Tea Time Crimes

In Maryland 1878, Lillie Duer was reported to have accidentally shot her best friend and lover, Ella Hearn. As Ella fought for her life, the story of an accident quickly devolved into a suspicion of murder. Follow along as we pull apart the pieces of this love story gone wrong. 

The Anti-Violence Project: serves people who are LGBTQ; Hotline 1-212-714-1141, Bilingual 24/7

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800.799.SAFE (7233)

Tea of the Day: Chai Imperial 

Theme Music by Brad Frank 

This episode was sponsored by Apex Magazine

Sources:

• “Maryland Items.” The Baltimore Sun, Tue, Nov 12, 1878, Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/374433821/
• “The Peril of Playing with a Pistol.” Richmond Dispatch (From the Baltimore Evening Bulletin,Nov 11th), Wed, Nov 13, 1878, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/466177517/
• “A Young Girl Shoots Her Lady Friend.” The New York Times (From the Baltimore Bulletin, Dec 7), Mon, Dec 09, 1878, Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/20379374/
• “A Shooting Case.” The Daily Gazette (From the Phila Time to-day), Mon, Dec 09, 1878, Page 4, https://www.newspapers.com/image/466227782/
• “Fatal Result of Shooting in Pocomoke City.” Smyrna Times (Balt. Sun), Wed, Dec 11, 1878, Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/882249754/
• “The Duer-Hearn Shooting Case in Worcester County, MD.” The Baltimore Sun, Wed, Dec 11, 1878, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/374434110/
• “A Girl’s Abnormal Passion.” The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Fri, Dec 13, 1878, Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/50424222/
• Vassar, LGBTQ Studies, https://library.vassar.edu/lgbt/smashing
• “Remarkable Tragedy.” The Daily Gazette, Fri, Dec 13, 1878, Page 4, https://www.newspapers.com/image/466227881/
• “Shooting the Girl She Loved.” Intelligencer Journal, Fri, Dec 13, 1878, Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/557099808/
• “The Hearn-Duer Mystery.” The Morning Herald, Fri, Dec 13, 1878, Page 4, https://www.newspapers.com/image/466248158/
• “The Duer-Hearn Tragedy.” The New York Times. Thu, May 15, 1879,Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/20360812/
• Human Rights Campaign, “Common Myths about LGBTQ Domestic Violence.” by HRC Staff, October 18, 2017, https://www.hrc.org/news/common-myths-about-lgbtq-domestic-violence
• BBC News, “Is violence more common in same-sex relationships?” By Joanna Jolly, BBC News Washington, November 18th, 2014, https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-29994648
• “Miss Duer Indicted.” The News Journal, Thu, May 22, 1879, Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/153959110/
• “Miss Duer Indicted.” Daily Republican (Snow Hill, MD), Fri, May 23, 1879, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/466346186/
• “The Duer-Hearn Tragedy.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, Thu, May 29, 1879, Page 4, https://www.newspapers.com/image/167863491/
• “The Pocomoke City Tragedy.” The Baltimore Sun, Fri, May 30, 1879, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/372015387/
• “The Pocomoke Tragedy.” The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Sun, Jun 01, 1879, Page 4, https://www.newspapers.com/image/50349774/
• “Miss Duer’s Trial.” The Philadelphia Times, Sun, Jun 01, 1879, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/52216542/
• “That Strange Tragedy.” Democrat and Chronicle, Mon, Jun 02, 1879, Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/135237305/
• The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Tue, Jun 03, 1879, Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/50349793/
• “The Pocomoke City Tragedy.” The Baltimore Sun, Wed, Jun 04, 1879, Page 4, https://www.newspapers.com/image/372016807/
• “Pocomoke Tragedy.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, Sat, Jun 07, 1879, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/167864518/
• “Did the Doctors Kill Her.” The Philadelphia Times, Mon, Jun 16, 1879, Page 4, https://www.newspapers.com/image/52216783/
• “Pocomoke.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, Tue, Jun 17, 1879, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/167865564/
• “The Duer Trial.” The Philadelphia Times, Thu, Jun 19, 1879, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/52216813/
• “Lilly Duer’s Crime.”The Daily Memphis Avalanche, Fri, Jun 20, 1879, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/587089362/
• “Miss Duer At Home.” The Baltimore Sun, Mon, Jun 23, 1879,Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/372022692/
• “Sentence of Lillie Duer.” Staunton Spectator, Tue, Jun 24, 1879, Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/72176960/
• “Lillie Duer Finds a Husband.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, Tue, Nov 15, 1881, Page 8, https://www.newspapers.com/image/247854551/
• “Pocomoke City Jottings.” Democratic Messenger, Sat, Nov 19, 1881 ·Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/623918645/
• Reading Times, Wed, Jul 02, 1879, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/46437112/
• Detroit Free Press, Sun, Jul 20, 1879 ·Page 5, https://www.newspapers.com/image/1049404622/
• “Lillie Duer’s Story.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, Sat, Jun 14, 1879, Page 1, https://philly.newspapers.com/image/167865277/
• Forgotten Stories, “Lillie’s and Ella’s Tragic Lover’s Quarrel.” by ROGERSACHAR on FEBRUARY 24, 2013, https://forgottenstories.net/2013/02/24/lillie-and-ellas-tragic-lovers-quarrel/

