The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-23
AN ARREST IS MADE.
Negro Chauffeur of Ira G. Rawn Is in
Custody.

| Chicago, July 23.-Ernest Hoffman, a
negro chauffeur, formerly employed by
Ira G. Rawn, was arrested here late
Friday in connection with the railroad
presidents death. Hoffman was dis
charged and is declared to have threat
ened Mr.. Rawn's life.
The arrest of Hoffman" whose real
name it was learned is Ernest Stevens,
was made on information supplied by
H. P. Cullen, president of the CONNER
cial Mercantile company of Chicago, a
friend of the former Monon president.
Cullen swore to an affidavit to the ef-
feet that he heard the negro, referring
to Mr.. Rawn. say:
'.Tll get that white man, damn him;
I'll get him.
stevens was employed by Mr.. Rawn
from May, 1906. to December, 1909,
when. it is said, he was discharged for
disobeying orders. Assistant CHIEF ot
Police Schuettler said that aside from
this. the detectives had obtained no
evidence against Stevens.
Although too ill to- attend her nus
bands funeral, Mrs. Rawn, widow OF
the Monon road president, made a de-
tailed statement today of the shooting
of Mr.. Rawn at his summer nome III
Winnetka last Wednesday morning.
In a general way, this statement
bears out the stories of the death OF
Mr. Rawn as told by his son-1n-laW, X:
G. Coburn Mrs. Rawn says she ana
her husband were awakened by noise
on the first floor of the house, that MT
Rawn picked up his revolver ana start
ed downstairs. Then, says Mrs HaWn'
she heard noise of some sort, appar-
emily on the stairway, and snot, UT
shots.
three noints in Mrs. Rawn'S statement
that they consider of Importance III
Connection witr the investigation "I
the mysterious death.
The first is the declaration by MIS-
Rawn that she is certain Oh ha aSius :.
heard only one shot; the second is
her assertion that Mr.. Coburn, ner
son-in-law. preceded her downstairs
and that he had turned on the llgntS
before she reached her huspahu .
body, and the third is the statement
that Mr. Rawn was found lying
squarely on his back.
The police say these three polnts
support their theory that Mr.. RaWn
killed himself. Friends of the Rawn
family insist that Mrs. RaWn's de-
scription of what occurred Wednes-
day morning is further evidence thd1
Mr. Rawn was murdered
Mrs. Rawns Statement.
The following question was put to
Mrs. Rawn, regarding the point OF
hearing a shot or shots fired:
@. You say you are not clear as 70
whether you heard one shot or TWO
shots?
a shot and then screamed, and I dom t
know whether it was one or two.
could not tell you about that. know
l heard one shot.
Mrs. Rawn said that on the night
previous to the shooting she and her
husband had heard noise similar to
the one which she says aroused them
early Wednesday morning.
Like a Shutting Door.
..The noise on the first night was
something like the shutting OF
door" said Mrs. Rawn. ION the sec
ond night there was sort of creep
ing sound; whether it was the SOUND
of walking 1 cannot tell you.
II told my husband not to go down.
He did not pay any attention to me,
but kept on walking. through the dark.
1t was very dark, you could not really
see, but 1 could hear him walking,
and SO l got up and sat on the edge OF
the bed. 1t did not seem second
when 1 could hear him creeping down
and he had time to get to the first
landing when I heard a terrible scuf-
fie. so then I jumped and screamed
and at the time I screamed l heard
a shot. 1 was so dazed that could
MT move for a second and before 1
got down there my son (Mr. Coburn)
got down in the dark and he turned
on the lights
Detectives in the employ of insur-
ance companies remained in Winnetka
over night.
at am convinced that Ernest Stew
ems has told the truth and that his
alibi can not be shaken. l will order
his release Immediately" This was the
statement made today by Assistant
Chief of Police Schuettler after ques-
tioning Stevens, suspect, held IN con-
nection with the tragedy, and two wit
nesses called to prove or disprove the
suspects alibi.