Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 171, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1910 — MONON PRESIDENT KILLED BY BURGLER AT HIS HOME. [ARTICLE]

MONON PRESIDENT KILLED BY BURGLER AT HIS HOME.

Ini G. Rawn Slain Early In Morning At Winnetka, HL, and Assassin Makes His Escape. Ira G. Rawn, president of the Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville railroad, was murdered at 1:30 o’clock this Wednesday morning at his summer home in Winnetka, 111. The murder is supposed to have been committed bv a burglar who made his escape, leaving no trace behind him. The news first reached Rensselaer by a bulletin sent to agent Beam an< all other agents along the line. The details of the murder were : ecured later.

At about 1:30 o’clock Mr. Rawn was awakened by sounds on the first floor of the house and awakening his wife told her that he was going down to see what it was. She tried to dissuade him but he insisted. He descended the stairs in his night robes and had barely reached the bottom of the steps when all of the house was awakened by two shots‘fired in quick succession. Ralph G. Coburn, son-in-law of Mr. Rawn ran to his side. The injured man struggled, turned over and tried to speak, but could not. Hurried calls for a doctor were sent but in five or six minutes he had expired. He did not regain consciousness. The Winnetka police were summoned and they found a mark on the door which established the fact that the crime had been committed by a burglar, who had entered the house by using a jimmy. The house in which Mr. Rawn lived was occupied by himself and wife, their daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph G. Coburn, and two children, and another daughter, Mrs. Bigelow, and three servants. Only one bullet took effect, the other going wild. It struck him in the breast and when Mr. Coburn reached, his side the blood was running on the floor. Both Pinkerton and private detectives were searching for the assassin a half hour after the crime was committed. Mr. Rawn succeeded W. H. McDoel as president of the Monon railroad last October, coming from the Illinois Central, where he was the vice-presi-dent. He had built himself up from telegraph operator and was regarded as one of the brightest railroad men in the country. He was 55 years of age. His progressive attitude was regarded as a very flue thing fo* the Monon railroad and was accomplishing much for it. Mr. planned a trip to Rensselaer last spring but other important business kept him from coming and he never stopped here. He had promised that a new station would be erected here and the people were hoping for a fulfillment of that promise. The murder was received as a great shock to Winnetka, where other crimes have recently been reported, including the burglary only last week of the Laird Dell residence. It is hoped that the murderer can be captured and given prompt punishment for the dastardly crime.