Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-03-04

at the theater when two negroes walked
up to the box-ofice and demanded tickets
to the psrquette. Mr.. Brooks, the Treas
urer, handed out the tickets and the civil
rights rascals walked up stairs to the
door leading into the dress.cirele, where.
they were mel by Lessee Dsvey, who,
after stating to them that their entrance
to the dress-circle would ruin his bush
ness and might cause q difficulty between
them and the white people present, the
negroes concluded not to make the at
tempt. Before leaving, however, they
asked the important question, "Do you
refuse us admission2' NO" replied
Lessee Davey.
At the time of the occurrence United
States Revenue Collector Patterson hap
pened to be present purchasing q ticket,
and the p%roprietors of the theater be-
lieved that he had something to do with
the attempt made by the negroes. But
subsequently Mr.. Thompson, CONNER
cial reporter of the Avalanche, visited
the theater and stated to Lessee Davey
that General Patterson had nothing in
the world to do with it, as the General
was only there purchasing a ticket for
the purpose of witnessing Mrs. Bowers
in Eleanor, and that his presence there
at the time Of the attempt was purely
accidental. Mr.. Thompson added that
il was the legal opinion of Colonel KEEL
lar, of the Avalanche, hat the negroes
ought to be admitted, and he (Kellar)
would advise him to do so.
THE SECOND ATTEMPT.
Not long afterward a drunken negro
from Mississippi walked up stairs and
attempted to enter the dress circle by
force without even having a ticket. The
doorkeeper, Mr.. T. P. Holland, inter.
cepted him and pushed him back. This
enraged the %rufian, whose self-impor,
lance was inspired by civil rights and
mean whisky, and he made q more de
termined effort to force his way in, but
Mr.. Holland, very properly and in
prompt manner, pitched him headlonp
: down stairs, He came back and wal
again sent to the bottom of the stairway
) The police interfered, and arresting tn,
e negro carried him to the st~ation-houSe
e This morning he was brought before th,
4 Recorder and fined ten dollars for beinl
drunk and disorderly. Here ends tn,
n matter for the present, but the thinI
o will be attempted again probably to
e night. Should a dirty and insolen
e negro walk in and take a seat by
e white gentleman or lady of course thu
G intended insult would be resented on The
spot. This, however, if carried out, viii
d break up the theater, as white ladies anC
gentlemen cannot possibly attend if ne
groes are permitted to be seated bythem
S To this favor has it come at last. Lessee
e Davey expresses himself on the subject
s in the following manner:
S "In Difference to my own feelings, as
a well as TO the sentiments OF a public to
. whom | owe so much, | will refuse them
: admittance at any sacrifice Of personal
D liberty or loss Of capital. | will either
e run the theater as | have heretofore, OF
e | will close it. | propose to manage my
business in my own way, and not to be
dictated to by Congress or any other leg
%islative body. So long as | pay my rent
and license, and put such plays upon the
, stage as are acceptable TO refined and
cultivated audiences, | care nothing for
: oppressive and insulting laws like the
e civil rights bill, and | will contest
q them as long as | have a dollar"