Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-07-21
THINK ACT IS OUTCOME
OF BIG FRAUD SCANDAL
Railway Official Dies of Bullet Wound
and is Reported Murdered by In
truder to Home, But circumstances
Cause Suspicion and Investigation
is Started.
(Rv Associated Pressl

CHICAGO, ILLS, July 20.-Ira G.
hawn, president of the Chicago.
Indianapolis & Louisville Railroad,
1.-THE Monon route) died of a bullet
wound at his summer residence In
Winnetake. fifteen miles north OF
Chicago. early today.
Members of Mr. Rawn's family say
he was killed by a burglar. The
police are working on a theory that
Mr.. Rawn killed himself
AS basis for their suicide theory.
the police advance the following
reasons:
Suicide Theory.
They point to the fact that Mr..
Rawn was operating vice-president of
the Illinois Central Railroad at the
time fraudulent car repair contracts
were put through, and that recently
he had been drawn into the Illinois
Central graft investigation as a chief
witness.
They say that the action of Mr..
Rawn's relatives in refusing the aid
of the Chicago detective department
to search for the alleged murderer.
IS suspicious.
They declare that there exists a
lack of convincing evidence that
On intruder had actually been in the
Rawn residence. Mrs. Rawn. wife OF
the dead man; r. G. Coburn, his SON
in-law; Mrs. Coburn and two children
and three maids were in the house
whenshe tragedy occurred.
Story of His Wife.
Mrs. Rawn says that her husband
was aroused from sleep at 1870
o'clock in the morning by noise
On the first floor OF the residence.
She says Mr. Rawn picked up re-
volver in his room, on the second
floor. started down stairs and was
shot on a landing half way down.
Roth Mrs. Rawn and Mrs. Coburn say
that two shots were fired.
A minute search of the front hall
and adjoining rooms of the residence,
however. show but one bullet. that
fred from Mr.. Rawns revolver and
which. apparently. passed through
Mr.. Rawn's body just below the heart.
Coroner Peter Hoffman took per
sonal charge of the investigation into
the death. He refused to say wheth-
er he thought the case was one OF
murder or of suicide. He stated, how
ever. that powder marks had been
found on Mr. Rawns night gown. in
dicating that the bullet. which killed
Mr.. Rawn. was fired at close range.
Friends and business associates OF
the dead man say that he had been
looking badly. for several weeks
Some attributed Mr. Rawn's wor-
ried expression to the investigation
of the conspiracy by which the IL
linois Central Railroad claims II was
muIctad ont of hundreds of thousands
Ct dollars.
Begs For Time.
On two successive days last week,
Mr.. Rawn begged for and secured
postpouement OF his examination as
witness on the plea that his wife was
III. His examination was scheduled
TO be taken up again next Tues
day.
Mr.. Rawn left the Illinois Central
railroad in November 1903. and be-
came president OF the Monon- Early
this year the Illinois Central fraud
| came TO light. Though the investiga-
| ;ion Is not in such shape that any
/ criminal responsibility for the frauds
is fixed. II is declared that the repu,
tation Of some persons involved would
| be ruined and their futures practical
| " blotted out
His First Testimony.
At the first hearing before master
| IN chancery. Thomas Taylor. IT.. NJ.
Rawn testified taat the car repair
| contracts came under his supervision
| He admitted that ne -~as responsible
for farming ont the cars 20 the var
fous repair companies.
~Mr. Ravu was deeply involved and
would have come from the investiga-
ton a ruined man. declared one OF
the men who has had Al active par.
in the inquiry when told OF the rail
road presidents death.
As 7 sat across from him AZ the
witness table. the thought came 10
me that I was watching a man slow
| " slipping into his crave. Every day
.or weeks he has looked Ike walk
ing death
When The news struck the North
Shore suburbs this morning. fkoss
Who knew NJ. Rawn and saw bin
oafly we're not surprised. The only 1
eurprise expressed vas that NJ the
sfofr Of the burglary