The Herald article revealed a growing body of opinion amongst the legal profession that Hassett was innocent. Most disturbingly, the article suggested inquiries within 'the criminal class' had revealed not only an underground cognisance of Hassett's innocence, but the name of the man who had in fact been De Le Veilless' accomplice, the main perpetrator of the assault.²⁰

Innocent or not, John Hassett's life was the price of an example set to 'the criminal class' and the wider society. That this example must have seemed monolithic to Hassett at the time of his suicide is evident; his decision was taken in spite of eligibility for parole in 1908.²¹ With this last desperate action, however, Hassett did succeed in securing a kind of posthumous justice. Whilst The Herald investigation arrived too late to relieve his suffering, its publication focused public attention on his likely innocence. In doing so, the final chapter of a late-colonial controversy, begun on a fateful night in 1889, was brought to its conclusion.

Endnotes
1. All events and character dialogue, unless otherwise footnoted, are sourced from PROV, VPRS 264/P0, Unit 17, Francis De Le Veilless/John Hassett, and from ED Holroyd, Report of criminal sittings of the Supreme Court, 26 February 1890, to the Attorney General, Judges' Chambers, Melbourne, 5 March 1890.
2. A deduction based on the proximity and density of public hotels, and the thin spread of street lamps, as mapped in FO Borsom, Report on the assault of Constable Albert Ernest Vizard, Carlton Police Station, Melbourne, 13 March 1890, PROV, VPRS 264/P0, Unit 17, Francis De Le Veilless/John Hassett.
3. The description of the men as 'growling' is Patrick Bailey's, from the 26 February trial of Hassett and De Le Veilless.
4. This is my interpretation as Vizard described the two actions in a single sentence at the trial of Hassett and De Le Veilless.
5. T Sadlier, Report in reference to the previous history of John Hassett and Francis De Le Viellis [sic], Police Department, Superintendent's Office, Melbourne, 3 March 1890, PROV, VPRS 264/P0, Unit 17, Francis De Le Veilless/John Hassett.
6. ibid.
7. ibid.
8. John Hassett, Letter From Melbourne Gaol, Melbourne, 9 January 1890, PROV, VPRS 264/P0, Unit 17, Francis De Le Veilless/John Hassett.
9. William P Forlonge, Petition on behalf of John Hassett, Salisbury Buildings, Bourke Street, Melbourne, 24 March 1900, PROV, VPRS 264/P0, Unit 17, Francis De Le Veilless/John Hassett,.
10. J Lomain, Report on petitions on behalf of John Hassett by residents of Gippsland, Police Department, Melbourne, 10 March 1890, PROV, VPRS 264/P0, Unit 17, Francis De Le Veilless/John Hassett.
11. ibid.
12. ibid.
13. AP Akehurst, Report on enquiries made at Lang Lang, Yannathan and Surrounds, Melbourne, 14 March 1890, PROV, VPRS 264/P0, Unit 17, Francis De Le Veilless/John Hassett.
14. ibid.
15. ibid.
16. William P Forlonge, Petition on behalf of John Hassett, Salisbury Buildings, Bourke Street, Melbourne, 24 March 1900, PROV, VPRS 264/P0, Unit 17, Francis De Le Veilless/John Hassett,.
17. ibid.
18. John Hassett, Letter From Geelong Gaol, 28 February 1901, PROV, VPRS 264/P0, Unit 17, Francis De Le Veilless/John Hassett.
19. Herald, Melbourne, 27 December 1901.
20. ibid.
21. Penal and Gaols Department, Indent of No. 23803 John Hassett, Geelong Gaol, 10 October 1900, PROV, VPRS 264/P0, Unit 17, Francis De Le Veilless/John Hassett.

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