Research Resources

I hope you find these resources helpful in your search for your ancestors. The links are on the left. If you have any resources that you consider helpful, please let me know.

Collier County Newspapers

Naples Daily News

Historic newspaper archives in the Florida Digital Newspaper Library

Historic Florida Newspapers


Collier County Genealogy and History Societies

Naples Historical Society

Collier County Genealogical Society




Collier County Research Links

Florida Heritage Collection

Florida Division of Historical Resources

Land Patent Search

Florida Memory Project

Family Search

Libraries

Public:
Collier County Public Library
Seminole Tribal Library System
Florida Electronic Library
Academic:
Government Depositories
Federal Depositories:
Nearest federal depositories
Florida State Depositories:
Nearest state depositories

Other Links

Abandoned Airfields of Florida

African American Florida Heritage

Early American Sources

Indigenous People of Florida

Florida's Mortality Schedules 1850-1880

Florida's History & the Arts

Florida's History in Wars

Free Irish Genealogy Ebooks

Historic Highway Markers

Officers killed in The Line of Duty

USGW Kids USGW Kidz Project - free resources for children to begin genealogy research


Military Records

Florida Historical Society
435 Brevard Ave.
Cocoa FL 32922
321-690-1971

Random Acts of Genealogy Kindness

Executions
Leiby v. State
February 13, 1951
On February 15, 1950, a grand jury of Collier County, Florida, returned a first degree indictment against Merlin James Leiby charging him with the murder of Leonard Applebaum in Collier County on March 11, 1949. Click the link above for the court record.



Naples Daily News Newspaper Archives
July 03, 1972 - Page 1
Defended By Judge Smith Collier’s Lone Death Sentence Was Carried Out 20 Years Ago The U. S. Supreme Court’s reprieve came 20 years and a day too late for Merlin James Leiby. JUDGE SMITH The 25-year-old convict — the only person executed for a crime committed in Collier County — met death in Florida’s electric chair June 30, 1952 at 8:41 a.m. by the warden’s watch. A slip of the switch marked the end of a three-year battle to save the accused murder's life. His champion was now-Circuit Judge Harold S. Smith of Naples. “I never had any feeling about capital punishment — never had come into contact with it — until the day I stood before Judge (Lynn) Gerald with Merlin Leiby .. . “I'll never forget those words ... ‘I order that you be taken to the state prison and there a current of electricity be passed through your body until you are dead. And may God have mercy on your soul.' “There was such an awesome finality about it," says Judge Smith, who since that day in 1949 has found capital punishment “personally abhorrent." But even so the circuit judge says he can not agree with the U. S. Supreme Court’s ruling *** abolishing the death penalty. “It was never a function of the judiciary to determine the quantity of punishment," he said. Instead, that decision should have been left to the executive and legislative branches of government, Judge Smith asserted. “I completely agree with (Supreme Court) Justice (Harry) Blackmun” whose dissenting opinion states he fears the court “has overstepped." Judge Smith says he has presided at about a dozen trials which could have resulted in execution for the defendant “But, thank God, I have never


The Pocono Record from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania · Page 19
July 1, 1952
After more than two years delay, James Merlin Leiby one time Frederick, Md., barber died in Florida’s electric chair yesterday for the slaying three years ago of a traveling companion. A series of state Supreme Court appeals and a period in which the case was inactive delayed the execution. Leiby was convicted of murder for fatally shooting Leonard Applebaum, Baltimore druggist, and hiding his body under a bridge in Collier County near the edge of Florida’s vast everglades.



The News from Frederick, Maryland · Page 4
January 5, 1952
** execution Leprieve Is rraiited Leiby TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Jan. 4. : -James Merlin Leiby, Frederick kMd.) barber, won a reprieve from the Florida electric chair today Ivjth a story that he overheard two ccused Negro rapists plot an es- bape attempt which cost one o: [them his life. At the request of Sheriff Willis . McCall, of Lake County, Gover- ior Fuller Warren today recalled (the death warrant under which Jeiby was scheduled to die at ! m., next Monday for the 1949 Uaying of a traveling companion from Maryland. Sheriff McCall is the officer who bhot Samuel Shepperd to death and (wounded Walter Lee Irvin while (taking them to Tavares Nov. 6 for hearing on a motion to change |the scene of their second trial for rape. McCall claimed he shot after Ithey attacked him. Irvin said the Isheriff shot without provocation ·A coroner's jury exonerated the Isheriff but the Federal Bureau of investigation has continued its in- |quiry into the shooting. McCall wrote Governor Warren: "Dear Governor: "I would greatly appreciate a ·temporary stay of execution for IJames Leiby. white male, schedul- led to be executed Monday, Janu- lary 7. My reason for this request lis that I have been informed that JMr. Leiby overheard Shepperd and llrvin planning to escape which re- jsulted in my unfortunate experience of November 6. "Even though Mr. Leiby has al- I ready made a signed statement I which was turned over to the FBI, I1 believe that testimony from him Jin person would have great"bearing Jin case the prejudiced groups in I New York bring enough pressure |to bear in Washington for the Justice Department to place this case [before a Federal grand jury. "Anything you can do in this [matter will be greatly appreciated. "With my kindest regards. Willis." The National Association for the I Advancement of Colored People I has been clamoring for prosecution of Sheriff McCall for shooting I Shepperd and Irvin. Leiby was sentenced to die in j 1949 for killing Leonard Applebaum, Baltimore pharmacist, and hiding his body under a bridge in the Everglades of Collier County. I A long series of court appeals I followed, then the case stood in- tactive for months before the Gov- psrnor on Dec. 28, ordered his electrocution during the week begm- ] ning January 7.



Williamsport Sun-Gazette from Williamsport, Pennsylvania · Page 7
July 1, 1952
Executed Aflerlwo i Years Delay RAIFORD, KLA. A P -- After j I more than two years delay, James , Merlin Leiby. one t i m e Frederick, i_ Md., barber, died in Florida's elec-:' trie chair yesterday for the slaying j three years ago of a traveling com-j panion. a j A series of state Supreme Court'! appeals and a period in which t h e , case was inactive delayed the ex-j ecution-. Leiby was convicted of! murder for fatally shooting Leonard Applebaum, Baltimore druggist. and hiding his body under a Bridge' in Collier County near the edge of Florida's vast everglades. Death Warrant The execution wag carried out under a death w a r r a n t signed by Gov. Fuller Warri-n last week, the second such w a . r r a n t issued in Leiby's..'·*«·.. State Prison Super-; thtendent L. F. Chapffisn said the switch was thrown at 8:33 a.m _ , ,. ,,, 0 . ,,,, , ,,_...,,., ter. A naval -reservist retains EST and Leiby was pronounced Completion of 0, year, semce ^ ^ w h j f h h p ^ ^.^



https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/executions-us-1608-2002-espy-file

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