Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 July 1910 — RAWN WAS VICTIM OF AN ASSASSIN [ARTICLE]

RAWN WAS VICTIM OF AN ASSASSIN

Finding of Second Bullet Shows Suicide Theory False. ESTATE IS TO RE ATTACHED Illinois Central Graft Probe May Reveal Half Dozen Former Officials to Have Profited by Alleged CrookednessChicago. July 22.—Important developments have strengthened the theory that Ira G. Rawn, president of the Monon railway, was not a suicide, but was murdered by a midnight naaura der. One of the most important new features is the finding of the second bullet. This is highly important as showing that Mr. Rawn fired at the intruder. Failure to find this bullet and the fact that but one chamber of his revolver was empty has done much to brave up the theory of suicide. It also serves to show that he was slain with a weapon of much larger caliber thac his own. as the ballet which entered his body tore a hole near his spine where it emerged after passing through his body. Still another development was a private examination of the premises, the body of the slain man and an examination of the servants and neighbors by detectives said to have been empolyed by insurance companies. These men, after many hours work, announced they had no doubt Mr. Rawn had been murdered and that the insurance companies would probably not contest the payment of 'hW ■ policies. Against all these features; which indicate that he was slain by an assassin or some one prompted by revenge, is the statement by attorneys for the Illinois Centra] that Mr. Rawn was on the verge of being exposed as the head and front of the conspiracy to joot that compntry of $1,500,000. None meq making these charges will them over his signature, but all talk freely of the case and say the evidence was overwhelming 1 It was stated authoritatively by the Illinois Central attorneys that Rawn’s estate would be tied up in the courts in an effort to reimburse the road for its losses The amount of his estate is not exactly known, but it is thought he was worth, aside from his life Insurance. fully a million dollars It is thought his total insurance, accident and life, will exceed $200,000. Before the latest developments, attorneys connected with the Illinois Central graft inquiry painted Rawn as the head, front and brains of the millien and half dollars conspiracy Some of them went further and said they had expected his suicide and that they are now even expecting the suicide of another former and prominent official of the road who has not thus far mentioned in connection with the graft cases It was stated ’hat soon another bill will be filed bringing nearly half a dozen former officials of the road into the case