Opinion ID: 106879
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Bouie v. City of Columbia, post, p. 347.

Text: Dr. Guy Malone, the manager of the Columbia branch of Eckerd Drugs of Florida, Inc., testified: Q. Mr. Malone, is the public generally invited to do business with Eckerd's?
Q. Does that mean all of the public of all races? A. Yes. Q. Are Negroes welcome to do business with Eckerd's? A. Yes. Q. Are Negroes welcome to do business at the lunch counter at Eckerd's? A. Well, we have never served Negroes at the lunch counter department. Q. According to the present policy of Eckerd's, the lunch counter is closed to members of the Negro public? A. I would say yes. Q. And all other departments of Eckerd's are open to members of the Negro public, as well as to other members of the public generally? A. Yes. Q. Mr. Malone, on the occasion of the arrest of these young men, what were they doing in your store, if you know? A. Well, it was four of them came in. Two of them went back and sat down at the first booth and started reading books, and they sat there for about fifteen minutes. Of course, we had had a group about a week prior to that, of about fifty, who came into the store. Mr. Perry: Your Honor, I ask, of course, that the prior incident be stricken from the record. That is not responsive to the question which has been asked, and is not pertinent to the matter of the guilt or innocence of these young men. The Court: All right, strike it. Mr. Sholenberger: Your Honor, this is their own witness. Mr. Perry: We announced at the outset that Mr. Malone would, in a sense, be a hostile witness. ..... Q. And so, when a person comes into Eckerd's and seats himself at a place where food is ordinarily served, what is the practice of your employees in that regard? A. Well, it's to take their order. Q. Did anyone seek to take the orders of these young men? A. No, they did not. Q. Why did they not do so? A. Because we didn't want to serve them. Q. Why did you not want to serve them? A. I don't think I have to answer that. Q. Did you refuse to serve them because they were Negroes? A. No. Q. You did say, however, that Eckerd's has the policy of not serving Negroes in the lunch counter section? A. I would say that all stores do the same thing. Q. We're speaking specifically of Eckerd's? A. Yes. Q. Did you or any of your employees, Mr. Malone, approach these defendants and take their order for food? A. No.