Though Murder Has No Tongue (38 page)

June 5, 1936 Alum Cheeley and Gomez Ivory find victim no. 4's head (tattooed man) in Kingsbury Run.

July 22, 1936 Mary Barkley finds victim no. 5 near Big Creek.

September 10, 1936 Jerry Harris finds victim no. 6 near the stagnant pool.

September 15, 1936 Cuyahoga County coroner Arthur J. Pearce held “The Torso Clinic” at the Central Police Station to review the torso killer evidence and generate new hypotheses. The clinic was attended by Eliot Ness, Cleveland State Hospital superintendent Dr. Guy Williams, Common Pleas Court psychiatrist Dr. Royal Grossman, Anatomists Dr. T. Wingate Todd and W. M. Krogman of Western Reserve University, Police Chief George Matowitz, County Prosecutor Frank Cullitan, Sergeant James Hogan, and Police Surgeon George O'Malley.

February 23, 1937 Robert Smith finds the upper half of a woman's torso near the Lake Erie shore—victim no. 7.

June 6, 1937
Russell Lauer finds a skull under the Lorain-Carnegie (now the Hope Memorial) Bridge—victim no. 8.

July 6, 1937 Private Edgar Steinbrecher finds victim no. 9 floating in the water near the West Third Street Bridge.

February 11, 1938 Leonard F. Prendergast, DDS, swears a complaint for the Probate Court indicating he believed Frank Sweeney, MD, “to be mentally ill and [in] need of specialized observation or treatment or both.” The complaint also indicates that Sweeney is neither suicidal, homicidal, nor dangerous to the community. “Patient Physician at Massillon State Hospital. In Probate Court for 3rd time as alcoholic. Yesterday became hallucinated with ideas of fear. Talked about Federal men after him. Police called and taken to jail.”

February 28, 1938 Probate Court Inquest of Lunacy. Frank Sweeney, M.D., was examined by Drs. West and Stone in jail. Observations: “At time of admission to Probate ward patient was rather toxic [and] was frank in his admission of excessive drinking. Sister states that he and his wife are divorced. That at times he has indicated symptoms suggestive of delusions, which however were transient. Also that he had been hallucinated at times when drinking, usually. On probate ward his behavior has been orderly, recently moderately dejected and less talkative than on admission. His condition generally is good. He is discharged on his own request stating that he would resume work either at Massillon or Columbus State Hospital. Prognosis guarded.” Patient said: “I have been assistant physician at Massillon State Hospital, past year, left there three weeks ago; have not been in touch with hospital since. I came here from Marine Hospital. I have been drinking. I don't want to lose my job.”

February 28, 1938 Complaint dismissed, Sweeney discharged.

April 8, 1938 Steve Morosky finds part of a human leg on the East bank of the Cuyahoga River—victim no. 10.

April 12, 1938 [Sister] swears a complaint for the Probate Court indicating she believes Frank Sweeney, M.D., “to be mentally ill and [in] need of specialized observation or treatment or both.” Sweeney was not suicidal, homicidal, or dangerous to the community. Remarks: “Discharged Probate Ward 2/28/1938. Again drinking to excess and in dejected state. Sister asks further period of observation.” Agnes B. and Martin Sweeney (“bro”) are listed as friends or relatives.

April 25, 1938
Probate Court Inquest of Lunacy, Frank Sweeney examined by Drs. West and Tierney in jail. Observations: “This patient was previously on probate ward in January 1934 [illegible] from February 10th to 28th, 1938. He is readmitted 11th inst. Having been drinking excessively since shortly after last discharge, living with a cousin. [At no time] has he shown hallucinations or delusions, his behavior has been orderly, he appears remorseful and discouraged at times. He is anxious to [rehabilitate] himself, thinks he has an opportunity for employment at Xenia, O. Nothing indicating a psychosis, he is again discharged in good condition in care of Mr. Walsh.”

April 25, 1938 Complaint dismissed, patient discharged.

May 1938 James Badal has found evidence that Eliot Ness conducted a secret suspect interrogation at the Cleveland Hotel. Also present were court clinic psychiatrist Dr. Royal Grossman and David L. Cowles, who was head of the Scientific Investigation Bureau. The secret suspect's name was Gaylord Sundheim.

August 16, 1938 James Dawson, James McShack, and Edward Smith find human remains at the East
9
th Street dump—victim no. 11. Todd Bartholomew finds more remains among the garbage—victim no. 12.

