Character guide

Polly Burton

major

Also known as Miss Burton, Miss Mary J. Burton, Miss Polly Burton, Miss Polly

A young journalist who frequently interviews the Old Man in the Corner.

The Old Man in the Corner

major

Also known as Unknown

An eccentric armchair detective who solves mysteries for Polly Burton.

Percival Brooks

major

Also known as Percival, Percival Gordon Brooks, Brooks, Mr. Percival Brooks, Mr. Brooks, old Brooks

A wealthy man accused of murdering his father in a sensational trial.

Mr. Francis Morton

supporting

Also known as Mr. Morton, Morton

A man involved in a mysterious death on the underground railway.

Lord Arthur Skelmerton

supporting

Also known as Lord Arthur, Skelmerton

A nobleman implicated in a series of crimes and scandals.

Lady Donaldson

supporting

Also known as Poor Lady Donaldson

A society woman whose death is investigated as a possible murder.

William Kershaw

supporting

Also known as Kershaw

A man suspected of a crime involving a forged will.

Mr. Schwarz

supporting

Also known as young Schwarz, Young Schwarz, Schwarz, poor young Schwarz, young Mr. Schwarz

A young man caught up in a financial scandal and murder.

Mrs. Owen

minor

Also known as Owen

A woman whose husband's death raises suspicion.

David Graham

supporting

Also known as Graham, Mr. Graham, David, Mr. David Graham, Mr. David

A man accused of a crime he may not have committed.

Arthur Greenhill

minor

Also known as young Greenhill, Greenhill, Mr. Greenhill, Arthur, Mr. Greenhill senior, young Arthur Greenhill

A young man whose intimacy with a woman leads to scandal.

Robert Ireland

minor

Also known as Mr. Ireland, Mr. Robert Ireland, young Robert Ireland

A man involved in a forgery case.

Charles Lavender

minor

Also known as Lavender, old Lavender

An old man whose death is investigated.

John Ashley

minor

Also known as young Mr. Ashley, young Ashley, Mr. John Ashley, Ashley, Mr. Ashley, Young John Ashley

A young man suspected in a mysterious death.

Edith Crawford

minor

Also known as Miss Edith Crawford, Miss Crawford

A woman whose father's death is a mystery.

Lewis Ireland

minor

Also known as Lewis, Mr. Ireland, Mr. Lewis Ireland

A man involved in a financial crime.

James Fairbairn

minor

A man accused of murdering his wife.

Timothy Beddingfield

minor

Also known as Timothy, Beddingfield, Mr. Timothy Beddingfield, Mr. Beddingfield

A man suspected of a brutal murder.

Mr. Knopf

minor

Also known as Mr. Ferdinand Knopf, Knopf, Mr. Knopf⁠

A businessman involved in a theft case.

Frank Errington

minor

Also known as Errington, Mr. Frank Errington, Mr. Errington

A man whose mysterious death is investigated.

Aaron Cohen

minor

Also known as Mr. Aaron Cohen, Mr. Cohen, Cohen

A jeweler involved in a robbery case.

Mr. Winslow

minor

Also known as Winslow, Messrs. Winslow

A lawyer involved in several cases.

Francis Smethurst

minor

Also known as Smethurst, Mr. Francis Smethurst, Mr. Smethurst

A man suspected of poisoning his wife.

Robertson

minor

Also known as Poor Robertson, poor old Robertson, Poor old Robertson

An old man who dies under suspicious circumstances.

Murray Brooks

minor

Also known as young Murray Brooks, Mr. Murray Brooks, Mr. Brooks, Murray Brooks, the late Mr. Brooks, Mr. Murray

The murdered millionaire father of Percival Brooks.

Mr. Vassall

minor

Also known as Vassall

A man involved in a mysterious disappearance.

John O'Neill

minor

Also known as John

A man accused of a crime in Dublin.

Andrew Campbell

minor

Also known as Campbell, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Andrew Campbell

A man suspected of murder in Scotland.

Mr. Shipman

minor

Also known as Mr. Arthur Shipman

A man involved in a forgery case.

Emile Knopf

minor

Also known as Mr. Emile Knopf, Mr. Knopf, Emile

A relative of Mr. Knopf involved in a robbery.

Edward Skinner

minor

Also known as Mr. Edward Skinner, Skinner, Mr. Skinner

A man suspected of murdering his wife.

Earl of Brockelsby

minor

Also known as The young Earl of Brockelsby, Brockelsby, the Earl of Brockelsby, Earl of Brockelsby, The Earl of Brockelsby, Lord Brockelsby, young Lord Brockelsby

A young nobleman involved in a scandal.

