The Demise of John Hassett – Geelong Gaol

The Demise of John Hassett – Geelong Gaol

John Hassett, c. 1890.
PROV, VPRS 515/P0 Central Register of Male Prisoners, Unit 42, Folio 490

 Early in the morning on 25 August 1889, it was alleged that Frances De Veilles and John Hassett attacked Constable Albert Earnest Vizard, with the intent to murder him at Lygon Street, Carlton. They beat the policeman with a leather belt that had a large heavy belt buckle attached to it. When the officer fell to the ground, they kicked him relentlessly.

The attack was witnessed by Patrick Bailey, who grabbed a large stick and beat the assailants away from the police officer. Vizard, who had only been with the police force for a year, was so badly wounded from the assault that he had to retire from the workforce.

 Francis De Veilles was arrested a few days later at Kilmore. He was charged and sentenced to death, but his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. Hassett was arrested a couple of weeks later, and also sentenced to death, and then commuted to life imprisonment – except, Hassett may not have been De Veilles accomplice, but an innocent man found guilty on circumstantial evidence.

 During their court case, it was never inferred in one instance that the two men knew each other, nor did either man state they knew each other. Hassett had wounds on his head, that the prosecution alleged were from the beating given by Bailey, but the chemist who was bought in as a witness to identify Vizard's assailant, stated in court, that he was not sure that Hassett was the correct person as the gentleman he had treated had a much thicker and heavier moustache and beard.

  Whether Hassett was guilty or not, he was sentenced to gaol. He appealed four times to the powers that be to be released, but all his efforts failed. Hassett had been a model prisoner and was soon appointed Assistant to the Dispenser, which gave him extra privileges. He had come to Geelong Gaol from Pentridge Gaol in August 1898, suffering from heart disease. (Geelong Gaol at this time was used to house sick or injured inmates from other gaols in Victoria).

  On the 6th of December 1901, Hassett ran into the Geelong Gaol barber shop which sat across the hall from the Gaol Dispensary. He was crying and asked fellow prisoner, and barber, John Corrigan, to say goodbye to his mother for him. Hassett then ran into the Dispensary and smashed open a large medicine chest.
 Corrigan shouted to a guard named Barnes and both men followed Hassett into the Dispensary. Hassett was drinking from a large bottle. When he saw the two men, he pulled from under his sock a large lance and threatened “rip up” anyone who tried to approach him.

 The effects of the medicines he had swallowed soon consumed Hassett, and he fell to the ground. A stomach pump was applied, but he died just a few hours later. It was later revealed during an inquest that the poison Hassett had consumed contained tinctures of belladonna, opium, digitalis, aconite, and liquid strychnine.

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2019

Bibliography

'THE GEELONG GAOL.', The Murchison Times and Day Dawn Gazette, (10 December 1901), p. 2.

'THE SUICIDE IN GEELONG GAOL.', The Age, (9 December 1901), p. 6.

'IN GEELONG GAOL.', The Herald, (7 December 1901), p. 4.

'GEELONG GAOL SUICIDE.', Geelong Advertiser, (10 December 1901), p. 4.

1901 'GEELONG GAOL SUICIDE.', The Argus, 9 December, p. 5

'CAPTURE OF AN ARMED CRIMINAL', The Argus, (28 August 1889), p. 8.