Belton's journey was devoid of special interest until he arrived within the borders of the state.

At that time the law providing separate coaches for colored and white people had not been enacted by any of the Southern States.

But in some of them the whites had an unwritten but inexorable law, to the effect that no Negro should be allowed to ride in a first-class coach.

Louisiana was one of these states, but Belton did not know this.

So, being in a first-class coach when he entered Louisiana, he did not get up and go into a second-class coach.