St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-10-25


lawyer in a st. Paul Courtroom.
The suit against the hotel was
filed after Potts and Elijah Down.
ing, Lincoln (Missouri) University
student, were refused entrance into
the Gopher Grill Of the hotel on the
evening Of July Is.
According to testim Ony by
Potts, former manager Of the CO.
operative store at Dale and St.
Adams in st. Paul, he and Down
ing entered the hotel on the evening
Of July Is and were on their way
to the grill when they were chal-
lenged by Floyd Carey, house
officer, who asked them: Hey,
where are you going :"
Not realizing Carey was talk
ing to them, Potts stated the two
men continued on their way into
the grill, and were asked again
by Carey where they were going.
Potts testified they replied they
were going into the grill for a
sandwich and a drink. but Carey
told them: "Ynu don't want to
go in there" When they asked
WHY. Potts stated Carey said.
well. because II you just must
know, it's because you're cOlOred."
Carey denied making the state
ment.
Potts said they continued on
toward the grill, but when they
tried to enter, Gustav Venaas,
assistant manager Of the grill,
prevented them from doing so,
and after refusing to let the two
men enter, told them to: Get the
hell out and don't come back"
Venaas, in his testimony, said
the only thing he told Potts and
Downing was: "You can't go in
because you've had enough to drink
already"
During cross examination it was
brought out that Potts and Down
ing, nrevious to going to the Hotel
St. Paul. had stopped for drinks
in the Wigwam bar, 1893 Wabasha,
and in the Hotel Lowry bar. Ac-
rording to Potts they got to the
Wigwam about ten minutes to
eleven where he had a Tom Collins
drink and Downing had straight
gin. After fnishin0 the one drink.
they went to the Trocadero STAGE
Bar, 375 Wabasha, but didn't
remain because the place was
crowded.
From the Trocadnro. Potts stated
they went 10 the Hotel Lowry bar
where both men ordered one
STRAIGHT Gin drink apiece. They left
the bar briefly 70 go to the wash
room and according to Potts tRsti-
monv, returned and ordered another
DRINK aDiece. Potts said he didn't
finish his. and couldn't saw whether
or not Downing finished his drink.
Potts testified they stayed only
about Is TO lS minutes at the bar.
Edward Caracofe, Lowry hotel
bartender who was called as a
rebuttal witness for Potts. said
in answer to questioning by Gard
nPr. that he thought the men had
two drinks. and ordered another
one. but left a portion Of that
sitting on the bar. Caracofe also
testified he thOuVht Downing and
Potts remained in the Lowry bar
for about fnrty-fve minutes. He
stated that during their presence
there. they were well-behayed and
orderly.
Venaas, who testified Potts and
Downing were intoxicated, was
pressed by assistant county attor-
ney Horace Hansen, 1881 Marshall
Ave, to give some proof or evidence
Of his statement. Venaas, who said
he had been in hotel work for
twenty-five years, could offer no
such proof but insisted he knew
when patrons were intoxicated.
The defense also charged that
Potts and Downing, both Of whom
were in sports attire, were "im-
properly dressed" and that such
attire is not acceptable in the hotel
grill after 600 pm.
According TO Roland SheadIe,