Borders v. Rippy Transcript of Record

    TRANSCRIPT OF RECORD

UNITED STATES

C O U R T  OF A P P E A L S
FIFTH CIRCUIT.

No. 16,483
HILDA RUTH BORDERS, a minor, by her father and 

next friend, LOUIE BORDERS, JR., ET AL.,

Appellants,
versus

DR. EDWIN L. RIPPY, as President of the Board of 
Trustees of the Dallas Independent School District, 
ET AL.,

Appellees.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the 
Northern District of Texas.

(ORIGINAL RECORD RECEIVED JAN. 30/57.)

u. s. COURT OP APPEAI s

F I L E D

>T7A t ;v



INDEX
PAGE

Caption ........ ............................ .................... .................. 1
Plaintiffs’ Amended Complaint ........ .. 3
D efendants’ Second Amended Answer ........ .. 27
Motion of D efendants’ for Admission of F a c t s ..........  37
D efendants’ Reply to Request for Admission of Facts 40
Plaintiffs’ Request for Admission of Facts ........ .. 47
Plaintiffs’ Reply to D efendants’ Request for Ad­

mission of Facts .................... ........................ .. 52
Transcript of Evidence ................................ 55

Colloquy between Court and C o u n se l........ .. 57

Evidence for Plaintiffs:
Testimony of Paul A. Sims ......................  61

Elmer D. Hurdle ..........  64
Louie Borders ............    69
Mrs. Ira  Nelson .......................  74
Mrs. Lee M. S m i th ................... 77
T. W. Browne ....... ................  82

Exhibit “P-3”—M inutes of the  Dallas Inde­
pendent School D istrict Board . . . . .  90

Excerpts of P laintiffs’ Admission of Facts . . 100
Testimony of L. G. Slider ............ ................  104

Evidence for Defendants:
Testimony of Dr. W. T. W hite ..................... 107
Excerpts from Deposition of Edwin C.

W ashington ....................     118
Opinion of the  Court, dated 12/19/56 ..................  129

Judgm ent, entered 12/26/56 .............................................. 133
Notice of Appeal ....................................    134
Appeal Bond ............     136
A ppellants’ Designation of Contents of Record on

Appeal ........................................................................  139
Clerk’s Certificate  ............................     142



CAPTION.

B E IT' R E M E M B E R E D , th a t a t a  session  of the 
U nited S ta tes D is tric t Court in  and  fo r the N orth ­
e rn  D istrict, of Texas, held a t D allas, Texas, the 
H onorable W illiam  H. A twell, U nited S ta tes  D is­
tr ic t  Ju d g e  for the  N orthern  D istric t of Texas, 
p resid ing , the following proceedings w ere  h ad  and  
the following cause  cam e on for tr ia l  and  w as 
tried , to-wit:

Civil A ction No. 6165.

A LB ER T B ELL, A M inor, by his S tep-father and 
n ex t friend , TH EO D O RE D. DORSEY: SANDRA 
LY N ETTA  B ER K IN S, a M inor, by h e r  M other 
and  N ext F riend , (M RS.) CHARLES BEK IN S, 
a  fem e sole; H ILD A  RU TH  BO RD ERS, a  M inor, 
by h e r  F a th e r  and  N ext F riend , LO U IE BOR­
D ERS, JR .: SANDRA CRAIG BOSON, and  PA M ­
ELA  BOSON, M inors, by the ir F a th e r  and  Next 
F riend , LA W REN CE C. BOSON: CHARLES 
BROWN, a M inor, by his F a th e r  and N ext F riend , 
W A LTER BROWN, JR .; W illiam  C. BURTON, 
JR ., A M inor, by his F a th e r  and  N ext F riend , 
W ILLIAM  C. BURTON; SH IR L E Y  ANN BUSH, 
a  M inor, by  h e r  F a th e r  and  N ext F riend, FR A N K ­
IE  L. BUSH; RA Y FO RD  COOKS, A M inor, by  
h is F a th e r  and N ext F riend , R O B ER T COOKS; 
B IL L IE  M A RIE COX, a  M inor, by her S tep -F ath ­
er and N ex t F riend , V ELL SNOW DEN; H E L E N  
JE A N  G IPSON, a M inor, by h e r  M other and Next 
F riend , LU EN D A  G IPSO N, a  fem e sole; CHAR­
L E N E  GOLDSTEIN, a M inor, by  her M other and



2

N ext F riend , W ILLIE MAE GOLDSTEIN, a fem e 
sole; OSCAR W ILLIE  HAWKINS, a  M inor, by his 
F a th e r  and  N ext F riend, OSCAR HAW KINS; 
CAROL, CH EY EL and RONALD H U R D LE, 
M inors, by the ir F a th e r  and  N ext F riend , E L M E R  
D. H U RD LE; O LLIE PE A R L  IVY, a M inor, by 
her M other and  N ext F riend , IR E N E  IVY, a  fem e 
sole; JOH N  A RV IE LEW IS, a M inor, by his S tep­
father and  N ext F riend , G EO R G E FIE L D S; MIL- 
TON M cDANIEL, a Minor, by his F a th e r  and 
N ext F riend , WILLIAM M cD A N IEL; DIANN 
M URPH Y , a Minor, by her G randm othe r and 
N ex t F riend , (M RS.) S. L. N E E L Y , a fem e sole; 
L. LAW RENCE NELSON, II, A M inor, by  h is  
F a th e r  and  N ext F riend , CL YD ED . NELSON; 
ALONZO D. NICKERSON, JR ., A M inor, by his 
F a th e r  and N ext Friend, ALONZO D. N IC K E R ­
SON, SR.; ROSA SHARON and M AUDE LOIS 
SIMS, M inors, by the ir F a th e r  and  N ext F rien d , 
(R E V .) PAUL A. SIMS, MARY ANN SLID ER , a  
M inor, by  her F a th e r  and  N ext F riend , L. G. 
SLID ER ; DAURITY G. SMITH, a M inor, by his 
F a th e r  and Next F riend , LEO  M. SM ITH; JU L IA  
ANN V ICKERS, a Minor, by her F a th e r  and  N ext 
F riend , SEARCY E. VICKERS, and  JO E  A R­
THUR WILLIAMS, a M inor, by his F a th e r  and 
N ext F riend , H E R B E R T  WILLIAMS,

P lain tiffs ,
versus

DR. EDW IN L. R IP P Y , as P re s id e n t of the B oard  
of T rustees of the D allas Independent School D is­
tr ic t, D allas, D allas County, Texas; W. A. BLAIR; 
R O B E R T  L. DILLARD, JR .; R O B ER T B. G IL ­
M O RE; ROUSE HOW ELL; (M RS.) VERN ON  D.



3

INGRAM ; VAN M. LAMM; (M RS.) TRACY H. 
R U T H E R FO R D ; FR A N K LIN  E. SPA FFO R D , 
D allas, D allas  County, Texas, as M em bers of the 
Board of T ru stees  of the D allas  Independent 
School D istric t, and DR. W. T. W H ITE, as Super­
in tenden t of P ub lic  Schools of the D allas Inde­
penden t School D is tric t; HOWARD A. A LLEN, 
as P rin c ip a l of the W. H. A dam son H igh School; 
J . H. G U RLEY , as P rin c ip a l of the M aple Law n 
E lem en ta ry  School; W. A. HAMILTON, as P r in ­
cipal of the M irab eau  B. L a m a r E le m e n ta ry  
School; ELLA  E. PA R K E R , as P rin c ip a l of the 
John  H enry Brow n E lem en ta ry  School; W ILLIAM 
H. STANLEY, as P rin c ip a l of th e  T hom as A. E d i­
son E lem en ta ry  School; RICHARD E. STROUD, 
as P r in c ip a l of the  T hom as J. R usk  Ju n io r H igh 
School, and, TH E DALLAS IN D E P E N D E N T  
SCHOOL DISTRICT,

D efendants.

P L A IN T IF F ’S A M EN D ED  COMPLAINT.

Filed Dec. 14, 1956.

In  the U nited S tates D is tric t C ourt for the  N orthern  
D is tric t of Texas, D allas Division.

A lbert Bell, A M inor, by his N ext F riend, Theodore 
D. D orsey, e t al., P la in tiffs ,

v. Civil A ction No. 6165. 
Dr. E dw in  L. R ippy, as P res id en t of the  B oard  of 

T rustees of the D allas  Independent School D is­
tr ic t, D allas  County, Texas, et al., D efendants.

Come Now H ilda R u th  B orders, a m inor, by  her 
fa th e r  and  n ex t friend, Louie B orders, J r . ;  S and ra



4

C raig  Boson and  P am e la  Boson, m inors, by their 
m o th er and  fa th e r  and  n ex t friends, L aw rence  C. 
Boson and  M rs. L aw rence C. Boson; W illiam  C. B u r­
ton, J r . ,  a m inor, by his fa th e r and  next friend, Wil­
liam  C. B urton; Shirley  A nn Bush, a  m inor, by h e r  
fa th e r and  next friend, F ran k ie  L. B ush; B illie M arie 
Cox, a  m inor, by her s tep fa th e r and m other and  nex t 
friends, Veil Snowden and  M ary  Snowden; C harlene 
G oldstein, a m inor, by her fa th e r  and  m other and 
nex t friends, D avid G oldstein and  W illie M ae Gold­
stein; C aro l H urdle, Cheyel H urdle and  R onald  H ur­
dle, m inors, by the ir fa th e r and n ex t friend , E lm e r 
D. H urdle; Ollie P e a r l Ivy, a m inor, by h e r fa th e r 
and m other and  nex t friends, J . J . Ivy and  Iren e  
Ivy; D iann M urphy, a  m inor, by h e r  g ran d m o th e r 
and  g ran d fa th er and  next friends, S. L. N eely and  
M rs. S. L. Neely; L. L aw rence Nelson II, a  m inor, 
by his m other and nex t friend, M rs. I r a  N elson; Al­
onzo D. N ickerson, J r . ,  a m inor, by his fa th e r  and 
n ex t friend , Alonzo D. N ickerson, S r.; R osa Sharon  
S im s and  M aude Lois Sim s, m inors, by th e ir  fa th e r  
and n ex t friend, (Rev.) P a u l A. Sim s; M ary  Ann 
Slider, a m inor, by her fa th e r and  next friend, L. G. 
Slider; and  D aurity  G. Sm ith, a m inor, by his fa th e r  
and  next friend, Leo M. Sm ith, h e re in afte r called  
P la in tiffs , com plaining of Dr. Edw in L. R ippy, as 
P res id en t of th e  B oard of T rustees of the D allas  In­
dependent School D istric t, 5371 M ontrose S treet, D al­
las, D allas  County, Texas, and W. A. B la ir, 1921 P le a s ­
an t D rive, D allas, D allas County, Texas, R obert L. 
D illard , J r . ; 6624 Lakewood B oulevard, D allas, D allas 
County, T exas, R obert B. G ilm ore, 6246 P resto n sh ire , 
D allas, D allas County, Texas, R ouse Howell, 2417 
Southwood D rive, D allas, D allas County, Texas, (M rs.) 
V ernon D. In g ram , 4615 S. D enley D rive, D allas, Dal-



5

las County, Texas, V an M. L am m , 1142 N. Clinton, 
D allas, D allas County, Texas, (M rs.) T racy  H. R u th e r­
ford, 7338 C row nrich, D allas, D allas  County, Texas, 
F ran k lin  E . Spafford, 6234 G lendora, D allas, D allas 
County, T exas, as m e m b ers  of the  B oard  of T rustees 
of the D allas  Independen t School D is tric t; Dr. W. T. 
W hite as agent and  S uperin tenden t of the D allas In ­
dependent School D istric t, 4730 T acom a, D allas, D al­
la s  County, T exas, and  H ow ard A. A llen, as ag en t of 
the D allas Independent School D is tric t and  as P r in ­
cipal of the W. H. A dam son  H igh School, J . H. G u r­
ley, as ag en t of the D allas  Independent School D is­
tr ic t  and  as P rin c ip a l of the M aple L aw n E lem en ta ry  
School, E lla  E . P a rk e r , as agen t of th e  D allas  In ­
dependent School D is tric t and  as P rin c ip a l of the 
John  H enry B row n E lem en ta ry  School, W illiam  H. 
S tan ley , as ag en t of the  D allas  Independen t School 
D is tric t and as P rin c ip a l of the  T hom as A. E dison 
E lem en ta ry  School, R ich ard  E. Stroud, as agen t of 
the  D allas  Independent School D is tric t and  as P r in ­
c ipa l of the  T hom as J . R usk  Ju n io r High School, and 
the  D allas Independent School D istric t, w hose ag en t 
is Dr. Edw in L. R ippy, P re s id en t of the B oard  of 
T rustees of the D allas Independent School D istric t, 
upon w hom  serv ice  has  a lread y  been had , D efend­
an ts  herein , and file th is the ir F ir s t  A m ended P e ti­
tion herein, and  would show  the  Court:

I.

Ju risd ic ion .

(a ) The ju risd ic tion  of th is H onorable C ourt is in­
voked under Title 2.8, Section 1331, of the  U nited 
S tates Code, th is  being a  civil action  in equity  tha t



6

arises  under the Constitution and  law s of the U nited 
S ta tes  w herein  the  m a tte r  in con troversy  exceeds the 
sum  and  value of Three Thousand ($3,000.00) D ollars, 
exclusive of in terest and costs, (62 S tat. 930, Ju n e  25, 
1948), and, Title 28, Sections 1981 and 1983, of the  
U nited S ta tes  Code, th is being a civil action  in equity  
w h ere in  citizens of the U nited S ta tes  contend th a t 
they  have been, a re  now, and w ill in th e  fu tu re  be 
deprived under color of law, of their righ ts, p riv ileges 
and  im m unities  secured to th em  as citizens of the 
U nited S tates, by  the C onstitution and  law s thereof, 
(68 S tat. 960, A ugust 30, 1954).

(b) The Jurisd iction ' of th is H onorable C ourt is 
fu rth e r invoked under T itle 28', Section 1343(3), of the 
U nited S tates Code, this being a civil action  in equity  
to red ress  the deprivation , under color of a S ta te  law , 
s ta tu te , ordinance, regulation, custom  or usage, of 
any  righ t, privilege or im m unity  secu red  by the Con­
stitu tion  of the U nited S tates, or by  any  ac t of Con­
g ress  providing for equal rig h ts  of citizens or of a ll 
persons w ithin the ju risd iction  of the  U nited  States, 
(62 S tat. c. 646, June 25, 1948).

II.

In junctive Relief.

The Ju risd ic tio n  of th is H onorable Court is also 
invoked un d er T itle 28, Sections 2281 and  2284, of the 
U nited  S tates Code, th is being a civil action in  equity  
fo r an  in terlocutory  or p e rm a n en t in junction  to  r e ­
s tra in  the enforcem ent, operation  or execution of ce r­
ta in  s ta tu te s  of the S tate  of Texas, and  of ce rta in  con­
stitu tiona l provisions of the S ta te  of Texas, upon the



?

grounds of th e  unconstitu tionality  of such  s ta tu te s  and  
constitu tional provisions, (62 S tat. 968, c. 646, Ju n e  2.5, 
1948).

III.

D ec la ra to ry  Judgm en t.

This is a proceed ing  un d er Title 28, Sections 2201 
and 2202, of the  U nited  S tates Code, for a d ec la ra to ry  
judgm ent. All of the p a r tie s  to the con troversy  a re  
su b jec t to the ju risd ic tio n  of th is H onorable Court. 
P la in tiffs seek a definition and  dec lara tion  of th e  leg a l 
r ig h ts  and  re la tio n s  of the p a rtie s  in the su b jec t m a t­
te r  of th is  con troversy , to-wit, the question:

(a) W hether the enforcem ent, execution  or opera­
tion  of A rticle 2900 and  A rticle 2922-13 and  2922-15, of 
V ernon’s Civil S ta tu te s  of th e  S ta te  of T exas, to th e  
ex ten t th a t they req u ire  or sanction  the  seg regation  
of studen ts in the  public schools of Texas on the  b asis  
of ra c e  or color, by the  defendant B oard  of E duca tion  
of the  D allas Independent School D istric t, and  the  a d ­
m in is tra tiv e  officers of said  defendan t B oard, ag a in st 
p la in tiffs and  the c lass  of persons th a t they re p re ­
sent, because  of th e ir  race  and color, deny to th em  
the ir righ ts, priv ileges and  im m unities as c itizens of 
the U nited  States, and  the equal p ro tec tion  of law s 
secured to them  by the  F o u rteen th  A m endm ent of 
the  C onstitution of the U nited S tates, or of rig h ts  and 
priv ileges secured  to th em  by Sections 1981 and  1983, 
of Title 42, U nited  S ta tes  Code, and are , for those 
reasons, unconstitu tional and void?

(b) W hether the enforcem ent, execution or opera­
tion of A rticle VII, Section 7, of the  Constitution of



8

Texas, by the defendant B oard  of E d u ca tio n  of the 
D allas  Independent School D istric t, and the  adm in is- 
ra tiv e  officers of sa id  defendant B oard, ag a in st p la in ­
tiffs, and the c lass of persons th a t they  rep resen t, be­
cause  of th e ir race  and color deny to th em  the ir rig h ts , 
privileges and  im m unities as c itizens of the U nited 
S ta tes , and the equal protection of law s secu red  to 
th em  by the  F ourteen th  A m endm ent of the C onstitu­
tion  of the U nited S tates, or of rig h ts  and  p riv ileges 
secured  to them  by Sections 1981 and  1983, of T itle 
42, U nited S tates Code, and a re , for these reasons, 
unconstitu tional and void?

IV.

F ac ts .

1. P la in tiffs , and each  of them , allege th a t th e y  
a re  citizens of the U nited S ta tes  and of the S ta te  of 
Texas, dom iciled in the City and County of D allas, 
Texas, and  w ithin the D allas Independent School D is­
tr ic t;  th a t they are , each  of them , m em b ers  of the* 
Negro, or “colored” race , as defined by T exas law . 
(A cts of 1905, p. 263, A rticle 2900, V ernon’s Civil S ta t­
u te s  of the S tate  of Texas, A nnotated.)

2. The adu lt p lain tiffs here in  allege th a t the m inor 
p la in tiffs  on whose behalf they  sue a re  m inors be­
tw een  the ages of six  (6) and tw enty-one (21) years ; 
th a t they  have m et all law ful health  and  m edical re ­
qu irem en ts  for adm ission to the public schools of the 
C ity of D allas; th a t they are  in all m a te r ia l  respects 
eligible and en titled  to attend  the  public schools of 
the City of D allas and w ithin the D allas Independent 
Schoo] D istric t and to reg is te r, en te r c lasses and  re-



3

ceive in struc tion  in  the p a r tic u la r  schools se t out in 
p a ra g ra p h  13 h e re in afte r.

3. T hat since the filing of th is suit, A lbert Bell, 
m inor, one of the orig inal p la in tiffs  herein, h as  m ade 
app lication  for en lis tm en t in the  U. S. N avy and  is 
not now attend ing  the  public schools of D allas.

4. The p la in tiff, H ilda R u th  B orders is a m inor and 
she b rin g s  th is su it by her fa th e r  and  n ex t friend, 
Louie B orders, J r . ;  the  p la in tiffs, S an d ra  C ra ig  Boson 
and  P a m e la  Boson a re  m inors and  bring  th is action  
by th e ir  m other and  fa th e r  and  next friends, Mr. 
L aw rence C. Boson and  M rs. L aw rence C. Boson; 
the  p la in tiff W illiam  C. B urton, J r .  is a m inor and 
b rings th is action  by his fa th e r  and  next friend, W il­
liam  C. B urton; the p lain tiff Shirley Ann B ush is a 
m inor and b rin g s  th is action  by h e r  fa th e r  and  n ex t 
friend, F ran k ie  L. Bush; the p la in tiff Billie M arie 
Cox, is a  m inor and  b rin g s  th is action  by h e r step ­
fa th e r  and  m o th e r and  next friends, Veil Snowden and  
M ary  Snowden; the p la in tiff C harlene G oldstein is a 
m inor and  b rings th is action  by her fa th e r and  m o ther 
and next friends, D avid  G oldstein and Willie M ae 
G oldstein; the p la in tiffs  C arol H urdle, Cheyel H urdle 
and R onald  H urdle a re  m inors and  they  b ring  this 
action by the ir fa th e r  and  next friend, E lm e r D. 
H urdle; the  p la in tiff Ollie P e a r l Ivy  is a m inor and  
b rings th is action  by her m other and  fa th e r  and next, 
friends, Irene Ivy  and J . J . Ivy; the  plaintiff D iann 
M urphy is a  m inor and  b rin g s  th is action  by her 
g ran d fa th e r  and  g ran d m o th er and  n ex t friends, S. L. 
Neely and M rs. S. L. Neely; the p la in tiff L. L aw ­
rence N elson I I  is a  m inor and  b rings th is action  by 
his m other and nex t friend, M rs. I ra  Nelson; th a t



10

since the  filing of th is suit, one of the o rig ina l p la in ­
tiffs, the fa th e r of the plaintiff, L. L aw rence Nelson 
II, Clyde D. Nelson, who is the husband  of the p la in ­
tiff, M rs. I ra  Nelson, has  absented  h im se lf fro m  th e ir 
hom e and  from  D allas County, Texas, as fa r  as sa id  
p la in tiff, M rs. I ra  Nelson, knows; th a t he h as  p e r­
m an en tly  abandoned her and has  left th e ir  m inor 
child, L. L aw rence Nelson II, in the  custody, c a re  
and  contro l of the p laintiff, M rs. I r a  Nelson, and  th a t 
she has  the sole custody, c a re  and control of sa id  
m inor child, L. L aw rence Nelson II, and  has  h ad  the  
sole custody, c a re  and  control of said  m ino r since the 
26th day of M ay, 1956, a t the tim e the  o rig ina l p la in ­
tiff, Clyde D. Nelson, perm an en tly  abandoned her; 
th a t the  plaintiff, M rs. I ra  Nelson a t  the tim e  of filing 
th is  A m ended Petition  herein, h as  the sole custody, 
c a re  and control of said  m inor p la in tiff, L. L aw ren ce  
Nelson II, and that, she b rings th is action  as  the  per­
m a n en tly  abandoned wife of Clyde D. N elson and for 
th e  benefit of her said  m inor child; the p lain tiff, 
Alonzo D. N ickerson, J r .  is a m inor and  b rin g s  th is 
action  by  h is fa th e r and nex t friend , Alonzo D. N ick er­
son, S r.; the p lain tiffs R osa Sharon Sim s and  M aude 
Lois S im s a re  m inors and  they b ring  th is action  by 
the ir fa th e r and  next, friend, (R ev.) P au l A Sim s; the 
p la in tiff M ary  Ann Slider is a m inor and she b rings 
th is  action  by h e r fa th e r and next friend, L. G. Slider; 
and  the p la in tiff D aurity  G. Sm ith  is a m inor and  he 
b rings th is action by his fa th e r and  n ex t friend , Leo 
M. Sm ith, p u rsu an t to Rule 17(c), F ed era l R ules of 
Civil P rocedure.

5. P la in tiffs  bring  th is action in th e ir  own behalf 
and  in behalf of all o ther N egro m inors who a re  s im i­
la rly  situated , because  of the ir race  and  color, wit,hin



11

the D allas Independent School D istric t, P la in tiffs  say  
th a t they  are  m em b ers  of a c lass  of persons who a re  
seg reg a ted  and  d isc rim in a ted  ag a in st by  the  D efend­
an ts  because  of th e ir  ra c e  and  color; th a t the m em ­
b e rs  of the c lass  a re  so num erous as to m ake it im ­
p rac ticab le  to b rin g  a ll of them  before th is H onor­
able C ourt; th a t they, as m em b ers  of the  c lass, can, 
and w ill fa irly  and  adequa te ly  rep resen t all of the 
m em b ers  of the  c lass; th a t the ch a ra c te r  of th e  rig h t 
sought to be p ro tec ted  and  enforced for the c lass  is 
several, and  th a t th e re  is a  com m on question of law  
affecting  the sev era l rig h ts  of all, and a  com m on re ­
lief is sought. They b rin g  th is action  as a  c lass  action 
pu rsu an t to R ule 23(a)(3 ), F e d e ra l R ules of Civil 
P rocedure .

6. P la in tiffs  allege th a t the  defendant B oard  of 
T rustees of the  D efendant D allas Independent School 
D is tric t is a body co rp o ra te  w ith  pow ers and  au th o r­
ity  to  sue and  be sued in its  co rpo ra te  nam e. (A rtic les 
2748 and  2772, Ib id .)

7. P la in tiffs  allege th a t the  defendant Board of 
Trustees, som etim es re fe rre d  to as B oard  of E d u c a ­
tion, is vested  w ith  pow er and  au th o rity  to m an ag e  
and contro l the public schools u n d er its supervision 
and control. (A rtic le  2749, Ib id .)

8. P la in tiffs  allege th a t the defendant B oard  of 
T rustees of the defendan t D allas Independent School 
D is tric t h as  pow er and  au th o rity  to adopt ru les and 
regulations, and  by-law s, including the  adm ission  of 
students to public schools, to effectuate  the policies 
of the said  B oard  w ith respect to the m an ag em en t 
and control of th e  public schools under its superv i­
sion. (A rtic le  2780, Ib id .)



12

9. The p la in tiffs  allege th a t the defendant D allas  
Independent School D is tric t is a po litical sub-division 
and  an  in s tru m en ta lity  of the S tate, and  th a t it exists 
p u rsu an t to an  A ct of the L eg isla tu re  of th e  S ta te  of 
Texas. (A rticle 2783, et seq., Ib id .)

10. P la in tiffs  allege th a t the defendant Dr. E dw in  
L. R ippy is a citizen of the U nited S ta tes  and of the  
S ta te  of Texas; th a t he is dom iciled in th e  City of 
D allas, D allas County, Texas, and  is su b jec t to the 
ju risd ic tion  of th is H onorable C ourt; th a t he is the 
duly elected , qualified and ac ting  p res id en t of the 
defendant B oard  of T ru stees  of the D allas  Indepen­
dent School D istric t; th a t he is an  agen t and  ad m in is­
tra tiv e  officer of the  S ta te  of Texas, and th a t he is 
sued in his official capacity .

11. P la in tiffs  say  th a t  the defendants W. A. B lair, 
R o b e rt L. D illard , J r .,  R obert B. G ilm ore, Rouse 
Howell, (M rs.) V ernon D. In g ram , V an M. L am m , 
(M rs.) T racy  H. R utherford  and  F ra n k lin  E . Spaf- 
ford, are, each of them , citizens of the U nited  S ta tes 
and  of the S tate  of Texas; th a t they  a re  dom iciled in 
th e  City of D allas, D allas County, Texas; th a t they 
a re  su b jec t to the ju risd iction  of th is H onorable Court; 
th a t  they a re  the  duly elected, qualified and  ac ting  
m em bers of the  defendant Board of T rustees of the 
D allas  Independent School D istric t; th a t  they  a re  
agen ts and  adm in is tra tiv e  officers of the S ta te  of 
Texas, and  th a t they  are sued in the ir official c a ­
pac ities.

12. The P la in tiffs  a llege th a t the D efendant (D r.) 
W. T. W hite is a citizen of the  U nited S tates and  of 
the  S ta te  of T exas; th a t he is dom iciled in the  City



13

and County of D allas, Texas; th a t he is sub jec t to the  
ju risd ic tio n  of th is H onorable Court; th a t he is the 
duly designated , qualified and ac ting  S uperin tenden t 
of the P ub lic  Schools w ith in  the D allas  Independent 
School D is tric t; th a t he is an  ag en t and  a d m in is tra ­
tive officer of the S ta te  of T exas, and th a t he is sued 
in  his official capacity .

13. P la in tiffs  allege th a t th e  defendan t H ow ard A. 
A llen is the p rin c ip a l of the W. H. A dam son H igh 
School w ith in  the D allas  Independent School D istric t; 
th a t the  defendant R. E . S troud  is the p rin c ip a l of 
the  Thom as J . R usk  Ju n io r H igh School w ithin the 
D allas Independent School D is tric t; th a t the  defendan t 
E lla  E . P a rk e r  is the p rinc ipa l of the  John  H enry 
Brow n E lem en ta ry  School w ithin the  D allas  Indepen­
den t School D istric t; th a t the defendant J . H. G ur­
ley  is the p rin c ip a l of the M aple L aw n E lem en ta ry  
School w ithin the  D allas  Independen t School D istric t; 
th a t the defendant W illiam  H. S tanley is th e  p rin ­
cipal of the T hom as A. E dison  E lem en tary  School 
w ith in  the D allas Independent School D istric t; and 
they  a re , each  of them , citizens of the  U nited S tates 
and of th e  S ta te  of Texas, dom iciled in the  City and  
County of D allas, Texas; th a t they  are , each  of them , 
su b jec t to the ju risd ic tion  of th is H onorable Court; 
th a t they are, each  of them , agen ts and em ployees 
of t,he defendant B oard  of T ru stee s  of the  D allas  In ­
dependent School D istric t, and  th a t they a re  agents 
and a d m in is tra tiv e  officers of the  S ta te  of Texas. 
They are , each of them , sued in th e ir  respective  of­
fic ial capacities .

