The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-26
GORDON | {: ARRESTED / j. ) ! D.
BY CARsC0NDUCT0R:
Of Chamber Of Com
1nerce Refused. TO Move Up" 4
When Commanded to Do So.
TEST QUESTION OF RIGHTS
.Bailed lin Sum Of 500 for Ap5
pearance in Police Court This
NJ ornirlg 3:
\ Charged with refusal to move for
ward or, a street car when diracted "A Nhfr.

sa Charged with refusal to move for-
ward onta street car when directed. Mr.,
James r. Gordon. manufacturer, cap-
italist, president Of the Chamber of
Commerce and one of the most promi-
ed yesterday d afternoon4 and bailed for
his appearance in the Police Court this
morning at $3.50 o'clock.
The arrest was made on q Clay Street
car going east, in front OF the post
office, about 4:25 p. NJ, by Conductor
C. r.. Powell. Mr.. Gordon was turned
over to Patrolman J. D. dman,s who
allowed him to remain in A1r.W. D.
Crenshaw's Office, at Eleventh and
Main Streets until a few minutes
later, when he was bailed by Magis-
trate ]. "A. Purdie. Sergeant John
Tyler came up shortly after the ar
magistrate and made other arrange
ments for the speedy release Of the
prisoner s.15,
| | Wanted to JONI IN. $50 5iiA.s y
Mr. John Pickrell, who was on the
car with Mr.. Gordon when the latter
was arrested, and Mr.. II. NJ. Darlington,
furnished the bond; which was only
500, and Sergeant Tyler also offered
his services In this line. Magistrate
Purdie informed Mr.. Pickrell after Mr..
Darlington had said he would furnish
1.-The bond. that the amount was only
800. ti @
''That's oil right" said Mr. Pickrell,"
by way OF reply. IT wish to Join Mr..
Darlington in the matter
They were both put down by the
magistrate IS bondsmen.
Mr.. Gordon took a his dicnment
phiosophically, though it could be
plainly seen that he was OF opinion
that he was within his rights When
placed under arrest.
The case promises to be- very
| Interesting one, and the decision OF the
Justice will doubtless more clearly set
out what are the rights OF citizens and
car comp panies with reference to seats
under the Jim Grow law.
What Mr.. Gordon Says.
After he was released on bail. Mr.
Gordon talked with a representative
| OF The Times Dispatch, and said that
while he naturally shrank from such
snotorlety,S he was willing to un.
dergo what he declared to be an In
dignity IL 1t would result In more
clearly defining the rights OF citizens
when riding on street cars. II
Mr.. Gordon stated that he and Mr.
Il |VElCkrellS iOOarQeQ a fjClay 0tTeeL C6I
4 coming east. at some point before
Main Street was reached The two
rear seats We're filled with colored
people, and Mr.. Gordon and Mr.. Pick.
4 rell took the third seat from the rear
because they desired to smoke. The
conductor said nothing alb out moving
1 up" until the car came into Mail
/ Street. They were then told that
they must go forward.
Mr.. Gordon Informed the conductor
that he desired to smoke. and that Il
he would provide for him on one OF the
seats tothe rear, BY having some OF
the colored passengers move up to the
seats occupied by himself and Mr.
P!ckrell they s5 would clleerfully "a
back. This the conductor declined tc
lido, and Mr.. Gordon refused to so for.
|wlrd. The arrest followed. and when
Eleventh and Main was reached, Mr.
Gordon was turned over to Once,
Goodman.
Large Crowd Gathered.
AS q general propositions 1t 10 under.
stood that the three seats to the real
are for colored people, but that wher
4 a white passenger desires to smoke, lii
\ may take either the first or SECOND
seat from they rear, Mr.. Gordon'i
4 point Is that these lattersseats were
4|hlled with colored passengers, and tha1
Il no ono, save he ana Mr.. Pickrell were
Il In ht~t, js@ I1oe \