Wordy Birds

Richmond In Ragtime

Original airdate: November 28, 2008

The “official” description of Harry’s latest book:

“The three years from 1909 to 1911 were busy ones in Richmond, what with the misadventures of Adon A. Yoder, a muckraking pamphleteer who gets beaten up, sued and thrown in jail; the organizing of women like Lila Meade Valentine to fight for their right to vote; the art of sculptor Ferruccio Legnaioli; the novels of Ellen Glasgow, Mary Johnston and James Branch Cabell; increased restrictions against African Americans; a public spectacle surrounding the murder trial of Henry Clay Beattie Jr.; exotic flying machines and automobile endurance contests; and the recording of Polk Miller and his Old South Quartette. Join local author Harry Kollatz Jr. as he revives the city of a century ago for a tour of Richmond in ragtime.”

Thanks for tuning in.

Liz

Listen to the show:

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The Wrong Guys: Murder, False Confessions, and the Norfolk Four

Original airdate: November 21, 2008

The book we’re discussing today, “The Wrong Guys: Murder, False Confessions, and the Norfolk Four” slowly reveals the story of four U.S. Navy sailors who were convicted of the murder of Michelle Bosko. The Norfolk Four each confessed to the heinous crime because prosecutors and their private legal counsel told them confession was the only way to avoid the death penalty.

Four former Attorneys General of the Commonwealth of Virginia and 26 members of the Richmond Chapter of the Society of Former Special Agents separately conducted investigations into this case and concluded that The Norfolk Four were wrongly convicted.

“They firmly believe that Governor Kaine should grant clemency to the Norfolk Four.” http://www.norfolkfour.com/

In this program we’ll begin by hearing about Billy Bosko’s horrifying discovery of his wife’s corpse and then how one off-handed accusation by a neighbor led to four men being sentenced to life in prison.  Mr. Wells reveals some unbelievable evidence in the second “chapter” of Wordy Birds, exposing the real murderer and DNA evidence. In the third “chapter” we will discuss the future of The Norfolk Four.

More information about this case (and links to corresponding articles) can be found on http://www.norfolkfour.com/

Thanks for tuning in.

Liz

Listen to the show:

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Confessions of a Counterfeit
Farm Girl

Original airdate: November 7, 2008

Susan McCorkindale had the ultimate New York lifestyle – complemented of course by the appropriate shoes, clothes and executive magazine job.

After the 9/11 attacks she realized that maybe the pace and price of life in Manhattan wasn’t all that it was hyped up to be. The constant fear of follow-up terrorist acts had her evacuating the building every time a plane flew by.  “My beautiful Big Apple was bruised,” she said. So Susan and her husband decided to move.

With very little planning she quit her job, sold their house and moved to rural Virginia with their two kids. Unfortunately life in the country can be rough on a power suit and she was now running for her life away from barnyard animals.

Susan discovered that her adventures in the sticks read as great stories in emails. The emails became a blog and the blog became a book called, “Confessions of a Counterfeit Farm Girl.”

In this podcast of Wordy Birds, Susan is going to explain a bit more about her decision to move and tell a story or two from her new life in Virginia.

She is a very animated woman and the thumping heard throughout the piece can be her head, hands or feet banging on the table in excitement.

Thanks for tuning in.

Liz

Listen to the show:

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