14. The P la in tiffs  W illiam  C. B urton, J r . ,  Alonzo 
D. N ickerson, J r .,  S an d ra  C raig  and  P am e la  Boson,



14

and L. L aw rence Nelson II, allege th a t on, to-wit, 
the  5th day  of S ep tem ber, A. D. 1955, they, and  each  
of them , ac ting  in the ir respective ind iv idual behalf, 
w ent in person w ith the ir respective  p aren ts , or w ith  
th e ir  p a re n ts ’ know ledge and consent, to th e  M aple 
L aw n E lem en ta ry  School w ith in  the  D allas  Indepen­
dent School D istric t, during  the  reg u la r period of 
reg is tra tio n  and  adm ission  and  m ade app lica tion  for 
reg is tra tio n  and adm ission  to the sa id  M aple Law n 
E lem en ta ry  School; th a t the sa id  M aple L aw n E le ­
m en ta ry  School w as then, and is now, the n e a re s t 
public e lem en ta ry  school to the ir respective  hom es; 
th a t  they  w ere read y  and willing to subm it to and 
ab ide by all law ful and reasonab le  ru les  and  re g u la ­
tions of the defendant B oard of T rustees of t,he D allas 
Independent School D istric t; th a t they w ere  in all 
m a te r ia l  respects eligible to reg is te r, enter classes, 
and  receive instruc tion  in the said  e lem en ta ry  school; 
th a t in spite of the foregoing fac ts, they w ere denied 
and  refused  adm ission  to the sa id  M aple L aw n E le­
m e n ta ry  School by its p rincipal, J . H. G urley , w hile 
the said J . H. G urley w as ac ting  in concert, consp ir­
acy  and  a com m on schem e w ith the defendant W. T. 
W hite, as Superin tendent of public schools in the D al­
la s  Independent School D istric t, and  the defendan t 
B oard  of T rustees of the D allas Independent School 
D istric t, ac ting  as aforesaid , w ilfully, and  know ingly, 
deprives p lain tiffs and the m em bers of the  c lass  of 
persons they re p re se n t on the  account of th e ir race  
and  color, of righ ts, privileges and  im m unities secured  
and  g u aran teed  to th em  under the F ou rteen th  A m end­
m en t of the C onstitution of the  U nited  S tates.

15. The p la in tiffs M ary  Ann Slider, D iann  M ur­
phy, H ilda R u th  B orders and  C harlene Goldstein, al-



15

lege th a t on, to-wit, S ep tem ber 5th, A. D. 1955, they, 
and  each  of them , w hile ac ting  in th e ir  resp ec tiv e  in­
d iv idual behalf, w ent in person  w ith  th e ir  respective 
p aren ts, or w ith  the ir p a ren ts ’ know ledge and  con­
sent, to the W. H, A dam son High School w ith in  the 
D allas Independen t School D istric t during  the reg u la r  
period of re g is tra tio n  and adm ission  and  m ade ap ­
p lication  for reg is tra tio n  and  adm ission  to the said  
W. H. A dam son H igh School; th a t the sa id  W. H. 
A dam son H igh School was then, and  is now, the n e a r ­
est public high school to th e ir  re sp ec tiv e  hom es; th a t 
they w ere re a d y  and  w illing to subm it to and abide 
by all law ful and  reasonab le  ru les  and regu la tions of 
th e  defendant B oard  of T rustees of the D allas Inde­
pendent School D istric t; th a t they w ere in all m a ­
te ria l resp ec ts  eligible to reg is te r, en ter classes, and 
receive instruc tion  in the sa id  high school; th a t in 
spite of the  foregoing facts, they w ere denied and  r e ­
fused adm ission  to the  sa id  W. H. A dam son H igh 
School by its p rincipal, H ow ard  A. Allen, w hile the 
sa id  H ow ard A. Allen w as acting  in concert, con­
sp iracy , and  a com m on schem e w ith  the  defendant, 
W. T. W hite, as S uperin tenden t of P ub lic  Schools in  
the D allas Independent School D istric t, and the de­
fendan t B oard  of T rustees of th e  D allas Independent 
School D is tric t ac ting  as aforesaid , w ilfully and know ­
ingly deprives P la in tiffs  and the  m em b ers  of the class 
of persons th ey  rep resen t, on the account of their 
race  and  color, of righ ts, p riv ileges and  im m unities 
secured  and  guaran teed  to them  under the F ou rteen th  
A m endm ent of the C onstitution of the  U nited S tates.

16. The P la in tiffs  R ose Sharon  and  M aude Lois 
Sim s, D au rity  G. Sm ith, Carol, Cheyel and  Ronald 
H urdle, and  Billie M arie  Cox, allege th a t on, to-wit, the



16

5th day  of S ep tem ber A. D. 1955, they, and  each  of 
th em , ac ting  in th e ir  respective  ind iv idual behalf, 
w en t in  p erson  w ith the ir resp ectiv e  p a ren ts , or w ith  
th e ir  p a re n ts ’ know ledge and consent, to the  John 
H enry Brow n E lem en ta ry  School w ith in  th e  D allas  
Independent School D istric t, during  the  reg u la r  period  
of reg is tra tio n  and adm ission  and  m ad e  app lica tion  
for reg is tra tio n  and  adm ission  to the  sa id  John  H enry  
B row n E lem en ta ry  School; th a t the sa id  Jo h n  H enry  
B row n E lem en ta ry  School w as then , and  is now, the 
n ea re st public e lem en tary  school to th e ir  respective  
hom es; th a t they  w ere read y  and  w illing to subm it 
to and abide by all law ful and  reasonab le  ru les and 
reg u la tio n s  of the  defendant B oard  of T rustees of the 
D allas Independent School D istric t; th a t they w ere in 
all m a te ria l re sp ec ts  eligible to reg is te r, en ter 
classes, and  receive in struc tion  in the  sa id  e lem en tary  
school; th a t in spite of the foregoing fac ts , th e y  w ere 
denied and  refused adm ission  to sa id  John  H enry  
Brow n E lem en ta ry  School by its  p rinc ipa l, E lla  E. 
P a rk e r , while the  sa id  E lla  E. P a rk e r  was ac ting  in 
concert, consp iracy  and a  com m on schem e w ith  the 
defendant, W. T. W hite, as S uperin tenden t of P ublic  
Schools in the  D allas Independent School D istric t, and  
the  D efendant B oard  of T rustees of the D allas  Inde­
pendent School D istric t, ac ting  as afo resaid , w ilfully 
and know ingly deprives P la in tiffs  and  th e  m em b ers  
of the  c lass  of persons whom  th ey  rep resen t, on the  
account of the ir ra c e  and color, of rig h ts , p riv ileges 
and  im m unities  secured  and guaran teed  to th em  un­
der the  F ourteen th  A m endm ent of the C onstitution of 
the  U nited S tates.

17. The P lain tiff Ollie P e a r l  Ivy, alleges th a t  on, 
to-wit, the  5th day  of Septem ber, A. D. 1955, she w ent



17

in p e rso n  w ith  her paren ts , or w ith her p a re n ts ’ know l­
edge and  consent, to the T hom as A. E dison  E lem en ­
ta ry  School w ith in  the D allas  In dependen t School 
D istric t, du ring  the reg u la r  period of reg is tra tio n  and  
adm ission  and  m ade application for reg is tra tio n  and  
adm ission  to th e  sa id  T hom as A. E dison  E lem en ta ry  
School; th a t the said  T hom as A. E dison E lem en ta ry  
School w as then , and  is now, the n e a re s t public ele­
m e n ta ry  school to the  hom e of the p la in tiff Ollie 
P e a r l Ivy; th a t she was w illing and  re a d y  to subm it 
to and  abide by all law ful and  reasonab le  ru les  and 
regula tions of the  defen d an t B oard  of T rustees of the 
D allas Independent School D istric t; th a t she w as in 
all m a te ria l re sp ec ts  eligible to reg is te r, en ter c lasses, 
and receive instruc tion  in the said  e lem en ta ry  school; 
th a t in sp ite  of the foregoing fac ts , she w as denied 
and  refused  adm ission  to the sa id  Thom as A. E dison  
E le m e n ta ry  School by its  p rincipal, W illiam  H. S tan ­
ley, while the said  W illiam  H. S tanley was ac ting  in 
concert, consp iracy , and  a  com m on schem e w ith  the 
defendant, W. T. W hite, as Superin tenden t of the p ub ­
lic schools in the  D allas  Independent School D istric t, 
and  the defendan t B oard  of T rustees of the D allas In ­
dependent School D istric t, ac ting  as a fo resaid , w il­
fully, intentionally and  know ingly deprives this p la in ­
tiff and  the m em bers of the c lass  of persons p la in ­
tiffs rep resen t, on the accoun t of ra c e  and  color, of 
righ ts, p riv ileges and  im m un ities  secured  and  g u a r­
anteed to them  under the  F ou rteen th  A m endm ent of 
the Constitution of the  U nited S tates.

18. The p la in tiff Shirley Ann Bush alleges th a t on, 
to-wit, the 5th day  of Sep tem ber, 1955, she w ent in  
person w ith  her m other M ae E . Bush, to the Thom as 
J . R usk  Ju n io r H igh School w ith in  the D allas Inde-



18

penden t School D istric t, du ring  the reg u la r period of 
reg is tra tio n  and adm ission  and  m ade app lica tion  for 
re g is tra tio n  and adm ission  to the sa id  T hom as J. 
R usk  Jun io r High School; th a t the  sa id  T hom as J . 
R usk  Jun io r High School was then, and is now, the 
n e a re s t public jun ior high school to her home; th a t 
she w as ready  and  willing to subm it to and  abide by 
all law ful and reasonab le ru les  and regu la tions of the 
defendan t B oard  of T rustees of the D allas  Indepen ­
dent School D istric t; th a t she was in all m a te r ia l r e ­
spects eligible to reg ister, enter c lasses  and  receive 
instruc tion  in the said  junior high school; that, in sp ite  
of the foregoing facts, she w as denied and  refused  
adm ission  to said  T hom as J. R usk  Ju n io r H igh School 
by its p rincipal, R. E. S troud, w hile the  said  R. E. 
S troud w as acting  in concert, consp iracy  and  a  com ­
m on schem e w ith the defendant, W. T. W hite, as 
Superin tendent of Public Schools in the  D allas  Inde­
pendent School D istric t, and  the defendan t B oard  of 
T rustees of the D allas Independent School D istric t, 
ac ting  as aforesaid , w ilfully and know ingly deprives 
P la in tiff  and the m em bers of the  c lass of persons she 
rep resen ts, because of th e ir race  and  color, of righ ts, 
priv ileges and im m unities secured and  g u aran teed  to 
them  under the F ou rteen th  A m endm ent of the  Con­
stitu tion  of the U nited States.

19. The S ta te  of Texas has  unlaw fully  m ad e  ra c ia l 
segregation  in the public schools of the  S ta te  a p a r t 
of its public policy. By a constitu tional provision, it is 
s ta ted  tha t:

S epara te  schools shall be provided fo r the  w hite 
and colored citizens, and im p a rtia l provision shall be 
m ade for b o th .” (Art. VII, Sec. 7, C onstitution of 
T exas.)



19

20. A cting p u rsu an t to the a fo resa id  un law fu l con­
stitu tional m a n d a te  in the o rgan ic  law  of the  State, 
the L eg isla tu re  illegally  en ac ted  law s to im p lem en t 
the un law fu l constitu tional provision set out in p a ra ­
g rap h  19 hereof. A rtic le  2900, V ernon’s Civil S ta tu tes  
of the  S ta te  of Texas provides:

“All availab le  public school funds of th is s ta te  sha ll 
be ap p ro p ria ted  in each  county for the education  alike 
of w hite and  colored children, and  im p a rtia l p rov i­
sions shall be m ad e  for both race s . No w hite child 
shall a tten d  schools supported  for colored children, 
nor sh a ll colored ch ild ren  attend  schools supported  
for w hite ch ildren . The te rm  “ colored ra c e ” or “ Col­
ored ch ild ren ” as used in th is Title, includes all p e r ­
sons of m ixed blood descending  from  N egro ances­
t r y .” (A cts of 1905, p. 263.)

21. W hile acting  in fu rth e r  deference to the illegal 
constitu tional provision se t out in p a ra g ra p h  19 hereof, 
th e  51st L eg is la tu re  of Texas, enacted  the M inim um  
F oundation  School P ro g ra m  A ct, som etim es called  
the  G ilm er-A ikin A ct w hich becam e effective Ju n e  8, 
1949; the p ertinen t portions of the A ct provide as 
follows:

A rtic le  2922-13: The n um ber of professional un its 
a llo tted  for the  pu rpose  of th is A ct to each  school d is­
tric t, except as o therw ise provided herein, sha ll be1 
based  upon and  determ ined  by the  av erag e  daily  a t­
tendance for the  d is tr ic t for the  nex t p reced in g  year, 
sep a ra te  for w hite and  sep a ra te  for negroes. Such a l­
lo tm ents based upon w hite a ttendance  shall be u til­
ized in w hite schools, and  a llo tm en ts  based  on negro  
a tten d an c e  sha ll be utilized in negro  schools.



20

A rticle  2922-15: The to ta l cu rren t operating  cost for 
each  school d is tric t, other th a n  professional s a la r ie s  
and  tran sp o rta tio n , shall be based  upon the n u m b er 
of approved  c lassroom  teacher units and  such  excep­
tional children teach er un its  as  a re  utilized for con­
valescen t classes, sep a ra te  for w hite and  sep a ra te  for 
n'egroes, * * *.

22. P la in tiffs  allege th a t the pu rpose  of the  F o u n d a­
tion  School P ro g ra m  A ct is to g u a ran tee  to each child 
of school age in Texas the availab ility  of a  m in im u m  
foundation school p ro g ram  for nine (9) m on ths of the 
year, and  to estab lish  the eligibility req u irem en ts  ap ­
plicable  to Texas public school d is tr ic ts  in connection 
therew ith , and th a t the seg regation  of the  races in the 
enjoym ent of public school benefits w as not its p r i­
m a ry  purpose. (A cts of 1949, 51st Leg., p. 625, ch. 
334, A rt. 1.)

23. P la in tiffs  allege th a t only so m uch  of the A ct 
as requ ires  or p laces s ta te  sanction  upon ra c ia l  seg­
regation  is unconstitu tional.

24. P lain tiffs  allege th a t the  defendant B oard of 
T rustees of the D allas Independent School D istric t, 
w hile acting , or purporting  to act, p u rsu an t to the 
illegal law s of the S tate of Texas, se t out in p a r a ­
g rap h s 19, 20, and 21, hereof, has  m ade, adopted and 
prom ulgated  ce rta in  rules and regu la tions for the 
m an ag em en t and control of the public schools under 
its  supervision, and  specifically  for the m an ag em en t 
and  control of the  public schools m entioned h ere in ­
before in p a ra g ra p h s  13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 hereof, 
w hich have been enforced ag a in st P la in tiffs , and  each 
of them , and  w hich they in tend to enforce in the



21

fu tu re  ag a in s t them , because  of the ir ra c e  and  color, 
w hich unlaw fully  and w rongfully  seg regates  and  il­
legally  d isc rim in a tes  ag a in st P la in tiffs  and  the c lass  
of persons th a t they  represen t, b ecause  of the ir ra c e  
and color, and  deprive them  of righ ts, p riv ileges and 
im m unities secu red  to them  as citizens of the  United 
S ta tes  by the Constitution and law s of the  U nited 
S tates.

25. P la in tiffs  allege th a t  th e  D efendant B oard  of 
E du ca tio n  of the  D allas  Independent School D istric t, 
and the D efendant, W. T. W hite, w hile ac ting  as Super­
in tendent of P ub lic  Schools of the  D allas  Independent 
School D istric t, and  the D efendants H ow ard A. Allen, 
E lla  E . P a rk e r , W illiam  H. S tanley, R ich a rd  E . S troud 
and J . H. G urley, as p rinc ipa ls  of the public schools 
m entioned hereinbefore in p a ra g ra p h s  13, 14, 15, 16, 
17 and  18 hereof, h ave  conspired  and  ac ted  in con­
c e rt and com m on schem e jo in tly  to w ilfully, in ten ­
tionally  and  know ingly deprive P la in tiffs  and  th e  c lass 
of persons w hom  they rep resen t, because  of the ir 
ra c e  and  color, of r ig h ts  and  priv ileges secured  to 
them  u n d er the F o u rteen th  A m endm ent of the Con­
stitu tion of the U nited  S tates, and  of rig h ts  secured  
to them, by Sections 1981 and 1983, of T itle 28, U nited 
S ta tes  Code, by the  en fo rcem en t and  opera tion  of the 
aforesaid  ru les and  regu la tions, to the g re a t and i r ­
rep a rab le  h a rm  and  in ju ry  of P la in tiffs  and  th e  c lass 
of persons w hom  they represent.

26. T h a t th e  D efendan ts, and each  of them , acting  
in co n ce rt each  w ith  the  o ther, independently  of any  
provision of t,he C onstitution of th e  S ta te  of Texas, o r 
any  of the law s of the S tate  of Texas, p rom ulgated  in 
the  cap acities  in w hich they  a re  sued, ru les, regu la-



22

tions, custom s, and  policies, illegally  seg reg a tin g  the  
m ino r P la in tiffs  in the afo resaid  schools and  illegally  
d isc rim in a tin g  again st the P la in tiffs  and  the c lass  of 
persons w hom  they  rep resen t, on account of race  and 
color, in  th a t  the D efendan ts under sa id  ru les , re g u la ­
tions, custom s and  policies so p rom ulgated , deny to 
the P la in tiffs  and  the c lass  of persons w hom  they 
represen t, the  rig h t and  priv ilege of entering, en ro ll­
ing and  receiv ing  in struc tion  in e ith er of the afo resaid  
public schools in the  D allas  Independent School D is­
tr ic t, on account of th e ir  race  and  color, and  that, 
such  den ia l and  illegal seg regation  and  d isc rim in a ­
tion h as  been done, and  is now being done, pu rpose­
fully, in ten tionally , and  w ilfully by each  of sa id  D e­
fendan ts, in th a t since the filing of th is  law suit, the  
D efendants have rea ffirm ed  the ir afo resaid  illegal and  
unconstitu tional policies, rules, regu la tions and cus­
tom s of ra c ia l d iscrim ination  ag a in st these P la in tiffs  
and  the  c lass  of persons th a t they  rep resen t, on a c ­
count of ra c e  and  color, and in tend in the  fu tu re  to 
c a r ry  out sa id  illegal and  unconstitu tional policies, 
ru les , regu la tions and  custom s of ra c ia l  d isc rim in a ­
tion ag a in st these  P la in tiffs  and  the c lass  of persons 
th a t they  rep resen t and  w ill do so in the fu tu re , un ­
le ss  they  a re  enjoined and re s tra in e d  by a perm anen t 
w rit of in junction  issued by th is H onorable Court.

27. P la in tiffs  allege th a t they h ave  no plain, ef­
ficient or adequate  rem ed y  a t  law  to red ress  the  un­
law fu l action  of the D efendants, and  each  of them , 
o th e r th a n  th is  action  for d e c la ra to ry  ju d g m en t and 
in junctive  relief; th a t any other rem edy  to w hich they  
could be re m itte d  would be attended  by such u n c e r­
ta in ties  and  delays as to am o u n t to su b stan tia l den ial 
of relief; would involve a  m u ltip lic ity  of su its  and



23

would cause  P la in tiffs  fu rth e r irrep a rab le  h a rm  and 
in jury , and  occasion undue h ardsh ip s, vexations and 
delay.

V.

P ra y e r .

W herefore, the p rem ises  considered, P la in tiffs  re ­
spectfully p ra y  th a t upon the  filing of th is A m ended 
Com plaint, as m ay  ap p ea r p ro p er and convenient t,o 
the Court:

1. T hat a S ta tu to ry  T hree-Judge C ourt be convened 
p u rsu an t to Sections 2281 and  2284, of T itle 28, United 
S tates Code;

2. T hat th is  cause  be advanced  on the docket of 
this Court and  a speedy h ea rin g  be ordered accord ing  
to law , and  upon such p re lim in a ry  hearing , th a t th is  
H onorable C ourt issue a te m p o ra ry  injunction to  en­
join and re s tra in  the D efendants, and  each  of them , 
from  denying or refusing  to P la in tiffs  the rig h t and 
privilege of entering, and a ttending  classes, and re ­
ceiving instruc tion  a t the public school w ithin the 
D allas Independent School D istric t w hich is n e a re s t 
to th e ir  hom es, w ithout being assigned  to any  public 
school on the  basis  or c lassifica tion  of race  or color, 
and  w ithout any  d istinctions being m ade as to them  
because of the ir ra c e  and color;

3. T hat upon final h ea rin g  of th is cause  on its 
m erits , th is  H onorable Court:

(a) E n te r  a final ju d g m en t or decree  th a t w ill be 
dec la ra tiv e  and  definitive of the legal righ ts  and re-



24

la tions of the  p a rtie s  in the su b jec t-m a tte r  of this con­
tro v e rsy ;

(b) E n te r  a  final judgm ent,, o rder and  decree 
w hich  w ill declare  th a t Section 7, of A rticle VII, of 
the C onstitution of T exas is unconstitu tional and  void 
fo r the reaso n  th a t it denies and  deprives p la in tiffs 
and  th e  m e m b ers  of the c lass  of persons w hom  they 
re p re se n t equal pro tection  of law s secured  to th em  
by  the Constitution and  law s of the U nited S ta tes, 
and  rig h ts  and priv ileges secured to them  by Sec­
tions 1981 and  1983, of Title 42, U nited  S tates Code;

(c) E n te r  a fina l judgm en t, o rd er and  d ecree  
w hich will d ec la re  th a t A rtic le  2900, of V ernon’s Civil 
S ta tu te s  of the  S ta te  of T exas, is u n constitu tional and  
void, fo r the reason ' th a t it denies; to p la in tiffs  and  
the  m em bers of the c lass  of persons w hom  they  re p ­
re se n t equal p ro tec tion  of law s secu red  to th em  by 
th e  C onstitution and  law s of the  U nited  S ta tes , and  
rig h ts  and  priv ileges secu red  to th em  by Sections 1981 
and  1983, of T itle 42, U nited S ta tes  Code;

(d) E n te r  a  fina l judgm ent, o rd er and  d ecree  
w hich will d ec la re  th a t so m uch of A rticles 2922-13 
and  2922-15, of V ernon’s Civil S ta tu tes  of the  S ta te  of 
Texas, as  m ay  be in te rp re te d  or construed  to requ ire , 
or sanction, the  seg regation  of s tuden ts  in th e  public 
schools opera ted  by the defendan ts, or any  of them , 
on th e  b asis  of race  or color, a re  unconstitu tional and  
void, fo r the reaso n  th a t it denies to p la in tiffs  and  
th e  m em b ers  of the  c lass of person's w hom  they  re p ­
re se n t equal p ro tec tion  of law s secured  to th em  by 
th e  C onstitu tion and  law s of the  U nited  S ta tes , and, 
r ig h ts  and  p riv ileges secured  to th em  by Sections 
1981 and  1983, of Title 42, U nited S ta tes  Code;



25

(e) E n te r  a p e rm a n e n t in junction  to  enjoin and 
re s tra in  the  defendants, E dw in  L. R ippy, W. A. B lair, 
R obert L. D illard , J r . ,  R o b ert B. G ilm ore, R ouse 
Howell, (M rs.) V ernon In g ram , V an M. L am m , (M rs.) 
T racy  H. R u therfo rd , and  F ran k lin  E . Spafford, as of­
ficers and m e m b ers  of the B oard  of T rustees of the 
D allas Independen t School D istric t, and  W. T. W hite 
as ag en t and  S uperin tenden t of Public Schools of the  
D allas In dependen t School D istric t, the ir agen ts, s e r ­
vants, em ployees, a tto rn ey s, th e ir  su ccesso rs  in  of­
fice, and  all o ther persons ac ting  in co ncert w ith 
them , who shall rece iv e  a c tu a l no tice of th is  ju d g ­
m ent, o rd er and  decree, from  fu rth e r  executing, or 
enforcing ag a in s t P la in tiffs  and  any  m e m b ers  of the  
class of persons w hom  they  rep resen t, any  ru le , or 
regula tion , or any  o rd e r or o rd e rs  m ade, p rom ulgated , 
or issued  p u rsu a n t to, or pu rp o rted ly  issued  p u rsu an t 
to e ither Section 7, of A rticle VII, of the Constitution 
of the S ta te  of T exas, or A rticle 2900 of V ernon’s Civil 
S ta tu tes  of th e  S ta te  of T exas, or any  portion' of 
A rticles 2922-13 or 2922-15, of V ernon’s Civil S ta tu tes  
of the S ta te  of T exas, th a t req u ire s  or sanctions the  
seg regation  of s tuden ts in the public schools operated  
by the D efendan t B oard  of T ru s tee s  of th e  D allas  In­
dependent School D is tric t, on the basis of ra c e  or 
color;

(f) And, the  P la in tiffs  p ra y  th a t the  D efendants, 
and each  of them , the ir agents, se rv an ts , em ployees, 
th e ir su ccesso rs  in office and  all o ther persons acting  
in conce rt w ith  sa id  D efendan ts, be p e rm an en tly  en­
joined and  re s tra in ed  from  enforcing  any  rule, policy, 
custom , or regu la tion  in' the cap ac ities  in w hich they  
a re  h ere in  sued, w hich d isc rim in a tes  ag a in s t or seg­
reg a te s  the  P la in tiffs  and  the  c lass  of persons w hom



26

they  rep re sen t, in a ttend ing , reg is te r in g , enro lling  and  
receiv ing  instruc tion  in  any  of th e  public schools w ith­
in the  D allas  Independen t School D istric t, on accoun t 
of ra c e  or color;

4. T hat th is  H onorable Court allow  P la in tiffs  th e ir  
costs here in , and  g ra n t such  o ther and  fu r th e r  re lie f 
as m ay  a p p e a r  equ itab le  and  ju s t in th e  p rem ises.

W. J . DURHAM,
2600 F lo ra  S treet,

D allas, Texas.

C. B. BU NK LEY, JR ., 
3318 S. O akland  Ave.,

D allas, Texas.
LOUIS A. B ED FO R D , JR .,

1831 Singleton Blvd.,
D allas, Texas.

K E N N E T H  F. H OLBERT,
2531 F o re s t Ave.,

D allas, T exas.
U. SIM PSON TATE, 

4207 S. O akland  Ave.,
D allas, Texas.

J . L. TU R N ER , JR .,
1723 R outh  S treet,

D allas, Texas.
R O B ER T L. CARTER, 
THURGOOD MARSHALL,

107 W est 43rd S treet,
N ew  Y ork City, N ew  York.

By (S.) W. J . DURHAM,
A ttorneys for P la in tiffs .



27

C ertification .

I, U. S. T ate , one of th e  A tto rneys for P la in tiffs  
herein, a f te r  being duly sw orn, on m y  oath  depose 
and say  th a t I h a v e  re a d  th e  foregoing A m ended 
C om plaint by m e subsc ribed  and  know the  conten ts 
thereof, and  th a t the  sam e  is tru e  and  co rre c t of m y 
own know ledge, excep t as  to m a tte rs  s ta te d  to be 
alleged upon in fo rm ation  and  belief, and  as to those 
m a tte rs , I ve rily  believe th em  to be true .

U. S. TATE,
(U. S. T ate).

Subscribed  and  sw orn to before m e th is the  15th 
day of D ecem ber, 1956.

(S.) M. E . WALTON,
(M. E . W alton),

(Seal) N o tary  P ub lic  in and  for
D allas  County, T exas.

D EFEN D A N TS’ SECOND A M EN D ED  ANSW ER.

F iled  Nov. 21, 1956.

(Title O m itted .)

Come now  the  defendan ts, E dw in  L. R ippy, R obert 
L. D illard , F ran k lin  Spafford, M rs. T racy  R u th e r­
ford, V an M. L am m , M rs. V ernon D. Ing ram , Rouse 
Howell, R obert B. G ilm ore, W. A. B la ir, T ru stees  of 
the D allas  In dependen t School D istric t, the  D allas  In­
dependent School D istric t, an  educa tiona l fac ility  o r­
ganized u n d er the  law s of the  S ta te  of Texas, R ich ard



28

E. S troud, W. T. W hite, E lla  P a rk e r , W illiam  S tan ­
ley, J . H. G urley, H ow ard  A llen and  W. A. H am ilton, 
and  file th is  th e ir  F ir s t  A m ended Answ er.

1 .

The p la in tiffs  canno t m a in ta in  th is su it for the  re a ­
son th a t sa id  con troversy  is not a  bona fide a ttem p t 
to d e te rm in e  th e ir civil rig h ts , bu t the  p la in tiffs  w ere 
ob ta ined  th rough  the so lic ita tion  of the  local b ran ch  
of th e  NAACP and for the  pu rpose  of estab lish ing  
and  extending the  in te re s ts  of groups a sso c ia ted  to ­
g e th e r u n d er th a t nam e, and  sa id  p la in tiffs  h av e  a l­
low ed th ird  p a rtie s  to use th e ir  position to obtain  a  
red ress  of rig h ts  for w hich they  w ere  not p rim arily  
in te res ted  w hen sa id  su it w as filed, and sa id  su it 
w ould not have been  filed bu t for the p e rsu asio n  ex e r­
cised  by  sa id  th ird  p a rtie s .

2.

The P la in tiffs  have failed  and  refu sed  to exhaust 
th e ir  ad m in is tra tiv e  rem ed ies by appea ling  to the  
S ta te  C om m issioner of E duca tion  a t  A ustin  as  re ­
qu ired  by th e  provisions of the  G ilm er-A iken A ct 
(A rticle 2654—1, 2, 5, 7 V.A.C.S.).

3.

All of the  defendan ts deny th e re  is any  schem e or 
co n sp iracy  to c ircu m v en t or evade th e  law  or to de­
p rive  any  child, s tuden t or o ther person  of the ir civil 
rig h ts  The a d m in is tra tiv e  s ta ff  and  the  d is tr ic t tru s ­
tees  a re  now  and  have  been' m ak ing  an  honest, bona 
fide, rea lis tic  study  of the fac ts  to m ee t the  obliga-



29

tioris the  law  h a s  p laced  upon th em  to provide ad e ­
quate public school education  and  to perfec t, a s  soon 
as possible, a  w orkab le  in te g ra te d  sy stem  of public 
education.

4.

The Suprem e C ourt of th e  U nited  S ta te s  on M ay 
31, 1955, en te red  a final o rd e r and  decree  announcing 
a d ra s tic  change in' legal concep t of school ad m in is­
tra tio n  and  p laced  upon the  D efendan t tru s te e s  and  
officers the  necessity  of changing  ad m in is tra tiv e  rou­
tine, ru les  and  p rocedu res w hich had  been  in exis­
tence for m an y  y ea rs , ce rta in ly  fro m  the  beginning 
of the o rgan ization  of the  D allas  School D istric t.

