# George Manfred — The Council of Justice character guide

> George Manfred in The Council of Justice by Edgar Wallace.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Manfred, George, Mr. Manfred

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

## Snapshot

A condemned vigilante leader who selects his prison cigars with unnerving calm, Manfred runs the Four Just Men with the poise of a man who has already planned his escape.

## Who they are

Manfred commands the Four Just Men, an outlaw council that executes killers the law cannot touch, and his capture turns his trial into a stage for their ideals. In Wandsworth Gaol he unnerves the governor with his serenity, refusing a handshake because he is handcuffed, and grows troubled by a mysterious woman in black haunting the prison gates. His intelligence and composure make him the gravitational center of the early case, forcing the reader to weigh whether a murderer can also be a moralist.

## In the story

### [I: The Red Hundred](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_council_of_justice_se/chapters/i-the-red-hundred)

One of the Four Just Men, described as equally guilty or great depending on perspective.

### [The Fourth Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_council_of_justice_se/chapters/ii-the-fourth-man)

The tall man with a trim beard who fired the shot; coolly escapes the police identification by using a false name and being vouched for by Courtlander.

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

Leads the Four Just Men in confronting Bartholomew, reveals his past betrayal, and negotiates his cooperation.

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

Enters the flat, uses a live wire to subdue Starque and François, confronts the Woman of Gratz, and allows her to leave after humiliating her.

### [An Incident in the Fight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_council_of_justice_se/chapters/viii-an-incident-in-the-fight)

Implied as a leader of the Four Just Men, orchestrating the rescue of the Prince of the Escorial.

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

Implied to be involved in the executions, possibly as the 'tall policeman' who arrests Von Dunop.

### [XI: Manfred](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_council_of_justice_se/chapters/xi-manfred)

Sits alone in his Lewisham house, weary from the fight against the Red Hundred; calmly accepts his arrest after being betrayed.

### [In Wandsworth Jail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_council_of_justice_se/chapters/xii-in-wandsworth-jail)

Arrested and held in Wandsworth Jail; refuses to plead, insists he will escape, and reads books including one by Gonsalez.

### [XIII: The “Rational Faithers”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_council_of_justice_se/chapters/xiii-the-rational-faithers)

Receives a visit from Falmouth; reacts with a smile to the news of the discovered plans; decides to make a will.

### [At the Old Bailey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_council_of_justice_se/chapters/xiv-at-the-old-bailey)

The accused, calm and articulate, delivers a philosophical speech in his own defense, acknowledging the law's justice while justifying his actions.

### [XV: Chelmsford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_council_of_justice_se/chapters/xv-chelmsford)

Transferred to Chelmsford, receives coded messages, and prepares for escape.

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

Awaiting execution, remains composed, converses with Jessen and the doctor, refuses chaplain's services, and orchestrates his escape via a mined tunnel.

## Links

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