# Benjamin Quarterpage — The Middle Temple Murder character guide

> Benjamin Quarterpage in The Middle Temple Murder by J. S. Fletcher.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. Quarterpage, old Quarterpage, old Mr. Quarterpage, Old Ben Quarterpage

**First appearance:** 0016-xvii-mr-quarterpage-harks-back

## Snapshot

A rosy, sharp-minded old burgess of Market Milcaster whose memory of fifty families and fifty silver tickets may crack the case open.

## Who they are

Mr. Quarterpage is the sort of country gentleman who breakfasts at nine sharp, keeps his racing books framed on the wall, and can name every holder of the town's old silver tickets from memory. He takes a genial interest in Spargo's odd possession of one such ticket and offers to trace its history over breakfast. His recollections of the Chamberlayne scandal and the town's stubborn belief that the coffin held lead give Spargo his first real thread into the past.

## Relationships

### [Frank Spargo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters/frank_spargo)

_professional_

Benjamin Quarterpage is a lawyer or legal figure who works with Frank on aspects of the case.

### [Frank Spargo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters/frank_spargo)

_professional_

Benjamin Quarterpage is a lawyer or legal figure who works with Frank on aspects of the case.

### [Frank Spargo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters/frank_spargo)

_professional_

Benjamin Quarterpage is a lawyer or legal figure who works with Frank on aspects of the case.

## In the story

### [Market Milcaster](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xv-market-milcaster)

Mentioned as an old auctioneer and sportsman in Market Milcaster; Spargo plans to seek him out.

### [XVI: The “Yellow Dragon”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xvi-the-yellow-dragon)

A ninety-year-old auctioneer, still spry and youthful. He leads the evening symposium in the bar-parlour, making punch and reminiscing about old times.

### [Mr. Quarterpage Harks Back](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xvii-mr-quarterpage-harks-back)

Identifies the silver ticket as a Market Milcaster burgess ticket, invites Spargo to breakfast, and reveals the ticket likely belonged to John Maitland.

### [XVIII: An Old Newspaper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xviii-an-old-newspaper)

Seen beckoning to Spargo from the library window at the end of the chapter.

### [XIX: The Chamberlayne Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xix-the-chamberlayne-story)

Hosts Spargo and recounts the stories of Maitland and Chamberlayne.

### [XX: Maitland Alias Marbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xx-maitland-alias-marbury)

Local elder of Market Milcaster, provides Spargo with historical details about Maitland, Chamberlayne, and the silver ticket.

### [Arrested](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xxi-arrested)

Accompanies Spargo to the photographer's shop and provides local knowledge about Market Milcaster.

### [XXXII: The Contents of the Coffin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xxxii-the-contents-of-the-coffin)

Local elder who witnesses the exhumation; confirms Chamberlayne's influence over John Maitland; expresses astonishment at the empty coffin.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters/benjamin_quarterpage
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters