Bulkeley Wells

Bulkeley Wells (March 10, 1872–1931),[1] also spelled Buckeley Wells,[2] was an American businessperson involved in Mining. Born in Chicago to businessman Samuel Edgar Wells and Marry Agnes Bulkeley, Wells was educated at Roxbury Latin School and at Harvard University. He married into the wealthy family of Colonel Thomas L. Livermore, to daughter Grace Livermore. He moved to Telluride, Colorado, and joined the executive board of the Telluride Mining Association, and headed up the San Miguel County Citizens' Alliance (SMCCA). He had a deputy sheriff's commission, and was captain of Troop A of the Colorado National Guard. He was also a Mason, and an Elk. Wells became president and manager of the Smuggler-Union Mining Company after the murder of Arthur L. Collins.[1]

Bulkeley Wells. Photo from History of Colorado, edited by Wilbur Fiske Stone (1918).

Bulkeley Wells was noted for his hostility to unions. He conducted a campaign of vilification of Vincent Saint John, the head of the Telluride Miners' Union. Wells also reached erroneous conclusions when a local mine guard by the name of William J. Barney abruptly disappeared. Wells decided that a murder had been committed, and believed that local union leaders were responsible. There was one difficulty with this scenario: William J. Barney was still alive.[3]

Wells had an affair with socialite Louise Sneed Hill while both were married. They continued their affair until the death of Louise's husband, Crawford Hill, in 1922. When he did not marry her, but eloped with another woman, Hill vowed to "break him" and convinced his financial backers to withdraw their support. He committed suicide in 1931, while on the verge of bankruptcy.[2]