On the evening of February 6th, 1918, Nora Coleman said goodbye to her husband and went to help her mother with the nightly chores. But only one of them would survive the night. Tune in to hear the complicated story behind this family tragedy and the unexpected support of a small midwest town. 

Tea of the Day: The Pint

Theme Music by Brad Frank

Sources:

• No Place Like Murder: True Crime in the Midwest by Janis Thorton, Published by Quarry Books, Copyright 2020.
• Janis Thorton, “My Road Trip with the Dead, Stop 16: Nora Coleman & Sepharna Gleason.” 9/29/2020, http://www.janis-thornton.com/blog/my-road-trip-with-the-dead-stop-16-nora-coleman-sepharna-gleason
• “Stueban County Woman Murders Mother.” The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, Fri, Feb 08, 1918, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/29296280/
• “Makes Confession.” The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, Fri, Feb 08, 1918, Page 20, https://www.newspapers.com/image/29296808/
• “Woman Makes Confessions.” The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fri, Feb 08, 1918, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/29127771/
• “Confesses Murder.” Steuben Republican,(Angola, Indiana) Wed, Feb 13, 1918, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/105633062/
• “Mrs. Coleman Is Indicted for Killing Her Mother.” The Indianapolis Star, Thu, Feb 14, 1918, Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/1047552691/
• “Must Reindict Mrs. Coleman For Murder.” The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, Tue, Feb 19, 1918 Page 8, https://www.newspapers.com/image/29303475/
• “Hopes to Free Woman Accused of Murder.” The Indianapolis News, Tue, Feb 26, 1918, Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/37344302/
• “Claims Insanity.” Steuben Republican, Wed, Feb 27, 1918, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/105633189/
• Mayo Clinic, “Hoarding Disorder.” By Mayo Clinic Staff, Jan. 26th, 2023, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hoarding-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20356056
• National Library of Medicine: National Center for Biotechnology Information, Carol A Matthews, “Hoarding Disorder: More than just a problem of too much stuff.” Aug 2014, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4432907/
• “Husband Says Wife Always Acted Queer.” The Star Press, Thu, Feb 28, 1918 Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/254072887/
• “Is She Insane?” Angola Herald, Fri, Mar 01, 1918 Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/130883174/
• “Mrs. Nora Coleman to Be Sent to Insane Asylum at Richmond.” The Star Press, Sun, Mar 03, 1918 Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/254073156/
• “To Easthaven.” The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Tue, Mar 12, 1918 Page 9, https://www.newspapers.com/image/29077584/
• “Court Refuses To Free Woman Who Slew Mother.” Garrett Clipper, Mon, May 19, 1924 Page 4, https://www.newspapers.com/image/140224415/
• “Nora Coleman Given Freedom.” Angola Herald, Fri, Mar 22, 1929 Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/116250822/
• “Nora Coleman Again Taken in Custody.” Angola Herald, Fri, Sep 13, 1929, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/116155319/
• “Nora Coleman Given Liberty.” Steuben Republican, Wed, Sep 18, 1929 Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/105485729/
• “Nora Coleman Sues for a Divorce.” Angola Herald, Fri, Feb 26, 1932, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/116157401/

Part 2! It’s 1924 and 23-year-old, Winona Green, has confessed to murder. Join us in this two-part case as we follow this woman through her next fifty years. Will we ever know how many people she scammed? Or how many people she killed?

