# Inspector Sneed — The Door with Seven Locks character guide > Inspector Sneed in The Door with Seven Locks by Edgar Wallace. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Sneed, Chief Inspector John Sneed of Scotland Yard, Captain Sneed, Mr. Sneed **First appearance:** 0002-i ## Snapshot A Scotland Yard chief inspector who stands smoking his pipe with callous indifference while a house burns, then quietly makes the arrest that ends everything. ## Who they are Sneed arrives in the story as a figure of almost insulting calm, watching flames roar from barred windows while Havelock screams for the women inside. That apathy is a mask: the moment he knocks out his pipe, he becomes a competent police official and takes Arthur Havelock into custody on a charge of murder. He is the law's slow, deliberate hand closing on a crime that has been running for years. ## Relationships ### [Dick Martin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/characters/dick_martin) _professional_ Dick Martin and Inspector Sneed are colleagues in law enforcement, collaborating on the case. ### [Mr. Havelock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/characters/mr_havelock) _professional_ Inspector Sneed and Mr. Havelock are colleagues working together on the same case. ### [Antonio Stalletti](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/characters/antonio_stalletti) _rivalry_ Antonio Stalletti is a criminal pursued by Inspector Sneed, creating an adversarial dynamic. ### [Dick Martin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/characters/dick_martin) _professional_ Dick Martin and Inspector Sneed are colleagues in law enforcement, collaborating on the case. ### [Dick Martin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/characters/dick_martin) _professional_ Dick Martin and Inspector Sneed are colleagues in law enforcement, collaborating on the case. ### [Antonio Stalletti](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/characters/antonio_stalletti) _rivalry_ Antonio Stalletti is a criminal pursued by Inspector Sneed, creating an adversarial dynamic. ### [Mr. Havelock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/characters/mr_havelock) _professional_ Inspector Sneed and Mr. Havelock are colleagues working together on the same case. ### [Antonio Stalletti](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/characters/antonio_stalletti) _rivalry_ Antonio Stalletti is a criminal pursued by Inspector Sneed, creating an adversarial dynamic. ### [Mr. Havelock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/characters/mr_havelock) _professional_ Inspector Sneed and Mr. Havelock are colleagues working together on the same case. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/chapters/i) Martin's lazy but superior officer at Scotland Yard; comments on Martin's retirement and assigns him a final mundane task. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/chapters/iv) Orders a search for Lew Pheeney after hearing Dick's account; takes the matter seriously. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/chapters/v) Leads the investigation at Dick's flat; examines the kitchen door and service lift as possible entry points. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/chapters/vi) Mentioned as the police contact from whom Dick hears nothing during his travels. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/chapters/xiii) Listens to Dick's report, identifies Stalletti as the likely attacker, and orders surveillance and a raid on Gallows Cottage. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/chapters/xv) Meets with Dick to discuss the investigation, reveals plans for a raid on Stalletti, and examines the key from the door with seven locks. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/chapters/xvi) Leads the raid, questions Stalletti, and searches the cottage but finds nothing incriminating. ### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/chapters/xx) Accompanies Martin to Weald House, skeptical at first, but witnesses the grim discovery. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/chapters/xxi) Conducts examination of Mrs. Cody's body; investigates the murder scene with Dick; sends for police photographer and local police. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/chapters/xxii) Assists in the search, climbs through the skylight, and joins the gunfight, showing surprising agility. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/chapters/xxiii) Assists in the search of Mrs. Cody's box and discusses the case with Dick. ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/chapters/xxvi) Agrees with the plan to stay at the Manor; discusses the intruder with Havelock; suggests bringing down a dozen men to patrol the grounds. ### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/chapters/xxvii) Investigates Stalletti's disappearance, learns of his criminal past with Cody, and coordinates with local police. ### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/chapters/xxviii) Arranges police protection; reveals that Cody was Lord Selford's tutor and Mrs. Cody was his nurse. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/chapters/xxix) Assists Dick in the stakeout but inadvertently interrupts the giants' conference by rattling the door. ### [The Arrest and the Fire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/chapters/xxx) Oversees the arrest of Havelock and remains calm during the fire. ### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/chapters/xxxi) Accompanies Dick to the tomb, examines the confession book, and oversees the aftermath. ### [XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/chapters/xxxiii) Asks about Cawler's knowledge and Sybil's father's wealth, then falls asleep in the car. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/characters/inspector_sneed - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/characters