INJURED AT CRICKET

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 19, 23 January 1940, Page 4

INJURED AT CRICKET

DAMAGES FOR SCHOOLBOY

DANGEROUS FIEUDjNG PO3T

(By Air Mail, from "The Post's" London Representative.) LONDON, December, 12. Maurice Tate, the Sussex and England cricketer, stated at the Lewes Assizes that he had stood'within four yards of the bat wlien Larwood was bowling, but it was suicide for- an inexperienced boy to stand within ten yards of the wicket. He was giving evidence in a case in which John Alfred Terence Barfopt, of Seaford, claimed' against the East Sussex County Council. For the boy it was stated that in a school game a master placed him at silly mid-on, and a ball hit by a boy named Stone struck him and fractured his skull. During the hearing, Mr,; , Justice Humphreys commented: "In 1876, when I began my cricket, a position half-way between the wicket on the on-side but rather deep, was. galled mid-on. We were taught never to pull the balls.on the off stump, and got into trouble if we did:" . -' ' - '. Maurice Tate said that in his opinion it was suicide ta place inexperienced boys within ten yards of the wicket. With 15' or 16 boys fielding it was more dangerous. „ : ■' ■ ' , "I have retreated many times when I have found a bowler has not a very good length." he said. "If you have a really good bowler such as Larvvood, Who is very accurate,, it is difterent. I have.stpod up within four.yards for him; Now and again, I have let one or two. go by, but that was all in the day's work. i .' . • -"I ftave had : Patsy Hendren stand up within three yards for me on one Australian trip,' arid very successful heVWaS."- ; ■ ': : .'., . ■ ■ : :■ « DUCKED MANY TIMES. Tate demonstrated how he. had protected v his face with his han.ds: when he found that a .batsman >was a hard hitter to leg. • ' - • ' •■" " Asked by Mr. C~ 'Doughty,;~K.C. (for the council) iif he" hadL ever ducked. Tate replied, "Many- times>"; ■ Barfoot told the. Judge;, that the master in charge -placed -him.at midon, and then twice told him to move in closer, to a position vwhich he was told was silly mid-on. • ; : . * Mr. George Thomas Steyenson, of Seaford, the master .in"; charge of the game, said. that he told v Barf pot to stand at square leg,'iatid' he never used the phrase "silly mid:bn" ; during that afternoon. The • boy moVed'nearer to the batsman of his. own accordi he said. . The Judge, said.that, "with.%fear and trembling" he ventured to differ from Mr. Tate that' in the circumstances U would not be more dangerous, forward of the wicket than square with the wicket. ■'■.-■ ,■ ■ "I find that the little boy was in a dangerous position and that .Mr, Stevenson knew.his position to be. a dangerous one," .continued Mr. Justice Humphreys. "I am satisfied that Mr. Stevenson would not have allowed the boy to be there if he had noticed him; Mr. Stevenson had hoiiced that the rboy was likely to take up such a position owing to his : other duties: as umpire, because he had. dpnc so" before, but Mr. Stevenson failed .to exercise the care which-the law requires from a master in : charge of; a ; pup|il in these circuhistanqe's. I tHeref^r^ find" for :theplairitifj,''.:.-:->;H^|:^M'; -:^:':~- ■' •;-Damages arfiouhtingi',t<^|M7soi wtite awarded to the bby:^ahd::^^o special damages to Barfppi^s; fathe^| Stay^uf execution'was V.';^i|| - '• :: -'; "^---: