# John Roper — The Starvel Hollow Tragedy character guide > John Roper in The Starvel Hollow Tragedy by Freeman Wills Crofts. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Roper, Roper, John Roper, Master John Roper **First appearance:** 0002-i-the-tragedy ## Snapshot The efficient manservant who ran every errand at Starvel, and whose convenient death in the fire may be the neatest trick of all. ## Who they are Roper and his wife replaced the old servants at Starvel and quickly became the household's only working machinery, handing Ruth her invitations, producing her travelling money, and controlling access to her drugged, sleeping uncle. If he stole the hoarded notes and burned the house to hide the theft, his own death in the trap is either hideous bungling or something far stranger. French's whole theory of the crime rests on whether this quiet, capable man was villain, victim, or both. ## Relationships ### [Dr. Herbert Philpot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_starvel_hollow_tragedy_se/characters/dr_herbert_philpot) _social_ Philpot and Roper are acquaintances or fellow community members, possibly with shared local ties. ### [Ruth Averill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_starvel_hollow_tragedy_se/characters/ruth_averill) _social_ Roper and Ruth are acquaintances, possibly through family or village life. ### [Ruth Averill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_starvel_hollow_tragedy_se/characters/ruth_averill) _social_ Roper and Ruth are acquaintances, possibly through family or village life. ### [Dr. Herbert Philpot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_starvel_hollow_tragedy_se/characters/dr_herbert_philpot) _social_ Philpot and Roper are acquaintances or fellow community members, possibly with shared local ties. ## In the story ### [I: The Tragedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_starvel_hollow_tragedy_se/chapters/i-the-tragedy) The attendant at Starvel who delivers the invitation and money to Ruth. He and his wife die in the fire. ### [VI: Talloires, Lac d’Annecy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_starvel_hollow_tragedy_se/chapters/vi-talloires-lac-d-annecy) Mentioned as the intermediary who gave Whymper the money and note from Mr. Averill on the night of the fire. ### [VII: Posthumous Evidence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_starvel_hollow_tragedy_se/chapters/vii-posthumous-evidence) Holder of the safe deposit box; former attendant at Ransome Institute; suspected of blackmailing Philpot. ### [VIII: Dr. Philpot’s Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_starvel_hollow_tragedy_se/chapters/viii-dr-philpot-s-story) Mentioned as the blackmailer who forged a confession and extorted money from Philpot. ### [IX: The Value of Analysis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_starvel_hollow_tragedy_se/chapters/ix-the-value-of-analysis) French builds a theory that Roper forged the Palmer-Gore invitation, drugged old Averill, and orchestrated the robbery. ### [X: Whymper Speaks at Last](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_starvel_hollow_tragedy_se/chapters/x-whymper-speaks-at-last) Central figure in French's theory; suspected of murdering his wife and Mr. Averill, stealing money, and framing Whymper. ### [XI: A Startling Theory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_starvel_hollow_tragedy_se/chapters/xi-a-startling-theory) Subject of French's theory that he faked his death in the fire, possibly using a stolen corpse or a murdered victim. ### [XII: A Somewhat Gruesome Chapter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_starvel_hollow_tragedy_se/chapters/xii-a-somewhat-gruesome-chapter) Implied as the mastermind behind the plot; ordered Giles' funeral arrangements and is suspected of removing the body. ### [The Piece of Yellow Clay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_starvel_hollow_tragedy_se/chapters/xiii-the-piece-of-yellow-clay) Mentioned as the missing criminal; his lie about Dr. Emerson's instructions is exposed, strengthening the case against him. ### [XIV: The Secret of the Moor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_starvel_hollow_tragedy_se/chapters/xiv-the-secret-of-the-moor) The suspected criminal whom French hopes to trap by giving false information at the inquest about the number of traceable notes. ### [XVI: A Double Recall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_starvel_hollow_tragedy_se/chapters/xvi-a-double-recall) The wanted man; French develops a detailed description and theorizes he may be in London after two £20 notes from the crime surface. ### [XVIII: Cumulative Evidence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_starvel_hollow_tragedy_se/chapters/xviii-cumulative-evidence) The suspect, disguised and using the alias Arthur Lisle Whitman, exchanges £20 notes for rings and invests in Brazilian securities. ### [The Last Lap](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_starvel_hollow_tragedy_se/chapters/xix-the-last-lap) The target of French's trap; does not appear at the station despite the arranged meeting. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_starvel_hollow_tragedy_se/chapters/xx-conclusion) Serves as Philpot's dupe and accomplice; is ultimately stabbed to death by Philpot to eliminate a witness. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_starvel_hollow_tragedy_se/characters/john_roper - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_starvel_hollow_tragedy_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_starvel_hollow_tragedy_se/characters