THE LAWS OF FOOTBALL.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2907, 10 June 1878, Page 3

THE LAWS OF FOOTBALL.

The trial of William Bradshaw for the manslaughter of Herbert Dockerty—the case arising out of the recent fatal accident at-football—has ended in the acquittal of the prisoner. This perhaps was to. hare been expected ; especially after Lord Justice Bramwell's having, no doubt very properly, told the Jury that "it would be safer to consider," in spite of some evidence to the contrary, that the prisoner was playing in accordance with the rules of the game. For although, as his lordship observed, "no rules or practice of any game could make that lawful which was contrary to the law of the land," yet, on the other hand " if a player is observing the laws' of a game and not going- beyond them, it may be reasonable to infer that he is not acting with an intention to hurt, or in a manner which he knows will be likely to be productive of death or injury." Actiog in spirit of these directions, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty, and at the same time suggested a recommendation that the laws of football should be altered. Lord Justice Bramwell, however, showed; some diffidence about recommending the alteration. ** I hardly think," he said " that I am the person from whom such a recommendation should come. I have never played football, and am not now likely to do so." But surely the very impartiality of the position which he thus occupies pre-eminently fits him for an adviser; and he might safely, perhaps, have made a less guarded suggestion that " it would be as weir even for young men to try to make these accidents as little likely to, occur as possible. It should be remembered that the acquittal of a player upon a charge of this kind is the condemnation of the game. If he played as the jury find that he did, according to the Association rules, so ' much the worse for those rules. ,It appears from this case that under those regulations a player, in order to "charge down" another player's kick, may leap into the air and descend upon the other player with such force as to cause mortal internal injury. If the Association, whoever they may be, do not modify rules which permit this practice, it will certainly become a question whether a player who resorts to it should- be allowed in future to shelter himself under the rules. After this experience he can hardly plead that he is acting in a manner which he does not know to be " like'y to produce death pr injury." -• ■■ ■-■'-'■"'■ '":■ '• ■■