# Curtice Welland — The Box Office Murders character guide

> Curtice Welland in The Box Office Murders by Freeman Wills Crofts.

**Role:** supporting

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

**First appearance:** 0000-i-the-purple-sickle

## Snapshot

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.

## Who they are

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.

## Relationships

### [Molly Moran](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/characters/molly_moran)

_rivalry_

Curtice Welland and Molly Moran are adversaries, with Welland likely being a threat or antagonist to Molly in the story.

### [Mr. Style](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/characters/mr_style)

_rivalry_

Curtice Welland and Mr. Style are rivals or antagonists, possibly involved in a conflict related to the murders or personal grudges.

### [Molly Moran](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/characters/molly_moran)

_rivalry_

Curtice Welland and Molly Moran are adversaries, with Welland likely being a threat or antagonist to Molly in the story.

### [Molly Moran](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/characters/molly_moran)

_rivalry_

Curtice Welland and Molly Moran are adversaries, with Welland likely being a threat or antagonist to Molly in the story.

## In the story

### [The Grey Car's Round](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/viii-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/ix-french-makes-a-second-assignation)

Bookmaker involved in the gambling scheme; his car is surveilled by French's team.

### [X: Mr. Cracksman French](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/xi-the-happy-paterfamilias)

Suspected of drug trafficking; French inspects his sitting room after the window is broken.

### [XII: The Car’s Freight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/xiv-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/xv-mr-cullimore-expounds)

Has also disappeared; sent a telegram to his housekeeper about being called away.

### [XVIII: When Greek Meets Greek](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/xix-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.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/characters/curtice_welland
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/characters