SPORTING.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 714, 16 August 1870, Page 4

SPORTING.

[MELBOURNE ARGUS.] The dispute between J. G. Harris, the pedestrian, and his backers in his match with Hewitt, the English pedestrian, was again before the Supreme Court on the sth inst., in an sction Miller v. Harris. The defendant was father to J. G. Harris; plaintiff was one of Harris's backers. It will be remembered that the match was five different races, LIOO tc be staked by each pedestrian on each event. Hewitt's LSOOO was provided by his importers, Harris's LSOO by his father and four members of the ring. As is known, each athlete won two events and one was drawn. The stakeholder returned LSOO to Harris and LSOO to Hewitt's " proprietors," as they appear to call themselves. Harris's backers contended that they ought to receive back the whole of the money they had staked, whereas Harris maintained that they were only entitled to claim their proportion — onefifth each — of the stake they had deposited on the two events he Avon ; but as to the two events he lost they lost their stake, and as to the dead-heat each was only entitled to a fifth of the stake. Thus each of Harris's backers would receive L6oand lose L4O. They, however, alleged that the practice in these cases was for the backers to get everything, their own stakes and the winnings, and if their man did his duty, to make him a present — say half the winnings. The defendant's counsel objected to any evidence being received as to the usage, but submitted that if that view was adopted the affair amounted to a bet, was therefore illegal, and the claim could not be recovered. Another objection — --more of a technical .nature— -was that Harris, senior, ought not to be sued at all ; he never had the money except as an agent for his son. Mr Justice Williams, before whom the case was tried) expressed himself as favorable | to the view urged by defendant, but reserved the points, and subject to this a verdict was returned for plaintiff for LIOO. As the facts tvere elucidated they rather preplexed the judge, who expressed a very extraordinary wish that the case had been tried by the Chief Justice, who, he said, was more conversant with these matters ! The betting at Goyder's room has been extremely slack for the last week. The acceptance for the Metropolitan made no ! change in the state of the market, as the withdrawals were pretty well known among the bookmakers for some days before. The Melbourne Cup horses have been very much neglected x>f late, and the onlysign of life has been in dsuble-event betting. Croydon has been fairly mentioned fur the Metropolitan, and the fancy for the Cup at present is Little Dick, both horses having been pretty freely taken in doubles. A good deal of the business done has been on the Sydney Derby and Metropolitan. The following doubles have been taken for these races : — Pyrrhus and I Little Dick and Lady Clifden and Little ■ Dick at 500 to 5 ; Florence and Little Dick, 500 to 20 ; Argyle and Liifcle Diclc, Argyle. aud BarbeUe, and Argyle and Moselle, 500 to 4 ; .Lady Clifden and Moselle at 100 to 7 ; Lady Clifden and Barbelle and Lady Clifden and The Earl, 100 to 4 ; Lady Clifden and Croydon, 1000 to 10. For the .Metropolitan and Cup the following doubles have been done : — Little Dick and Warrior, 1000 to 10 ; Little Dick and Sir William and Little Dick and Clencoe, 500 to 2 ; Al and Clencoe, Al and Warrior, and Al and Sir William, 500 to 1 ; Ida Colt has been taken for the Metropolitan, with Clencoe, Warrior, and Sir William for the Cup, at the same price, and Jaunita has also been taken with the same horses at the same figure. Croydon and Little Dick have been taken at 1000 to 4 ; Croydon has been backed for the Metropolitan at 500 to 35, Bylong at 100 to 7, and Juanita at 100 to 4. For the Cup Warrior was backed at 500 to 40, and Sir William at 200 to 10.