Clara at the Door with a Revolver: The Scandalous Black Suspect, the Exemplary White Son, and the Murder that Shocked Toronto

by Carolyn Whitzman

The story of bigotry, passion, and cold-blooded murder that centers on one of Canada’s most controversial true-crime figures. In the autumnal darkness of October 6, 1894, an unseen figure rang the doorbell at the Parkdale home of a well-to-do Toronto family and then shot Frank Westwood in his doorway. Weeks later, Clara Ford, a Black tailor and single mother known for her impeccable work ethic, resolute personality, and predilection for wearing men’s attire, was arrested for the killing. She confessed to the murder but as the details of her arrest and her complex connection to the Westwood family emerged, Clara recanted, testifying that she was coerced by police into a false confession. Carolyn Whitzman tells the compelling story of a courageous Black woman living in nineteenth-century Toronto and paints a portrait of a city and a society that have not changed enough in one hundred twenty-five years.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Canada, True Crime, Biography, Mystery, Crime

336 pages, ebook

Published February 5, 2023

Reviews

[Mary Fairhurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine the odds against a desperately poor Black single mother arrested for the murder of a young white man with his whole privileged life ahead of him. Speculation swirls about a possible motive: was she spurned, was she fed up with his taunts, or did he attempt to sexually assault her? Now imagine if the accused lived in Toronto’s Ward neighbourhood in the late 19th century and the victim enjoyed a lake view from his family’s mansion in the tony suburb of Parkdale.

Clara Ford spent time living in close proximity to Frank Westwood, working as a domestic and befriending some members of his family and their neighbours, while upsetting others with the strength, skill and determination she refused to hide any more than the revolver she carried in the pocket of her men’s suit. One night, Frank was shot on his own doorstep. The police didn’t consider any other suspects.

The story of Clara Ford is largely forgotten now, or misremembered (willfully or in error). But it captivated Toronto for months in 1894-95 and caused a frenzy among Toronto’s seven daily papers, pitting journalists against each other in a fast and furious trial by media. When the verdict was delivered after an hour of deliberation, 200 people were waiting outside the overflowing courtroom to hear it. During the 4-day trial (unusually long in an era of swift vs thorough justice), a stream of witnesses had contradicted each other and themselves, the police had come under intense scrutiny for denying Ford her rights and coercing a confession, and the accused herself made legal history by speaking directly to the jury. The prosecutor had made his name in the trial of Louis Riel. The defense was Canada’s most in-demand courtroom showman. But Ford was the one whose words on the stand determined her fate.

The case has so many moving parts, this book could have read like a jargon-filled legal procedural. Instead, it feels like watching a beautifully directed classic film noir. It is laid out in acts to help readers follow the unfolding drama involving a cast of characters even the most inventive mystery writer could not make up. It is delightfully nerve-wracking - a book that will not let you put it down at bedtime.

With wit and style, Whizman also brings impeccable research and a thorough intersectional analysis to a story that reflects vital conversations happening right now regarding policing. It is a merciless take-down of the myth of Toronto the Good and a nuanced contribution to our understanding of social justice in this city and across North America today.

[Nicole A · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had expected this book to be a fictionalized version of the case, but rather it was a meticulously researched and organized examination of all the details history has left behind, and sometimes forgotten. At times this made the book feel a little slow to me, but I cannot deny the excellence of Whitman's work, and what is surely a long overdue analysis trying to account for the experience of a black woman in Toronto in the early 20th century.

[Amanda Borys · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tale of a Black woman who manages to triumph over judicial injustice in turn of the last century Toronto was a pleasure to read. It is obvious the author greatly admired and liked Clara Ford, the heroine of the book. If that skewed the book a little bit in her favour, I think Clara deserved some good press. Especially as it seems that her life did not get any easier after the trial.

The author manages to successfully blend a sense of humour and faint disbelief at the values and stories believed at the time with compassion for Clara and other Black citizens of Toronto who were just trying to live and survive in tough times. The author handles the story with a gentle hand, subtly ridiculing the men who took themselves to seriously while pointing out the hardships women faced without being over the top.

The author states that she was fascinated by Clara's story for decades. I am very glad she decided to share that story and I hope that she is fascinated by more stories in the future.

[Lime · Rating 5 out of 5]

TPL reading challenge. Book about survival. Could also be a book about a historical event you knew nothing about, a book of investigative non fiction, or a book published in 2023. Saw the author interviewed on TVO. Really enjoying this description of 1860-1890s Toronto. Set in Parkdale, Toronto, and the surrounding area. So far I’ve enjoyed the in-depth examination of the state of rights for women, racial and religious minorities (including Catholics), along with a good dose of police incompetence. And I’m only on p 63.
Update: this book was excellent, and I enjoyed every part of it. Whether guilty or not, Clara was a fascinating person; as a Black woman in 1890s Toronto, she had to draw on her intelligence and instincts to defend herself. I’m glad this book has made me aware of her. 5 stars.

[Kayleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed getting to know Clara.

Vividly crafted, this was a refreshing approach to the genre, thoughtful in both its humility and respectful curiosity.

Between the expert reconstruction of Clara’s story is just enough space for you to consider your own “what ifs” to the striking whodunnit.

As if Clara’s story isn’t captivating enough, Carolyn offers us plenty else to chew on: a lingering image of the insidious sides of Canadian history that we try to ignore, but that continue shape modern Canadian life today.

[Dianne Landry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few years ago while taking a historic walking tour of Toronto I was told Clara's story and found it intriguing. When I saw this book I knew I had to read it. I'm glad I did. Imagine the odds facing a poor, black, cross-dressing woman who is accused of killing a spoiled, rich, white teenage boy. So many lies were told by both the police and the press that it is a miracle justice prevailed and she was acquitted. An excellent read for true crime fans.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an engaging read and so the kind of book I love to read! Couldn't put it down.

So well researched and documented! The story of Clara Ford, a 33-year old Black woman living in poverty, but also very resourceful, living in Toronto in the late 19th century who was charged with the murder of a young, 18 year old white man from a wealthy family. The murder takes place in the Parkdale area of Toronto in 1894. This book explores the reality of life in early Toronto, the range of characters involved in the trial and the verdict - acquittal of Clara Ford.

Carolyn Whitzman came across this story while doing her PhD research on Parkdale focused on social conditions, neighbourhood transitions and housing policy.

The history of early Toronto and the conditions that affected how people of various classes, races and gender lived is the best kind of history - social history. Really hard to image being a woman at that time, let alone a woman of Black or Indigenous heritage.

The book explores the possible motives, other suspects, detailed research into the movement of characters and the reality of policing and justice in those days.

I love the Finale chapter where the author herself gives her take on the murder.

Replications of courtroom drawings and newspaper drawings from the time are included in the book.

The book is organized into three acts:
* Act One: The Parkdale Mystery
* Act Two: Clara's Turn
* Act Three: A Great Trial - And Its Aftermath

Research beyond the trial reveals what happened to the main characters and when they disappeared from the historical record.

Really loved this book!

[Diane Dewing · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me longer than usual to read this book. I loved it. It is a very thoroughly researched book and information dense. I found I wanted to take it slow and reflect often.

Carolyn Witzman has written a social history that brings 19th century Toronto alive. All through I imagined the streets as they are and superimposed the Toronto that was. It is a rare book that stimulates this kind of processing. The author reveals the racist, sexist and elitist ideology present and how these attitudes affected the lives of workers, the poor, women and, particularly, the Black community. In doing this, she strips away 150 years of inaccurate reporting to arrive closer to the truth. This is a page-turner of a history book focused on Clara Ford, a Black (Mulatto) working class woman who stood trial for the murder of an upper class white man in 1894. In telling the story, Witzman draws a picture of the people related to the case, the attitudes of the times and the surrounding interests and activities of the neighbourhoods.

