Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-05-05

ENFORCING TIE jim CROW LAW
A white man and woman on Satur
day afternoon took seats in that por
tior of an electric Car reserved for ne
gross going TO Washington and were
requested by the conductor TO tsKt
seats 10 the portion reserved for white
people. The gentleman declined iC
move aud the conductor summoned
POHc ,men Smith and Travers. The
officers told the gentleman he must
move or be arrested. ''If you arrest
me there will be trouble, said he.
swell, let the trouble begin now; you
mus come with u.s." He did so and
the woman accompanied him to the po-
lice station, where IS collateral for ap-
pesraDce this morning was required OF
him. After remaining at the station
some time the collateral was given and
the name OF Nelson S Spencer entered
for a hearing on Monday. The man
and his wife then departed, leaving
word that tn case would he contested.
William ]. stokes, white, OF Addison
Heights in the county, left Washington
on the train leaving that city at 11:2O
O'Clock Saturday night, and IL is alleged
that he took the wrong seat and re-
fused TO move. Conductor Whaley
placed him under arrest and brought
Linn to this city. At Royal STREET be
was taken In custody by Policeman
Smith. AT the police station he left 10
collateral for his appearance. The
fourth arrest wss made yesterday
morniug on complaint of Conductor
Kinball. TIE prisoner is Robert Nick
eBs, colored, of Brooklsnd, D. Q. He
not having collateral, was locked up.
Stokes failed TO appear this morning,
and ris colls t=rsl was forfeited. Nick
e.s IVES arrLiQped and the evidence
was TO the effect that he deted the
lew and was incident and disordetly
toward Conductor Kimball. He Was
Fl ed s.. SpeDcer's case was the last
heard. He appeared 10 court with his
wife shortly after nine O'Clock. They
were accompanied by Lawyer Hsckett,
of Washington. Conductor Dobie tesii-
fed TO the effect that Spencer refused
10 exchange seats with two cOlored
persons, and during the trip up from
Mount Vernon he and his wife refused
u take the seats allotted them In the
forward portion OF the Car. The lawyer
during his colloquy with the conductor
wanted to see the law separating the
races, and objected to moving for the
reason that he and his wife desired to
sit on the shady side OF the Car. The
witnesses were cross.questloned closely
by Lawyer Hackett, and 10 mis- argu-
meIt he statsd that his clients had
nothing 10 urge agsiost the action OF
the conductor, ss be mad acted court
eously ia the mater. 1t was the law
itself which was regarded as unsstls-
factory. His clients, he said, bad no
desire 10 break any law, nor to act 10
any ma3ner against the peace and
dignity of Virginia. The Mayor sum-
med up the case in asuccinct and legal
manner. The law had been violated |
by MIR. Spencer, and having fined |
otneys he was compelled to impose the |
minimum fne upon him live dollars.
The attorney gave notice that tne
validity OF the law would be contested.
Another arrest was made on the
alectric cars Yesterday, a colored wo-
man being the offender this time. The
train which left here at 7:15 yesterday
evening carried large number OF pas
sengers, and IS there were but few
colored people on board, some of the
seats reserved for them were taken by
white passengers. While the train was
orossing the Long bridge cOlored wo'
man who had gotten on after the car
was filed and who was standing up,
made herself very Objectionable by
taking seat upon the lap Of white
woman, and refusing to get up, saying
that the seat had been reserved for her
by law. The conductor reasoned With
her, but to DO avail, so when the train
reached the foot of 14th street she was
taken in charge by two policemen.