The herald., 1898-05-09
IS DESERVING OF DEATH
AND LIKELY TO GET HIS FULU
DESERTS
CHIEF WILKIE IS CONFIDENT
That the Man Arrested at New YORK;
Saturday Is a Spanish Spy.
Strong Evidence
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated froSS special wire
WASHINGTON, May s.-Chief wilkie,
of the treasury service, today expressed
his unqualified belief in the guilt OF the
man arrested at his direction last night
as Spanish spy. All the circumstances
in the case, many of which Mr.. Willxie sets
forth. he says. leads up to this conviction.
The mans name Is not Rawlings, as an.
nounced, but George Downing. He Is ap-
parently about 80 years of age, s feet
inches In height, of athletic build, and Boz
hemian in appearance. Mr.. Wilkie tells
an interesting story of the mans doings
lately, and of the steps which led up to his
arrest.
Downing" he said, 'is an Englishmaus
by birth, but is a naturalized Americana
and was formerly chief yoeman on the
cruiser Brooklyn. His discharge from
that ship occurred about two months ago.
Our information shows that last Friday
he had conference with Lieutenant Car.
ranzas, who was a naval attache of the
Spanish government, and was then at To.
ronto. He furnished Carranzas general
information about the navy and navy
yards, especially the Brooklyn navy yards.
After one and a half hours talk he came
to Washington at the direction of the lieu-
T
noon for this city. Before leaving Toronto
Carrahzas gave Downing an address, which
apparently that officer furnished in Mon.
treal, to which he was to send all Informal
ton he obtained. Downing, who arrived
here yesterday afternoon, went directly to
916 e street, where he had stopped no longer
than a week ago. When he left he told
the landlady he was going to Virginia.
a ha Il
away again to the postoffice and dropped o
letter into the box for the address in
Montreal which had been given to him.
should say right here that our officers rec-
ognized Downing as soon as he arrived at
the railroad depot. and kept a strict watch
on his movements all during the afternoon
and evening up to the time of his arrest.
"The letter which he mailed was prompt.
" intercepted and its contents examined.
1t contained statement as to certain matt
ters in Washington; said he would soon bel
able to forward some important informa.'
tion about the Holland submarine boat;
gave a summary of the steps for the relief
OF Admiral Dewey. and promised data as to-
the movements Of American fleets. Down.
ing also said he intended to go to Norfolk,
and expected to obtain important informa.
tion. The letter was signed simply g. D.
I'VE communicated with Assistant Sec
retary Meikeljohn Of the war department.
to whom we gave summary Of the infor.
nation in our possession, and then with
Judge Advocate General Leiber Of the
army, who advised that the man be ar
rested and turned over to the military au-
thorities. Downing returned to his room
in the evening, after dinner, and read the
news bulletins.
accompanied by Chief Sage of the
Eighth and a private by my own officer
and policeman. we went to Downing's
house, where we secured him without much
trouble. He offered no resistance, but
appeared frightened and surprised at what
had taken place. He was handcuffed to
the private. who, accompanied by Captain
Sage and the corporal took him to the ar
senal, where he is under guard. We have
turned him over to the military authorities
for their disposition. AS I said before, I
think there is no doubt of the mans guilt.
sufficient in my Judgment to justify the
extreme penalty Of the law
->-o