[Virginia Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the night of October 6, 1894, young Frank Westwood was shot when he went to answer the door of his parent's home in Toronto's wealthy suburb of Parkdale. Until his death he denied knowing who shot him, but within weeks the police had arrested Clara Ford, a hardworking seamstress and single moth but with a love for dressing as a man. Although originally she confessed to the murder, later she recanted, saying she had been forced into a false concession by the police. Carolyn Whitzman tells the compelling story of a courageous Black woman living with the prejudices of nineteenth-century Toronto.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stellar read chronicling an interesting case that examines the intersection of Black history and 19th century Canada's attitudes towards class. Whitzman's analysis of the Clara Ford case is detailed and free from unnecessary speculation, for her research is sound and insightful.

[Marc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is she guilty? Is she innocent? I’m still not sure but was that ever a snapshot of turn of the century African-Canadian life in Toronto-the-not-so-good.

[Gwen Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clara at the Door ... is on the shortlist for the Toronto Book Awards 2023, the winner to be announced on October 10. And deservedly so - set in Toronto in 1890s, the book shows the vast gulf between poor and rich and between black and white, the sorry state of the judicial system and the bias of the police, the fiction and twisted sensationalism presented about the case in Toronto's seven newspapers.

The story is centred on Clara Ford, an independent, self-sufficient mulatto woman in her thirties who has struggled her entire life in Toronto as a servant and seamstress, with some absences in Chicago. She has two daughters and a revolver. In November 1894 she is accused of shooting Frank Westwood, a young man with some history of "assaulting" young women, at his parents' home in the wealthy part of Parkdale. Frank, as he lay dying, said the shooter was a man with a moustache wearing a large coat. What motive might Clara have had? What opportunity? Did the police nab Clara because she sometimes dressed as a man. Carolyn Whitzman examines it all through narrative and colour derived from deep research into the lives and conditions of the times.

As she explained (p.9), "In this book, I take a different angle. I am less interested in the trial itself than in the intertwined lives that preceded and produced the crime. I want to describe Clara's life and circumstances as a working-class Black woman as best I can, to examine the city and society."

Clara at the Door ... succeeds where a more academic examination of trial and people would not. Whitzman injects mystery, drama, compassion, and suspense, along with facts about neighbourhoods, wages and rent. We learn a great deal about Toronto "The Good" of the 1890s. More self-righteous than good -- here's a sample -- "Institutions - the media, schools, welfare agencies, the police, the law, and the courts - were dedicated to perpetuating an unjust economic and social order and purifying Toronto's working-class majority into Good Citizens."(p. 268)

Very enjoyable and informative. Am hoping the Toronto Book judges select Clara for the 2023 award.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a profound fondness for court dramas, whether they unfold on the silver screen, grace the pages of books, or captivate audiences through television series. Recently, I stumbled upon this book. It was touted as a crime mystery, but to my delight, it defied those expectations entirely. Instead, it unfolded as a meticulously crafted court drama, a genre I cherish deeply.

The narrative centers around a young woman of mixed racial heritage who finds herself embroiled in a murder case. Initially, she confesses to the crime, providing intricate details of the event. However, as the trial commences, she retracts her confession, throwing the courtroom into a whirlwind of uncertainty and intrigue.

The author, Carolyn Whitzman, skillfully paints the vivid tapestry of the courtroom proceedings, capturing the tension, drama, and complexities of the legal battle with remarkable precision. It's evident that Whitzman dedicated considerable time and effort to researching the story of Clara Ford, weaving together a narrative that is as gripping as it is thought-provoking.

Through Whitzman's expert storytelling, the courtroom scenes come alive, immersing the reader in the high-stakes drama of the trial. With each twist and turn, the truth becomes increasingly elusive, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the final verdict is delivered.

