The daily worker., 1926-05-16
not GUILTY.
JURY VERDICT
IN SWEET trial
Accused Negro Freed of
Murder Charge
BY C. o'5RIEN ROBINSON.
Especial to The Daily Worker)


DETROIT, May "A. - Henry Sweet,
younger brother Of Dr.. ossian n.
Sweet, was acquitted of the murder of
Leon 5reiner after the Jury had
deliberated two and half hours.
Every attempt was made by the
prosecution in the case to send Henry
Sweet to the gallows for the alleged
murder of Leon Breiner, one of al
mob that attacked the Sweet residence
with an intention of lynching the
Negroes occupying the house.
At the first trial of Henry Sweet and
10 co-defendants all attempts were
made by the ku klux khan and other
pure white" organizations to bring
about verdict of guilty and send the
Negroes either to the gallows or to life
terms in prison. The attempt of the
prosecutor and the ku klux khan at
the first trial failed. The jury after
being out number of hours were
unable to agree and were discharged.
Separate Trials Demanded.
The defense then insisted on separ-
ate trials for the defendants. This
motion was granted. Henry Sweet
against whom the state claimed to
have the strongest case and most
evidence was the first called to trial.
During the choosing of the jury
Clarence Darrow and Thomas Chawke,
Negro lawyer, exercised the greatest
care in wedding out members of the
ku klux khan and the Water Works
Improvement Association. After the
Jury was impanelled a bitter. fight be
gan between the lawyers representing
the Sweets and the. state.
The lawyers for the state attempted
to play on the racial prejudice and the
emotions of the jury. Witnesses for
the state gave testimony which was
lconfiicting and which was declared by
Darrow and Chawke to be "periured
Testimony" Chawke declared that in
his long experience in the law courts
of the country he had never heard so
many lies told from the witness stand
as there was in this trial.
Police Aided Mob.
Police officers that were supposed to
have aided the Sweets against attacks
by the mob were found to have aided
the mob in the attack. One policeman
even boasted of firing his revolver at
the occupants of the house.
The lawyers for the defense tore
down the mask of lies built up by the
prosecution, members of the ku klux
khan and the Water Works Improve
ment Association against the IL
Negroes.
Judge Murphy in his instructions
to the jury urged the jurymen not to
allow their racial prejudices TO inter-
fere with the verdict they would bring
in. He pointed out to them plainly
and distinctly what constituted homi-
eide, murder in the first degrees, sec
ond degree, and manslaughter. and also
what constituted justifable, excusable
and felonious murder.
May Drop the Cases.
He declared: 1T is my duty to warn
you that prejudice or intolerance or
passion should not enter into your
deliberations upon the facts, else
reason would depart and the calm con-
sideration necessary for a just verdict
would be lacking. Rich or poor. white
or black, each man brot before the
bench or jury is entitled to equal con-
sideration and justice"
AS the prosecution considered its
case the strongest against Henry
Sweet, it is believed that the indict-
ments in the other 10 cases will be
dropped.