Constable D 21

minor

Also known as D 21, D 15

A police constable who gives evidence in a case.

Mary Sullivan

minor

Also known as Mary, Polly

A woman involved in a mysterious death.

Sir Arthur Inglewood

minor

Also known as Sir Arthur, Arthur

A baronet whose death is investigated.

Mrs. Ireland

minor

The wife of Robert Ireland, involved in a forgery case.

Mrs. Morton

minor

The wife of Francis Morton, involved in a death mystery.

Edward Hazeldene

minor

Also known as Mr. Hazeldene, Mr. Edward Sholto Hazeldene, Edward Hazeldene

A man whose wife is suspected of murder.

Prince Semionicz

minor

Also known as Prince, The Prince

A Russian prince involved in a theft case.

Patrick Wethered

minor

Also known as Mr. Patrick Wethered, Mr. Wethered, Wethered

A man accused of murdering his uncle.

Richard Frobisher

minor

Also known as Mr. Richard Frobisher

A man whose mysterious death is investigated.

Sir James Fenwick

minor

Also known as Sir James

A baronet whose death is a mystery.

Lady Arthur Skelmerton

minor

Also known as Lady Arthur

The wife of Lord Arthur Skelmerton.

Mr. Chipps

minor

Also known as Chipps

A butler involved in a murder case.

Walter Hatherell

minor

Also known as Mr. Walter Hatherell, Mr. Hatherell, young Hatherell, Hatherell

A young man suspected of murder.

Mr. Francis Howard

minor

Also known as the indefatigable Mr. Howard, Mr. Howard

A detective involved in several investigations.

Mrs. Hazeldene

minor

Also known as the Hazeldene

The wife of Edward Hazeldene, suspected of murder.

Karl Müller

minor

Also known as Müller

A German man suspected of a crime.

George Higgins

minor

Also known as Mr. George Higgins, Higgins

A man involved in a robbery case.

Robert Ingram de Genneville

minor

Also known as the Hon . Robert, the Hon . Robert Ingram de Genneville, the Hon . Robert de Genneville, Robert, Robert de Genneville, the Hon . Mr. de Genneville

A claimant to a peerage involved in a legal battle.

Mr. James Verner

minor

Also known as Mr. Verner

A man whose death is investigated.

Mr. Reginald Pepys

minor

Also known as Mr. Pepys

A man involved in a financial scandal.

James Terry

minor

Also known as Terry

A man suspected of murder.

Mr. Buchanan

minor

A man involved in a mysterious death.

Henry Oranmore

minor

Also known as Mr. Henry Oranmore, Mr. Oranmore, Oranmore

A man suspected of murder in Ireland.

Mrs. Kershaw

minor

Also known as Kershaw

The wife of William Kershaw.

Sir John Etty

minor

Also known as old Sir John Etty, Sir John

An old baronet whose death is investigated.

Sir Marmaduke Ingersoll

minor

Also known as Sir Marmaduke

A baronet involved in a scandal.

Comte Armand de la Tremouille

minor

Also known as Armand de la Tremouille, the Comte de la Tremouille, Comte de la Tremouille, The real Comte de la Tremouille

A French count involved in a peerage case.

Walter Hibbert

minor

Also known as Mr. Walter Hibbert, Mr. Hibbert

A man suspected of murder.

Dr. Mulligan

minor

A doctor involved in a murder case.

Mrs. Hall

minor

A landlady involved in a mystery.

Mr. Pettitt

minor

A man involved in a theft case.

Mr. Macfarlane

minor

A lawyer involved in a Scottish case.

Mrs. Chapman

minor

A woman involved in a murder case.

Signor Torriani

minor

Also known as Torriani

An Italian restaurateur involved in a case.

Tremlett

minor

Also known as the maid Tremlett, Mr. Tremlett

A maid involved in a murder case.

Peter Tyrrell

minor

A man suspected of murder.

Mr. Charles Pitt

minor

Also known as Mr. Pitt

A man involved in a forgery case.

James Buckland

minor

A man suspected of murder.

Barker

minor

A servant involved in a murder case.

Colonel McIntosh

minor

Also known as Colonel McIntosh , R.A., Colonel

A military officer involved in a case.

Dr. Mellish

minor

A doctor involved in a murder case.

Mrs. Higgins

minor

The wife of George Higgins.

Mr. Allman

minor

A man involved in a theft case.

Constable James Funnell

minor

Also known as James Funnell

A police constable who gives evidence.

Miss Bedford

minor

A woman involved in a mysterious death.

Emma Funnel

minor

Also known as Emma

A woman involved in a murder case.