Tea of the Day: Empath’s Tea

Theme Music by Brad Frank

Sources:

• “Police Seek Missing Man.” The Californian, Wed, Dec 02, 1953, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/519103568/
• “Slaying Bares Eerie Story of Former Belle.” The San Francisco Examiner, Sun, Dec 06, 1953 Page 15, https://www.newspapers.com/image/458799149/
• “Woman Leads Police to Body.” The San Francisco Examine, Sun, Dec 06, 1953, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/458798390/
• “Cat Woman’s Lie Detector Test Leads to Confession.”
• Oakland Tribune, Tue, Dec 08, 1953 Page 18, https://www.newspapers.com/image/277527378/
• “‘Cat Woman’ In Not Guilty Plea.” The Napa Valley Register, Fri, Jan 22, 1954 Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/562977930/
• The Commercial Appeal, (Memphis, TN) Wed, Jan 27, 1954 Page 22, https://www.newspapers.com/image/769944904/
• “Salinas Murder Trial Scheduled for March 8th.” Santa Cruz Sentinel, Mon, Jan 25, 1954, Page 10, https://www.newspapers.com/image/58953469/
• “Salinas Murder Trial Jury Being Selected.” The Tribune, Tue, Mar 09, 1954, Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/807223440/
• “Woman Faces Trial on Murder Charge.” The Daily Advance, Wed, Mar 10, 1954 Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/1008806279/
• “34 Testify in Murder Hearing.” Stockton Evening and Sunday Record, Thu, Mar 11, 1954, Page 29, https://www.newspapers.com/image/844492819/
• “Jury Will View Scene Of Slaying.”Spokane Chronicle, Fri, Mar 12, 1954, Page 24, https://www.newspapers.com/image/564471054/
• “Mrs. Freeman Keeps Composure Waiting For Jury’s Verdict.” The Californian, Fri, Mar 19, 1954 Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/519765849/
• “‘Cat Woman’ Arguments.” The San Francisco Examiner, Wed, Mar 17, 1954 Page 17, https://www.newspapers.com/image/458179133/
• “Final Arguments Slated Today In ‘Cat Woman’ Trial.” Sapulpa Daily Herald, Wed, Mar 17, 1954 Page 4, https://www.newspapers.com/image/661727645/
• “Woman Relates Shooting Story.” The Spokesman-Review, Tue, Mar 16, 1954 Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/569541253/
• “‘Cat Woman’ Defends Self In Murder Trial.” The Brownsville Herald, Mon, Mar 15, 1954 Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/23844616/
• “Surprise Is Due for Cat Woman.” The Daily Oklahoman, Mon, Mar 15, 1954, Page 41, https://www.newspapers.com/image/449569064/
• “Grand Lake Death Suspects Charged.” The Daily Oklahoman, Sun, Mar 14, 1954, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/449566038/
• “Woman Is Charged In Veteran’s Death.” The Billings Gazette, Sun, Mar 14, 1954 Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/411394440/
• “Body of Slain Man Is Found In Grand Lake.” Tulsa World, Wed, Aug 28, 1946, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/884624372/
• “Grand Lake Murder Ranks As Major Mystery in State.” Tulsa World. Sun, Nov 17, 1946 Page 7, https://www.newspapers.com/image/885244267/
• “Grand Lake Murder Victim Is Identified.” Sapulpa Herald, Sat, Mar 20, 1948, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/661703019/
• “‘Cat’ Woman Is Given Life Term By Irate Judge.” The Modesto Bee, Tue, Mar 23, 1954, Page 8, https://www.newspapers.com/image/690104309/
• “‘Winnie’ Sentenced To Life Term in Corona.” The Californian (Salinas, CA), Tue, Mar 23, 1954, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/519766383/
• “Murder Charge In Grand Lake Prove Dropped.” Miami News-Record, Fri, Apr 23, 1954, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/897935787/
• Ruth Reynolds, “Forgeries, Bad Checks Lead To Murder.” The Knoxville Journal, Sun, Feb 10, 1957 Page 51, https://www.newspapers.com/image/588087977/
• “Winnie Spriggs perhaps wasn’t always so gentle.” Redlands Daily Facts, Thu, Oct 31, 1974 Page 4, https://www.newspapers.com/image/15124837/
• On This Day, “What Happened in 1953.”  https://www.onthisday.com/date/1953

It’s 1924 and 23-year-old, Winona Green, has confessed to murder. Join us in this two-part case as we follow this woman through her next fifty years. Will we ever know how many people she scammed? Or how many people she killed?

