METEORIC BUSINESS CAREER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1218, 29 August 1911, Page 4

METEORIC BUSINESS CAREER.

AND A "FANTASTIC BANKRUPTCY." (By Tclcuranh.—Press Association.) Auckland, August 28. John George Hobson, formerly a builde{ in Auckland, who pleaded guilty last week to two out of four counts charging him with breaches of tho Bankruptcy Act in failing to keep proper books and incurring debts at a time- when lie had no reasonable expectation of paying them, was broug'ht up beforo Mr. Justice Chapman for sentence at tho Supreme Court to-day, Mr. P. Earl appeared for tho prisoner, and pointed out tho extraordinary and unusual circumstances surrounding tho bankruptcy. "There are features in this case," said counsel, "that have caused me considerable perplexity." The bankruptcy was fantastic. For years the prisoner had worked on wages- as a joiner, and was a steady, hard-working, and clean-living man,' and rigorously honourable. In January last ho started business ns a builder, and was adjudicated a bankrupt on May 7, His business career was meteoric. It could not be said bo went up like a rocket and camo down like a stick. Ho did not go ur> at all, hut went rapidly to (he bad. When ho started in business the prisoner had a home valued at .CGSO, and on May 7 he stood before tho Official Assignee with home and insuranco money lost, and without a penny. So soon as ho commenced the metecrio business career his mental condition appeared to have undergone an extraordinary change. From being a careful man iii regard fo finance and money obligations, tho prisoner bccamo wild and hazardous in the extreme; siT wild, hazardous, and fantastic as to suggest that his actions were duo to circumstances for which he was not wholly responsible. Prisoner neither drank nor gambled. He led a rrputablc life, and had reared a family in a most creditable manner. Mr. Earl staled that tho prisoner commenced to build on an aiWmont on which he had not even paid a deposit, and employed a. large staff on work which could nol possibly be profitable, am! 'suggesled that prisoner should be mentally examined in regard to his condition, William Howe was culled as a witness, and gave evidence on the menial change that had taken place in the prisoner. Fro.m n quiet and steady man lie developed a violeiicy of language, and rashness in speculation that indicated ho was not rational. His habits became irregular, and he often wont out at midnight, causing his family luixiety and refusing to explain. Ho opened a shop, filled it with second-hand furniture, started a joinery shop, and then wanted lo embark in a pork butchery shop, but the people with whom he was dealing clasi-d down on him. A further remand was granted till Friday next, so that in tho meantime prisoner may be examined.