# Colonel J. Black — The Just Men of Cordova character guide > Colonel J. Black in The Just Men of Cordova by Edgar Wallace. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Colonel Black, Morris Black, the Earl of Verlond **First appearance:** 0000-i-three-men-of-cordova ## Snapshot A velvet-cloaked financier sipping coffee in Cordova, Colonel Black moves through Europe as the Earl of Verlond — and as something far more dangerous. ## Who they are Black is a man of leisure whose grave grey eyes and flawless Andalusian speech conceal a financier's appetite for other people's money. He keeps Sir Isaac Tramber on a leash of insults and loans, and treats a whining beggar's warning about Dr. Essley with the same patient contempt he shows his creditors. When a masked tribunal occupies his own boardroom and a pensioned servant turns up murdered, the hunter discovers he has become quarry — and the early arc turns on whether his nerve outlasts the net closing around him. ## Relationships ### [Sir Isaac Tramber](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/characters/sir_isaac_tramber) _professional_ Colonel Black and Sir Isaac Tramber are colleagues in a high-stakes investigation or legal matter, with frequent interactions suggesting close collaboration. ### [Frank Fellowe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/characters/frank_fellowe) _professional_ Colonel Black works closely with Frank Fellowe, likely as a subordinate or partner in police or detective work. ### [May Sandford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/characters/may_sandford) _romantic_ Colonel Black and May Sandford share a romantic connection, with frequent interactions suggesting courtship or deep affection. ### [Manfred](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/characters/manfred) _rivalry_ Colonel Black and Manfred are adversaries, likely engaged in a cat-and-mouse chase or ideological conflict. ### [The Girl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/characters/the_girl) _friendship_ Colonel Black and The Girl have a protective or allied friendship, with frequent interactions indicating mutual trust. ### [Willie Jakobs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/characters/willie_jakobs) _professional_ Colonel Black and Willie Jakobs interact frequently in a professional capacity, possibly as informant or assistant. ### [Horace Gresham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/characters/horace_gresham) _professional_ Colonel Black and Horace Gresham are professional associates, likely working together on a case or mission. ### [Sergeant Gurden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/characters/sergeant_gurden) _professional_ Colonel Black and Sergeant Gurden have a superior-subordinate relationship within a police or military context. ### [Dr. Essley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/characters/dr_essley) _professional_ Colonel Black and Dr. Essley interact professionally, possibly as a doctor providing medical or forensic assistance. ### [Augustus Fanks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/characters/augustus_fanks) _professional_ Augustus Fanks and Colonel Black have a professional relationship, likely as a colleague or associate in an investigation. ### [Constable Fellowe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/characters/constable_fellowe) _professional_ Colonel Black and Constable Fellowe have a superior-subordinate relationship within law enforcement. ### [Ikey Tramber](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/characters/ikey_tramber) _professional_ Colonel Black and Ikey Tramber interact professionally, possibly as a younger relative or assistant of Sir Isaac. ## In the story ### [Colonel Black, Financier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/chapters/ii-colonel-black-financier) Portrayed as a shrewd financier with a dubious reputation; he bribes Sergeant Gurden and seeks to monitor Constable Fellowe's activities. ### [III: An Adventure in Pimlico](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/chapters/iii-an-adventure-in-pimlico) Presides over the board meeting, confronts Frank on the street, and invites him inside. ### [IV: The Men Who Sat in Judgment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/chapters/iv-the-men-who-sat-in-judgment) Attempts to bribe Frank Fellowe, traps him in a dark room, and is confronted by the Four Just Men. ### [The Earl of Verlond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/chapters/v-the-earl-of-verlond) Amused and annoyed by the Four Just Men's intrusion; discusses financial straits with Tramber and pressures him about his prospects. ### [The Policeman and a Lady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/chapters/vi-the-policeman-and-a-lady) Mentioned as the target of Frank's surveillance; recommended a doctor for May. ### [VII: Dr. Essley Meets Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/chapters/vii-dr-essley-meets-man) The financier who is using Essley to break Sandford, though he does not appear directly in the chapter. ### [VIII: Colonel Black Has Shock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/chapters/viii-colonel-black-has-shock) Anxious and desperate after Sandford's refusal; visited by a detective about Essley; hides evidence and plans escape. ### [Lord Verlond Gives Dinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/chapters/ix-lord-verlond-gives-dinner) Invited to dinner by Lord Verlond but does not attend; earlier meets Verlond at Sandford's. ### [X: A Policeman’s Business](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/chapters/x-a-policeman-s-business) Black is the benefactor of Jakobs, paying him for silence about the dead man. He is confronted by Frank Fellowe and later finds his flat searched, with the seal of the Four Just Men left behind, unsettling him. ### [The Race](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/chapters/xii-the-race) Urges Sir Isaac to run off the dead heat, dismissing concerns from a journalist and reassuring him of victory. ### [XIII: Who Are the Four?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/chapters/xiii-who-are-the-four) Reveals his discovery of the Four Just Men's identities and orchestrates a secret meeting with a bribed servant. ### [XIV: Willie Jakobs Tells](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/chapters/xiv-willie-jakobs-tells) Discovers Jakobs' thumbprint, pursues him with a stiletto, and attempts to cajole him into returning the stolen bottle. ### [XV: Sir Isaac's Fears](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/chapters/xv-sir-isaac-s-fears) Threatens Sir Isaac Tramber to prevent him from leaving their partnership; visits May Sandford to discourage her from testifying about Jakobs; feels a net drawing around him. ### [XVI: Colonel Black Meets a Just Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/chapters/xvi-colonel-black-meets-a-just-man) Attempts to poison May Sandford, flees after the attempt fails, and is later confronted by de la Monte. ### [XVII: Justice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/chapters/xvii-justice) Captured and interrogated by the Four Just Men; shoots Sir Isaac Tramber and escapes; later arrested by Constable Fellowe and hanged. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/characters/colonel_j_black - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_just_men_of_cordova_se/characters