# Jack Bailey — The Circular Staircase character guide

> Jack Bailey in The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Jack, Mr. Bailey, Bailey, Mr. Jack Bailey, John Bailey, Mr. John Bailey, III Mr. John Bailey Appears

**First appearance:** 0002-iii-mr-john-bailey-appears

## Snapshot

Gertrude's fiancé and the bank cashier whose unexplained absence and business ties to Paul Armstrong make him the obvious suspect in the murder.

## Who they are

Jack Bailey is the man Rachel means to judge without faith, a lover whose disappearance from the bank on Monday and shared railroad speculations with the dead president have made him the papers' favorite culprit. His surrender at the point of departure reads to Rachel as the calculation of a clever rascal, though Gertrude's loyalty never wavers. Around him the detective's evidence tightens, and the question of his guilt or innocence becomes the engine of the middle chapters.

## Relationships

### [Gertrude Innes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/characters/gertrude_innes)

_romantic_

Gertrude is secretly engaged to Jack Bailey, and their relationship is a central romantic subplot, strained by suspicion and secrecy.

### [Halsey Innes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/characters/halsey_innes)

_friendship_

Halsey and Jack are friends, though Halsey becomes conflicted when Jack is implicated in the crimes.

### [Halsey Innes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/characters/halsey_innes)

_friendship_

Halsey and Jack are friends, though Halsey becomes conflicted when Jack is implicated in the crimes.

### [Gertrude Innes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/characters/gertrude_innes)

_romantic_

Gertrude is secretly engaged to Jack Bailey, and their relationship is a central romantic subplot, strained by suspicion and secrecy.

## In the story

### [III: Mr. John Bailey Appears](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/iii-mr-john-bailey-appears)

Introduced as a guest; his bed is also unoccupied; initially feared dead.

### [V: Gertrude's Engagement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/v-gertrude-s-engagement)

Gertrude's fiancé; left with Halsey before the murder, but his involvement is questioned by Jamieson.

### [VIII: The Other Half of the Line](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/viii-the-other-half-of-the-line)

Implicated by the cufflink evidence and Jamieson's reconstruction of the murder; described as having a motive due to past enmity with Armstrong.

### [IX: Just Like a Girl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/ix-just-like-a-girl)

Mentioned as having taken an empty revolver and as the recipient of the telegram from Arnold Armstrong; his whereabouts are unknown.

### [X: The Traders’ Bank](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/x-the-traders-bank)

Jack Bailey is under arrest for embezzlement, having surrendered to the police after the bank's failure.

### [XIX: Concerning Thomas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xix-concerning-thomas)

Absent from the inquest due to illness; Mr. Jamieson suspects he knew about the bank crash earlier than he claims.

### [The Odds and Ends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-odds-and-ends)

Revealed as the ghost; he dug the hole in the trunk-room wall, startled Rachel by the clothes chute, and helped carry her to Louise's room.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/characters/jack_bailey
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/characters