# Martin Watt — The Crime at Black Dudley character guide > Martin Watt in The Crime at Black Dudley by Margery Allingham. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Martin, Watt, Mr. Watt **First appearance:** 0002-i-candlelight ## Snapshot A figure at Black Dudley whose knowledge of events proves useful when the party needs explanations rather than guesses. ## Who they are Watt moves through the Black Dudley weekend as someone who knows more than he immediately volunteers, a presence whose information becomes valuable as the mystery deepens. He occupies the uneasy space between guest and insider, his explanations arriving when the company most needs them. His role in the early-middle arc is to turn confusion into comprehension, giving the party the threads they need to pull. ## Relationships ### [Michael Prenderby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/characters/michael_prenderby) _friendship_ Watt and Prenderby are friends and fellow guests, sharing a cordial relationship within the group. ### [Dr. White Whitby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/characters/dr_white_whitby) _professional_ Whitby and Watt are medical colleagues, working together professionally during the crisis. ### [Albert Campion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/characters/albert_campion) _friendship_ Campion and Watt are friendly acquaintances, cooperating during the investigation. ### [Dr. White Whitby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/characters/dr_white_whitby) _professional_ Whitby and Watt are medical colleagues, working together professionally during the crisis. ### [Michael Prenderby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/characters/michael_prenderby) _friendship_ Watt and Prenderby are friends and fellow guests, sharing a cordial relationship within the group. ### [Albert Campion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/characters/albert_campion) _friendship_ Campion and Watt are friendly acquaintances, cooperating during the investigation. ### [Albert Campion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/characters/albert_campion) _friendship_ Campion and Watt are friendly acquaintances, cooperating during the investigation. ### [Michael Prenderby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/characters/michael_prenderby) _friendship_ Watt and Prenderby are friends and fellow guests, sharing a cordial relationship within the group. ### [Dr. White Whitby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/characters/dr_white_whitby) _professional_ Whitby and Watt are medical colleagues, working together professionally during the crisis. ## In the story ### [X: The Impetuous Mr. Abbershaw](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/x-the-impetuous-mr-abbershaw) Discovers his room has been searched and alerts the others. ### [Mr. Kennedy's Council](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xviii-mr-kennedy-s-council) Reports on Dawlish's interrogations and Gideon's lecture; good-naturedly teases Campion. ### [XX: The Roundup](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xx-the-roundup) Fights one of the prisoners in the brewhouse and later carries the unconscious Prenderby during the escape. ### [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) Argues with Dawlish but is silenced by a revolver pressed to his ribs; later questions whether the stone house can burn. ### [XXII: The Darkest Hour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xxii-the-darkest-hour) Spots Dawlish carrying petrol cans, confirming the imminent threat; his despair turns to hope when he hears the hunting horn and identifies the approaching hunt. ### [XXIII: An Error in Taste](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xxiii-an-error-in-taste) Shouts from the window to attract the hunt's attention, comments on the militant woman, and helps coordinate rescue. ### [Mr. Watt Explains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xxv-mr-watt-explains) Excitedly presents his theory that Dr. Whitby murdered Colonel Coombe; shows keen deductive reasoning. ### [XXVI: Cherchez la Femme](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xxvi-cherchez-la-femme) Eager for action, carries a gun, and advocates using force; his enthusiasm drives the plan to follow Whitby. ### [XXVII: A Journey by Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xxvii-a-journey-by-night) Exultant and convinced his theory is correct; he urges Prenderby to pursue aggressively and fires back at the Rolls. ### [XXVIII: Should a Doctor Tell?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xxviii-should-a-doctor-tell) Accompanies Abbershaw, initially confronts Whitby with accusations, and is stunned when Whitby escapes by plane. ### [XXIX: The Last Chapter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xxix-the-last-chapter) Mentioned as having returned to his old haunts in the City and the West End after the events. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/characters/martin_watt - 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