By the time that he married Margaret Lindsay, James Hollow had been convicted in court more than once for public drunkenness. Sadly, a wife and young family did not improve his behaviour and he was convicted at least twice more while Margaret was alive and, a few months before her death, with using obscene language in a public place.
MARRIAGE.
Hollow — Lindsay — On the 7th January, at Oamaru, by the Rev. A. B. Todd, James Hollow, cab proprietor, to Margaret, eldest, daughter of James Lindsay, farmer, Alma, late of Coltness, Lanarkshire, Scotland. -Oamaru Mail, 7/1/1884.
DEATHS.
Hollow. — On Sunday, the 8th inst., at the Hospital, Margaret, the wife of James Hollow, aged 27 years. -Oamaru Mail, 12/7/1888.
DEATH.
Hollow. — On the 3rd inst., at Usk-street, Oamaru, John, son of James and Margaret Hollow, aged 2 1/2 years.
The funeral will leave Mr Charles Murphy's residence, Usk-street, to-morrow (Sunday), at 2 o'clock, for the Oamaru Cemetery. Friends are kindly invited to attend.
T. Falconer, Undertaker, Thames-street. -Oamaru Mail, 3/11/1888.
With the death of his wife and son, it is possible that any civilising influences no longer held Thomas' thirst in check.
James Hollow was charged with being drunk while in charge of a cab. The defendant pleaded guilty, and Mr Crawford, who appeared on his behalf, said the license had been cancelled and the cab taken from him, and that was, he thought, sufficient punishment. The case was adjourned to the 18th instant for a report from the Inspector of Police as to whether the license had been cancelled or not, and so that the case might be dealt with by justices, his Worship saying that he had seen the accused, and had been present when he was removed from the charge of his cab. -North Otago Times, 5/1/1889.
His Worship's presence at the scene meant that he felt, as a witness to the affair, that he could not sit in judgement of the case.
Things did not improve for James...
The case of James Hollow, who appeared before the Resident Magistrate this morning on a charge of drunkenness, will, we hope, act as a deterrent to others, the man in question has been working on the road at Dansey's Pass for the last month, and, in company with a number of his fellow workmen, came to town on Friday, and drew his pay. Having received the L6 due to him, Hollow, instead of taking what he could spare to his aged father and his child, invested several pounds in a new fowling piece and ammunition, and got uproariously drunk with the balance, and, while in this condition, began to discharge his new purchase at random up the North Road to the alarm and imminent danger of the residents. We understand that a charge of shot whizzed close past one gentleman, and how near the unfortunate man came to committing murder he will perhaps never know. As the Magistrate very justly remarked from the Bench, it must be very disheartening for those who had put this work in operation for the benefit of the unemployed to find their efforts nullified by the unthinking and foolish conduct of such men as accused. It should be thoroughly understood by the men at work that the Government have not started the road with the object of subsidising the publicans; and we think that it will only be just and proper that all men found so misapplying the money they earn should be dismissed and others put on in their places. There are plenty of willing hands ready and eager to participate in the work, and we certainly think that the permanent engagement of those at present employed should be dependent upon their good behavior. We trust we shall not have to chronicle any further instances of such misbehavior. -Oamaru Mail, 13/7/1891.
A few years later, James married again, in 1894. Isabella Walker became his wife and he seems to have returned to licensed cab driving as, in 1895, he was again convicted of being drunk in charge of one. He moved to Timaru in May of that year and was given a cab license there.
At Court this morning Messrs E. G. Stericker and A. Mills, J.P.s, occupied the Bench. A man named James Hollow was charged with on two occasions being drunk in the streets in charge of a hansom cab. Sergeant-Major McDonald stated that defendant had come up from Oamaru recently, and had already given a good deal of trouble. He was fined 20s and costs, or four days imprisonment. -South Canterbury Times, 25/5/1895.
In 1900, James is again in Oamaru and again in court for drunkenness. He is described as "a troublesome person" and, later in the year, the subject of a prohibition order. Next July he is again in court, charged that, as a prohibited person, he had been found drunk in charge of a horse. In following years came more of the same - drunk in public, ill-treating a horse, truancy of his surviving child.
