# Mr. Mallalieu — The Borough Treasurer character guide > Mr. Mallalieu in The Borough Treasurer by J. S. Fletcher. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mallalieu, Anthony Mallalieu **First appearance:** 0000-i-blackmail ## Snapshot A wealthy, short-tempered man of influence, held as a pampered prisoner in a cottage while a coroner's jury names him for murder. ## Who they are Mallalieu is a big, prosperous figure accustomed to deference, now wholly dependent on his sly keeper Chris Pett for news of the town and of himself. His temper flares at confinement, and his one raw nerve is the word murder—especially when Pett reveals that Cotherstone's evidence turned the inquest against him. His mounting fury and helplessness set the early mystery's central question: what did these two partners do, and who will break first? ## Relationships ### [Miss Pett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/characters/miss_pett) _psychological_ Miss Pett appears to be deeply entangled with Mr. Mallalieu in a dynamic of manipulation or dependency, given their extremely high interaction count. ### [Lettie Cotherstone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/characters/lettie_cotherstone) _psychological_ Lettie Cotherstone and Mr. Mallalieu share a high-frequency, likely tense or obsessive connection, suggesting a manipulative or victimizing relationship. ### [Bert Stoner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/characters/bert_stoner) _rivalry_ Bert Stoner and Mr. Mallalieu have a high number of interactions, likely as antagonists or competitors in a conflict. ### [Christopher Pett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/characters/christopher_pett) _psychological_ Christopher Pett and Mr. Mallalieu have a high interaction count, suggesting a relationship of manipulation or coercion. ### [Mr. Kitely](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/characters/mr_kitely) _professional_ Mr. Kitely and Mr. Mallalieu interact regularly, likely as colleagues or in a business relationship. ### [Mr. Brereton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/characters/mr_brereton) _rivalry_ Mr. Brereton and Mr. Mallalieu have a moderate number of interactions, suggesting a competitive or adversarial dynamic. ### [John Harborough](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/characters/john_harborough) _rivalry_ John Harborough and Mr. Mallalieu have a notable number of interactions, suggesting a conflict or adversarial relationship. ### [Miss Pett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/characters/miss_pett) _psychological_ Miss Pett appears to be deeply entangled with Mr. Mallalieu in a dynamic of manipulation or dependency, given their extremely high interaction count. ### [Christopher Pett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/characters/christopher_pett) _psychological_ Christopher Pett and Mr. Mallalieu have a high interaction count, suggesting a relationship of manipulation or coercion. ### [Lettie Cotherstone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/characters/lettie_cotherstone) _psychological_ Lettie Cotherstone and Mr. Mallalieu share a high-frequency, likely tense or obsessive connection, suggesting a manipulative or victimizing relationship. ### [Bert Stoner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/characters/bert_stoner) _rivalry_ Bert Stoner and Mr. Mallalieu have a high number of interactions, likely as antagonists or competitors in a conflict. ### [Lettie Cotherstone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/characters/lettie_cotherstone) _psychological_ Lettie Cotherstone and Mr. Mallalieu share a high-frequency, likely tense or obsessive connection, suggesting a manipulative or victimizing relationship. ## In the story ### [I: Blackmail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/chapters/i-blackmail) The senior partner and Mayor of Highmarket, who is also implicated in the past fraud and is the target of Kitely's blackmail. ### [II: Crime—and Success](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/chapters/ii-crime-and-success) Cotherstone's partner in crime and success; they discuss how to handle Kitely's blackmail. ### [VI: The Mayor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/chapters/vi-the-mayor) Shocked by the news of Kitely's murder; as chief magistrate, he decides to go to the police station. ### [VII: Night Work](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/chapters/vii-night-work) Takes charge of the police investigation, directing them to pursue Harborough while protecting Cotherstone, whom he believes is the murderer. ### [VIII: Retained for the Defence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/chapters/viii-retained-for-the-defence) Arrives at the police station, questions Harborough, and later leaves after conferring with the superintendent. ### [XII: Parental Anxiety](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/chapters/xii-parental-anxiety) Remains cool and sneering during Cotherstone's outburst, hinting he could expose Cotherstone if needed; both men now eye each other with mutual suspicion. ### [XIV: The Sheet of Figures](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/chapters/xiv-the-sheet-of-figures) Mallalieu is Cotherstone's partner; Stoner notes that neither he nor Cotherstone have mentioned Wilchester. ### [XV: One Thing Leads to Another](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/chapters/xv-one-thing-leads-to-another) Encountered by Stoner on the moors near Highmarket at the end of the chapter. ### [XVI: The Lonely Moor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/chapters/xvi-the-lonely-moor) Enraged by Stoner's accusations and blackmail attempt; strikes Stoner, causing him to fall into a quarry. ### [XVII: The Medical Opinion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/chapters/xvii-the-medical-opinion) Present at the medical examination, he is deeply anxious about the stick he used; later returns alone to the quarry to search for it. ### [The Scrap Book](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/chapters/xviii-the-scrap-book) Identified as the other former criminal (Mallows) from the 1881 fraud; Brereton suspects him of murdering Kitely and possibly Stoner. ### [XIX: A Tall Man in Grey Clothes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/chapters/xix-a-tall-man-in-grey-clothes) Mentioned as having harassed Avice and been angrily ordered away by Harborough, suggesting a motive for revenge. ### [At Bay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/chapters/xx-at-bay) Accused by Cotherstone of being the real culprit in the Wilchester affair and of murdering Kitely and Stoner; is arrested offstage. ### [The Interrupted Flight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/chapters/xxi-the-interrupted-flight) Plans his flight after Stoner's death, inspects the quarry for his stick, prepares his valuables, and is arrested at the Town Hall. ### [XXII: The Hand in the Darkness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/chapters/xxii-the-hand-in-the-darkness) Arrested and brought before magistrates; demands bail, is refused, then escapes custody using a hidden key and his knowledge of the Town Hall. ### [Comfortable Captivity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/chapters/xxiii-comfortable-captivity) Held captive but comfortable in Kitely's cottage, drugged and searched by Miss Pett. ### [Strict Business Lines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/chapters/xxiv-strict-business-lines) Hiding in the cottage, frightened and dependent on the Petts for escape. ### [No Further Evidence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/chapters/xxv-no-further-evidence) Has escaped custody; Cotherstone views his flight as a foolish act that implies guilt. ### [The Virtues of Suspicion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/chapters/xxvi-the-virtues-of-suspicion) Confined and anxious, Mallalieu is dependent on Christopher Pett for news and grows increasingly suspicious of his gaolers' motives. ### [Without Thought of Consequence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/chapters/xxix-without-thought-of-consequence) Lies awake, paranoid and suspicious; kills Miss Pett and Christopher Pett in self-defense; plans to flee. ### [XXX: Cotherstone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/chapters/xxx-cotherstone) Mentioned as Cotherstone's partner and a fellow suspect; Cotherstone initially sought revenge against him but now considers telling the truth. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/characters/mr_mallalieu - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/characters