Probate Court order to [illegible] Sulzmann [?] commanding him to arrest Frank Sweeney, MD for an examination as to his sanity.
January 23, 1934 Sweeney examined by Drs. Stone and West. “This patient was admitted to the Probate [illegible] Jan. [illegible], 1934 for alcoholism. He had previous admission on December 2nd, 1933, for the same cause and was sent to the City Hospital from which he was discharged on January 3, 1934. Since his first admission the patient has developed symptoms of a peripheral neuritis. On January 3rd his wife requested the patient’s release.” The patient said: “My wife sent me in. I’d lie around and moan all night with these hands. The legs and feet are better but they still burn like a hot pad on them. I have not been drinking much, just enough to help me sleep. My wife doesn’t know this is going to be a six or eight months affair.”
January 23, 1934 Complaint dismissed, patient discharged.
September 5, 1934 Frank LaGassie finds victim no. 0, The Lady of the Lake, near Euclid Beach Park.
September 11, 1934 Petition of Divorce and Support and Relief stamped 413785 was filed in the State of Ohio, In the Court of Common Pleas, Mary Josephine Sweeney vs. Dr. Frank Edward Sweeney: Plaintiff and the defendant were married in the city of Cleveland on the 2nd day of July 1927. There are two children of said marriage, James Anthony Sweeney age 3 years and Francis Edward Sweeney age 5 years. “She says the defendant has been guilty of EXTREME CRUELTY in that he has upon many occasions absented himself from his home without the plaintiff knowing his whereabouts causing her great mental suffering. She further states that he has upon many occasions humiliated her before her friends and has been abusive to her and their children both physically and mentally. She further avers that the defendant has been guilty of gross neglect of duty in that he has failed to provide the necessities of life even though he has been well able to do so. Wherefore the plaintiff prays for divorce, custody of the minor children and restoration of her maiden name.”
Undated Petition Stamped 445238 State of Ohio In the Court of Common Pleas
Mary J. Sweeney vs. Francis Edward Sweeney: “Plaintiff says that the defendant, Francis Edward Sweeney, has been guilty of Gross Neglect of Duty and Extreme Cruelty toward this plaintiff, and of Habitual Drunkeness extending over a period of more than three years…The defendant became intoxicated almost continuously beginning about two years after his marriage to this plaintiff, and remained in that condition practically all of the time until his separation from this plaintiff, which occurred in September, 1934. Plaintiff states that the defendant is a physician and his practice has been entirely ruined by said habitual drunkenness and that he was compelled to take treatment at City Hospital for acute alcoholism, but that said condition was never cured but continued until the date of her separation from the defendant. . . . Plaintiff states that the defendant embarrassed and humiliated this plaintiff continuously during such period before third persons and in the later part of said period before their children. Plaintiff further states that the defendant has completely failed and neglected to support this plaintiff or their children since their separation and for several years previous thereto . . . defendant completely failed and neglected to perform any part of his marital duties toward this plaintiff or any part of his duties to their children for several years preceding the filing of this petition, but has compelled this plaintiff to support their children by her own labor . . .defendant is the holder of an adjusted compensation certificate issued by the United States Government for services in the military forces of the United States . . . there will be due and payable to the plaintiff on said certificate the sum of approximately $775 in the month of July or thereabouts in the year 1936. Plaintiff prays that during the pendency of this action said defendant, Francis Edward Sweeney be restrained from visiting, interfering with or molesting her, that she be allowed a reasonable sum for attorney’s fees in the prosecution of this action, that said defendant be restrained from collecting said money soon to become due on his adjusted compensation certificate, that defendant be restrained from spending or disposing of any part of said money until final hearing of this cause, and that upon final hearing the plaintiff be divorced from the said defendant, that she be restored to her maiden name of Mary J. Sokol, that she be allowed $500 as alimony for support of their children, and she prays that she be given the custody of the two children.” Signed by Carl G. [illegible] Attorney for Plaintiff.
Undated ANSWER Numbered 445238, State of Ohio In the Court of Common Pleas. Mary J. Sweeney vs. Francis Edward Sweeney. “Further by way of answer, Defendant denies each and every allegation contained in plaintiff’s Petition except those herein expressly admitted to be true…defendant prays that plaintiff’s Petition be dismissed.” Francis Sweeney was represented by Roman F. Gruber.
September 23, 1935 James Wagner and Peter Costura find victims no. 1 (Edward Andrassy) and no. 2 at the bottom of Jackass Hill in Kingsbury Run.
January 26, 1936 Victim no. 3 (Flo Polillo) is found behind Hart’s Manufacturing on East 20th Street.
February 7, 1936 Additional remains of victim no. 3 (Flo Polillo) are found behind vacant house on Orange Avenue.
May 19, 1936 Petition to the Court of Common Pleas (No 445238), State of Ohio Cuyahoga County, Mary J. Sweeney Plaintiff vs. Francis Edward Sweeney Defendant: Plaintiff alleges that the defendant, Francis Edward Sweeney, has been guilty of Gross Neglect of Duty and Extreme Cruelty toward this plaintiff, and of Habitual Drunkeness extending over a period of more than three years. “The defendant became intoxicated almost continually beginning about two years after his marriage [illegible] and remained in that condition practically all of the time until his separation from this plaintiff [illegible] in September 1934. Defendant is a physician and his practice was entirely ruined by said habitual drunkenness and that he was compelled to take treatment at City Hospital for acute alcoholism but that said condition was never cured but continued until the date of her separation from the defendant. The defendant embarrassed and humiliated the plaintiff continuously during such period. . . . Defendant has completely failed and neglected to support this plaintiff or their children since their separation and for several years previous. Defendant has completely failed and neglected to perform any part of his marital duties toward her or any part of his duties to their children for several years preceding the filing of this petition but has compelled the plaintiff to support their children by her own labor. She has conducted herself as an affectionate, faithful and dutiful wife. . . . Plaintiff asks that Francis Sweeney be restrained from visiting, interfering with or molesting her during the pendency of this action. Mary Sweeney asked for a reasonable sum for attorney’s fees and that Francis Sweeney be restrained from collecting his VA money until the final hearing. She requested restoration to her maiden name of Mary J. Sokol and $500 in alimony. Finally, she requested custody of the two children.”
Undated JOURNAL ENTRY Numbered 445238, State of Ohio In the Court of Common Pleas. Mary J. Sweeney vs. Francis Edward Sweeney. “The Court found the allegations of this Petition to be true and that the defendant has been guilty of Gross Neglect of Duty toward this plaintiff.” Divorce granted. Sweeney ordered to pay $5.00 per [illegible] per child to the plaintiff for their support.
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 9th 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 Weakness—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 ident
ity 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.”
Though Murder Has No Tongue Page 26