THE SPOUSE'S CLAIM FOR 6-MONTH DEATH GRATUITY MAY BE PAID SINCE THE COURTS HAVE HELD THAT WHERE AN ACCUSED DIES BEFORE MANDATORY APPEAL FROM HIS CONVICTION HAS BEEN COMPLETED. THE PROCEEDINGS MUST BE ABATED FROM THEIR INCEPTION AND IF PROCEEDINGS WERE ABATED MEMBER'S SPOUSE WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR DEATH BENEFITS. CLAIM OF PATRICIA WHITE - B-223536-O.M.: RETURNED HEREWITH IS YOUR FILE Z-2831043. IT I...