# Mr. Chaffanbrass — Orley Farm character guide

> Mr. Chaffanbrass in Orley Farm by Anthony Trollope.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Chaffanbrass, the great Chaffanbrass, Mr. Chaffanbrass⁠—either

**First appearance:** 0061-lxii-what-the-four-lawyers-thought-about-it

## Snapshot

The great, feared cross-examiner of the criminal bar, whose silken cruelty can make an honest witness look like a perjurer.

## Who they are

Mr. Chaffanbrass is the advocate whom solicitors call when a case must be won by shredding reputations rather than proving facts. His fame rests on the wreckage of witnesses — a reputation Trollope treats with grim, half-admiring humor. When he is retained for the defense of Lady Mason, his presence signals that the Orley Farm trial will be fought not on documents alone but on the nerves and characters of everyone who takes the stand.

## In the story

### [XVII: Von Bauhr](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/xvii-von-bauhr)

An elderly barrister who finds the congress tedious and skeptical of reform.

### [Mr. Furnival Looks for Assistance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/xxxiv-mr-furnival-looks-for-assistance)

Agrees to take a brief in the case, though he appears convinced of Lady Mason's guilt.

### [LXI: The State of Public Opinion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/lxi-the-state-of-public-opinion)

A key defense lawyer; attorneys believe if he cannot secure an acquittal, things must be much altered in English criminal court.

### [What the Four Lawyers Thought About It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/lxii-what-the-four-lawyers-thought-about-it)

Discusses trial strategy with Aram; expresses skepticism about the case and laments that he cannot cross-examine both key witnesses.

### [LXV: Felix Graham Returns to Noningsby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/lxv-felix-graham-returns-to-noningsby)

Mentioned as a barrister involved in the case, whose presence at a country assize is unusual.

### [LXXI: Showing How John Kenneby and Bridget Bolster Bore Themselves in Court](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/lxxi-showing-how-john-kenneby-and-bridget-bolster-bore-themselves-in-court)

Co-counsel for Lady Mason, aggressively cross-examines Bridget Bolster, shifting from shaking her to implying she is a rogue.

### [Mr. Furnival's Speech](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/lxxii-mr-furnival-s-speech)

Whispers a comment during Furnival's speech, audible throughout the court.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/characters/mr_chaffanbrass
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/characters