from The Republican (Danville, Indiana)--issue of Thursday, December 4, 1902—page 1, column 6:
Found Dead
Ezekial W. Pollock and Merriam Pierson were found dead in bed in an Indianapolis hotel, Thursday. They had been overcome by gas fumes. They had been working near Bridgeport. Pollock was a single man. Pierson left a widow and one child. Pollock had in a pocket a check on the Plainfield bank signed by John Mattern. Pierson was a member of Plainfield lodge K. of P. He was a son of Austin Pierson, of Middle township.