The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1890-12-02
sHECAUSED TWO MURDERS
The Death of Mrs. Hazletine
Beealls an Old Tragedy.

tine at a sanitarium in this city few
days ego, says the Chicago Herald,
recalls two of the most sensational
murders that were ever committed in
North IN Wisconsin, as she was a
central figure in both crimes.
Nearly four years ago her husband,
w. w. Hazeltlne, a brilliant young
lawyer, of Stevens Point shot and
killed a wealthy banker named Morse
because of a story that was circulated
by gossips to the effect that Morse and
Mrs. Hsze.tine had been seen bathing
together in the Wisconsin River. Ac-
cordiug to these same gossips John j.
Curran, q gambler, and a young
woman named Parks, the daughter of
Judge Parks, one of the pioneer law
yers'and jurists of Northern Wiscon-
Gin, woro bathipg I'm the river at the
same time. Hazeltine was tried for
the murder of Morse and acquitted
Then he turned his attention to Cur
ran. The bitter feeling between the
two men became so Intense that Cur.
ran, to avoid an encounter, lett
Stevens Point and did not return
until he was notified that his elder
brother Henry had been removed TO
the State Insane Asylum. He hurried
to Oshkosh, where the insane asylum
is located, nursed his brother back to
health AID then took him home to his
family.
John Curran's advent 10 Stevens
Point stirred up the cd spirit of re-
veDge in Hszeltine. The latter de-
nounced his enemy in every conceiv-
able way. and openly boasted that he
would kill him The first time they
met. The feud became SO bitter that
at last neither man dared TO visit a
barber-ahop to be shaved unless &C
companied by an armed friend, who
was willing to stand guard over him.
The trouble eliminated on the after.
noon of April 4, 1888. 1t was elect
ion dav, aid the issue at the polls had
Teen Hazeltins and Curran. The
partisans of both were out in force
with might and main for
their friends. just before the polls
closed Hazeltine was seen walking
down Main street in the direction of
the Curran house, hotel run by the
brother. When be reached the side
walk directly opposite the hotel he
turned sharply to his right, clibmed
TO the summit Of a snowfall
md stood de6antly facing the hotel.
The Currsns, who were standing at a
say Hazeliine drew a brace
Of sixshooters and opened fire on
hem. Hazeltine's friends say that
hostilities were not begun until the
muzzle of a double barreled
shotgun was thrust through the win
dow and aimed at the young lawyer. |
The shotgun exploded with a rear and
/ half pound of buckshot was sent
through Hszel,ine's body. |
The lawyer tumbled headlong to the |
base Of the hill of snow, and when his |
friends picked up his shattered body |
he last spark of life had left it. John
md Henry Curran were arrested for
he crime, but by tacit understand
ng John was the only one who was
ried for it. He secured a change of
'enue to Waupaca, where he was tried
md acquitted.
Banker Morse was one of the wealth.
est men in Stevens Point. He had |
! handsome wife and an interesting |
amily. Though he vigorously denied
he story about his escapade wiihMrs.
1azeltire, which emanated from two
Joys, who played the role of peep
NC Toms" from behind woOdpile.
dazletine pursued him with relentless
late. Morse finally became so alarm
ID that he disposed of his property at
stevens Point and completed arrag-
nents to leave the city forever. One
evening while driving up street to bis
lome Hazletine stepped out from the
corridor of the post-cffice and asked
i'm to stop for a chat. Hazeltine
lad a silk handkerchief wrapped
oosely about his right hand, and
forse thinking he had been injured
rev his horse up. When Hazeltine
vas within a few feet of the bankers
'uggy he snatched the handkerchief
rom his hand and revealed big SIX
hooter, which he clutched with q
rm grasp. The handkerchief was
My mask for the gun. Hazeltine,
With an oath, sent bullet crashing
trough Morse's heart and the banker
oppled headlong out Of the buggy
cad.
Hazeltine was q brilliant though er-
attic young fellow. Equally strong (
d his hates and friendships, he was a
error to his enemies and q source Of
Il i