New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1869-05-23
THE OPERA HOUSE EJECTMEST
Mr.. MACARTY'S SUIT FOR DAMAGES
TESTIMONY FoK THE DEFENSE

In the United States District Court, yes
terday, Judge E. H. Durell presiding, the
trial of the case of Macarty vs.. E. Gale
bresi, lessee of the New Opera House, was
resumed, and the following evidence was
elected:
Mr.. Kinks testified that he was a cub
scriber of the Opera House; thinks that If
colOred persons were admitted to seats in
the house promiscuously with white per-
sons the result would be the closing of the
opera; that the white people would abstain
from patroniZing the place; has strong pre-
iudices to the descendants Of the African
race; does not know whether black people
go to the same Heaven AS white persons do;
has heard argument on that point often; il
| he saw negro in the theatre among white
persons he would leave; seldom attends
| church: never saw colored and white per-
sons praying at the same altar; never saw a
| colored babe christened; does not know
that they are baptized at the same font as
white children are.
| Mr.. Miltenberger testified that he is sub
| scriber of the Opera House; has strong
prejudices against associating with colored
persons; has been educated to that preju--
| dice: knows many honest colored persons;
has no objection to trading with them;
would sell to them the same as he would to
white persons; knows positively that adnls-
| sion to all parts of the house to colored
persons would cause suspension OF theat-
rical exhibitions, because the white people
would refrain from visiting the place.
Michel George testified that he witnessed
| the expulsion of Mr.. Macarty from the Opera
House: there was some excitement OCCASION
ed by Mr. Macarty declining to leave unless
| force was used; believes that visits of men
| of his color to the Opera House would
occasion trouble each and every time;
| knows that Macarty is cOlored by his ap-
pearance; knows a colored person alWay 8,
| when he sees one; can assign no reason for
| his knowledge; it is intVitlVe with him, he
| suproses: was educated at Paris, France
never saw colored persons at places oi
| amusemen there; kl,ows that no prejudice
exists in France on account of race or color;
has a natural prejudice against them; be-
lieves that if the regulations of the Opera
House are changed it would cause the place
to be closed, rs white persons would refrain
from visiting the place.
William c. Tompkins testified that he is q
subscriber to the Opera House; would not
remain an instant if he knew the manage
ment admitted coored persons in the boxes
or parterre with white persons; has reside.
here about twenty-five years; is a native O
Boston: came here with prejudCes agains
the colored race; is now in favor of allow
ing them to vote, but on no account will ht
favor their holding office, because he doe
not think they have capacity; even If thel
had capacity, would still object, on accOun
of his great iprejudices against their race
thinks, however, that their capacity to vOt
with Judgment is equal to that Of larg
, number of white persons; rode once in tn
cars in the North with a colored man; tn
man was black; he was seated at some dis
tance from witness; had he been seated nea
him he would have changed his seat or LEI
the car; is positive that the theatre wonlt
close were persons admitted without dis
/ tinctiOn of race or color.
Mr.. Gaillet testified that he informed MI
g | Normandin of the presence Of Mr.. Macart
: at the theatre at the request of the door
: keeper is opposed to any violations ot In
o regulations Of the Opera House would nc
S intrude into places where he was prescribe
] by regulations if the regulations were st
) aside he would not object to sit beside an
: decent colored person has no prejudice
. on account of race or color thinks ii
theatre would be ruined financially if -h
: rules were suspended or revoked, as whit
persons would no longer patronize tn
= place.
e At this point, many witnesses being a
sent, further consideration of the case WI
/ postponed until Saturday next, tweut
e ninth instant.