# Mipps — Doctor Syn character guide > Mipps in Doctor Syn by Russell Thorndike. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Mipps, Mister Mipps, Sexton Mipps, The Sexton, Mr. Sexton, Mister Sexton, Master Sexton **First appearance:** 0000-i-dymchurch-under-the-wall ## Who they are The coffin-making sexton of Dymchurch, whose dry winks and locked chests suggest he knows far more than he lets on. ## Relationships ### [Captain Collyer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/characters/captain_collyer) _rivalry_ Collyer views Mipps as a key accomplice of Doctor Syn and a dangerous smuggler, leading to frequent confrontations. ### [Doctor Syn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/characters/doctor_syn) _friendship_ Doctor Syn and Mipps share a deep, long-standing friendship rooted in their shared history as pirates and current smuggling partnership. ### [Mrs. Waggetts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/characters/mrs_waggetts) _friendship_ Mipps and Mrs. Waggetts are allies in the smuggling network, with Mrs. Waggetts running the inn that serves as a hub for their activities. ### [Sir Antony Cobtree](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/characters/sir_antony_cobtree) _social_ Mipps and Sir Antony have a wary acquaintance, as Sir Antony is a magistrate who suspects Mipps of criminal involvement. ### [Clegg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/characters/clegg) _friendship_ Clegg and Mipps are former pirate shipmates and now fellow smugglers, bound by loyalty and shared secrets. ### [Captain Collyer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/characters/captain_collyer) _rivalry_ Collyer views Mipps as a key accomplice of Doctor Syn and a dangerous smuggler, leading to frequent confrontations. ### [Captain Collyer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/characters/captain_collyer) _rivalry_ Collyer views Mipps as a key accomplice of Doctor Syn and a dangerous smuggler, leading to frequent confrontations. ### [Doctor Syn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/characters/doctor_syn) _friendship_ Doctor Syn and Mipps share a deep, long-standing friendship rooted in their shared history as pirates and current smuggling partnership. ### [Sir Antony Cobtree](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/characters/sir_antony_cobtree) _social_ Mipps and Sir Antony have a wary acquaintance, as Sir Antony is a magistrate who suspects Mipps of criminal involvement. ### [Mrs. Waggetts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/characters/mrs_waggetts) _friendship_ Mipps and Mrs. Waggetts are allies in the smuggling network, with Mrs. Waggetts running the inn that serves as a hub for their activities. ### [Doctor Syn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/characters/doctor_syn) _friendship_ Doctor Syn and Mipps share a deep, long-standing friendship rooted in their shared history as pirates and current smuggling partnership. ### [Clegg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/characters/clegg) _friendship_ Clegg and Mipps are former pirate shipmates and now fellow smugglers, bound by loyalty and shared secrets. ## In the story ### [Dymchurch-Under-the-Wall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/chapters/i-dymchurch-under-the-wall) The sexton and former ship's carpenter, who holds court at the Ship Inn with tales of horror and adventure, enjoying rum and the admiration of the villagers. ### [The Coming of the King's Frigate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/chapters/ii-the-coming-of-the-king-s-frigate) The sexton and undertaker rebuffs Mrs. Waggetts's advances, then meets Doctor Syn and identifies the King's ship, hurrying off to lock up the church. ### [III: The Coming of the King's Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/chapters/iii-the-coming-of-the-king-s-men) Arrives breathless at the inn, urgently sends for Mr. Rash, and shows his secretive and commanding nature. ### [The Captain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/chapters/iv-the-captain) The sexton and coffin-maker; engages in witty banter with Captain Collyer, deliberately confusing him about the landlord's whereabouts. ### [A Bottle of Alsace Lorraine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/chapters/v-a-bottle-of-alsace-lorraine) Threatens to report the captain to the squire and is caught eavesdropping twice. ### [Dogging the Schoolmaster](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/chapters/viii-dogging-the-schoolmaster) The sexton; prepares a potion, leads Rash to the vicarage, and is startled by the yellow-faced intruder who steals Clegg's harpoon. ### [XII: The Captain Objects](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/chapters/xii-the-captain-objects) The undertaker, summoned from viewing the body, enters with a footrule in hand, reviving the tragedy of the murder. ### [The End of the Inquiry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/chapters/xiii-the-end-of-the-inquiry) Gives a disruptive and insolent testimony, refusing to cooperate with the lawyers and causing laughter among the villagers. ### [XV: A Landed Proprietor Sets Up a Gallows Tree](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/chapters/xv-a-landed-proprietor-sets-up-a-gallows-tree) Discusses a night haul with Mrs. Waggetts; agrees to build a gallows for Jerk at a price. ### [The Captain's Nightmare](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/chapters/xix-the-captain-s-nightmare) Assists in carrying the captain to bed and accompanies Syn to alert him. ### [XX: A Terrible Investigation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/chapters/xx-a-terrible-investigation) Suffers from fits of silent, uncontrollable giggling during the investigation, which unnerves the captain. ### [XXI: The Bo'sun's Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/chapters/xxi-the-bo-sun-s-story) Listens to the narrative from the door, defends the village, and measures the corpse of Bill Spiker. ### [A Young Recruit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/chapters/xxiii-a-young-recruit) Recruits Jerry Jerk, recounts his pirate past under Clegg, and explains the smuggling operation. ### [The Coffin-Maker Has a Visitor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/chapters/xxiv-the-coffin-maker-has-a-visitor) Found sitting inside a coffin, hammering and singing; shares stories of his near-death experience and travels, and deflects accusations of piracy. ### [XXV: The Sexton Speaks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/chapters/xxv-the-sexton-speaks) The sexton is under suspicion by Captain Collyer for his involvement in smuggling, his hypocritical nature, and his possession of eleven extra coffins. He then tells a lengthy tale about a Chinese funeral, showcasing his cunning and storytelling ability. ### [XXVI: The Devil’s Tiring House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/chapters/xxvi-the-devil-s-tiring-house) Leads the gathering with authority, wearing a mask and cloak; orchestrates the disguises and initiates Jerk. ### [The Fight at Mill House Farm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/chapters/xxviii-the-fight-at-mill-house-farm) Sexton Mipps's extreme vigilance allows the smugglers to know the King's men's position and plans. ### [Captain Collyer Entertains an Attorney from Rye](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/chapters/xxix-captain-collyer-entertains-an-attorney-from-rye) Assists in the crypt, sorting money and locking up the chest, then observes Doctor Syn at the courthouse. ### [A Certain Tree Bears Fruit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/chapters/xxxi-a-certain-tree-bears-fruit) Helped Jerry set up the gallows, mentioned by Jerry. ### [The Captain's Experiment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/chapters/xxxii-the-captain-s-experiment) Arrests Morgan Walters at the vicarage with a blunderbuss; later acts as the bo'sun during the experiment. ### [Holding the Pulpit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/chapters/xxxvi-holding-the-pulpit) Assists Syn by aiming a blunderbuss at Captain Collyer and later disappears after the decoy is discovered. ### [The Dead Man's Throttle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/chapters/xxxvii-the-dead-man-s-throttle) Confronts Captain Collyer on the lugger, feigns death, and escapes by swimming away. ### [Echoes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/chapters/xxxix-echoes) Now living in a Chinese monastery on Penang, dressed in a dirty blue robe, throwing sacred crackers into the God of Plenty and smoking opium by the turtle pool. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/characters/mipps - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/doctor_syn_se/characters