Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-07-20
President of Monon Road
Victim of Midnight
Revolver Duel.
SHOT THROUGH HEART
Believed That He Wounded In
truder, Whom He SurpriS-
ed at Work in Home.

Chicago, July 2O.-Ira G. Rawn,
president of the Monon, was shot
through the heart and instantly killed
early this morning by a burglar who
entered his summer home in Winnet-
ka, Is miles north of Chicago. Inc
burglar was heard prowling about
on the first floor by Rawn. who went
downstairs to investigate. Members
of his family heard him say, What do
you want here?" and two shots in
quick succession were heard.
Is Found Dead.
When the family hurried TO the
first floor Rawn was lying dead at the
foot of the stairs with bullet through
his heart The murderer escaped. A
revolver with one empty cartridge was
found near Rawn's body.
Probably Inflicted Wound.
No trace of the second bullet could
be found and the police believe Rawn
wounded his assailant. This belief
was strengthened when the police
found trail of blood 100 feet along
a stone walk east of the Rawn resi-
dence 1t is impossible to determine
whether Rawn or the murderer fired
first.
Jimmy Is Found.
The fact that the murder was COM
mitted by a burglar was established
by the finding of jimmy marks on
the door, which had been forced open.
The assassination is the climax of
reign of crime that has driven resi-
dents of the north shore suburb almost
to a frenzy The story of the shooting
of Rawn was told by Ralph G. Coburn.
son-in-law of the victim, this morning.
Wife Tried to Prevent.
"Rawn was awakened by sounds on
the first floor of the house." he said.
He insisted upon going down to ascer-
tain the cause, although Mrs. Rawn
tried to persuade him not do it.
He descended the stairs and had
barely reached the landing when
every one in the house was awakened
by the report of two shots fired in
quick succession.
Lived Few Minutes.
81 rushed out. as did others. We
found Rawn lying in his night clothes,
blood trickling from his breast.
He struggled, turned over, tried to
speak and could not. Rawn died with
in five or six minutes after the shot
had been fired. He did not regain
consciousness"
Began as Telegraph Operator.
Rawn was 55 years oid, having been
born Aug. 90, 1855, at Delaware, Ohio.
He entered the railway service in
1870, beginning as telegraph operator
for the Big Four After rising to be
hot he m
the Kentucky Central railway in 1887
as master of transportation. Two
years later he became division super
intendent and superintendent of trans
portation of the Chesapeake & Ohio
railroad. In 1890 he was made general
superintendent of the Baltimore &
Ohio Southern.
Operated Illinois Central.
He became general manager of that
system in 1904 and in 1907 was made
vice president in charge of operation
of the Illinois Central lines. A year
ago he was elected president of the
Monon.
Girl shot by Burglar.
Chicago, July 2O.-Miss Kate To
mara. 81 years old, was seriously
with a burglar whom she discovered
in her bedroom. Miss Tomara at
tempted to seize the man and then
tried to get out of the room to give
an alarm. AS she ran out the man
fired two shots. one bullet lodging in
her right shoulder. The man escaped !
May Not Have Been Burglar.
One man was arrested as a suspec |
but released Immediately. Detectives
say indications are it was not an ex- |
pert burglar who entered Rawn's |
home, and there are intimations that |
the killing may have been the result |
of another motive than robbery, |
Rawn recently was a prominent wit |
ness in the Chicago and Western Indi- !
ana railroad cases in which alleged |
real estate frauds aggregating $500, |
900 were charged against former Off |
cials of the road. The case against |
one of the men is still pending.
Wnymnn Scouts Plot Idea.
States Attorney Wayman said he |
was satisfied Rawn's testimony in the |
Chicago & Western Indiana fraud pro. |
ceedings had nothing to do with the |
T1urder. Wayman said he had looked |
over the testimony today and he |
thought 1t contained nothing by which /
Rawn could have incurred the enmity /
of any one.