November 27, 1925: Detroit News: Ossian Sweet Jurors Still At Odds

On this day in 1925, The Detroit News reports “Sweet Jurors Still At Odds.”

The report centers on a racial incident that occurs on the city’s lower east in an all-white neighborhood. Dr. Ossian Sweet, prominent African-American doctor, buys a house, located at 2905 Garland. The Sweet family, who moved into the house on September 8, endures continual race-related badgering and taunts from their white neighbors.
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The action results in a white man, Leon Breiner, being killed and 11 friends and members of the Sweet family standing trial for murder, including Ossian and his brother Henry. Attorney Clarence Darrow represents them and Frank Murphy presides over the case as judge. The jury, comprised of 12 white men, is deliberating.

After 46 hours of review and debate, the legal proceeding will end in a mistrial. Seven of the jurors want a manslaughter conviction for Ossian and Henry Sweet, five argue for an acquittal, according to reports published later. As for the other defendants, the vote is 10 to two in favor of acquittal.

Ultimately, Ossian and Henry will be acquitted in the second trial held the following year.

  Murder, On this day, Ossian Sweet, race, Trial

Ken Coleman

Ken Coleman, the author of On this Day: African-American Life in Detroit, is a native Detroiter and former news reporter. He served on the Detroit Charter Revision Commission. He lives in Detroit with his wife, Kim Trent, and their son, Jackson Coleman.

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