William Burnham Stevens

William Burnham Stevens (March 23, 1843 – July 15, 1931) was an American jurist who was a justice of the Massachusetts Superior Court and district attorney of Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

Early life Stevens was born to Dr. William Flint and Mary Jane Gould (Burnham) Stevens on March 23, 1843, in Stoneham, Massachusetts. Stevens married Amelia Josephine Hill on October 20, 1868. She died on December 22, 1869, and Stevens married Mary Williamine Green on September 30, 1873. He had four children with his second wife, Josephine, Mary, Frances, and William. Mary Green Stevens died on March 3, 1931.

Legal career Stevens was admitted to the bar on July 3, 1867. In 1895, Stevens was appointed receiver for the Commonwealth Mutual Fire Insurance Company.

In 1898, Stevens was appointed guardian for John Frank Weeks, a wealthy New Hampshire-native whose financial eccentricities resulted in the creation of a spendthrift trust. In 1901 the 70-year old Weeks married 48-year old Mary Susie Blaisdell in New Hampshire. The marriage upset Weeks' family and Stevens had him taken back to Massachusetts by a detective. A legal battle ensued which decided Stevens did not have to power to prevent Weeks from marrying or living wherever he wanted.

Massachusetts Superior Court In 1898, Stevens was appointed to the Massachusetts Superior Court by Governor Roger Wolcott. In 1902 he presided over the trial of Joseph Wilfred Blondin, who was charged with murdering his wife. Stevens retired from the bench in 1917.