New-York tribune., 1910-07-21
IRA G. RAWN SAID
TO BE A SUICIDE
Monon President Was Chief Wit
ness in Illinois Central Fraud
Investigation.
TO HAVE BEEN A DEFENDANT
Looked Like Walking Death,
Says Friend-Powder Marks
on Nightgown Confute
Story of Burglar.
lBy Telegraph to The rrfoune-1


Chicago, July 20-Ira Griffith Rawn.
president Of the Monon Railroad. whose
death by shooting early this morning at
his summer home in winnetka. Chica-
go suburb. was at first charged 70 a
burglar, is now believed TO have killed
himself
It is considered practically certain that
Mr. Rawn committed suicide rather than
face the impending revelation Of his al
legged connection with the million dollar
frauds perpetrated on the Illinois Cen
traI Railroad while he was its vice-pres-
ident.
This is the theory of both the police
who investigated the case and Of those
familiar with Mr. Rawn's Illinois Central
record. The latter. from their definite
knowledge of the facts and circum-
stances attending the railroads graft
losses. furnish the motives-fear Of a re-
cession from wealth and a respected po-
sition and Of possible criminal prosecU-
ton and conviction
The police. from their investigation OF
the shooting. so far as the reticent rela-
tives have permitted that Investigation
TO go. refute all theories Of murder by
burglar. a hired assassin or a private en-
env: in fact, all theories but that OF
suicide.
AS a basis for their suicide theory the
noIice advance the following reasons
They point to the fact that Mr. Ravn
was operating vice-president OF tne
Illinois Central Railroad at the time
fraudulent car repair contracts were put
through. and that recently he has been
drawn into the Illinois Central graft
investigation as a chief witness
They say that the action OF Mr.
Rawn's relatives in refusing the aid OF
the Chicago detective department TO
search for the alleged murderer is sus-
picious-
They declare that there exists a lack
Of convincing evidence that an intruder
had actually been in the Rawn resi-
dence-
Mrs. Rawn. wife Of the dead man;
R G. Coburn. his son-in-law: Mrs Co
burn and two children and three maids
were in the house when the tragedy oc-
Cured. Mrs Rawn SAYS that her hus-
band was aroused frorl sleep az 1.30
O'Clock in the morning by noise on the
first floor of the residence. She says
that Mr.. Rawn picked up a revolver in
his room on the second floor. started
down stairs and was shot on a landing
halfway down
Evidence of Only One Shot.
Both Mrs. Rawn and Coburn say that
two shots were fired \ minute search
of the front hall and adjoining rooms
of the residence. however. shows evil
dence Of only one bullet. that fired from
Mr.. Rawn's revolver. and which appar-
emily had passed through Mr. Rawn's
body Just below the heart
Coroner Peter Hoffman took personal
charge of the investigation into the
death. He refused 10 say whether he
thought the case was one OF murder or
of suicide He stated. however. that
Dowder marks had been found on Mr.
Rawn's nightgown. indicating that the
bullet which killed Mr. Rawn was fired
at close range
Friends and business associates OF the
dead man say that he has been looking
badIy for several weeks. Some attrlo-
uted Mr.. Rawn's worried expression 70
the Investigation of the conspiracy by
which the Illinois Central Railroad al
1ares If was rnuIcted out OF hundreds OF
thousands OF dollars. This is now go
ing on in court The outcome OF tnlS
1t is said. would have IN
voIved Mr.. Rawn. at least indirectly
On two successive days last week Mr.
Rawn begged for and secured post
ponement of his examination as a VIZ
ness on the plea that his wife was III
His examination was scheduled TO %
taken up again next Tuesday
Nrr- Rawn left the Illinois Central
Railroad in November. 1909. and be-
can,s president OF the Monon- Early
this snriug the Illinois Central fraud
came to light Though the tnvestiga-
+fon is not in such shape that any cr1rn-
tna1 responsibility for the frauds is fixed.
:, 10 declared that the railroad reputa-
+iors of some persons involved would be
-,,insd. and their futures practically blot
ted out
Ar the first hearing before Master n
Cbancerv Thomas Taylor. jr.. Mr. Rawn
testified rldL LLlc NdA ASke--~ ~S--~- N~--
car,a under his supervision He admit
I'D that he was responsible for farming
o,,+ +ha cars TO the various repair COM
panies.
s.,Nould Have Been Ruined.
mfr Rawn was deeply involved and
would have come from the investigation
. r,ired man" declared one OF the men
,,bo has had an active part in the in
curry when told OF the railroad presi-
dant,s death. AS I sat across from him
ar +be witness table the thought came to
,,s that I was watching man slowly
Shining into his grave. Every day for
,,,aaLs he has looked like a walking
death.
..vYhen the news struck the North
cbora suburbs this morning. those who
Rnew Mr.. Rawn and saw him daily were
not surprised The only surprise ex-
dressed was at the story of the burg
larry.
The known facts of the tragedy carry
ont the suicide theory. They are as fol-
lows:
While going 10 the city on the sub
,,rhan train on Tuesday morning Mr.
Pawn confided 10 a friend, j. Allen
Haines. that ne had heard burglars in
his house on the previous night and had