Tea of the Day: Prince of Wales 

Theme Music by Brad Frank

Sources:

• Posted by Janie Jones, Apr 1, 2016, Blog, Murder Mystery, People, “Murder Mystery: If Justice is a Lady.” https://aymag.com/murdery-mystery-if-justice-is-a-lady/
• On This Day, “Historical Events in 1924.” https://www.onthisday.com/events/date/1924?p=2
• “Woman Confessed Double Murder.” Chattanooga Daily Times, Fri, Oct 10, 1924, Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/604066528/
• “Woman Admits Double Murder.” Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise, Fri, Oct 10, 1924, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/743758722/
• “Winona Green Confesses to Shooting Mother in Law to Death on Road Near Tulsa.” Blackwell Journal-Tribune, Sat, Oct 11, 1924, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/603485383/
• “Officers Fail to Find Body of Slain Woman.” Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise, Sun, Oct 12, 1924, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/743758760/
• “Missing Remains of Slain Woman Found in Woods.” Times Record News, Mon, Oct 13, 1924, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/774587708/
• “Decomposed Body of Woman Found in Woods.” Johnson City Chronicle, Tue, Oct 14, 1924, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/586330111/
• “Accused Murderess Formerly Lived Here.” Bixby Bulletin, (Bixby, Oklahoma) Fri, Oct 17, 1924, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/630949347/
• “Back From Funeral Of Murdered Woman.” Blackwell Journal-Tribune, Sat, Oct 18, 1924, Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/603485768/
• “New Version Of Green Slayings.” Tulsa World, Mon, Oct 20, 1924, Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/901346208/
• “Nice Birthday Gift!” Girl Says When Told Of Murder Indictment.” Atlanta Semi-Weekly Journal, Thu, Oct 23, 1924, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/891077112/
• “Confesses Slaying Husband’s Parents for Insurance Money.” Courier-Post, Tue, Oct 28, 1924, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/446179453/
• Britannica, Written and fact-checked by  The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, Last Updated: Mar 29, 2024, Article History, https://www.britannica.com/science/paresis
• “Girl Who Killed Two Thinks Her Sex Will Save Her From Death.” The News-Herald, Sat, Nov 01, 1924, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/72594107/
• Frederick H. Brennan, “Pretty Woman, Who Confesses Murdering Two Person By Herself, Mystifies Police: Winona Green, Taking Full Responsibility for Double Crime, Is Believed To be Shielding Unidentified Man.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Sun, Nov 02, 1924, Page 59, https://www.newspapers.com/image/140273815/
• “Mrs. Winona Green Puts On Thriller.” Blackwell Journal-Tribune, Sun, Dec 07, 1924, Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/603490758/
• “Murderess Is Declared Sane.” The Huntsville Times, Mon, Dec 08, 1924, Page 4, https://www.newspapers.com/image/571693529/
• “Winona Green is Indicted Again.” Shawnee News-Star, Wed, Dec 24, 1924, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/898629304/
• “Mrs. Green Is Found Guilty of One Murder.” The Daily World, Mon, Jan 19, 1925 Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/949568043/
• “Life Term Given Woman.” The Star Press, Wed, Jan 28, 1925, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/251389020/
• “Woman Prisoner Escapes.” Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Sat, Apr 11, 1925, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/954218598/
• “Winona Green, Lifer In Arkansas, Escapes.” Tulsa World, Sun, Apr 12, 1925, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/901299214/
• “Woman Slayer’s Ruse is Failure.” The Birmingham News, Mon, Apr 13, 1925 Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/572320722/
• “Winona Green ‘Gets Excited’ And Gives Up.” Associated Press. The Waco Times-Herald, Mon, Apr 13, 1925 Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/960074371/
• “Would Substitute For Woman Lifer.” The Indiana Democrat, Wed, Jun 03, 1925, Page 7, https://www.newspapers.com/image/994670891/
• “Woman Must Serve Sentence On Farm.” The Commercial Appeal, Wed, Apr 22, 1925 Page 13, https://www.newspapers.com/image/768550988/
• “Jail Breaker.” The Huntington Press, Wed, Apr 22, 1925, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/39677905/
• “Girl May Go Free.” The Commercial Appeal, Sun, Mar 06, 1927, Page 27, https://www.newspapers.com/image/768569006/
• “Woman Slayer of 2 Will Be Furloughed.” The Atlanta Constitution, Sat, May 30, 1931 Page 4, https://www.newspapers.com/image/397797208/
• “Convicted Woman Slayer Is Given Furlough By Governor.” (Little Rock) Hope Star, Thu, Jun 25, 1931, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/4422222/
• “Winona Green is Returned to Pen.” Hope Star, Tue, Nov 19, 1935 Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/105936/
• “Back To The Farm For Winona Green.” The Commercial Appeal, Sun, Nov 24, 1935, Page 44, https://www.newspapers.com/image/768513551/
• “Winona Green, Serving Life, Gets A Break.” Daily News, Sun, Jun 27, 1937 Page 17, https://www.newspapers.com/image/421536340/
• “Beautiful Killer At Large Again.” Daily News, Sun, Jan 22, 1939 Page 4, https://www.newspapers.com/image/429990356/
• “Slaying Bares Eerie Story of Former Belle.” The San Francisco Examiner, Sun, Dec 06, 1953 Page 15, https://www.newspapers.com/image/458799149/
• Ruth Reynolds, “Forgeries, Bad Checks Lead To Murder.” The Knoxville Journal, Sun, Feb 10, 1957 Page 51, https://www.newspapers.com/image/588087977/
• “Former Winona Green to Return to Prison.”  Northwest Arkansas Times, Jan 13, 1948, https://www.newspapers.com/image/16021688/
• “Back to Prison on Life Term.” The Sedalia Democrat, Sedalia, Missouri, Tuesday, January 13, 1948, https://www.newspapers.com/image/71378173/

