# John F.-X. Markham — The Greene Murder Case character guide > John F.-X. Markham in The Greene Murder Case by S. S. Van Dine. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Markham, Mr. Markham **First appearance:** 0003-the-greene-murder-case ## Snapshot New York's incorruptible District Attorney, whose brusque legal conscience and long friendship with Vance pull him into the Greene family's tightening circle of death. ## Who they are Markham is forthright, domineering, and untiring, a man who takes life with grim seriousness and follows the law wherever it leads. He respects Vance's uncanny instincts even when they exasperate him, and their friendship thrives on the very qualities each lacks. When the Greene case lands in his office, his instinct for routine police work collides with Vance's aristocratic theorizing, and that friction becomes the engine of the investigation's early and middle stages. ## In the story ### [Characters of the Book](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/characters-of-the-book) District Attorney of New York County. ### [The Greene Murder Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/the-greene-murder-case) District Attorney leading the case. ### [I: A Double Tragedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/i-a-double-tragedy) District Attorney; reluctantly allows Vance to stay for Chester Greene's interview. ### [The Investigation Opens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/ii-the-investigation-opens) The District Attorney who agrees to investigate the Greene case after Chester's appeal, despite initial skepticism about the burglar theory. ### [At the Greene Mansion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/iii-at-the-greene-mansion) Leads the investigation, questions Chester and Mrs. Greene, and orchestrates the reenactment. ### [IV: The Missing Revolver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/iv-the-missing-revolver) Remains largely passive and skeptical of Vance's methods, preferring to focus on Ada Greene as the key witness. ### [V: Homicidal Possibilities](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/v-homicidal-possibilities) Markham is present and initially resents Sibella's flippant attitude, reproving her for not taking the murders seriously. He eventually defers to Vance's approach. ### [VI: An Accusation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/vi-an-accusation) Present as the district attorney, observing the interview. ### [Vance Argues the Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/vii-vance-argues-the-case) Resists Vance's psychological interpretation, preferring to rely on standard police procedures and evidence, though visibly unsettled by Vance's intensity. ### [VIII: The Second Tragedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/viii-the-second-tragedy) Markham brings news of Chester's murder to Vance, admitting Vance's premonitions were correct. He is worried and relies on Vance's help. ### [IX: The Three Bullets](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/ix-the-three-bullets) Leads the interviews with Mrs. Greene and Sibella, attempting to maintain order. ### [X: The Closing of a Door](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/x-the-closing-of-a-door) Impatient with Vance's historical inquiries, preferring to focus on recent events; conducts servant interviews with frustration. ### [A Painful Interview](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xi-a-painful-interview) Conducts the painful interview with Mrs. Greene and later questions Rex, showing impatience and duty-bound resolve. ### [XIII: The Third Tragedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xiii-the-third-tragedy) Hosts the conference at the Stuyvesant Club, agrees to investigate the Greene wills, and later receives Ada Greene in his office. ### [XIV: Footprints on the Carpet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xiv-footprints-on-the-carpet) Leads the investigation, persuades Ada to accompany them, and questions Sproot and Von Blon. ### [The Lost Poisons](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xvi-the-lost-poisons) Listens to Vance's theory, expresses horror at the idea that the murderer is a household member, and receives Von Blon's report about the stolen poisons. ### [Two Wills](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xvii-two-wills) Leads the conference, presents copies of Tobias Greene's wills, and relates the theft of poisons from Von Blon; considers court action to alter the will's provisions. ### [XVIII: In the Locked Library](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xviii-in-the-locked-library) Reluctantly agrees to Vance's plan, bluffs Mrs. Greene with a fake search warrant, and obtains the key to the library. ### [XIX: Sherry and Paralysis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xix-sherry-and-paralysis) Present during Ada's revelation and the conversation with Von Blon; expresses perplexity about Mrs. Greene's condition. ### [XX: The Fourth Tragedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xx-the-fourth-tragedy) Markham informs Vance of Ada's poisoning, arrives at the Greene mansion, and leads the investigation into the attempted murder. ### [XXI: A Depleted Household](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xxi-a-depleted-household) Brings news of Mrs. Greene's death; leads the investigation and questions Drumm and Ada. ### [XXII: The Shadowy Figure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xxii-the-shadowy-figure) Defends Heath against O'Brien's criticism, explains the official story given to the press, and participates in the conference. ### [XXIII: The Missing Fact](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xxiii-the-missing-fact) Impatient with Vance's artistic digression but ultimately listens; present during the revelation of the secret marriage. ### [A Mysterious Trip](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xxiv-a-mysterious-trip) Visits Vance for breakfast; listens to Vance's revelations and philosophical critique of society; arranges to retrieve books from the Greene library. ### [XXV: The Capture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xxv-the-capture) Waits for Vance in his office, accompanies him to the Greene house and the chase. ### [XXVI: The Astounding Truth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xxvi-the-astounding-truth) Listens to Vance's explanation, expressing impatience and skepticism about the motives. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/endnotes) Mentioned as the recipient of Vance's rearranged sequence of items. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters/john_fx_markham - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters