitter ono
my OF Signor Crispi dreams of accusing him Of
AAsing piundered the banks in order to add 70
AZ own private resources and his assertions
mat the money extorted from these institutions
vas used by him for the secret service fund OF
INC government and for the electoral expendi-
ssre ana newspaper propaganda OF the political
Se'S 10 which he owed his parliamentary ma
Sorty md universal credence on the part OF his
eountrymen. Indeed. were there nothing e,s.
shan this. he would probably never have been
noiested. even by those OF his political adverse
mes who are now in pawer.
THE MOST RELENTLESS PIUNDERER
Du' unfortunately, the investigations to which |
sne affairs OF the shpwrecked banks have haen |
sooJected by parliamentary commissions and
y the ordinary judicial and magisterIal authori
des have brought to light the fact tb,, aron
tne most Unsuitable and relentless OF the plunder
efs mas been Dona Lima, the once charming hut
no" universally unpopular wife OF the veteran |
statesman According to the recent cable dis
Da'cnes from Rome about the matter 1t appears
mat from one bank alone something like 10 |
vVUoV francs. or about 100000 has
found its way into the private banking ac
eouht OF bona Lima, and any who knows
she popular aversion in which she is held in IN.
Cternal City will have difficulty in believing
mat portion of the dispatches which describes
Sne lack OF consideration with which she is treat
"a ~ the judges and magistrates who "scor Of
ner explanations. sneer at her protestations of
innocence. and manifest an altogether Indecent
interest In her numerous private banking ac
counts" {
TO the Italiars themselves it is no fresh Micro |
q news that Dona Lima has played a prominen. !
part In bringing about the shipwreck of several !
u the principal banking institutions OF the king
eom- For four years ago, at the time OF the h
soiiapoe OF the Bank of Rome and the imnrisor q
nent OF its president. Senator Taianso the fac, q
~as brought to light that the woman had dinned c
seSv'y INTO the funds OF the unfortunate insti n
gution. ws&b had In this manner been CON, a
PEELED to defray the enormous expenses of ne, q
way at Carls Dad. whittier she travelled with v
"a immense retfnue by special train and alec | y
me cost OF sort Of triumphal tour which sh 81
nade' like wise by special train, through her ma
we Island OF Sicily, to which she proceeded from
Nspies' not by ordinary passenger boat but
- large steamer specially fitted I'D for no,
'wn use. 1t may be urged that Crispi INNS,
'eve known OF his wife's predatory demands a
'Son the pank. since. not being a rich man h. OF
ou'o not otherwise have accounted for tho VI
Fisin or the large sums spent by his extr.y. IN
ls.<