Week 2 of our break: enjoy going back in time to re-listen to some of our favorite episodes. This week is Alana’s pick. Leonarda Cianciulli, a caring mother in late 1930s Italy, believed in magic. Her life had not been an easy one, made worse by the curse her spiteful mother put on her at a young age. So after endless heartache, Leonarda is desperate to put an end to the curse to protect her children. But how far will she go to break the spell? 

Tea of the Day: Queen Elizabeth

Theme Music by Brad Frank

Sources:

• By Katie Serena and Edited By John Kuroski, “How Leonarda Cianciulli Made Her Victims Into Soap And Teacakes.” Published January 29, 2018, Updated February 23, 2024, https://allthatsinteresting.com/leonarda-cianciulli
• Murderpedia.org, https://murderpedia.org/female.C/c/cianciulli-leonarda.htm
• Explore With Us, “She FED THEM To Her CUSTOMERS: The Disturbing Case of Serial Killer Leonarda Cianciulli.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGzFifJIr-w
• The Soap Maker of Correggio: Leonarda Cianciulli: Serial Killer Chronicles #1 by F. Amos Hurt
• The Deadly Soap-Maker of Correggio: The True Story of Leonarda Cianciulli, a Superstitious Mother Who Turned Victims into Soaps and Cakes (True Crime Explicit, Vol. 6) by Genoveva Ortiz

As we take a small break, enjoy going back in time to re-listen to some of our favorite episodes. This week is Meagan's pick. Join us as we go over the infamous Lizzie Borden case. Was Lizzie truly responsible for the death of her father and step-mother, or is it possible she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time?

Tea of the Day: Duke & Duchess Honey Breakfast Tea

Theme Music by Brad Frank

Sources:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6VKFYdUrfg
• Biographics, “Lizzie Borden: A Real-Life Axe Murderer.” Host - Simon Whistler, Author - Shannon Quinn, Producer - Jack Cole, Executive Producer - Shell Harris, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU5Hk-mFi9Y
• Georgia Marie, “THE STORY OF LIZZIE BORDEN: INNOCENT OR GUILTY? | MIDWEEK MYSTERY.”https://youtu.be/3vz6Ybl2uvU
• Another Bloody Rare Sight, The Lizzie Borden Collection, https://web.archive.org/web/20130603145803/http://www.thelizziebordencollection.com/lizzie-andrew-borden.php
• UMKC School of Law, Famous Trial by Professor Douglas O. Linder, “The Trial of Lizzie Borden: Chronology.”  https://famous-trials.com/lizzieborden/1441-chronology
• UMKC School of Law, Famous Trial by Professor Douglas O. Linder, “Fourteen Reasons to Believe Lizzie Murdered Her Parents.” https://famous-trials.com/lizzieborden/1442-evidence
• History by Day, By Alva Yaffe, “The Notorious Lizzie Borden Case: Was She Really Guilty?” https://historybyday.com/pop-culture/the-notorious-lizzie-borden-case-was-she-really-guilty/

Tune in for the sister episode to last week. This case covers another woman sentenced to death via electric chair in New York, just like Martha Place. Meet Maria Barbella, who walked up to her lover, Dominico Cataldo, and slit his throat from ear to ear because he refused to marry her. However, there is much more to this story than the newspapers are willing to print. Grab a tea and travel back to 1895 New York with us.

