St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1959-10-09

race discrimination heard in a
Tuesday, Oct. 6.
d jury in answer to questions
ttOrney that he refused to seat
the three Negro plaintiffs in his
White House Restaurant because
he thought they would be uncom-
Portable" in the restaurant.
His most remarkable statement
was that he was afraid the songs
offered by Hadda Brooks, pianist
and singer would offend the three
persons. Miss Brooks is a Negro
singer who is a night club and TV
personality.
When pressed by L Howard
Bennett, attorney for the plain
tiffs as to which songs he thought
would be offensive to Negroes,
Troup testified that one of the
songs was BLACK Magic"
Troup, well known Northside
figure for years was being sued
for violation of the state civil
rights statute which makes re-
fusal of places of public accomoda-
ton to serve persons on account
of race, creed, color or national
origin a misdemeanor. Any person
found guilty of these violations
may be given up to 80 days work.
house sentence, or a $500 fine.
The defendant also is liable for
civil damages up to $500.
The plaintiffs in the civil suit
against Troup heard in Judge
Lew Halls Hennepin county dis
trict court before a jury of IL per-
sons were Douglas Thompson, "a,
324 z. 37th St, his wife JAG
queline, % and Mrs. Miriam Har-
ris, %, 27O6 z. 32nd St., all Of
Minneapolis.
The incident occurred in Oc-
tober 1856 and came to trial al
most three years after it occurred.
Troup who made much of his
early money off Minneapolis Ne
groes who patronized his liquor
store, opened the White House
Restaurant, a swanky cafe with
Chinese cuisine and bar about five
years ago.
Many Negro patrons of his liquor
store reported that the treat
ment they received when they
visited the new Troup establish
ment was apparently designed to
discourage their patronage, despite
the fact that Minneapolis Negroes
have been served almost without
incident in the best Minneapolis
and st. Paul restaurants for the
past ten years.
One Of the best known Mime
apolis Negroes subjected to dis
courteous service at the White
House was William D. McMoore,
former Gopher football player
now a teacher in the Minneapolis
high school system.
McMoore, four months ago, &C
companied by his wife and a party
of friends was kept waiting at the
White House, for two hours for
service despite the fact that he
had made and received telephone
reservations.
Finally McMoore demanded ser
vice and the party was shown to
a table in a isolated spot In the
restaurant, used for main dining
room overflow, and finally served.
McMoore reported the incident to
the newspaper and Troup's rela-
tives. Troup sent McMoore a letter
Of apology in connection with his
experience at the cafe.
Other Negro parties have COM
planned about the White House
policy but the Thompsons and
Mrs. Harris are the first persons
who have sued under the state
law.
Others who have met similar
treatment have decided against
action against the cafe because
Troup, the owner is himself a
member Of a religious minority.
Troup's policy at the White
House surprised many of his
former Negro customers because
many Negroes had intimate bus
mess relations with the cafe owner
prior to his opening Of the swanIx
restaurant.