Birth year could be 1873 as he listed this year on the U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, which he filled out. It can be found at Ancestry.com

Augusta Chronicle, Wednesday, September 30, 1936

MAN BELIEVED KILLED IN FALL

Police Investigate Death of James Lawton Lowry on 1800 Block of Broad

Working on the theory that a 20-foot fall was fatal to James Lawton Lowry, Augusta police late last night were investigating the death of the 65-year-old textile worker whose body was found on the sidewalk in front of 1844 Broad Street.
While three eye-witnesses told police they saw the Augustan fall from a second-floor balcony overlooking the street, a fourth man reportedly told officials that he led Lowry down the stairs to the ground floor and left him at the front door. It is understood from an authoritative source that the fourth man, whose name police would not divulge, is being held in connection with Lowry's death. Officers at police headquarters would not confirm that information.
Ollie O. Lowry, brother of the dead man, said that James Lowry, who lived at 138 Ferry Street, was visiting Mr. and Mrs. Walter Richardson and was in their room at 1844 Broad Street before his body was found. Mrs. Richardson was quoted by police as saying that Lowry left the room and she and her husband did not see him again until they were attracted to the street by the noise of the congregating crowd.
C. E. Parrish of 2011 Brown's alley, told police he was walking to work on the north side of Broad Street and while on the 1800 block saw Lowry lean over the second floor balcony rail and then fall.
GARNER IS WITNESS
His statement was substantiated by E. J. Garner, of 1852 Broad, who asserted that he also was walking along the street, although on the south side. "I saw him fall and there was no one else on the porch with him," Garner told police.
The third-witness was Bert Connors, a resident of the house from which Lowry fell. He was quoted by police as saying he saw Lowry's body fall to the pavement. Connor said he was sitting on the steps near where the body was lying.
According to the dead man's brother, Lowry was at his work in the cardroom of King Mill yesterday afternoon. He left his work at the 3 o'clock shift and was not seen by his brother until he was notified of his death.
"He was in good health and good spirits," Ollie Lowry said. " He had not been ill, to my knowledge, in a long time."
Coroner R. Allen Elliott was notified and began an investigation immediately but at a late hour he said he could offer no theory but would press investigation to completion. An inquest into the death was set for this evening at 7 o'clock.
While police said the time of death was 10:15 o'clock, the coroner's office listed the time 9:45.
SLIGHT CUT
An examination at the morgue disclosed that the only mark on Lowry was a slight cut on his head and the absence of any great amount of blood at the scene led investigators to express the opinion that Lowry may have landed on his feet and then pitched forward on his head, inflicting the small gash.
Lowry, a native of Edgefield, S.C., came to Augusta three years ago and had been employed by King Mill since that time.
Funeral services will be conducted at the McKendree Methodist church in Edgefield county tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock. Interment will follow in the churchyard cemetery.
He is survived by his father, James Conrad Lowry of Edgefield county; five brothers, W. F. and Paul Lowry of Ninety Six, S. C., Mark Lowry of Saluda, S. C., Jesse Lowry of Collettsville, N. C., and Ollie O. Lowry; three sisters, Mrs. Leroy Shaffer of Oklahoma, Mrs. Aline Outz of Spartanburg, S. C., and Mrs. Lizzie Walton of Edgefield, and by several nieces and nephews.

Augusta Chronicle, Wednesday, September 30, 1936
LOWRY- Died September 29th 1936, 9:45 p. m. at the age of 65 years, JAMES LAWTON LOWRY, of 138 Ferry Street. Funeral services will be conducted at the McKendree Methodist Church tomorrow (THURSDAY) afternoon at 3:00 o'clock. Interment Churchyard Cemetery. Elliott Sons.

Augusta Chronicle, Thursday, October 1, 1936

LOWRY'S DEATH CALLED ACCIDENT

Coroner's Jury Reaches Verdict in Fatal Plunge From Building Balcony

After hearing witnesses describe the fatal plunge Tuesday night of James Lawton Lowry from a second-floor balcony of a Broad street building, a coroner's jury last night determined his death was accidental.
At an inquest conducted by Coroner R. Allen Elliott, the jury found Lowry "came to his death from injuries received when he accidently fell from the balcony of 1844 Broad street while he was intoxicated."
Two eye-witnesses described the fall. E. J. Garner, 1852 Broad street, a passerby, testified he was under the balcony when Lowry plunged to the sidewalk and could not see whether any one else occupied the balcony. C. E. Parrish, 2011 Brown's alley, who was passing on the opposite side of the street, declared there was no one else on the balcony at the time.
Police Officer C. E. Haywood told the jury he discovered a crushed whisky bottle in the victim's pocket and noticed an odor of liquor.
According to the coroner's physician, death was due to hemorrhages into the thorax and meninges and multiple fractures of the ribs. Lowry was pronounced dead when his body reached the University hospital by ambulance shortly after the accident.
Funeral services will be conducted at McKendree Methodist church this afternoon at 2 o'clock. Interment will follow in the churchyard.
Survivors are his father, James Conrad Lowry; five brothers. W. F. Lowry and Paul Lowry both of Ninety-Six, S. C., Mark Lowry of Saluda, S. C.; Jesse Lowry of Collettsville, N. C., and Ollie O. Lowry of Augusta; three sisters, Mrs. Leroy Shaffer of Oklahoma; Mrs. Aline Outz of Spartanburg, S. C., and Mrs. Lizzie Walton of Edgefield, S. C.; several nieces and nephews.

Augusta Chronicle, October 1, 1936

LOWRY- Died September 29, 1936, at 9:45 p. m. JAMES LAWTON LOWRY of 138 Ferry street. Funeral services will be conducted at the McKendree Methodist church this (THURSDAY) afternoon at 2 o'clock. Interment, Churchyard Cemetery. Elliott Sons.