MAGISTRATE'S COURT.
THIS DAY. (Before Major Keddell, S.M.)
A first offender, until last week an inmate of the Benevolent Institution, convicted of drunkenness on Saturday, was discharged with a caution.
James Hollow pleaded not guilty to using indecent language in Yare Street on the 16th inst, within the hearing of passers-by.
Minnie Smith, of Yare Street, deposed that on the afternoon of the 16th inst, defendant was standing at his own gate in Yare Street while witness was passing. Witness' mother was- about four yards in front of her and defendant called her and witness, by filthy and opprobious names. Witness and her mother walked on whilst defendant used the indecent language. Witness' mother did not speak to defendant nor did witness before the bad language. Then she told defendant she would get him six months unless he minded what he said. Defendant then made a rush at witness and tried to kick her, at the same time using more filthy language. Two other persons were near, besides defendant's wife, and could 'have heard what was said.
To defendant: Witness' mother did nothing to Defendant as she passed, nor did witness. She did not lift a handful of stones to him or call him anything.
Bridget Smith, mother of the last witness, deposed that as she was passing defendant's gate on the afternoon of the 16th inst, defendant called her a foul name and told her to take her wig off. Witness gave him no provocation. She had never quarrelled with the defendant and did not know him.
George Wills Brett, carter, corroborated. He heard, from a chain away, the defendant use the most filthy terms to Miss Smith and her mother. He saw no provocation..
Emily Badelv gave similar evidence. Minnie Smith picked up a stone, after defendant assailed her, and threw it. It hit the gate. This closed the case for the prosecution.
Isabella Hollow, wife of the defendant, deposed that Mrs Smith, on the afternoon in question, used bad language to her husband. He, in return, abused her and her daughter, but did not use indecent language. Minnie Smith, too, called her husband a loafer, and told him to pay his debts. Witness did not hear the first of the row. Her husband was the worse of drink. She and her husband had, since the row, removed to a respectable neighborhood.
His Worship said he must convict on the evidence. Men, like the defendant, with a foul tongue, should never take liquor. He firmly believed the evidence for the prosecution. Defendant would go to Dunedin gaol for one month, with hard labor. -Oamaru Mail, 21/7/1902.
Another sorry looking figure was James Hollow who came into court attended by a constable carrying a newspaper-covered, parcel under his arm. Hollow was charged with being drunk while in change of a. horse and cart and with stealing 'a "piece of small goods" from out of Mr Peter Johnston's window. The facts of the case were that Hollow was having a "day out" yesterday, and the display of "small goods" in the butcher's window tempted him. At an opportune moment he seized, one of the largest "goods" he could lay hands on and throw it into his express standing at the kerbing. Mr Johnston's attention was drawn to the act, and Hollow drove off up Thames street at a good speed. The police were informed, and Constable Palmer took up the chase and arrested the man on the North Road.
Hollow pleaded guilty to the charge of drunkenness, but said he did not remember anything about the theft. Evidence was given by Peter Johnston, butcher, who said that accused was so drunk that he (witness) believed that the man did not know what he was doing.
For being drunk while in charge of the horse and cart Hollow was fined 20s, and on his own request was given two weeks to pay the fine. His worship said he would dismiss the charge of theft, as he did not believe the man had any intent to steal. -Oamaru Mail, 13/3/1911.
Three persons pleaded guilty to intoxication before Mr T. Hutchison. SM. at the Court this morning. His Worship asked James Hollow if he could show any reason why he should not be despatched to an inebriates home. Hollow pleaded that he had worked at Pukeuri for the last nine months, and begged for another chance. The Magistrate fined him 15s, remarking that next time he would be sent away. -Oamaru Mail, 10/11/1913.
James' life did not improve in later years. He saw a son off to the Great War - William was wounded but survived. I presume that William was the son referred to when he blazed away with his "new fowling piece" and from his first marriage. James died in 1935.
Oamaru Cemetery.
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