The record-union., 1897-12-03
To Inquire Into the Charges Against Former
Premier Crispi.
The Brilliant Statesman Called
upon to Face Not Political
Crimes, but Ordinary Felonies
in Connection With Charges OF
Completely in the Frauds That
Wrecked Many Banks in Italy.

II.
Der of Deputies appointed commission
of FIVE TO inquire into the charges
against Signor Francesca Crispi. for
merly Premier, in connection Win Tue
bank of Naples scandals, ana the al
legged illegal traffic in decorations.
The proceedings are the result or
recent decision of the Italian Court OF
Cessation. which quashed the judicial
Indictment brought against him on the
ground that the ordinary tribunals Oh
iustice were not competent to deal with
such charges brought against a former
member of the Government or MS CON-
duct while in the Government.
The Conrt Of Cessation held that such
charges must be dealt with by Parma
mant which was the contention of Sig
nor Crispi. and the judicial proceedings
We're thrown out
The special commission was appoint
ed after an impressive speech by Signor
Crispi in which he declared that ne
desired the most ample and complete
discussion of the whole question, ana
did not dread the light which, he sald'
could reveal nothing against him.
ct am the victim of calumny,' he as
serted. "and should have brought suit
against nv culmniators, if the matter
had not been referred TO the Cham-
ber."
Signor Crispi recalled his past lapors
on behalf of Italy. and he admitted
that there had been times when he had
erred He claimed. however, from his
conouerors. an unbiased judgment. and
asserted that he was prepared TO testify
before the commission, and to omit
nothing so that the matter might be
probed to the deepest, adding, pathet-
ically. "but it will be very hard at %
after devoting sixty-three years TO the
service Of my country.
This massage of the speech provoked
violent interruption. and the President
of the Chamber formally warned two
Socialist Deputies. who were particu-
larly virulent.
Signor Crispi. after order was re-
stored, said: Il remain calm, even
in the face of my adversaries' invec-
tives I have serene conscience, ana
I shall die. when my time comes. with
the name of Italy upon my lips. But
! ask 10 be allowed to pass my last
days quietly If Italy needs me, L
shall always be ready to serve her, but
! do not have and never have had ambl-
ton for power"
At the conclusion of his speech a
number Of Deputies gathered about nm
to congratulate him, and to shake his
hand
Signor Crispi, the most brilliant Ital-
ian statesman since the days of Ca
YOUR, is called upon to face, in his eX-
treme old age. not accusations of po-
Htical crimes. but ordinary felonies. He
has already been subjected to the hu-
initiation of magisterial examination in
connection with charges Of completely
I'm the frauds that wrecked the Bank of
Naples, the Bank Roma. the Bank of
Sicily and other kindred institutions.
The Crispi Cabinet was driven from Of
fee as the result of these scandals.
In each case the insolvency of the
bank appeared to have been brought
about through the blacl1mailing extor-
1ions to which it was subjected by lead
ing politicians and Government Off
cials of the day. Most of this dishon-
esty took place during the administra-
ton of Crispi.
Not even his most relentless enemy
has ever accused him Of plundering the
banks to his private resources. On the
contrary. his countrymen for the most
part. acepted his 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 authorities who inquired into
the circumstances that led to the fail
,re of the banks discovered that among
the most voracious plunderers was Sig
nora Crispi. the veteran statesman's
wife Ii was stated at the time that
from one bank alone something like
100000 francs (about S2,0ooO0O
found its way into her private bank
ing account: and ii was urged, and is
still urged, that Signor Crispi. not be-
ing a rich man. must have known of
his wife's predatory demands, as in
no other way could he have accounted
for the large sums of money she eX-
pended upon her establishment While
be was in power.