# Mr. Coburn — The Pit-Prop Syndicate character guide

> Mr. Coburn in The Pit-Prop Syndicate by Freeman Wills Crofts.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Francis Coburn

**First appearance:** 0005-v-the-visit-of-the-girondin

## Who they are

The Bordeaux sawmill manager whose quiet competence masks a man looking forward to a cottage retirement he may never reach.

## In the story

### [Part I: The Amateurs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/part-i-the-amateurs)

Madeleine's father; is murdered in London, prompting the official investigation.

### [An Interesting Suggestion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/ii-an-interesting-suggestion)

The manager at the sawmill; appeared briefly during the scene with the driver and seemed annoyed after a whispered exchange.

### [A Commercial Proposition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/iv-a-commercial-proposition)

Polite but with veiled hostility; shows surprise at Merriman's visit and appears to share a secret with his daughter.

### [The Visit of the Girondin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/v-the-visit-of-the-girondin)

Shows the friends around the works and the Girondin; explains the business and future plans; seems genuine but Hilliard remains wary.

### [A Change of Venue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/vi-a-change-of-venue)

Coburn is implicated as a member of the syndicate; his hospitality is seen as a ploy to hinder investigation, and he is late to dinner due to overseeing the Girondin's loading.

### [X: Merriman Becomes Desperate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/x-merriman-becomes-desperate)

Mentioned as being in danger and having left home with Madeleine.

### [An Unexpected Ally](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/xi-an-unexpected-ally)

Returns to the clearing; Merriman observes him making secretive visits to the shed at two a.m. for three consecutive nights.

### [XII: Murder!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/xii-murder)

Identified as the likely murder victim through a hotel bill found in his pocket.

### [A Promising Clue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/xiii-a-promising-clue)

Deceased; his murder is linked to the syndicate, and his past financial struggles and secret are discussed.

### [XIV: A Mystifying Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/xiv-a-mystifying-discovery)

Deceased; his past financial troubles and possible connection to the syndicate are explored.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/characters/coburn
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/characters