Omaha daily bee., 1910-07-23
RAWN INVOLVED IN SCANDAL
Questions Asked in Case Previously
Planned to Incriminate.
HAVE NEW ACCIDENT THEORY
Private Detectives I'm Employ of Fam
lily Claim Dead Man Stumbled
and So Discharged re-
volver UnintenttOnaIIy.

CHICAGO July 22.-whether Ira @.
Rawn. president OF the Monon road, was
killed by a burglar in his home at Win
netka last Wednesday, or whether, as is
stated by the Chicago police, he committed
suicide. railroad mem declared today his
death occurred on the eve of what may
be one Of the greatest scandals in railroad
history.
Questions asked Rawn July in the
Illinois Central car repair case all we're
planned. it is said by attorneys, with the
intent to incriminate Rawn as responsible
for losses to the road. Rawn, 1t is de-
cared now, knew OF the purpose of coun-
sci and sought by every legal means to
delay the progress Of the examination.
Twice on personal pleas he had obtained
postponements, but the last effort for de-
lay had failed and the examination was to
have been continued next Tuesday.
His death will not cause any halt in
the inquiry" said Walter L. Fisher, one
Of the attorneys In charge OF the case.
1T is a civil inquiry to determine the
amount OF money involved. The questions
asked Mr.. Rawn at the prior sessions nat
urally were in the way Of laying founda-
ton for facts ultimately to be brought
out"
Family See Reporters.
For the first time since the death took
place the air of secrecy was lifted from
the Rawn home late today and newspaper
men were summoned Upon their arrival
announcement was made that second
bullet, the absence of which added to the
appearance of suicide, had been discovered.
The bullet was found, according to C. F.
/ ~. he fnNrA ct loo
ton, in the ashes in fireplace, almost
| in direct line of fire from where MIR.
Rawn's death resulted.
Samuel II. Greeley, president of the viii
lage board of Winnetka, also telephoned
Assistant Chief Of Police Schuettler here,
asking him to detail two men to aid in the
investigation. A representative Of the pri-
waite detective agency, the men from which
| yesterday were repulsed at the Rawn home,
also was summoned to aid in the investi-
cation.
Tell Of Accident.
new theory as to the means by which
Rawn was shot to death was suggested by
the private detective agency engaged by
the Rawn relatives to investigate the death.
The opinion was expressed that Mr.. Rawn
met his death as the result of an accident,
and in fact, but one shot had been fired
and that from the revolver held by Mr..
! Rawn.
ut is likely that Mr. Rawn heard some
noise in his home and with revolver in hand
descended the stairs in search Of an in
truder." said an official of the detective
agency.
when near the bottom of the stairway
believe he stumbled, and the revolver was
4 discharged.
This would account for the fact that
only one shot heard by neighbors and
that there was no trace of robber In the
house. Mr.. Rawn's relatives knowing he
/, descended in search of a burglar, and then
finding him dead. likely assumed he had
been shot by a burglar when the death
more probably was caused by the acct.
dental discharge of his own revolver"
HARTFORD, Conn, July A.-It was as
certalned at the offices of local insuranc,
company today that Ira C. Rawn. presi
dent Of the Monon road, few days age
reduced the accident insurance policy car
ried by him from $4,000 to $4,000 NJ
reason was given for the reduction.