James Ah Oun had several aliases and was in and out of prison in Geelong, Melbourne and Ballarat during the 1880s and 90s for offences including larceny, vagrancy, being idle and disorderly and shop breaking. His sentences varied from 1 month to 12 months, increasing in gravity as he grew older. In the 1890s James Ah Oun served five prison sentences.

He was 82 when the last entry was written across the page in red ink: '23.9.98 Died in Gaol'.