The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, May 13, 1909 "SHOCK" KNOX has entered suit against the management of the Temple Theatre, in this city, for $1000, under the civil rights bill of the state. MR. KNOX purchased a ticket and went into the theatre and took a seat in the audience As he is supposed to be a Negro he was asked to take a seat in that part of the room assigned to colored people. This he refused to do when an officer went to him and asked him to retire from the room, which he did. He now brings action against the management on the grounds that he had a right to sit where he pleased and that Iowa guaranteed equal rights to all citizens without regard to "Race, color or previous condition of servitude," and the action of the theatre management is humiliating to him to the above amount . Mr. Todd, the manager, said on Monday, that he had not looked into the case but would do so later, and meet the issue. He admitted that the theatre was not a private amusement place, but that it was licensed by the town council, and came under public control. KNOX claims to be a Caucasian and has not the appearance of a Negro but at the same time has always passed as a son of JAMES KNOX, the mulatto, who recently died in this city. J.A. Campbell and E.H. Storie have taken KNOX's case and will fight it through the courts. "While we do not have to depend on the "color line," said Mr. Campbell, "yet we will defy anyone to prove that there is a drop of Negro blood in MR. KNOX's veins. However, he has the rights of any other citizen whether there is or not. Some states provide for the separation of the races in public houses, railroad cars etc., but it is not the case in this state. There is simply no distinction made." ----------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert August 13, 2005 iggy29@rnetinc.net 'A Closed Mouth Gathers No Foot'.