The Box Office Murders · Character

Curtice Welland

A man who vanishes the same night a box-office girl disappears, leaving a telegram about sudden business and a trail of half-crown complicity behind him.

supporting

Also known as Mr. Welland, Welland, Mr. Curtice Welland

First appearance: i the purple sickle

As a supporting figure in The Box Office Murders, Curtice Welland is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Observed playing golf and returning home; described as a quiet, unmarried man with a daily routine.

In the storyThe Grey Car's RoundOpen this moment free

Welland is the thread that ties the cinema girls to the gang: three of them admit under questioning that they changed coins for him, and his disappearance on the Wednesday evening coincides with the vanishing of a key witness. His housekeeper is untroubled by a telegram he sent, but the police cannot find him anywhere. His flight—and the Mint's discovery that his coins were counterfeit—transforms the case from a local tragedy into a national fraud inquiry.

See Curtice Welland in The Grey Car's Round Book page

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Character Web

23 connections

A slice of how Curtice Welland sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Rivalry
Other

Character groups

Core investigation team
Extended cast and background figures
Protagonist

+18 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak where Molly Moran’s…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Molly Moran
rivalry · negative
Curtice Welland and Molly Moran are adversaries, with Welland likely being a threat or… How this plays out →
Mr. Style
rivalry · negative
Molly Moran
rivalry · negative
Curtice Welland and Molly Moran are adversaries, with Welland likely being a threat or… How this plays out →
Molly Moran
rivalry · negative
Curtice Welland and Molly Moran are adversaries, with Welland likely being a threat or… How this plays out →

Molly Moran
Curtice Welland and Molly Moran are adversaries, with Welland likely being a threat or antagonist to Molly in the story.
Mr. Style
Curtice Welland and Mr. Style are rivals or antagonists, possibly involved in a conflict related to the murders or personal grudges.
Molly Moran
Curtice Welland and Molly Moran are adversaries, with Welland likely being a threat or antagonist to Molly in the story.
Molly Moran
Curtice Welland and Molly Moran are adversaries, with Welland likely being a threat or antagonist to Molly in the story.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Curtice Welland in i the purple sickle

In the story

Curtice Welland appears across 10 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Grey Car's Round
Observed playing golf and returning home; described as a quiet, unmarried man with a daily routine.
IX: French Makes a Second Assignation
Bookmaker involved in the gambling scheme; his car is surveilled by French's team.
X: Mr. Cracksman French
Owner of the garage and car under investigation; mentioned as the keyholder and the one who empties or fills the secret pocket.
XI: The Happy Paterfamilias
Suspected of drug trafficking; French inspects his sitting room after the window is broken.
XII: The Car’s Freight
Referred to as the 'cousin' who recruited Molly Moran, offering her a job to pass out half crowns; previously used the alias Westinghouse in Thurza Darke's case.
XIII: The Transport of Supplies
Suspected of being the man depositing large numbers of half crowns at the Knightsbridge branch of the London and County Bank.
The Property Adjoining
Wanted for arrest; French sends Carter to bring him in; later revealed to be an alias used by Style.
XV: Mr. Cullimore Expounds
Has also disappeared; sent a telegram to his housekeeper about being called away.
XVIII: When Greek Meets Greek
Identified as part of the gang; he is on the motor launch with Gwen Lestrange and threatens French as he approaches.
Conclusion
Welland, also known as Hervey Westinghouse, is a key member of the gang who provided capital and orchestrated the coining operation. He is executed after confessing to the murders of three women.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Curtice Welland unlock in the free preview.

See Curtice Welland in i the purple sickle

See Curtice Welland in The Grey Car's Round