# Dr. George Abbershaw — The Crime at Black Dudley character guide > Dr. George Abbershaw in The Crime at Black Dudley by Margery Allingham. **Role:** major **Also known as:** George Abbershaw, Abbershaw, Dr. Abbershaw, Doctor Abbershaw **First appearance:** 0001-the-crime-at-black-dudley ## Snapshot A chubby, red-haired pathologist and amateur sleuth who came to Black Dudley chasing a woman and finds himself dissecting a crime instead. ## Who they are Abbershaw is a minor celebrity in learned circles, his standard work on fatal wounds making him the Yard's quiet authority on how people die. He arrives at Black Dudley on holiday, secretly in love with Margaret Oliphant and methodically resolved to cure himself by marriage or disillusionment. When the weekend turns sinister, his orderly, forensic mind becomes the story's most reliable instrument for reading a scene. ## In the story ### [The Crime at Black Dudley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/the-crime-at-black-dudley) A rational and methodical doctor who takes charge of the investigation after the murder. ### [Candlelight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/i-candlelight) The protagonist, a pathologist in love with Meggie Oliphant, observes the gloomy mansion and its guests. ### [II: The Ritual of the Dagger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/ii-the-ritual-of-the-dagger) Feels a strong, inexplicable distaste for the proposed ritual game; his scientific mind is unsettled by the dagger and the atmosphere. ### [In the Garage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/iii-in-the-garage) Feels foreboding; inspects his car and discovers the Colonel's hybrid Rolls-Royce; comforts Meggie and learns of the bloodied dagger. ### [IV: Murder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/iv-murder) Abbershaw is the central figure in this chapter, using a facade of pomposity to investigate the suspicious circumstances surrounding Colonel Coombe's death. He signs the cremation certificate under compulsion but deduces murder. ### [The Mask](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/v-the-mask) Visits Wyatt to offer sympathy but holds back his discoveries; later confides in Prenderby about the murder and the mask. ### [VI: Mr. Campion Brings the House Down](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/vi-mr-campion-brings-the-house-down) Awakened by the fight, investigates, picks up an object unnoticed, and later arranges to meet Anne Edgeware in the garden. ### [Five O'Clock in the Morning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/vii-five-o-clock-in-the-morning) Destroys incriminating papers and disguises a wallet; questions Anne about Campion; deduces Campion was uninvited; witnesses the removal of Coombe's body. ### [VIII: Open Warfare](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/viii-open-warfare) Observes the confrontation; suggests the group discuss the situation; notices the Black Dudley Dagger has been returned. ### [IX: Chris Kennedy Scores a Try Only](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/ix-chris-kennedy-scores-a-try-only) Comforts Meggie, resolves to escape and investigate the criminal organization, bandages Kennedy's wound, and advises against confronting the captors. ### [X: The Impetuous Mr. Abbershaw](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/x-the-impetuous-mr-abbershaw) Proposes to Meggie after finding her crying; undergoes a mental shift from cautious scientist to impulsive man of action. ### [XI: One Explanation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xi-one-explanation) Abbershaw takes charge, questioning Campion and deducing the gravity of the situation after discovering him in the wardrobe. ### [XII: “Furthermore…" Said Mr. Campion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xii-furthermore-said-mr-campion) Questions Campion about the wallet and his lack of a revolver; reveals the murder of Colonel Coombe and his medical observations. ### [XIII: Abbershaw Sees Red](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xiii-abbershaw-sees-red) Overcome with rage upon learning Meggie has been taken; transforms from cautious expert to impulsive fighter; attempts to confront Dawlish, is assaulted, then uses hidden passage to infiltrate the interrogation. ### [XIV: Abbershaw Gets His Interview](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xiv-abbershaw-gets-his-interview) Confronts von Faber, admits to destroying the papers, and is locked up with Meggie. ### [Doctor Abbershaw's Deductions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xv-doctor-abbershaw-s-deductions) Explains his deductions about Colonel Coombe's role as crime designer; expresses regret for destroying the papers. ### [XVI: The Militant Mrs. Meade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xvi-the-militant-mrs-meade) Awakens to Mrs. Meade's noise, interrogates her, and realizes the implications of her story. ### [XVII: In the Evening](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xvii-in-the-evening) Trapped with Meggie, he analyzes Mrs. Meade's story and worries about the implications for the murder investigation. ### [Mr. Kennedy's Council](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xviii-mr-kennedy-s-council) Reveals he burned the secret papers; agrees to Kennedy's plan; thinking of Meggie. ### [XIX: Mr. Campion’s Conjuring Trick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xix-mr-campion-s-conjuring-trick) Assists Campion in restraining the servants and later in tying up Gideon; briefly loses his gun but recovers. ### [XX: The Roundup](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xx-the-roundup) Leads the descent through the dark house with Campion, discovers Kennedy's body, and participates in the rescue and escape plan. ### [XXI: The Point of View of Benjamin Dawlish](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xxi-the-point-of-view-of-benjamin-dawlish) Desperately tries to reason with Dawlish and confesses that he burned the secret papers, but his plea is dismissed. ### [XXII: The Darkest Hour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xxii-the-darkest-hour) Consumed by guilt over burning the secret papers, he questions Campion about the murder of Colonel Coombe and struggles with the moral weight of his actions. ### [XXIII: An Error in Taste](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xxiii-an-error-in-taste) Helps carry Prenderby, observes the hunt's arrival, and discusses Dawlish's plan with Campion. ### [The Last of Black Dudley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xxiv-the-last-of-black-dudley) Concludes the inquiry with Inspector Pillow, evades revealing the full truth about the murder, and discusses the case with Campion. ### [Mr. Watt Explains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xxv-mr-watt-explains) Hosts the private consultation; conflicted about investigating the murder but feels compelled to seek the truth. ### [XXVI: Cherchez la Femme](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xxvi-cherchez-la-femme) Reluctantly joins the stakeout, uneasy about the lawless methods and Martin's gun, but determined to protect Meggie. ### [XXVII: A Journey by Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xxvii-a-journey-by-night) Doubtful about the legality and wisdom of the chase, but agrees to follow; he suspects the Rolls may have spotted them and suggests they run the car to earth. ### [XXVIII: Should a Doctor Tell?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xxviii-should-a-doctor-tell) Leads the interrogation of Whitby, revealing the alibi for the Simister man and pressing for the truth about Coombe's murder. ### [XXIX: The Last Chapter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xxix-the-last-chapter) Confronts Wyatt Petrie with the truth about the murder, having deduced the flaw in the ritual story through research at the British Museum. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/characters/george_abbershaw - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/characters