# Thomas Velie — The Roman Hat Mystery character guide > Thomas Velie in The Roman Hat Mystery by Ellery Queen. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Sergeant Velie, Sergeant, Velie **First appearance:** 0005-part-one-i-in-which-are-introduced-a-theatre-audience-and-a-corpse ## Snapshot Sergeant Velie is the Inspector's stolid, loyal right hand, handling the gritty legwork and gruff banter that keep the Field investigation moving. ## Who they are Velie appears at the Inspector's elbow from the first morning of the case, phoning in Ritter's discovery of a woman in Field's apartment and shepherding witnesses like Michaels through the bureaucratic maze. His relationship with the Queens is easy and familiar—he trades barbs with the Inspector about Djuna and the Bronx Zoo—but his competence is never in doubt. He matters as the reliable instrument through which the official investigation reaches its far-flung leads. ## Relationships ### [Richard Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/richard_queen) _professional_ Thomas Velie is a police sergeant or detective subordinate to Inspector Queen. ### [Ellery Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/ellery_queen) _professional_ Ellery works with Sergeant Velie as part of the police investigation team. ### [Richard Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/richard_queen) _professional_ Thomas Velie is a police sergeant or detective subordinate to Inspector Queen. ### [Ellery Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/ellery_queen) _professional_ Ellery works with Sergeant Velie as part of the police investigation team. ### [Richard Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/richard_queen) _professional_ Thomas Velie is a police sergeant or detective subordinate to Inspector Queen. ### [Ellery Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/ellery_queen) _professional_ Ellery works with Sergeant Velie as part of the police investigation team. ## 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) Detective-Sergeant who knows a thing or two about crime. ### [I: In Which Are Introduced a Theatre-Audience and a Corpse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-one-i-in-which-are-introduced-a-theatre-audience-and-a-corpse) Sergeant Velie arrives at the Roman Theatre, takes charge of the murder scene, and orders the manager to keep the audience seated. ### [In Which One Queen Works and Another Queen Watches](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-one-ii-in-which-one-queen-works-and-another-queen-watches) Assists Inspector Queen, secures the scene, and is sent to check ticket stubs at the box office. ### [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) Receives orders to marshal men for audience examination and reports on usher Miller's testimony. ### [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) Brings the first half of the audience list and identifies Benjamin Morgan as Field's former partner. ### [The Queens Take Stock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-one-vii-the-queens-take-stock) Receives orders from Inspector Queen at the end of the chapter regarding the theatre closure. ### [In Which the Queens Meet Mr. Field's Very Best Friend](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-two-viii-in-which-the-queens-meet-mr-field-s-very-best-friend) Sergeant Velie calls the Queens' apartment early in the morning to report that Ritter has phoned from Field's apartment. ### [In Which the Mysterious Mr. Michaels Appears](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-two-ix-in-which-the-mysterious-mr-michaels-appears) Calls Inspector Queen with news from Browne Bros.; directed to wait at headquarters. ### [In Which Mr. Field's Tophats Begin to Assume Proportions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-two-x-in-which-mr-field-s-tophats-begin-to-assume-proportions) Sergeant who reports on fingerprint findings from Field's flask and brings the theatre sweepings and stub list for examination. ### [In Which the Hat Grows](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-three-xiv-in-which-the-hat-grows) Informs the Inspector that Cronin is frustrated at Field's office and appears pleased upon hearing of Angela Russo's visit to Morgan. ### [XV: In Which an Accusation Is Made](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-three-xv-in-which-an-accusation-is-made) Present in the office; urges immediate arrest of Morgan based on Mrs. Russo's accusation. ### [In Which the Queens Go to the Theatre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-three-xvi-in-which-the-queens-go-to-the-theatre) Present in the office at the start of the chapter, then leaves. ### [In Which More Hats Grow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-three-xvii-in-which-more-hats-grow) Briefly appears at the start, leading a frightened stranger away. ### [XVIII: Stalemate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-three-xviii-stalemate) Delivers surveillance reports on Parson Johnny, William Pusak, Madge O'Connell, and Frances Ives-Pope to the Queens' apartment. ### [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) Assists Inspector Queen, reports that the theatre is clear. ### [XX: In Which Mr. Michaels Writes a Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-four-xx-in-which-mr-michaels-writes-a-letter) Sergeant Velie is summoned by Queen, escorts Michaels, and is tasked with keeping Michaels company and preventing his communication with others. ### [XXI: In Which Inspector Queen Makes a Capture—](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-four-xxi-in-which-inspector-queen-makes-a-capture) Sergeant Velie assists in subduing Barry and extracting his hand from the pocket under Inspector Queen's direction. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/thomas_velie - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters