New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-17
80 VINDlCATION" FOR HINKEY.
RESULT OF AN INVESTIGATION BY YALE
MEN

STATEMENTS FROM THE OFFICERS OF THE YALE
HARVARD GAME AND SOME or THE PLAY
Observation-Disclosures NOT ASKED
FOR INFORMATION.
George A. Adlc. ex-Judge Henry +. Rowland,
Professor T.. l.. Richards. Walter Camp ana r..
l.. Richards. jr.. behalf OF the Yale footoal
Association, have issued statement. the purpose
OF which, apparently, is 10 vlndicate FRANK
Hinkey, captain OF this years team. ana TO prove
that all charges of brutality and roughness made
against him were false and without the slightest
foundation.
When the football season ended. so decided was
the sentiment against Hnkey that the Yale Foot
ball Association Immediately requested the men
already mentioned to make thorough inVesusa-
ton OF the charges and to learn. II possible. the
true facts OF the case. The Indignation against
Hinkev seems to have started with his alleged
wilfuI injury OF Wrightngton. the Harvard player,
I, tho Springfield game Many spectators say
that Hnkey maliciously jumped upon the far-
ward man and vlcousy struck him with his Knees
after he had been tackled by Beard The com
mittce has investigated this charge but 1t may
annear a little singular that. while nearly every
one else connected with the affair has been cN-
amined. Wrightington 10 whom 1t would seem an
investigating committee would naturally turn Tor
information has never been approached In any
way upon the subject. and the investigation has
been confined to the Yale players directly con-
cerned I'm the play which resulted In Wrghting-
toms injury the officials and number OF Wit
nesses the lines.
When asked by Tribune reporter II any enor,
had been made to obtain a statement from wright
ington T.. l. Richards. jr.. replied Most assured
~ not"
But why most assuredly not? " the reporter
persisted.
because We dd not care to-.
That was all Mr. Richards had TO say
The committee declares that the officials were
on the ground and nearer to the play than any
one else their testimony should carry more "''b"'
than that OF mere spectators.
The frs, man TO be examined was Hinkey. The
Silent Man" told them positively and most en-
phaticalIy that he did not knee or otherwise
maltrrat Wrlghtington In the Springheh game
and that he has been guilty OF unfair rough-
ness In any OF the games in which he has taken
mart Furthermore. the committee says. his state
mon, ls corroborated By the fact that. although
he has played for seven years AT Andover ana AT
Yale no onicial has ever found 1t necessary TO
adiudge him guilty OF unfair play. or disauaHty
him for ~.
The Official. OF the game In question were request
81 e. give their version OF the affair ami each com
plle1 This Is the statement Of Dr. David Boviard.
referee.
1t Is stated that HInkey knee" wrghtins-
ton / wish 20 say that | not only al noi see ms.
yards var - Of tSe men at the tme wrish'lnson was
suit 81 accident ami not 81 maleyolence on the part
81 any member Of the Yale team So mucn mas
THIS statement f. due ~ matter ~ Justice
Alexander Mona, Of Princeton umpired the game
AMI has written 20 Professor Richards. giving his
account OF the HinkcyWrghi.r g'on Incident, He
says:
In regard to the responsibility Of the injury TO
Wrlghtington In the Harvard-Ii." game. would
say that The injury was pui" accten'i wnish
biz to place any responsibility The stai"meni that
the IN Jury caused by tn" vicious playing OF cap
tam Hinkey. with thc intent 20 MAIN. is noi borne
ont bv the facts. Tn. attack upon captain Hnk"y
/ consider be unjust and apparently emanates
from prcludicci persons.
Henry " Bcccher. the former Yale quarterback.
received the following letter from George D. Pratt
who performed the newly created part % lncsman:
| saw no unnecessary roughncss in the Spring
field game ana have not taken me least STOCK IN
Inc paper accounts about FIlnkey. He Wa no rough
T h"p any paSl ns go S harG f sam T but he
impressed M follow who played win the inten-
ton Of disabling a man. and don't believe ne does
/ did not see him Jump on the Harvard player.
Wrightlngton. and do not believe he did.
The linesman docs not say that he saw the play,
nor does the assistant nesman. Irwin VI. Garfield.
who in a similar letter substantates Pratts state
ment
The testimony which really carries the most weight
Is that OF Beard the Yale man who first tackled
Wrightington. He Is also the player who. II Is al
legged was brually kicked by Iilnkey during prac-
tce game at New Haven. and was Obliged to return
his home for several weeks result OF the
injury.
This is his statemcnp
The play In which Wrightington was injured oc-
Cured about ten yards from Harvard's goal. nearly
in front OF the goal posts. Thorne had punted
from about Harvard : 45-yari line; Wrighiington
caught the bail the fiy and started to run toward
the Harvard side OF the field. He running dag
onay across the field and | was running straight
down the field in the direction OF Harvaris god-ine
lie had run about ten yards when tackled him. both
of US being a dead run. made "A diving tackle,
jumping and tackng him about the knees. lie fell
his side falling towar HarvarTs goal II was
"A hard tackle. Wrightington striking tn" ground
heavily Before made the tackle | heard Ilnkey
some dlsflrC" behind shouting 10 me to tackle
him iWrlghtngtOn Wrightington got up almost
Immediately working his shoulder. | mad heard
the umplrc'f whistle for iIarvarIs onsilc play.
and when looked back saw iInkcy for the hrst
time during that play fully ten yards back toward
our own goal. running toward the umpire. VINO
had blown his whistle the centre Of the Held.
UInkcv was claiming a penalty for violation of
the rules by Harvard. which the umpire allowed.
while Wrghtington was being helped off the field by
the Harvard players.
1t Is understood that a complimentary dinner VIII
be given to IIinkcy by Yale men ~ "a further