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 FAIR LABOR LAWYER Bessie Margolin
THE MAID OF MONTEREY Maria Ruiz de Burton
THE REVOLUTIONARY ACTRESS Sahib Gizzatullina
THE SISTERS Jane and Anna Maria Porter
THE SAGE Gargi Vachaknavi
THE RADICAL Lola Ridge
THE VISIONARY Hildegard of Bingen
THE DISAPPEARING WOMAN Adelaide Herrmann
THE MUSICIAN Mary Lou Williams
THE PHILOSOPHER Margaret Cavendish
THE UNSINKABLE Margaret “Molly” Brown
THE PRINCESS Te Puea Herangi
THE BOOK MISSIONARY Mary Lemist Titcomb
THE SINNER Pearl DeVere
THE SAINT Margaret Clitherow
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