William Belcher

William Belcher, 1846 – 1898
“The Cockney”
 
Buried in Rosedale Cemetery, exact location unknown.  

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William A. Belcher was born in London, England around 1846. Not much is known about him prior to 1880, when he was living in Missoula, Montana. At that time he was working as a watchmaker and living on Front Street. According to news reports, William inherited $5,570 from his mother who had died in England. William quit his profession and began enjoying his money.

William migrated to Phoenix, Arizona and began bartending for Rose Gregory, aka Minnie Powers, a well-known madam. They began living together and, because William had a problem with alcohol, Rose became his money manager. 

William and Rose had a tumultuous relationship because of his drinking and her profession. William would end up in jail because of his behavior and while he was gone, Rose would entertain other gentlemen callers. He would become jealous of her relationships with men and threaten to kill her. 

After his release from jail on September 17, 1898, he went for a few drinks and obtained a .44 caliber handgun. He then went to where Rose and he were living at 720 Railroad Avenue in Phoenix and entered the residence around 9 a.m.

William found Rose alone and asleep in bed. He shot her in the head and then shot himself, falling across her. They were not discovered until 1 p.m. when Flora Wilson, one of the other women living in the house, found the bodies. 

William and Rose were buried in Rosedale Cemetery. William’s location in the cemetery is unknown, as there is no grave marker.  

© 2018 by Patricia Gault. Last revised February 2018.

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