Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 22.pdf/236

 Football and the Law By C. D. CAPELLE

EMEMBERING that the revision of football rules is now being con sidered, it is not altogether without

point to recall the case of the Queen against Bradshaw, reported in volume

14, page 83, of Cox’s Reports of criminal cases in England. The case arose over a game of football in ‘which one player

any doubt, just look how they re formed the good old games of horse racing, dueling and witchcraft. At any rate, the game of football will

ever after be a tedious thing and much lacking in zest. For the very ﬁrst kick-off will be followed by an injunction, and all plays thereafter will be too well interspersed with exceptions, challenges

was killed. To be sure, no one was con victed of anything, but, for all we know, some one might have been near to conviction or might have been convicted if there had been another trial.

to the array and the legal like. Of course, too, there will be investigations into probable causes and natural and

If any public prosecutor in any of the bailiwicks of the land allows the duties of his oﬂice to weigh right heavily upon

slander, as well as writs of ad quad damnum, followed inevitably and as a matter of course by appeal upon appeal

probable consequences and the law of

he

—Heaven only knows when a game

longs to bask a little in the calcium of the public show, it is barely possible that the case of the Queen against

would end. True, the game might even then be ﬁne mental exercise and it might cost as much money to support as it costs now, but-it wouldn't be football.

him,

or—perish

the

thought-if

Bradshaw might put an idea into his

head. If it does, and he should into execution, the cries of the will soon no doubt be heard on bill, as they close in on another

put it packs every bit of

well-harried game. Then, ﬁnally, Mr. Walter Camp and the rules committee and the presidents

Something like this, you know. “Are you ready, Captain Smith?" “Yes, sir.” “Are you ready Captain Jones?"

“If the court please,” says

Captain Jones, "we have ﬁled, through

quit

our attorney, duly empowered there unto, a demurrer to our opponents.

giving their time to the revision of the

We think they do not constitute a cause

rules for the game of football. They can cease with easy consciences from trying to make the game less dangerous,

of action," etc., etc., etc.

of-the-leading-universities

may

for the great old common law (aided and abetted by the public prosecutor aforesaid) and, perhaps, a dozen or more statutes, will have taken the game

in hand. They——common law, statutes, .and public prosecutor—will revise the rules and reform the game and make it less dangerous to life and limb. Will they? Well, if you have

Would any one ever eat any Thanks giving dinner, or would there be inter missions for meals? The case of the Queen v. Bradshaw is reported, in part, as follows :

“William Bradshaw was indicted for the manslaughter of Herbert Dockerty, at Ashby-de-la-Zouche, on the 28th day of February, 1878.

"The deceased met with the accident which caused his death on the occasion