# Parson Johnny — The Roman Hat Mystery character guide

> Parson Johnny in The Roman Hat Mystery by Ellery Queen.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Cazzanelli, Johnny, the Parson

**First appearance:** 0007-part-one-iii-in-which-a-parson-comes-to-grief

## Snapshot

A slippery underworld operator whose chameleon act of priestly innocence crumbles the moment Inspector Queen mentions Monte Field's name.

## Who they are

The Parson moves through the Roman Theatre's shadows as a gangster with a rap sheet that includes the Bonomo Silk robbery, and his sudden flight from the scene makes him an immediate person of interest. His signature trick — sliding from hard-boiled thug to martyred man of the cloth — works on everyone but Queen, and his fatal slip of recognizing Field's name before denying it hands the investigation its first real crack. He matters because he links the theatre killing to a wider criminal world the Queens must map before they can name a murderer.

## Relationships

### [Ellery Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/ellery_queen)

_professional_

Parson Johnny is a theater employee or underworld figure questioned by Ellery.

### [Ellery Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/ellery_queen)

_professional_

Parson Johnny is a theater employee or underworld figure questioned by Ellery.

### [Ellery Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/ellery_queen)

_professional_

Parson Johnny is a theater employee or underworld figure questioned by Ellery.

## In the story

### [Lexicon of Persons Connected with the Investigation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/lexicon-of-persons-connected-with-the-investigation)

Alias John Cazzanelli, naturally takes a professional interest in Gunplay.

### [Explanation for the Map of the Roman Theatre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/explanation-for-the-map-of-the-roman-theatre)

His aisle-seat is labeled on the map.

### [In Which a “Parson” Comes to Grief](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-one-iii-in-which-a-parson-comes-to-grief)

Apprehended trying to sneak out of the theatre; brought before Inspector Queen.

### [IV: In Which Many Are Called and Two Are Chosen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-one-iv-in-which-many-are-called-and-two-are-chosen)

Apprehended and interrogated; claims ignorance and is detained.

### [In Which Inspector Queen Conducts Some Legal Conversations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-one-v-in-which-inspector-queen-conducts-some-legal-conversations)

Brought into the office for questioning; claims his girlfriend gave him a pass and denies knowledge of the murder.

### [In Which Inspector Queen Conducts More Legal Conversations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-four-xix-in-which-inspector-queen-conducts-more-legal-conversations)

Questioned by Inspector Queen about his dealings with Field.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/parson_johnny
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters