The broad ax., 1926-05-22
MOT GUILTY" Is VERDICT in
SWEET MURDER TRIAL
Spectators Warned Against Outbreak
Jury Out Three and Half Hours
Preston News servicel


Of not guilty was returned in Judge
Frank Murphy's court at Sis p. m,
Thursday, in the case of Henry Sweet,
charged with completely in the Staying
Of Leon E. Bremen, fatally shot last
September during race disturbance
in front Of zoos Garland avenue
Whether the acquittal will mean the
dropping of the cases against the 10
other defendants arrested following
the shooting is a matter Prosecutor
Robert NJ. Toms, said he had not de-
cided.
The jury spent three hours and IS
minutes in actual deliberation. 1t was
locked up at 1:35 p m. AT $50 it sent
out note asking whether crowd in
front Of the house would necessarily
give the defendant the right to shoot.
The judge ignored the notes request
for reply. At $40 one of the jury
men raped at the door and announced
that an agreement had been reached.
Spectators Cautioned
Whites and blacks filed, the
courtroom as the jury filed in. Before
the report was read by the foreman,
Judge Murphy cautioned spectators
against making any demonstration.
do not let passion interfere with
your acceptance of this verdict, what
ever it may be-" he warned. Accept
it courageously and with good will. "
A murmur ran through the courtroom
as the~verdict was delivered, but there
was no further display of emotion.
The Judge complimented the vari-
Gus attorneys for their conduct during
the trial, declaring it reflected honor
upon the city"
Clarence Darrow and Thomas F.
Chawke, defense attorneys, were con-
graduated by many Of the spectators.
List of Jurymen
The jurors were: Charles Thorne,
sailor on the Great Lakes for so years;
William B. Brunswick, locomotive en-
gineer; Edward B. Bernie, pharma-
cist; John M. Allan, machinist; James
S. Spencer, electrician; Charles Phil
lips, electrician; Charles L. Damn,
manager of a chain grocery; Ralph
Fuelling, soldier in the World War
and peace times and laborer; George
G. Small, district manager for the De-
troit and Cleveland Navigation Com
pany; Richard Adams, retired; Louis
]. Sutton, seminary employee and Will
liam John Sampson, electrician.
Story of Shooting
DIR. Ossian Sweet, brother of Henry,
had just moved into the Garland ave-
nue. house at the time of Breiner's
death. In the house were IL persons
and quantities of shot guns, revolvers
and ammunition, while outside were
a group Of white persons, variously de-
scribed as handful Of persons and as
mob.
hff1rr ts "a -r
sitting on the porch Of a dwelling
across the street, smoking his pipe and
chatting with neighbor, when slain
by shots fired from an upper window
of the Sweet house. Other shots from
the same source wounded Erick Ho-
berg.
Police, who had been assigned to
guard the home against possible out
break, arrested the II at the time.
Darrow Statement
barrow in a statement following the
verdict said that he believed the effect
Of the Sweet trial would be beneficial.
Verdict in Sweet Trial
Both Negroes and whites have to
learn the lesson of forbearance," he
stated. Personally / feel that the
sentiment against the Negro is one of
prejudice, growing out of the Negroes
recent rise from slavery. But preju-
dices have to be reckoned with as
much as facts.
And the whites cannot be held re-
sponsible for their prejudice for all Of
US are products Of environment. None
Of us is responsible for our old preju-
dices. The Negro must remember
that it takes long time to overcome
habits and prejudices. His progress is
bound to be slow, but l feel that it
will be sure. 1t will come by mutual
understandings and consideration
rather than by legislation. / believe
that the outcome Of this case will be
benefit to the white and the black
man alike"
Excusable Homicide Explained