5.

The d istribu tion  of s tuden ts  to school build ings is 
rela ted  both  to the  budget exp en d itu res  and  estim ated  
costs and  also to availab le  p h ysica l fac ilities  an d  calls 
for the study  of m an y  o ther p rob lem s. A ccordingly, on 
Ju ly  13, 1955, the  P res id en t of the  B oard, issued  a 
s ta tem en t reg a rd in g  deseg reg a tio n  and  outlined tw elve 
p rob lem s for study, w hich are:

“ In  o rd e r to be p re p a re d  for even tua lities  in th is 
connection, th is  B oard  of E duca tion  m onths ago  in ­
structed  D r. W. T. W hite, the  S up re in ten d en t of 
Schools of th is D istric t, to proceed w ith  a  detailed  
study of the p rob lem s in h e ren t to d eseg reg a tin g  a m a ­
jor school system , and  these  s tud ies a re  in p rog ress  
in' the following a rea s:



30

1. S cholastic  boundaries of ind iv idual schools w ith  
re la tio n  to ra c ia l g roups con tained  therein .

2. A ge-grade d istribu tion  of pupils.

3. A ch ievem en t and  s ta te  of p rep a red n ess  for 
g rade-level ass ig n m en t of d iffe ren t pupils.

4. R elative in telligence quo tien t scores.

5. A dap ta tion  of cu rricu lum .

6. The over-all im pace on ind iv idual pupils schol­
as tica lly  when' all the  above item s are  considered.

7. A ppoin tm ent and  ass ig n m en t of p rinc ipa ls .

8. The re la tiv e  degree of p rep ared n ess  of w hite 
and  N egro te ach e rs ; th e ir  selection  and  assignm en t.

9. Social life of the  ch ild ren  w ith in  the  school.

10. The prob lem s of in teg ra tio n  of the  P a re n t-  
T each er A ssociation and  the  D ads Club o rg an iza­
tion.

11. The operation  of the  a th le tic  p ro g ra m  un d er 
an  in teg ra te d  system .

12. F a ir  and  equ itab le  m ethods of pu tting  into ef­
fec t the decree of the  S uprem e Court.



31

6.

A rev ie w  of scho lastic  census w as im m ed ia te ly  
s ta r ted  and  m ap s  im m ed ia te ly  p re p a re d  to fit the  
school building cap ac ity  to th e  a re a  p roducing  the  
s tuden ts  on the assum ption  of a d eseg regated  basis.

T im e and  study  a re  n ece ssa ry  to p ro p erly  a lloca te  
to each  school build ing and fac ilities  the  n u m b er of 
students w hich can  p ro p erly  be ta k e n  care  of a t  such  
locality. The d istribu tion  of in h ab itan ts  th roughou t 
the D allas  School D is tric t is no t un ifo rm  and  is fu rth e r 
com plicated by the  fac t th a t c e rta in  a re a s , such  as 
com m erc ia l and  m a n u fac tu rin g  a re a s , p roduce no 
students, and it  is th e re fo re  n ece ssa ry  to v a ry  the 
a rea  and  th e  lim its  of the d is tr ic t w ith in  w hich s tu ­
dents sh a ll be a lloca ted  to sa id  schools.

7.

The ass ig n m en t of teach ers , both w hite and  negro, 
m ust be re -exam ined  and  no defin ite conclusion can  
be m ad e  un til the  re -a lig n m en t of d is tr ic ts  h as  been 
com pleted and  the  proportion  of w hite and  negro  
scho lastics d e te rm in ed  w ithin  reaso n ab le  lim its.

T here is a  fu r th e r  unsolved p rob lem  of the  a ttitu d e  
and d iscip line w hich a  negro  te a c h e r  can  a s se r t over 
w hite children. I t is the opinion of the B oard  th a t 
under the  p re sen t s ta te  of ag ita tion , s tim u la ted  in 
som e in s tan ces  by the ir p a ren ts , w hite ch ildren  w ill 
not su b m it to discipline, d irection  and  teach in g  by 
negro te ach e rs . This problem  m u st be rea lis tic a lly  
solved and, if not, the  position  of the  negro  te ach er



32

w ill su ffer and  also th e  scho lastic  s tand ing  of the  
w hite students.

8.

I t  is a  w ell understood  fa c t th a t negro  ch ild ren  a re  
m ore  a t ease  un d er negro  te a c h e rs  and  it  is believed  
a sudden  and  d ra s tic  in troduction  of w hite  te ach e r 
p ersonnel in c lassroom s w here  th e re  a re  a  su b s tan ­
tia l n um ber of negro  ch ild ren  w ill re su lt in tension 
and  in te rfe re  w ith  th e  ab ility  of th e  negro  stu d en ts  
to re ta in  in stru c tio n  and  m ak e  ad eq u a te  p rog ress.

9.

T here  re m a in s  an  unsolved prob lem  of the  teacher- 
p a re n t re la tionsh ip . W hite p a re n ts  a re  to ta lly  u n p re ­
p a red  a t  th is  tim e  to accep t suggestions a s  to how 
the  child m ig h t be benefitted  and  m ad e  m ore  re ­
cep tive  to in s tru c tio n  by th e  in stitu tion  of ce rta in  
co rrec tiv e  m e a su re s  a t  hom e w hen  these  suggestions 
a re  m ade by n eg ro 'te ach e rs . W hite ch ild ren  w ill th e re ­
fo re  su ffer in' th e ir  in s truc tion  from  th is em otional 
situation . I t is a w ell known fac t th a t  w hite  p a re n ts  
re s is t the  suggestions m ad e  by w hite te ach e rs  and  it 
the re fo re  follows th a t negro  te a c h e rs  un d er the  p re s ­
en t conditions w ill be w holly unab le  to cope w ith the  
situation .

10.

T here a re  now 3600 te a c h e rs  in the  D allas  public 
school sy stem , of w hich 2900 a re  w hite and  700 a re  
N egro, and  to m ee t the contingencies above s ta ted  it 
w ill be n e c e ssa ry  to have  a la rg e r  n u m b er of w hite



33

teachers  th an  a re  now av a ilab le  and  th e  fo rced  use 
of negro te ach e rs  in in te g ra te d  c lasses  w ill re su lt in 
chaos, confusion and  a  com plete  fa ilu re  of in struc tion .

It is an  ad m itted  fa c t  th a t in ch ild ren  em otional 
tension, w hether it be p riv a te  or of g en era l public 
na tu re , low ers th e ir receptiven 'ess. The p re se n t em o­
tional s itua tion  h as  b rough t about and  will b ring  about 
a g en era l s itua tion  of tension betw een N egroes and  
W hites, w hich w ill be re flec ted  upon th e  ch ild ren  in  
the schools and  as a  re su lt the reo f both  w ill su ffer 
by reaso n  of the  fa c t th a t th e ir  m e n ta l recep tiveness 
to in struc tion  w ill be low ered.

11.

Studies show  th a t as a  g en e ra l ru le  both  N egro and  
White s tuden ts  a re  in the g rade  in  which, th ey  should 
be; however, stud ies fu rth e rm o re  show th a t basic  
ach ievem en t of w hite s tuden ts  is n o rm a l for the  g rad e  
th a t they  a re  in, bu t th a t the  ach ievem en t s tau s  of 
negroes is genera lly  sev e ra l d eg rees low er a the 
sam e grade.

It the re fo re  re su lts  th a t desegregation  will m ean  
th a t the  ach ievem en t level of n'egro and  w hite s tu ­
dents in  the  sam e  g rad e  w ill be uneven  and  th a t both  
will suffer b ecause  th e re  is no av e rag e  instruction . If 
the level of teach in g  is low ered  to the  ach iev em en t 
level of N egroes, the  w hite s tu d en ts  w ill be u n in te r­
ested and  fail to m ak e  p ro g ress , and  if the  in struc tion  
m eets  the level of w hite ch ild ren , it w ill not be u n d er­
stood by the  N egroes and th e ir  in s tru c tio n  w ill th e re ­
fore suffer.



34

12.

The a lte rn a tiv e  of p lac ing  negro and  w hite scho las­
tics  a t  the  p ro p er ach ievem en t level as  to g rad e  w ill 
re su lt in negro  ch ild ren  of m ore  ad v an ced  y e a rs  being 
p laced  w ith w hite ch ildren  of younger age, w hich 
b rin g s  on m an y  social p roblem s. The sexual develop­
m e n t of negro  scho lastics  is u su a lly  m o re  advanced  
th a n  th a t of w hite scho lastics  a t  the  sam e  age, and  
th is, added  to the  age d ifferen tia l, c re a te s  an  un­
h ea lth y  p ro b lem  w hich h as  as y e t not been  solved.

13.

The b es t in te re s ts  of both  w hite and  negro  scho las­
tics  req u ire  th a t desegregation  be not accep ted  or pu t 
into effect fofr the p re sen t scholastic  year.

14.

W hite s tu d en ts  a re  not as  a  m a tte r  of rou tine  pol­
icy p e rm itted  to go to the n e a re s t school. A ssignm ent 
to schools is m ad e  upon a b asis  of population and  
ava ilab le  school fac ilities, and  m a y  resu lt in a  child 
going to a school o ther th a n  the  n ea re st.

The P la in tiffs  p ra y  for an  in junction  req u irin g  th a t 
negro  stu d en ts  be p erm itted  to go to th e  n e a re s t 
school. This, if perm itted , w ould re su lt in a d isc rim i­
nation  ag a in s t w hite students.

15.

The prob lem  is not a sim ple one of m ere ly  d ecree­
ing  th a t all negro  and w hite ch ild ren  w ith in  certa in  
age lim its  and  living w ith in  p resen tly  ex isting  school



35

d istric ts  be d irected  to th e  school w hich now serv es  
the p a r tic u la r  d is tr ic t. Such o rd e r would re su lt in 
overcrow ding of school fac ilitie s  or an  u n balanced  
condition in w hich in ce rta in  schools th e re  w ould be 
very  few  studen ts, and  the  te a c h e r  personnel w ould 
be inadequate  or overm anned  in c e r ta in  p laces. The 
D allas D is tric t m a in ta in s  one h und red  tw en ty  (120) 
buildings a t w hich in s tru c tio n  is given, and  th e re  is 
inheren t in the  p rob lem  th a t  m an y  negro  p a ren ts  
would p re fe r  to send th e ir  ch ild ren  to schools w here  
there is no in term ing ling  of the  w hite and  negro  chil­
dren. This su it is b rought for a ll negro ch ild ren  sim i­
la rly  s itu a ted  and  not for the re la tiv e ly  few  d irec tly  
involved as  P la in tiff th rough  th e ir  nex t frien d  or p a r ­
ent, and  m ean s a  com plete  w iping out of the  s ta tis ­
tica l d a ta  w hich has  hereto fore concerned the  a lloca­
tion of n u m b er of s tuden ts  to each  school building.

16.

Confusion, chaos and  com plete  b reakdow n in public 
school education  for both w hite and  negro  scholastics 
would re su lt if the  p resen t sy stem  is not continued  
for the scho lastic  y ea rs  1956-57.

P ra y e r .

W herefore, p rem ises  considered , the  D efendan ts re ­
spectfu lly  p ra y  th a t the te m p o ra ry  in junction  as 
p rayed  for by the  P la in tiffs  be denied and  th a t upon 
final h ea rin g  all p e rm a n en t in junctive  re lie f be denied, 
and fu rth e r th a t no d e c la ra to ry  ju d g m en t of any kind 
or c h a ra c te r  be en tered , and  for such o ther and  fu r­
th e r re lie f to w hich the D efendan ts m ay  show  them -



36

selves en titled , and th a t the costs of th is  proceeding  
be ch a rg ed  to the P la in tiffs .

A. J . THUSS,
(A. J . T huss),

A tto rney  for D efendan ts.
1122 D avis Building,

D allas  2, Texas.

C ertifica te  of V erification.

S ta te  of Texas,
County of D allas, ss.

I, A. J . Thuss, A tto rney  for D efendan ts herein , a fte r  
h av in g  been  f irs t duly sw orn and  accord ing  to  law , 
on m y oath  depose and  say  th a t I h ave  re a d  the  fo re­
going F irs t  A m ended A nsw er subsc ribed  by m e and  
know  the  con ten ts the reo f and  th a t the sam e  is tru e  
of m y  own know ledge, excep t as to m a tte rs  s ta ted  to 
be alleged upon in fo rm ation  or belief, and  as to th a t, 
I verily  believe it to be true.

Subscribed  and  Sw orn to before m e th is th e  .. . day 
of S ep tem ber, A. D. 1956.

N o tary  P ub lic  in and  for D al­
la s  County, Texas.



37

A copy of th is  am ended  answ er h a s  been p laced  in 
the U nited  S ta tes  m ail, postage paid , p roperly  ad ­
dressed  to

M r. W. J . D u rh am  
A tto rney  a t  L aw  

2600 F lo ra  S tree t 
D allas, Texas.

D E FE N D A N T ’S MOTION FO R  ADMISSION OF
FACT.

F iled  Sept. 11, 1956.

(T itle  O m itted .)

The defendants, E dw in L. R ippy, R obert L. D illard , 
F ran k lin  Spafford , M rs. T racy  R utherfo rd , V an M. 
Lam m , M rs. V ernon D. In g ram , Rouse Howell, R ob­
ert B. G ilm ore, W. A. B lair, T rustees of the  D allas  
Independent School D istric t, the  D allas  Independen t 
School D istric t, an  educa tiona l fac ility  o rgan ized  u n ­
der the law s of the  S ta te  of Texas, R ich ard  E . Stroud, 
W. T. W hite, E lla  P a rk e r , W illiam  S tanley , J . H. 
G urley, H ow ard  Allen and  W. A. H am ilton , req u est 
the p la in tiffs, A lbert Bell, a m inor, by his s tep -fa ther 
and nex t friend , Theodore D. D orsey, S an d ra  L y n e tta  
Berkiris, a m inor, by her m o ther and  n ex t friend , 
(M rs.) C harles Berkins, a  fem m e sole, H ilda R uth  
B orders, a m inor, by h e r  fa th e r  and  n ex t friend , 
Louie B orders, J r ., S an d ra  C raig  and  P a m e la  Boson, 
m inors, by th e ir  fa th e r  and  n ex t friend , L aw rence 
C, Boson, C harles Brow n, a m inor, by his fa th e r  and



38

n ex t friend , W alter B row n, J r ., W illiam  C. B urton, 
J r . ,  a m inor, by h is fa th e r  and  nex t friend , W illiam
C. B urton , Sh irley  A nn Bush, a m inor, by  h e r  fa th e r  
and  n ex t friend , F ra n k ie  L. Buse, R ay fo rd  Cooks, a  
m inor, by h is fa th e r  and  n ex t friend , R o b ert Cooks, 
B illie M arie Cox, a m inor, by h e r s tep -fa ther and 
n ex t friend, Veil Snowden, H elen  J e a n  G ipson, a  
m inor, by  h e r  m o th e r and  n ex t friend , L uenda G ip­
son, a  fem m e sole, C harlene G oldstein, a  m inor, by 
h e r  m other and  n ex t friend , W illie M ae Goldstein', a  
fem m e sole, O scar W illie H aw kins, a m inor, by his 
fa th e r  and  nex t friend , O scar H aw kins, Carol, Cheyel 
and  R onald  H urdle, m inors, by th e ir  fa th e r  and  n ex t 
friend , E lm e r  D. H urdle, Ollie P e a r l  Ivy, a  m inor, 
by h e r m other and  n ex t friend , Iren e  Ivy, a  fem m e 
sole, John' A rv ie  Lew is, a  m inor, by his s tep -fa th e r 
and  n ex t friend , G eorge F ie lds, M ilton M cD aniel, a 
m inor, by h is fa th e r  and  n ex t friend, W illiam  M c­
D aniel, D iann  M urphy, a m inor, by her g ran d m o th e r 
and  n ex t friend , (M rs.) S. L. Neely, a  fem m e sole, 
L. L aw rence  Nelson, II, a m inor, by  his fa th e r  and  
nex t friend , Clyde D. Nelson, Alonzo D. N ickerson, 
J r .,  a  m inor, by his fa th e r  and  n ex t friend, Alonzo
D. N ickerson, Sr., R osa Sharon and  M aude Lois Sim s, 
m inors, by th e ir  fa th e r  and n ex t friend , (R ev.) P au l 
A. Sim s, M ary  Ann S lider, a  m inor, by  h e r  fa th e r  
and  n ex t friend , L. G. S lider, D au rity  G. Sm ith, a 
m inor, by his fa th e r and n ex t friend , Leo M. Sm ith, 
Ju lia  A nn V ickers, a m inor, by h e r fa th e r  and  nex t 
friend , S earcy  E. V ickers, and  Joe  A rth u r W illiam s, 
a m inor, by his fa th e r  and  n ex t friend , H e rb e rt Wil­
liam s, w ith in  eleven (11) days a fte r  serv ice  of th is re ­
quest to m ak e  the following adm issions for the p u r­
pose of th is action  only and  su b jec t to all pertinen t



objections to adm issib ility  w hich m ay  be in terposed  
a t the  tr ia l:

1 .

T hat the P la in tiffs , ac tin g  ind iv idually  or as  a  group 
before the filing of th is  action  did not appea l to the  
State C om m issioner of E duca tion  of the  S ta te  of T ex­
as from, the  decision' of the  T ru stees  of the  D allas  In ­
dependent School D is tric t refusing  to deseg reg a te  any  
school w ith in  sa id  d is tric t.

2.

T hat a ll of the P la in tiffs , ind iv idually  or as  a  group, 
have not as of the  da te  hereof, to-wit, the  10th. day  of 
Septem ber, 1956, app ea led  to the S ta te  C om m issioner 
of E ducation  from  any  decision, finding or o rd e r of 
the T ru stees  of the  D allas Independen t School D is­
tr ic t refusing  to d eseg reg a te  a ll schools w ith in  the 
ju risd ic tion  of the D allas Independen t School D istric t.

3.

T hat no appeal, petition  or rem o n s tra n c e  h a s  been  
filed w ith the S ta te  C om m issioner of E du ca tio n  of the  
S ta te  of T exas b ecause  of the fa ilu re  of the  T ru stees  
of the D allas  Independent School D istric t to rev ise  
its ru les , w hich now req u ire  the  a tten d an c e  of N egro 
children of scholastic age  a t c e rta in  seg reg a ted  schools 
and the  m a in ten an ce  of s e p a ra te  schools for w hite 
scho lastics and  Negro scholastics.



40

4.

T h a t no appeal, petition  or re m o n s tra n c e  h as  been  
filed  w ith  the  S ta te  B oard  of E d u ca tio n  of th e  S ta te  of 
T exas b ecause  of the fa ilu re  of the  T ru s tee s  of the 
D allas  Independen t School D is tr ic t to rev ise  its  ru les , 
w hich  now req u ire  the  a tten d an c e  of N egro ch ild ren  
of scho lastic  age a t c e r ta in  seg reg a ted  schools and  
the  m a in ten a n ce  of s e p a ra te  schools fo r w hite  schol­
as tic s  and  N egro scho lastics.

A. J . THUSS,
(A. J . T huss),

A tto rney  for D efendants.
1122 D avis Bldg.,

D allas  2, T exas.

I h e reb y  certify  th a t I did on' th is  the  11 d ay  of 
S ep tem ber, 1956, p lace  a copy of th is m otion in the 
U nited  S ta te s  m ail, postage paid , ad d re ssed  to Mr. 
U. S im pson T ate , 2600 F lo ra  St., D allas, T exas, A t­
to rn ey  of R eco rd  for the  P la in tiffs .

A. J . THUSS,
(A. J . T huss).

P L A IN T IF F S ’ R E P L Y  TO R EQ U EST FO R  ADM IS­
SION O F FACTS.

F iled  Sept. 18, 1956.

(T itle O m itted .)

Com e now  the  D efendan ts and  each  of them  and  in 
an sw er to the  P la in tiffs ’ req u es t for adm issions, here-



41

tofore on the  19th day  of S ep tem ber, 1956, se rv ed  in 
the above s ta te d  m a tte r , say:

1

In' an sw er to R eq u est No. 1 the  D efendan ts  s ta te  
th a t the  pow ers and  duties of the  B oard  of T ru stee s  
a re  se t fo rth  in th e  S ta tu te s  of the  S ta te  of Texas, 
Title 49, and the re q u e s t does not involve an  ad m is­
sion of fac t, bu t one of law . The D efendan ts  a re  not 
requ ired  nor p erm itted  to m ak e  adm issions of law.

2 .

The tru th  of s ta te m e n t No. 2 in the  req u es t for a d ­
m issions is adm itted .

3.

The tru th  of s ta tem en t No. 3 in the  req u es t for ad ­
m issions is adm itted .

4.

The tru th  of s ta te m e n t No. 4 in' the req u es t for ad ­
m issions is adm itted .

5.

The tru th  of s ta te m e n t No. 5 in the req u est for ad ­
m issions is adm itted .

6.

In response  to the  req u es t to ad m it s ta te m e n t No. 
6, the  tru th  of the  s ta tem en t is denied as the  B oard



42

of T ru stee s  h a s  n ev er ta k en  th e  position  of e ith e r 
ignoring  or defying the  ru ling  and  au th o rity  of the 
S up rem e C ourt of the  U nited  S ta te s  as ann'ounced in 
th e  case  of B row n vs. School B oard.

The D efendan ts  h av e  been  faced  w ith  the  necessity  
of m ak in g  an  o rderly  change from  a  se g re g a te d  sy s­
te m  w hich h a s  ex isted  for m ore  th a n  th ree  q u a rte rs  
of a cen tury . F o r the  pu rpose  of p ro tec tin g  th e  safe ty  
of a ll scho lastics, N egro  and  w hite, and  to m a in ta in  
a  h igh  o rd e r of educa tion  fo r N egroes and  w hites w ith ­
out d iscrim ination ', th e  tru s tees  have been  fo rced  to 
re ta in  a se g re g a te d  sy stem  for the  p re se n t in  o rder 
to solve the v a rie d  local school p rob lem s and  a t the  
sam e  tim e  im p lem en t th e  constitu tional provisions 
announced by the S up rem e Court.

7.

In  response  to the  re q u e s t to ad m it s ta te m e n t No. 7, 
the  tru th  of th e  s ta te m e n t is denied as  th e  B oard  of 
T ru s tee s  h as  n ev er taken ' the  position of e ither igno r­
ing or defying th e  ru ling  and  au th o rity  of the  S up rem e 
C ourt of th e  U nited S ta tes as announced  in th e  case  
of B row n vs. School B oard.

The D efendants h ave  been  faced  w ith  the  necessity  
of m ak ing  an  o rd erly  change  from  a  seg reg a ted  sy s­
te m  w hich  h as  ex isted  for m ore  th a n  th ree  q u a r te rs  
of a  cen tu ry . F o r th e  pu rpose  of p ro tec tin g  the  sa fe ty  
of a ll scho lastics , N egro and  w hite , and  to m a in ta in  
a  h igh o rd e r of education  for N egroes and  w hites 
w ithou t d iscrim ination , the  tru s te e s  have been  fo rced  
to  re ta in  a seg reg a ted  sy stem  for th e  p re sen t in order 
to solve the v a rie d  local school p rob lem s and  a t  the



43

sam e tim e im plem ent th e  constitu tional provisions 
announced  by th e  S uprem e Court.

8 .

In  resp o n se  to the  re q u e s t to ad m it s ta te m e n t No. 8, 
the tru th  of the  s ta te m e n t is denied  as the  B o ard  of 
T rustees h a s  never taken ' the  posiion of e ith e r igno r­
ing or defying the  ru ling  and  au th o rity  of the  S up rem e 
Court of the  U nited S ta te s  as  announced  in  th e  case  
of Brow n1 vs. School B oard.

The D efendan ts h av e  been faced  w ith  the  necessity  
of m ak in g  an  o rderly  change fro m  a  se g re g a te d  sy s­
tem, w hich h as  ex isted  for m ore th a n  th ree  q u a rte rs  
of a cen tu ry . F o r the  pu rpose  of pro tecting  th e  sa fe ty  
of all scho lastics, N egro an d  w hite, and  to m a in ta in  
a h igh o rd e r of education  for N egroes and  w hites w ith ­
out d iscrim ination , the  tru s te e s  have been  forced, to 
re ta in  a seg reg a ted  sy stem  for the  p re se n t in  o rder 
to solve the  v a rie d  local school p rob lem s and a t the 
sam e tim e  im plem en t the  constitu tional provisions 
announced by th e  S uprem e Court.

9.

In  response  to the  req u est to ad m it s ta te m e n t No. 
9, the tru th  of the  s ta te m e n t is denied as the B oard  
of T ru s tee s  has  n ev er ta k en  the position of e ith er 
ignoring or defying the  ru ling  and  au th o rity  of the 
S uprem e Court of th e  U nited S ta tes  as announced  in 
the case  of Brow n vs. School B oard.

The D efendan ts  have been faced  w ith the necessity  
of m ak ing  an  o rderly  change  from  a seg reg a ted  sys-



44

tern  w hich  h a s  ex isted  for m o re  th a n  th re e  q u a r te rs  
of a cen tu ry . F o r the  pu rpose  of p ro tec ting  th e  safe ty  
of a ll scho lastics , N egro and  w hite , and  to m a in ta in  
a  h igh  o rd e r of eduation  for N egroes and  w hites  w ith ­
out d iscrim ination , the tru s te e s  h ave  been  fo rced  to 
re ta in  a  seg reg a ted  sy stem  for th e  p re se n t in  o rd e r  
to solve the  v a rie d  local school p rob lem s and  a t  the 
sam e  tim e  im p lem en t the  constitu tional p rov isions 
announced  by the S up rem e Court.

10.

In  response  to the re q u e s t to ad m it s ta tem en t No.
10, he tru h  of he s ta tem en t is den ied  as the  B oard  
of T ru stees  h as  n ev er ta k e n  the  position of e ith e r  ig ­
no ring  or defying the  ru ling  and  au th o rity  of th e  
S up rem e C ourt of th e  U nited  S ta tes  as announced  in 
the  case  of B row n vs. School B oard.

The D efendan ts h ave  been faced  w ith  th e  necessity  
of m ak in g  an  o rd e rly  change fro m  a  seg reg a ted  sy s­
te m  w hich  h a s  ex isted  for m o re  th a n  th re e  q u a rte rs  
of a cen tu ry . F o r th e  pu rpose  of p ro tec ting  th e  sa fe ty  
of all scho lastics, N egro and w hites w ithout d isc rim i­
nation , the  tru s te e s  have  b een  fo rced  to r e ta in  a  
se g re g a te d  sy s te m  for th e  p resen t in o rd e r to solve 
the  v a rie d  local school p rob lem s and  a t  the s a m e  
tim e  im p lem en t the  constitu tional provisions an ­
nounced by the  S uprem e Court.

11.

In  response  to the  re q u e s t to ad m it s ta te m e n t No.
11, th e  tru th  of th e  s ta te m e n t is denied as  the B oard  
of T rustees h as  never ta k e n  the position of e ither



45

ignoring or defying the  ru ling  and  au th o rity  of the 
Suprem e C ourt of th e  U nited  S ta tes  as announced in 
the case  of Brown' vs. School Board.

The D efendan ts  h av e  been  faced  w ith  the  necessity  
of m ak ing  an  o rderly  ch an g e  fro m  a  seg reg a ted  sys­
tem  w hich h as  ex isted  for m ore  than, th ree  q u a r te rs  
of a cen tury . F o r  th e  p u rpose  of p ro tec tin g  th e  safe ty  
of all scho lastics, N egro and  w hites w ithou t d isc rim i­
nation, th e  tru s te e s  h av e  b een  fo rced  to re ta in  a  seg ­
regated  sy stem  for the  p re se n t in o rd e r  to solve the 
varied  local school p ro b lem s and  a t the  sam e  tim e  
im p lem en t the  constitu tional prov isions announced by 
the S up rem e Court.

12.

In response  to th e  re q u e s t to ad m it s ta te m e n t No. 
12, the  tru th  of th e  s ta te m e n t is denied  as  the  B oard  
of T ru stees  h a s  never ta k en  the position  of e ith e r 
ignoring or defying the  ru ling  and  au th o rity  of the 
S uprem e C ourt of the U nited S ta tes  as announced  in 
the case  of Brown' vs. School Board.

The D efendants have  been faced  w ith th e  necessity  
of m ak ing  an  o rd erly  change from  a  seg reg a ted  sy s­
tem  w hich h as  ex isted  for m ore  th a n  th ree  q u a rte rs  
of a cen tu ry . F o r th e  pu rpose  of p ro tec ting  the  sa fe ty  
of all sch o lastics , N egro  and w hite, and  to m a in ta in  
a high o rd e r  of education  for N egroes and  w hites 
w ithout d iscrim ination , the  tru s te e s  h av e  been  forced  
to re ta in  a  seg reg a ted  sy stem  for the  p resen t in o rder 
to solve the  v a rie d  local school p rob lem s and  a t the 
sam e tim e  im p lem en t the  constitu tional provisions 
announced by the  S uprem e Court.



46

13.

The tru th  of s ta te m e n t No. 13 in the  re q u e s t for 
ad m issions is adm ited .

14.

The tru th  of s ta te m e n t No. 14 in the  re q u e s t fo r a d ­
m issions is adm itted .

A. J . THUSS,
(A. J . T huss),

A tto rney  fo r D efendan ts.
1122 D avis B ldg.,

D allas  2, Texas.

A ffidavit.

S ta te  of T exas,
County of D allas.

Before Me, the  unders ig n ed  au th o rity , on th is  day  
p erso n a lly  ap p ea red  A. J . Thuss, who, be in g  duly 
sw o rn  by m e, sa id  th a t he h as  read, the  foregoing  
rep ly  to re q u e s t for adm ission  of fac ts ; th a t the con­
te n ts  of sam e  a re  know n to h im  and  th a t th ey  a re  
tru e  of h is own know ledge.

A. J . THUSS,
(A. J . T huss).

S ubscribed  and  Sw orn to before m e, th is  25 day  of 
S ep tem ber, A. D. 1956.

