When Clara Ford - a poor, Black, cross-dressing, pipe smoking, single mother - was arrested for the murder of dashing, young, white Frank Westwood, nobody expected her to avoid the noose. So how did this unexpected heroine talk her way out of the death sentence - even after she confessed?
Olivia takes us to 19th century Toronto for a wild True Crime adventure with Carolyn Whitzman, author of the fascinating new book Clara at the Door With a Revolver. Join us as we uncover the truth (or do we?) of this unexpected and unbelievable trial.
Music featured in this episode by Zachariah Hickman, Aaron Kenny, E's Jammy Jams, Biz Baz, Vess Ossman, Libby Dees and Adam Roberts.
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THE WARRIOR Zenobia
THE OPTIMIST Émilie du Châtelet
THE MUSE Carolyn Cassady
THE SCULPTOR Edmonia Lewis
THE FLY GIRL Ruth Nichols
THE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2018 Ursula Bloom
THE AERONAUT Sophie Blanchard
THE EMPRESS Nur Jahan
THE AMBULANCE DRIVER Maud Fitch
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THE REVOLUTIONARY Mae Mallory
THE TRUE LOVE Dorothy Osborne
THE SINGLE LADY Marjorie Hillis
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THE LADY NOVELIST Constance Fenimore Woolson
THE ASTRONOMER Caroline Herschel
THE COMPOSER Alma Mahler
THE BAKER Sally Lunn
THE JOURNALIST Claudia Jones
THE SAXON Hrotsvitha of Gandersheim
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