The Cairo bulletin., 1907-04-21
OEtP MYSTERY
PUZZLES POLICE
STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE OF p.
n, STRAWAUN. WELL KNOWN
LABOR ORGANIZER.
SUICIDE Is CLAIMED
Was Seen Late Friday Night in Gamb,
linq Place and Is Said to Have
Lost Large Sum of
Money.

The sensation in police circles yes
'erday was the discovery of coat
and vest on top of short piece Of
trestle al the lower end of the city.
The ga. meuts wee found by the
Waterman Of the Barrett barge feet
who brought them to police head
quarters. They We're found 70 be the
property OF p n. Strawaun, a general
organizer for The American Fedora
ton OF Labor. who is well known to
union men generally hereabouts and
I'm Southern Illinois, The garments
were identified as Strawhuns by the
contents Of the pockets which CON
sisted OF a pocket book. some papers
and cards. In the purse was an III
nois Central railroad ticket bought
Friday emitting the holder to pass
age from Cairo TO Carbodale In one
of the coat pockets was found a bank
book also bearing Strawhun's name,
and showing that he had deposited
$3.50 in the Murphysboro National
bank
But though the police searched
diligently. no ira e Of the man was
found and Chief Egan notified the
officers of Murphysboro and promi
nent members of the union there Of
the strange circumstances in the
case. The Murphysboro officers
came down last night They We're:
Chief Of Police w. c. 2atchett.
Guy Rodman. president Of the Sew
enth sub-district Of Nine Workers of
America
Walter Harrel. first vice president
Of he Mine Workers.
PAU Smith. second vice president
of the Mine Workers
James Keller. member OF the state
executive board OF Mine Workers
These gentlemen We're in consulta-
ton with Chief Egan till late last
night comparing notes 10 reach some
solution Of the mystery; but no GER
tain clue as 10 what had become Of
the man was discovered
1t was found that Strawhun had ar
rived from Murphysbo.o about noon
or soon arter noon, had taken room
No IA at the Planters hotel and had
retired After supper he paid his bill
and left the hotel About o'clock
he returned ana with his grip and
again went to the room bn' came
'cwn shortly After and left The hotel
The first impression Of the case
was that he had committed suicide
This was Chief Egan's theory yester
day. and it may prove to he correct,
there are some crcum-
stances against H. When Strawhun
left the hotel there was nothing in
his manner to indicate that he was
tloubled about anything and those ac-
quainted with him state that he was
not one to permit anything TO worry
him. being cool headedf and usually
of a pleasant disposition. He was not
a married man and il is not known
that he had any relatives in this part
IF the country Some are inclined to
question the suicide theory also. be-
cause the clothing was found in such
an out of-the-way place, and he could
have gotten into the river so much
easier az the wharf or al the ferry
deck Still one cannot account for
what man might do if bent on sui.
eide and there are circumstances
cutie as much az variance with the
theory Of murder whicn is advanced
by some notably that the man or
men who killed him would not be
likely 10 take of his coat and vest
and leave them where they were
found.
Another Theory.
An unpleasant theory advanced by
some and not altogether without
is that Strawhun was in
trouble about money Mates. and
that instead OF committing suicide he
went awav 10 avoid the developments
which were threatened. leaving his
clothes where they were found toI
ceste the impression Of foul play or
suicide.
In support Of this theory it is cited
hat be was seen late Friday night in
The gambling room Of C0oksey Bros
al tho sautheasterly corner Of Sixth
street and Commercial avenue T1is
com T. kept or run by Henry Lysle.
Ernest Waters and man named
Butts Sfud-poker was played and
he game was strong one. Straw
hun played a liberal game a1d is said
To have lost considerable sum Of
money The theory Is tat he lost
noi only what he had upon his per
son. but also gave a check for what
b. had deposi e1 in the Murphysboro !
bank. losing that also. In de- peratiOn |
be- left iEe place and wandered about |
.or a time He was seen Ia the game |
some time before midnight When he |
cft Us not stated. but the men who 4
were in The game with him the three !
men named above c3ulI ten this. and |
-ouid probably throw much valuable |
ght upon he case.
IN the ame 81 mind ia which he
was when he left The game aOcri
lcing neeeed be might have don"
,.ther ut two things according 10 The I
nature 81 the man n he vas strong I
l. e.