Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-16
CIVIL-RIGHTS LAW
CONSTRUED BY MARY ELLEN Will
uAMs, OF RICHMOND, IN BOSTON.
InsuIt~d nv Being Called "White" in
the Presence Of Low-Down Irish-TIie
Hub Court Decides Against the Coons
Especial telegram to the Dispsich.I

Bosros, Mass, July l5.-It was necessary
that Mary Ellen Williams come all the way
from Richmond to put upon the civil
rights law in Boston an entirely new and
democratic construction. Mary Ellen is
widow. and although she has n clenr light
skin. light eyes, and brown hair she lives
with negroes AMI insists that she is Of their
blood and race, being backed in her asser-
tons in court by swarm Of dusky
| friends who unhesitatngly state that she
is " culled LADY, She arrived in Boston
about six months ago aud her associates
claim that she is the relic of an estImaole
barber and general utility man Of sable hue
| formerly well known III the Confederate
capital.
rLrEN's PALS.
Among her particular associates here are
Robert 7. Seals. colOred brother OF
medium height, not overstocky in build,
and bald Lemuel Harris. taller and dark
er. and Susie Brown, aged twenty-one,
| light brown in color and frisky IN de-
meanOr. The quartette are great cronles,
and Friday night started out TO attend the
| theatre While IN route there was an unani--
nous desire expressed 10 liquidate, and
after viewing the outside of number OF
, less-imposing grog-shops they finally Sc
/ lected the saloon of Peter McBurn. cor
ner Castle and Emerald streets, and enter
ing took seats, calling for beer.
no BIER AT THE HUB.
The waiter brought them the desired
| beverage. but just rs be was about TO place
! il on the table he gave glance at the party
and suddenly Withdrew. taking the beer
with him. Seals was about TO demand an
explanation when the proprietor appeared
and without any formality ordered the
| four out of the room. saying. as they were
hustled into the street: It's against my
principles to serve niggers with white wO-
men in my place il isn't decent" Slessrs.
Seals and Harris were mad clean through,
and so was Mary Ellen.
She WAS INsULIED.
She said she had been insulted by being
called white. The party went back to
" darkie town" and there was great hub
bub among the cultured coons. The Gar
rison Pets had been insuted and there
must be q heavy reckoning. a cOlOred
citizen had been denied the rights con
ferred upon him by several respectable
constitutional amendments right here IN
the home of Ben. Butler and Crispus At
tucks, besides which culled lady had
been outraged by being called white IN
the presence of low-down" Irish.
WAR DECLARED.
Africa determined on war, and Seals,
aided and abetted by Lemuel Harris, start
ed ont on a crusade. Seals first went to
the police station and got no satisfaction.
Seals next went TO the Police Commits
sioners and got less satisfaction. Seals
then-thin. pale, and perspiring with in
dignation-went before the Municipal
Court and had McBurn arrested.
AN ocToRooy.
The case was tried Saturday, and to
the astonishment of the court officers,
despite all indications 10 the contrary,
Mary Ellen Williams stood up in the wit
ness-box and swore that she was not white
but negro. IAN octorOOn." Her argyll
ments were forcible hut not convincing,
although possibly had she had that cele-
brated California wine-pusl er, Kate REQ,
TO stand voucher for her blood, she might
have been believed. All the four aggrleyed
ones stated how they lad been treated and
wanted ut least 10 have McBurn's license
revoked.
III WAS THE JUDGE.
The culprit acknowledge that, he put
them out. He considered he had legal
right 70 be the Judge to whom he should
sell liquor. and believing the woman to be
white regardless of her assertions TO the
contrary, he would not serve her with
drinks while accompanied by negroes.
so THE COURT DECIDED.
Judge Curtis, after listening patiently to
all, unhesitatingly expressed his opinion
| that McBurn was right as to his power Of
discriminating. The law. civil rights or
no civil rights, could not compel man to
serve intoxicating liquors to any one he
objected to. and the prisoner was dis
charged. The colored troops fought nobly,
but they took their defeat much TO heart
nevertheless, and threatened 10 take tho
| case into the United States court until adj
vised not to waste further money on the
affair.
IMPORTANT.