The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-07-21
President of Monon, Now Be-
lieved a Suicide, Alleged to
Be Mainly Responsible for q
Big Graft.
POLICE NOT ALLOWED
TO PROBE THE CASE
Dead Officials Son-in-laW
Predicted That an Arrest in
the Case Would Be Made
Deep Mystery.
tAmerican News Service,

tAmerican News services
Chicago. July 21.-The chief Of po-
lice and president of the village board
OF Winnetka united today In the declar
ration that President Rawn OF the Mo-
non railway. committed suicide.
Some OF Rawn's friends express the
belief that his mind had become #.
fected under the terrible strain Of the
past two years.
An investigation Of the 100000 life
insurance policies. alleged to have
been carried by Rawn, was begun to-
day following the reports that Rawn
had greatly increased his policies In
the past few months.
While Ralph G. Coburn. son-in-law
of Ira G. Rawn, predicted an arrest
today. police are working on the the
ory OF suicide.
The failure to trace any wounded
man is the basis for the belief that
Rawn killed himself. His connection
with the Illinois Central graft scandal
is said to have furnished the motive.
Members OF Rawn's family declare
that two shots were fired in the hall.
way OF the Winnetka home Neigh
bors heard only one and traces Of on.
" one shot can be found.
-A~~.i~.
Mystery shrouded the case today -
evidence in support OF each OF the
three theories-that he was killed by
a burglar, that secret enemy was
the assassin. and that he killed him
self-was found.
The suicide theory. however. re-
ceives most credence, because Of the
attitude of the family in refusing to
permit either the police of Winnetka
or Chicago to take active part In the
investigations.
Railway men declare Rawr was
largely responsible for the $4,000. 900
graft scandal in the Illinois Central
and was facing probable criminal ac-
JlOu. luCy COu6iuCICu IL ahOiy no
! would kill himself rather than face
| the exposure OF the inside Of the car
repair deals, in the investigation Of
which he testified twice within the
last week and half.
| Friends and business associates say
that since the inquiry. Rawn has aged
twenty years since 1t became known
that he held between 500 and 1000
| shares in the Blue Island Car ana
Equipment company, which In July
paid back to the railway half . mil
lion dollars collected from 1t.
Claimed Wife Was III.
Rawn twice obtained postpone
ments Of the action, claiming that his
wife was III and he had to be home
with her Evidenced an unwillingness
to testify. principally. II il alleged
because his testimony not only would
have injured himself. but would have
ruined the railroad regulations OF half
a dozen men high In the trust Of the
company.
Officers at work on the case die.
agree as to theory but the prepon-
derancee of thought is that he COM
mitted suicide. There was no witness
to the shooting and the one person
who can bear out even the slightest
part OF the murder idea ss Mrs. Rawn.
She says she was awakened BY :
sound and gave her husband the sum
mons which sent him to his death.
| One Of the many stories In cfrcula-
| tion was to the effect that Rawn re-
Gently had taken out $110.O00 new In
surance. Relatives. however, deny
this.