[Jane Mulkewich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to my book club, I read this book, and it is such a fascinating story which took place in 1894 in the Parkdale area of Toronto. Although there have been other books written about Clara Ford, this book (published this year in 2023) is bringing her story to my attention for the first time. It is just as the subtitle says: the scandalous Black suspect (that's Clara Ford), the exemplary white son, and the murder that shocked Toronto. There is much we may never know about Clara Ford, but this author sifts through all the evidence to provide a balanced account of her life - there are so many layers here to think about (her parents' identities - was Jessie McKay her mother?, her role as a single mother, why she would dress in men's clothing, how she is able to make her living, and so much more... and of course the central question as to whether she did or did not murder Frank Westwood?). Along the way the reader will learn much about 1890s Toronto, including racial dynamics, politics, journalism, the court system, housing issues, economics and more.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been sitting on my "to be read pile" for a long time, but it was worth the wait. True crime plus sociological study plus an author who is deeply invested in the main character. What's not to love? In addition, my daughter used to live on Jameson, just up the street from where the key events took place. I know little about the history of Toronto so there was a lot here about the city, the people and the political life and power structures that was new to me. I was not familiar with the power of the Orange Lodge, the depth of the animosity toward Irish Catholics, the fact that McDonald supported the South in the Civil War or how many of the power brokers I would recognize. The only negative was that the font was a bit small.

[a_goks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, because of the story and frankly, because it’s in my city. I loved all of the historical references. And the reason I knew about the book was because the author was interviewed on CBC The Current by Matt Galloway a few weeks before the book was released. Having so many references to Parkdale and downtown was really cool. I did find many parts of the book hard to follow and slow at times and in the end, just didn’t finish it completely (mainly because I knew the ending based on the CBC Interview I had previously heard.

Having said all that, I’d love to read more historical fiction and non-fiction set in my hometown.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating story sometimes bogged down by too much detail.

Clara Ford was tried for murder in 1890s Toronto. This book tells her story as well as the history of that moment, particularly for Black women, in Toronto. There were some interesting twists and I was very intrigued by the story.

The depth and breadth of the author’s research was apparent and a lot of those details were interesting but they sometimes pulled me out of the narrative. I wonder if putting some of those details in footnotes would have helped the flow of the writing/reading. Nonetheless this is worth a read.

[Dixie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ because it is important to bring to light injustices faced by minorities throughout history. If you have lived in Toronto, it is also a fascinating account of the city in the late 1890s. I was reading and in my mind, contrasting what places used to look like and what they do know. The meaning and significance of neighborhoods then and now. And how the wealthy classes assign meaning to neighborhoods.

[Gyro · Rating 4 out of 5]

The use of direct quotations, particularly through the trial, is understandable, but the text/writing suffers under its burden. However, the historical context, the social analysis of the time, as well as today's, and the speculation of Clara's life by Whitzman were all fascinating aspects of this story. This should be read in high school english classrooms or cross-curricularly with history courses.

[Kirsten Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book. Loads of research but also notes the limitations of finding records about ‘unimportant people’ on the margins in 19th century Toronto. I very much appreciated Whitzman’s reminder of our hypocrisy when it comes to racism in Canada compared to United States.

My only issue were some digressions that clogged the narrative. I’m still not sure what a stone hooker is.

[Colleen | Paperback.Portals]

This wasn’t my preferred type of reading - fairly dense historical research - however it is very well researched and laid out informative narrative about a curious incident from the 1800s, which highlights past class and society divides in Toronto. Highly recommend if this is your style of reading.

[Amanda Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

A historical true-crime story about a black woman in Toronto accused of killing a white man at his home.

This book investigates a lot of intersectional issues like race, gender, sexuality, privilege, wealth, and power. Perhaps these are the same issues that we're still struggling with today.

[Annika Dyck · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was not familiar with this case, but I heard an interview with the author and it sounded like an interesting story. It was! A sort of snapshot in time of Toronto in the 1800s. Definitely an enlightening picture.

[Colleen Cavanaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of interesting history told in this book. I wonder.how this story would be different if it happened today.

[PSz]

Two errors

[Crystal Slanzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 great history of Toronto

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wish I could give this book more stars but I just didn’t like the style. The story itself is a good one and it was fun to learn about this Canadian, true crime mystery.

[Amy Roebuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting read. Social history, Toronto history, true crime, racism/race relations.

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting book but I felt that the details took away from the story.

[Hayley R]

I didn't finish reading before the library due date! Teaches me for trying to physically read a book when I know I can't knit at the same time!