Content warning: This episode covers sexual assault 

Domestic Abuse Hotline: 1- 800-799-7233

National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673

Tea of the Day: Iron Goddess

Theme Music by Brad Frank

Sources:

• “A Desperate Girl’s Crime.” (Saturday’s New York Sun) Fall River Daily Evening News, Mon, Apr 29, 1895 ·Page 4, https://www.newspapers.com/image/590758305/
• “ ‘I have no tears left.’” The Boston Globe, Sat, Apr 27, 1895 Page 12, https://www.newspapers.com/image/430862206/
• “Maria’s Crime Told in Court.” The Evening World, (New York) Thu, Jul 11, 1895 Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/146735804/
• “Maria Barberi at the bar. On Trial for the Murder of Her Faithless Lover.” The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Thu, Jul 11, 1895 Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/50411135/
• “Goaded Into Killing Him.” The Evening World, (New York) Fri, Jul 12, 1895 Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/146735821/
• “The Barberi Murder Trial.” The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Fri, Jul 12, 1895 Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/50411148/
• New-York Tribune, Sat, Jul 13, 1895 Page 11, https://www.newspapers.com/image/149994722/
• “A Kind Hearted Prosecutor.” The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Sun, Jul 14, 1895 Page 5, https://www.newspapers.com/image/50411201/
• “Maria Barberi is Guilty.” The New York Times, Tue, Jul 16, 1895 Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/20303295/
• “To Die on August 19th.” The Standard Union, Thu, Jul 18, 1895 Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/542220914/
• “Murder Justified.” Boston Post, Sun, Jul 21, 1895 Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/72251869/
• “Woman As Criminals.” The Daily Sentinel-Tribune, Sat, Aug 10, 1895 Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/882581856/
• “Would Die for Her.” The Sentinel, Tue, Aug 13, 1895 Page 4, https://www.newspapers.com/image/343922149/
• The Boston Globe, Sun, Aug 18, 1895 Page 9, https://www.newspapers.com/image/431001031/
• “The Barberi Case.” The Buffalo Enquirer, Mon, Nov 16, 1896 Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/325596108/
• “Pleased with jury.” The Boston Globe, Wed, Nov 18, 1896 Page 7, https://www.newspapers.com/image/430773455/
• Library of Congress, “Immigration and Relocation in U.S. History.” https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/immigration/italian/tenements-and-toil/
• Smithsonian American Art Museum, “Tenement Life.” https://americanexperience.si.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Tenement-Life_.pdf
• “Mary Livermore.” Boston National Historical Park, https://www.nps.gov/people/mary-livermore.htm
• “In Her Defense.” The Standard Union, Fri, Nov 20, 1896 Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/542425165/
• “Maria Barberi’s Family Tree.” Chicago Tribune, Sat, Nov 21, 1896 Page 4, https://www.newspapers.com/image/349857733/
• The Philadelphia Times, Sun, Nov 22, 1896 Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/53387436/
• “Ill-Fated Ancestors.” The Boston Globe, Tue, Nov 24, 1896 Page 2, https://newspapers.com/image/430775593/
• “Maria Barberi’s Story.” The Boston Globe, Wed, Nov 25, 1896 Page 4, https://www.newspapers.com/image/430776058/
• “Barberi Testifies.” Carbondale Daily News, Thu, Nov 26, 1896 Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/638800630/
• “Experts Give Testimony.” The Standard Union, Thu, Dec 03, 1896 Page 3, https://newspapers.com/image/542424980/
• “Maria Barberi is Free.” Chicago Tribune, Fri, Dec 11, 1896 Page 5, https://www.newspapers.com/image/349883737/
• “Maria Barberi’s Acquittal.” The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Fri, Dec 11, 1896 Page 6, https://www.newspapers.com/image/50337240/
• “Maria Barberi Not Guilty.” The Times, Fri, Dec 11, 1896 Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/79799997/
• “Maria Barber Lost?” The Daily Times, Fri, Dec 18, 1896 Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/13040409/
• “Heroic Maria Barberi.” Intelligencer Journal, Thu, Dec 31, 1896 Page 6, https://www.newspapers.com/image/557171839/
• “Maria Barbella Married.” The New York Times, Thu, Nov 04, 1897 Page 10, https://www.newspapers.com/image/20443000/
• “To Mrs. Foster’s Memory.”The New York Times, Tue, Feb 25, 1902 Page 5, https://www.newspapers.com/image/20394619/ 
• People of the State of New York v Maria Barberi (Trial #53), In collection Criminal Trial Transcripts of New York County Collection (1883-1927), July 8 1895 (created), January 2015 (digitized), Lloyd Sealy Library, https://dc.lib.jjay.cuny.edu/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/3802

On the evening of February 7th, 1898, William W. Place returned to his Brooklyn home, only to be brutally attacked by his wife, Martha Place. When police arrive at the scene, they discover that William is not Martha’s only victim. Charged with murder, Martha faces the death penalty in a way no woman has before. 

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233

Tea of the Day: Goodbye Anxiety 

Theme Music by Brad Frank

Sources:

• By Genevieve Carlton | Edited By Kaleena Fraga, “The Gruesome Crimes Of Martha Place, The First Woman To Die In The Electric Chair.” Published May 8, 202, Updated May 10, 2023, https://allthatsinteresting.com/martha-place
• Created by: O'side Native, Added: Dec 2, 2009, Find a Grave Memorial ID: 45028308 https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45028308/martha-m.-place
• Arch Trauma Res. 2012 Summer; 1(2): 72–74., Published online 2012 Aug 21, “Ancient Legacy of Cranial Surgery” by Mohammad Ghannaee Arani, Esmaeil Fakharian, and Fahimeh Sarbandi, National Library of Medicine, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3876527/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20French%20physician,mentally%20ill%20people%20(4)
• Find a Grave Memorial ID: 73243661, Created by: Tracy Smart, Added: Jul 12, 2011, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/73243661/william-wallace-place
• The World, Tue, Feb 08, 1898, ·Page 1 & 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/3162367/, https://www.newspapers.com/image/3162420/
• The Brooklyn Citizen, Tue, Feb 08, 1898, Page 1,https://www.newspapers.com/image/541863059/
• “The Place Murder Case.” The New York Times, Wed, Feb 09, 1898, Page 5, https://www.newspapers.com/image/20309009/
• “To Defend Mrs. Place.” The Daily Times, Thu, Feb 10, 1898, Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/10502565/
• “Mrs. Place Gets Counsel.” The Daily Times, Fri, Feb 11, 1898, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/10502743/
• “Mrs. Martha Place Breaks Down in Jail.” The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Mon, Feb 14, 1898, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/50374778/
• “Place Tragedy Inquest.” The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Fri, Feb 25, 1898, Page 12, https://www.newspapers.com/image/50375247/
• “For Killing Her Stepdaughter.” The Brooklyn Citizen, Tue, Jul 05, 1898,Page 9, https://www.newspapers.com/image/541896001/
• “The Conditions Were Desperate.” The Brooklyn Citizen, Wed, Jul 06, 1898, Page 9, https://www.newspapers.com/image/541896142/
• “Place Crime Retold.” Times Union, Wed, Jul 06, 1898,Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/555774140/
• “Martha Place Made Threats.” The Brooklyn Citizen, Thu, Jul 07, 1898,Page 10, https://www.newspapers.com/image/541896292/
• “Mrs. Place Denied She Murdered Ida.” The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Thu, Jul 07, 1898, Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/50337561/
• “Mrs. Place Denies it.” Times Union, Thu, Jul 07, 1898, Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/555774151/
• “Fate of Mrs. Place.” Times Union, Fri, Jul 08, 1898, Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/555774160/
• “The Place Verdict Will Be Appealed.” The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Sat, Jul 09, 1898, Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/50337635/
• “Mrs. Place To Die.” The Daily Times, Tue, Jul 12, 1898,Page 8, https://www.newspapers.com/image/11993145/
• “Mrs. Place’s Sanity Being Examined.” Boston Evening Transcript, Mon, Mar 06, 1899, Page 5, https://www.newspapers.com/image/735448800/
• “Doctors Decide Mrs. Place Sane.” Times Union, Tue, Mar 14, 1899, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/555773859/
• “She Was Sane.” The Buffalo Review, Wed, Mar 15, 1899, Page 5, https://www.newspapers.com/image/354429882/
• “Mrs. Martha Place Must Suffer Death.” Buffalo Courier, Thu, Mar 16, 1899, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/363227588/
• “Mrs. Martha Place Resigned to Her Fate.” The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Fri, Mar 17, 1899, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/50407980/
• “To Her Doom. Mrs. Martha Place Dies in Electric Chair.” The Boston Globe, Mon, Mar 20, 1899, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/430734785/
• “Mrs. Place, the first woman to die in the electric chair was executed this morning.” The Buffalo Enquirer, Mon, Mar 20, 1899, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/325653053/
• “William Place Married Again.” The New York Times, Wed, Aug 23, 1899, Page 12, https://www.newspapers.com/image/20317148/
• “Mrs. Martha Place Resigned to Her Fate.” The Brooklyn Daily Eagle,Fri, Mar 17, 1899, Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/50407980/

It’s 1800s Australia and Ellen Thomson has found her husband, William “Billy” Thomson, in a pool of his own blood. At first, no questions are asked, but once a second bullet is found, the case starts to unravel. Ellen is at the center of it all. Discover what happened to Ellen at the hands of the law and decide whether she received true justice or not. 

