The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-03-25
Testing that Lnw-sbicagO People
WIFI Not Eat With Negroes.
[From the Chicago Tribune, l4,h.

(From the Chicago Tribune, l4,h.l
The coIorcd people, or certain of them.
seem determined to test the practical work
ings Of the civl-righ,s law. The latest vic
tim is Michael Burke, Of the welI.known
Burke's European Hotel, on Madison street.
Yesterday morning, between and s O'Clock,
a wel;-drcssed and spruce.looking coored
gentleman with an Irish namc-Thomas
Mckee entered Mr.. Burke's restaurant,
while that gentleman was acting % cashier,
and took o seat complacently ut one of the
tidy tables. Reckoning 10 one of the colored
walters, he ordered breakfast broiled steak,
fried potatoes, toast, and coffee. His coored
brother of the immaculate apron looked at
him with q furtiye glance. and then over to
Mr.. Burke, who had observed the object Of
so much legislation when be came in. The
darby waiter smiled perceptibly, winked
knowingly at MIR. Mckee, looked wistfuIiy
at Mr. Burke. and then walked up to the lat
ter at the cashiers desk. Then the following
dialogue eusued:
Waiter: Well, Mister Burke, shall wait
on him?
Burke: No, sir; you needn't act in any
holf-way manner in this matter. 1t is not
consistent with. our business to serve the
gentleman. Tell him he cannot be served
here.
Waiter All right, sir.
And the waiter trpped over to the waiting
guest and informed him that he could not
serve him. Mckee arose and quietly de.
parted. He went straight to United States
Commissioner Hoyne's Office, and Oh the ar.
rival of that official swore out warrant
charging Mr.. Burke with violation of the
civil-rights law in refusing to serve him with
food and drink. The warrant was quickly
served and promptly answered to by MIR.
Burke. The commissioner was compiled to
continue the hearing until Tuesday afternoon
al , O'Clock, because there is no official copy
Of the law In the city. II is expected that q
copy will be here by Monday.
Unlike the Aldermanc Whyland, Mr..
Burke proposes TO test the conslitutionality
of the luw which dictates to him the con-
duct Of his business. In brief interview
with Tribune reporter yesterd day the fol-
lowing conversation eEsued:
Reporter: Mr.. Burke, have learned of
your arrest for an alleged violation Of the
new civilrights law, and desire to learn
what you have to say IN regard 10 it.
Mr.. Burke: Yes, was summoned before
Mr.. Hogne, and the matter was continued.
Reporter: Did you refuse to serve Nc
Kee?
DuThc Stl Ghiuiy L ulu. NC WaitSi Sat1lC
to me when be gave bis order, and told
him not to serve him.
r.. On what ground!
b.: If should serve colored people here
nv business would be ruined. l have pro-
badly the best class Of patrons in the city,
a1d do tiue business but If should serve
colored people here, would lose It. L can
not afford to let my business 90 down for
the sake OF serving few colored men, and
those coming here for the simple sake OF
testing this new law. There are some white
people would not serve, and il | did it
ould iuj ire my business.
r.: Well, do you propose to mike this
test case:
b.: I do, and shall employ some of the
abest counsel in the city TO defend me.
r.: Do you intend TO refuse all coored per-
sons who come here for square meal?
B.: Yes i; am not going aboutttbis mat
ter in any halfway manner. think it is
better to act in definite aud decided way
than to 90 beating around the bush. | will
not serve colored men unless forced TO do
80.
This settled it, and the reporter left.