The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-03-06
CIVIL RIGHTS.
Fhr First TEST Of the Great In
fanny at the Memphis
Theaier.
Manager Dayey Determined TO-
Contest.

IL IN cary dayat or only respectable tAehtcl
Uy IepUbl.2an negroes, 70 test the Strcn8t
VI the Infamous Civil Rights bill The man
aeement aid not have long to wait Las
night two We.I-drcasad colored men pre-
s nted themselves at the box Office and pur
chased tickets but before reaching the door
wore prevailed upon to iOfego their de.cl
uiuatlan 20 force d Way 10 the dress circle
and handing back their tickets Lad ucl
money refunded to them, add departed peace
ably enough.
a third, roughly dressed and very uncoul
q appearance, would, whether or not enteI
through the dress circle entrance, but thrown
down stairs and pretty severely handled whar
b. got to the bottom, be was given III charge
# policeman, and taken to the station.
bonse, whore charge OF disorderly conduct
was entered. and he was locked up for the
night OF course case for tho United
States court will at once be made mp
by either one Of three Of these seekers after
civil rights, and we shall, perhaps, in the
course OF neXt winter learn from tho Supreme
Court whether or not q theater manager shall
say whether he can divide his house as he
pleaso5, aud discriminate as to who shall md
Who shall not enter that part of the thcater.
After the performance closed our reporter
waited on Manager D.yey and interviewed
INN as to the occurrences above detailed and
rs 70 the policy that will govern him in the
iutarc, ana with the following result:
In crview with Manager Davey.
Reporter Three negroes tried to force their
way into tie dress circle Of The tLeate, to.
night; under What circumstances
Alr. Davey Mr.. Holland about = o'clock,
came into my Office and informed me that
our troubles were upon us, and that the ne
grocs We're then coming up Stairs to demand
entrance to the 1ress-circe. | went down
immediate ely and met two negro men 1T tie
door, who, attor q brief talk, retired first re-
ccivng the money they lad paid to Mr. |
Brooks, tho treasurer, III payment for Two
tickets
Reporter What dill you say to these
nagroes2
Ar. Dwey | asked them what they want,
-. They sid to enter the tEea4er thcu |
asked them Why they wanted to injure ny
business. They said they did not want to in |
IRE me or my business, | told them their
present conduct WOnla certainly have that
effect, whereUpon they asked nae if tiey
MD get their money back. / said yes, and |
sent down TO the box office with them,
where, instructing Mr. Brooks to that effect,
they received their money, returned the
tIcaots and quietly left the theator
Reporter Dad they not ask f. he Il limited
10 the theatcr
Air. D4yey No.
Reporter Did ihey threaten ,r.t. or say
n}tling about civil rights
lir. Dayey ~. Iney were very respect
"a, ard did not, beyond asking me il re-
] .eted them. make any demon straton
Reporter Did you have any notification o.
inklng Of their coming
2Ir DAyey No.
Reporter Did you hear Of thcir being pat
ap 70 this by any white men
Mr.. Dayey Yes ! heard some one in the ,
veshbule of the Iheater say that GeneralPat-
tcrson, the revenue collector of this district, {
hld put up that job upon me. Bat subse- !
luantly friend of that gentleman called and j
old me that 1t was not true, and that his pres |
nee at that moment was purely accidental d
lIe was at the theater at the tms to buy [
ieket with desire to see Mrs. Bowers in 0
.Eieanor," the new play. 81
Reporter Then ! understand you 60 say a
lat these negroes did not ask to DC admitted S
. the theater:
Mr. Davey They did not ask to le admit. Il
ca, but left The house, az have stated. upon Il
ny showing them that their presence would Il
% obnoxious to the people and positive in Ii
Try to me- Il
Reporter Well, you had another negro Wis il
tor what did You DO with him =? il
Mr.. Davey- Yes; but he had no ticket, was a,
runk and d1sorderly, and was vely promptly
Arown down stairs by Mr.. Holland and ar .,
asted by policeman, and was taken to the .,
'ation- house, where he will be tried before o,
ne Recorder in the morning m
Reporter Should the negroes continue TO il
r N upon you, what will you do2 Yt
Mr. Davey In Difference to my own feel VIZ
49, rs well as to the sentiments of a public tn
, whom owe 50 much, | will refuse them 70
tmlttance Mt any sacrifice of personal liberty IN
less of capital. will either run the thea lie
7 as | have heretofore, or will close It.
IN I'm.
~, ana not to be dictated to Nv Congress- 10
any other legislative body. So long as ] wa
y my rent and license, and put such PLAYS #
ION the stage rs are acceptable to refined sol
d cultivated audiences, | care nothing for Wi
pressiye aud insulting laws like the Civil bu
ghts bill. And VIII contest them as long boz
! have dollar. Ola
Mir. Holland Interviewed.
After our ''tAlk with Mr. Dayey we inter |
wed Mr.. Holland, the popular and we'll be
own door-heeper, with this result: Stel
heporter- Did two well dressed negro men TIM
der tickets and ask to be admitted 10 the wre
rs circle of the theattr last eyeninn? to |
lr Holland They did not tender tickets, COS
did they ask me to admit them Seeing pale
m come up stairs and diyining such TO be theI
- purpose, called an usher and stepped and
me managers office. and called MIR arg
'ey' whom informed that the troahle was A
y, /, US the negroes were there, asking him was
he same time what shoald do Gus
.ep9rtGr- Eat ana Mr., Dayey say? PROF.
IT, Holland MIR. Dlycv RESPONDED aTs wills
so and then walked down to the door llaI
re he held IA brief conversation with ne snap
ross, whom he asked. "Wbat 40 VA whel
IT.. ana they responded, I'VE want ~ from
nto the theator.' Mr.. Davey then asked belw
Il why they wanted TO injure his business seem
Inch they replied they did not desire To- the $
r. his business. Mr. Davey told them the S
present conduct WAS calculated to iniure two
and could result in no gsod to them
spokesman tor the two then asked, DO ia,
then reject Us =" YOU
which Mr. Dlvey replied: "By no dsne,
ar of means. Then the negro asked. "nat
we get our money back And MIR. nay j
i responded. "ts 4 matter ~ c,,,rsa :, Et on
then went down "a the IN; v Nm orter
y instructed MIR. Brooks, the treasurer ortel
teem the tickets held by those centla,