LAWSON, Fred G. - L-Obituaries

A 50-year-old man identified as Fred G. Lawson, Mary's hotel resident, room 317, was found dead, lying on the floor of his room by Morris Cleary, proprietor of Pardon's pool room, 190 Pipestone St., Benton Harbor, and his son, Edgar, at 2:30 a.m. today. Lawson, an employee of the Pardon pool room, had been confined to his bed with a heart ailment for some time before taken by death early this morning. Berrien county Coroner Louis Kerlikowske, who said there would be no inquest as death appeared to be due to natural causes, added that Lawson had been dead for some six hours before he was found. Cleary and his son, who employed Lawson as a clerk, told police that after closing the pool room at 2 a.m. they both decided to visit Lawson to see if he was resting well before they retired. On entering the room both men found Lawson lying on the floor. They immediately called police who investigated. Several vials of nitroglycerine were found on the dresser table and one was found next to the body on the floor, police said. The body was removed to the Florin funeral home, 258 Pipestone St., Benton Harbor, where services will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. Lawson, who had been employed as a clerk at the pool room for the past year, had been in ill health for the past two, suffering from a heart illness. He was born in Attica, Ind. Oct. 16, 1899 and was a World War I veteran, serving overseas in the army motor transport corps. He came to Benton Harbor in 1920 and lived there for three years at which time he was employed by the Superior Steel and Malleable Castings, 309 Graham Ave., Benton Harbor, and by the Producers Creamery, 408 West Main St. He lived for a time in Terre Haute, Ind., returning to Benton Harbor three years ago. He was a member of the Benton Harbor Moose lodge and of the Benton Harbor VFW post 1459. He leaves one daughter, Mrs. Otto Pallas, Jr., 794 Buss Ave., Benton Harbor, and two sisters, Mrs. Marie Barr and Mrs. Myrtle Steadman, both of Attica, Ind. Other survivors are two brothers, Clinton, Attica; Walter, White Pigeon; and two grandchildren. Following the services Sunday which will be in charge of the Benton Harbor Moose lodge, the body will be taken to Attica, Ind. where graveside services will be held Monday afternoon. Interment will be in the Attica cemetery.