·S1 E19

Frankie Silver: Unraveling the Ghost in the Ballad

Dec 15, 2025

1h 11m

Episode Description

In the winter of 1831, in the remote mountains of North Carolina, a young woman named Frankie Silver was accused of the brutal ax murder of her husband, Charlie. Her conviction, execution, and the gruesome dismemberment of the body made her the first woman hanged by the state of North Carolina.

But her story didn’t end at the gallows—it became a legend, a haunting ballad, and a centuries-old question about justice, class, and culture in early America.

In this compelling episode, host Alfred Dockery is joined by New York Times bestselling author Sharyn McCrumb to discuss her acclaimed novel, The Ballad of Frankie Silver. McCrumb, a celebrated Appalachian writer, delves into her years of meticulous research, separating folklore from fact and reconstructing a tragic tale that still resonates today.

Timestamps

(00:00) Podcast Introduction

(00:18) The Case of Frankie Silver

(00:52) Sharyn McCrumb: I write the stories that won’t go away

(03:15) The Haunting Story of Charlie Silver's Graves

(09:41) Unraveling the Trial of Frankie Silver

(17:28) Burgess Gaither: The Perfect Witness

(26:56) Writing The Ballad Series (No Candy Bars)

(31:00) The Two Souths and Historical Research

(35:21) Debunking the Hollywood Hangings

(36:37) 19th Century Southern Hangings: Carts and Trapdoors

(43:26) This Dreadful, Dark and Dismal Song