Attorney-Author James Beek Dies

Local attorny and author James R. Beek, believed to be about 52, of 321 S. Main, died this morning at his office of an apparent heart attack. His body was taken to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital for an autopsy. Ann Arbor Attorney Clair E. Paulson I sad a witness to Mr. Beek's death I re-jorted that the local attorney-author collapsed and died when he got up to get his coat. Pulson called him "one of the top, if I noc the top criminal lawyer in this county." Mr. Beek had practiced law in Ann Arbor for more than 20 years. Mr. Beek was born in Fremont, Mich., I and was graduáted from Alma College. He also had studied at Hope College and Calvin College and studied law from the I La Salie Institute by correspondence I courses. He was author of the book "Bradford's ■Trials," which was baséd on a case in ■the Washtenaw County Circuit Court. At ■the time of his death, he had nearly Icompleted another book on a local court case titled "By the River's Edge." Mr. 'Beek was a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the American Bar Association. He had published articles on constitutional principies and was involved in research on political sciencel topics. He also was the author of a num-l ber of poems. Survivors include two daughters, in-l cluding Mrs. Suzanne Dart of LansingJ and a sister in Fremont. ' Funeral arrangements are incomplete. I