The Big Story

Hot Lead Catches a Cold Blooded Killer

William Adams, Miami Herald

English · True Crime, Dramatic Readings

A bullet-riddled body discovered beside Florida’s Tamiami Trail sets this true-crime radio drama in motion. The victim is identified as Leonard Applebaum, a vacationing Baltimore pharmacist, through marks on his clothing and a ring. Investigators follow the trail of his stolen car and its sale in Miami to find a suspect in Jacksonville.

The story follows the police investigation and the case against Merline J. Leiby, from his arrest with Applebaum’s gun and cash to his changing account of the killing. The search for where the murder took place, the legal complications surrounding the indictment, and Leiby’s conviction and later appeals give the account the shape of a detailed crime report.

The Big Story dramatizes cases reported by newspaper journalists, bringing the work of a reporter into the radio narrative. This episode is based on William H. Adams’s coverage for the Miami Herald. Its sober, investigative tone emphasizes the evidence and the unfolding pursuit rather than sensational effects.

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.