Omaha daily bee., 1910-07-21

Head of Monon Railroad system
Murdered Early Tuesday Morn
ing by Burglar
PROBABLY WOUNDED AssAILANT
Police Find Trail of Blood Near the
House.
EXPIRES ALMOST INSTANTLY
Heard Noise and Had Gone to
Investigate.
TWO SHOTS IN SUCCESSION
PROBABLY WOUNDED AssAILANT
INSTANTLY
Two SHOTS IN SUCCESSION
when Members Of Family Reach Foot
of stairway He Is Breathing His
Lnst--Twenty Detectives
ne work.

CHICAGO, July 2O-Ira G. Rawn, presi-
dent OF tile Chicago indianapolis & Louis
willie railroad CThe Alonon), was murdered
in his home at Winnetka suburb OF this
city. today. The police are searching for
wounded man as the murderer.
While none in Mr.. Rawns home saw the
shooting 1t is believed that Mr.. Rawn shot
his assailant, as the police discovered trail
Of blood about 100 feet long a short dis
tance east OF the house. Two shots were
heard by MIR. Rawn's family, and his re-
volver was found with one discharged car
fridge in IL.
While It is Originally believed by the police
that the intruder entered the Rawn
home to commit burglary, private detec-
tives working on the case intimate that
there may have been another motive. The
detectives say that the work Of the man
who broke into the house was not that of
an expert burglar. A screen door. through
which he entered. had been forced open
by breaking off the latches. The detectives
assert that burglar could easily have cut
away the screen without making noise,
which may have been caused by the break
ing of the latches
Suspect is Released.
One man has been arrested as a suspect.
have searched all the suburbs near Win
netka and several laborers camps, besides
closely watching all trains,
Mr.. Rawn receI tly was a prominent wit
ness In the Chicago Il Indiana railroad
cases, in which the alleged real estate
frauds, aggregating SSO0,0OO were charged
against former officials of the road. The
case against one Of the men still Is pending.
States Attorney Wyman said that he was
satisfied that Mr.. Rawn's testimony In
the Chicago & Western Indiana fraud pro-
ceedlngs had nothing to do with the muir
der. Mr. Wayman said he had looked over
the testimony and he thought it contained
nothing by which Mr.. Rawn could have
gained the enrnity OF anyone
Twenty private detectives are now work
ing on the case
story OF hOotinE.
The story OF the shooting OF Mr.. Rawn
MAS told by Ralph G. Coburn, son-m-lsw
OF the victim. this morning.
MIR. Rawn was awakened by, sounds on
the first floor or the house." he said. He
insisted upon going down to ascertain the
cause. although Mrs Rawn tried to per-
suade him not to do It,
He descended the stairs and had barely
reached tho landing when everyone In the
house was awakened by the roar of two
shots fired In quick succession.
Il rushed out, as did the others. We
found MIR. Rawn lying in his night clothes.
Blood was ttickling from his breast.
"Lle struggled turned over. tried to
speak and could not, We sent in hurried
calls for doctor. Mr.. Rawn died within
five or six minutes after the shot had
been fired. lie did not regain conscious
ness.
I'VE Immediately summoned the Win
netka police and 1t was they VINO found
the mark ON the door which established
the fact that the crime had been COM
nlltted by burglar Other than that we
have no clue,
THE house occupied by Mr.. and
MRS. Rawn. their daughter, Mrs. Blgelow,
and my wife and myself and our two chill
dren, There were also three servants In
the house, the cook. Mrs. ttawn's maid
and Mrs. Bigelow's maid. None of the rest
OF us heard the burglar"
Only one bullet took effect The other
went Wild
Career of Mr.. Rawn.
Mr.. Rawn has three daughters, all mar
ried. They are Mrs. Robert c. Brinkley,
Mrs. Ralph q, Coburn and Mrs. ID. ~ Big
Glow.
MIR. Rawn was 65 years old, having been
born August 20, 1866. at Delaware. o. He
enlefcu the railway service IN 1870, begin
ming as telegraph operator for the Big
-Four. After rising TO be trainmaster with
that road, ne went to the Kentucky Central
railway In 1887 master of transportation
Two years later he became division super
intendent and superintendent of transporta-
tion OF the Chesapeake & Ohio In 1890 he
was made general superintendent of the
baltimore 4 Onto southwestern. He be.
came general manager OF that system In
1904 and in lsO7 was made vice president IN
charge OF operation Of the Illinois Central
lines About a year ago he was elected
president OF the Monon.
Assailsnt Probably wounded
A revolver win one empty cartridge wa.
found near Mr. Rawns body, il later de,
veloped. No trace of the second bullet could
bo found and the police believe that Mr.
Rawn wounded his assailant Two shots
we're heard. but 1t is impossible TO deter.
mine whether Mr.. Rawn or tho murderer
fired first Belief that the murderer wa,
wounded by Alr. Rawn was strengthened
when the police found tEail of blood about
100 feet along stone walk east Of the
l2awn rdsldenee
Investigation by the police showed thai
the burglar had forced open two front door,
an breaking into the house and thar n,
,,as heard by Mr.. Rawn before he had tim,
40 ransaek any of the rooms. The burRlaI
mad apparently Just entered the front hal
when he wac heard by Mr. Rawn VIII,
started down stairs with a revolver in bi
hand. Nothing had been disturbed by IN,
Intruder
Coroner Hoffman postponed the inoues
antiI July Is.