The age-herald., 1898-05-13
THE SPANISH SPY
 KILLS HIMSELF Towel and Silk Handkerchief Made a Hangman'S Nooze. DOWNING, AN ENGtISHMAN oWas Arrested by the Secret Service Depart ment Under Suspicion of Being in
 the Employ of Spain-ho
 Doubt of His Guilt
DOWNING, AN ENGtISHMAN

Washington, May 12.-George Downing, alias Rawlins, the man arrested last Sat- urday under suspicion of being spy in the service of Spain. hanged himself at the Washington Barracks today shortly after o'clock.
 A towel and silk handkerchief were used as the instrument of death.
 The guard who paced back and forth through the corridor had seen Downing a few minutes before sitting on his cot reading a magazine When he returned the alleged spy was hanging from a bar of his cell. The moose had been prepared with the skill of a professional hangman, the knot being just below his ear When discovered life was not yet extinct, and the surgeon and steward were called.
 Their efforts to preserve his life, however, were futile, and Downing soon expired.
 Yesterday he gave evidences of breaking down, and after speaking of his coming trial, the certainty of conviction and his lack of friends, he collapsed completely and wept.
 Wrote to His Mother
 The officer in command of the barracks talked with him and acceded to his request that he be permitted to write to his mother in England. The letter, he was promised should be sent if it contained no improper information. After the talk with the off, cer he became calmer and even cheerful. He did not act in an unusual manner during the night, and this morning behaved as usual up to the time of his death.
 The corpse. was removed to the moigue at ? o'clock and in the absence of rela- tives in this country, it is not known yet what disposition will be made of the body.
 The guards of the prisoner walked the length of the corridor every fiften minutes and every one near him was under instrue- tions to keep him under surveillance. lie watched his opportunity, however, ana during the few minutes when no one was near, put an end to his life
 Englishman by Birth
 Downing was an Englishman by birth, 8 years of age, and prior. to coming here had been yeoman of the Brooklyn, from which ship he was discharged because Of suspicion attaching to his loyalty and be- cause he could not get along with the men. He sWore to be revenged, and coming to Washington, it is said, came into communi- cation with one of the Spanish attaches, who hired him to. furnish Senor Polo and his subordnates information.
 He fell under the suspicion of Chief Wil- kie, of the secret service, who had him traced to Toronto, where it Is said he de- livered information to former member of the Spanish legation in Washington.
 Later letter addressed to Montreal was intercepted and contained promises of fur .ther information. He was arrested Satur- day night by Chief Willzie, and a search of his rooms revealed evidence which those who made the arrest expressed confidence would convict him.
 It was thought he would be tried by court martial, but later it became ques- tion whether or not the civil courts would have Jurisdiction, and this puzziing law point was before the attorney general for decision.