or mace-cove, mace-gloak, macer, subs. (thieves’).—A general swindler. But see quots. 1879 and 1884.
1781. G. PARKER, A View of Society, ii. 34, s.v.
1823. BADCOCK (‘Jon Bee’), Dictionary of the Turf, etc., s.v. MACE. The MACE-COVE is he who will cheat, take in, or swindle as often as may be.
1828. G. SMEETON, Doings in London, p. 39. It is a game in very great vogue among the MACERS, who congregate nightly at the flash-houses.
1859. G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum; or, The Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.
1861. G. A. SALA, Twice Round the Clock, 2 P.M., Par. 10. The turf has its blacklegs and touts; the nightside of London is fruitful in MACEMEN, ‘mouchers,’ and ‘go-alongs.’
1879. J. W. HORSLEY, ‘Autobiography of a Thief,’ in Macmillan’s Magazine, XL., 502. The following people used to go in there—toy-getters (watch-stealers) … MEN AT THE MACE (sham loan offices).
1883. G. A. S[ALA], Illustrated London News, 28 April, p. 407, col. 2. The lovely and loving spouse of an abandoned MACER, named Brabazon Sikes—to further whose villainous ends she consents to ‘nobble’ Damozel in his stable.
1884. Daily News, 5 Jan., p. 5, col. 2. The victim appears to have entered an omnibus and to have been at once pounced upon by two MACEMEN, otherwise ‘swell mobsmen.’
