# Lauder Bartholomew — The Council of Justice character guide

> Lauder Bartholomew in The Council of Justice by Edgar Wallace.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Bartholomew, Justice Lauder Bartholomew, Captain Bartholomew

**First appearance:** 0000-i-the-red-hundred

## Snapshot

A masked witness in a tightly fitted frock coat, Bartholomew calmly claims equal guilt with Manfred and dares the court to doubt the Four Just Men's justice.

## Who they are

Bartholomew steps into the witness box masked, confesses membership in the Four Just Men, and testifies that a commission of jurists endorsed their killings as worthy of death. His loyalty is absolute and unsettling: he says he would believe Manfred's denial over his own certainty. Whether he is a judge, an adventurer, or both, his testimony gives the vigilantes a legal conscience and raises the question of how far a man may go to serve justice.

## Relationships

### [Rudulph Starque](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_council_of_justice_se/characters/rudulph_starque)

_rivalry_

Bartholomew is a key member of Manfred's council and a direct antagonist to Starque, often clashing with him in their war of wits and violence.

### [The Woman of Gratz](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_council_of_justice_se/characters/the_woman_of_gratz)

_psychological_

Bartholomew is both fascinated and repelled by the Woman of Gratz, recognizing her as a dangerous manipulator who threatens his group.

### [The Woman of Gratz](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_council_of_justice_se/characters/the_woman_of_gratz)

_psychological_

Bartholomew is both fascinated and repelled by the Woman of Gratz, recognizing her as a dangerous manipulator who threatens his group.

### [The Woman of Gratz](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_council_of_justice_se/characters/the_woman_of_gratz)

_psychological_

Bartholomew is both fascinated and repelled by the Woman of Gratz, recognizing her as a dangerous manipulator who threatens his group.

### [Rudulph Starque](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_council_of_justice_se/characters/rudulph_starque)

_rivalry_

Bartholomew is a key member of Manfred's council and a direct antagonist to Starque, often clashing with him in their war of wits and violence.

### [Rudulph Starque](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_council_of_justice_se/characters/rudulph_starque)

_rivalry_

Bartholomew is a key member of Manfred's council and a direct antagonist to Starque, often clashing with him in their war of wits and violence.

## In the story

### [IV: The Red Bean](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_council_of_justice_se/chapters/iv-the-red-bean)

Ex-captain of Irregular Cavalry, now a member of the Inner Council of the Red Hundred. He is a liar and mercenary, having fabricated his background and exploited the organization for money. He receives the red and black beans and later panics when a bomb is discovered.

### [The Council of Justice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_council_of_justice_se/chapters/v-the-council-of-justice)

Plans to flee to Uganda, is coerced by the Four Just Men into becoming their informant, learns of Red Hundred plots, and meets Menshikoff.

### [Princess Revolutionary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_council_of_justice_se/chapters/vi-princess-revolutionary)

Pleads with the Woman of Gratz to escape with him, is accused of betrayal by Starque, and is executed by Starque and François.

### [VII: The Government and Mr. Jessen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_council_of_justice_se/chapters/vii-the-government-and-mr-jessen)

Found dead at Carlby Mansions, identified as one of the victims of the Four Just Men.

### [IX: The Four vs. the Hundred](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_council_of_justice_se/chapters/ix-the-four-vs-the-hundred)

Not directly present, but referenced as part of the Red Hundred's leadership.

### [The Execution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_council_of_justice_se/chapters/xvi-the-execution)

Mentioned indirectly through Manfred's reference to Starque; not present in the chapter.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_council_of_justice_se/characters/lauder_bartholomew
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_council_of_justice_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_council_of_justice_se/characters