The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-22 00:00:00

PITGLL ISM.

(From Bell's Life.)
JEM MACE AND JOE COBURN.

The final act in this drama has now been played out.
We stated in our last that Coburn had received his £5O,
and that we should be prepared on Thursday to hand over
Mace's money to himself and Harry Brunton conjointly at
our office. On Thursday, at the appointed hour, Mace and
his valet, Montague, appeared, and were met by Harry
Brunton, and also by several gentlemen who had put down
money on Jem's behalf. We had during the week received
numerous letters from well known sporting gentlemen, re-
questing us to hand their money over to Brunton, and on
our stating this fact to Mace he expressed a great surprise,
saying the money was his; that it had not been found by
Brunton; and that unless ho was entrusted with it he
would have no chance of getting anything towards his ex-
penses. He declined signing any joint receipt, and declared
unless the money was delivered over to him solely he would
leave it in our hands for ever. It was in vain we explained
to him that those who had put down the money had done s©
with a reservation that in the event of no fight it should be
returned through Harry Brunton ; he either could not or
would not see the point, and insisted on having the money
himself to distribute. In this we are bound to add ho was
mainly led by his philosopher, friend, and valet, Montague,
and we sincerely believe had he been left to his own
devices he would have seen the justice of the stake
being given to Brunton, and would have trusted to him to
use his influence in obtaining a sufficient sum out of it to
repay him his expenses, and to compensate for his disap•
pointment. Several gentlemen present protested against
Mace receiving the money. They declared they should
never have put down anything unless through Brunton's
influence, and to him they looked for a return. All, how-
ever, said they would be happy to give Jem presents to-
wards his expenses. Jem still wont] none of it ; he had
come to receive his money, and unless he received it per-
sonally he would not have it at all. We now informed him
that as the money was staked with Brunton on the under•
standing that if there was no fight it should be returned, we
were abound to abide by that understanding, and that it was
our intention to give Brunton the order for it, payable to
him and Mace jointly. This did not suit Jem's book. A
running fire was opened by himself and his friends, Mon-
tague, Bunn of Norwich, and others, who declared there
was no precedent for such a course, and that they protested
against it in tete. As none of these gentry, however, had
found one shilling, their protest was of no avail, and we
handed to Harry Brunton the usual order for the money.
A warm discussion ensued between the adherents of either
side, which was not put an end to until we requested the
company to adjourn to acme other place, and settle the mat-
ter between themselves. Shortly after their departure Mon-
tague reappeared in our office with a legal notice to us, on
behalf of Mace. not to part with the money. We were not
unprepared for this, being fully alive to the dodges of the
gentlemen who brought it, and having shown it to the stake-
holders, it was destroyed, and the money has been since
handed to Brunton alone, who, we have no doubt, will do
what is right with it, and will return each backer his own
again, subject to certain deductions for expenses and towards
repaying the £lOO given to Coburn at the last deposit-
We should perhaps not have been quite EO hasty had it not
been for the legal notice, but unsportsmanlike practices we
never have and never will recognise, and Mace must
therefore take the c insequences of his friends' ill advice.
It may be for their good to know that they have no
legal claim on us whatever—not Is, has reached us from
them—and if they have handed any money to Harry Brun-
ton, it will be against him they will have to take proceed.
ings. We do not wish to prejudice Mace in the eyes of his
backers and the public—doubtless he has been ill-advised—
and this being the case wo are willing to overlook a great
deal, Brunton has promised to intercede with those gentle-
men who stood money oa his la half, and to render us an ac •
count of any sums he may receive for Jem, and he desires
us to intimate that he will meet several of Mace's Turf
backers at Newmarket during the ensuing week, where he
will return them their money, and where ho invites Mace
to be present at the settling. Hu adds that as regards the
other gentlemen who forwarded money to him for Mace, he
will meet them at his own house, the George and Dragon,
Beech-street, Barbican, on Tuesday week, to wind up his
accounts. Here also he will be glad to see to Mace. To
those gentlemen who gave their money to Mace, or any
other friends, Brunton can only say they must apply to
those who received it. He is only accountable to there
whose names aro on the two lists submitted to us by him
and Mace, and from whom wo have received letters making
Harry responsible.

AssLveial comments have been made upon cur
Coburn the .£lOO for expenses, as there was no fight, we

think it right to state that by ill.? articles Coburn was to re-
ceive £lOO at the last deposit for his expenses, and no void
whatever is therein contained as to its being returned in case
the fight did not come off,
We now take our leave of the vhole affair, in the hope
that this may be the last occasion on Which wo may have
to refer to such a di6aBti:cable