NORA R E V E L L E ,
N o tary  Public , D allas  County, 

T exas.
(Seal)



47

P L A IN T IF F S ’ R E Q U E ST  FO R  ADM ISSION OF
FACTS.

F iled  Sept. 18, 1956.

(T itle O m itted .)

The p la in tiff A lbert Bell, and  the  tw en ty -th ree  (23) 
o ther p la in tiffs  n am ed  in the orig inal co m p la in t filed  
herein , re q u e s t the  defendan t D r. E dw in  L. R ippy, 
and the s ix teen  (16) o ther defendan ts n am ed  in  the  
orig inal com pla in t filed here in , to m ak e  the  following 
adm issions for the  p u rposes of th is  ac tion  only and  
su b jec t to all p e rtin en t objections to adm issib ility  
w hich m a y  be in terposed  a t tr ia l, w ith in  ten  days 
a fte r serv ice of th is  req u es t upon them :

I.

T hat the  B oard  of T rustees of the  D allas Indepen ­
dent School D is tr ic t is a body corporate , m ad e  so by 
T exas law ; th a t the  sa id  B oard  of T ru stees  is vested  
w ith pow er and  au th o rity  to m a n ag e  and  con tro l the  
public schools un d er its  supervision and  control; th a t 
the sa id  B oard  of T ru stee s  h as  pow er and  a u th o rity  to 
adopt ru les  and  regu la tions, and  by-law s, including 
the adm ission  of s tuden ts  to the  public schools un d er 
th e ir con tro l and  to e ffec tu a te  policies of the  said  
Board.

II.

T hat D r. E dw in  L. R ippy is a  citizen of the United 
S tates and of th e  S ta te  of T exas, dom iciled a t D al­
las, T exas; th a t he is th e  duly elected , qualified  and



48

ac tin g  P re s id e n t of th e  B oard  of T ru s tee s  of th e  D allas  
Independen t School D istric t.

III.

T h a t W. A. B la ir, R o b ert L. D illa rd , J r . ,  R o b ert B. 
G ilm ore, Rouse Howell, (M rs.) V ernon D . In 'g ram , 
V ance M. L am m , (M rs.) T racy  H. R u th e rfo rd  and  
F ra n k lin  E . Spafford  a re , each  of them , citizens of 
the  U nited S ta tes  and  of th e  S ta te  of T exas, dom i­
ciled a t  D allas, T exas, and  th a t th ey  a r e  th e  duly 
elected , qualified  and  ac tin g  m e m b e rs  of the  B oard  
of T ru s tee s  of the  D allas  In d ep en d en t School D istric t.

IV.

T hat Dr. W. T. W hite is a  citizen of th e  U nited  
S ta te s  and  of the  S ta te  of T exas, dom iciled a t D allas, 
T exas, and  he is th e  duly elected, qualified  and  a c t­
ing S uperin tenden t of th e  P ub lic  Schools w ith in  the  
D allas  Independen t School D istric t.

V.

T h a t on th e  5th day  of S ep tem b er, 1955, H ow ard  A. 
A llen w as p rin c ip a l of th e  W. H. A dam son  H igh 
School, th a t R. E . S troud  w as p rin c ip a l of th e  T hom as 
J . R usk  Ju n io r H igh School, th a t E lla  E . P a rk e r  w as 
p rin c ip a l of the  John  H enry  B row n E le m e n ta ry  School 
th a t J . H. G urley  w as p rin c ip a l of th e  M aple L aw n 
E le m e n ta ry  School, th a t W. A. H am ilton  w as p rin ­
c ipa l of the  M irabeau  B. L a m a r  E le m e n ta ry  School, 
th a t  W illiam  H. S tan ley  w as p rin c ip a l of th e  T hom as 
A. E d ison  E le m e n ta ry  School, in the  D allas  Indepen­
dent School D is tric t; th a t  th ey  are , each  of them ,



49

citizens of th e  U nited  S ta tes  and  of th e  S ta te  of Texas, 
dom iciled a  D allas, Texas.

VI.

T hat on the 5th day  of S ep tem ber, 1955, the  p la in ­
tiffs C harles  Brow n, R ay fo rd  Cooks, W illiam  C. B u r­
ton, J r . ,  Alonzo D. N ickerson , Jr., S an d ra  C raig  and  
P a m e la  Boson and  L. L aw ren ce  N elson, II, m ad e  
app lication  to th e  M aple L aw n E le m e n ta ry  School 
and th a t they  w ere  denied adm ission  by  its  p rin c i­
pal b ecau se  of th e ir  ra c e  and  color.

VII.

T h a t on the  5th day  of Sep tem ber, 1955, th e  p la in ­
tiffs M ary  Ann Slider, D iann M urphy, H elen  Je a n  
Gipson, Jo h n  A rvis Lew is, A lbert Bell, H ilda R u th  
B orders, C harlene G oldstein  and  Ju lia  A nn V ickers, 
m ade app lica tio n  to th e  W. H. A dam son H igh School 
and w ere  denied adm ission  by  its p rin c ip a l b ecau se  
of th e ir  ra c e  and color.

VIII.

T hat on the  5t,h day  of S ep tem ber, 1955, the p la in ­
tiffs Joe  A rth u r W illiam s, Rose Sharon  and  M aude 
Lois S im s, D au rity  G. Sm ith, S an d ra  L y n e tta  B er- 
kins, C arol, Cheyel and  R onald  H urd le  and  Billie 
M arie Cox, m ad e  app lica tion  to the  John  H enry  
Brow n E le m e n ta ry  School and  we’re  re fu sed  ad m is­
sion by its  p rin c ip a l b ecau se  of the ir ra c e  and  color.



50

IX.

T h a t on the  5th day  of S ep tem b er, 1955, the  p la in ­
tiffs  Ollie P e a r l  Ivy  and  O scar W illie H aw kins m ad e  
ap p lica tio n  to th e  T hom as A. E d ison  E le m e n ta ry  
School and  w ere  denied adm ission  by its  p rin c ip a l 
b ecau se  of the ir ra c e  and  color.

X.

T h a t on the  5th day  of S ep tem ber, 1955, th e  p la in ­
tiff M ilton M cD aniel m ad e  ap p lica tion  to the  M ira- 
b eau  B. L a m a r  E le m e n ta ry  School and  w as denied  
adm ission  by its  p rin c ip a l b ecause  of h is ra c e  and  
color.

XI.

T hat ori the  5th d ay  of S ep tem ber, 1955, th e  p la in tiff 
Sh irley  A nn B ush m ad e  app lica tion  to the  T hom as 
J . R usk  Ju n io r H igh School and  w as denied  a d m is­
sion by its  p rin c ip a l because of h e r  ra c e  and  color.

XII.

T h a t the B oard  of T ru s tee s  of the  D allas  Indepen­
d en t School D istric t h a s  m ad e  and  adopted  ru les and  
reg u la tio n s  provid ing  for the seg reg a tio n  of th e  ra c e s  
in  the  public schools u n d er th e ir  control, an'd h a s  en­
forced such  ru les and  reg u la tio n s  ag a in s t th e  p la in ­
tiffs n am ed  h e re in  on accoun t of the ir ra c e  and  color 
an d  th a t such ru les  and  reg u la tio n s  a re  still in force 
and  a re  now being enforced  again 'st th e  p la in tiffs  and  
the  m e m b ers  of the  c lass  of p erso n s th a t they re p re ­
sent b ecau se  of th e ir  ra c e  and  color.



51

X III.

T hat the  above n am ed  schools a re  public schools 
in the D allas  In dependen t School D is tric t and  un d er 
the superv ision  and  contro l of the  B oard  of T ru s tee s  
of the D allas  In dependen t School D istric t.

XIV.

T hat the  5th d ay  of S ep tem ber, 1955, w as a re g u la r  
day of reg is tra tio n ' in the  public schools in the  D allas  
Independent School D istric t.

U. SIM PSON TATE,
(U. S im pson T a te ),

One of the  A tto rneys for 
P lain tiffs .

C ertification.

I, U. Som pson Tate, one of the  a tto rn ey s  fo r the 
p la in tiffs here in , do hereby  certify  th a t I p laced  on 
this 18th d ay  of S ep tem ber, 1956, in th e  U nited  S ta tes  
M ail postage paid, a  copy of the  foregoing req u est 
for adm ission  of F a c ts , ad d re ssed  to th e  H onorable 
A. J . Thuss, 1122 D avis Building, D allas, T exas, A t­
to rney  for D efendants.

U. SIM PSON TATE,
(U. S im pson T a te ).

2600 F lo ra  S treet,
D allas, Texas.



52

D E F E N D A N T S ’ R E P L Y  TO R E Q U E ST  FO R  AD­
MISSION O F FACTS,

F iled  Sept. 25, 1956.

(T itle  O m itted .)

S ta te  of Texas,
County of D allas, ss.

The P la in tiffs  h e re in  m ak e  the  following s ta te m e n t 
in response  to th e  re q u e s t of defendan ts  for adm ission  
of fac ts  se rv ed  upon th em  by  defen d an ts  on. the 11th 
day  of S ep tem b er, A. D. 1956:

I.

They deny the  tru th  of the  m a tte rs  se t fo rth  in 
P a ra g ra p h s  1, 2, 3 and  4, of the  a fo resa id  request.

II.

P la in tiffs  w ill show  the Court th a t before th e  filing 
of th is  cause, th e ir  duly au thorized  re p re se n ta tiv e s  
filed a pe tition  w ith  the  B oard  of T rustees of th e  D al­
la s  In dependen t School D is tric t specifically  req u es t­
ing th em  to d eseg reg a te  the  public schools u n d er th e ir  
superv ision  and  control; th a t the  B oard  of T rustees 
of the D allas  Independent School D is tric t uncondition­
ally  denied  p la in tiffs ’ req u es t; th a t th e re a f te r , on the 
21st day  of June , 1955, th e ir  duly au thorized  re p re ­
sen ta tiv es  filed a  petition' w ith  the C om m issioner of 
E d u ca tio n  and  the  S ta te  B oard  of E d u ca tio n  of T exas, 
w hich  petition  specifically  petitioned  the  C om m ission­
er of E duca tion  and  M em bers of the B oard  of E d u c a ­
tion of the  S ta te  of T exas:



53

“ 1. T hat you adv ise  the school d is tr ic ts  u n d er your 
ju risd iction :

“ (a) of th e  n a tu re  and effect of the responsib ility  
th a t is p laced  upon th em  by  the  decrees of th e  Su­
p rem e C ourt of the  U nited  S ta tes;

“ (b) of the  n a tu re  and  effect of the  responsib ility  
th a t is p laced  upon' you, as o fficers of th e  S ta te , by 
the d ec re es  of th e  S up rem e Court of the  U nited  S ta tes;

“ (c) of th e  fo rce  and  effect of the  d ecrees of the 
Suprem e C ourt of the  U nited  S ta tes  upon th e  S ta te  
and L ocal law s w ith  re sp ec t to ra c ia l  seg reg a tio n  in 
the field  of public education.

“ 2. T hat you adv ise  the school d is tr ic ts  u n d er your 
ju risd ic tio n  th a t the  d ec rees  of the  S up rem e C ourt of 
the U nited  S ta tes  of M ay 17, 1954 and  M ay 31, 1955, 
place upon th e m  an  a ff irm a tiv e  duty  and  resp o n sib il­
ity to a c t p rom ptly  and  in ‘good fa ith ’ to m ak e  and 
effectuate  p lans for the  im p lem en ta tio n  of th ese  de­
crees.

“ 3. T h a t th is  H onorable B oard  p ro m u lg a te  and  is­
sue a  c le a r  and  concise s ta te m e n t of policy w ith  r e ­
spect to its  du ty  and  responsib ility  in  th e  p rem ises; 
th a t th a t policy be consisen t w ith  the constitu tional 
p rincip les se t forth  in the  C ourt’s decrees.

“ 4. T hat th is  B oard  com m and  and  use all of its 
pow ers, au th o rity  and  p re ro g a tiv es  to p re ss  fo r p ro m p t 
and effic ien t com pliance w ith  the  C ourt’s decrees; 
and th a t a ll of those pow ers, au th o rities  and  p re ro g a ­
tives be com m anded  and  used  to p reven t any  willful,



54

o r ca lcu la ted  action  by school d is tr ic ts  u n d er your 
ju risd ic tio n  to avoid, im pede  or c irc u m v en t the fu ll 
rea liza tio n  of th e  sp ir it an d  p u rpose  of th e  C o u rt’s 
d e c re e s .”

III.

P la in tiffs  w ill show the C ourt th a t before the filing 
of th is  cau se  th a t th e ir  duly  au tho rized  re p re s e n ta ­
tives personally  ap p e a re d  before the  C om m issioner of 
E d u ca tio n  and  th e  S ta te  B oard  of E d u ca tio n  of T exas 
on the 4th day  of Ju ly , 1955, and  m ad e  an  o ra l ap ­
p ea l to them , and  each  of them , a t w hich tim e  th e  
action  of th e  B oard  of T ru stees  of the  D allas  In d e­
p enden t School D is tric t w as specifica lly  ca lled  to the  
a tten tio n  of the  C om m issioner of E duca tion  and  the  
B oard  of E d u ca tio n  of the  S ta te  of T exas and  re lie f 
th e re fro m  w as p rayed .

IV.

P la in tiffs  w ill fu r th e r  show  th e  C ourt th a t th e  S ta te  
B oard  of E ducation  of T exas, then  and  there , ori the 
4th day  of Ju ly , 1955, adop ted  a  reso lu tion  in w hich 
the  policies of the  B oard  w ere  p la in ly  and  succinc tly  
dec la red . The reso lu tion  read s in p a rt:

” 3. N either the S ta te  B oard  of E duca tion , nor the  
C om m issioner of E ducation , nor th e  s ta ff  of the  S ta te  
D e p a rtm e n t of E duca tion  sha ll su g g est or d irec t the 
action  w hich county  and  local school officials should 
take . In stead , any  consu ltan t a s s is tan ce  re n d e re d  shall 
be to w ard  im p lem en ting  locally  o rig inated  p la n s .”

U. SIM PSO N  TATE,
(U. S im pson T a te ),

One of the  A tto rneys for 
P lain tiffs .



55

A ffidavit.

B efore Me, the  u n d ers ig n ed  au tho rity , on th is day  
personally  ap p e a re d  U. S im pson T ate, who, being 
duly sw orn  by m e, sa id  th a t he h as  re a d  the  foregoing 
rep ly  to re q u e s t for ad m issio n  of F a c ts ; th a t the  con­
ten ts  of sam e  a re  known' to him. and  th a t they  a re  
tru e  of h is own know ledge.

U. SIM PSON TATE,
(U. S im pson T ate).

Sw orn to and  S ubscribed  before m e, th is 18th day  
of S ep tem ber, 1956.

(S.) M. E. WALTON,
(Seal) N o tary  P ub lic  in and  for D al­

la s  County, T exas.

In  the  D istric t C ourt of th e  U nited S ta tes  for the  
N o rth ern  D is tric t of T exas, D allas  Division.

A lbert Bell, a m inor, by his S tep -fa th er and  N ex t 
F rien d , T heodore D. D orsey, and  23 o ther P la in ­
tiffs,

vs. Civil No. 6165.
Dr. E dw in  L, R ippy, as P res id en t of the  B oard  of 

T ru s tee s  of the  D allas  Independen t School D is­
tr ic t, D allas  County, Texas, and  16 o ther D efend­
ants.

Be I t R em em b ere d  th a t on the  19th day  of D ecem ­
ber, 1956, before the  H onorable W illiam  H. Atwell, 
U nited S ta tes  D is tric t Judge , the  following proceed-



56

ings w ere  h ad  in the  above sty led  and  n u m b ered  
cause:

A ppearances:
M r. W. J . D urham , M r. C. B. B unkley, J r ., M r. 

Louis B edford, Mr. U. S im pson T ate, D allas, 
T exas, A ppearing  for P la in tiffs

M r. A. J . Thuss, J r . ,  D allas, T exas, A ppearing  for 
D efendan ts.

P roceed ings.

The Court:
All righ t. A ny o ther fo rm a l o rd ers , gen tlem en? If 

not, you w ill ca ll the m a tte r s  set fo r today.

The C lerk:
6165, A lb ert Bell, a  m inor, by his S tep -fa th e r and  

N ex t F rien d , Theodore D. D orsey, and  23 o ther P la in ­
tiffs  ag a in s t D r. E dw in  L. R ippy, as  P re s id e n t of the  
B o ard  of T ru s tee s  of the D allas  Independent School 
D is tric t, D allas  County, T exas, and  16 o th e r D efend­
an ts . U. S im pson T ate  for th e  P la in tiffs , A. J . Thuss, 
J r .  fo r th e  D efendants.

The Court:
W hat is th a t num b er?

The C lerk:
6165.

The Court:
Yes. 6165. W hat say s  the  P la in tiffs?



57

Mr. D urham :
P la in tiff is read y , Y our Honor.

The Court:
W hat say s  th e  D efendan ts?

Mr. Thuss:
D efendan t is read y , Y our Honor.

The Court:
Do you h av e  som e w itnesses you w ish sw orn, gen tle ­

m en?

Mr. D urham :
We do, Y our Honor.

The Court:
All righ t. C all them  around  a t th is  tim e.

The M arshal:
Call the ir n am es  out, p lease . As your n am e  is called, 

com e around  and  line up beside the  b a r  and  be sworn.

Mr. B unkley:
P a u l A. Sim s, F ra n k ie  L. Bush, E lm e r D. H urdle, 

L. G. S lider, M rs. Leo Sm ith, Louie B orders, M rs. 
S. L. N eeley, M rs. Ollie P e a r l  Ivy, Willie M ae Gold­
stein, M rs. I ra  N elson, T. W. Brow ne, D r. H enderson.

The Court:
W ait a m inu te. A ny w itnesses for the  o ther side? 

Mr. Thuss:
Yes, sir. D r. W. T. W hite. M r. Brow ne has  a lre ad y  

been called . M r. H elton and  M r. H om er F u lle r. I h ad



58

a  buspoena for E dw in  C. W ashington, our H onor, 
and  I u n d e rs ta n d  fro m  M r. T a te  th a t  he  is not here ; 
th a t he is in A rk an sas . I believe th a t is all.

The Court:
Is  M r. R ippy h ere?

M r. Thuss:
Y es, D r. R ippy  is h ere , Your Honor.

The Court:
C all your w itnesses around , gentlem en. L e t’s m ove 

on.

M r. B unkley:
John  A llen, J . H. G urley, M iss P a rk e r , M r. S tan ley , 

and  M r. Stroud.

The C ourt:
All righ t. S w ear the  w itnesses.

The C lerk:
Hold up your rig h t hands.

(W itnesses sw orn.)

The Court:
Now, w hom  w ill you have  in fo r the  P la in tiffs?

M r. D urham :
Y our H onor, m ost of our w itnesses excep t about 

five a re  P la in tiffs .

The Court:
W ell, w e c a n ’t le t them  s ta y  in here . The P la in tiffs  

can' s tay  in, of course.



59

Mr. D urham :
And w e w ill ca ll off those w ho a re  not P la in tiffs .

The Court:
How is th a t?

Mr. D urham :
All of our w itnesses  ex cep t abou t five a re  P la in tiffs , 

and w e w ill ca ll off the  n am es  of th e  w itnesses who 
a re  not P la in tiffs .

The Court:
Well, th ey  know  th a t. A nd who w ill you have  in, 

now, for the  D efendan t?

Mr. Thuss:
Y our Honor, D r. W hite is a  D efendan t and  D r. 

R ippy, and  all of th e  o th e rs  can  go out; they a re  not 
parties .

The Court:
How is th a t?

Mr. Thuss:
Dr. W hite is a  p a r ty  D efendan t and  D r. R ippy. M r.

H elton and  M r. F u lle r  and  M r. B row ne should not
stay  in th e  room.

The Court:
All righ t. L et those  w hom  the  a tto rn ey s  h ave  not

called  ju s t now  step  outside of the Court room  and
hold you rse lves in' re ad in ess  to com e in and  tesify  if 
and w hen the M arshal h as  ca lled  you, and  w hile you 
a re  out there , don’t  ta lk  am ong yourselves abou t w hat 
your te stim o n y  h as  been or w hat it w ill be. If e ith e r



60

of the  a tto rn ey s  w ish  to sp eak  w ith  you, you m a y  do 
th a t, of course; b u t do th a t  only in the  p re sen ce  of 
an  o fficer of the  C ourt. All righ t. S tep  out, now.

The M arshal:
All P la in tiffs  m ay  re m a in  in.

The Court:
Now, you h av e  got too m an y  w itnesses, gen tlem en . 

I am  not going to allow  them, all to be used . Does 
the  P la in tiff  c a re  to m ak e  any  s ta tem en t?

M r. D urham :
Y our Honor, I don’t  w an t to ta k e  up the  tim e  of 

the  Court. I th ink  the C ourt is fa m ilia r  w ith  th e  p le ad ­
ings.

The Court:
D oes the  D efendan t ca re  to m ak e  any  s ta te m e n t?  

M r. Thuss:
No, Y our H onor. The p lead ings h av e  been  on file 

fo r som e tim e, and  I a m  su re  Y our H onor know s 
them .

The Court:
All righ t. C all your f irs t  w itness

M r. B unkley:
R ev eren d  Sim s.



61

PAU L A. SIMS, being f irs t duly sw orn, te stified  on 
his oath  as  follows:

D irec t E x am in a tio n .

By M r. D urham :
Q. S ta te  you r n am e, p lease.
A. R ev eren d  P a u l A. Sim s.
Q. And w here  do you live, R everend  S im s?
A. 2310 South B oulevard , D allas, Texas.
Q. An'd is th a t  in the  C ity lim its  of th e  City of

D allas?
A. T hat is.
Q. A nd do you h av e  any  ch ild ren?
A. I do.
Q. W hat a re  th e ir n am es?
A. R osa Sharon  and  M aude Lois S im s a re school

age, and  tw o younger ones.
Q. And how  old is R osa  Sharon?
A. R osa Sharon  is ten.
Q. W hat g rad e?
A. F o u rth  g rade.
Q- How old is M aude Lois?
A. She is nine, fou rth  g rade .
Q. Now, do you know  w here  Jo h n  H enry B row n

E le m e n ta ry  School is located?
A. I do.
Q. Now, w ith re fe ren ce  to w here  you w ere living

during  the m onth  of S ep tem ber, 1955, how  fa r  is it 
from  Jo h n  H enry  Brow n School fro m  your hom e?

A. T hree  and  a  h a lf  to fou r blocks.
Q. A re your ch ild ren  going to school now?
A. They are .
Q. Did they  go to school in 1955?
A. T hey did.



62

Q. To w h a t school?
A. T hey w en t to C harles  R ice E le m e n ta ry  School.
Q. Now, w ith  re fe ren c e  to w here you w ere  living 

in  ’55, how fa r  is C harles  R ice School fro m  you?
A. About eighteen  blocks ac ro ss  busy  tra ffic .
Q. Now, R everend  S im s, did you a tten d  or go to 

Jo h n  H enry  B row n E le m e n ta ry  School in S ep tem b er 
of 1955 for th e  purpose of en te rin g  your tw o ch ild ren  
in  th e  school?

A. I did.
Q. And w ith  w hom  did you ta lk?
A. I ta lk ed  f irs t  w ith  a  c le rk  in the office and  

th en  w ith  M iss E lla  P a rk e r .
Q. And w ere you p e rm itte d  to en te r your ch ild ren  

in  school?
A. I w as not.
Q. W ere you told w hy you cou ldn’t?
A. I w as. I w as in s is ten t on finding out w hy, and  

th e re fo re  I ta lk ed  w ith  the  p rin c ip a l, M iss P a rk e r . She 
to ld  m e th a t  a ll school p rin c ip a ls  h ad  a  d irec tiv e  
fro m  th e  School B oard  say ing  th a t no negro  ch ild ren  
could go to school w ith  th e  w hites, and  no w hite  p r in ­
c ipa l could allow  negro  studen ts to go to school w ith  
w hites and  vice v ersa .

Q. Did she show you the  d irec tive?
A. She did.
Q. Did you re a d  it?
A. I did.
Q. Now, w ere  you denied  th e  rig h t to en te r your 

children ' in Jo h n  H enry  B row n School b ecau se  they  
w ere  negroes?

A. I ask ed  h e r  if th a t w as the reason , and  she  sa id  
yes.

Q. You a re  a  m e m b er of the  negro  race ?
A. I am .



63

Q. And your ch ild ren  a re  m e m b ers  of the  negro  
race?

A. They a re .

Mr. D urham :
T hat is all.

The Court:
Any cross, gentlem en?

Mr. Thuss:
Yes, Y our H onor.

C ross E xam in a tio n .

By M r. Thuss:
Q. Y our filing of th is  su it w as th rough  the  NAACP, 

w as it not; th ey  se lec ted  th e  a tto rn ey s?
A. O rig inally , yes.

Mr. Thuss:
T hat is all.

The Court:
All righ t. Call your n ex t w itness.

Mr. D urham :
Y our H onor, ju s t one question, if it p lease  the  Court. 

R e-D irec t E xam in a tio n .

By M r. D urham :
Q. Did you au thorize  the  loca l b ran ch  of the 

NAACP to h ire  your law yer?
A. Yes.



64

Q. A nd h av e  you since approved  the  h irin g  of th a t  
law y er?

A. I have,

M r. D urh am :
T h a t is all.

M r. Thuss:
No fu r th e r  cross, Y our Honor.

M r. D urham :
M r. H urdle , p lease .

E L M E R  D. H U R D LE , being  f ir s t  duly sw orn, te s t i­
fied on h is o a th  as  follows:

D irec t E x am in a tio n .

By M r. D urham :
Q. S ta te  your n am e , please.
A. E lm e r  D. H urdle.

The C ourt:
W ait a m inu te. Now, sp eak  out so I can  h e a r  you. 

A. E lm e r  D. H urdle.

The Court:
W ait a  m inu te. Now, w h at is your n am e?

The W itness:
E lm er D .—in itia l D. H urcle.



65

The Court:
Irv ing?

The W itness:
H urdle. H urdle.

Mr. D urh am :
(Spelling) H-u-r-d-l-e, Your Honor. 

The Court:
(Spelling) H-u-r-p-l-e?

Mr. D urham :
(Spelling) H -u-r d-l-e.

The Court:
(Spelling) H-u-r-b-l-e?

The W itness:
(Spelling) Hu-r-d-l-e.

Mr. D urham :
Y our H onor, it is “ d ” , “ d ” .

The Court:
“ D ” ?

Mr. D urh am :
Yes.

The Court:
All righ t. T hank  you.



66

(B y M r. D u rh am ):
Q. W here do you live, M r. H urd le?
A. 2710 P a rk  Row.
Q. Is  th a t in  the  City of D allas?
A. Y es, sir.
Q. Is it in  the  city  lim its  of D allas?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Do you h av e  any  ch ild ren?
A. Y es, sir.
Q. A nd how  m an y  ch ild ren  do you have, Mr.

H urd le?
A. I h av e  th re e  in school age.
Q. A nd did th ey  a ttend  school du rin g  the  y e a r  of

1955?
A. Yes, sir.
Q- And w h at school d id  they  a tten d ?
A. C harles  R ice.
Q. Now, w ith  re fe ren c e  to w here  you lived  in Sep-

te m b e r  of 1955, how  fa r  is the  C harles  R ice School
located  from  you?

A. I t is around  fifteen or tw enty  blocks.
Q. Now, w h a t g rad e  is your o ldest child in?
A. Seventh.
Q. And the  n ex t child?
A. Seventh.
Q. A nd a re  those  tw ins?
A. T hat is righ t.
Q. And did you have  an o th er child  a tten d in g

school?
A. Y es, I did.
Q- And w h at w as th a t ch ild ’s n am e?
A. R onald.
Q. A nd now, did you m ak e  an  effo rt to en ter your

ch ild ren  du ring  the m onth  of S ep tem ber, 1955 in the  
John  H enry  B row n School in th e  C ity  of D allas?



67

A, Y es, sir.
Q, A nd did you ta lk  w ith  anyone?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And w ith  w hom  did you ta lk ?
A. I ta lk ed  w ith  the  p rin c ip a l of the  school th e re  

a t John  H enry  Brown', M iss P a rk e r .
Q. A nd w ere your ch ild ren  p e rm itted  to e n te r  and  

enroll in th a t  school?
A. No.
Q. And did anyone te ll you w hy?
A. W ell, M iss P a rk e r  le t u s re a d  a  s ta te m e n t from  

the School B oard  say ing  th a t  negro  and  w hite chil­
dren w a sn ’t  p e rm itte d  to a tten d  school to g e th e r now.

Q. Then, w ere  your children' re fu sed  en tra n ce  in 
th a t school?

A. No.
Q. I say  w ere  they  re fu sed  en tran ce . W ere they?
A. yes, sir.
Q. W as there  any  o ther negro  citizen th e re  a t th a t 

tim e?
A. Y es, sir.
Q. W ould you n am e  th em ?
A. R ev eren d  P a u l S im s and  M rs. Sm ith , and  M rs. 

Hill. I don’t  know  the  o thers. T here  m a y  h av e  been  
others.

Q. Do you know  M rs. Leo Sm ith?
A. I do now.
Q. Is  sh e  a  m e m b e r of th e  negro  race?
A. Y es, sir.
Q. A re  you a  m e m b er of th e  negro  race?
A. Y es, sir.
Q. Now, did you h e a r  th e  conversa tion  between' the 

p rin c ip a l and  M rs. Leo Sm ith?
A. I don’t  rem e m b e r ju s t  now.



68

Q. T h a t is all. Now, your ch ild ren  w ere  refu sed  
e n tra n c e  b ecau se  th ey  w ere  negro  ch ild ren?

A. Y es, sir.

M r. D urh am :
T h at is all.

The Court:
Any cross?

M r. Thuss:
Yes, Y our Honor.

C ross E x am ination .

