# Duncan Calton — The Mystery of a Hansom Cab character guide > Duncan Calton in The Mystery of a Hansom Cab by Fergus Hume. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Calton, Calton, Justice Calton **First appearance:** 0001-the-mystery-of-a-hansom-cab ## Snapshot A sharp, impatient barrister who takes up Brian Fitzgerald's defence and refuses to let a convenient theory stand unchallenged. ## Who they are Calton argues with detectives over pints and possibilities, puncturing loose accusations against Moreland and demanding evidence rather than conjecture. His legal mind is the counterweight to gossip: where the public sees a guilty lover, he sees gaps, contradictions, and a coat up a fir-tree that explains nothing yet. He matters because Brian's fate rests on whether Calton can out-think the case the city has already decided. ## In the story ### [VII: The Wool King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/vii-the-wool-king) A leading lawyer and guest at the dinner; he offers a detailed theory about how the murderer escaped detection, suggesting the killer doubled back through Fitzroy Gardens. ### [XI: Counsel for the Prisoner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xi-counsel-for-the-prisoner) Agrees to defend Brian; uses clever questioning to learn Brian had a secret meeting with a woman. ### [She Was a True Woman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xii-she-was-a-true-woman) Arranges Madge's visit to Brian, hoping she can persuade him to reveal his alibi. ### [Madge Makes a Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xiii-madge-makes-a-discovery) Assists Madge in the search and deduces the letter's origin from a back slum. ### [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) Calton hires Kilsip to investigate the letter and the slum connection, revealing Fitzgerald's secret visit to a dying woman. ### [A Woman of the People](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xv-a-woman-of-the-people) Accompanies Kilsip into the slums, observes the crowd's love of music, and is repulsed by the squalor of Mother Guttersnipe's den. ### [Missing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xvi-missing) Desperately seeks Sal Rawlins to save Fitzgerald; learns from Kilsip about Whyte's visits to the 'Queen' and Fitzgerald's secret. ### [XVII: The Trial](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xvii-the-trial) Defense lawyer; works on the case, arranges for Madge to attend the trial, and notes the slender proofs of innocence. ### [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) Visits Sal Rawlins to hear her story, relieved that her testimony will save Fitzgerald. ### [The Verdict of the Jury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xix-the-verdict-of-the-jury) Defense lawyer who presents the alibi and secures Fitzgerald's acquittal. ### [The Argus Gives Its Opinion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xx-the-argus-gives-its-opinion) Defense counsel congratulated for his brilliant speech and unwearied diligence in securing Fitzgerald's acquittal. ### [XXIV: Brian Receives a Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxiv-brian-receives-a-letter) Writes a long letter to Brian detailing his investigation into Rosanna Moore and Oliver Whyte, and demands Brian reveal what he knows. ### [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) Reads Fitzgerald's letter and discusses the case with Kilsip, expressing skepticism about Kilsip's theory. ### [Mother Guttersnipe Joins the Majority](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxvii-mother-guttersnipe-joins-the-majority) Visits Mother Guttersnipe with Kilsip, learns of Mark Frettlby's secret relationship with Rosanna Moore and that Sal Rawlins is Frettlby's daughter. ### [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) Satisfies his curiosity as Brian reveals the full truth; learns that Frettlby murdered Whyte and that Madge is illegitimate. ### [XXXI: Hush-Money](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxxi-hush-money) Accompanies Fitzgerald, discovers Frettlby's confession and the blank cheque, and orchestrates the plan to read and burn the confession with Chinston and Kilsip. ### [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) Assembles the group to read Mark Frettlby's confession and argues for silence to protect the dead man's name. ### [The Hands of Justice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-hands-of-justice) Leads the plan to trap Moreland; reads Mark Frettlby's confession and acknowledges Kilsip's success. ### [The Love That Lives](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxxv-the-love-that-lives) Manages Madge's estates and agrees with Brian to burn Mark Frettlby's confession, keeping the secret of Sal Rawlins' parentage. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/calton - 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