Australian Heroes and AdventurersPyke, William T. (William Thomas)
History
Australian Heroes and Adventurers
Pyke, William T. (William Thomas)
Australia -- History -- 1788-1900; Burke and Wills Expedition, (1860-1861); Gold mines and mining -- Australia
_THE EUREKA HOTEL MURDER._
At last an incident caused the long-smouldering elements of disaffection
to burst out suddenly in a blaze of infuriated indignation.
A digger named Scobie met an old chum of his, and being overjoyed at the
unexpected re-union, hastened to show his good-fellowship by "shouting."
In the course of the day the two became drunk, and attempted to enter
Bentley's Eureka Hotel. Being refused admittance, Scobie got
troublesome. An altercation ensued with the people of the hotel, during
which his head was split open with a spade. The blow killed him.
Bentley's Hotel was held in disrepute by respectable miners, and its
proprietor was considered a bad character. An inquest was held on the
body of the murdered man. It was not conducted with the care and
discrimination which should attend such an inquiry. The coroner's
verdict, "that the deceased died from the effects of a wound inflicted
by a person unknown," was so at variance with public opinion, that
another official investigation was held, which indicted Bentley for the
killing of Scobie. At the police court the landlord was acquitted, but
the manner in which the case was conducted made it patent to all that
justice had been trifled with. The Police Magistrate was known to be
intimate with the prisoner, and was believed to be a sharer in his
illicit gains. The trial was so injudicially carried out, that the
Junior Commissioner, Mr. Johnston, took copies of the evidence and
forwarded them to the Attorney-General.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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