“requisitioned for the defense” [VALL]    Conan Doyle's real-life turn as Sherlock Holmes has typically been shared through the George Edalji case. But there was another case involving one Oscar Slater that has been more of a footnote than a feature. Author Margalit Fox set out to change that.   In Conan Doyle for the Defense: The True Story of a Sensational British Murder, a Quest for Justice, and the World's Most Famous Detective Writer, she has crafted a fascinating true-crime narrative thanks to her career as an explanatory writer (most notably as a senior writer for The New York Times).   Our conversation with Ms. Fox ranges from the origin of her fascination with this story, to the societal prejudices and corruption that weighed on the victim and verdict, to Conan Doyle's own revulsion with the actions of the innocent man, and takes us from the streets of Glasgow to the barren north shore of Scotland, home of a gulag-like prison that held an innocent man for 18 years.   It's a fascinating and tragic story that fully exposes the chinks in Sir Arthur's armor, the true nature of an accused criminal, and the elements that still stick with society today.   And don't forget to try your hand at the latest Canonical Couplet and win a prize – you don't need to be a  – now every listener is eligible to participate! (But we could still use your support.)   Please do consider becoming a . Your support helps us to ensure we can keep doing what we do, covering file hosting costs, production, and this year, transcription services.   Sponsors This episode includes our two longtime sponsors. Please support our sponsors by visiting their sites:   Would you care to become a sponsor? You can find .   Links This episode:   (Amazon)  (PenguinRandomHouse)  on Facebook  on Twitter "." (The New York Times)     Many more links, articles and images are available in our Flipboard magazine at  as well as through our accounts on , , and .   Please subscribe on the podcast provider of your choosing: , , , ,  ,  or  — or perhaps another we haven't listed here — and be kind enough to leave a rating and review for the show. And please tell a friend about us, in any fashion you feel comfortable.   Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at (774) 221-READ (7323).   Transcript Despite not reaching  yet, we are making transcripts available. But we still need your help to fund this—please consider supporting us via  or  to make this process possible!   Transcript available shortly   --