Soledad O'Brien

I'm Soledad O'Brien, and on my podcast, Murder on the Towpath, I'm taking you back to the 1960s. Mary Pinchot Meyer was a painter who lived in Georgetown in Washington, D.C. Every day, she took a daily walk along the towpath near the E&O Canal.

I'm Soledad O'Brien, and on my podcast, Murder on the Towpath, I'm taking you back to the 1960s. Mary Pinchot Meyer was a painter who lived in Georgetown in Washington, D.C. Every day, she took a daily walk along the towpath near the E&O Canal.

I'm Soledad O'Brien, and on my podcast, Murder on the Towpath, I'm taking you back to the 1960s. Mary Pinchot Meyer was a painter who lived in Georgetown in Washington, D.C. Every day, she took a daily walk along the towpath near the E&O Canal.

Rachel stood on her mangled feet for the whole trip. From North Carolina to Virginia and Maryland, she held onto seat edges and leaned any way she could to give her feet a break. By the time they got to Washington, Grandma Rachel collapsed on the toilet seat in the bathroom. She stayed there until the train pulled into Union Station.

Rachel stood on her mangled feet for the whole trip. From North Carolina to Virginia and Maryland, she held onto seat edges and leaned any way she could to give her feet a break. By the time they got to Washington, Grandma Rachel collapsed on the toilet seat in the bathroom. She stayed there until the train pulled into Union Station.

The police arrived in a heartbeat. Within 40 minutes, a man named Raymond Crump Jr. was arrested. He was found nearby, soaking wet, and he was black. Only one woman dared defend him, civil rights lawyer W. Roundtree. Join me as we unravel this story with a crazy twist. Because what most people didn't know is that Mary was connected to a very powerful man.

The police arrived in a heartbeat. Within 40 minutes, a man named Raymond Crump Jr. was arrested. He was found nearby, soaking wet, and he was black. Only one woman dared defend him, civil rights lawyer W. Roundtree. Join me as we unravel this story with a crazy twist. Because what most people didn't know is that Mary was connected to a very powerful man.

The police arrived in a heartbeat. Within 40 minutes, a man named Raymond Crump Jr. was arrested. He was found nearby, soaking wet, and he was black. Only one woman dared defend him, civil rights lawyer W. Roundtree. Join me as we unravel this story with a crazy twist. Because what most people didn't know is that Mary was connected to a very powerful man.

They caught a cab back to Dovey's apartment. When they were safely home, Dovey looked at Rachel's feet. They were bloodied and bruised. Dovey called a doctor, but she also called her law partner. This was about more than Rachel's health. This was a matter of the law.

They caught a cab back to Dovey's apartment. When they were safely home, Dovey looked at Rachel's feet. They were bloodied and bruised. Dovey called a doctor, but she also called her law partner. This was about more than Rachel's health. This was a matter of the law.

John F. Kennedy. Listen to Murder on the Towpath with Soledad O'Brien on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

John F. Kennedy. Listen to Murder on the Towpath with Soledad O'Brien on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

John F. Kennedy. Listen to Murder on the Towpath with Soledad O'Brien on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Southern Railway needed to be held accountable.

The Southern Railway needed to be held accountable.

Several weeks later, just after graduating from law school, Dovey marched into the U.S. District Court for D.C. to file a breach of contract complaint. The railway denied Dovey's mother and grandmother seats when seats were available. It took a year, but eventually the Southern Railway settled with her. Dovey bit her lip and teared up. She cried in front of the defendant's attorney and the judge.

Several weeks later, just after graduating from law school, Dovey marched into the U.S. District Court for D.C. to file a breach of contract complaint. The railway denied Dovey's mother and grandmother seats when seats were available. It took a year, but eventually the Southern Railway settled with her. Dovey bit her lip and teared up. She cried in front of the defendant's attorney and the judge.

Yes, it was a lot of money at the time, but it hurt her to see her mother and grandmother's pain reduced to a monetary value. Fifteen years later, she'd march into that building again to defend Rae. It had been a long time, but the memory of her grandmother's injustice was fresh. This time, she wasn't looking for financial compensation. She wanted justice for Ray Crump.

Yes, it was a lot of money at the time, but it hurt her to see her mother and grandmother's pain reduced to a monetary value. Fifteen years later, she'd march into that building again to defend Rae. It had been a long time, but the memory of her grandmother's injustice was fresh. This time, she wasn't looking for financial compensation. She wanted justice for Ray Crump.

Next time on Murder on the Towpath, Dovey was preparing to go to trial to save Ray Crump and continue her life's work of defending the defenseless, of passing it on. But what did Dovey or anyone really know of the woman he was accused of killing? It was obvious Mary had been well-connected in certain D.C. circles. She was related to Ben Bradley. She walked with Jackie Kennedy.