The herald., 1898-05-13
THE SPY ESCAPES TRIAL
AND REMOVES ALL DANGER OF
RE-ARREsT
HANDKERCHIEF AND'A TOWEL
Provide Downing, Alias Rawlings,
With Means Of Avoiding Exscu-
ton A. a Spanish SPY
associated Press special wire

Associated Press Special Wire
WARRINGTON, May 12.-deorge Down
ing, alias Rawlings, the man arrested last
Sunday under suspicion of being spy In
the service of Spain, hanged himself at the
Washington barracks today shortly after
8 o'clock. A towel and a silk handker-
chief were used as the instruments OF
death. The guard, who paced back and
forth through the corridor. had seen Down
ing but a few moments before sitting on a
cot reading q magazine. When he re-
turned the alleged spy was found hanging
from a bar across the top of his cell. The
moose had been prepared with the skill
of a professional hangman, the knot be-
ing just below his ear. When discovered
life was not extinct, and the surgeon and
steward were called. Their efforts to pre-
serve 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. 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 morgue
at 2 o'clock, and in the absence of rela-
tives In this country 1t is not yet known
what disposition will be made of the body.
The guards in charge OF the prisoner
walked the length of the corridor every
fifteen minutes and everyone near him was
under instructions to keep him under sur
veillance. He watched his opportunity.
and during the few minutes when no one
was near him put an end to his life.
Downing was an Englishman by birth
SO 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 he came into communication
with one of the Spanish attaches, who
hired him to furnish Senior Polo and his
subordinates with information. He fell
under the suspicion of Chief Wilkie OF the
secret service, who had him traced to
Toronto, where it is said he delivered in
formation to q member of the former
Spanish legation in Washington. Later
q letter addressed to Montreal was inter-
cepted and contained promises OF further
information. He was arrested Saturday
night by Chief Wilkie, and search Of his
rooms revealed evidence which those who
made the arresth expressed confidence
would convict him. 1t was thought he
would be tried by court martial, but later
1t became a question whether or not the
civil courts would have Jurisdiction, and
this puzsling law point was before the at
torney general for decision.
An Auburn Man
AUBURN. CAL, May l2.-George Down
ing, the suspected spanish spy who hanged
himself In Washington. is believed by many
here to have been at one time resident
of this place. He was barber and had 6
shop at New Castle. Later he took tt
mining and mined around Auburn and al
Blue Canyon. When he left here 1t was
said he enlisted In the navy. Downing was
a man of intelligence, but very erratic. He
married In this county.