The Washington times., 1909-11-16
POLICE MAY GOVERN
DISTRICT FOOTBALL
Heads of Washington Gov
eminent Consider Adopt
ing Regulations.

Regulation of football in the District
by laws to insure against the killing or
serious injury of players was the sub
Ject of a conference between Commits
sioner Macfarland and Corporation
Counsel Thomas today.
Commissioner MacfaTland declares he
viii take steps at once to adopt a police
regulation, If that can be done. or to
recommend legislation necessary TO this
end.
Football has found another source of
opposition in Major Sylvester, who de-
clared this morning for the abolition OF
The game if it could not be abridged to
prevent danger. The police chief termed
the game continuous assault"
I'VE prohibit prize-dghting in the Dis
trict," he said, land I fail 10 see why
We should permit the system of con
tinuous assault. known as football, to
be played here"
Grave, Says West.
Commissioner West declared that the
football question was grave one.
though he declined to discuss IT.
The campaign against football win
not effect in any way the investigation
OF occurrences at the Virginia-George
town game on Saturday, when the po-
lice were charged with unnecessary
cruelty in handling young Christian,
the player who afterward died.
Inspector Francis E Cross was de-
tailed by Major Sylvester this morning
10 make an investigation of the charges
against the policemen on duty at the
game, and he wa instructed to pre-
pare the necessary charges if he found
them negligent. Inspector Cross Will
work with Capt Henry Schneider Of
the Georgetown precinct, in the inves-
LEGATION of the case
The investigation follows the recon-
mendation Of the coroner's jury that the
District Commissioners make rules re-
garding the conduct of officers in casu-
''The police rules or manual. said
Major Sylvester, do not and cannot
provide for every contingency, and the
members of the force nave been told re-
peatedly that they are expected to use
ordinary Intelligence and discretion in
their work"
Regret Expressed.
Regret was expressed at the manner
IN which policemen handled the affair
last Saturday afternoon. The jury
however, concluded that this reprehen-
sible conduct on the part Of the police
men did not hasten the death of young
Christian.
The Jury was composed Of Ward The
ron. Thomas c. NOyes. 5. Logan Ow-
ems, John F. wilkins, W. P. carr and
w 2. Hibbs. While the jury was
called to investigate the death of the
young college student, they investi-
gated the entire affair and concluded
that the rules for the police in such
cases are too lax.
DR.. I. H. GlaZebroOk. deputy coroner:
Capt. Henry Schneider, Of the Seventh
PTeCinct: Dr. Howard Hume. George Z.
Plaster, jr., James r. Kelly Frank
Lear, driver OF the patrol wagon. Sergt.
James D. McQuade and DIT w. 3. Carr
were the witnesses examined.
.Dr- Glazebrook stated that he was
dose TO the scene Of the accident, and
that he Immediately requested two
policemen TO call an ambulance Both
refused, he said, giving as a reason that
they could not leave their posts of duty.
After the patrol wagon had come. said
IJr. GlazebrO0k. he requested the driver
to take the boy to Providence Hospital
or Casualty Hospital. both OF which re-
quests were refused, the driver declar-
ing he would go to Georgetown Hos
pifal and nowhere else.