The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-07-21
Whether Case of Murder or
Suicide, Is Question That
Battles Officers.
FAMILY INSIST RAWN
WAS SHOT BY BURGLAR
Deceased Prominent in Rail
road Circles, and Figured
in Investigations.


president of the Chicago, Indianapolis
& Louisville (the Monon roure), died
of a bullet wound at his summer resi-
dence in Winnetka, fifteen miles north
of Chicago, early today.
Members of Mr.. Rawn IS family say
he was killed by burglar. The police
are working on theory that Mr..
Rawn killed himself. As a basis for
their suicide theory, the police point
to the fact that Mr.. Rawn was operat-
ing ce-president of the Illinois Cen
tral railroad at the time fraudulent
car repair contracts were put through,
and that recently he has been drawn
into The Illinois Central graft investi-
cation as a chief witness. They say
| the actions of Mr.. Rawn IS relatives in
| refusing the aid of the Chicago detec-
| tive department to search for the al
| legged murderer is suspicious.
They declare there exists lack of
convincing evidence that an intruder
had actually been in the Rawn resi-
dence.
Mrs. Rawn, the widow; R. g. Co.
burn, his son-in-law; Mrs. Coburn and
two children and three maids were in
the house when the tragedy occurred.
Statement of Widow.
| Mrs. Rawn says her husband was
| aroused from sleep at l.30 o'clock in
the morning by 81 noise on the first
floor of the residence. She says Mr..
Rawn picked up a revolver, started
down stairs, and was shot while on a
landing half way down. Both Mrs.
Rawn and Coburn say two shots were
flred. A minute search of the front
hail and adjoining rooms Of the resi-
aencc. however show hut one bullet,
| that fred by Mr.. Rawn g revolver. and
which apparently had passed through
Mr.. Rawn IS body Just below the heart.
| Coroner Peter Hoffman took personal
charge of the investigation into the
death. lie said powder marks had been
found on Mr.. Rawn s nightgown, in
dicating that the revolver from which
the fatal bullet was fired was dis
charged at close range.
Friends and business associates Of
Mr.. Rawn say he has been looking bad
ly for several weeks. Some thought he
was worrying over the investigation OF
the conspiracy by which the Illinois
Central railroad claims it was mulcted
of thousands of dollars.
Had Begged Off.
On two successive days last week Mr..
Rnwn begged for and secured post
poueWcHU OL HIS cNdHiHdtIou us Il VIII
ness on a plea that his wife was i'll.
His examination was scheduled to be
taken up again Tuesday,
Mr. Rawn left the Illinois Central
railroad IN November, 1909, and be-
came president of the Monon. Early
this spring the Illinois Central fraud
came to light.
At the first hearing before Master,
in Chancery Thomas Taylor, Jr,, Mr..
al hot nfrn oil
came under his supervision. He ad-
mitted be was responsible for farming
out the cars to the various repair COM
panies.
Mr. Rawn IS son-in~law. r. c. Coburn,
and r. C. Brinkley assumed command
of tho investigation of his death from
the start. A number of detectives from
n private agency were summoned hur-
riedly TO Winnetka early this morning.
A number of these were stationed at
various points in the house and grounds.
They were told to give no information
TO any person making inquiries.
Squabble of Detectives.
This situation was further eompli-
Gated tonight when a. squad of em-
ployeos of second private detective
agency arrived Mt Winnetka. These
men stated they had been ordered to
make full inquiry into the death
They visited the village police head
quarters, talked with numerous resi- |
dents Of Winnetka and for Il time it
WINS believed they also were in the en-
ploy of members of tho Rawn family. |
But when they went to the Rawn resi-
dence, they were repulsed by detectives
from the first agency and were ordered |
off the grounds.
A brief alteration cnsued and tho
members of the Rawn family we're |
called to settle the dispute. Mr.. Co. !,
burn and Brinkley told the second squad |
they were not wanted at the residence |
and had not been ordered,
1t is not known who is responsible |
for engaging tho second detective
agency,
For time it was rumored that insur-
ance companies carrying risks on Mr..
Rawn's IS life for 100000 were the en-
MED, It was then stated that the de-
tectiyes had been employed by railroad |
interests.
Several neighbors in the vicinity Of
the Rawn residence state they heard q
81 single shot close to 10 clock on Tues
day night, None has been found who
heard a shot Wednesday morning,
f, n. Brinkley, one of Rawn s sons
law, declared tonight that private
detectives had secured n clue to the
identity of the alleged murderer of
Mr., Rawn. and that an arrest would
be made tomorrow.
The story OF the shooting Of Mr.. Rawn
was told by Ralph G, Coburn, n son-n-
law of the Victim this morning,
"Mr Rawn was wakened by sounds on
the first floor OF the house." no said HE
insisted upon going down to ascertain tho
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