Glasgow Courier. — 1855-03-10 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

TRAGEDY AT THE GOLD DIGGINGS.  We are sorry to learn that James Scobie jun., native of Aberuthven, has met with an untimely death at the Ballarat gold diggings, in Australia. We have the facts of this melancholy circumstance, partly from Australian newepapers, and partly from private correspondence. About one o'clock on the morning of the 7th of October last Scobie, in company with Peter Martin, Jun., late of Newbigging, near Auchterarder, were passing by Bentley's ' Eureka Hotel' at Ballarat, and seeing light in the place requested admittance, in order to have a friendly dram. The request having been denied, some quarrelling ensued, which came to blows through one of the hotel windows. At last Scehie and Martin left in the direction of their tent at the diggings; but they had not proceeded far when they heard a noise behind them, and on turning back they encountered three men and a woman. The woman said (pouting to Scobie), 'That's the man that broke the window ;' upon which Scobic was at once felled to the ground, and kicked upon the head, face, and other parts of the body, so as to cause almost instant death. Martin was knocked down al-o, and lay for some time insensible, and by the time he was so far recovered as to be able to procure medical assistance, his comrade was a lifeless corpse. Mr. Bentley and two other men, named Farrell and Hance, who were both residing with him, acre arrested and examined before a police magistrate and two commissioners, and although the evidence bore very strongly against the prisoners, the magistrates decided that there was not the shadow of a case against them, and that all the three were' honourably discharged.' This decision was received with groans and hisses, and a public meeting wan announced to be held on the following day, near the spot where Scobie lost his life, with the view of pressing the matter upon the attention of the Lieutenant-Governor of the colony. Accordingly, at the time and place appointed about five thousand persons auembled, when resolutions were passed unanimously, condemnatory of the conduct of the magistrates, nod a petition was got up to the Lieutenant-Governor praying that, in furtherance of the , ends of justice, he would give the matter his immediate and impartial consideration. The greater portion of the assemblage proceeded to Bentley's Hotel, where they were joined by several thousands more of the diggers, and formed themselves into a regular 'Porteous 'nob,' estimated at from 5,000 to 10,000 persons. Large bodies of the constables and military arrived. A rope was procured for the immediate execution of Bentley, but he managed to escape. The mob then shattered the hotel windows, after which a number rushed inside, and gave vent to their destructive propensities by smashing to piece, the tables, chairs, casks, bottles, Ste.; and having safely secured whatever could be ascertained as the property of the servants, the whole establishment was deliberately set fire to and burned to the ground. In answer to the petition above referred to, Bentley and his wife, and Farrell and Hance, were again arrested, and tried before a jury—for wilful premeditated murder.' They pleaded not guilty; and on the evidence led Mrs. Bentley was acquitted, but the three men were found guilty of manslaughter, and sentenced each to three ye ire imprisonment with hard labour. The police magistrate who presided at the first examination was, on the conviction of the prisoners, disgraced by instant dismisaal from his office. We learn , front the latest advices that several persons who were supposed to be the ring eaders at the destruction of the hotel have been arrested, and sentenced to short periods of imprisonment—Perth Courier.