Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-07-23
Chemist Finds CoIOring
Matter of Some Sort
Was Used.
HITS MURDER THEORY
CoIored Chauffeur, Arrested as
Suspect, Is Released After
Quiz by Police.

Chicago, July 23.-'T am convinced
Ernest Stevens has told the truth and
that his alibi cannot be shaken. l will
order his release Immediately" This
was the statement made today by As
sistant Chief of Police Schuettler after
questioning Stevens on suspicion he
was connected with the tragedy, and
two witnesses who were called 20 prove
Or disprove the suspects alibi.
Is Given Freedom.
Stevens was released this afternoon
on orders from Assistant Chief Schuet-
tier. The police have returned to the
suicide theory.
Not Blood stains.
Chicago, July 25-Stains on the ce-
ment sidewalk near the home of Ira
G. Rawn, the railroad president, who
was found shot to death in his summer
residence, were declared today by
chemists TO be caused by some coloring
matter, and not blood stains of the sup
posed murderer, as believed by Rawn's
relatives and friends This discovery
weakens the theory of murder held by
the relatives of Rawn.
Negro AEEeSteu.
Ernest Hoffman, a negro chauffeur
formerly employed by Mr.. Rawn, was
arrested here late yesterday as a sus-
pect in connection with the railroad
presidents death. Hoffman was dis
charged December last and as late as
last May is declared TO have theateneG
Mr. Rawn's life.
The arrest Of Hoffman" . whose real
name It was learned IS Ernest Stevens,
was made on Information supplied by
H. P. Cullen, president of the CONNER
cial Mercantile company of Chicago
a friend of the former Monon presi-
dent, who said he heard the negro say:
I'll get that white man; I'll get
him"
Assistant Chief of Police Schueitler
said that aside from this the detectives
had secured no evidence against Ste
vens.
Widow Talks.
Although too i'll to attend her hus
bands funeral. Mrs. Ira G. Rawn, wild
ow of the Monon road president, yes.
terday made a detailed statement Of
the shooting of Mr.. Rawn at his sum-
mer home in Winnetka last Wednesday
morning.
In a general way this statement bears
out the stories of the death of Mr..
Rawn, as told by the dead mans SON
in-law, r. G. Coburn. Mrs. Rawn says
she and her husband were awakened
by a noise on the first floor of the
house; that Mr.. Rawn picked up his
revolver and started down stairs.
Then, says Mrs. Rawn, she heard a
noise of some sort, apparently on the
stairway, and a shot, or shots.
The police, however, have seized upon
three points in Mrs. Rawn's statement
that they consider of importance in
connection with the mysterious death.
The first is the declaration by Mrs.
Rawn that she is certain of having
heard but one shot, the second is her
assertion that Mr.. Coburn, her sOn-in-
law, preceded her down stairs and that
he had turned on the lights before she
reached her husbands body, and the
third is the statement that Mr. Rawn
was found lying squarely on his back.
Support Suicide Theory.
The police say these three points |
support their theory that Mr.. Rawn
killed himself. Friends of the Rawn |
family insist that Mrs. Rawn's descrip |
ton of what occurred Wednesday morn |
ing is further evidence that Mr.. Rawn |
was murdered.