New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-05
Half and Half in Court.

Suggestions Of that excellent and popu-
lar British drink known as half and
half composed Of equal parts Of Dublin
stout and English ale. are created by the
suit brought by one Of the principal pro-
fessional usurers in London for the recov-
cry Of the amount Of note signed by A.
Lee Guinness and backed by Sir William
Hamar Bass, the latter name being idenu-
he'd with pale ale, while Of course GUM
ness is synonymous with Dublin stout
The Guinness in question IS Algernon
Arthur ST Lawrence Lee Guinness eldest
son Of the late Captain Benjamin GUM
ness, Of the Royal Horse Guards, nephew
Of Lord Iveagh and Of Lord Ardilaun and
next heir 10 the latter's baronetcy. but not
10 his peerage The barOnetcy was orig
inally conferred upon his grandfather, the
late Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, head of
the brewing firm al Dublin, and who at
his own cost restored the Cathedral of st.
Patrick, at Dublin, fifty years ago Alger-
non Lee Guinness was gazctted a bank
rupt last spring, with liabilities to the
tune Of considerably over 10000.
Guinness being thus officially declared
insolvent. the usurer naturally proceeded
10 sue the hacker Of the nOte-namely. Sir
William Hamar Bass-for the amount of
It's face value. Sir VILLAIN, first Of all, de-
eined 10 pay the note on the ground that
ne mad been induced 10 sign IT under false
Fe'ences. having been assured by a. L.
Guinness that ne had the absolute re-
version 10 certain property. which turned
out not 10 be the case. Then Sir William
offered 20 pay. In default, the actual
amount for which the note was discount
eQ-nanely, E5.gp-plus 5 per cent interest,
although DE insisted that he had not per-
soAaAy benefited by the transaction. This
ofer was refused by the usurer. who won
us case, and who insisted on the full
amount Of the face value OF the note, ex-
e4sing his demand for interest at the rate
Of ~ per cent on the ground Of the risk,
seeing that be knew Guinness 70 be al
ready IN heavy difficulties at the time and
NAT Sir William himself had notes out
Standing 70 the extent Of more than $4,000
This revelation about Sir William has
created good deal q establishment among
people not connected with the turf with
VOohmaKers or with money lenders. for il
mas always been supposed that Sir Will
IAN was Very rich. his racing stud and
morse breeding farms alone being Of CON
SIDERABLE value. while il Is known that he
Aao inherited "a considerable fortune. along
win barJnetcy. two years ago from his
Uncle, the late Lord Burton, whose peer
age Went 10 his only child and daughter.
NeiAe Bass, married 10 James Evan Baillie.
Dochfour former Member Of Parlia
~eh' iof the County of Inverness. She is
"O" Lazy Burton in her own right.
" also developed during the proceedings
"a court that several suits in bankruptcy
nave been Instituted against Sir William.
asserted that these are merely vexa-
uous Proceedings and that he has plenty
=" assets % pay all his liabilities in fun.
without difficulty. But the statement that
.aefe was nearly 500 90 worth Of mis- paper
A0aung about would not suggest the pos
session Of on abundance Of ready money
sI William Bass has been a very prom
Msht figure on the turf. Signalling
'1nseh IN the spring Of 1876 by buy
ing TOT $500" Sir Charles Roses cele-
"a'ed stallion Cyllene. sire Of Cicero
nat Won the Derby for Lord Kosebery IN
ua' Year. and IN 1903 ne gave $l2o,"O Tor
-"'eTt SiyIers well known mare Sceptre.
as also owned the London newspaper
liza served with distinction in ,he South
H"ican war as captain of the crack reg
+asht Of 10Th Hussars. and Is married TO
lay Noreen Bass who shares his sporting
oes'es and is the youngest daughter OF the
thirteenth Earl Of Huntington. They have
~ children, although they have been mar
,'so eight years. and If he dies without
Asle the Bass baronetcy will become ex-
tnct