A decade before she became known as the \u201cwelfare queen,\u201d Linda Taylor put herself at the center of a different Chicago scandal. Upon the death of gambling kingpin Lawrence Wakefield, Taylor posed as the heir to his sizable fortune. The ensuing court proceeding was full of lies and surprise witnesses. That heirship hearing would ultimately reveal Taylor\u2019s real identity and offer a window into her troubled past.\nThis podcast is based on Josh Levin\u2019s new book, The Queen: The Forgotten Life Behind an American Myth.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices