The Witching Hour

A suave nighttime gambler who appears to possess a supernatural edge but condemns gambling in practice. His hypnotic gift emerges as a protective tool rather than a vice, shaping the town's moral landscape. He values family, fears abuse of his power, and sits at the crossroads of respectability and danger.

Brookfield's daughter, engaged to Clay Thorne. She navigates family loyalty, romance, and danger as the case unfolds, acting as an anchor for the family’s fortunes while the town's tensions swell around them.

A Northern architect whose love for Nancy is tested by the town's vice. He is driven by fear, and his actions culminate in a gunshot that launches the courtroom crisis; his fate rests on the interpretation of hypnotic influence and intent.

Clay’s mother, a reform-minded figure who travels from Baltimore to guide her son away from danger. Her arrival intensifies the clash between reformist ideals and local power dynamics.

A longtime gambling patron who resents Brookfield’s influence and tests the limits of town power. He fuels the tension through a high-stakes, dangerous game of leverage and cards.

A town boss with a personal vendetta who seeks to seize control of Brookfield’s influence. His confrontations reveal the struggle between power, fear, and corruption in the community.

A prudent judge who understands Brookfield's gift but cautions against its dangers. He becomes pivotal in the trial, balancing duty with the weight of past loyalties and influences.

A respected hypnosis expert whose testimony anchors the scientific debate about Brookfield’s abilities. He offers a measured view of the mind’s vulnerabilities to the courtroom.

The prosecutor who faces a difficult case around hypnosis and crime. He must argue within a framework that may underplay the extraordinary aspects of the defense.

The ordinary juror who becomes a focal point of trial drama. His perception and responses influence the verdict and highlight the limits of judgement when confronted with unusual evidence.

Mrs. Thorne’s late mother and Prentice's love, who appears as a ghost to nudge the judge toward a decision. Her spectral influence underscores unresolved pasts shaping present justice.