# Jane Baylis — The Middle Temple Murder character guide

> Jane Baylis in The Middle Temple Murder by J. S. Fletcher.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Miss Baylis, Miss Jane Baylis

**First appearance:** 0022-xxiii-miss-baylis

## Snapshot

John Maitland's stern sister-in-law, who speaks of him with icy loathing and refuses to have her name dragged into any newspaper.

## Who they are

Miss Baylis is the woman who took in Maitland's son after his imprisonment and who claims she showed the disgraced man the door when he came asking for the boy. She despises Maitland for tricking her sister into marriage and robbing them both, and she will not soften her account for Spargo's benefit. Her cold certainty about Maitland's bad end makes her both a useful witness and a suspicious one, since Market Milcaster gossips say she was in on the money.

## Relationships

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

_friendship_

Jane Baylis is a friend and confidante to Frank, often providing information or support.

### [John Maitland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters/john_maitland)

_family_

Jane Baylis and John Maitland are related, likely as father and daughter or close kin.

### [Mother Gutch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters/mother_gutch)

_social_

Jane Baylis and Mother Gutch are acquaintances, likely through the local community.

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

_friendship_

Jane Baylis is a friend and confidante to Frank, often providing information or support.

### [John Maitland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters/john_maitland)

_family_

Jane Baylis and John Maitland are related, likely as father and daughter or close kin.

### [Mother Gutch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters/mother_gutch)

_social_

Jane Baylis and Mother Gutch are acquaintances, likely through the local community.

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

_friendship_

Jane Baylis is a friend and confidante to Frank, often providing information or support.

### [Mother Gutch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters/mother_gutch)

_social_

Jane Baylis and Mother Gutch are acquaintances, likely through the local community.

## In the story

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

Maitland's sister-in-law who took his child and personal effects, then disappeared.

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

Identified as the child's aunt who ordered copies of the photograph; her address in Bayswater is obtained by Spargo.

### [XXIII: Miss Baylis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xxiii-miss-baylis)

Tall, masculine woman with white hair and dark eyes; expresses vehement dislike of John Maitland, accusing him of tricking her sister into marriage and robbing them; reveals that Maitland's son died in her care.

### [XXIV: Mother Gutch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xxiv-mother-gutch)

Miss Baylis is interviewed by Spargo; she refuses to help and claims the boy is dead.

### [Revelations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xxv-revelations)

Mentioned as having lost her fortune to Maitland and bringing the child to Brighton.

### [XXVI: Still Silent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xxvi-still-silent)

Mentioned as the keeper of the boardinghouse who told Mother Gutch the boy was dead.

### [XXVII: Mr. Elphick's Chambers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xxvii-mr-elphick-s-chambers)

Visits Elphick's chambers before Spargo; remains silent and frightened during the confrontation.

### [XXVIII: Of Proved Identity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xxviii-of-proved-identity)

Recovers composure after Spargo's announcement; shows defiant indifference and accuses Spargo of planning to expose Ronald in his newspaper.

## Links

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