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/

Today, Meagan brings the fun for our 100th episode! Meet Grace O’Malley, Irish pirate from the 1500s, and Ching Shih, Chinese pirate from the 1800s. They redefine the word, ‘badass,’ and take the world by storm. Buckle in for this head-turning adventure following two extraordinary women.

Tea of the Day: Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc

Theme Music by Brad Frank

Sources:

• Pirate Women: The Princesses, Prostitutes and Privateers Who Ruled the Seven Seas by Laura Sook Duncombe, Published by Chicago Review by 2017
• Grace O'Malley: The Pirate Queen of Ireland, Royal Museums Greenwich, https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/grace-o-malley-irish-female-pirate
• The extraordinary life of Grace O'Malley, Royal Museums Greenwich, https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/grace-o-malley-pirate-history-fact-fiction-legend
• Margie Goldsmith, “Ireland’s Most Famous Pirate Queen: Grace O’Malley.” Nov 22, 2022, https://www.forbes.com/sites/margiegoldsmith/2022/11/22/irelands-most-famous-pirate-queen-grace-omalley/?sh=1b25ec942a47
• “Gráinne Mhaol, pirate queen of Connacht: behind the legend.” Published in Early Modern History (1500–1700), Features, Issue 2 (Mar/Apr 2005), Volume 13, History Ireland, https://www.historyireland.com/grainne-mhaol-pirate-queen-of-connacht-behind-the-legend/
• Joshua J. Mark, “Grace O'Malley.” published on 01 November 2021, World History Encyclopedia, https://www.worldhistory.org/Grace_O'Malley/
• Ronan O’Connell, “On the trail of Ireland’s legendary pirate queen.” National Geographic, May 21, 2021, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/on-the-trail-of-ireland-legendary-pirate-queen
• Pirate Queen: The Life of Grace O’Malley by Judith Cook, Narrated by Katherine Anderson, Published by Tanter Audio, September 27th, 2022.
• Warrior Woman, Season 1: Episode 2, “Grace O’Malley: The Pirate Queen. Directed by Renny Bartlett, Hosted by Lucy Lawless, Exploration Productions Inc., 2018.
• Grace O’Malley Timeline by Anne Chambers, http://www.graceomalley.com/index.php/grace-omalley/time-line#:~:text=1576%3A%20The%20Mac%20William%20of,Galway%20with%20her%20military%20capabilities.
• The Catholic Weekly, (Sydney) Thu, May 27, 1915 ·Page 11, https://www.newspapers.com/image/939761106/
• Blake Stilwell, “A Chinese Woman Led the Largest and Most Successful Pirate Fleet in History.” Military.com, Published March 20, 2023, https://www.military.com/history/chinese-woman-led-largest-and-most-successful-pirate-fleet-history.html
• “Ching Shih - Madame Ching And Her Crew's Exploits.” The Way of the Pirates, 2024, http://www.thewayofthepirates.com/famous-pirates/ching-shih/
• Mark Cartwright, “Zheng Yi Sao.” World History Encyclopedia, published on 15 November 2021, https://www.worldhistory.org/Zheng_Yi_Sao/
• Urvija Banerji, The world’s most successful pirate was a Chinese woman.” Big Think, Story by Atlas Obscura, March 31, 2023, https://bigthink.com/the-past/ching-shih-chinese-female-pirate/
• OVERHEARD AT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, Episode 11: Queens of the high seas, Hosted by Peter Gwin and Amy Briggs, March 29, 2022, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/podcasts/overheard/article/queens-of-the-high-seas