# Jesse Trasmere — The Clue of the New Pin character guide > Jesse Trasmere in The Clue of the New Pin by Edgar Wallace. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Trasmere, Jesse, old Jesse Trasmere, Uncle Jesse **First appearance:** 0001-ii ## Snapshot A wealthy miser who dines on lean cutlets in a shabby room, locks his valet in at night, and keeps his real business in the basement. ## Who they are Jesse Trasmere lives by ritual: up at two, out at six-thirty with an umbrella and a black bag, home at eight-thirty, coffee at ten, the valet's door locked behind him. He bought his furniture secondhand and boasts of the bargain; he keeps no books and reads no newspapers. His fortune, his Chinese connections, and the vault beneath his house are the three facts the case turns on — and his death is the question every other character is trying to answer. ## Relationships ### [Tab Holland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/characters/tab_holland) _rivalry_ Jesse and Tab are adversaries, with Jesse often obstructing Tab's investigation and harboring secrets. ### [Rex Lander](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/characters/rex_lander) _professional_ Jesse and Rex have a business-like connection, possibly involving financial or criminal dealings. ### [Yeh Ling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/characters/yeh_ling) _psychological_ Jesse exerts control and manipulation over Yeh Ling, creating a dynamic of fear and dependency. ### [Walters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/characters/walters) _professional_ Jesse employs Walters as a henchman or assistant, using him for dirty work. ### [Ursula Ardfern](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/characters/ursula_ardfern) _family_ Jesse is Ursula's uncle or guardian, exerting authority and control over her life. ### [Tab Holland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/characters/tab_holland) _rivalry_ Jesse and Tab are adversaries, with Jesse often obstructing Tab's investigation and harboring secrets. ### [Rex Lander](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/characters/rex_lander) _professional_ Jesse and Rex have a business-like connection, possibly involving financial or criminal dealings. ### [Ursula Ardfern](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/characters/ursula_ardfern) _family_ Jesse is Ursula's uncle or guardian, exerting authority and control over her life. ### [Yeh Ling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/characters/yeh_ling) _psychological_ Jesse exerts control and manipulation over Yeh Ling, creating a dynamic of fear and dependency. ### [Walters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/characters/walters) _professional_ Jesse employs Walters as a henchman or assistant, using him for dirty work. ### [Yeh Ling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/characters/yeh_ling) _psychological_ Jesse exerts control and manipulation over Yeh Ling, creating a dynamic of fear and dependency. ### [Walters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/characters/walters) _professional_ Jesse employs Walters as a henchman or assistant, using him for dirty work. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/chapters/i) A hard-faced, miserly old man who is the secret patron of Yeh Ling. He meets monthly in Room No. 6 to collect profits and warns Yeh Ling about the arrival of Wellington Brown, whom he wishes to be made 'quiet.' ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/chapters/ii) Encountered by Tab on the street; translates a Chinese proclamation and displays his knowledge of Chinese dialects. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/chapters/iii) Described as a secretive, wealthy old man with a peculiar daily routine; he writes a Chinese document and hides it. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/chapters/v) Target of Wellington Brown's threats; found dead in his vault by Tab. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/chapters/vi) Found dead in his vault, shot in the back; his will leaves everything to his nephew Rex Lander. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/chapters/viii) Mentioned in context of Rex's conversation; he had strong negative views about actresses. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/chapters/ix) The murder victim; his vault contains the stolen jewels and various financial documents, raising suspicion about his activities. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/chapters/x) Murdered in his vault; the key was found on a chain around his neck; shot in the back. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/chapters/xi) Deceased; his house Mayfield is the focus of the police search and the mysterious visits. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/chapters/xii) Mentioned as 'poor Uncle Jesse' whose vault contained Ursula's jewel-case. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/chapters/xiii) The deceased; Tab wonders if he was a worse man than anyone imagined. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/chapters/xix) Referenced in Walters' statement as dictating to Ursula, painting with black ink on thin paper, and speaking about Brown. ### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/chapters/xx) Referenced in connection with the jewels and Ursula Ardfern's secretarial work. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/chapters/xxiv) Referred to as Shi Soh; Yeh Ling recalls his promise to serve Trasmere's blood. ### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/chapters/xxvii) Discussed extensively through Ursula's recollections: his secretive nature, his financial arrangements, his habit of making notes, and his role in Ursula's life. ### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/chapters/xxxii) Referenced as the victim of Rex Lander's murder. ### [XXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/chapters/xxxviii) The victim; revealed to be illiterate in English but scholarly in Chinese, which led to his reliance on Ursula and the exposure of the forged will. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/characters/jesse_trasmere - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_new_pin_se/characters