The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-09
ON THE TRAIL OF A SPY
HIRELING OF BERNABE RUN TO
EARTH

Government Officials Have Positive
Evidence That Downing Was
furnishing Spanish Agents in
Toronto With Information as 10
American War Vessels and Har-
Dor Defense-Downing Arrested
WASHINGTON, May 8.-Chief Will
kle, or the treasury secret service. to.
DAY expressed his unqualified belief In
the guilt Of the man arrested at his
clrectlon last night as a Spanish spy
All the circumstances in the case,
many OF which Mr.. Wilkie sets forth,
ne says, lead up to this conclusion. He
preferred that the story of the mans
arrest should not have been made pub
lie at this time, but he feels, now that
an incorrect version has leaked out, II
IS just as welii that the correct story
should be told.ad The mans name Is NOT
Rawi1ns, as originally announced, but
thiptgtnr Downing mt apparently about
seven inches in height, of athletic build,
bohemian IN appearance. Mr. Wilkie
tells an interesting story of the mans
dolngs lately andIof the stories which
led up to his arrest
In Pay of Spanish.
Downing" he says, SIS an English
man by BIRTH but is a naturalizad
american, andswas formerly chief yeo-
man on the cruiser Brooklyn. His dis
charge from that ship dates about two
months ago. Our information shows
that on last Friday he had a confer.
ence with Lieut.. Carranzas, who was q
naval attache Of the Spanish minister
Polo, and who was then at Toronto.
He furnished Garranzas general infor-
NATION about the navy and particularly
about the Brooklyn. He spoke In a
olsparaglng manner Of the American
navy; After one and half hours
talk he came to Washington at the di.
rection of the lieutenant.
he left Toronto Friday afternoon
1or this city, coming via Niagara Fails.
the Leh1gh Valley, and the Baltimore
q OHIO railroads. Before leaving Tor
onto -Carranzas gave Downing an adj
oress' apparently that of a residence
IN montreal to which he was to send
all the information he obtained Down
ing. arrived here yesterday afternoon
ana went directly to 916 E street. where
ne had stopped no longer than week
ago. When he left he told the landja dv
ne was going to Virginia. Shortly
AFTER reaching his rooms he went ont
again TO the postoffice and dropped q
letter into the box for the address in
him. Swell u
On His Trail.
should say right here that orr off,
ncers recognized Downing as soon as
he arrived at the railroad denot and
Kept a strick watch on his movements
all during the afternoon and evening
up to the time Of his arrest. The lot
ter Which he mailed was promntlv
intercepted at the postoffice. and its
contents examined. It contained a
statement as to certain matters in
washington, said the writer would be
able to forward some important in
formation about the Holland. the sub
marine boat, and promised data as to
the movement Of American golfers or
coallng ships. Downing also said he
intended to go to Norfolk (Which place
ne hoped to reach Tuesday,, and ex
pected to obtain important informa-
ton. The letter was signed with the
initials F. G. D.
We were we'll satisfied nv tbis time
that 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 summary of the in
formation in our possession, and then.
with Judge Advocate General Lieber.
of the army, who advised that the
man. be arrested and turned over to
the military authorities.
Downing returned to his room during
the evening, after dining and reading
the news bulletins. Accompanied by
Capt Sage, Of the Eighth artillery.
| a corporal and a private, by nv own
officers and by policeman, we went
to Downing's house, where we secured
him without trouble. He offered no
resistance, but appeared frightened
and much surprised at what was tax
ing place. He was handcuffed to the
private, who, accompanied by Capt.
Sage and the corporal, took him to
the arsenal, where he Is under guard.
We have turned him over to the mill
tary authorities for their disposition.
AS 1 said before, I think there Is no
doubt Of the mans guilt, sufficient In
my Judgment to justify the extreme
penalty of the law