# Old Mr. Poole — The Rasp character guide

> Old Mr. Poole in The Rasp by Philip MacDonald.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Poole, Mr. Poole, the aged Mr. Poole

**First appearance:** 0007-iii-cock-robin-s-house

## Who they are

The elderly and somewhat senile father of the Hoode family butler.

## In the story

### [The Rasp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/the-rasp)

The elderly butler at Marling, who provides some background and is present during the investigation.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/iii)

The butler who claims to have watched the study door from 9:45 until the murder was discovered, and is considered a reliable witness by Boyd.

### [IV: Study](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/iv-study)

Referenced as the old retainer whose testimony about not hearing the murderer enter through the door is used in Anthony's reasoning.

### [XIV: Hay-Fever](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/xiv-hay-fever)

Butler at Marling; mentioned as having a sneezing fit (hay-fever) on the night of the murder, which Belford used as cover.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/iii)

The butler, suffering from hay-fever, is questioned by Anthony about his sneezing fits on the night of the murder.

### [XVII: By The Owl’s Commissioner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/xvii-by-the-owl-s-commissioner)

Mentioned as suffering from hay-fever, which created a window for Belford's unnoticed entry.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters/old_mr_poole
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters