THE FATAL FOOTBALL ACCIDENT.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 779, 14 June 1877, Page 2

THE FATAL FOOTBALL ACCIDENT.

COEONER'S INQUEST. (abridged from the 'herald.') An..enquiry into the circumstances connected with the death of the late Frederick Pilling was held on Tuesday, at the Alexandra Hotel, Parnell, before Dr Philson, District Coroner, and a jury of twelve. Mossrs Kissling and Hesketh. appeared to watch the case on behalf Mr Haul tain.

James Frederick Haultain deposed : I am a lawyer's clerk, and reside in Ohapel-street, Auckland. I knew deceased about a year. I believe he was sharebroking. He lodged at Mrs .Ruck's, Parnell. On Saturday last we were engaged in a game of football—Parnell playing the Ponsonby Club in the Domain. Deceased belonged to the Parnell side, and I belonged to the Ponsonby side. There were alxmt fifteen on each side. We began play at a quarter-past 3 o'clock.. The deceased got hold of the ball about 5 o'clock, and began running with it towards Ponsonby goal. He passed through all our side except two—myself and Thomas ICeir. I ran forward to stop him, and he, seeing me coming, put down his head, stooping his body forward witlr the view of running into me and knockiag me over if possible. That is part of the game. Deceased was running down hill. I also was running hard, and we came into collision at an angle of about 45 degrees, and he fell. I did not see how he fell, but I think he fell right down. I did not notice particularly as I had received a shock myself. As soon as I recovered, about a quarter of a minute afoor the collision, I observed deceased lying on the ground and a good many around him. I could not see what position he was lying in, but I think some one had his haad on their lap. When deceased ran into me his head struck my left arm, but the only injury I sustained was a slight bruse. We sent William Jones for Dr Norton to the Hospital, which was near the place, and he attended and examined the deceased. The ! doctor advised his removal home. Deceased could speak. I heard him speak to Dr Norton. He was sensible. I heard him say to Dr Norton that he had no feeling in his legs. Some one tried to lift him up, but he fell back. 1, with two or three others, ran to .the block-house, where we procured materials and constructed a stretcher, upon which deceased was conveyed to his lodgings at Parnell. I went with him to his lodgings, and helped to carry him. He did not complain on the way, but said he must be heavy for us to carry. I saw him carried into the room where the body now lies, at Mrs Ruck's. I saw nothing further of him up to the time of his death. My belief is that it was more the force with which the deceased ran against me than that of me against him that caused the accident. He was running down hill, and his momentum was greater than mine. He ran right against me, and he might have avoided me, for I was running to him sideways. We were playing in the usual manner. I have seldom seen men put clown their heads when they ran; they generally come in with the shoulder. I believe the occurrence was through his own act. I have known an instance of a man having his collarbone broken while playing football, aud in another instance Mr Shai'land had his leg injured,and ■ ■ -: M%&&

Mr Laiahlejr had his thigh broken, ?i- 11.1 hob see that ' 1 should think the game is dangerous. Under the present rules, accidents may happen but it does nob neceasarly follow that there should be accidents. They are what is called the Rugby Union rules. I have heard of serious accidents occurring i n England at football. Deceased was & a heavier and stronger player than I am.

By Mr Hesketh : I was on friendly terms with Mr Pilling, bat not on intimate terras. -1 spoke to him several times during the game, and had met him afc a friend's house at an evening party the previous week. Ifc is allowed by the rules for a person to run with the' ball, and it was lawful for me to run at him obliquely to stop him. or knock him down.

By the Foreman: I knew deceased for a year. He was admitted to be an experienced player. I have beeu a player for the last four years. My intention in running was to stop him. It was a hotly contested game, but it was played in the ordinary manner.

By Mr Hesketh : lam not aware whether anything wss the matter with Mr Pilling's sight. T never heard he was blind of one eye. Edward Neville Forder deposed : lam q, salesman draper, and live in* Freeman's Bay. I was slightly acquainted with the deceased. I was playing on the Ponsonby side at the football match on Saturday last. I .was pursuing Pilling at the time the accident occurred, and was about two yards behind him. He was running at top speed with the ball under his arm. I saw the last witness ran across at an obtuse angle, as if to cross hi« track. Haultain held his arm close to his side, bent on his chest, in the usual manner when charging with the shoulder. "When Pilling saw him coming, he bent his head down to charge Haultain head first. They came together at the angle I. hav« described, and deceased fell all of a heap. Ido not think any blame attaches to any one from what has resulted. The whole proceeding was in accordance with the usual rules of the game. After what I have seen I must believe the game to be a dangerous one. I shall not play any more, but that is no reason j why it should ,be put down. The rules should be modified to prevent this charging, and make ifc the rule that a person should only be stopped jby being caught' by hands. That would have a tendency to take the chief danger away. . By Mr He3keth : There is more than one rule allowing of chargingBy the Foreman : Kerr was about ten yards away. The ordinary game was being played at the time, it is not exactly unusual to stoop the head; I have frequently seen short strong men do so. I have ho doubt deceased's object was to overset Haultain and gain the opposite goal. Kicking the shins is contrary to the rules, but there was nothing of that in this iustance.

Dr Norton gave evidence as Co the .injuries, as also did Dr Ellis. The latter gentlemen went on to kay : I made a post mortem examination with Dr Hooper to-day. We examined the spinal column first, and found rn oblique fracture through the body of the third dorsal vertebrae, exactly where, he had complained of tho pain. There was no displacement or dislocation. The spinal cord was not pressed 'upon, but lihere were minute bloody spots on the substance of the spinal marrow. There was no b100.,1 in the sheath. I think the paralysis resulted lrom concussion of the spinal cord, and-that in my opinion is the cause of death. He survived about 40 hours after receipt of the injury. I have seen the game of football played in* Auckland, and Dunediu also. T certainly consider it to be a hazAidous gamp. I don't say it should be pui; down, but the rules should be modified. I have had six cases of injury occasioned by it within the last two years. I don't think it would be : possible to put down a game so universally recognised, but it should be modified so as to render it dangerous. By Mr Hesketh : If he was running at top speed with his head down, he would, I think, be more susceptible of a shock to his spine. By a Juror: The game is moro dangerous for men than boys. The Coroner, in summing up the evidence, said as to the cause of death there could be no doubt, but it was an accident which might have been prevented, and if the jury thought the game of football dangerous, it would b3 in their power to recommend the Government to prohibit it, or insist on such modification of the rules as remove the danger. Mr Hesketh pointed out that the game was a lawful game—at least it was not one which the law prohibited, and in this instance there was no reason shown why Mr Haultain should have departed from a recognised rule .of the game. The Coroner said, in his opinion, the game of football was only of savages. * The room was then cleared, to allow the jury to consider their verdict, and in about 20 minutes they returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased, William Frederick Pilling, was accidentally killed, and no blame was attached to any person. They added a rider, recommending that the rales of tho game of football should be modified with the view to the prevention of future. accicl§n|3, '&&.. '..'■'.' jsufe„: