Evening star., 1898-05-10
A WOMAN'S INFLUENCE

The official recommendation for tho tr;a,
Of George Downing, alias Henry Rawlings.
by court-martial, for the alleged crime of
conspiring against the government. was re-
ceived by Adjutant General Corbin TODAY.
The usual plan of procedure in such cases
is for the judge advocate general to look
into the evidence against the prisoner and
make the recommendation as to whether
in his opinion the case warrants trial or
not This has been done by General Iieber
and the court-martial will be proceeded
with, Adjutant General Corbin told q Star
reporter, at the earliest opportunitv af
forded. There is so much to be done at
present. all of the officials being SO busy.
but it will most likely begin in few days.
1t Is thought perhaps Monday will be Sc
lected as the opening day of the court
martial Washington barracks, where the
prisoner is confined will be the place for the
trial. How many officers can be shared To
participate in 1t cannot be definitely stated
at present, there being such small MN,
Der available for this purpose owing ro
their duties calling them in other direc-
tions.
In courts-martial any number from five
to thirteen can be used, according to the
rules laid down in such instances Every
particle of evidence is gone over with most
carefully. 1t is thought that the evidence
against the prisoner is of such a nature
to convict him beyond any manner of
doubt
The Two Charges.
There are two charges against Downing,
which have been already prepared and
others may follow, it was declared this
morning. The first Of the two made out
is that the prisoner acted in the CAPACITY
OF spy, this country being engaged in
war with Spain, obtaining information re-
earuing the military and naval operations
OF the United States and endeavoring to,
communicate the same to the enemy
through the medium of a certain person in
Montreal, for the purpose of aiding the
Spanish government in it's hostile opera
tions against the United States. This sec
ton provides that all persons who in time
or war or of rebellion against the supreme
authority of the United States shall be
found lurking or acting as spies in or about
any or the fortifications, posts, quarters or
encampments of any of the armies of the
United States, or elsewhere, shall be tried
by general court-martial or by a military
commission. and shall, upon conviction
thereof, suffer death. The second count in
the specifications is practically the same
as the first, with the exception that 1t does
not state that Downing endeavored to i'm
part his information to the enemy, but
states that he did communicate with a GER
tain person in Toronto information regard
ing the operations Of the, army and navy
OF the United States, to be used by Spain
in time of war against THIS government
When the testimony is finished in a court
martial, the whole is reviewed by the ad-
vocate general and a decision rendered If
the prisoner should be found guilty, as it
Is expected 1t is most probable he will not
he hung but be shot, a military authority
stated this morning. as this is deemed the
proper method of execution in the present
state of affairs. s
Young Woman.
The old French adage, "Cherchez La
Femme" was observed by the secret serv-
ice bureau in their work of securing evil
dcnce against Downing. 1t was learned al
most as soon as he was suspected that he
had been in the habit of visiting young
woman connected with the Spanish lega-
ton here. He had been seen with her, and
was thought to be greatly in love with
her Her Spanish appearance was very
marked, and when the man was suspected
this fact was remembered by a clever at
tache OF the bureau.
1t Is undoubtedly the case that it was
through her Downing induced to act
In the position of spy against this country
1t was through her that Downing me:
Lieut.. Carranzas, formerly of the Spanish
legation here. 1t is certain that the man
called on her at the legation here after his
discharge from the Brooklyn. She prob
ably persuaded him to try to secure infor-
NATION to put In the Spanish hands. 1t is
believed that she wrote Downing here to
come to Canada to make still further ar
rangements as to the work of betraying
the plans of this government She is in
Canada now with the legation, it was de-
cared 10 The Star reporter this morning.
Nearly all the newspaper men who have
nao occasion to visit the legation when De
LONE was minister remember the woman
who frequently opened the door when they
called. She was tall, and dark, spoke Eng
hsh perfectly, and was attractive in her
manners. She evidently made him the in
strument by which he could become most
useful to the Spanish government. 1t is not
believed she felt the least affection for him.
What Chief WiIkie Says.
Chief Wilkie of the secret service bureau
said this morning that he had nothing to
give out about the case. He said further
cation from the bureau at any time. He
declared If the operations Of the secret
service bureau are to be under the jurisdic-
tlon or Assistant Secretary of War Mekle-
the fact. He did not doubt the veraci:y
CT the statement to this effect which ap-
peared IN The Star of yesterday, but SEEM
ed greatly interested as to where the in
formation had been obtained.
Il was talking to Assistant Secretary
MeikieJohn this MOI ming he said, "and he
told me nothing of the matter AS it
rests row 1t is in the hands of the assist
ant secretary of war. OF course the secret
service bureau is doing all in its power
TO secure any further evidence against the
prisoner which may be possible or necas-
sary for Downing's conviction.
The prisoner is still guarded as closely
as ever in the steel cage at the Washing
ton barracks, no one. not even the guards,
belng allowed to converse with him. They
Keep him In sight constantly. however. 1t
Is said he appears moody and Respondent,
as If he realized that he was in bad
predicament.
one of the most interesting chapters so
iar lndhe story of his suspect and capture
is that all Of his movem ents were followed
Ser or 1y * .he seeret service peoPie' mem
the trln to Toronto. While in that city the
secret service officer, was enabled to over
Eear, In some manner not revealed, con-
Spanish legation, which was sufficient to re-
veal his mission andgincriminate him fully.
ina testimony Of this man 1t is considered.
VIII BE the most powerful to be brought