The times., 1898-05-09
SPANISH SPY MUST HANG
No Doubt of the Complete Guilt
of the Double Traitor.
ONCE SERVED in THE NAVY
A Military Arrest Ordered by Gov
ernment officiaIs-Important Let
ter Containing Information for
Spain intercepted-Name of His
AccomPIice Withheld.

"George Downing" an ex-sailor of the
American Navy. was arrested Saturday
night by J. E. wilkie, chief of the secret
service. as told in The Times yesterday,
and is now imprisoned al the Washington
Barracks. charged with being a Spanish
spy. From the facts which have already
come to light there is little doubt that the
prisoner VIII suffer the fate of all traitors.
death by the rope.
Chief Wilkie received advices Saturday
of the intended visit of Downing 20
Washington. and detailed one of his as
sistants to meet him at the depot. Ac-
cOrding to program the suspect arrived
from the West by the Baltimore and Ohio
at l p m, and was shadowed from then
until the time of his arrest, between II
and z o'clock, at No sl6 e Street Those
who assisted in the arrest besides Chief
Wilkie were Chief Clerk w. II. Moran, of
the secret service division: Capt. Sage, of
the Eighth Artillery. and two privates
and Officers Miller and Cover, OF the Me
tropolitan police who were called on by
Mr. Wilkie
The officer who was detailed by Chief
Willde to pipe" Downing upon his ar
rival in the city reported to his superior
that the suspect went directly from the
Baltimore and Ohio depot to No. 9l6 Z
Street, where he left a large Yalise, which
he carried in his hand. Very shortly
Downing emerged from the house and
made a trip TO The Times bulletin board
and hurriedly read the war news, and
took copious notes. From there he went
60 the other news bulletins to see if there
was anything more to be learned. Find
ing nothing later than he already knew
he rapidly retraced his way to No. 9l6 L
Street and went TO his room. After re-
naming there for some time he again
made his appearance on the street at 4
O'Clock and. going to the letter box at the
corner Of Z and Ninth Streets. deposited
a letter in the box. From there he again
made trip TO all Of the newspaper offices
and again read the war bulletins care
fully. BY this time it was dark and he
returned to his room, where he remained
until he was arrested.
Ordered "A Military Arrest.
Chief WillIie said yesterday that as soon
as he received advices that Downing was
or his way to Washington he Immediately
held a consultation with the Assistant
Secretary Of State and the Judge Adyo-
cate General and placed the evidence
which he had before them for considera-
tion. This evidence was 50 direct and
conclusive against Downing that they or
dered a military arrest he made instead
OF having the suspect aPprehended by the
police or civil authorities.
Nr. Wilkie was informed that imme-
diately before Downing started for Wash
ingtoH ne was in close conversation with
a friend of Spain and that his mission 10
this city was 10 get more information in
the shape of maps and drawings Of coast
defenses. Unfortunately for him and his
Spanish allies he viii not be able 10 fur
nish them with this information, for the
only diagram he can now draw is that of
the four dark walls of his cell al the
Washington Barracks
The letter which Downing mailed at
the corner Of z and Ninth Streets during
the afternoon was captured by Chief VIII
kie and il is said 10 contain evidence of
treachery sufficient to hang dozen
men. While Mr.. Nillzie would not
disclose the contents Of the letter or
say TO whom ii was addressed. he did
admit. however, that il contained infor-
nation which the Spanish authorities
would have been very glad TO have re-
ceived. and further that the writer prom
ised some other data which is very anx-
iously awaited by Spain.
This information was being conveyed
to the Spanish authorities through a mid
dleman in a large Eastern city but who
he is Chief Wilkie declined 10 say further
than that he carries on a large business
and was receiving these letters through
an alias. The intercepted letter made
special reference TO the Holland subma-
rine boat the cruiser Charleston and the
shipment OF land and naval forces to Ma
Mia. It is believed that he Intended to
go 10 New York on Tuesday and send ad-
ditional news from there to the East.
An EnEIishman by Birth.
The valise which Downing carried was
seized by Mr. Wilkie and is said to have
contained very damaging evidence against
him. Among the papers which were
found in the valise was the discharge of
Downing from the cruiser Brooklyn
There were also papers to show that he
had before his enlistment in the navy
served many people as valet and butler
whose names are to be found among
New York's 800
When arrested Downing. after recover
innocence and begged that he be informed
why he was taken from his bed at that
hour of the night Mr.. Wilkie did not
think il best 10 satisfy his feigned Curl
osity but turned him over to Capt. Sage,
who hurried him TO the barracks, where
he was placed in close confinement, where
he viii remain until he is tried by court
martial. Exactly when this will be is
not known at present. but ii is believed
that he viii get a speedy trial.
Downing is rather a small man. He has
dark hair and eyes and the appearance
of Bohemian rather than what he ac-
tualIy is-an Englishman by birth. He is,
however. a naturaliZed American. but il
is safe TO say that he will never be rec
ognized as such again.
IT was reported last night that a court
martial was convened at the barracks
yesterday at noon and that after hearing
the evidence against Downing he was
found guilty of treason and sentenced to
be shot this morning. This rumor was re-
ferred TO the authorities at the barracks
for confirmation, but they denied it abso-
lutely and added that they did not know
exactly when the suspect would be tried.
The st. Paul ON Guard.
Cape May. n. J., May THE auxiliary
cruiser ST. Paul appeared off here tonight