Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-07-29
HEAD OF RAILWAY
SYSTEM SLAIN BY
BURGLAR IN HOME
Fashionable Suburb of Chicago
Driven Almost Distracted
by a Carnival of
Crime.

Chicago, July 22.-Whiie il is sen-
orally believed by the poiice hat Presi-
dent Ira G. Rawn, of the Monon rail
way system, was slain by a burglar in
his home early this morning, private
detectives, working on the case, init
mate that there ma hav been another
motive. The detectives say that the
work of the man who broke into the
house was not that of an expert bur-
gIar. A screen door through which he
ing off the Iatches. The detectives as
sert that a burglar could easily have
cut away the screen without making
the noise which must rave been caused
by the breaking of the latches.
Mr.. Rawn recently was a prominent
witness in the Chicago and Western
Indiana railroad cases in which alleged
real estate frauds a~ggresatins $780,
COO were charged against the former
officials of the road. The case against
one of the men still is pending.
States Attorney Wayman said that
he was satisfied that Mr.. Rawn's tes.
timony in the Chicago and Western
to do with the murder. Mr.. Wayman
said he had looked over the testimony
today and that he thought it contained
nothing by which Mr.. Rawn could have
incurred the enmity of any one
Twenty private detectives are now
| WORKING or InG CdSCs All HdN6 DSCH
hired by Mr.. Rawn's family.
Chicago, July 22.-Ira G. Rawn, pres
ident of the Chicago, indianapolis &
Louisville Railway company Che Mo-
non rOute), was shot through the heart
and instantly killed at 100 o'clock this
morning by d burglar, vino entered MS
summer home at Winnetka, a suburb
Is miles north Of Chicago.
The burglar forced the basement door
and was heard prOWling about the first
floor by Mr.. RaWn, who went down
family heard him say What do you
want here?" n a shot was fired i'm
mediately afterward. When they hur-
ried to the first floor Mr.. Rawn was
lying dead at the foot Of the stairs with
a bullet through his heart. The mur-
1erer or murderers escaped.
The fact hat the murder was com
mitted by a burglar was established by
the finding of "jimmy' marks on the
door which had been forced open. The
assassination is the climax to a reign
Of crime that has river the residents
IF the north shore suburb almost to a
frenzy.
Story of the Killing.
The story Of the shooting of Mr..
Rawn was told by Ralph G.. Coburn, a
soninlaw of the victim, this morning.
Mr.. RaWn was awakened by sounds
on the first floor Of the house." he said.
He insisted upon going down to as
certain the cause, although Mrs. Rawn
tried to persuade him not to do it. He
descended the stairs, and had barely
reached the landing when every one in
the house vas awakened by the roar of
two shots fired in quick succession.
II rushed out, as did the others. We
found Mr.. Rawn lying in his night
clothes. Blood was triCkling from his
| 1rpqCt He Gtrr1 OOlaH frIrna1 nyvpr friaI
to speak, n could not. We sent in
hurried calls for a doctor. Mr.. Rawn
died within five or six minutes after
the shot had been fired. He did not
regain consciousness.
1--WE Immediately summoned the
Winnetka police, and it was they who
found the marks on the door which
established the fact that the crime had
been committed by a burglar. Other
than that we have no clew.
The house was occupied by Mr.. and
Mrs. Rawn, their daughter, Mrs. Bige-
low, and my wife and myself and our
two children. There were also three
servants in the house, the cook, Mrs.
Rawn's maid and Mrs. Bigelow's maid.
None OF the rest Of us heard the our
glar. Only n bulelt took effect. The
other went wild"
Big Reward Offered.
A half an hour after the murder had
been committed detectives were hired
by relatives Of the dead man.
W will offer a reward" said Mr..
COburn, land spare no expense to cap
ture the assassin"
A revolver with one empty chamber
was found near Mr.. Rawn's body, it
later developed. No trace of the second
bullet could be found, and no bullet
could be found, n the police believe
Mr.. Rawn wounded his assailant. Two
shots were heard, but it is impossible
to determine whether Mr.. RaWn or the
murderer fired first.
Belief that the murderer was wound
od by Mr.. Rawn was strengthened
When the police found a trail Of blood
about 100 feet along a stone walk east
Of the Rawn residence. Coroner Hoff-
a and Deputy Coroner Webster went
to Winnetka early today. A jury was
!mpaneled and the inquest begun short
ly after s o'clock.
Investigation by the police showed
hat the burglar had forced open two
'front.' doors in breaking into the house
and that he was heard by Mr.. Rawn
before he had time to ransack any of
he rooms The burglar had appar-
entity just entered the front hall when
ne was heard by Mr.. Rawn, who
started down stairs with a revolver in
his hand. Nothing had been disturbed
by the intruder.
Last April the Rawns moved from
.lelT TeSlutHCe III SCnlllSr street, Chi
g to the Gay residence on Pleasant
street, in Winnetka. They had rented II
'or the summer Mr.. Rawn had three |
daughters, all married. They are Mrs.
Robert c. Brinkley, Mrs. Ralph G. CO. |
urn and Mrs. ID. n. Bigelow.
Mr.. Rawn was SO years old, having
oeen born August 20, 1855, at Delaware,
Ohio. He entered the railway service
n 1870, beginning as a telegraph ope- |
rator for the Big Four. After rising to
De trainmaster with that road he went
to the Kentucky Central railway in
1887, as master Of transportation.
Two years later he became division |
superintendent and superintendent of
transportation of the Chesapeake e.
Ohio railroads In 1890 he was made |
general superintendent of the Baltimore
& Ohio Southwestern. He became gem
eral manager Of that system In 1904, |
and in 1907 was made vice president in
charge Of operation of the Illinois Gen. |
.ral lines About a year ago he was
elected president OF the Monon.
BLACK CHAMPION is
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