By M r. Thuss:
Q. The tak in g  of your ch ild ren  to the B row n School, 

w as th a t p reced ed  by som e d iscussion an d  co n v ersa ­
tion w ith  E dw in  C. W ashington?

A. No, s ir.
Q. You le ft i t  up to the  NAACP to select your a t­

to rn ey s?
A. We ask ed  th em  to.
Q. Well, I say  you left it up to th e m  to se lec t the 

a tto rn ey s?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And you asked  th em  to re p re se n t you in th is 

m a tte r?
A. Yes, sir.

M r. Thuss:
T hat is all.



69

R e-D irec t E xam in a tio n .

By M r. D urham :
Q. Did th e  NAACP ask  you, or did you ask  the 

NAACP, for help?
A. W ell, we w en t to  the  NAACP.
Q. Now, a f te r  you r a tto rn ey  w as h ired , did you 

approve of the h irin g  of th a t  a tto rn ey ?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And th a t is your p re se n t a tto rney?
A. Yes, sir.

Mr. D urham :
T hat is all.

The Court:
All righ t.

Mr. D urham :
Mr. B orders, p lease.

LO U IE B O RD ERS, being f irs t duly sw orn, te s ti­
fied on his oath  as  follows:

D irect E xam ination .

By M r. D urham :
Q. S tate  your nam e, please.
A. Louie B orders, J r .
Q. W here do you live, M r. B orders?

The Court:
Wait, a m inute. L e t’s get his nam e. Speak  out, now, 

so he can  h ea r you.
A. Louie B orders, J r .



70

The Court:
Boyd?

The W itness:
(Spelling) B-o-r-d-e-r-s.

The Court:
W hat is h is n am e?

M r. D urham :
(Spelling) B-o-r-d-e-r-s.

The Court:
(Spelling) B-o-r-d-e-r-s?

M r. D urham :
B orders.

(By M r. D u rh am ):
Q. And do you live in the  city  lim its  of the City 

of D allas?
A. I do.
Q, And w ere you living there  du ring  the m onth  of 

S ep tem ber, 1955?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And a re  you a m em b er of the  negro  race?
A. I am .
Q. Now, did your child  or ch ild ren  a tten d  school 

d u ring  the  school y e a r  of 1955-’56?
A. They did.
Q. What, school did they  attend?
A. M adison H igh School.
Q. Now, w ith  reference to w here you then  lived, 

how  fa r  w as the M adison H igh School from  w here 
you lived?



71

A. F ro m  four and  a  ha lf to five m iles.
Q. Now, did you m a k e  an  effort to en te r and  reg is­

ter your ch ild ren  in A dam son  H igh School?
A. I did.
Q. And w here is th a t school located?
A. In  O ak Cliff.
Q. Now, w ith  reference to w here you then lived, 

how fa r  w as A dam son  H igh School from  w here you 
then lived?

A. A dam son  H igh w as about four and  a  h a lf to 
five blocks from  w here  I lived.

Q. A nd w hat g rad e  w ere your children in?
A. The ten th .
Q„ Now, did you ta lk  to anyone a t A dam son H igh 

School a t the tim e you m ade an effort to en ter your 
children?

A. I did.
Q. And w ith w hom  did you ta lk?
A. W ith the  p rincipal, M r. Allen.
Q. And w ere you p e rm itted  to en ter your ch ildren  

in the A dam son  H igh School?
A. No, I w as not.
Q. W ere you to ld  w hy?
A. I w as.
Q. W hy?
A. He read  off a  s ta te m e n t to us th a t the School 

B oard—had  from  the School B oard—th a t no negroes 
go to school w ith  w hite ch ild ren , no w hite ch ildren  
to go to school w ith negroes.

Q. Then, w ere  you refused  the  privilege and op­
portun ity  of en tering  your children in the A dam son 
High School because  they w ere  negroes?

A. I w as refused.
Q. Do you know M rs. Neeley?
A. I do.



72

Q. Is she a m e m b er of th e  neg ro  race?
A. She is.
Q. Did she h av e  her ch ild ren  th e re  w ith  her?
A. Yes, sir.
Q,. She w as a negro  child?
A. Yes.
Q. W as she refused  the  p riv ilege  of en tering  her 

child because  she w as a  negro?
A. Yes.
Q. Did the  p rin c ip a l ta lk  to you all th e re?
A. Talked to us all together.
Q. Do you rem e m b er any  o ther negro  th a t w as 

p resen t?
A. I do.
Q. W ould you give m e th e ir  nam es?
A. M rs. G oldstein, M r. Slider. T here w ere som e 

m ore  there . I don’t  re c a ll th e ir  nam es.
Q. All righ t. Going to M rs. G oldstein, is she a 

m e m b er of the  negro  race?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Is  her child  a negro  child?
A. She is.
Q. W as she refused  the  p riv ilege and  opportun ity  

of reg is te rin g  her child th e re  because  she w as a negro? 
A. She w as.
Q. Is M r. Slider a m em b er of the negro  race ?
A. He w as.
Q„ H is child  w as a negro?
A. Yes.
Q. W as he re fu sed  th e  p riv ilege of en tering  and  

reg is te ring  h is child  b ecau se  he w as a negro?
A. He w as.
Q. Do a ll of those people live in the  City of D allas 

and  County of D allas?
A. They do.



73

Mr. D urham :
T hat is all.

The Court:
Any cross, gentlem en?

Mr. Thuss:
Yes, Y our H onor, p lease .

Cross E x am in a tio n .

By M r. Thuss:
Q. On th is occasion, who told you, if anyone, to 

take your ch ild ren  fo the  A dam son H igh before you 
took them  th e re  on th a t Sep tem ber 5th?

A. No one to ld  m e.
Q. No one. You rem em b er w hen your deposition 

was ta k en , do you not?
A. I do.
Q. Do you rem em b er th is question being asked of 

you on th a t  occasion:
“Question: Who told you to tak e  them  to the A dam ­

son H igh School?
“ A nsw er: Who told m e to tak e  them ?
“ Q uestion: Yes.
“A nsw er: I called the NAACP a t the  tim e .’’
Q. Do you rem e m b e r m ak ing  th a t sta tem en t?
A. I rem em b er m ak in g  th a t sta tem ent.

Mr. Thuss:
T hat is all.

The Court:
All righ t. Call your nex t w itness.



74

M r. D urham :
T hat is all. M rs. Nelson, please.

MRS. IR A  NELSON, being f irs t duly sw orn, te sti­
fied on her oath  as follows:

D irec t E xam in a tio n .

By M r. D urham :
Q. S ta te  your n am e, p lease .
A. M rs. I r a  Joe  Nelson.
Q. A nd w here do you live, M rs. N elson?
A. 1620 P en n sy lv an ia  Avenue, D allas.
Q. Is  th a t th e  City of D allas?
A. I t  is.
Q. And do you h av e  a child?
A. Yes.
Q. And w hat is th a t ch ild ’s nam e?
A. L a r ry  Nelson.
Q. And how old is th a t  child?
A. L a rry  is eight y ea rs  old.
Q. A nd in S ep tem b er, 1955, w h at g rad e  w as he in? 
A. Septem ber, 1955, he w as second grade.
Q. Did he a ttend  school du ring  the  school y ear, 

1955-’56?
A. H e did.
Q. And w h at school did he finally  a ttend?
A. He w ent to th e  St. P e te r ’s A cadem y.
Q. Now, w ith  refe ren ce  to w here  you live, how  fa r  

is  the St. P e te r ’s A cadem y from  w here you live?
A. A pprox im ately  seven  or eight m iles.
Q. Now, du ring  the m onth  of S ep tem ber of 1955, 

did you m ak e  any  effort to en ter your child in any 
o th e r school in  D allas  County?



75

A. I did,
Q. W hat school?
A. M aple L aw n E le m e n ta ry  School.
Q. Now, w ith  refe ren ce  to w here you th en  lived, 

how fa r  w as it  to M aple L aw n School?
A. M aple L aw n w as app rox im ate ly  six or seven 

blocks.
Q. D id you ta lk  to anyone a t the M aple L aw n 

School w hen  you a ttem p ted  to en ter your child?
A. I did.
Q. To w hom  did you ta lk ?
A. F ir s t  I ta lk ed  w ith  som eone in  the office, and  a 

lady, and  la te r  I ta lk ed  w ith  M r. G urley.
Q. Do you know w h a t position M r. G urley  had?
A. M r. G urley  w as p rincipal.
Q. And in your con v ersa tio n  w ith  h im , w h at did he 

tell you abou t en tering  your child?
A. He to ld  m e he w as so rry  b u t he had been  in ­

struc ted  not to in teg ra te  the  school for th a t  session.
Q. A nd w ere you p e rm itted  to en ter your child in 

the school?
A. No.
Q„ Did he te ll you w hy?
A. Yes.
Q. W hy?
A. B ecau se  he h ad  a le tte r. He sa id  th e  le tte r  w as 

from  the  S uperin tendent of Schools. The le tte r  w as 
not signed; bu t I re a d  the  le tter, and the le tte r  in­
s tru c ted  h im  to—well, th e  le tte r  said, “ Do not accep t 
negro  ch ild ren  in w hite schools, nor the other p rin ­
cipals ta k e  th e  o th e r ch ild ren  in the other schools.”

Q. Now, w ere you refused  an opportunity  a fte r 
then  to en te r your child because  he w as a negro?

A. Yes.
Q. A re you a m em b er of the negro  race ?
A. I am .



76

Q. A nd your child is a  m em ber of the  negro  race?  
A. Yes.

M r. D urham :
T h at is all.

The Court,:
A ny cro ss?

M r. Thuss:
One question, Y our Honor.

C ross E xam in a tio n .

By M r. Thuss:
Q. W here does your child go to school now?
A. He goes to school a t St. A nthony A cadem y.
Q. St. A nthony?
A. Yes.
Q. T hat is a d ifferen t school th a n  the one the  child 

a tten d ed  in  ’55-’56?
A. T hat is co rrec t.

M r. Thuss:
That, is all.

The Court:
C all you r nex t w itness

M r. D urham :
M rs. Leo Sm ith.



77

MRS. LEO  M, SM ITH, being f irs t duly sw orn, testi­
fied on her oath  as follows:

D irec t E xam ination .

By M r. D urh am :
Q. S ta te  your n am e , please.
A. M rs. Leon Sm ith.
Q. And w here  do you live, M rs. Sm ith?
A. 2723 South B oulevard .
Q. A nd is th a t in the city  lim its  of the City of 

D allas?
A. Yes, it  is.
Q. And you a re  a  m em ber of the negro  race?
A. Yes.
Q. Do you h av e  any  ch ild ren?
A. Yes, I h ave  one.
Q. A nd how  m an y  ch ild ren  do you have  of school 

age?
A. One.
Q:. And w hat is th a t ch ild ’s n am e?
A. D au rity  Sm ith.
Q. A nd w hat w as h e r  c lassifica tion  in S ep tem ber 

of 1955?
A. Be w as a boy. H is classifica tion  w as then fourth  

grade.
Q. Did he a ttend  any  school du ring  th e  school y ea r 

of 1955-’56?
A. Yes, he did.
Q. W hat school did he attend?
A. C harles  R ice E lem en tary .
Q. Now, w ith  reference to w here  you w ere living 

in S ep tem b er of 1955, how fa r  is your hom e to C harles 
Rice School?

A. I t  is about a m ile.



78

Q. Now, did you m ak e  a n  e ffo rt to have  h im  en ter 
and  study  in any  o ther school in the City of D allas? 

A. Yes.
Q. W hat school?
A. Jo h n  H enry  Brow n.

Q. And w ith  re fe ren ce  to w here  you w ere  liv ing  in 
S ep tem ber of 1955, how fa r  w as the  Jo h n  H enry  
B row n School fro m  your hom e?

A. A block and  a half.
Q. Now, w hen you ta lk ed  to—did you ta lk  to any ­

one w hen you m ad e  an  effort to en ter your child in 
the  John  H enry  B row n School?

A. Yes, I did, to M iss P a rk e r , the  p rincipal.
Q. M iss P a rk e r?
A. Yes.
Q. A nd w hat did she say  to you, if anything, w ith 

refe ren ce  to your en tering  your child in th a t school?
A. She sa id  a t th a t tim e they  h ad  been in stru c ted  

not to enroll negro  ch ildren  in th a t school.
Q. W as M iss P a rk e r  th e  p rin c ip a l of the school?
A. Yes.
Q. And w ere  you refused  an  opportunity  to enter 

you r son in th a t school b ecau se  he w as a negro?
A. Yes, on th a t  basis , he w as a negro.

M r. D urham :
T h at is all.

M r. Thuss:
J u s t  one question, please.

C ross E xam in a tio n .

By M r. Thuss:
Q„ A fter your child  w as denied  adm ission  to the 

school, you then  w ent to th e  NAACP?



79

A. W ell, I h ad  con tacted  th em  before I c a rr ie d  m y 
child to the  school,

Q. You h ad  con tacted  th em  before, you say?
A, Yes.
Q. A nd they h ad  in s tru c ted  you before to take  your 

child to the B row n School?
A. No.
Q. W hat w as the purpose of con tacting  them  be­

fore?
A. B ecau se  i t  w as in all of the pap ers , th a t a fte r  

the S uprem e C ourt decision, then it w as in all of the 
p apers  th a t the  D allas  School B oard  had  no intention 
of in teg ra tin g  the schools for th a t school y ear.

Q. W ere you adv ised  on th a t occasion that, the 
NAACP would re p re se n t you?

A. W hen I co n tac ted  them ?
Q. Yes.
A. Yes.

Mr. Thuss:
T hat is all.

R e-D irect E xam ination .

By M r. D urham :
Q. J u s t  a m inute. Did you go to the  NAACP your­

self?
A. Yes, I did.
Q. D id you ask  th em  to rep resen t you?
A. I told them  I w ould need help  in view  of the 

fact th a t  the School B oard  h ad  no in ten tion  of in te­
grating.

Q. D id you a sk  them  to go before the  School B oard 
to keep from  hav ing  a suit?

A. Yes.



80

Q. A fte r th e  NAACP h ired  a  law y er, did you ap ­
p rove  of the  h irin g  of h im ?

A. Yes.
Q. A nd is that, th e  sam e law yer th a t  you have  got 

h e re  rep re sen tin g  you now?
A. Yes.

M r. D urh am :
T hat is all.

The C ourt:
I w ould like to  know  w hether I understood  this: 

th e  n e a re s t school to you, did you say, th e  n e a re s t 
negro  school to you w as five m iles aw ay?

The W itness:
No, I d id n ’t  say  th a t, abou t a m ile.

The Court:
A bout a  m ile?

The W itness:
One m ile. I don’t know w hether it w as th e  n e a re s t 

school or not. T hree  o thers also.

The Court:
Three o thers also. So th e re  a re  four schools w ithin 

le ss  th a n  a  m ile?

The W itness:
I w ouldn’t say  it w as less th a n  a m ile.

The Court:
N egro schools?



81

The W itness:
No, I w ouldn’t  say  it w as less th an  a m ile. I w as 

counting John  H enry  B row n as the  fou rth  school.

The Court:
You w ere  w hat?

The W itness:
There is P h illip s  E lem en ta ry , R ice E lem en ta ry , 

and S ta rk s  School on the C entral E xp ressw ay . Now, 
I don’t know  th e ir  ap p ro x im ate  d istances.

The Court:
Well, you a re  now sending your child five m iles 

aw ay?

The W itness:
No, I d idn ’t say  th a t. I d id n ’t  say  th a t he w as five 

m iles aw ay. I sa id  abou t a m ile.

The Court:
About w hat?

The W itness:
A mile.

The Court:
About one m ile aw ay?

The W itness:
Yes.

The Court:
T hat is w here  you a re  sending  h im  now?



82

The W itness:
Yes.

The Court:
W as th e re  any  neg ro  school closer th a n  th a t?

The W itness:
N ot as I know.

The Court:
N ot as you know of. All righ t. I understood  you to 

say  five m iles aw ay. All right,. Call your next w itness.

M r. D u rh am : i
Y our H onor, we would like to ca ll M r. B row ne.

The M arshal:
J u s t  ta k e  the w itness ch a ir  over there .

T. W. BROW NE, being f irs t  duly sw orn, testified  
on h is oath  as follows:

D irec t E x am in a tio n .

By M r. D urham :
Q. W hat a re  your in itia ls , M r. B row ne?
A. T. W.
Q. And you live here in  D allas?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. A re  you officially  connected  w ith  th e  D allas 

Independent School D is tric t?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And w hat is your official connection, Mr 

Brow ne?



83

A. A ss is tan t S uperin tenden t in ch arg e  of business, 
S ecre tary  of the B oard  of E ducation .

Q. A nd as  S ecretary  of the B oard  of E ducation , do 
you h av e  ch a rg e  of th e  reco rds of the  School B oard? 

A. Yes, sir.
Q. I w ill a sk  you if you h av e  a  book n um ber 38?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Will you tu rn  to page 206 in book 38, please, 

Mr. B row ne?
A. All righ t.
Q. I w ill a sk  you if th a t is a p a r t  of the official 

reco rds  of the D allas  Independent School B oard?
A. I t  is.
Q. And I believe your m inu tes th e re  b e a r  a date of 

June 13, 1955?
A. I have Ju ly  13.
Q. I sa id  Ju ly  13—
A. R ight.
Q. —1955.

Mr. D urham :
We would like to offer in evidence as the P la in tiffs ’ 

E xhib it No. 1 the m inu tes of the D allas Independent 
School D is tr ic t u n d e r d a te  of Ju ly  13, 1955 as P la in ­
tiffs’ E x h ib it No. 1.

(The in s tru m e n t re fe rred  to w as here m ark e d  P la in ­
tiffs’ E x h ib it No. 1 for iden tification .)

(By M r. D u rh am ):
Q. Now, M r. Browne, w ill you tu rn  to the  day  of 

Ju ly  27, 1955?

The Court:
Well, if you w an t to offer it in evidence, I have got 

to h e a r  it.



84

M r. D urham :
W ell, I w as ju s t going to offer them . We w ill read 

them .

The Court:
A ll righ t.

M r. D urham :
M r. Bunkley, w ill you re a d  them . I have  been h av ­

ing a  d ifficu lty  w ith  m y g lasses.

(By M r. D u rh a m ):
Q. M r. Brow ne, w ill you p lease read  the  firs t 

p a ra g ra p h .
A. “ On m otion of M r. L am m  and second by—”

The Court:
Speak out, now; read  out so I can  h e a r  you. You 

a re  read ing  fo r m y  benefit, don’t  you see.

A. “ On m otion of M r. L am m  and second by Mr. 
Spafford , the  following w as unan im ously  approved :

“On Ju ly  13, 1955 th is B oard  of E d u ca tio n  m ade a 
S ta te m e n t of Policy  re g a rd in g  the  m a tte r  of D eseg­
regation  of th e  race s  a t it applies to th is School Sys­
tem .

“ It w as reported  th a t  th is  School System  has been, 
is a t p re se n t and w ill be obligated  to continue an  in­
tensive s tudy  of the  p rob lem s involved in. 12 specific 
a reas, and th a t rep o rts  w ould be m ade to the public 
of th e  re su lts  of these stud ies periodically .

“ It will be im p ra c tic a l to  a tte m p t in teg ra tio n  until 
th ese  s tud ies have been com pleted. Therefore, the 
Superin tenden t of Schools is hereby  in s tru c ted  th a t 
there  sha ll be no a lte ra tio n  of th e  p re se n t s ta tu s  of



85

the schools of th is  d is tr ic t in the  te rm  beginning  Sep­
te m b er 1955.”

(By M r. D u rh am ):
Q. Now, M r. B row ne, will you tu rn  to the  m inu tes 

of Ju ly  2.7, 1955?
A. W hat page?
Q. I don’t  have  the page. I w ill ask  you if w hat 

you have ju s t re a d  from  is a portion of the m inutes 
on the  d a te  of Ju ly  27, 1955?

A. I t  is.
Q. Now, M r. B row ne, have you a book n u m b er 39 

contain ing  the school reco rds?
A. Yes, sir.
Q„ The m inu tes of the B oard  of T ru stee s  of the 

D allas Independent School D is tric t?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. W ill you tu rn  to page 12?
A. All righ t.
Q. U nder date of Ju n e  13, 1956.
A. R ight.
Q. Is  th a t a p a r t  of the  p e rm a n en t reco rd s  of the 

D allas Independent School D istric t?
A. I t  is.
Q. And does it co rrec tly  re flec t the action  of the 

Board?
A. I t  does.

Mr. D urham :
Now, m ay  I h av e  it m a rk ed ?  We ask  th a t page 12 

and 13 of book 39 of the M inutes of the B oard of 
E ducation , D allas  Independent School D istric t, be 
m arked as P la in tif fs ’ E x h ib it No. 2.

(The in s tru m en t re fe rre d  to w as h ere  m a rk e d  P la in ­
tiffs’ E x h ib it No. 2 fo r identification.)



86

(By M r. D u rh am ):
Q. M r. B row ne, I w ill a sk  you to begin read ing  

w ith  the  la s t p a ra g ra p h  on page 12 th rough  the  firs t 
p a ra g ra p h  on page 13.

A. “ On m otion of M r. Howell and  second by M rs. 
In g ram , the  follow ing w as unan im ously  approved :

“ The D allas  Independent School D is tr ic t cu rren tly  
h as  a  ca se  in  litiga tion  involving desegregation  of the 
school system . The N egro scho lastic  popula tion  of 
high-school age  h as  inc reased  to the point th a t  s tu ­
den ts can  no longer be con tained  in the L incoln and 
Booker T. W ash ing ton  H igh School build ings.

“ C onsistent w ith th e  B o ard  of E d u c a tio n ’s adopted 
policy, and pending fu r th e r  decrees by  the  Court, and 
due to the decreased  w hite population in the South 
D allas  a re a , I recom m end  th a t  the  F o re s t A venue 
H igh School be designated  a  N egro  h igh  school ef­
fec tive  S ep tem ber 1, 1956; th a t the  Booker T. W ashin- 
ton and  Lincoln H igh School d is tr ic ts  be re a rra n g e d  
so th a t equ itab le  d is trib u tio n  of N egro s tu d en ts  m ay  
be accom plished ; th a t  the F o rest A venue w hite high- 
school d is tr ic t becom e a  p a rt of the N. R. Crozier 
T echnical H igh School d is tric t. Such an  a rra n g e m e n t 
w ill com fo rtab ly  and  ad eq u a te ly  house both  Negro 
and  w hite  ch ild ren  in these  a r e a s .”

Q. Now, w as the  F o rest A venue H igh School, p u r­
su an t to th a t  resolution, designated  as a negro  school?

A. P rio r  to th is  resolution?
Q. Subsequent to it, w as it used as a  negro  school?
A. No, sir.
Q. The F o re s t A venue w as not?
A. No, sir.
Q. Now, w ill you tu rn  to page  77 in  book 39?
A. All righ t.



87

Q, Now, is th a t a co rrec t m inute of th e  ac tion  of 
th e  B o ard  of T rustees of th e  D allas Independent School 
D istric t?

A. Y es, sir.

Mr. D urham :
We ask  th a t the M inutes of the D allas Independen t 

School B o ard  ap p ea rin g  in volum e 39, page 77, and  the  
six p a ra g ra p h s  in th a t M inutes be in troduced  in evi­
dence as P la in tif fs ’ E xh ib it No. 3.

(The in s tru m en t re fe rre d  to w as h ere  m ark ed  P la in ­
tiffs’ E xh ib it No. 3 for identification.)

(By M r. D u rh am ):
Q. And M r. Brow ne, w ould you read  the th ird  p a ra ­

g rap h  of th a t m inute?
A. You w an t m e to read  the com plete s ta tem en t?
Q. J u s t  the th ird  p a ra g ra p h .
A. “ The B oard recognizes its  responsib ility  to im ­

p lem en t the decree of the Suprem e Court, bu t it r e ­
affirm s its  studied opinion th a t it, would be derelic t in 
this re g a rd  if it ordered  an  a lte ra tio n  in the  s ta tu s  
of its schools un til its u n d ers tan d in g  of the p rob lem s 
involved is as  com prehensive as possible and its p lans 
for such  changes a re  com pleted. This B oard  feels th a t 
it canno t and  should not in good conscience accep t 
the responsib ility  for the m an n er w hich the  decree of 
the Suprem e C ourt is to be c a rr ie d  out un til it has 
had  sufficien t tim e  w ithin w hich to fo rm u la te  p lans 
w hich m u st be to the  b es t in te re s ts  of his school d is­
tric t, its  children, and  the  com m unity .”

Q. Now, I w an t to a sk  you one o ther question, M r. 
Browne: the F o re s t A venue School w as given w hat 
nam e a f te r  its  n am e  w as changed?



88

A. Ja m e s  M adison.
Q. Now, a re  any  w hite ch ild ren  assigned  to that 

school?
A. No, sir.
Q. Then, a f te r  it w as designated  as a negro  school, 

it h a s  been  used exclusively  fo r negroes?
A. Y es, sir.
Q. A nd w h at b ecam e of the  s tu d en ts  th a t w ere a t­

tend ing  th a t  school a t  the tm ie  th a t  the nam e w as 
changed ?

A. A ccord ing  to th e  m inu tes, they  w ere divided be­
tw een  the v ario u s  o ther H igh School D istric ts .

Q. W ere they w hite ch ild ren  or negro  ch ild ren?
A. W hite.

M r. D urh am :
Now, I a sk  you to m a rk  this.

(The in s tru m en t re fe rre d  to w as here m a rk e d  P la in ­
tiffs ’ E xh ib it No. 4 for iden tification .)

(By M r. D u rh am ):
Q. Now, M r. Brow ne, I w ill a sk  you to exam ine 

w hat is being p resen ted  to you as P la in tif fs ’ E xh ib it 
No. 4 appearing  on page  10 in  book 38.

A. P a g e  10 or 210?
Q. 210. P ag e  210. Do you recognize th a t in s tru ­

m ent, M r. Brow ne?

M r. Thuss:
M r. D urham , I did not h e a r  th e  volum e.

M r. D urham :
I t  is volum e 38, M r. Thuss, a t  page 210.

A. W hich resolution do you h av e  in m ind?



89

(By M r. D u rh am ):
Q. Well, I am  ju s t asking: all of it, do you know 

w hat th is  is; is th a t a m inu te  of the D allas  Indepen­
dent School B oard?

A. Yes.
Q. Now, does it co rrec tly  reflec t the action of the 

B oard?
A. In so far as  I know, it does, yes, sir.
Q. I w ill a sk  you if you w ill re ad  the p a ra g ra p h  

5?
A. “I recom m end  th a t the R ich ard  Lagow  School, 

4401 Second A venue, be reassigned  to Negro elem en­
ta ry  ch ild ren  effective Sep tem ber 1 , 1955, and th a t 
the  S uperin tenden t of Schools be authorized to r e ­
d is tric t South D allas  accord ingly . A new nam e will 
be assigned  th is b u ild ing .”

Q. Now, w as a  new n am e  assigned  th a t building?
A. Yes, sir.
Q, And w h at is th a t nam e?
A. I th ink  it w as Jo sep h  J . R hoads, I am  not sure.
Q. Now, w as th a t designated  exclusively  as a 

negro school?
A. Well, now, the school w as nam ed  th a t. Is th a t  

w hat you m ean ?
Q. No. I m ean  only negro children a re  perm itted  

to go there?
A. T hat is righ t.
Q,. And no w hite ch ildren  a re  p erm itted  to go th e re?
A. No, sir.
Q. Now. I w an t to com e b ack  to P la in tiffs ’ E x h ib it 

No. 3 w hich ap p ea rs  on page 77, book 39, w hich you 
have idenified as a m inu te  of the  D allas Independent 
School D is tric t B oard , and  I w ill ask  you if you will 
re ad  the n ex t to the  la s t  p a rag rap h .



90

A. “ T herefore , for the im m ed ia te  fu tu re  th is B oard  
fee ls  th a t any  change  is p re m a tu re  and  in s tru c ts  the 
S uperin tenden t of Schools to continue a  seg reg a te^  
school sy stem  for th e  school y e a r  1956-57.”

Q. Now, as  f a r  as  you know, as  S ec re ta ry  of the 
B oard, h a s  th e re  been  any  change fro m  th a t policy 
up un til today?

A. No, sir.

M r. D urham :
T hat is all, Y our Honor.

The Court:
Any cro ss?

M r. Thuss:
Yes, Y our H onor please.

C ross E xam in a tio n .

B y M r. Thuss:
Q. W ith reference  to  P la in tiffs ’ E xh ib it No. 3, 

w hich  is a t  page 77, book 39, you w ere asked  to read  
p a r t  of the  action taken  by the  B oard , w ere you not?

A. Y es, sir.
Q. You did not re a d  it  all?
A. No, sir.
Q. Now, I w ish you w ould tu rn  to book 39 a t page 

77 and  read  the  whole of the action ta k en  by the 
B oard, leav ing  out w h a t you h av e  p rev iously  re a d  as 
a  re su lt of the questions on d irec t exam ination .

A. Y es, sir. “ On m otion of M r. D illa rd  and  second 
by  M rs. R utherfo rd , the  follow ing w as unan im ously  
adopted:

“ Second S ta tem en t on D esegregation  by th e  P re s i­
dent of th e  B oard.



91

“ The B o ard  of E duca tion , fully cognizant of the im ­
port of th e  decree of the S uprem e Court of the U nited 
S ta tes of M ay 17, 1954, rea ffirm ed  M ay 31, 1955, th a t 
henceforth  seg reg a tio n  of the ra c e s  in public schools 
is unconstitu tional, on Ju ly  13, 1955, issued an  official 
s ta tem en t to th e  Superintendent, of Schools in s tru c tin g  
him  to in itia te  a s tudy  of the problem s inheren t to this 
m a tte r.

