Tyler v. Harmon

107 So. 704, 160 La. 943, 1926 La. LEXIS 1979

• Court: Supreme Court of Louisiana
• Decided: March 5, 1926
• Docket: No. 27579.
• Status: Published

Opinion

ST. PAUL, J.

This ease has been here on appeal once before as No. 26948. of our docket. See Tyler v. Harmon, 104 So. 200, 158 La. 439.

I.

On that appeal we had before us a judgment of the district court discharging a rule nisi (to show cause why plaintiff should not be granted a temporary injunction as prayed for), and dismissing plaintiff’s suit on the ground that defendant’s exception or plea of “no ?ight or cause of action” was well founded as to the ground therein thirdly set up, to wit, that Ordinance No. 8037, C. C. S., adopted by the city of New Orleans on September 18, 1924, violates the Pourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

II.

The issue presented by that appeal is thus stated in the opinion which we therein handed down, to wit:

“The question in this case is whether an ordinance of the city of New Orleans, providing for segregation of the residences of white and colored persons, violates the Pourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. * * *

“The learned counsel for the defendant frankly state that they desire not to evade the issue as to whether the statutes [authorizing the ordinance] and the ordinance are valid in so far as they forbid negro tenants to occupy the defendant’s cottage [in a white neighborhood].”

III.

And upon the issue thus stated our ruling was as follows:

Our conclusion is that the statutes and the ordinance in that respect are valid. (Italics by the present writer.)

And accordingly the judgment appealed from was reversed and the case remanded.

IV.

Thereupon the district judge granted plaintiff a preliminary injunction, restraining the defendant from renting said premises to negro tenants as homes, residences or places of abode; it being admitted that said premises are in a ivllite neighborhood, and that defendant intended, in violation of the ordinance, to rent the same to negro tenants as homes, residences, and places of abode.

And in due course there was judgment below overruling defendant’s attack on the statutes and the ordinance on the ground th^t they violate the Pourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and perpetuating the injunction issued as aforesaid. Prom which judgment defendant now appeals. '

V.

We adhere to our former ruling herein, and to the reasons therefor assigned, as reported in 104 So. 200, 158 La. 439.

Decree.

The judgment appealed from is therefore affirmed.