The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-03-29
A sryu.Risnts Case i'm warrenton.

A ciyiLrights case came up Tuesday
morning before az improvised court sitting
in the basement Of the urt-house, the trial
of which attracted large audience. A Mr..
rbarp, while intoxicated, bad applied for
drink of "old Bourbon" and hoiei-keeper
had refused to sell il to him. OF course he
was indignant, and what is more, that indig-
nation was kept afl,me by other parties until
it could be iudicially decided whether or not
a white man. and particularly Free Slater.
had the same redress under the civi.rights
bill that Il negro had. Two attorneys ap.
pearcd for Tharp, and these conducted
the prosecution with mastery ingenuity.
They sought to Impress his Honor with the
conviction that the ciyIl-rights bill did not
discriminate in favor OF the negro; ana ar
gued that because man happened to be born
white and In the Free State that he was not
estopped from claiming $500 damages il be
could prove what they were prepared to
establish refusal to sell because of "pre-
yious condition" The intention OF the
bill, it was cuntended, was to give every
man, without regard 10 race, color, or pre-
ylous condition." 500 as salve for wound
ed dignity when denied an appetizer al a
public inn. They wanted the principle sat-
lied for this bailiwick, the damages award
ed, and the finding liquordated.
An elderly gentleman, a stranger TO fau-
ouier practice, but one who had eVldentiy
grown gray in his profession, arose LOT the
defence, and in pointed and precise language
com atted the arguments OF opposing coun-
sci. He maintained that the plea OF pre-
yious condition of drunk did not bring the
case into court under the law. Inc condl-
ton of servitude referred to in the law was
kl,,k "
voluntary but that the condition referred
10 WAS that which had been Involuntary PAID
20 slave-owners when man was chatte.
Unless the plaintiff from the Free State
could establish that relation be could not
recover. If he bad never been the slave OF
man he was without standing ia court. So
far from being entitled to damages, be was
liable 10 enforcement under the common
law for having circulated report injurious
% The defendant. It had been trumpeted,
on his authority and without just founda
ton, from Bucklgnd on the east to Bull
Turn on the west. from Paris on the portO,
and throu shout the Free State to the south.
crn borders Of the county, that the Rndioru
of the Warren Green Hotel had refused
drink 10 thirsty guest, and the good name
| and business prospects of the defendant Daa
% suffered aS 10 eutitle him instead OF Tue
| plaintiff 10 damages. And, Slr,-
Here the Court-to the chagrin Of the au-
diencc. whose interest heightened as round
ed periods full of point fell from the lpS OF
The gray.headed advocate-signihed di>po'
sitinn to cut short discussion and denver
decision. Aud Notwithstanding cries OF 80
on" to the advoc lte. the Court went Oh !;
but in going announced the "case dlsmlsSed
at plaintiffs cost" An appeal was mooted,
and might have been taken had not some one
spoiled the fun by insinuatins to tue pialni'n
That "thrm costs had to be PAID Search
was diligently made for Tharp. and non est
was the return. Thus ended the first civil
rights case at Warrenton. May all such be
like ia broad farce Tarrent0n Inder.