Tea of the Day: Watermelon Mint Herbal

Theme Music by Brad Frank

Sources:

• Douglas Shire Historical Society, “In 1887 Ellen Thomson became the only woman legally hanged in Queensland.” https://www.douglashistory.org.au/ellen-thomson
• Kate Kyriacou, “Crime read: The story of Ellen Thompson, the only woman ever hanged in Queensland.” Herald Sun, December 17, 2014, https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/true-crime-scene/crime-read-the-story-of-ellen-thompson-the-only-woman-ever-hanged-in-queensland/news-story/ceee82ec9736c51cdbea667e1e3677df
• Atherton Tableland Netguide, last updated January 26th, 2024, https://athertontablelandnetguide.com/outback/gold/palmer-river-gold.htm
• Vashti Farrer - Beyond a Reasonable Doubt? The Ellen Thomson Case, Royal Australian Historical Soc, History House, 1st May 2013, https://youtu.be/_Tzow8dm-BI?si=Eo4131YbUwdnIKAx
• Denise Carter, “The case of Ellen Thomson: Beyond a reasonable doubt?” Cairns Post, August 31, 2014, https://www.cairnspost.com.au/lifestyle/the-case-of-ellen-thomson-beyond-a-reasonable-doubt/news-story/613de7db8e169bb30683da445d7c7d8a
• Find a Grave, Created by: Chris PIGOTT, Added: Oct 28, 2009, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/43650558/ellen-thomson
• QUEENSLAND STATE ARCHIVES, “The Double Execution.” 13 JUNE, 2016, https://blogs.archives.qld.gov.au/2016/06/13/the-double-execution/
• The Queensland Figaro, “Old Gallows Jubilee.” Sat, Jun 18, 1887 Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/1011394007/
• The Courier-Mail, “Two Loves for a Life.” By Sketcher. Tue, Jun 14, 1887 Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/1014506799/
• Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette, Tue, Jun 14, 1887 Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/1025344357/
• Minna Scherlinder Morse, Facing a Bumpy History, October 1997, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/facing-a-bumpy-history-144497373/
• By Sketcher in the “Courier”, “Two Lives For A Life.” The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser, Tue, Jun 21, 1887 Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/964011594/

It’s 1700s England and all Mary Blandy wants is to find a husband and start a family. But no man is good enough for Mary’s father, who’s desperate to move up in the world. So when he discovers that his prospective pick for his daughter may be already married, his well-laid plans start to unravel. Grab a warm cup and try to follow along with this disastrous engagement.  

Tea of the Day: Cozy Cottage Tea 

Theme Music by Brad Frank

Sources:

• “The First Forensic Hanging” by Summer Strevens, published by Pen & Sword History, copyright 2018.
• Julia Bracewell, “Cruel or Stupid? The Tale of Mary Blandy.” August 14th, 2021, https://juliabracewell.com/cruel-or-stupid-the-tale-of-mary-blandy/
• Smethurst, Bill, “The tragic tale of Mary Blandy.” Reading Evening Post Fri, Nov 10, 1967 ·Page 8, https://www.newspapers.com/image/808675684/
• The Evening News, (Queensland, Australia) Tue, Jan 20, 1925 ·Page 6, https://www.newspapers.com/image/1018864578/
• Chronicle, Thu, Jan 19, 1939 ·Page 59, https://www.newspapers.com/image/1033385891/
• Sunday Dispatch, Sun, Nov 02, 1924 ·Page 6, https://www.newspapers.com/image/917428501/
• The Barnes Chief, Thu, Jan 04, 1917 ·Page 7, https://www.newspapers.com/image/483204323/
• THE GHOSTS OF OXFORD: MARY BLANDY, 13th Jun, 2022, https://www.oxfordcastleandprison.co.uk/about/news/ghosts-of-oxford-mary-blandy/
• The Gloucester Journal, Fri, Nov 19, 1751 ·Page 4, https://www.newspapers.com/image/971487701/
• Elizabeth Svoboda, “The Early Days of Toxicology: Poisonous Powder.” The New York Times, May 11th, 2009, https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/12/science/12file-arsenic.html
• The Derby Mercury, Mon, Dec 06, 1751 ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/394241577/
• The Derby Mercury, Mon, Mar 06, 1752 ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/394414937/
• The Western Flying Post; or, Sherborne and Yeovil Mercury, Thu, Mar 09, 1752 ·Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/979345395/
• The Gloucester Journal, Fri, Mar 10, 1752 ·Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/971488683/
• The Newcastle Weekly Courant, Tue, Mar 14, 1752 ·Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/404045279/
• The Gloucester Journal, Fri, Mar 17, 1752 ·Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/971488735/