# Henry Pinckney Sullivan — The Man in Lower Ten character guide

> Henry Pinckney Sullivan in The Man in Lower Ten by Mary Roberts Rinehart.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Sullivan, Mr. Sullivan, Harry Sullivan, Harry

**First appearance:** 0001-ii-a-torn-telegram

## Snapshot

A handsome, haggard man who admits to stealing the narrator's clothes and forged notes, yet swears he never killed anyone.

## Who they are

Sullivan walks into a room of detectives and lawyers with the composure of a man who has rehearsed his confession, admitting the larceny but denying the murder of Simon Harrington. His use of Alison West's first name and his easy reference to the Laurels reveal a history the narrator cannot stomach. He is the case's most obvious suspect and its most inconvenient one, forcing everyone to reconsider what the evidence actually proves.

## In the story

### [V: The Woman in the Next Car](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_lower_ten_se/chapters/v-the-woman-in-the-next-car)

Identified as the dead man through the contents of his pockets, including a card-case and monogrammed flask.

### [Miss West's Request](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_lower_ten_se/chapters/x-miss-west-s-request)

Discussed as the likely murderer; Blakeley explains that Sullivan left the train in another man's clothes and that the dead man's pocketbook is in Blakeley's valise.

### [The Name Was Sullivan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_lower_ten_se/chapters/xi-the-name-was-sullivan)

Identified as the suspected killer; his name is mentioned in a long-distance call.

### [At the Farmhouse Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_lower_ten_se/chapters/xvii-at-the-farmhouse-again)

Reported by the station agent as having limped to the station after the wreck, collapsed, and stayed at the Carter place.

### [At the Boardinghouse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_lower_ten_se/chapters/xxii-at-the-boardinghouse)

Implied to be the blond man in the boardinghouse; Hotchkiss believes he is guilty of murder and framing Blakeley.

### [A Night at the Laurels](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_lower_ten_se/chapters/xxiii-a-night-at-the-laurels)

Brother of Mrs. Curtis; mentioned as having lower berth seven on the train.

### [XXIV: His Wife’s Father](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_lower_ten_se/chapters/xxiv-his-wife-s-father)

Suspected of murder and believed to be hiding in the tower room; his boots are found by the library fire.

### [XXVI: On to Richmond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_lower_ten_se/chapters/xxvi-on-to-richmond)

Mentioned as the man they hoped to arrest; his wife is in a Baltimore hospital.

### [XXVIII: Alison’s Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_lower_ten_se/chapters/xxviii-alison-s-story)

Revealed as married and a murderer; Alison was on her way to marry him.

### [XXX: Finer Details](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_lower_ten_se/chapters/xxx-finer-details)

Confesses to larceny but denies murder; recounts his marriage to Ida Harrington and his servitude to Bronson.

### [And Only One Arm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_lower_ten_se/chapters/xxxi-and-only-one-arm)

Confesses his sister's guilt and explains his wife's involvement; leaves looking worn and old.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_lower_ten_se/characters/henry_sullivan
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_lower_ten_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_lower_ten_se/characters