Commonwealth v. Sylvester
Commonwealth v. Sylvester
Opinion of the Court
The evidence did not show that any offence, under Si. 1865, c. 277,
Besides ; it cannot be supposed, in the absence of any explicit provision, that it was the intent of the legislature to prescribe the manner in which persons should use their own premises, or permit others to use them, if they did not carry on therein an occupation or business, or suffer other persons to appropriate them to a purpose, which required a license in order to render such an appropriation lawful. Exceptions sustained.
The St. of 1865, c. 277, on which this complaint was founded, is as follows:
“ Section 1. No distinction, discrimination or restriction on account of color or race shall be lawful in any licensed inn, in any public place of amusement, public conveyance or public meeting in this commonwealth.
“ Section 2. Any person offending against the provisions of this act shall be punished by a fine not exceeding fifty dollars.”
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.