The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-04-27
JURORS SHOW
PREJUDICE IN
SWEET TRIAL
DarrOw May Ask Case
Be Tried Elsewhere
BY coRIENNE ROBINSON.
Special to The Daily worksrl

DETROIT, Mich. April rs. - The
first serious outbreak in connection
with the trial Of Henry Sweet defend
ant in the famous riot case Of Detroit,
occurred today when several jurors
made prejudieiaI statements in answer
to questions by attorney for defense,
Clarence barrow.
The first juror of these was black
smith, Leo P. Brown, who stated that
he believed "in class of people stay
ing together where they belonged"
and that he didn't believe in classes
mixing"
After these and similar statements
barrow angrily questioned the juror
concerning the right of the principles
in the Sweet case to defend their
property, whereupon Mr.. Brown stated
that man looking for trouble al
ways get trouble"
Causes Stir in Court.
These statements from Brown
caused a stir thru the whole court
room especially his reference to
class of people staying together.
In this he Iainly demonstrated his
ignorance of the meaning of the word
"class" since he did not feel that he
should live in the neighborhood of
Negro workers, unquestionably mem
bers of the same "class" with which
he was identifed-Brown gave his
occupation as a blacksmith.
"They Have to Live" Says barrow,
The next exponent of "racial puri-
ty." was a stereotyper employed by the
Detroit News who said that he be-
lieved Negroes should not penetrate
white neghborhoods." .s
barrow then stated to the juror the
fact that within the last ten years
the Negro population of Detroit has
grown from $4,000 to between 20 or
so thousand, and that it would be inn
possible for the additional people to
crowd themselves in the "black belt"
district formerly accommodating 49,
900 people.
He further stated that the law gives
these Negroes the right to buy proper
ty here in Detroit just the same as
any other man.
Then" quizzed Darrow. edo the
neighbors who happen not to want
him. have the right to take the law
in their hands and drive him out?"
In answer to this, the juror squirmed
uneasiy and answered, that Negroes
moving into white" neighborhoods
decrease property value, and that he
owned property in this neighborhood
which would be affected. Then the
juror answering a second demand
from barrow as to The right of the
directors to storm the property, voiced
his hearty endorsement Of such
violence.
barrow and Moll Clash.
]. Moran was soon disqualified after
very emphatic statement of pre-
JUDGE based on possible financial loss
and then the "last straw" confronted
Darrow, who had, up to this point,
managed in spite OF his evaporation,
to retain his rather cool, complacent
manner of examination.
VIM. e. Bonner, an engineer for the
Telephone company, said that he could
see no necessity for the defendants in
the Sweet case shooting at all since
they had police protection"
Darrow leaped to his feet with
furious gesture and asked Bonner II
he knew that "a number of colored
peoples homes have been destroyed
right before the eyes Of the police?"
Lester Moll, assisting the prosecuting
attorney, objected to the question.
However Judge Murphy ruled the
CONTINUED on page 3D.
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