# Brian Fitzgerald — The Mystery of a Hansom Cab character guide > Brian Fitzgerald in The Mystery of a Hansom Cab by Fergus Hume. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Brian Fitzgerald, Mr. Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald, the Prisoner Brian Fitzgerald, young Fitzgerald **First appearance:** 0001-the-mystery-of-a-hansom-cab ## Snapshot A young man-about-town whose name becomes the scandal of Melbourne when he is charged with murdering Oliver Whyte in a hansom cab. ## Who they are Brian moves easily through Collins Street clubs and Frettlby drawing-rooms, courting Madge and dodging questions about Whyte with a haste that reads as guilt. His evasiveness — snapping at the very mention of the murder, biting back a retort about Whyte marrying Madge — makes him the puzzle the whole city wants solved. He anchors the trial arc: a gentleman whose silence may hang him. ## Relationships ### [Madge Frettlby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/madge_frettlby) _romantic_ Brian and Madge are deeply in love, with Brian courting Madge despite the shadow of Oliver Whyte's murder. ### [Mark Frettlby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/mark_frettlby) _family_ Mark Frettlby is Madge's father and Brian's prospective father-in-law, with a tense but respectful relationship. ### [Oliver Whyte](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/oliver_whyte) _rivalry_ Brian and Oliver are bitter rivals, as Oliver had previously pursued Madge and was found murdered in a hansom cab. ### [Sal Rawlins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/sal_rawlins) _social_ Brian knows Sal Rawlins as a marginal figure in the underworld, connected to the events surrounding Oliver Whyte's death. ### [Mrs. Hableton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/mrs_hableton) _social_ Mrs. Hableton is a landlady or acquaintance who provides testimony relevant to Brian's alibi. ### [Roger Moreland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/roger_moreland) _friendship_ Brian and Roger are friends, though Roger's involvement with Oliver Whyte complicates their bond. ### [Madge Frettlby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/madge_frettlby) _romantic_ Brian and Madge are deeply in love, with Brian courting Madge despite the shadow of Oliver Whyte's murder. ### [Madge Frettlby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/madge_frettlby) _romantic_ Brian and Madge are deeply in love, with Brian courting Madge despite the shadow of Oliver Whyte's murder. ### [Oliver Whyte](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/oliver_whyte) _rivalry_ Brian and Oliver are bitter rivals, as Oliver had previously pursued Madge and was found murdered in a hansom cab. ### [Mark Frettlby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/mark_frettlby) _family_ Mark Frettlby is Madge's father and Brian's prospective father-in-law, with a tense but respectful relationship. ### [Mrs. Hableton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/mrs_hableton) _social_ Mrs. Hableton is a landlady or acquaintance who provides testimony relevant to Brian's alibi. ### [Roger Moreland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/roger_moreland) _friendship_ Brian and Roger are friends, though Roger's involvement with Oliver Whyte complicates their bond. ## In the story ### [VI: Mr. Gorby Makes Further Discoveries](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/vi-mr-gorby-makes-further-discoveries) Madge's fiancé; suspected by Gorby of murdering Whyte due to their rivalry. ### [VII: The Wool King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/vii-the-wool-king) Madge's fiancé, an Irish immigrant who has become wealthy under Frettlby's guidance; he is visibly disturbed by the news of Whyte's murder and remains moody during the dinner. ### [Brian Takes a Walk and a Drive](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/viii-brian-takes-a-walk-and-a-drive) Brian is anxious about being suspected of Whyte's murder, takes a circuitous cab ride and walk, and visits Madge at the Frettlby mansion, unaware he is being followed by Gorby. ### [Mr. Gorby Is Satisfied at Last](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/ix-mr-gorby-is-satisfied-at-last) Suffers from guilt and anxiety over Whyte's murder; has a nightmare; reads about the police clue; arranges tea with Madge and Mark Frettlby. ### [X: In the Queen's Name](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/x-in-the-queen-s-name) Arrested for the murder of Oliver Whyte; maintains his innocence and professes his love to Madge. ### [XI: Counsel for the Prisoner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xi-counsel-for-the-prisoner) Arrested for murder; refuses to reveal his alibi to protect a secret. ### [She Was a True Woman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xii-she-was-a-true-woman) Imprisoned and refusing to speak or prove an alibi, though he is innocent. ### [Madge Makes a Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xiii-madge-makes-a-discovery) The letter found in his lodgings is key to his alibi. ### [XIV: Another Richmond in the Field](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xiv-another-richmond-in-the-field) Fitzgerald is the accused who refuses to reveal his whereabouts, having visited a dying woman who sent for him. ### [A Woman of the People](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xv-a-woman-of-the-people) Mentioned by Kilsip as having been in the area on the night of the murder, providing an alibi. ### [Missing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xvi-missing) Imprisoned, admits to being at Mother Guttersnipe's on the murder night but refuses to reveal the dying woman's secret, fearing it would hurt Madge. ### [XVII: The Trial](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xvii-the-trial) The prisoner on trial for murder; appears pale and worn, feels degraded by being in the dock. ### [Sal Rawlins Tells All She Knows](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xviii-sal-rawlins-tells-all-she-knows) Hears of his impending acquittal but remains haunted by the secret the dying woman revealed to him. ### [The Verdict of the Jury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xix-the-verdict-of-the-jury) The prisoner, acquitted after Sal Rawlins' testimony proves his alibi. ### [The Argus Gives Its Opinion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xx-the-argus-gives-its-opinion) Acquitted of murder; praised for his courage and dignity during the trial. ### [Three Months Afterwards](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxi-three-months-afterwards) Moody and irritable, with white hairs; works hard at his station, avoids society, and keeps aloof from Mark Frettlby. ### [XXII: A Daughter of Eve](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxii-a-daughter-of-eve) In riding dress, looks handsome but ill and worried; pleads with Madge to trust him and not pursue the secret; proposes immediate marriage and departure from Australia; reacts with surprise to the yacht's name 'Rosanna'. ### [Across the Walnuts and the Wine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxiii-across-the-walnuts-and-the-wine) Attends Frettlby's dinner party in riding dress, sits next to Madge, and later walks with her in the moonlight. He is intrigued by the mention of Rosanna Moore. ### [XXIV: Brian Receives a Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxiv-brian-receives-a-letter) Rides home from Yabba Yallook, reads Calton's letter, and agonizes over whether to reveal the secret about Rosanna Moore. ### [What Dr. Chinston Said](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxv-what-dr-chinston-said) Visits Madge to announce his departure, concealing his true motives; exchanges tense glances with Mark Frettlby, both thinking of Rosanna Moore. ### [XXVI: Kilsip Has a Theory of His Own](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxvi-kilsip-has-a-theory-of-his-own) Writes a letter to Calton promising to reveal a secret about Rosanna Moore. ### [Mark Frettlby Has a Visitor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxviii-mark-frettlby-has-a-visitor) Isolates himself due to shame from the trial; reluctantly agrees to dine with Madge and her father; recognizes Roger Moreland leaving the house. ### [XXIX: Mr. Calton’s Curiosity Is Satisfied](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxix-mr-calton-s-curiosity-is-satisfied) Tormented by the secret of Mark Frettlby's guilt; reveals the truth about Rosanna Moore's marriage to Calton. ### [Nemesis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxx-nemesis) Mentioned as having recognized Roger Moreland when he visited Frettlby. ### [XXXI: Hush-Money](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxxi-hush-money) Arrives at St. Kilda with Calton, is devastated by Madge's illness, and agrees to keep the secret of the marriage certificate and Frettlby's confession. ### [XXXII: De Mortuis Nil Nisi Bonum](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxxii-de-mortuis-nil-nisi-bonum) Present at the reading of the confession; confirms the accusation against Frettlby. ### [XXXIII: The Confession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-confession) The man wrongly accused of murder, to whom the confession is addressed. ### [The Hands of Justice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-hands-of-justice) Present during the trap and arrest; insists on Moreland's arrest despite the scandal it will cause Madge. ### [The Love That Lives](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxxv-the-love-that-lives) Marries Madge and leaves Australia with her, relieved that Moreland's suicide and the burning of the confession spare them further scandal. ### [List of Illustrations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/list-of-illustrations) Addressee of the letter ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/brian_fitzgerald - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters