The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-07-22
SUSPICION OF SUICIDE
Whose Family Says he Was Killed
by n burglar.

Chicago, July 2I.-Ira G. Rawn.
president of the Chicago. Indianapolis
and Louisville railroad ,the Monon
RouteD died Of a bullet wound at his
summer residents in winne;ka, ff-
teen miles north of Chicago. early yes
terday. Members of Mr. Rawn's fam
ly says he was killed by a burglar
The police are working on the theory
that Mr.. Rawn killed himself.
AS basis for their suicide theory.
the police advance the following rea-
sons:
They point to the fact that Mr.
Rawn was operating vice president of
the Illinois Central railroad at the
time fraudulent car repair contracts
We're put through and that recently he
has been drawn into the Illinois Cen
trail graft investigation as a chief wit
ness
They say that the action of Mr..
Rawns relatives in refusing to aid
the Chicago detective department To
search for the alleged murderer il sus-
picious.
They declare there exists a lack of
convincing evidence that intruder
had actually been in the Rawn resi-
dence
Mrs. Rawn, wife of the dead man
r. G. Coburn, his son-in-law: Mrs. Co
burn and two children and three maids
were in the house when the tragedy
occurred
Mrs. Rawn says that her husband
was aroused from sleep at 1870 o'clock
in the morning by a noise on the first
floor Of the residence. She says Mr..
Rawn picked up a revolver In his room
on the second floor and started down
stairs and was shot at a landing half
way down. Both Mrs. Rawn and CO.
burn say that two shots were fired. 4
minute search of the front hall and ad-
joining roomsof the residence, how
ever. show but one bullet, that fired
from Mr.. Rawn's revolver and which
apparently had passed through Rawn's
body just below the heart.
Coroner Peter Hoffman took personal
charge of the investigation into the
death. He refused to say whether he
thought the case was one of murder or
suicide. He stated however. that pow
der marks had been found on Rawn's
night gown, indicating that the bullet
which killed Mr.. Rawn was fired at
close range.
Friends and business associates of
the dead man say he had been looking
badly for several weeks. Some attri-
but"l Mr.. Rawn's worried cXpression
to the investigation of the conspiracy
by which the Illinois Central claims ii
was mulcted out of hundreds Of thous-
ands of dollars. This Is now going on
IN court.
On two successive days last week
Mr.. Rawn begged for and secured n
postponement of his examination as
witness on the plea that his wife
was i'll. His examination was schedul-
ed to be taken up next Tuesday.
Mr.. Rawn left the Illinois Central
| railroad in November, 1909. and became
president of the Monon. Early this
| spring the Illinois Central fraud came
| to light. Though the investigation is
| not in such shape that any criminal re-
| sponsidility for the fraud Is connected
| it is declared that the reputation OF
some persons involved would be ruined
and their futures practically be blotted
out.
At the first hearing before Master In
Chancery Thomas J. Taylor. Jr. Mr.
Ieawn testified that the car repair con
tracts all came under his supervision
| He admitted that he was responsible.
| for farming out the cars to the various
repair companies.
| Mr.. Rawn'S sOn-in-law. $. G.. Coburn