Arc of Justice

In the time between the summer of 1925, when Ossian and Gladys Sweet bought their house on Garland Lane, and May 1926, when Henry Sweet was found not guilty in the second trial, many different people became directly involved with the Sweet case; countless more observed it in Detroit and points across the United States.  Undoubtedly, the story of Garland Avenue and the murder trial of Sweet and his associates had different meanings for different people. In a paper of at least four pages (double spaced), reflect on the meaning of the Sweet story to some of its participants and observers.  This certainly does not need to be a comprehensive analysis.  Instead, chose two or three people or groups and discuss the meaning these events had to them.  You might consider the view of Ossian Sweet himself, of his wife, his parents, or his brother.  In addition, you could consider other people or groups, such as Clarence Darrow, Detroitâ€s “Talented Tenth,” the NAACP (as an institution and as a group with a legal agenda), the jury members, Frank Murphy or Johnny Smith or other Detroit politicians, the residents of Garland Lane, Detroitâ€s immigrants or “old stock” populations, or of any other individual or group that you find interesting.