Detroit tribune. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1933, 1933-05-20
RIVER ROUGE DOCTOR
WINS DAMAGE SUIT
Testified M a n a g e r
Charged Higher
Admission
Damaging Evidence
Given By Newsboy

A Jury in Judge Leonard }.
Schemanske's Common p ! e
Court Tuesday awarded DR.. 5.
Bryon Milton. Of PalWerston Ave-
nue., River Rouge, $4,000 in his
suit against the Lincoln Theatre,
on West Fort Street. The suit was
brought under the Civil Rights
Bill az Michigan which makes any
keeper Of a public place liable for
Refusing a person because of his
color.
The evidence showed that the
management Of the Lincoln Thea
re had charged DR.. Milton his
wife and sister-in-law, Mrs. B. F.
Ransom. 80 cents each for the
price Of admission the theatre,
/ when the pric, adve tised in the
window, and other places, was 10
cents.
Charged Higher Admission
The case lasted two days, start
ing Monday. The jury Of four
women and two men received the
case Tuesday at noon.
DR.. Milton, in his testimony on
te~ stand. said that he, his wife
coin n as fstssfisn -l sIS !, SGas
April 2, and he stepped in line
with Others waiting to purchase
tickets. When he arrived at the
ticket window, the cashier inform
ed him that the price Of admission
would be 90 cents each. He said
he complained, and asked to see
the manager The manager, Bur-
ton w. London, was called. DR..
Milton said that London told him
that the management reserved the
right to charge colored patrons
any price they pleased.
The physician said he then cali
ed two officers and told them
about the situation. According to
DR.. Milton, they told him TO see
the prosecutor because there was
nothing they could do.
Claimed Theatre Closed
The defendants, Burton Lon
DON and Israel London, testified
that the reason DR.. Milton and his
party had been unable to purchase
A ticket was because the ticket Of
ice was closed on the night of
April 2, at SAT p. NJ, and the
ticket girl was checking her cash.
The chief usher at the theatre was
also put on the stand TO coIrobo-
rate testimony Of the Londons by
records in wn hand
writing. showing that the theatre
had closed at that hour.
Attorney Edward Turner, coun-
sci for the plaintiff. put Tony My
holawski, white, on the stand, and
testified that he was
in line behind DR.. Milton and was
able to purchase a ticket and sec
the show. John Watcorn, white,
newsboy who sells papers in front
of the theatre, also said that per-
sons entered the theatre after DIR.
Milton could not purchase a ticket.
To Push Criminal Action
In his argument to the bury Tur-
ner, stressed the loyalty of the Ne
gro to the American flag, notwith-
standing the racial prejudices I
practiced against him. He further 4
argued that the evidence as sub
mitted from the witness stand by
witnesses for the plaintiff, refut-
ed the testimony Of the defend
ants that the theatre CLOSED at
S:47.
Judge Schemanske proved him
self unbiased and tolerant in
handling the case and in his
charge 10 the jury.
Attorney Turner said that it was
the intention of DR.. Milton TO
push a criminal charge against the
theatre management for violation
Of the Civil Rights Bill. The crimi-
nal action was held in allegiance
until the case in Common Pleas
Court was ended.