# Roger Moreland — The Mystery of a Hansom Cab character guide

> Roger Moreland in The Mystery of a Hansom Cab by Fergus Hume.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Moreland, Mr. Moreland, this Mr. Moreland, All Moreland

**First appearance:** 0001-the-mystery-of-a-hansom-cab

## Snapshot

A nervous acquaintance of the murdered man whose evasions and buried history make him one of the investigation's most troubling loose ends.

## Who they are

Roger Moreland moves on the edges of Melbourne society, a man whose friendship with Oliver Whyte links him directly to the victim and whose uneasy manner invites suspicion. He knows more about Whyte's affairs than he is willing to say, and his reluctance to speak plainly suggests a past he would prefer stayed buried. As the detectives close in on the circumstances surrounding the murder, Moreland's guarded testimony and shadowed history become a thread that threatens to unravel the whole case.

## Relationships

### [Oliver Whyte](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/oliver_whyte)

_friendship_

Oliver and Roger are drinking companions and part of the same social circle, though Roger later becomes a suspect.

### [Brian Fitzgerald](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/brian_fitzgerald)

_friendship_

Brian and Roger are friends, though Roger's involvement with Oliver Whyte complicates their bond.

### [Oliver Whyte](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/oliver_whyte)

_friendship_

Oliver and Roger are drinking companions and part of the same social circle, though Roger later becomes a suspect.

### [Brian Fitzgerald](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/brian_fitzgerald)

_friendship_

Brian and Roger are friends, though Roger's involvement with Oliver Whyte complicates their bond.

### [Brian Fitzgerald](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/brian_fitzgerald)

_friendship_

Brian and Roger are friends, though Roger's involvement with Oliver Whyte complicates their bond.

## In the story

### [Mrs. Hableton Unbosoms Herself](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/v-mrs-hableton-unbosoms-herself)

Whyte's only known friend, who visited regularly but has not been seen for a week.

### [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)

Whyte's close friend; provides details of the night of the murder and identifies Fitzgerald as a rival for Madge Frettlby's affections.

### [XVII: The Trial](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xvii-the-trial)

Testifies about Whyte's coat being stolen and his own intoxication on the night of the murder.

### [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)

Suspected by Kilsip of the murder; noted to be working as a barman and wearing a silver ring on his right forefinger.

### [Mark Frettlby Has a Visitor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxviii-mark-frettlby-has-a-visitor)

Visits Mark Frettlby; is recognized by Brian as a friend of Oliver Whyte and a trial witness; flees when spotted.

### [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)

His visit to Mark Frettlby is recalled as the catalyst for Brian's suspicions.

### [Nemesis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxx-nemesis)

Mentioned as the man who knows Frettlby's secret and threatens to reveal it.

### [XXXIII: The Confession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-confession)

Whyte's friend who later attempted to sell the marriage certificate to Frettlby.

### [The Hands of Justice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-hands-of-justice)

The murderer; walks into the trap, confesses to killing Whyte with chloroform, and is arrested.

### [The Love That Lives](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxxv-the-love-that-lives)

Hangs himself in his cell, leaving no confession, thus ending the public scandal.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/roger_moreland
- 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