The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-13
SPANISH SPY'S SUICIDE
THE PENALTY OF DEATH SELF
INFLICTED

| George Downing, Under Arrest at
WashinEton Barracks Charged
With Being SPY In spain's EN-
ploy, Hangs Himself in HIS Cell
The Story of the Man and HIS
Alleged ORense.
WASHINGTON, May IL. - George
! Downing. alias Rawlings, the man ar
| rested last Saturday under suspicion
OF being a spy Tin the service Of Spain.
hanged himself at Washington bar
racks today, shortly after o'clock
"A towel and a handkerchief were used
as the instruments Of death.
| The guard who paced back and forth
through the corridor had seen Downing
| lew minutes before sitting on his
cot reading a magazine. When he
returned the alleged spy was found
hanging from a bar across the top Of
his cell. The moose had been prepared
with the skill of professional hang
man, the knot being just below his
ear. f
When discovered, life was not yet ex-
tinct, and the surgeon and steward
were called. Their efforts to preserve
his life, however, were futile. and
Downing soon expired.
Yesterday he gave evidence Of break
Ing down, and, after speaking Of his
coming trial. the certainty Of convic-
| ton and his lack of friends, he col
lapsed completely and wept.
The officer in command Of the bar
racks talked with him, and acceded
| to his request that he be permitted to
i write to his mother in England. The
| letter he was promised should be sent,
| II 1t contained no improper information
| After the talk with the officer, he
became calmer and even cheerful. He
did not act in an unusual manner dur
| ing the night, and this morning be-
haved as usual up to the time Of his
death - vayg
The corpse was removed to the
| morgue atu2 o'clock, and, in the alb
sence Of relatives in this country, it is
not yet knoWngswhat disposition will
be made ofrthel body.
DoWNING's STORY.
Downing Awas an Englishman by
birth, but a ,natlralized American, and
was formerly chief yeoman on the
cruiser Brooklyn. He was discharged
from that ship about two months ago.
About a Weekiago he had confer
ence with Lieut. Carranzas, who was
naval attachecof. the Spanish Minister
Polo. and who then was at Toronto.
He furnished Carranzas, it is alleged,
general information about the navy
and particularly about the Brooklyn.
He spoke in a disparaging manner of
the American navy.
He left Toronto last Friday for this
city. Before leaving Toronto Carranzas
gave Downing an address, apparently
that of residence in Montreal, to
which he was to send all the informa-
ton he, obtained. Downing arrived at
Washington Saturday afternoon and
went to 91S E street, where he had
stopped prior to leaving the city about
week before.
Shortly after reaching his rooms he
| went out agsih to the postoffice and
dropped a letter into the box for the
address in Montreal which had been
/ given to him. . 20 .s
/ Secret service officers recognized
| Downing as soon as he arrived at the
railroad depot, and kept strict watch
| on his movements throughout the af-
ternoon and evening up to the time Of
his arrest.
LETTER INTERCEPTED.
The letter which he mailed was
| promptly intercepted at the postoffice
and its contents examined. 1t con-
| tained a statement as to certain mat
tiers in Washington, said the writer
| would soon be able to forward some
important information about the Hol-
| land submarine boat, gave a summary
Of the steps for the relief Of Admiral
Dewey, and promised data as to the
movementsaof American 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 &C. D.
Secret service men were satisfied by
this time that the man was a spy, and
arranged to secure his apprehension.
| They communicated with Assistant
| Secretary Meiklejohn, Of the war de-
| partment, to whom they gave sum-
mary Of the information in their pos
session, and then went to Judge Advo-
cate General Leiber, Of the army, who
| advised that the man be arrested and
turned over to the military authorities.
He was arrested Saturday night by
Chief Wilkie. and a search of his rooms
revealed evidence which those who
made the arrest here expressed conf
| dence would convict him.
1t was thought he would be tried by
court martial. but later it became a
| question whether or not the civil courts
| would have jurisdiction, and this puz-
| zling law point was before the attor-
ney general for decision.