Molly Conger

Marshals, the FBI, the DOJ, the CIA, and the New York Times, Frank was hanging out with a Soviet spy in the exercise yard at a federal prison in Los Angeles in September of 1977. But I'll cut Hickman some slack here on that faltering start, because there's ample evidence within the story that puts these events somewhere in the springtime of 1975.

And the date aside, there is enough meat to Hickman's account and the supporting primary documentation he provided that supports the idea that this story is more or less true. As a homicide detective, Hickman was involved in an investigation into Frank Sweeney for attempted murder at a Rhodesian military barracks.

And the date aside, there is enough meat to Hickman's account and the supporting primary documentation he provided that supports the idea that this story is more or less true. As a homicide detective, Hickman was involved in an investigation into Frank Sweeney for attempted murder at a Rhodesian military barracks.

And the date aside, there is enough meat to Hickman's account and the supporting primary documentation he provided that supports the idea that this story is more or less true. As a homicide detective, Hickman was involved in an investigation into Frank Sweeney for attempted murder at a Rhodesian military barracks.

One evening sometime in early 1975, probably, Frank went to the bathroom at the barracks he was living in. Inside the shared facilities, two infantrymen who'd been drinking were laughing and joking around. One was quite drunk, undressed, and got into the shower to try to sober up a little bit.

One evening sometime in early 1975, probably, Frank went to the bathroom at the barracks he was living in. Inside the shared facilities, two infantrymen who'd been drinking were laughing and joking around. One was quite drunk, undressed, and got into the shower to try to sober up a little bit.

One evening sometime in early 1975, probably, Frank went to the bathroom at the barracks he was living in. Inside the shared facilities, two infantrymen who'd been drinking were laughing and joking around. One was quite drunk, undressed, and got into the shower to try to sober up a little bit.

Three men were chatting pleasantly enough, but Frank was humorless and sober, and he was outraged when the drunk man splashed shower water on him. The men argued, and one of them called Frank a bloody yank. And Frank's not a guy who turns the other cheek. He takes every insult very personally.

Three men were chatting pleasantly enough, but Frank was humorless and sober, and he was outraged when the drunk man splashed shower water on him. The men argued, and one of them called Frank a bloody yank. And Frank's not a guy who turns the other cheek. He takes every insult very personally.

Three men were chatting pleasantly enough, but Frank was humorless and sober, and he was outraged when the drunk man splashed shower water on him. The men argued, and one of them called Frank a bloody yank. And Frank's not a guy who turns the other cheek. He takes every insult very personally.

So, a little bit damp and with his pride wounded, he runs back to his bunk and comes right back with a seven-inch dagger and pulls the shower curtain aside and stabs this naked, drunk man in the lower abdomen. The other soldier ran for help and Frank was quickly arrested. And while he sat in custody, a mysterious letter arrived in the mail.

So, a little bit damp and with his pride wounded, he runs back to his bunk and comes right back with a seven-inch dagger and pulls the shower curtain aside and stabs this naked, drunk man in the lower abdomen. The other soldier ran for help and Frank was quickly arrested. And while he sat in custody, a mysterious letter arrived in the mail.

So, a little bit damp and with his pride wounded, he runs back to his bunk and comes right back with a seven-inch dagger and pulls the shower curtain aside and stabs this naked, drunk man in the lower abdomen. The other soldier ran for help and Frank was quickly arrested. And while he sat in custody, a mysterious letter arrived in the mail.

The postmark indicated that it had been mailed from nearby Salisbury weeks earlier. The anonymous letter writer said that a private F.A. Sweeney had been convicted of the attempted murder of a policeman in the United States. It was Hickman, our essayist, who first suspected that Frank may actually have written this letter himself.

The postmark indicated that it had been mailed from nearby Salisbury weeks earlier. The anonymous letter writer said that a private F.A. Sweeney had been convicted of the attempted murder of a policeman in the United States. It was Hickman, our essayist, who first suspected that Frank may actually have written this letter himself.

The postmark indicated that it had been mailed from nearby Salisbury weeks earlier. The anonymous letter writer said that a private F.A. Sweeney had been convicted of the attempted murder of a policeman in the United States. It was Hickman, our essayist, who first suspected that Frank may actually have written this letter himself.

And when he pressed Frank for a handwriting sample to prove it, he cracked immediately. He'd sent the letter himself, hoping that it would be his ticket home, that they would kick him out and deport him when they found out he lied about not having a criminal history, and that he would get a free flight back to New Jersey without having to finish his term of service.

And when he pressed Frank for a handwriting sample to prove it, he cracked immediately. He'd sent the letter himself, hoping that it would be his ticket home, that they would kick him out and deport him when they found out he lied about not having a criminal history, and that he would get a free flight back to New Jersey without having to finish his term of service.

And when he pressed Frank for a handwriting sample to prove it, he cracked immediately. He'd sent the letter himself, hoping that it would be his ticket home, that they would kick him out and deport him when they found out he lied about not having a criminal history, and that he would get a free flight back to New Jersey without having to finish his term of service.

And if that letter had only arrived a few days earlier, they probably would have done just that before anybody had to get stabbed. The story Frank then told Hickman has elements of truth. But it's not quite right. He told Hickman that the shootout at his parents' house had happened just the year prior and that he'd fled the country prior to being sentenced.