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78 Mass. 211

McCrea v. Marsh

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Decided November 15, 1858

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · decided 1858-11-15

Action of tort for forcibly excluding the plaintiff from a theatre in Boston, called the Howard Athenaeum. At the trial in the superior court of Suffolk at September terrr, 1857, the plaintiff, who was a colored person, introduced evidence tending to show that he bought of the defendant, at the box office of the theatre, a ticket of the usual size and form of tickets of admission to places of amusement, on which were printed the words, “ Marsh’s Juvenile Comedians.

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently December 1905

2 state decisions

Relies on Foot v. New Haven & Northampton Co.

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1858-11-15

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Metcalf, J.

¶1It was correctly ruled, at the trial, that, the plaintiff could not maintain this action, and that his remedy, if any, was by an action of contract. We therefore need not express an opinion concerning any of the other rulings.

¶2Assuming that the plaintiff, by purchase of the ticket from the defendant, obtained permission to enter the family circle in the Howard Athenseum, in his own person, and occupy a place *213there during the exhibition, yet it was only an executory contract.” It was a license legally revocable, and was revoked before it was in any part executed. After it was revoked, the plaintiff’s attempts to enter were unwarranted, and the defendant rightfully used the force necessary to prevent his entry.

¶3According to the decision in Wood v. Leadbitter, 13 M. & W. 838, even if the plaintiff had been permitted to enter the family circle, the defendant might have ordered him to leave it, at any time during the exhibition, and, upon his refusal, might have removed him, using no unnecessary force. The doctrine of revocable licenses was there thoroughly discussed, and the authorities analyzed, by Mr. Baron Alderson, and the case of Tayler v. Waters, 7 Taunt. 374, and 2 Marsh. 551, was overruled. See also Adams v. Andrews, 15 Ad. & El. N. R. 296; Roffey v. Henderson, 17 Ad. & El. N. R. 574; Bridges v. Purcell, 1 Dev. & Bat. 492; Foot v. New Haven & Northampton Co. 23 Conn. 214; Jamieson v. Millemann, 3 Duer, 255.

¶4The plaintiff is doubtless entitled to recover, in an action of contract, the money paid by him for the ticket, and all legal damages which he sustained by the breach of the contract implied by the sale and delivery of the ticket.

¶5Exceptions overruled.

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