Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-10-03
Spelling FOR A SUIT.
More Civil Rights Raiding on the
Railroads.
Another Dusky Female Makes a
Break for HartyrdOm-Neatly
FOIIed by Supt. Geddes,
Nashville American, 81

NASHVILLE American I.l
Mary McLemore, colorel, organist
at the st. Johns Church, created a
sensation which brought into the
Louisville depot, at nine o'clock yes.
terday morning a large crowd Of
people. She, a little girl and her
escort, a c0lored man named Sinclair,
mounted the platform ofthe ladies' or
rear coach Of the train bound for
Louisville, and insisted on going into
it, the woman more particularly
declaring that she wanted TO ride in
that car and no other.
A messenger was sent to Superin-
tendent Geddes with the statement
that the road had on its hands another
Chattanooga depot affair. When
Superintendent Geddes went into the
depot and found that the woman was
talking very loud and still insisting
that she must ride in the rear car,
while the brakeman was trying to con-
vince her that there was no difference
in the coaches and advising her to 20
into the next car, which was divided
by a partition. She told Superin-
tendent Geddes that she was going to
Louisville, and that she intended
going there in the rear car. Superin-
tendent Geddes told her that the next
car was as good as any on the road,
that it had as good springs, and was in
every manner as comfortable as the
car she desired to enter. She still
demanded, however, that she be per-
mitted to ride in the rear car. He
tried hard to persuade her to take the
next car, but she fatty refused to do
so; neither would she leave the rear
car until the door was opened wide
and che was allowed to enter it.
Superintendent Geddes, with a great
deal of patience and a world of fore
bearance, told the woman that in put
ting the partition in the next car, the
company had simply carried out the
laws of Tennessee, and that the car
was so arranged for transportation of
colored people. She said she knew
her rights and intended to maintain
them, and she just wanted some one to
lay hands on her if he dared. Super
intendent Geddes informed her that
she had been very badly advised. She
claimed that the railroad had no right
to make any distinction between colOrs
to which Superintendent Geddes re-.
sponded that he wasn't the United
States Congress or the Legislature of
Tennessee, but the laws provide that
the railroad company could assign
their cars to whatever class they might
deem proper.
The woman wanted to know what
the crowd had assembled around the
train for, and whether it came there
to mob her, and she seemed as if she
would like to have some one take hold
Of her and waltz her off the platform.
Superintendent Geddes assured her
that there was no n in the crowd
who desired to mob a woman, and
that she had brought the crowd TO-
gether by her own conduct. But for
her loud talking and per~sistenoy in
attempting to force herself where
she TGs not wanted, there would have
been no assemblage Of people in the
depot.
AS the woman again expressed her
determination to travel in the rear
car, Superintendent GeddeS had an
other partitioned car attached to the
rear of the train and invited the white
people in the ladies coach to take that
car, which they did without any hest
tation.
When the door of the ladies' coach
was opened Mary McLemore walked
into it and found that all the passen-
gers we're leaving it. She then told
Superintendent Geddes that she did
not want to ride in the car by herself,
but he told her that the contract
would see that she was amply pro-
tected, as it was his duty TO see that
no passenger was molested. She now
asked a cOl0rcd man it her attorney
lhad arrived. aud was answered in the
negative. This was evidence that she
had gone to the depot to raise a row
by the advice Of an attorney in order
that she might bring suit for damages,
but in this she most Signally failed.
just before the train started she got
out of the car, which was sent north,
Notwithstanding that it had been set
apart for her highness.
In the afternoon rev" Sinclair
appeared at the Office Of the Louis
vile depot aud demanded to have the
money refunded for tho ticket. which
was promptly done by Ticket Agent
-. N. Brooks, and the ticket marked
Munid Whnn MRnr Sinnlair anc.