The Verdict

A diligent, principled superintendent who questions a verdict and pursues the truth at any cost. He orchestrates the investigation, writes a memoir to preserve the truth, and ultimately confesses to the murder to demonstrate the real killer's identity. His resolve is tempered by a sense of justice for Kendall and the innocent man wrongly executed. He embodies the tension between official duty and moral responsibility.

The obnoxious, gloating replacement superintendent who leads the prosecution with swagger and a blunt approach. He fixates on a straightforward trail and is quick to convict Russell, showcasing the dangers of arrogance within law enforcement. His downfall comes as the truth behind the alibis and the real sequence of events is laid bare.

An artist and Kendall’s ally who provides a cultured lens on the case. He collaborates with Grodman to illustrate the bodies and events for the memoir, helping to interpret the evidence from a perceptive, artistic angle. His friendship with Kendall adds a human dimension to the investigation and its stakes.

The murder victim whose death catalyzes the investigation. As the victim’s nephew, his murder exposes networks of alibis, political pressure, and hidden motives. Kendall’s role is pivotal as the case unfolds around the attempt to hide and reveal truth surrounding his death.

The MP from Brockton whose travel alibi is scrutinized and ultimately challenged. The discovery of an unused ticket and the murder weapon ties him to the crime, leading to his conviction. His arc illustrates how political figures can be ensnared by the same web of evidence that ensnares others.

A music-hall singer who becomes entangled in Kendall’s murder after a quarrel with him. She is briefly questioned and released, showing how many ordinary people become part of the case's orbit. Her involvement highlights the broad net of suspicion cast by a high-profile crime.

Kendall’s landlady who witnesses events and accidentally becomes a linchpin in Grodman’s locked-room manipulation. Her reactions provide crucial clues to the method of the crime. She embodies the ordinary citizen drawn into the mechanisms of a sensational investigation.

A Reverend connected to the alibi network around the murder. His movements and credibility are examined as the investigation reorders itself around the pursuit of truth. He represents the moral weight of community voices in a case of alleged justice.