“ The B oard  requested  the Superin tendent to give 
high p rio rity  to a com prehensive study of the p rob­
lem s involved in a lte rin g  the s ta tu s  quo of one-hun­
d red  y ea rs  of the  policy  of educational segregation, 
and specifically  outlined tw elve p e rtin en t a rea s  of 
study w hich  w ere  considered b asic  and essential b e ­
fore an  equ itab le  change could be m ade locally. This 
study h as  p roceeded  to the  sa tisfac tio n  of the Board. 
Six a re a s  of s tudy  have been com pleted and  p resen t­
ed to the  B oard  in four rep o rts ; the  rem ain ing  six 
studies a re  now in p ro g ress . The in fo rm ation  gained 
from  th e se  analyses is ind ispensable  for fu tu re  p lan ­
ning.

“ This B oard  holds as a priv ileged  tru s t  and as a 
p rim a ry  responsib ility  the w elfare  of the  children of 
this com m un ity  and  its  obligation to p rov ide these 
children, re g a rd le s s  of race , creed, or econom ic s ta t­
us, the best educa tiona l fac ilitie s  possible. This B oard, 
likewise, h a s  a  s tro n g  feeling of responsib ility  to the 
p aren ts  of these  children, who are, likewise, the  ta x ­
p ay ers  and  thereby  the  ow ners of th is school system .

“ This B oard, fu rth e r, recognizes its obligation to 
m a in ta in  h igh educa tiona l s ta n d a rd s  in th is system ; 
to u tilize its 134 school bu ild ings to  the b es t advan tage  
for its 119,000 children ; and  to p ro tec t the in terests  of 
its 3800 te ach e rs  and  professional s ta ff of both races.

“ Texas school law s, under w hich th is  Independent



92

School D is tric t operates, p lace  a lm ost com plete re ­
lian ce  on the ju d g m en t of the loca l B oard  of E d u c a ­
tion. This B oard, trad itio n a lly , h as  exerc ised—”

The Court:
P a rd o n  m e for in te rru p tin g  you. How m an y  schools 

did you say?

The W itness:
One hundred  and  th irty -fo u r schools a t the tim e 

th a t th is w as m a d e  up.

The Court:
Yes. All r ig h t

A. “ This B oard , trad itionally , h as  exerc ised  such 
ju d g m en t ca re fu lly  and  cau tiously  fo r th e  m a in te ­
nan ce  of a  solid, stab le , and  efficient business-like op­
e ra tion  in the runn ing  of its  schools. I t seeks to apply  
th is  sam e  princip le  to th is  cu rre n t p rob lem .

“ The B oard  recognizes its  responsib ility  to im p le­
m en t the  d ec ree  of th e  S up rem e C ourt—”

Well, th a t w as read  previously . Is  th a t w h a t you 
w an ted  m e to leave out?

The Court:
All righ t.

(By M r. T huss):
Q. Go to w hat h as  not been  read . H as the  re s t of 

th a t  been read ?
A. I t  w as a t two d ifferen t tim es, M r. Thuss.
Q,. Now, I understood  M r. D u rh am  to a sk  you about 

a m inu te  in the book 38 a t page 187 w hich  w as Ju ly  
13, 1955. A m  I co rrec t in  that,?



93

A, Book 38, p ag e  77.
Q. I thought it w as book 38, 187.
A. 187. All rgh t.
Q. W hich did he ask  you about in book 38?
A. Well, he asked  m e about two or th re e  of them .
Q. As E x h ib it 1?
A. L e t’s  see. He h a sn ’t  m a rk e d  187 as E xh ib it 1 

here.
Q. All righ t. Did you read  it?
A. No, sir.
Q, I w ill then  ask  you to re a d  those p a r ts  of the 

M inutes of book 38, page  187, w hich w ere m a rk e d  but 
not re a d  to the  Court, and  offer it in evidence.

A. The book 38, 187?
Q. Yes.

The Court:
Ju ly  13, ’55 m in u tes  is w hat he is ta lk ing  about, 

he says.
A. Yes, sir.
“ T here is a t p re sen t an  understandab le  indecision 

a t the s ta te  level as to the  proper d irec tives to in­
d iv idual School B oards reg ard in g  the in terp re ta tion  
and th e  im p lem en ta tio n  of the S uprem e C ourt de­
cision.

“ In  o rd er to be p rep a red  for eventualities in th is 
connection, th is  B oard  of E du ca tio n  m onths ago in­
s tru c ted  Dr. W. T. W hite, the Superintendent of 
Schools of th is  D istric t, to proceed w ith  a detailed 
study of the  p rob lem s inherent to desegregating  a m a­
jor school system , and  these stud ies a re  in p rogress 
in the following a reas:

“ 1. S cholastic  boundaries of individual schools w ith 
re la tion  to ra c ia l  g roups contained there in .



94

“2. Age g ra d e  d istribu tion  of pupils.

“ 3. A chievem ent and  s ta te  of p rep a red n e ss  for 
g rad e  level ass ig n m en t of different pupils.

“ 4. R ela tive  in telligence quotien t scores.

“ 5. A dap ta tion  of cu rricu lu m .

“ 6. The overall im p a c t on ind iv idual pupils schol­
as tica lly  w hen all of the  above item s a re  considered.

“ 7. A ppoin tm ent and  ass ignm en t of p rinc ipa ls .

“ 8. The re la tiv e  d eg ree  of p rep a red n ess  of w hite 
and  negro  te ach ers ; the ir selection  and  assignm ent.

“9. Social life of th e  ch ild ren  w ith in  the  school.

“ 10. The prob lem s of in teg ra tio n  of the  P a ren t-  
T eacher A ssociation  and  the D ads Club organization .

“ 11. The o p era tio n  of th e  a th le tic  p ro g ra m  under
an  in teg ra ted  system .

“ 12. F a ir  and  equitab le  m ethods of pu tting  into 
effect the decrees of the S uprem e Court.

“ This is a fine and  p ro g ressiv e  school system . It is 
going to do w h at it is told to do by th e  p ro p er a u th o r­
ities, b u t th is B oard  of E d u ca tio n  is insistent, th a t 
before it d irec ts  any  m a jo r  change in th e  s ta tu s  of its 
schools th a t its  study  and  u n d ers tan d in g  of th e  probl- 
lem s involved sha ll be com plete, and  th a t  its  p lans 
sha ll be w orked out to the m in u tes t de ta il so th a t 
such  a  change  w ill be effected  w ith all possible ef­
ficiency and w ith a m in im u m  of confusion.



95

“ This B o ard  w ill be cord ia lly  receptive to advice 
and suggestion  fro m  any  qualified  ind iv idual or group 
and w ill re p o rt to the  public the p ro g ress  of its  studies 
a t periodic  in te rv a ls . This B oard  w ill seek advice and 
aid  fro m  qualified and  rep resen ta tiv e  ind iv iduals of 
both ra c e s  a t the ap p ro p ria te  tim e.

“ This B oard  of E duca tion  recognizes th a t in the 
final an a ly sis  it is its  responsib ility  to establish  the 
policy under w hich any  change from  the existing order 
shall be m ade. I t  a sk s  the p a tience  of a ll concerned 
in its  deliberations, and  it will be im patien t w ith 
any undue p re s su re  designed to provoke a p re m a ­
tu re  a lte ra tio n  of the p resen t policy under w hich th is  
school sy stem  o p e ra te s .”

The Court:
I would like to ask  a question, gentlem en, if neither 

side ob jects. You s ta ted  a  w hile ago th a t th e re  w ere 
119,000 ch ild ren  in D allas, is th a t  righ t?

The W itness:
Yes, sir.

The Court:
And how m an y  colored ch ild ren  a re  there  in th a t 

n u m b er ?

The W itness:
A bout 17—abou t six teen  and tw o-thirds percent. I t 

would be about, oh—w e can  get th em  d irec tly  off of 
our census figures. I t  ru n s  abou t one to five.

The Court:
A bout w hat?



96

The W itness:
S ixteen and  tw o-th irds p ercen t, abou t one to five, 

som ew here in th a t  neighborhood.

The C ourt:
A nd you h ad  134 schools, you said?

The W itness:
Yes, sir.

The C ourt:
A nd how  m a n y  negro  schools a re  th e re  in th a t  134? 

The W itness:
Judge, I w ill have to get th a t off of the  reco rd s  to 

be su re  abou t it.

The Court:
Well, I would like to have  th a t in form ation , both  as 

to the n u m b e r of negro  ch ild ren  and  the n u m b er of 
negro  schools.

The W itness:
I can  get th a t fo r you.

The Court:
Do you have it?

M r. Thuss:
I h av e  it, Y our Honor.

The Court:
Well—



97

M r. Thuss:
The to ta l n u m b er of schools, 135.

The Court:
W ell, w ait a  m inu te, now. He sa id  134.

Mr. Thuss:
I a m  read in g  w h at is here, Y our Honor. I t says, 

“Total nu m b er of bu ild ings, 134; to ta l nu m b er of 
schools, 35.” We m ig h t be ren ting  a  school.

The Court:
All righ t.

Mr. Thuss:
W hite h igh, 9.

The Court:
How is th a t?

Mr. Thuss:
W hite h igh schools, 9.

The Court:
Yes.

Mr. Thuss:
W hite jun ior high, 10.

The Court:
Yes.

Mr. Thuss:
W hite vocational school, 1.



The Court: 
Yes.

98

M r. Thuss:
W hite e lem en tary , 92

The Court:
Yes.

M r. Thuss:
N egro high, 3.

The Court:
Yes.

M r. Thuss:
N egro  e lem en ta ry , 19.

The Court:
Yes. Show th a t  to the  o ther side, now. Do you 

about a g re e  w ith  those figures?

M r. D urham :
I th in k  th a t is su b s tan tia lly  co rrect, Y our Honor. 

The Court:
Well, th a t is w h a t I w ant.

M r. Thuss:
Do you w an t to see th is?

M r. D urham :
Y our H onor, ju s t befo re  th is  w itness—

The Court:
Call your nex t w itness.



99

M r. D urham :
Y our Honor, before th is w itness leaves, I w an t to 

ask  h im  ju s t one m ore  question.

The Court:
Yes.

R e-D irec t E xam ination .

By M r. D urham :
Q. Now, M r. Brow ne, I belive th e re  is no jun ior 

h igh school for negroes?
A. T here  is one under planning.
Q. I am  ta lk ing  about ex isten t a t th is  tim e.
A. The J a m e s  M adison is a jun ior h igh school, and 

th a t  has been a lw ays se t up as  a portion of our jun ior 
p ro g ram , even under the other—under the  o ther p ro ­
g ram .

Q. I believe you have got ten  jun io r w hite—ten 
jun ior h igh schools for w hites?

A. Now, I don’t h av e  those num bers , and  I w ould 
have to look a t it say  for sure.

Q. Well, M r. Thuss and  I have ju s t agreed  th a t  
th a t is su b stan tia lly  correct.

A. W ell—
Q.. And you h ave  no vocational h igh schools for 

negroes?
A. Oh, yes. The Booker T. W ashington, tha t is a 

vocational or techn ica l school.

M r. D urham :
T hat is all.

The Court:
All righ t. Call your n ex t w itness.



loo

M r. D urham :
Y our Honor, we would like to in troduce—th ere  were 

som e stipu la tions, or a  req u est for adm ission  of facts,, 
w hich  w as m ade, and  we would like to offer them  
and re a d  them . T hat is A dm ission of F a c t  I th rough  
V, and  X III and  X IV  in the  adm ission  of fac ts.

The C ourt:
S tipu lation?

M r. D urham :
They a re  adm ission  of fac ts , Y our Honor.

The Court:
All righ t, !i

M r. D urham :
A nd we w ill re a d  them  into the record . Y our Honor, 

we a re  offering adm ission  of fac t I th rough  V inclu­
sive, and  X III and  XIV.

M r. Bunkley:
R equest for adm ission  No. 1 m a d e  by P la in tiffs  

upon D efendan ts:

I .

“ T hat the  B oard  of T rustees of the  D allas Indepen­
den t School D is tric t is a  body co rp o ra te , m ad e  so by 
T exas law ; th a t the  sa id  B oard  of T ru stee s  is vested  
w ith  pow er and au th o rity  to  m a n ag e  and control the 
public schools under its  superv ision  and  control; th a t 
the  sa id  B oard  of T ru s tee s  h a s  pow er and  au thority  
to adopt ru les and regu la tions, and  by-law s, including 
the adm ission  of s tuden ts  to  the public schools under



101

th e ir con tro l and  to -effectuate policies of th e  said 
B oard.

The rep ly  by the  D efendan ts to req u est for a d m is­
sion No. 1 is as follows:

“ In  answ er to req u es t No. 1 the  D efendants s ta te  
th a t the pow ers and duties of th e  B oard  of T rustees 
a re  se t fo rth  in the S ta tu tes  of the S ta te  of T exas, 
Title 49, and the req u est does not involve an  ad m is­
sion of fac t, bu t one of law . The D efendants a re  not 
req u ired  nor p e rm itted  to m ak e  adm issions of la w .”

R equest for adm ission NO. 2:

“ T h at D r. E dw in  L. R-ippy is a citizen of th e  U nited 
S ta tes  and  of the S ta te  of Texas, dom iciled a t D allas, 
Texas; th a t he is the duly elected, qualified  and  a c t­
ing P re s id en t of the  B oard  of T ru stees  of the D allas  
Independent School D is tr ic t.”

R eply  to req u es t for adm ission  No. 2:

“ T hat the tru th  of s ta te m e n t No. 2 in the req u es t 
for adm ission  is a d m itte d .”

R equest for adm ission  No. 3:

“ T hat W. A. B la ir, R obert L. D illard , J r . ,  R obert B. 
G ilm ore, Rouse Howell, (M rs.) V ernon D. In g ram , 
V ance M. L am m , (M rs.) T rac y  H. R u the rfo rd  and  
F ran k lin  E . Spafford  are, each  of them , citizens of 
the  U nited S ta tes  and  of the S ta te  of Texas, dom iciled 
a t D allas, Texas, and th a t th ey  a re  the duly elected, 
qualified and  ac tin g  m e m b ers  of the B oard  of T ru s­
tees of th e  D allas  Independent School D is tr ic t.”



102

R eply  to req u est for adm ission  No. 3:

“ The tru th  of s ta te m e n t No. 3 in the  req u est for 
adm issions is a d m itte d .”

R equest for adm ission  No. 4:

“T hat D r. W. T. W hite is a  citizen  of the U nited 
S ta tes and  of the S ta te  of T exas, dom iciled  a t  D allas, 
Texas, and  he is the  duly elected, qualified  and  ac t­
ing S uperin ten d en t of the P ub lic  Schools w ith in  the 
D allas  Independen t School D is tr ic t.”

R eply  to req u est fo r adm ission  No. 4:

“ The tru th  of s ta tem en t No. 4 in the req u es t for 
adm ission  is a d m itte d .”

R equest fo r adm ission  No. 5:

“ T hat on the 5th day  of S ep tem ber, 1955, H ow ard 
A. A llen w as p rincipal of the  W. H. A dam son High 
School, th a t R. E . S troud  w as p rin c ip a l of th e  Thom as 
J . R usk  Ju n io r H igh School, th a t E lla  E . P a rk e r  w as 
p rin c ip a l of th e  John  H enry  B row n E lem en ta ry  
School, th a t J . H. G urley  w as p rin c ip a l of the  M aple 
L aw n E lem en ta ry  School, th a t  W. A. H am ilton  w as 
p rin c ip a l of the  M irab eau  B. L a m a r  E lem en ta ry  
School, th a t W illiam  H. S tan ley  w as p rin c ip a l of the 
T hom as A. E d ison  E lem en ta ry  School, in the  D allas 
Independen t School D is tric t; th a t  they are , each  of 
th em , citizens of th e  U nited S tates and  of the S ta te  of 
Texas, dom iciled  a t D allas. T exas.”

In  rep ly  to req u es t for adm ission  No. 5, the  reply
w as:



103

“ The tru th  of s ta te m e n t No. 5 in the req u es t for 
adm ission  is a d m itte d .’’

R equest for adm ission  No. 13:

“ T hat the above n am ed  schools a re  public schools 
in th e  D allas  Independent School D is tr ic t and  under 
th e  superv ision  and  con tro l of the B oard  of T ru stee s  
of the  D allas  Independent School D is tr ic t.”

In  rep ly  to request No. 13:

“ The tru th  of s ta tem en t No. 13 in the request for 
adm ission  is a d m itted .”

R equest fo r adm ission  No. 14:

“ That the  5th day  of S ep tem ber, 1955, w as a re g u ­
la r  day  of re g is tra tio n  in the  public schools in the 
D allas  Independent School D is tr ic t.”

A nsw er to request No. 14:

“The tru th  of s ta tem en t No. 14 in th e  request for 
adm ission  is a d m itte d .”

The R eply  to R equest for A dm ission is signed  by 
A. J . Thuss, A ttorney  for the  D efendants.

Mr. D urham :
Y our H onor, a t th is  tim e, we desire to offer a p o r­

tion of a deposition tak en  of D r. R ippy.

The Court:
No, he is here; you ca n ’t  use a deposition w hen a 

m a n  is here.



104

M r. D urham :
All r ig h t, sir. M r. S lider, w ill you get on the  stand.

L. G. SL ID ER , being f ir s t  duly sw orn, testified  on 
h is oath as follows:

D irect E x am in a tio n .

By M r. D urham :
Q. S ta te  your nam e, please.
A. L. G. Slider.
Q. And w here  do you live, M r. S lider?
A. 1023 C hurch  S treet.
Q. Is  th a t  in the City of D allas?
A. T hat is righ t.
Q. A nd w here  w ere  you living during  th e  m onth  of 

S ep tem b er, 1955?
A. At th a t address.

The Court:
Now, w ait a  m inute. You w ill have to speak  out. 

I  have  to h e a r  w h at you say. Speak out, now: ta lk  
loud.

(By M r. D u rh am ):
Q. A nd w ere  you living in  D allas  on the 5th of 

Septem ber, 1955?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Now, M r, Slider, do you have any  ch ild ren?
A. I h av e  th ree .
Q. A nd w h at a re  the ir nam es, please?
A. My oldest is B essie B. Slider. I h ave  a  son, 

L. G., J r . ,  and a  dau g h te r, M ary  Ann S lider.
Q. Now, on the 5th of Sep tem ber, 1955 did you 

m ake an effort to have  M ary  Ann S lider entered into 
th e  A dam son  H igh School in  O ak Cliff?



105

A. T hat is righ t, sir.
Q,. City of D allas?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Now, did she go to school du ring  the school 

year, 1955-’56?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And w h at school did she finally  go to?
A. L incoln High School.
Q. Now, w ith  re fe ren c e  to w here you w ere then 

living on S ep tem ber 5th, 1955, how fa r  w as the A d am ­
son H igh School from  w here you lived?

A. Oh, I w ould say  ap p ro x im ate ly  ten  to tw elve 
blocks. T hat is ap p ro x im ate ly ; I am  not sure.

Q. Now, from  w here you then lived, how fa r  w as 
it to L incoln H igh School?

A. F ro m  at le a s t four and  a ha lf to five m iles.
Q. On the  5th of S ep tem ber, 1955, did you ta lk  to 

anyone a t t,he A dam son H igh School abou t reg is te r­
ing and  en tering  your child?

A. Yes, sir. I a ssu m ed  it w as the p rincipal, and 
since then, I know  it w as the p rinc ipa l.

Q. And w ere you p e rm itte d  to en ter your child?
A. No, sir.
Q. And w ere  you told w hy you cou ldn’t en ter her?
A. Well, I w as p resen ted  w ith  a le tte r, a  s ta tem en t 

or som ething, from  the  School B oard  say ing  th a t a t 
the p re sen t tim e  negro ch ild ren  cou ldn’t be en tered  
at the w hite schools or w hite ch ild ren  couldn’t  be 
en tered  a t the negro  schools.

Q. Now, w ere you denied the  opportunity  to en ter 
M ary  Ann S lider in A dam son  H igh School on Sep­
tem b er 5, 1955 because  she w as a negro?

A. T hat is righ t.
Q. You a re  a m em b er of th e  negro  race?
A. Yes, sir.



106

Q. And your d augh ter, M ary  Ann Slider, is a 
negro  ?

A. T h a t is righ t.

M r. D urham :
T hat is all.

The Court:
A ny cross?

M r. Thuss:
Yes.

C ross E xam ination .

By M r. Thuss:
Q. You obtained the  serv ices and help of the 

NAACP w ith  reference  to th e  filing of th is suit, did you 
not?

A. N ot necessarily .
Q. W ell, w hat do you m ean  by “ not n ecessa rily ” ?
A. Well, I read  in  the p a p e rs  th a t  th e  School B oard  

w as not going to accep t the negro  ch ildren , w as not 
going to in teg ra te , and  therefore, I did go to the 
NAACP to le t them  ta k e  ca re  of th e  m a tte rs  for m e, 
and  in th e  event they did no t acc ep t it.

Q. So it is a fa c t th a t  you did go to the  NAACP 
and sign som e kind of a paper?

A. T hat is righ t.

M r. Thuss:
T hat is all.



107

R e-D irec t E xam ination .

By M r. D urham :
Q. Now, did the  NAACP, or anybody else, com e 

to  you before you w ent to them ?
A. No, sir, they  d idn ’t  have  to.
Q. A nd did you request th em  to help  you?
A. Yes, sir.

M r. D urham :
T h a t is all.

The Court:
All righ t.

Mr. D urham :
Y our Honor, the P la in tiffs  re s t a t th is tim e.

The Court:
All righ t. P la in tiffs  re s t.

M r, Thuss:
Y our Honor, le t m e consult m y notes here. I be­

lieve M r. B row ne, who w as to be m y  f irs t w itness, 
h as  testified  to every th ing . M r. W hite—D r. W hite, 
please.

DR. W. T. W HITE, being f ir s t  duly  sw orn, testified  
on his oath  as  follows:

D irec t E xam ination .

By M r. Thuss:
Q. S ta te  your nam e, please, sir, and  sp eak  loud 

enough so tha t w e all can  h ea r you.
A. W. T. W hite.



108

Q. W hat position do you occupy, Dr, W hite?
A. I am  S uperin tenden t of Schools in the D allas 

Independent School D istric t.
Q. F o r w h a t period  of tim e h av e  you held  such 

position?
A. Since Ju n e  1, 1945.
Q. W ere you identified w ith th e  D allas  Indepen­

dent School D is tric t p rio r  to th a t  tim e?
A. Yes, sir.
Q, F o r how  long?
A. S ix teen  y ears .
Q. W hat a re  your qualifica tions, D octor, w ith  ref­

erence  to education?
A. I have  a B achelo r of A rts , a  M aste r of A rts 

deg ree  fro m  the U niversity  of Texas. I have studied 
in N orth  T exas S tate  T eachers , som e courses a t 
S ou thern  M ethodist U n iversity , C olum bia U niversity , 
and  P eab o d y  College.

Q. D octor, on Ju ly  13, 1955, as  exem plified by  a c ­
tion  of th e  B oard, you w ere ask ed  to m a k e  studies in 
ce rta in  a re a s . I believe th e re  w ere tw elve of them .

A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you com ply w ith  th a t?
A. We a re  in the p rocess of com plying. We have 

fin ished ha lf of them .
Q,. W hat have you fin ished?
A. We h av e  finished th e  firs t, scho lastic  bound­

a rie s  of ind iv idual schools w ith  re la tio n  to rac ia l 
g roups contained there in ; age  g rad e  d istribu tion  of 
pupils; ach iev em en t and  s ta te  of p reparedness  for 
g rad e  level a ss ig n m en t of d ifferen t pupils; re la tive 
in telligence quotien t scores; ad ap ta tion  of cu rr ic u ­
lum ; the re la tive  degree of p rep a red n e ss  of w hite 
and  negro  teach ers , th e ir  selection and  assignm ent.

Q. And you say  th a t th e  o thers a re  being p rep ared ?



109

A. Yes, sir.
Q. Now, th ese  w hich you h av e  read  off w hich have 

been p rep ared , w ere  they  p re p a re d  u n d er your su p er­
vision and  d irec tion?

A. Yes, s ir , they w ere, sir.
Q. H ave rep o rts  been m ad e  to the  B oard?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. A re  they co rrec t?
A. They a re  co rrect.
Q. Now, I w an t to a sk  you abou t the d istribu tion  of 

schools, or the  d is trib u tio n  of negroes in the schools. 
If th e re  w as an  im m ed ia te  desegregation , in how 
m an y  schools w ould there  be m ixed  c lasses?

A. In  th e  w hite sen ior high schools, th e re  would 
be eigh t, w ith  a possib ility  of a  n in th  one com ing in, 
Thom as Jefferson. In  the  th re e  negro  h igh  schools, 
th e re  w ould be one h und red  percen t w ith  w hite chil­
dren, in the  w hite  sen ior h igh  schools, eighty  p e r ­
cent, in th e  w hite e lem en ta ry  schools, fo rty  percen t, 
in the negro e lem en ta ry  schools, seven ty -th ree  p e r ­
cent w ould be w hite, that, is, of w hite students.

Q. Yes. Now, h av e  you m ad e  a com plete—com ­
pleted  a study  w ith reference  to the scho lastic  a p ti­
tudes of negroes and  w hite ch ild ren—

The Court:
B efore you answ er th a t  question, if you don’t  m ind, 

I would like to ask  a question, so th a t it w ill not 
in te rfe re  w ith th e  course  of your questioning.

D r. W hite, th e  n um ber of negro studen ts and  w hite 
s tuden ts, th e  d is tribu tion—

The W itness:
The d istribu tion , Your H onor, is—



110

The Court:
Now, w a it a m inute. I h a v e n ’t  asked  m y question 

yet. You have  a lread y  s ta ted  that.

The W itness:
Yes.

The Court:
W hat would th a t resu lt in, or w ould it h av e  any 

re su lt as  to the  im ped im en te  or the conveniences of 
th e  w hite studen ts if negro stu d en ts  w ere allow ed to 
com e in a t the p re sen t popu la tion  and school facilities; 
w ould i t  d isp lace  w hite ch ildren  in o rd er to let negro 
ch ild ren  com e in is w h a t I am  w an ting  to know?

The W itness:
Yes, sir, th a t is co rrec t; because in nearly  every 

instance, the  bu ild ings a re  com plete ly  filled. Now, 
th e re  is som e sm all n u m b er of com m unities where 
th e  population is decreasin g  and  the build ings a re  not 
filled; bu t for th e  m ost p a r t,  it w ould cause  d isloca­
tion.

The Court:
E x cu se  me. Go ahead.

(By M r. T huss):
Q. Now, h av e  you m ade a  rep o rt w ith  refe ren ce  to 

the scho lastic  ap titu d es  of negro  ch ild ren  and  white 
ch ild ren  in th e  f irs t grade?

A. Yes, sir.

The Court:
Now, ju s t a  m inute. W hat h as  th a t got to do with 

th is  m a tte r?



I l l

Mr. Thuss:
Your H onor, it re la te s  to the m a tte r  of the n u m b er 

of te ach e rs  th a t would have  to be subgrade. They a re  
not on the sam e level, and  if negroes go to p re­
dom inantly  w hite schools, I th ink  they  w ould—

The Court:
Now, you h ave  an sw ered  m y question. Go ahead . 

(By M r. T huss):
Q. H ave you m ade th a t analysis?
A. Yes, sir.
Q,. What, te s ts  did you use?
A. The M etropolitan  R ead iness  T ests.
Q. I see. Now, D octor, th a t test, did it show any  

difference in read iness  as betw een  the w hite ch ild ren  
and the negro  ch ildren  a t the f irs t g rade?

A. A t the f ir s t  g rade  level, the av e ra g e  d ifference 
w as one and  a h a lf years ; in  o ther w ords, a six year 
old w hite child—or ra th e r  a  six y ear old negro  child 
would be in effect the eq u iva len t in read in ess  for 
school of a four and a h a lf y e a r  old w hite child.

Q. I see. Now, w h a t effect w ould th a t  h av e  upon 
the n u m b er of te ach e rs  w hich would be requ ired  to 
give adequate  instruc tion  for those who p resen t th em ­
selves a t the  six th  g rade level?

A. Now, th a t w as for p rim a ry , six y e a r  old.
Q. Yes, th a t  is the f ir s t  g rade , isn ’t  it?
A. T hat w ould be a confused in s tru c tio n a l p a tte rn  

because of the d isp a rity  in cap ac ity  to  le a rn  and  the  
read iness  in the two groups of children, if they w ere 
in th e  sam e  room s together.

Q. W hat would happen  if your in struc tion  w as p re ­
p a red  a t the  level so th a t  the rece ip tion  of the negro  
ch ildren  could be effected; w ith  re fe ren ce  to th e  
w hite children, w h a t w ould h ap p en  to  the w hite?



112

A. Well, th e  w hite ch ild ren , on the a v e ra g e , would 
be doing a  re ta rd e d  type  of le a rn in g  b ecau se  of the 
leve l th a t th e  in stru c tio n  would be reduced  to in  o r­
d e r to accom m odate  the n eg ro  ch ild ren .

Q. I see. Then, if you p u t your in s tru c tio n  upon 
the  level th a t w ould not r e ta rd  th e  w h ite  children, 
w h a t w ould h ap p en  to the negro  ch ild ren?

A. I t  w ould be a  m o st d ifficu lt s itu a tio n  fo r the 
negro  ch ild ren ; because  they  would not be p rep a red  
to do the  w ork  th a t th e  w hite  children ' w ere  doing.

Q. I see. Now, th a t is  w ith  re fe ren ce  to  the  firs t 
g rad e . H ave you m ad e  any  an a ly sis  w ith  re fe ren c e  to 
th e  second g rad e?

A. Yes, sir.
Q. A re ap p ro x im ate ly  the  sam e  fac to rs—
A. The sam e  fa c to rs  developed, th e  d ifference be­

ing th is, M r. Thuss: the  co n stan t fac to r is d iscovered , 
th e  a v e ra g e  neg ro  child is about e igh ty  p e rc e n t in 
p re p a ra tio n  and  ach ievem en t and  cap a c ity  of th e  av­
e rag e  w hite  child; consequently , th e  o lder th e  chil­
d ren , th e  g re a te r  th e  gap.

Q. I see. A nd is it a fa ir  conclusion th a t  th e  older 
the  ch ild ren  the  g re a te r  the  gap  of th e  instruc tion  
w ould be betw een  th e  two ra c e s  if m ixed?

