M. CARROLL HASSETT

M. Carroll Hassett, lawyer, whose office is in Phelan Block, San Francisco, has been connected with the bar here for twenty-one years, arriving on the coast in June, 1869, from Essex and Clinton counties, New York.  A descendant of the noted Carroll family of Carrollton, Maryland, as his middle name denotes, he was born and reared on a farm in New York State, was educated at Keysville Academy in Clinton county, studied law there in the office of Hewitt & Watson, and also in that of Beckwith & Son at Plattsburg, same county, and was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court at Schenectady in 1868.  Coming to the coast the next year he engaged in the practice of law in September, and has since continued therein with signal success, devoting special attention to general, civil and probate practice, but having also had a few noted criminal cases.  The latter class, however, he prefers to avoid.  He has a large probate practice, in which he has been eminently successful, as in contested will cases, etc.  Some of the noted cases with which he has been connected are those of Jane Roland vs. H. Weeks, the estate of Charles Manypenny, Tuttle vs. Finell, etc.  The last mentioned was before Judge Dwinell in 1876 and lasted six weeks.  He also managed the the case of the estate of Michael Finell, the well-known land-owner.  After his death his son-in-law produced a note for money, with four witnesses who saw Mr.. Finell sign the note and acknowledge his signature; but Mr.. Hassett proved the note a forgery and gained his suit.  Mr. Finell was a prominent contractor, and among the structures he erected was the State Capitol.  Mr. Hassett had also the noted case of Amelia Falls vs. Northern Pacific Railroad Company in 1889.  She had dislocated her hip-joint by falling over a milk can at a railroad station, and he recovered for her $7,500 damages.

     Mr. Hassett has never sought political situation, although as a Democrat he is interested in the public welfare.  He has been actively identified with various benevolent organizations, especially the Irish of early times, and is prominent in the Young Men's Institute.  In the latter he took one division, 140 members, and increased its membership in one year to 2,900.  He also formed in 1884 the State organization, with branches having a total membership of about 3,000.

     He brought his parents and sisters to the coast; the former died here and he is the only son.

 

Transcribed 10-18-04  Marilyn R. Pankey