Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Thursday 19 February 1880, page 8


DANGEROUS SPORTS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.

Sir, - Permit me to direct your attention to the very dan-gerous pastime which has recently become so popular in and about the city of Sydney. I refer to the "Blondin business." Recently when passing Liverpool-street, my attention was attracted by a vast multitude of people, gathered together to witness the performance of a "Blo-din." He was walking a rope in mid-air, which must have been fully as high from the ground as is usual with the wires of our telegraph lines. I apprehended that and sport by which a man's life is placed in jeopardy is not only dangerous, but unlawful, and although I must admit that the performer at Liverpool-street appeared to be a perfect master of his business, yet it surely is not right to permit such dangerous pastimes. Not only did the performer himself risk his own life, but a youngster of, I should think, not more than eight years of age was fastened on his back and carried by him across the perilous rope. I do not think it is right that a man should be permitted to risk the life of a young child with impunity, and I appre-hend that if the child had been killed by any accident whilst so exposed to danger, the performer would have been liable to a criminal prosecution. The law on this point is laid down by "Russell, on Crimes and Misdemeanours" vol. I page 854, fourth edition, as follows: - "Where sports are unlaw-ful in themselves, or productive of danger, riot, or disorder, so as to endanger the peace, and death ensue in the pursuit of them, the party killing is guilty of manslaughter." It is further stated that while "such manly sports and exer-cises as tend to give strength, activity, and skill in the use of arms, and are entered into as private recreations amongst friends, are not deemed unlawful sports, yet prize fighting, public boxing matches, or any other sports of a similar kind, which are exhibited for lucre and tend to encourage idleness by drawing together a number of disorderly people have met with a different con-sideration." And to go a step further, it is very difficult to draw the line between the liability of the spectators of such performances and those of a "Tilt" or "Tournament,"

with respect to which it is thus laid down in "Archibold's Handling Evidence in Criminal Cases," page 683, 18th ed. : - "A tilt or tournament, the martial diversion of our ancestors, was nevertheless an unlawful act ; and so are boxing and sword-playing, the suceeding amusements of their posterity. See R v. Perkins 4 c, and p. 537 ; R. v. Hargrave, 5 e. and p. 170 ; R. v. Murphy, 6 e. and p. 103. Therefore, if a knight in the former case or a gladiator in the latter be killed such killing is manslaughter - 4 Bl.

Com. 183." "And in cases of this kind, however fair the light may have been, all who are present at it and parties to it are equally guilty of manslaughter - R. v. Turner, 4 F. and F. 339."

This is a matter for the interference of the Legislature, and I trust ere long they will take some steps to prevent

such dangerous exhibitions. LEX.

LIA.

Mr. ünillio (Jochmno (sayo Whiirhall) who retires from tim ropresinliition of tho Mo of Wight on t io dissolution of tho present Parliament, has said ndiou toms constituents at Newport, who sped tho parting ga°«nT dinnor. This worthy Parliamentary veteran, wfloso olectionooring exploits inoludo two unsuccessful ngura «J Southampton, where ho had os an antagonist mo JA

Chiof Justico of England (Sir Alexander Cockburn), w« reooivo in duo course tho recognition which his sUUC^1

tho party dosorvo-tranalution to that Chanibor whoio con-j stituunts ceiibo fronUionhling and .tho.jaded politician is «.

103t.