A. T h a t is co rrec t, yes, sir.
Q. Now, w ith  re fe re n c e  to g ra d e  n u m b e r four, have 

you also m ad e  the  sam e  analy sis?
A. Y es, sir.
Q. A nd w h at is the n ex t g rad e?
A. G rade  six  w as also studied.
Q. You m ad e  the m e n ta l te s ts?
A. Y es, sir. We used  the  C aliforn ia T est of M ental 

M atu rity  for the  second, fo u rth  and  s ix th  g rad es .
Q. I see. Is  th a t level re ta in ed  in th e  h igh schools?



113

A. Yes, sir. The sam e  p e rcen tag e  w as found th e re  
th ro u g h  app lica tion  of th e  Otis Q uick Scoring M ental 
A bility Test, (spelling) O-t-i-s.

Q. Now, w h at w ould happen , D octor, if you pu t 
the negro  ch ild ren  back  to th e  g rad e  level, or th e ir  
ach iev em en t level, th a t they  should be in?

A. They w ould be over-age and  over-sixed  for th e ir  
social group.

Q. I see. W hat w ould be the  d ifferen tia l in age  b e­
tw een neg ro  ch ild ren  and  the  w hite ch ild ren  in  the  
sam e g rad e?

A. W ell, in the  f irs t g rade, it would be app rox i­
m a te ly  a y e a r  and  a  h a lf to two y ears . In  high school 
sen io r c lasses , it w ould ru n  around  th re e  and  a  h a lf 
y ears .

Q. I see. In  o th e r w ords, th e re  w ould be a  th re e  
and a  h a lf  y e a r  d ifferen tia l?

A. B etw een seniors.
Q. I see. Now, w h at social p rob lem s, if any, can  

you envision from  th a t situa tion?
A. W ell, a  six th  g rad e  child—

M r. B unkley:
We a re  going to ob ject to w hat he can  envision. 

The Court:
Yes. I th ink  it is going out of the field  too far. 

Mr. Thuss:
All righ t, Y our Honor. I w ill w ith d raw  the  question.

The Court:
A nything e lse?



114

M r. Thuss:
I believe th a t is all, Your Honor.

The Court:
Any cross?

M r. D urham :
Y our Honor, ju s t a  few  questions.

C ross E x am in a tio n .

By M r. D urham :
Q. D r. W hite, you a re  still continuing seg regation  

based  upon ra c e s  in the  D allas  In dependen t School 
D is tric t?

A. Y es, sir.
Q. A nd I believe you sa id  th a t  th e  neg ro  children 

w ere  re ta rd e d . Do you refu se  w hite ch ild ren  adm is­
sion' to your schools d es ig n a ted  fo r w hites because 
they  a re  re ta rd e d ?

A. No child is re fu sed  adm ission  because  he  is re­
ta rd e d .

Q. T hank  you, sir.

The Court:
All r ig h t.

(By Mr. D u rh am ):
Q. Now, w ith  re fe ren c e  to  th e  F o re s t  Avenue 

School, I believe you sa id  if negroes w ere  adm itted  
to w hite schools, w hy th ey  w ould h av e  d isp laced  w hite 
studen ts. If neg roes h ad  been  ad m itted  to the  F o rest 
H igh School before you changed  it—I believe you 
sa id  th e  popula tion  w as sm a ll—would th a t h ave  dis­
p laced  w hite s tuden ts?



115

A. W ell, I pointed out th a t th e re  a re  sections of 
the C ity w here  the population is sh ifting , an d  w here  
the in d u stry  and  business a re  reducing  en ro llm en t in 
ce rta in  schools. T hat is v e ry  lim ited .

Q. Now, th a n k  you, sir. If you h ad  pu t neg ro  chil­
d ren  in  th e  F o re s t H igh School, w ould th a t h av e  d is­
p laced  th e  w hite th a t w ere in  th e re ?

A. You m e a n  la s t  y e a r?
Q. Yes, sir.
A. No, s ir . W e h ad  a  lot of sp ace  la s t  year. T h a t 

is w hy w e changed  it.
Q. You changed  it and  tra n s fe rre d  the  w hite chil­

d ren  th a t w ere  th e re  over to th e  C rozier Tech?
A. T h a t is co rrec t.
Q. Now, did you h ave  negro stu d en ts  in N orth  

D allas th a t w ere  eligible to go to  C rozier Tech?
A. All of those th a t chose to go w ere  going to 

Tech.
Q. W ere they  negro  ch ild ren  th a t w ere  going to  

Tech?
A. No, sir. They w ere  going to Booker T. W ashing­

ton Tech.

Mr. D urham :
T hat is all.

The Court:
All righ t.

Mr. Thuss:
I w an t to a sk  one question.



116

R e-D irec t E x am in a tio n .

By M r. Thuss:
Q. W ith re fe ren c e  to th e  n u m b er of te a c h e rs  avail­

able, Doctor, and  h av ing  th a t d iffe ren tia l in m ind, and 
to im p a r t adeq u a te  in struc tion  to both  negro  children' 
an d  w hite  ch ild ren , w ould you h av e  enough te ach ers?  

A. We don’t th ink  so, M r. Thuss.
Q. W ould you h av e  enough school room s?
A. If th e  d isp lacem en t of pupils w ere  m ad e  m erely 

on a  b as is  of n ea rn ess  to the ch ildren , m an y  schools 
w ould be overcrow ded  and  o th e rs  w ould be vacan t, 
o r p a r tia lly  so.

The Court:
All righ t.

M r. D urham :
T hat is all, Y our H onor.

The Court:
C all your n ex t w itness.

M r. Thuss:
I believe th a t is a ll fro m  th is w itness, Y our Honor. 

I w an t to in troduce in' evidence, Y our Honor, a  s ta te ­
m en t and  certifica te  fro m  J. W. E d g a r, the  State 
C om m issioner of E duca tion , certifica tion , and  th is  is 
on th e  question  of the  exhaustion  of the  ad m in is tra ­
tive  rem ed ies.

The Court:
Well, now, I h av en ’t any  w ay to le t in any  s ta te ­

m en t un less  the o ther side ag re e s  to it.



117

M r. D urham :
W ell, I w as ju s t  abou t to m ak e  m y  objection. I t  is 

an  ex p a r te  s ta tem en t, and  w e ob ject to it.

Mr. Thuss:
I w ill ca ll your a tten tio n  to th e  fac t, Y our H onor, 

th a t it h as  been  m ad e  by  a h ead  of a d ep a rtm en t, 
and  u n d er Rule 44-B, a w ritten  s ta te m e n t signed  by 
an o fficer of reco rd  is adm issib le .

The Court:
Yes. Well, I don’t th ink  it is adm issib le .

M r. Thuss:
All righ t, Y our H onor. I w ill th en —I believe th a t is 

all, Y our Honor.

The Court:
All righ t. The D efen d an t re s ts?

M r. Thuss:
No, Y our Honor. I w an t to ca ll a tten tio n  to the  fac t 

th a t E dw in  C. W ashington, a  w itness, w as subpoenaed; 
th a t he  w as subpoenaed  to be h e re  fo r the 14th; th a t 
he did not ap p ea r a t th a t tim e.

The Court:
W ell, le t’s don’t  ta lk  abou t th ings th a t a re  w holly 

im m ate ria l. You h av e  h is deposition' you w an t to put 
in?

Mr. Thuss: 
Yes, sir.



118

The Court:
A nd he is no t here?

M r. Thuss:
He is no t here , yes, sir.

The Court:
You h av e  a rig h t to pu t it in.

M r. Thuss:
Yes, sir. Then, I sh a ll re a d  from  his deposition. 

P a g e  4, beginning a t line 2:

“ E dw in  C'. W ashington, being f irs t duly sw orn, ex­
am ined  in chief by  M r. Thuss, testified  as follows:

“ S ta te  your nam e, p lease . A nsw er: My n am e  is 
E dw in  C. W ashington, J r .  Q uestion: W here do you 
live? A nsw er: H ere in D allas. Question: Do you 
h a v e  a s tre e t ad d ress?  A nsw er: 5227 O akland  Avenue. 
Q uestion: W hat is your business or occupation? An­
sw er: F ie ld  W orker for th e  NAACP. Q uestion: Is  th a t 
th e  local b ran ch  or is th a t som e o ther p a r t  of the 
NAACP? A nsw er: I am  em ployed by th e  n a tio n a l of­
fice. Q uestion: W hen you say  you a re  em ployed  by 
th e  n a tio n a l office does th a t m e a n  you a re  em ployed 
by the  NAACP, the  N ew  Y ork C orporation? Answer: 
T h a t is co rrec t, sir. Q uestion: You did have an  office 
a t 2600 F lo ra  S tree t, I believe? A nsw er: T hat is r ig h t.”

I am  sk ipping  now  to page  5, beg inn ing  a t  line 2, 
and  w ill end a t line 4.

“ Q uestion: Now, you h av e  no business or occupa­
tion  o ther th a n  your rep re sen ta tio n  of the N ational 
A ssociation? A nsw er: I do not.”

Skipping now to line 18 on th e  sam e  page, and  com ­
p le ting  a t line  22.



119

"Q uestion: W hat position  did you hold in A ugust 
and S ep tem ber of 1955? A nsw er: A ugust and  S ep tem ­
b er?  Question: Yes. A nsw er: F ie ld  S e c re ta ry .”

B eginning  a t  line 25 on the sam e  page.
"Q uestion: D oes th a t m ean  F ie ld  S e c re ta ry  fo r the  

na tional o rgan ization? A nsw er: The c o rrec t title  is 
F ie ld  S e c re ta ry  A ssigned  to Texas. Q uestion: B ut 
you w ere  in the em ploy  of the  N ational A ssociation, 
w orking in  T exas, is th a t th e  w ay I u n d e rs tan d  it?  
A nsw er: T h a t is righ t, s i r .”

Skipping now to line 22 on p ag e  6.
"Q uestion: W here is th e  o rig inal of th a t rep o rt?  

A nsw er: The o rig ina l of the rep o rt, I don’t know, now, 
it is possib le  I could h av e  seen it, it is p ro b ab ly  in  the  
N atiorial O ffice.”

T h a t ends it, now. P a g e  7, beginning  a t line 17.
"Q uestion : I see. Now, w ould you recogn ize  a  

copy, and  an  iden tica l copy th a t w as taken , th a t w as 
sen t to you th rough  New York, a copy of w hich  you 
should  have  in your files a t 2600 F lo ra  S tree t, w ould 
you recognize it? A nsw er: If I saw  it I p robab ly  
would. Q uestion: I h an d  you a  docum ent, it is a  r e ­
production  of E xh ib it 23, filed  in' the  case  in Tyler, 
and  ask  you if th a t is a  copy, and  a  co rre c t copy in 
all re sp ec ts?  A nsw er: This a p p e a rs  to be a copy of 
the  re p o r t .”

Continuing on the  n ex t page.
“ Q uestion: Now, you m ay  w an t to re fe r to it, and  

the rep ro d u ctio n  is not a s  c lea r  as it m igh t be, and  
for your convenience I w ill give you a  copy by  ty p e ­
w rite r  and  if you question w hether it is a  copy I w ill 
give you tim e to com pare  it, in w hich I am  going to 
ask  you som e questions, in th a t it is e as ie r to re a d  
th a t th a n  it is th is. If you don’t m ind I w ill a sk  you 
to re a d  th a t, if it doesn’t ta k e  too m uch  tim e .”



120

And th e re  w as an  objection. Then, a t  th is  point: 
“ (Said  in s tru m e n t m a rk e d  D efen d an ts’ E xh ib it 2 

to W ashington  D eposition '.)”
Now, skipping  to page 10, line 2 ,

“ Q uestion: Now, W ashington, the  re p o rt discloses 
th a t the  w ork you p re p a re d  fo r the  D allas  in teg ration  
su it w as given about A ugust 8, 1955—”

M r. D u rh am  m ad e  an in te rru p tio n  th e re  for an  ob­
jection, and  skipping  to line 10.

“ Q uestion: Or did you p a r tic ip a te  in' th a t work? 
A nsw er: The w ork  th a t I a m  speak ing  about here, 
th e  re p o rt w as w ritten , looking b ack  am ong th e  cir­
cu m stan ces . You a re  ask ing  did I p a r tic ip a te  in  tha t 
w ork? Q uestion: Yes. A nsw er: I did get c e rta in  in­
fo rm atio n  on the  th ing  and  m ak e  c e r ta in  contacts. 
T hat did constitu te  a  p a r t  of w h a t is in the  report. 
Q uestion: Who else w orked  w ith  you in th a t  effo rt on 
or abou t A ugust 8, 1955? A nsw er: T here  w ere  various 
persons who helped  get in fo rm ation . Q uestion: Could 
you n am e  them ? A nsw er: No, sir, I cou ldn’t. Ques­
tion: H ad you ev er een th em  before? A nsw er: Some 
of them.. Q uestion: And you a re  unab le  a t th is  tim e 
to give any  n am e  of any  p erson  you w orked w ith  on 
A ugust 8, 1955? A nsw er: I am , because  I w as work­
ing w ith  the  B ran ch  and  it w as a sh o rt period  of 
tim e; th e  only th ing I w as a f te r  w as th e  inform ation 
and  w hen I got th a t I w as th rough . Q uestion: Now, 
the F ie ld  S ec re ta ry , and  th a t is you, is it not? An­
sw er: T h a t is correct. Q uestion: W as d irec ted  to work 
in D allas, a s  th a t city  h ad  been  chosen. Who chose 
D allas  as th e  city  to file the  in teg ra tio n  su it?  Answ er: 
I d id n ’t  know th a t it w as chosen  fro m  outside. I was 
ta lk in g  w ith th e  p res id en t of the  D allas  B ran ch  when 
I w as decid ing  to help  the  D allas  B ran ch  w ith  it—to



121

s tim u la te  the  B ran ch , and  he to ld  m e th a t if th e re  
w as any  .suit filed then' it w ould be a  chosen  sp o t.” 

Skipping now to page  12, beg inn ing  a t  line 9. 
“ Question: I w ill ask  you w hether, on the  in fo rm a­

tion th a t you h ad  a t th e  tim e, th a t  you m ad e  th e  s ta te ­
m en t th a t the F ie ld  S e c re ta ry  w as d irec ted  to w ork 
in D allas, th a t th a t city h ad  been  chosen as the  te s t 
spot for all the  in teg ra tio n  su its  to be filed in T exas?  
W hat w as the  inform ation ' you h ad  w hich b e c a m e  the  
b asis  for th a t s ta te m e n t?  A nsw er: I don’t re m e m b e r 
ex ac tly  w h a t w as in m y m ind  then . The only thing, 
I do re m e m b e r th a t p a r tic u la r  w ord “ chosen” , I got 
th a t from  R everend  R iley. Q uestion: Do 1 u n d e rs tan d  
you now  th a t you a re  u n ab le  to give, a t  th is  tim e, th e  
in fo rm atio n  upon w hich th a t  s ta tem en t w as based , 
o ther th a n  w h at you h ave  s ta te d  as  a conversa tion  
w ith  R ev eren d  R iley? A nsw er: T hat is co rrec t, s i r .” 

Now, to page  13, beg inn ing  a t line 16. Do you m ind  
if I get a g la ss  of w ater, Y our H onor? I am  getting  
a little  b it d ry , sir.

The Court:
All righ t.

M r. D urham :
Y our Honor, the P la in tiffs  a t  th is  tim e  desire  to ob­

je c t to th e  testim o n y  of W ashington' any  fu r th e r  un til 
it is show n th a t he w as rep resen tin g , or h ad  au th o rity
0 rep re sen t, the  P la in tiff. I w ould no t be b inding 
upon the P la in tiffs  w h a t W ashington  sa id  or did.

The Court:
Well, I am  going to h e a r  th is  deposition th rough.

1 don’t  th ink  it h as  a th ing  in' the w orld to do w ith 
th is case; bu t I w an t to h e a r  it th rough  firs t. You



122

h av e  a  rig h t in th is Court to h ire  w hoever you please, 
and  th is  in junction  th a t is ag a in s t a  c e r ta in  co rpora­
tion  in th e  S ta te  C ourt does not ru le  th is  Court. This 
C ourt allow s such  a tto rn ey s  to a p p e a r  a s  the clients 
w ish  to a p p e a r  for them . Go ahead . You w an t to put 
th e  re s t of it in?

M r. Thuss:
Y es, sir. I w an t to pu t the re s t  of it in'. P ag e  13, 

beginning  a t line 16.

“ Question: Now, w here  a re  th e  fo rm s th a t  w ere 
used for the  so lic ita tion  of p a ren ts  who w an ted  to be­
com e p la in tiffs , w hich  w ere  p re p a re d  on or about 
A ugust 10th? A nsw er: Those w ere  ju s t slips of paper 
th a t w ere  needed  to get add itional in fo rm ation  and I 
tu rn ed  th em  over to M r. D u rh a m .”

I w ill h u rry , Your Honor, so as  to ta k e  up as  short 
a  tim e as  possible.

The Court:
All righ t.

M r. Thuss:
B eginning on page 15 a t line 3.

“ Q uestion: W ell now, is th is  s ta te m e n t co rrec t, and 
th is  is in' your repo rt: ‘F o rm s for solication of p aren ts  
who w an ted  to becom e p la in tiffs  w ere p re p a re d  on or 
about A ugust 10th.’? Is th a t a  co rre c t s ta tem en t?  
A nsw er: T hat is not quite co rrec t. It w as for the 
so lic ita tion  of in fo rm ation  from  the  p a ren ts . Ques­
tion: All righ t, now, did you a t  th a t tim e p re p a re  a 
shee t fo r in s truc tions to w orkers  who w ere to help 
in the  so lic ita tion? A nsw er: It w as som e notes I had



123

m ad e  as  to how they would, yes, sir. Q uestion: Did 
th e  shee t w hich con ta ined  th e  in stru c tio n s  acco m p an y  
each  one of th e  p ap e rs , or the  fo rm s?  A nsw er: As 
well as I can  rem e m b er now, I p re p a re d  it for m y 
own use. Q uestion: Do you have  a  copy of th a t  sh ee t 
of in s tru c tio n s  a t th is  tim e? A nsw er: N o.”

Skipping to page  17, line 2.
“ Q uestion: Now, it say s  th a t  the sh ee t w as p re ­

p a re d  w ith  th e  adv ice  of reg io n a l counsel. Who w as 
reg iona l counsel a t th a t tim e?  A nsw er: A t th a t tim e?  
M r. T ate  w as reg io n a l counsel. Q uestion: Then, as I 
u n d e rs ta n d  it, the  sh ee t of in s truc tions w as p rep a red  
w ith  the  advice of Mr. T a te?  A nsw er: S ir, th a t  s ta te ­
m en t is not qu ite  c o rre c t in th e  w ay it is being un d er­
stood, in  th a t I n ev e r asked  h im  about th is  p a r tic u la r  
sheet. W hen I pu t th a t s ta te m e n t down I h ad  in  m y  
m ind  th a t from  tim e to tim e  I had  ask ed  questions, 
as I do any th ing  th a t com es up, and  w hen I go t the  
answ er I used  it e ith er then  or a t som e tim e la te r . 
Question': Now, do you now say  th a t  you d idn ’t get 
any  adv ice of reg iona l counsel for the  p rep a ra tio n  of 
th ese  sh ee ts  for in struc tion?  A nsw er: In  th e  p re p a ra ­
tion of those. This sh ee t w e a re  ta lk in g  about, th a t 
is co rrec t. Question: T hen th is s ta te m e n t is not co r­
rec t, th a t  is w hat you say  now? A nsw er: T h a t is 
tru e .”

Skipping to p age  18, line 12.
“ Q uestion: Now, the  n am es  of th e  p robab le  p la in ­

tiffs, d id  you secu re  tw elve of the  p ro b ab le  p la in tiffs, 
yourself, the n am es?  A nsw er: No, sir, I d idn ’t. Q ues­
tion: W ould you look on th a t w riting  th e re , the la s t 
sen ten ce  in p a ra g ra p h  4, and  it says, ‘The n u m b e r of 
n am es  of p robab le  p la in tiffs  secu red  by each  of these  
groups a s  fo llow s.’ A nd then th e re  is se t opposite your 
designation as F ie ld  S e c re ta ry , tw elve. A nsw er: Now,



your question? Q uestion; I say , look a t  it. Answer: 
All righ t. Q uestion: Now, do I u n d e rs ta n d  you  to say 
th a t you d idn ’t, in A ugust or S ep tem ber, 1955, obtain 
the  n am es  of tw elve p ro b ab le  p la in tiffs?  A nsw er: I 
d idn ’t  ob ta in  those n a m e s .”

Skipping to line 24 on' page  19.
“ Q uestion: All righ t, did you as  F ie ld  S ecretary  

m ak e  a second co n tac t w ith  each  of 54 fam ilies  and 
in s tru c t th em  as to how to ta k e  th e  children to the 
school for re g is tra tio n  a n d  en ro llm en t?  A nsw er: The 
answ er to th a t question  is no, sir. Q uestion: You 
h ave  w ritten  in the  rep o rt th is  s ta te m e n t, ‘The Field 
S ec re ta ry  m ad e  th e  second co n tra c t w ith  ea c h  of the 
54 fam ilies to in s tru c t th em  on m ak ing  p roper ap­
proach  to the school and  how to iget th e  p ro p er (the 
an tic ip a ted  an sw er from  the  p rin c ip a l) .’ Do I under­
s tan d  you to say  you d idn ’t  do th a t?  A nsw er: As tha t 
s ta te s , no, sir, I did no t.”

Now, on page 21, line 10.
“ Question': Now, in connection, W ashington, with 

the  le tting  of a g irl go alone, and  the s ta te m e n t is 
m ade, ‘H ow ever, upon the  adv ice  of a  law yer, the 
F ie ld  S ec re ta ry  adv ised  ag a in s t th e ir  le tting  the girl 
go a lo n e .’ T h a t is in connection w ith  th is  p a r t  of the 
rep o rt as to who w ould acco m p an y  the  v ario u s  chil­
d ren  and  the  fam ilies. Now, w h at law y er gave you 
the adv ice ag a in st le tting  a g irl go alone? Answer: 
Now, th e re  again ' is a  m a tte r  of in fo rm atio n  th a t I 
ob tained  ind irectly , and  I h ave  been  to se v e ra l m eet­
ings a t  our conventions w here  such  m a tte rs  w ere  dis­
cussed , and  it is possib le I go t th a t in fo rm ation  at 
one of the  conventions. Q uestion: I asked  you  to nam e 
the  law y er th a t gave you th e  adv ice?  A nsw er: I don’t 
re m e m b e r .”



125

Skippirig to page 23, line 6.
“ Q uestion: A bout lo u r  w eeks w as co n su m ed  in 

p rep a rin g  the  in s tru c tio n s  and  c a rry in g  out th e  ad ­
vice w hich  you h ad  obtained, fro m  w h a tev e r source  
you did ob ta in  it, in p re p a ra tio n  for th is  law su it, w as 
it not? A nsw er: You a re  ask ing  m e? The question  
abou t th e  length  of tim e?  Q uestion: Yes. A nsw er; 
Well, I w ill have  to re fre sh  m yself, accord ing  to the  
rep o rt. Q uestion: Look a t  the  second p a ra g ra p h  on 
page 2. A nsw er: F ro m  the  m iddle of A ugust to about 
the  m idd le  of S ep tem ber, I w ould say  th a t  is about 
four w eeks. Q uestion: And th a t w as u n d e r your p e r ­
sonal superv ision , w a sn ’t it, a ll of those ac tiv itie s  in  
th a t re sp ec t w ere  under your p e rso n a l superv ision? 
A nsw er: Of getting  the  in fo rm ation  and  m ak in g  a 
su rv ey , w as u n d er m y  p e rso n a l su p e rv is io n .”

Now, page  24, beginning  a t line 8.
“ Q uestion: Now, did you tu rn  the  n am es  over to 

th e  a tto rn ey s , th a t you h ad  obta ined  d u ring  th a t  fou r 
w eeks operation? A nsw er: Now, th a t p a r t  com ing in 
th e re  is no t co rrect. Q uestion: I w ill a sk  you w h eth er 
or no t th is  s ta te m e n t in  your re p o rt is co rrec t; and  if 
it is no t c o rre c t in w h at re sp ec ts  it is in co rrec t, and  
I w ill read  it to you: ‘T urn ing  over the  n a m e s  to the 
a tto rn ey s  ended  th e  w ork in th is  opera tion  of the F ie ld  
S e c re ta ry .’ A nsw er: T urn ing  the  n am es  th a t h ad  been 
given to m e over to get the  add itio n al in fo rm ation  to 
the  a tto rn ey s w as the  end of w h a t I w as to do in 
th is  connection. Q uestion: Well, do you w an t to say  
th a t s ta te m e n t is co rre c t or no t?  A nsw er: W ithout 
qualifica tion  it is in c o rre c t.”

On p ag e  2 5 , beg inning  a t line 3.
“ Q uestion: Now, W ashington, th e re  is  a s ta tem en t 

here  th a t the  second operation '—does th a t re fe r  to 
your operation  in  th is rep o rt?  A nsw er: The second



126

operation? Q uestion: Does the second opera tio n  refer 
to som eth ing  th a t you did? A nsw er: I am  not c lea r  on 
th a t m yself. Q uestion: R ead  th a t, ju s t under p a r t  2, 
it says, ‘The second opera tion  w as to p re p a re  the 
p la in tiffs  to be good p la in tiffs  beg inn ing  M onday, Sep­
tem b er 12, 1955, w hen the suit w as filed .’ Now, I am  
ask ing  you if the  second opera tion  w as your opera­
tion? A nsw er: Now th a t m y m em ory  is re freshed , 
yes, it is. Q uestion: W hat does th a t consist of, in 
p re p a rin g  th e  p la in tiffs  to be good p la in tiffs , w h a t did 
you do? A nsw er: I w as ask ing  adv ice  fro m  the  per­
sons who h ad  ask ed —who h ad  signed the au th o riza ­
tion, w here  the m o ther h ad  signed  the  authorization, 
as to w hat the fa th e r ’s n am e  w as, and  w h eth er they 
did ta k e  th e ir  ch ild ren . Q uestion: Well, you h ad  al­
re a d y  gotten  all of the inc id en ta l in fo rm ation  in your 
fo rm s, had  you not? A nsw er: E ven tua lly , I got a ll of 
i t .”

B eginning a t  line 7 on p age  26.
“ Q uestion: Well, is th a t s ta te m e n t now  your s ta te ­

m en t, th a t th a t is inco rrec t?  A nsw er: In  m y  m ind I 
d idn ’t  see how they  could be good p la in tiffs  unless 
they w anted  to file suit, or w h e th er they  h ad —they 
all signed  the  authorization ', I knew  th a t .”

Skipping down to line 20 on p ag e  26.
“ Q uestion: All righ t. Now, who selec ted  th e  plain­

tiffs, or who did you re fe r  to as hav ing  se lec ted  the 
p la in tiffs , w hen the  s ta tem en t w as m ad e  th a t  the 
se lec ted  p la in tiffs  w ere  notified to a ttend  a  briefing 
session? A nsw er: T here  again , th e  p a re n ts  them selves 
decided they  w an ted  to becom e p lain tiffs. Question: 
Do you m ean , or did you use  the  w ord “ se lec ted ” in 
th e  sense  th a t they  se lec ted  th em selves?  Answer: 
Y es .”

Skipping down to page 27 a t line 11.



127

“ Q uestion: W here w as the  b riefing  session' held? 
A nsw er: In  the build ing a t 2600 F lo ra .’’

And now  skip to line 20 on the  sam e  page. 
“ Q uestion: W as it before the  4th or 5th of S ep tem ­

ber, or a f te r  the  5th of S ep tem b er?  A nsw er: My reco l­
lection is th a t it w as a fte r th e  5th of S ep te m b er.” 

P ag e  28, line 15.
“ Q uestion: On S ep tem b er 1st it say s  ‘B egan  abou t 

th is  date  to cinch ap p lican ts  w ith  add itio n al in s tru c ­
tio n s .’ W ere all those add itio n al in struc tions g iven by 
you, or som e o ther person? A nsw er: Well, sir, th e re  
ag a in  is a m a tte r  w here I w as try in g  to fill in the 
p robab le  d a te s  of m y  ac tiv ity , and  w h at a c tu a lly  h a p ­
pened  w as th a t th e re  w ere  som e p ersons who I still 
h ad  to get m ore  in fo rm atio n  fro m  th a t the  law y er 
w an ted  m e to get before he would file the  suit. Q ues­
tion: So, you used  the  w ord “ c in ch ” in  the  sense th a t  
it w as to get fu r th e r  in fo rm ation , is th a t w h a t you 
m ean ?  A nsw er: T hat is co rrec t, b ecau se  the  law yer 
w as not w illing to go ahead  on any th ing  w ith  the in ­
fo rm atio n  th a t he h a d .”

Skipping to line 11, p ag e  29.
“ Q uestion: On S ep tem ber 3rd you have  a  s ta te m e n t 

‘C ontinued in s tru c tin g  fa m ilie s .’ W hat does th a t 
m ean?  W hat fam ilies  w ere  you in s tru c tin g ?  A nsw er: 
As I said  before, I m ean t I d idn ’t fin ish  ge tting  the 
in fo rm ation  on the  f irs t day, th a t  I had  to continue 
the  second day. Q uestion: So you used the  w ords 
“ ob ta in ing  in fo rm atio n ” as  the  equ iva len t of “ in s tru c ­
tion” ? A nsw er: I d e lib e ra te ly  used, the  w ord “ in­
s tru c tio n ” th e re  co n tra ry  to the f a c ts .”

