The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-09
SPANISH SPY CAUGHT
ONE OF THE SECRET FORCE EN-
PLOYED By MINISTER BERNEBE.
Returned to Washington TO Spy ON
the Government, and Is Nabbed
by Secret-Service Agents.

WASHINGTON, May S-Chief Wilkie, of
the treasury secret service, to-day ex-
pressed his unqualified belief in the guilt
of the man arrested at his direction last
night as a Spanish spy. AL! the circum-
stances in the case. many of which Mr..
Wilkie sets forth, he says, lead up to this
Irresistible conclusion. He preferred that
the story of the mans arrest SHOULD not
have been made public at this time, but he
feels now that an incorrect version has
leaked out, it is just as well that the correct
story should be told The mans name is
not Rawlings, as originally announced but
George Downing, apparently about thirty
three years of age, five feet seven inches in
height, of athletic build and Bohemian in
appearance. Mr.. Wilkie tells an interesting
story of the mans doings ely and of the
steps which led UP to his arresI.
Downing he said lis an Engl:shman by
birth, but is naturalized American and
formerly chief yoeman on the cruiser
Brooklyn His discharge from that ship
dates about two months ago. Our informa-
ton shows that on last Friday he had a
conference with Lieutenant Carranzas, who
was naval attache of the Spanish minis
ter Polo, and who was then at Toronto.
He furnished Carranzas general informa-
the Brooklyn. He spoke in disparaging
manner of the American navy. After one
and half hours talk he came to Wash
ington at the direction of the lieutenant
He left Toronto Friday afternoon for this
city, coming via Niagara Falls, the Lehigh
Valley and the Baltimore & Ohio railroad.
Before leaving Toronto Carranzas gave
Downing an address, apparently that of a
residence in Montreal, to which he was to
send all the information he obtained, Down
ing arrived here yesterday afternoon and
went directly to 916 e street, where he had
stopped no longer than a week ago. When
he left he told the landlady he was going
to Virginia Shortly after reaching his
rooms he went out again to the postoffice
and dropped a letter into the box for the
address in Montreal which had been given
him.
II should say right here that our officers
recognized Downing as soon as he arrived
at the railroad depot, and kept a strict
watch on his movements all during the
afternoon and evening up to the time of
his arrest. The letter which he mailed was
promptly intercepted at the postoffice and
its contents examined. 1t contained state
ment as to certain matters in Washington
said the writer would soon be able to for
WdFO some important information ABOUT
the Holland submarine boat; gave a sum-
mary of the steps for the relief of Admiral
Dewey and promised data as to the move
ment of American Golfers or coaling ships
Downing also said he intended to go to
Norfolk (Which place he hoped to reach
Tuesday,. and expected to obtain important
information. The letter was signed simply
with the initials G. D. We were we'll sat
isfied by this time the man was a spy and
we set about to secure his apprehension
We communicated with Assistant Secretary
Meiklejohn, of the War Department, to
whom we gave a summary of the nforma-
ton in our possession, and then with Judge
Advocate General Leiber, eff the army, who
advised that the man be arrested and
turned over to the military authorities
Downing returned to his room in the even
ing after dining and reading the news bull
letins
Accompanied by Captain Sage, of the
Eighth Artillery, corporal and private
by my own officers and by a policeman, we
went to Downing's house, where we secured
him without trouble. He offered no resist
ance, but appeared frightened and much
surprised at what was taking place He
was handcuffed to the private, who, accom-
panied by Captain Sage and the corporal
took him TO the arsenal where he is under
guard We have turned him over to the
military authorities for their disposition
AS / said before. | think there is no doubt
OF the mans guilt, sufficient i'm my iutg-
ment to justify the extreme penalty of the
law