# John Minute — The Man Who Knew character guide > John Minute in The Man Who Knew by Edgar Wallace. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Minute, old Minute, Uncle John **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-man-in-the-laboratory ## Snapshot A Rhodesian millionaire in a violent check suit, John Minute storms Scotland Yard with vague fears of enemies he cannot name or prove. ## Who they are Minute is the self-made magnate whose wealth and coarseness sit oddly together, a man who took a quiet Eastbourne place to escape London and found strangers prying at every gate. His visit to the commissioner lays out a parade of suspicious figures — a parson, a peddler, a woman at a hotel — none of whom the police will investigate on mere dread. His murder turns those intangible fears into the engine of the whole plot. ## Relationships ### [Frank Merrill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters/frank_merrill) _family_ Frank is John Minute's nephew and heir, but their relationship is strained by secrets and suspicion. ### [Jasper Cole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters/jasper_cole) _professional_ Jasper is John Minute's secretary and trusted assistant, but harbors hidden ambitions. ### [The Girl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters/the_girl) _psychological_ John Minute is obsessed with the Girl, who appears to be a figure from his past with a hold over him. ### [May Nuttall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters/may_nuttall) _social_ John Minute is May Nuttall's guardian, but their relationship is formal and distant. ### [Constable Wiseman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters/constable_wiseman) _professional_ Constable Wiseman questions John Minute regarding the crimes and his mysterious past. ### [Mr. Crawley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters/mr_crawley) _professional_ Mr. Crawley is John Minute's solicitor, handling his legal and financial affairs. ### [Frank Merrill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters/frank_merrill) _family_ Frank is John Minute's nephew and heir, but their relationship is strained by secrets and suspicion. ### [Frank Merrill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters/frank_merrill) _family_ Frank is John Minute's nephew and heir, but their relationship is strained by secrets and suspicion. ### [Jasper Cole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters/jasper_cole) _professional_ Jasper is John Minute's secretary and trusted assistant, but harbors hidden ambitions. ### [Jasper Cole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters/jasper_cole) _professional_ Jasper is John Minute's secretary and trusted assistant, but harbors hidden ambitions. ### [The Girl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters/the_girl) _psychological_ John Minute is obsessed with the Girl, who appears to be a figure from his past with a hold over him. ### [May Nuttall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters/may_nuttall) _social_ John Minute is May Nuttall's guardian, but their relationship is formal and distant. ## In the story ### [The Man in the Laboratory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/chapters/i-the-man-in-the-laboratory) Reveals his wealth, his ward May Nuttall, his fear of Sergeant Smith, and his belief he will die violently. ### [The Girl Who Cried](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/chapters/ii-the-girl-who-cried) Referenced as the old man who may have something against Crawley and whose relative is a target of the men's schemes. ### [III: Four Important Characters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/chapters/iii-four-important-characters) The Rhodesian millionaire who supports May Nuttall and employs Jasper Cole. He is mentioned as having suggested a marriage between May and Cole. ### [John Minute's Legacy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/chapters/v-john-minute-s-legacy) Reveals May's inheritance; visits the police commissioner; has a controversial past in Rhodesia. ### [The Man Who Knew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/chapters/vi-the-man-who-knew) Visits Saul Arthur Mann to learn what is known about him; is disturbed by the dossier and the mention of 'X'. ### [Introducing Mr. Rex Holland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/chapters/vii-introducing-mr-rex-holland) Mentioned as the uncle whose checks are forged and who is leaving for Paris. ### [Sergeant Smith Calls](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/chapters/viii-sergeant-smith-calls) Receives Jasper Cole's report on the fraud and later is visited by Sergeant Smith, who threatens him with their shared past. ### [IX: Frank Merrill at the Altar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/chapters/ix-frank-merrill-at-the-altar) Sends for Frank Merrill at the bank after the canceled wedding. ### [X: A Murder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/chapters/x-a-murder) The murder victim; found dead on the floor from gunshot wounds. ### [XI: The Case Against Frank Merrill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/chapters/xi-the-case-against-frank-merrill) Deceased; his will is read, leaving the bulk of his estate to Jasper Cole. ### [The Trial of Frank Merrill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/chapters/xii-the-trial-of-frank-merrill) The deceased, whose murder is the subject of the trial. ### [The Man Called "Merrill"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/chapters/xvii-the-man-called-merrill) Referenced in Jasper Cole's revelation as his father, with a detailed history of his life and marriage. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters/john_minute - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters