The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-20
SHOT BY BURGLAR
Ira G. Rawn, President OF the
MOnOn Railway,
Is Killed at His Home IN
Suburb Of Chicago.
HE HEARD A NOISE
And Descended the Stairs Tor
an Investigation.
Shots Followed and Family
Found Him Dying.
HE HEARD A NOISE

Chicago, July 20.-Ira G. Rawn'
president of the Chicago. Indianapolis
&c Louisville railway, the Monon route
was shot through the heart and Instant
ly killed at 1880 o'clock this morning
by a burglar, who entered his summer
home in Winnetaka, suburb. Is miles
north of Chicago.
The burglar forced open the base
ment door and was heard prowling
about the first floor by Mr.. Rawn,
who went down stairs to investigate.
Members of the family heard him say:
What do you want here?'' and a shot
was fired Immediately afterward.
When they hurried to the first floor.
Mr.. Rawn was lying dead at the foot
of the stairs, with a bullet through his
heart The murderer or murderers
escaped. The fact that the murder
was committed by burglar was es-
tablished 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
driven the residents of the North
shore suburbs almost to a frenzy.
The story of the shooting of Mr..
Rawn, was told by Ralph G. Coburn.
son-in-law 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 ascertain 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 was awakened by the
roar of two shots fired in quick sue
cession.
ST rushed out as did the others. We
found Mr. Rawn lying in his night
clothes. Blood was trickling from his
breast.
He struggled, turned over tried to
speak and could not. We sent in hur-
ried calls for doctor Mr.. Rawn died
within five or six minutes after the
shot had been fired. He did not re-
gain consciousness.
Called the Police.
eve Immediately summoned the
Winnetaka police and it was they who
found the mark on the door which
had been committed by burglar.
other than that we have no clew.
1.-THE house was occupied by Mr.. and
Mrs. Rawn their daughter, Mrs. Bige-
low, 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 burglar"
A half hour after the murder had
been committed detectives were sum-
moned by relatives of the dead man.
eve will offer a reward said Mr..
Coburn, "and spare no expense to cap
ture the assassin
Last April the Rawns moved from
their residence in Schiller street, Chi
cago, to the Gay residence on Pleasant
street in Winnetaka. They had rented
it for the summer. Mr.. RaWn has
three daughters, all married. They are
Mrs. Robert c. Brinkley, Mrs. Rlaph
G. Coburn and Mrs D. N. Bigelow.
Mr.. Rawn was SO years old, having
been born August 20. 1855, at Della
ware, Ohio He entered the railway
service in 1870, beginning as a tele-
graph operator for the Big Four.
After rising to be 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 & Ohio railway. In 1890,
he was made general superintendent
of the Baltimore & Ohio Southwest
ern. He became general manager of
that system in 1904 and in 1907 was
made vice president in charge of oper-
alton of the Illinois Central lines.
About year ago he was elected presi-
dent of the Monon.
A revolver with one empty cartridge
was found near Mr.. Rawn's body. No
trace of the second bullet could be
found and the police believe that 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
wounded by Mr.. Rawn was strength
ened when the police found a trail of
blood about 100 feet along a stone
walk east of the Rawn residence.
Coroner Hoffman and Deputy Cor
oner Webster went to Winnetaka early
today. A jury was empanelled and
the inquest begun shortly after s
o'clock.
Investigation by the police showed
that 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
the rooms. The burglar had appar-
emily just entered the front hall when
he was heard by Mr. Rawn. who
started downstairs with a revolver in
his hand. Nothing had been dis
turbed by the intruder
Coroner Hoffman postponed the in
quest until July %.
Young Woman a Victim.
Chicago, July 20-Miss Katie To-
mara, 21 years old, was seriously
wounded today after a struggle with a
burglar, whom she discovered in her
bedroom. Miss Tomara attempted to
seize the man and then tried to get
out of the room to give an alarm. AS
she ran the man fired two shots. one
bullet lodging in her right shoulder.
The man escaped.
= Open Switch Cases Death.
Chicago, July 2O.-One man was
killed and another seriously injured to-