August 17–18, 1938 Shanty Town Raids.

August 25, 1938–July 30, 1940 Sweeney resides at Sandusky Soldiers' and Sailors' Home.

October 13, 1939 Railroad workers find the headless corpse of a young man in New Castle, Pennsylvania
.

May 3, 1940 Railroad inspectors find three headless bodies in boxcars in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania.

February 5, 1941–January 6, 1942 Sweeney resides at Sandusky Soldiers' and Sailors' Home.

1940–1941 Sweeney confined as a mental patient in the Veterans Administration Hospital in Ohio.

December 30, 194[6]–June 12, 1951 Sweeney resides at Sandusky Soldiers' and Sailors' Home.

July 22, 1950
Body of Robert Robertson found on property of Cleveland's Norris Brothers Company.

September 12, 1953 (FBI File 62-100240) Letter to J. Edgar Hoover at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington, D.C. The return address is Vetr. Admin. Ctr. Co # 16.

Dayton, Ohio [typed at the top of handwritten letter]

Dear Sir, Since years ago, 1942-194 [illegible] I wrote you concerning [illegible] their developing connection within and upon the Federal Circuit which I then called “Nessisms.” Whether or not this is a break in the Espirit de Corp or a break in the Espirit of My Person, I think would call [illegible] any obligation upon the F.B.I. to [illegible]. May I call your attention to this fact that the condition continues to prevail and that a basic principle of our individual freedoms is not at Stake, but, being Prostituted. Knowing that he was an upriser, upstarted in the Social Reforms section—Federal Security Agency. (Possibly abolished now since he can no longer twirl the baton upon the all American Turf.) Poisoning seems to have become a science which only those in the know and How come he accurately [illegible] of and seemingly I am one of
such.

It would not take a toxicologist very long to Prove the assertion which I will make upon Proper Ground and within the, proper medium.

Whether or not [illegible]
first appeal in a question because enumerating/eminating from a place like this Vets
Admin Hosp Fort Custer Mich. Would necessarily get a “Crack Pop” [illegible] upon immediate appraisal. This
Boy
has been trying to poke/take/kick the Ball over. With apparent Phonies for years most of his Material has Psychotic Derivation – and He is quite allergic to Psychotic Formulations/Fermentations, [illegible]. All of which has been deduced by a personal interest in knowing
why
? Such a condition can prevail in Federal Institutions since
1942
and not gain any formulation for clearance—Your men pass this way from time to time and I do not see any 3 dimensional eyeware to block their natural virus/visual apparatus—or are we just upon the General highway of Social Deterioration and that come day go day philosophy of the Feeble Minded is gaining presidence over quantitative and qualitative thought the normal way of American life in decadence in
Totality
. I hope that your St [illegible] secretary does not get an Epicurious Bulge [illegible] this is translated into the small lines of “Live liberty & his pursuit of happiness. An
Apostle
from the local field
office or the Central Washington would be greatly appreciated & perhaps We can ‘sing song' together [illegible] to “Sweet Adol [illegible]”—with tow of the Big Stru[illegible] in [illegible Cleveland] a few years back. We sort [illegible] each [illegible]—Perhaps you've heard of same. In the mean time I hope you find sufficient significance to at least give Me a “look See”. Because eventually I am coming in with Just Who is [illegible] U.S.
America
Why
does
a M[illegible] have to tolerate His Weak
ness
—This is [illegible] the order of a Complaint. You give me the Man or
Men
and I will surface [illegible] for the Good of Everyone. I especially hereabouts.
Thank you Frank E. Sweeney M.D. [emphasis Sweeney's]

September 21–29, 1953 Letter from SAC, Cincinnati to Director, FBI re: Dr. Frank E. Sweeney:

Attached are two copies of a communication from captioned individual dated 9/12/1953. He is not readily identifiable in Bufiles [presumably Bureau files], and his communication has not been acknowledged.

Bufiles contain voluminous correspondence received from one [blacked out] of [blacked out] dating back to 1947. Letters from this individual [illegible] most incoherent and nonsensical, and he has been [illegible] as a chronic correspondent of the Bureau. There is the possibility that correspondent may be identical with the individual, although the rambling letters described above do not contain the title of “Doctor.”

Your office is instructed to establish the identity and background of the writer of attached letter, furnishing the Bureau a summary of data available to you through [illegible] discreet inquiry, together with your recommendation as to how future correspondence from him should be handled. [S illegible] under caption above to reach the Bureau no later than 10/5/1953.

October 2, 1953 Office Memorandum—United States Government

To Director, FBI From SAC, Cincinnati (62-2133). The subject of the letter is Dr. Frank E. Sweeney, Company Number 16, Veterans Administration Center, Dayton, OH, Research (Crime records): “Mr. Coubron Hull, Domiciliary Officer, Veterans Administration Center, 4300 West Third Street, Dayton Ohio furnished the following information concerning Frank E. Sweeney, V.A. no. c-274435, who entered here on July 6, 1951, as a Domiciliary patient. Frank E. Sweeney was born May 5, 1894 . . . and was a member of the U.S. Army from October 2, 1917 to August 6, 1919 as a Private in the Medical Corps.
His Army Serial number is not available. He claims to be a doctor having graduated from St. Louis Medical College, St. Louis, Missouri, in 1928, and a doctor who practiced from 1930 to 1934 in Cleveland, Ohio, and after this in a hospital in Glenwood, Iowa, and for the CCC in Ohio. He has also been confined as a mental patient in the Veterans Administration Hospital from 1940-1941. Sweeney gave his last residence in 1951 as [section blacked out in the document] and his nearest relative as a sister, [blacked out]. Brown hospital, VA Center, Dayton, Ohio have records which reflect Sweeney has heart trouble. He has also been found incompetent by reasons of having a mental disease described as ‘Psychosis (schizoid manic) manic depression.' Mr. Hull stated further that Sweeney is constantly in trouble at the VA center with the courts there, and has been charged 10 times out of 20 appearances in court with being drunk. Mr. Hull feels that letters received from Sweeney by the FBI should not be answered. It is the recommendation of the Cincinnati Office that correspondence received from Sweeney in the future should not be answered or given any consideration due to his mental condition.”

October 7, 1953 Attachment: “NOTE: No record could be located in Bufiles of the correspondent Sweeney mentioned in instant communication which he supposedly sent us in 1942-1946. It is believed advisable to handle as above since there is a possibility that the writer may be a doctor, rather than a patient in this V.A. Center. A notation is carried in Crime Records Section indicating that no acknowledgments are to be sent to the [blacked out] described from [blacked out].”

February 14, 1954 From the Western Reserve Historical Society collection, a letter addressed to Mr. Eliot Ness care of Miss [Proharage] at the Union Commerce Bldg. in Cleveland and signed by “Frank E. Sweeney, MD Ohio 7148.” The return address is Vets. Admin. Center, O #16, Dayton Ohio: “Dear Sir, Enclosed a few items for your, Personal Perusal, as to Hermancy Reverence, ‘Per Se,' should all or any have no significant application – Would that you present to Special Agent M.S. Cord for a Personal extraction here from and if again in the Negative, tis no doubt as of some, Perverted information having Dominant Dwelling,
a loft
in my, ‘Wind sheets' I trust that we shall meet again amongst more favorable, “Federal issues” My apologies
Frank E. Sweeney MD Ohio 7148

PS. ‘Phony', criminalization—Is tough, at
any monetary Bargaining
? As well as Phony Psychotization?”

June 29, 1956 Letter from Frank E. Sweeney, M.D. to Walter T. Kinder, Judge Probate Court, New Court House, Cleveland, Ohio:

“Dear
Sir, your resume of my truancy in lunacy over the years 1933-1938 inclusive received in good order.

It was in effect the desired detail, a previous request, of about a year ago, while at Dayton V.A. centers, applied the same negative value—only not in detail.

My apparent, frequent, requests for this information fears from—psychotic [illegible]. Safety Director of Cleveland Politically tastes of recantay(J)—lent a vicarious Bander([illegible]) of his own Psychogenisis in my behalf the present County Coroner tossed [illegible] of his own Qualities Quantities in my behalf. He should have learned – from his experiences at the cadavared mouth tells the truth by silence.

Of a recent experience there in Cleveland I was [illegible] by the mental turbulentcy @ Kings level the coutiers – dependents carrying out Saddistic commands which could have ended on a liability to their own better ends.

So it goes in the Insane world of these times – One should think twice before assuming Sanity?

You have afforded me with the security of Cuyahoga County Court records. Evidently you are protected there by, unclear protectives from the seeming ever encroaching Federal Octopus or pusses promoting vicious ends by Haunt Taunt or daunt methods