P ag e  30, beginning  a t line 7.
“ Question: Who d irec ted  and  reco rd ed  the  a tte m p t­

ed reg is tra tio n  by te lephone of the  p la in tiffs?  A nsw er: 
I pu t th a t in there ; I w as in m y  office; w hen  they



128

knew  th a t the fam ilies  did ta k e  th e ir  ch ild ren  to the 
F o re s t School, so I reco rd ed  th a t  in fo rm ation . Ques­
tion: Did you d irec t it?  A nsw er: No, sir, I d idn’t. 
Q uestion: I t say s  h e re , on the  5th d ay  of Septem ber, 
‘D irected  a n d  reco rd ed  th e  a tte m p te d  re g is tra tio n  by 
te lephone .’ Then, th a t  is not tru e?  A nsw er: T hat is 
no t true. Q uestion: Who w ere  the  fou r s tro n g  citizens 
who w ere  obta ined  to acco m p an y  th e  p a re n ts  w here 
only one or two w ere  app ly ing  to a school? A nsw er: 
I don’t re m e m b e r, s i r .”

I believe th a t is all, Y our Honor. I w ish  to in tro­
duce in evidence the  w hole of th e  rep o rt m ad e  by 
E dw in  C. W ashington, w hich is in the  deposition.

Mr. D urh am :
Now, Y our Honor, th e  P la in tiff ob jects to it. I t is 

an  ex  p a r te  s ta tem en t, no t shown to be execu ted  by 
e ith er of the  P la in tiffs  or anyone au tho rized  by them, 
an d  W ashington  is not show n to h av e  any  au thority  
to re p re se n t the  P la in tiffs  a t the  tim e  th a t  the  pu r­
po rted  s ta te m e n t w as m ad e  or since th a t  date, and 
it is no t b inding upon the  P la in tiffs .

The Court:
I h ave  a lre a d y  ind icated  th a t I don’t th ink  this 

deposition  h as  any  p lace in th is  case . W e recognize, 
of course , th a t the  h igh  profession of the  law yer 
should keep  h im  fro m  engag ing  in  b a r ra t ry ,  and  tha t 
is  a ll th is  shows, th a t the law y ers  sought cases, p a r­
ticu la rly  th is  case; bu t even  so, th a t doesn ’t  m ake 
any  d ifference to the Court. If the  clients w ere  denied 
a righ t, th en  they  h ad  a rig h t to go to th e  clien t if 
they  w ere  th a t so rt of people and  solicit em ploym ent. 
The in junction  th a t is ag a in s t th is  concern  for oper­
a tin g  in  T exas is one th a t w ill be taken' c a re  of by



129

th e  Ju d g e  who issued  the  in junction; bu t th a t is h is 
business and  not th is  Count’s business. If  the in ju n c­
tion is v io lated , th en  he h as  a r ig h t to pun ish  fo r con­
tem p t, and  I expect th a t he w ill ta k e  th a t course; 
bu t a f te r  h av in g  h ea rd  th is  deposition, w hich  h as  
taken  considerab le  tim e, I su sta in  the  ob jection  o ther­
w ise th a n  for th e  purpose I h av e  ind icated .

A ny o ther w itnesses you w ish  to in troduce?

Mr. Thuss:
Y our H onor, th a t is all. The D efendan ts  rest. I 

would like for the R e p o rte r—

The Court:
B oth sides close?

Mr. D urham :
P la in tiff  closes, Y our Honor.

Opinion of th e  Court.

This case  w as o rig inally  filed in  S ep tem ber, 1955, 
and  the  C ourt d ism issed  the case, a f te r  h av ing  h e a rd  
testim ony , w ithout p re jud ice .

P la in tiffs  appealed , and  ori M ay 25, 1956, the  C ircu it 
C ourt of A ppeals, th rough  tw o of its  Ju d g es , rev ersed , 
and  d irec ted  the  T ria l C ourt to affo rd  the  p a r tie s  a 
full h ea rin g  on the issues  te n d e red  in  th e ir  p lead ings. 
In  h is d issen ting  opinion, Chief Ju s tic e  C am eron  w as 
m ost convincing and  som ew hat e lab o ra te  in  his c ita ­
tion and  reason in ing , and  announced  th a t  he  w ould 
a ffirm  the  low er Court.

We m u st b e a r  in m ind  th a t  th e  law s of T exas, fo r 
a long tim e  in  existence, and  based  upon a  constitu ­
tional provision, p rov ide for public schools w hich  sha ll



130

be financed  out of and  fro m  tax a tio n . F o r m any 
y e a rs , th e  colored people of T exas h av e  b een  th e ir 
own te a c h e rs , and  have h ad  th e ir  own te ach e rs  and 
th e ir  own school fac ilitie s  and  pupils of th e ir  own 
color. The w hite people h av e  h ad  th e ir  own schools 
w ith a p p ro p ria te  fac ilitie s  an d  te a c h e rs .

A y e a r  or two ago, the  S up rem e C ourt of th e  United 
S ta tes , on the  question  of seg regation , s ta ted , “ We 
com e then  to the  question  p resen ted : does seg reg a­
tion  of ch ild ren  in public schools solely on th e  basis 
of ra c e , even though  th e  p h y sica l fac ilities  and  other 
tan g ib le  fa c to rs  m ay  be equal, deprive the  ch ild ren  of 
th e  m in o rity  group of equal educa tio n a l opportunities? 
We believe th a t it does.” T h a t is the end of th a t 
quo ta tion  fro m  th e  S up rem e Court.

I believe th a t i t  w ill be seen  th a t the  C ourt based  
its  decision' on no law  bu t r a th e r  on w h a t th e  Court 
re g a rd e d  as  m e re  au th o rita tiv e , m odern  psychological 
know ledge th a t  ex isted  a t  the  tim e  th a t th e  now  dis­
ca rd ed  doctine of equal fac ilitie s  w as in itia ted . It 
w ill be reca lled  th a t in 1952, M r. Ju stice  F ra n k fu r te r  
sa id  it w as not com peten t to take  ju d ic ia l no tice of 
“ C laim s of Social S c ien tis ts .”

The testim ony , w hich h as  been  fully  developed un­
d e r  th e  p leadings of each  side in  th is  case , as  d irec ted  
by th e  m a jo rity  opinion of the  C ircu it C ourt of Ap­
peals, show s u n m istak en ly  th a t com peten t te ach ers , 
eq u a l school facilities, and  te x t books, and  all so rts  
of school p a ra p h e rn a lia  a re  fu rn ish ed  to both th e  white 
and  colored schools and  pupils, an d  so the  sole ques­
tion  for th e  d e te rm in a tio n  of th is  Court of E su ity  is 
w h e th er the  keeping a p a r t  of the  two races  is a de­
p riv a tio n  of any  constitu tional righ t. T here  is no com ­
p la in t ag a in s t the  colored te ach e rs , though we m igh t



131

quite  ap p ro p ria te ly  inqu ire  w h at w ould becom e of th e  
co lored  te a c h e rs  if an d  w hen the  colored s tu d en ts  a re  
ta k e n  aw ay  from  th em . Is  it possib le, or p ro b ab le  th a t  
th e  colored te a c h e rs  would be h ired  to te a c h  the w hite 
pup ils?  T h ere  is no com pla in t by  th e  p la in tiffs  ag a in st 
the  com petency  of th e  colored te a c h e rs  no r ag a in st 
th e  im ped im en ts , or, p h y sica l fe a tu re s  of th e  school 
bu ild ings and  the  school grounds, or the  size.

F u r th e rm o re , the  suggestion  of th e  S up rem e C ourt 
th a t  th e  involved p a r tie s  should studiously  and  c a re ­
fu lly  seek  to in te g ra te  seem s to h av e  b een  a tte m p te d  
h ere ; bu t so fa r  h as  not succeeded ; bu t it h as  not 
been  abandoned  by the school au th o rities . I th ink  
th a t  th e  te stim o n y  shows com plete ly  th a t the  school 
au th o ritie s  h e re  in  ch a rg e  of th is In dependen t School 
D is tr ic t a re  ce rta in ly  doing th e ir  v e ry  best to com ply 
w ith  the ru lin g  of th e  S uprem e C ourt of th e  U nited  
S ta tes . A nd th a t C ourt, it w ill be  reca lled , le ft i t  up  
to the  school au h o rities  and  the local C ourts to fu r th ­
er h is in teg ra tio n  p rocess.

In  th e  W ichita F a lls  D ivision, a  few  y e a rs  ago, th is  
Court tr ied  a case  b rough t by som e colored ch ildren  
ag a in s t th e  M idw estern  U niversity , w hich would not 
allow  th e m  to m a tr ic u la te . The C ourt th e n  en te red  an  
o rd er, a f te r  a  fu ll tr ia l, allow ing th em  to be ad m itted  
as s tu d en ts; b eca u se  th e re  w as no n e a r  in stitu tion  iri 
w hich  they  could m a tr ic u la te  o ther th a n  P ra ir ie  View, 
w hich  w as app rox im ate ly  th re e  hu n d red  m iles d is­
tan t. T hat case  w as a ffirm ed  by the  C ircuit C ourt of 
A ppeals, and  also by  th e  S up rem e C ourt of th e  U nited  
S ta tes.

I t  should also  be bo rne in  m ind th a t  th e  s ta te  
s ta tu te  re q u ire s  s e p a ra te  schools for colored and  w hite 
studen ts. This su it is b rough t, th e re fo re , u n d e r the 
n a tio n a l Civil r ig h ts  provision of the  Constitution, and



132

not u n d e r the  S ta te  s ta tu te s , as th e  counsel fo r the 
defendans contends h ere . T here  is  no question  here 
a s  to the  a d m in is tra tiv e  p ro ced u re  or adm in is tra tiv e  
cou rse  th a t  should be followed. We have  Civil righ ts 
fo r a ll people u n d er the  n a tio n a l C onstitu tion, and  I 
m igh t suggest th a t if th e re  a re  Civil righ ts, th e re  are 
also  Civil w rongs.

It seem s to m e, in view  of the  fac ts, th a t the  w hite 
schools a re  h a rd ly  sufficient to hold th e  p re sen t num ­
ber of w hite  studen ts; th a t it w ould be un th inkab ly  
and  u n b e a ra b ly  w rong to re q u ire  th e  w hite  studen ts 
to  get out so th a t he colored stu d en ts  could com e in. 
T hat w ould be the  re su lt of in teg ra tio n  h ere .

The fa c ts  rev ea l th a t th e re  a re  abou t fifteen  per 
cen t of the  119,000 stu d en ts  in D allas  th a t  a re  colored, 
and  the  re m a in d e r  of th a t v a s t n u m b er a re , of course, 
w hite studen ts. D allas  is co n s tan tly  grow ing, a s  the 
te stim o n y  shows, and  the School B oard  and  City Coun­
cil a re  constan tly  m ak ing  fu r th e r  expend itu res to in­
c re a se  school fac ilities  for each  w hite and  colored, 
and  I see no equ ity  here , gentlem en, w hich w ould re­
q u ire  an  in junction  w hich would com pel in tegration  
as p ra y e d  and  sought a t th e  p re se n t tim e. I, th e re ­
fo re , d ism iss th is su it w ithout p re jud ice  in o rder th a t 
th e  School B oard  m ay  h av e  am p le  tim e, as  it ap p ea rs  
to be doing, to w ork out th is  p rob lem .

WM. H. ATW ELL,
U nited S ta tes  D is tric t Judge.

D ated  and  ren d e red  a t D allas, T exas, D ecem ber 19, 
1956.



133

JU D G M EN T.

F iled  Dec. 26, 1956.

U nited S ta te s  D is tric t C ourt for the  N o rth e rn  D is tric t 
of T exas, D allas  D ivision.

Civil A ction F ile  No. 6165.

A lb ert Bell, a  M inor, by his S tep fa th e r arid N ext 
F riend , Theodore D. D orsey, and  23 o ther P la in ­
tiffs, P la in tiffs ,

v.

D r. E dw in  L. R ippy, as  P re s id e n t of the  B o ard  of 
T rustees of the  D allas  Independen t School D is­
tr ic t, D allas  County, T exas, and  16 o ther D efend­
an ts, D efendants.

On th is  th e  19th day  of D ecem ber, 1956, ap p ea red  
th e  P la in tiffs  in person  arid by th e ir  a tto rn ey s  of 
reco rd  and  also  ap p e a re d  all of the D efendan ts  in  per­
son and  by th e ir  a tto rn ey s  of reco rd , and  th e  C ourt 
h av ing  considered  the  p lead ings and  a ll of th e  te s ti­
m ony, is of th e  opinion th e re  is no cause  for an  in ­
junction  as  p ray ed  for by th e  P lain tiffs .

I t Is, T herefore , the  O rder, Ju d g m en t and  D ecree 
of the  C ourt th a t th is  case  is d ism issed  w ithout p re ­
judice to the P la in tiffs , and  th a t a ll costs be ch a rg ed  
to sa id  P la in tiffs .



134

E n te re d  the  26 day  of D ecem b er, 1956.
(S.) WM. H. ATW ELL,

Ju d g e  of the  U nited  S ta te s  D is­
tr ic t  Court fo r the  N orthern  
D is tr ic t of T exas.

A pproved  as  to F o rm :
W. J . DURHAM,

A tto rn ey  for P la in tiffs .

A. J . THUSS,
A tto rn ey  for D efendants.

N OTICE O F A P P E A L  TO TH E U N ITED  STATES 
COURT OF A PP E A L S  FO R  TH E F IF T H  CIR­
CUIT AT N EW  O RLEANS, LOUISIANA.

F iled  D ec. 31, 1956.

In  the U nited  S ta tes  D is tric t C ourt for the  N orthern  
D is tr ic t of Texas, D allas  D ivision.

Civil A ction N um ber 6165.

A lb ert Bell, a m inor, by his n ex t friend , Theodore D. 
D orsey, e t al., 

vs.
D r. E dw in  L. R ippy, as  P re s id e n t of the  B oard  of 

T ru stee s  of the  D allas  Independen t School D is­
tr ic t, a C orporation, et al.

N otice is h e reb y  given th a t H ilda R u th  B orders, a 
m inor, by h e r  fa th e r  and  n ex t friend, Louie B orders,



135

J r .;  S an d ra  C raig  Boson, and  P a m le a  Boson, m inors, 
by th e ir  fa th e r  and  n ex t friend  L aw ren ce  C. Boson; 
W illiam  C. B urton , J r . ,  by his fa th e r  and  nex t friend  
W illiam  C. B urton ; S h irley  A nn Bush, a  m inor, by  
h e r fa th e r  and  next friend , F ran k lie  L. B ush; B illie 
M arie  Cox, a  m inor, by h e r  s tep -fa th e r and  h e r  m o th ­
er, as n ex t friends, Veil and  M ary  Snowden; C harlene 
G oldstein, a  m inor, by  h e r  fa th e r  and  n ex t friend , 
D avid  G oldstein; Carol, Cheyel and  R onald  H urdle, 
m inors, by th e ir  fa th e r  and  n ex t friend, E lm e r  D. 
H urdle; Ollie P e a r l  Ivy, a min'or, by  h e r  fa th e r and  
n ex t friend , J . J . Ivy; D iann  M urphy, a  m inor, by  
h e r g ran d -m o th e r and  h e r  g ran d -fa th e r as n ex t friends 
S. L. N eeley and  M rs. S. L. N eeley; L. L aw ren ce  
Nelson, II, a m inor, by his m o th e r and  n ex t friend , 
M rs. I ra  Nelson; Alonzo D. N ickerson , J r . ,  a min'or, 
by his fa th e r  and  nex t friend , Alonzo D. N ickerson', 
S r.; R osa Sharon  and  M aude Lois S im m s, m inors, 
by th e ir fa th e r  and  n ex t friend , the R ev eren d  P a u l 
A. S im m s; M ary A nn S lider, a  m inor, by h e r  fa th e r 
and  n ex t friend , L. G. S lider, and  D au rity  G. Sm ith, 
a m inor, by h is fa th e r  and  nex t friend , Leo M. 
Sm ith, all of w hom  are  p la in tiffs in the  above sty led  
and  n u m b ered  cause , h e reb y  ap p ea l to th e  U nited  
S ta tes  C ircuit C ourt of A ppeals from  a ju d g m en t en­
te re d  by th e  U nited S ta tes  D is tr ic t Court, N orthern  
D is tr ic t of T exas, a t D allas, on th e  26th day  of De­
cem ber, 1936, d ism issing  th e  cause  for w an t of equity.

(S.) WM. H. ATW ELL,
U nited  S ta tes  D is tric t Judge.

D ated  th is th e  26th day  of D ecem ber, 1956.



136

COST BOND ON A PPE A L .

F iled  Ja n . 11, 1957.

(T itle  O m itted .)

The P la in tiffs  herein, H ilda R u th  B orders, a  m inor, 
by h e r  fa th e r  and  n ex t friend , Louie B orders, J r.; 
S an d ra  C raig  Boson and  P a m le a  Boson, m inors, by 
th e ir  fa th e r  and  n ex t friend , L aw ren ce  C. Boson; 
W illiam  C. B urton, J r . ,  by h is fa h te r  and  n ex t friend, 
W illiam  C. B urton; Shirley A nn Bush, a  m inor, by 
h e r  fa th e r  and  nex t friend, F ra n k ie  L. Bush; C har­
lene G oldstein, a  m inor, by h e r  fa th e r  and  nex t friend, 
D avid  G oldstein; Carol, C heyel and  R onald  Hurdle, 
m inors, by th e ir  fa th e r  and  n ex t friend, E lm er D. 
H urdle; Ollie P e a r l Ivy, a  m inor, by h e r  fa th e r  and 
n ex t friend , J . J . Ivy; D ianna M urphy, a  m inor, by  her 
g ran d -m o th e r and  g ran d -fa th e r and  n ex t friends, S. L. 
N eely  and  M rs. S. L. N eely; L. L aw ren ce  N elson, II, 
a  m inor, by his m other and  n ex t friend , M rs. Ira  
N elson; Alonzo D. N ickerson, J r . ,  a m inor, by his 
fa th e r  and  n ex t friend, Alonzo D. N ickerson, Sr.; 
R osa Sharon  and  M aude Lois S im m s, m inors, by 
th e ir  fa th e r  and  n ex t friend , Rev. P a u l A. S im m s; 
M ary  Ann Slider, a  m inor, by h e r  fa th e r  and  next 
friend , L. G. S lider, and  D au rity  G. Sm ith , a  m inor, 
by his fa th e r  and  n ex t friend, Leo M. Sm ith, as  P rin ­
cipals, and  th e  o ther s ig n ers  hereto , a s  S ureties, ac ­
know ledge o u rse lves bound to pay  D efendan ts, the 
o fficers of the  Court, and  all p a r tie s  a t in te re s t, the 
sum  of Two H undred and  F ifty  D o lla rs  ($250) condi­
tioned to secure  the  p ay m en t of costs if the  ap p ea l is 
d ism issed  or the  ju d g m en t a ffirm ed , or such  costs as



137

th e  A ppella te  C ourt m ay  a w a rd  if the  ju d g m en t is 
affirm ed , or m odified.

(S.) LO U IE BO RD ERS, JR .,
H ilda R u th  B orders, a m inor, 

by h e r fa th e r  and  n ex t 
friend , Louie B orders, J r .

(S .) LA W REN CE C. BOSON,
S an d ra  C raig  Boson and  P a m l 

ela Boson, m inors, by th e ir  
fa th e r  and  n ex t friend , L aw ­
ren ce  C. Boson.

(S.) W ILLIAM  C. BURTON,
W illiam  C. B urton, J r ., by his 

fa th e r  and  n ex t friend , Wil­
liam  C. Burton!.

(S.) FR A N K IE  L. BUSH,
By his w ife, M rs. F ra n k ie  L. 

Bush, Sh irley  A nn Bush, a 
m inor, by h e r  fa th e r  and  
n ex t friend , F ra n k ie  L. B ush 

B illie M arie Cox, a  m inor, by 
h e r s tep -fa ther and  h e r 
m o th er as n ex t friends, Veil 
and  M ary Snowden.

(S.) DAVID GOLDSTEIN,
C harlene G oldstein, a  m inor, 

by h e r  fa th e r  and  nex t 
frien d  D avid  Goldstein.



138

(S.) E L M E R  D. H U RD LE,
C arol, C heyel and  R onald  

H urdle , m ino rs, by the ir 
fa th e r  an d  n ex t friend , E l­
m e r D. H urdle.

(S.) J . J . IVY,
Ollie P e a r l  Ivy, a m inor, by 

h e r  fa th e r and  n ex t friend, 
J . J . Ivy.

(S.) S. L. N E E L Y  & MRS. S. L. 
N E E L Y ,

D iann  M urphy, a m inor, by 
h e r  g ran d -m o th e r and  her 
g ra n d -fa th e r  a s  n ex t 
friends, S. L. N eeley and 
M rs. S. L. Neeley.

(S.) MRS. IRA  J. NELSON,
L. L aw ren ce  N elson II, a 

m inor, by h is m o th e r and 
n ex t friend , M rs. I ra  Nelson.

(S.) ALONZO D. N ICKERSO N  SR., 
Alonzo D. N ickerson , J r ., a  

m inor, by  his fa th e r  and 
nex t friend, Alonzo D. N ick­
erson, Sr.

(S.) PAU L A. SIMS,
R ose Sharon  and  M aude Lois 

S im m s, m inors, by  th e ir 
fa th e r  and  n ex t frien'd, the 
R everend  P a u l A. S im m s.



139

(S.) L. G. SLID ER ,
M ary  A nn S lider, a  m inor, by  

h e r  fa th e r  and  n ex t friend, 
L. G. S lider.

(S.) LE O  M. SMITH,
D au rity  G. S m ith , a  m inor, by 

h is  fa th e r  and n ex t friend , 
Leo M. Sm ith ,

P rinc ipa ls , Ind iv idually  
and  sev era lly .

(S.) WM. BURNS,
(S.) M. B. SLA U G H TER,

S ureties.

S ealed  w ith  our sea ls  an d  D ated  th is  th e  10th day  
of J a n u a ry , 1957.

A P P E L L A N T S ’ DESIGN A TION  O F TH E RECO RD  
ON A PPE A L .

F iled  Dec. 31, 1956.

(T itle  O m itted.)

Com e now p la in tiffs  n am ed  h e re in  in th e  Court b e­
low, ap p e llan ts  on appeal, p u rsu a n t to R ule 75, F e d ­
e ra l R ules of Civil P roced u re , by th e ir  a tto rn ey s  of 
reco rd , and  designate  th e  following portions of the 
reco rd , p roceed ings and  evidence adduced  in the t r ia l



140

of th is cause , to be p laced  in  and  m ad e  a p a r t  of 
the  record  on appeal:

1. P la in tif fs ’ A m ended  C om plain t filed in  D ecem ­
ber, 1956;

2. D efen d an ts’ 2nd A m ended  A nsw er filed  in D e­
cem ber, 1956;

3. D efen d an ts’ M otion fo r A dm ission of F a c ts  filed 
Sept. 11, 1956;

4. P la in tiffs ’ R eply  there to  filed S ep tem ber 18, 
1956;

5. P la in tif fs ’ R eq u es t for A dm ission of F a c t  filed 
S ep tem b er 18, 1956;

6. D efen d an ts’ R eply  to R eq u est for A dm ission  of 
F a c t  filed S ep tem b er 25, 1956;

7. T ra n sc r ip t of the  E vidence In troduced  a t T ria l 
on D ecem ber 19, 1956;

8. C ourt’s F ind ing  of F a c t and  Conclusions of Law ;

9. Ju d g m en t of the  Court, signed  D ecem ber 26, 
1956;

10. Notice of A ppeal;

12. A ppeal Bond.

R espectfu lly  Subm itted ,
C. B. BU N K LEY , JR .,



141

3318 O akland  Avenue.
K E N N E T H  F . H O LBERT,

2531 F o re s t  Avenue.
J . L. TU R N ER , JR .,

1723 R outh  S treet.
W. J . DURHAM ,

2600 F lo ra  S tree t.
LOUIS A. B ED FO R D ,

1831 Singleton Blvd.
U. SIM PSO N  TATE,

4207 S. O akland  A venue.
D allas, T exas.

By U. SIM PSON TATE,
A tto rneys for A ppellan ts.

R O B E R T  L. CA RTER,
THURGOOD MARSHALL,

107 W est 43rd S treet,
N ew  Y ork  36, New York.

C ertifica te  of Service.

This Is  To Certify th a t on the  31st day  of D ecem ­
ber, 1956, I, U. S im pson T ate , one of th e  A tto rneys 
of R ecord  in th is cause , se rv ed  a tru e  copy of the  
above N otice of A ppeal and  a  tru e  copy of A ppel­
la n ts ’ D esignation' of the  R eco rd  on A ppeal, upon  the  
H onorable A. J . Thuss, A tto rney  fo r R ecord  for a p ­
pellees herein , by p lacing  th e  sam e  in the  U nited  
S ta tes  M ail, postage  paid, ad d ressed  to h im  a t  his 
office 1122 D avis Building, D allas  2, T exas.

U. SIM PSON TATE,
(U. S im pson T a te ).



142

C L E R K ’S CER TIFIC A TE.

I, JO H N  A. LOW THER, C lerk  of th e  U nited  S ta tes  
D is tric t Court for the  N orthern  D is tric t of T exas, do 
h ereby  certify  th a t the  foregoing is a  tru e  and  co rre c t 
tra n s c r ip t of the  Record, and  all p roceed ings in Cause 
No. 6165 Civil, w here in , A lb e rt Bell, a  M inor, by  h is 
S tep -fa ther arid N ext F rien d , Theodore D. D orsey, 
e t al., a re  p la in tiffs , and  D r. E dw in  L. R ippy, as 
P re s id e n t of th e  B oard  of T ru s tee s  of th e  D allas  In ­
dependen t School D is tric t, D allas, D a lla s  County, Tex­
as, e t al., a re  defendan ts , as fu lly  as  th e  sam e  now 
re m a in  on file and  of reco rd  in m y  office a t D allas, 
T exas.

W itness m y  hand  officially  and  th e  seal of sa id  
C ourt a t D allas, T exas, th is  the  30th d ay  of J a n u a ry  
A. D. 1957

JO H N  A. LOW THER,
Clerk,

By E L IZ A B E TH  M cCLELLON, 
(Seal) D eputy.



E. S. UPTON PRINTING CO., NEW ORLEANS —  26721



N O T I C E

As t h i s  case  w i l l  p ro b a b ly  be a s s ig n e d  f o r  h e a r in g  in  

New O r le a n s  in  May o r  th e  e a r ly  p a r t  o f  June , NO e x te n s io n s  f o r  

th e  f i l i n g  o f  b r ie f s  can be g ra n te d . I t  i s ,  t h e r e fo r e ,  sugges­

ted  th a t  co u n se l f o r  a p p e l la n t  f u r n is h  co u n se l f o r  a p p e lle e  w ith  

a carbon  copy o f  t h e i r  b r i e f ,  a t  th e  tim e  same i s  p repa red  and 

d e l iv e r e d  f o r  p r in t in g ,  t h e r e a f t e r  s u b s t i t u t in g  a p r in te d  copy, 

so t h a t  a l l  b r i e f s  may be f i l e d  in  advance o f  th e  h e a r in g .

EDWARD W. WADSWORTH 
C le r k



N O T I C E

As t h i s  case  w i l l  p ro b a b ly  be a s s ig n e d  f o r  h e a r in g  in  

New Orleans in  Hay o r  th e  e a r ly  p a r t  o f  June , NO e x te n s io n s  f o r  

the filing of b r ie f s  can be g ra n te d . I t  i s ,  t h e r e fo r e ,  sugges­

ted t h a t  co u n se l for a p p e lla n t  f u r n is h  cou n se l f o r  a p p e lle e  w ith  

a carbon copy o f  t h e i r  b r i e f ,  a t  th e  t im e  same i s  p repa red  and 

delivered f o r  p r in t in g ,  t h e r e a f t e r  s u b s t i t u t in g  a p r in te d  copy, 

so t h a t  a l l  b r i e f s  may be f i l e d  in  advance o f  th e  h e a r in g .

EDWARD W. WADSWORTH 
C le r k



ffimteb jifofos Qfouri trf JVppals for %  Jlfifttj ffitrrutl

New O r le a n s  6 ,  La.
ferch 26,1957t g j ,

HHJBA ttOTH apRllS:i£y a alaor, by her bather 
m d tussb fr lm d +  W iilE  BORDERS, JIU , ST AL.# 
______________________________ Appal l  jjggfeg||______

3 .6 ,433*  versus
i%« UHsIi; L« 3 1 2 ? ? , £>8 P r e s i d e  o f  Boan 

o f  T ru stees  o f th e  D a lla s  Independent School 
D is t r i c t -,  ET .€, »»______________________________

A p p ellees.

The 
The t im e

r e c o r d  i n  t h e  above  e n t i t l e d  c a s e  i s  i n  f i n a l  form  
f o r  f i l i n g  BRIEFS i s  i n d i c a t e d  i n  t h e  f o l l o w i n g  r u l e

RULE 24, Subsections 1 and 3 OF THIS COURT, HAS BEEN AMENDED TO 
READ AS FOLLOWS:

1. The Clerk shall mail a notice to each party or his counsel so soon as the 
record by printing, or otherwise, is in final form for a hearing. The counsel for the 
appellant, or petitioner, shall file with the Clerk of this court within thirty days 
from the receipt of such notice and at least fifteen days in ordinary cases and (5) 
five days in preference cases before the case is set for argument, twenty copies of 
a printed brief, one to be signed in handwriting by an attorney of this court who 
has entered an appearance in the case; together with a certificate that a copy has 
been mailed to or previously served on the opposite party or parties. Four copies 
of typewritten briefs in behalf of poor persons in forma pauperis cases, with a like 
certificate of service, shall be sufficient.

3. The Counsel for appellee or respondent shall file with the Clerk of this 
court within twenty (20) days from the service upon him of opponent’s brief, and 
at least five days before the case is set for argument in either ordinary or prefer­
ence cases, twenty copies of a printed brief, with a certificate that a copy has been 
mailed to or personally served on his opponent or opponents. His brief shall be of 
a like character with that required of the appellant or petitioner, except that no 
specification of errors shall be required and no statement of the case unless that 
presented by the appellant or petitioner is controverted.

EDWARD W. WADSWORTH, 
C le r k .

FPI ATLANTA----1 2 -1 8 -5 6 — 3M— -4377