This sketch of Hazen Bellware appeared on the front page of the December 20, 1890 issue of The Hartford Times.
Hazen Bellware is the most infamous member of the Bellware family. The events surrounding one unfortunate incident in his life were covered extensively by the newspapers of Hartford, CT and once in the New York Times.
Hazen was born near Coaticook, Quebec, Canada in approximately 1847. His parents were Alexis Beloin and Mary Josette Thibodeau. He had many siblings including two brothers Ira, (b. 1841) and Francis (b. 1852). Hazen came to the U.S. in 1865 and worked as a woodcutter. He married Mrs. Mary Sweet Willis at Manchester Green, Connecticut in 1880. They had no children, but Mary brought four children from her previous marriage; Ella, George, Alice and Charles into their home. His brothers Ira and Francis also moved to Connecticut.
Hazen's problems started on July 21, 1890. That evening, he and his son-in-law, Thomas Golden stopped to purchase some new boots and liquor in East Hartford before walking home to Glastonbury. After changing into the new boots, Hazen and Thomas took turns drinking from the bottle as they walked. They decided to stop and rest under a tree near the home of Frank Miner.
As they rested and drank Hazen and Thomas spoke loudly in profane language. Hearing the disturbance, Mr. Miner emerged from his home armed and accompanied by his brother Walter. Threats were exchanged between the two groups and then gunfire. It is not clear who fired first. Eyewitness accounts also differ as to whether it was Hazen or Thomas that fired the gun. Frank Miner, who fell mortally wounded, was the only person injured.
Hazen and Thomas ran away as fast as they could. In their haste, they dropped the gun and the old boots. Doctors arrived to help Mr. Miner. The police arrived and began an investigation. The boots were found in a bundle with the name of store where the purchase was made. The shopkeeper was able to provide a description of the men. The bartender at a local tavern said the men had visited and a teamster identified Hazen as the wanted man.
The next day, the police arrived at Hazen's home and found him in the street. Hazen reached in his pocket for a gun but was stopped by the police. He confessed to the crime and said, "Oh, if I ever get out this, I will never touch a drop of liquor again." Frank Miner died the same day. Hazen was kept in jail until his trial on December 19, 1890.
After hearing all of the testimony, the jury struggled for eleven hours to come to a verdict. They finally agreed to murder in the second degree. It carried an automatic sentence of life in prison. Hazen's wife moaned aloud when the verdict was read.
Hazen spent the rest of his life in the State Prison at Wethersfield, Connecticut. He applied for a pardon several times but was always refused. He died of tuberculosis in January 1904. Hazen lies in an unmarked grave next to his wife in Cedar Hill Cemetery. She died of heart trouble in 1896.
The article above appeared in the New York Times on Dec. 20, 1890.
Photos of Mary's and Hazen's grave. On the left is a close up Mary's headstone. On the right is Hazen's grave (center to the left of Mary's headstone on the right).
Hazen's Ancestry
Husband
Marriage Date & Place
Wife
Emery Blouin
1669 Chateau Richer, Quebec
Marie Carreau
Jean Blouin
1700 Montmagny, Quebec
Madeleine Langlois St. Jean
Francois Blouin
1737 Montreal, Quebec
Louise Marguerite Marie Buisson
Jean Francois Blouin
1772 Quebec
Marie Madeleine Chauvet Camirand
Joseph Blouin
1802 Nicolet, Quebec
Marie Anne Cottret Rene
Alexis Belouin
1835 Nicolet, Quebec
Marie Josette Thibodeau
Hazen Bellware
1880 Manchester Green, Connecticut
Mary Sweet Willis
Click the links below to read the text of the articles about Hazen.