Richard Sears Bellows ⁴⁹⁴²

Springfield Republican
Springfield, Mass.
Wednesday, April 6, 1938
p. 2

R.S. BELLOWS, 41, ATTORNEY, IS DEAD
Was Former City Prosecutor and Was a Well Known Republican - Had Served in City Council

Atty. Richard S. Bellows, 41, of 35 Carlton Street, member of the law firm of Allen, Yerrall & Bellows, a former city prosecuting attorney and a well known figure in Republican circles, died yesterday at Wesson Memorial Hospital. He had been ill of pneumonia for several weeks but was not removed to the hospital until about a week ago.

Atty. Bellows was a member of the Republican state committee, a post to which he was elected September 25, 1935 to fill a vacancy in the representation from the first Hampden senatorial district. He was a World war veteran.

His appointment as prosecuting attorney of the Springfield district court was made in 1925 by Mayor Fordis C. Parker. Prior to his five years in that office, he was a member of the city council from ward 8 and a member of the Republican city committee.

In January, 1936, he was appointed as counsel of the Legal Aid Society of Springfield in place of Atty. Richard J. Talbot, who was granted a leave of absence.

Atty. Bellows was prominent not only as an attorney at law, having been a member of the law firm of Allen, Yerrall & Bellows since 1923, and an active practitioner in all the courts, but in political circles, in which he was one of the leading Republicans in Western Massachusetts.

Was Skilled Prosecutor

He was best remembered in legal circles for his highly successful terms as district court prosecutor, where he achieved a reputation for skill and absolute fairness in conducting the cases for the commonwealth. He was not only highly thought of by the judges of the court, but held the respect of the attorneys of the defense in all the cases in which he appeared for the prosecution by reason of his constant efforts merely to arrive at the truth of the controversies. He was for several years a member of the state Republican committee, and was considered a valuable member of that body, always striving for the success of the party not only during campaigns but at all other times. He served in the common council for several years and obtained an unusually clear grasp of city's business. He also was highly thought of by the Legal Aid Society, of which he was counsel, showing kindness and consideration in this difficult work. For the legal firm of Allen, Yerrall & Bellows, he did a great deal of the court trial work.

Atty. Bellows was born in Springfield in 1897 and obtained his secondary school education in Springfield public schools. He attended Boston University and graduated from the Boston University Law School. He was admitted to the bar in 1921.

He was a member of the Hampden County Bar Association and also the Massachusetts Bar Association, Delta Theta Phi fraternity, Unitarian Church, Lion's Club and the Springfield Fish and Game Club.

Atty. Bellows is survived by his widow, Mrs. Mildred (Hillery) Bellows, formerly of Hartford, Conn.; two sons, William, nine, and Richard, seven; his mother, Mrs. Nettie M. Bellows, widow of William S. Bellows, late of this city, well-known patent attorney; and a sister, Mrs. Dorothy Bevis, wife of Dr. Earle M. Bevis of of Wenatchee, Wash. His mother, who had been in Florida, will arrive home in this city at 6 tonight.

The funeral will be held at the Church of the Unity, of which Atty. Bellows was an active member for many years, tomorrow afternoon at 2, Rev. Owen W. Eames officiating and burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery.

Vote to Attend Funeral

The board of governors of the Springfield Association of Personal Finance Companies, at a special meeting called yesterday by President Russell C. Sayer, voted to attend Atty. Bellows funeral in a body, and to postpone the regular meeting, which was scheduled for tomorrow.

Mr. Sayer issued the following statement:--
"Atty. Bellows was one of the few men in this city who fully recognized the social and legal aspect of personal finance. He did much to promote closer cooperation among the agencies in the consumer credit field."

Richard married Mildred H. Hillery. (Mildred H. Hillery was born in 1904 in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut, died 24 November 1978 in Longmeadow, Hampden County, Massachusetts and was buried 27 November 1978 in Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts at Oak Grove Cemetery.)