The Big Story
Shot Gun & Fatal Accident
by
The Big Story brings newspaper reporting to radio drama, presenting stories inspired by the work of journalists and the cases they covered. This episode concerns the case of Cyrus Neff, a businessman who said his wife Mary’s death was an accidental shooting. Although the coroner ruled the shooting accidental, a court later found Neff guilty of second-degree murder.
The account follows the case beyond the trial: Neff later sought to collect on a war-risk insurance policy taken out on his wife, and the court ordered the proceeds placed in a trust. The episode’s subject is a real-life crime and its legal aftermath, framed through the reporting associated with Bill Griffith of the Youngstown Vindicator.
The program’s dramatic approach turns newspaper stories into tense, accessible radio storytelling. Here, the contrast between Neff’s explanation, the court’s verdict, and the disputed insurance claim gives the case its unsettling edge.
This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.