*** Chronicle Saturday 20 June 1885 INSOLVENCY COURT— GLAD- STONE. Wednesday, June 10. [Before Mr. A, J. Edmunds. S.M.] IN RE JAMES HOBBS, of hundred - Booleroo, farmer; — Final hearing. Dr. Kaufmann appeared 'for Messrs. Marshall, Gall, Giles, and Smith, L. George, and Brennon. Mr. Bonnar for a witness, Mr. E. J. Rowett, and Mr. Boucaut for' insolvent. The accountant re- ported:- "Liabilities, £175 15s. 6d.; assets, nil. The insolvent states that these debts have been contracted since January, 1883, when he had no 'debts. He has a wife and six young children, five of whom are too young to work, and that since the above date his earn- ings have not exceeded 14s. per week. The insolvent's living expenses would, therefore, average under £2 2s; per week. Causes of in- solvency — want of constant work and low rate of wages. Dr. Kanfmann examined insolvent as to the ownersbip of a bullock and waggon, and he denied that they ever belonged to him. Dr. Kanffmann applied for an adjournment to prepare charges against insolvent. The adjourned meeting was fixed for June 17. [This is almost certainly ours - he had his 7th? child born in Booleroo Centre in 1885.] *** Register Friday 19 June 1885 GLADSTONE. June I8. James Hobbs, of the Hundred of Booleroo, farmer, was sentenced yesterday, at the In solvency Court, to six months' imprisonment in the Gladstone Gaol, and awarded a third class certificate, suspended for twelve months, on charges of false pretences. *** Chronicle Saturday 20 June 1885 GLADSTONE. June 18. The adjourned hearing of James Hobbs, of the hundred of Booleroo, farmer, lasted a con= siderable time yesterday at the Insolvency Court, and a long list of charges was laid against him for false pretences by which he received goods. He was awarded a second class certificate, suspended for twelve months, and sent for six months to the Gladstone Goal. The insolvent had already been eleven weeks in gaol, and this was considered in awarding him his punishment. Seveial other hearings were disposed of . *** Advertiser Monday 22 June 1885 LAW COURTS. INSOLVENCY COURT-GLADSTONE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17. [Before Mr. A. J. Edmunds, S.M.] IN RE JAMES HOBBS, of Hundred of Boole- roo, Farmer. — Adjourned final hearing. Mr. Boucaut appeared for the insolvent, Dr. Kaufmann for a number of creditors, and Mr. Bonnar repre sented Mr. Rowett (a witness) and the official receiver. This case was adjourned from the last sitting in order that charges might be laid against insolvent. The accountant's report showed —Liabilities, £175 355. 6d.; and assets nil. The insolvent said the above debts had been contracted since January, 1883, when he was clear from debt. He had a wife and six young children, three of whom were too young to work. Since the date mentioned his earn ings had not exceeded 14s. a week, bis living expenses averaged £2 2s. per week, and the cause of his having to resort to the court was want of constant employment and the low rate of wages he had received. Charges were then laid by Dr. Kaufmann against the insolvent to the effect that by falsely representing him self to be a partner of E. J. Rowett, of Boolero, farmer, he obtained goods from Thomas Marshall and William Lau- rence Gall, of Melrose, storekeepers, and William Brennan, of Melrose, butcher. Dr. Kaufmann examined insolvent at con- siderable length as to his ownership or other- wise of certain bullocks and a dray, and in- solvent again swore that they were not his. This examination was similar to the one previously reported at the last hearing. In- solvent said he purchased some horses at an auction sale and had given a bill for the same, but these, he said, he would not have bid for had he not been drunk at the time, and he was also drunk when he gave the bill. This latter statement Mr. L. George, the auctioneer, denied, but said Hobbs might have been the worse for liquor at the sale, as there was plenty of beer going round. The horses were returned to him about three months after Hobbs pur- chased them, and £10 was given by a bill tor their use, and for certain other articles bought. The former bill was destroyed, and the one for £10 had been dishonored. W. Brennan also gave evidence to the effect that he had supplied Hobbs with meat on credit owing to insolvent representing that he was in shares with Rowett over a crop of wheat. When he applied for a settlement, Hobbs said he could not pay just then as the wheat was not sold, and witness allowed the account to stand over for another three months, and on making another applica- tion for settlement was told that Rowett was in Kapunda, and on his return the wheat would be sold and he would get his account squared. The transactions with insolvent dated from early in 1833. Witness said be never enquired from Rowett anything concern ing Hobbs's position, but Rowett had told him that insolvent had no share in the crop, and he (the witness) would not have allowed him to go into his debt had it not been for the false representations made that he was in partnership with Rowett. Mr. Marshall said that Hobbs told him that there was plenty of goods in his store and he did not intend to starve, but never intended paying for the goods. Mr. Boucaut then questioned insol- vent, who denied the statement made by Mr. Brennan, and further said that Bren- nan offered him credit for twelve months. The S.M. considered the charges proved, and that no reliance could be placed upon insol- vent, who had had a narrow escape of being committed for perjury. A second-class cer- tificate was granted on the grounds that the losses were not unavoidable, and in respect to the charges insolvent would go to gaol for six months, his imprisonment already for eleven weeks being considered in awarding punish- ment.

*** Register Friday 19 June 1885 GLADSTONE. June I8. James Hobbs, of the Hundred of Booleroo, farmer, was sentenced yesterday, at the In solvency Court, to six months' imprisonment in the Gladstone Gaol, and awarded a third class certificate, suspended for twelve months, on charges of false pretences.

*** Advertiser Wednesday 25 September 1918 HOBBS. —On the 7th September, at Murraytown, James, dearly-beloved husband of Amelia Hobbs, age 78 years, leaving five sons and six daughters, 74 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren to mourn their sad loss. A colonist of 67 years. They miss you most who loved you best. *** Advertiser Thursday 26 September 1918 One hundred and four descendants were left by the late Mr. James Hobbs, of Murraytown, notice of whose death ap peared in our obituary columns yesterday. The number is made up of five sons and six daughters, 74 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren. Mr. Hobbs, who had lived in South Australia for 67 years, also left a widow. ***

*** Advertiser Saturday 24 September 1938 HOBBS. —On the 22nd of September, at Mel rose, Amelia Hobbs, dearly beloved wife of the late James Hobbs, aged 94 years.