# Simmonds — The Three Taps character guide

> Simmonds in The Three Taps by Ronald A. Knox.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** young Simmonds, Mr. Simmonds, the Simmonds, Poor Mr. Simmonds

**First appearance:** 0001-the-three-taps

## Snapshot

A young man with his foot wedged in the door of the Load of Mischief, whose late-night comings and goings make him the case's most watchable loose thread.

## Who they are

Simmonds has managed what no outsider should—someone inside the inn to let him in and out after hours, and a barmaid whose jumpiness suggests she knows why. The Bredons see a possible mésalliance brewing and decide he is worth a morning's interrogation at the haberdasher's. Whether he is a schemer or merely a young man in love, his access to the inn makes him central to how the crime was physically possible.

## Relationships

### [Mr. Leyland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/characters/mr_leyland)

_professional_

Mr. Leyland and Simmonds have a professional relationship, likely as employer and employee or colleagues.

### [Mr. Brinkman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/characters/mr_brinkman)

_professional_

Mr. Brinkman and Simmonds interact in a professional capacity, likely as employer and employee or colleagues.

### [Angela Bredon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/characters/angela_bredon)

_professional_

Angela Bredon and Simmonds have a professional relationship, possibly as part of the investigation or household staff.

### [Mr. Mottram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/characters/mr_mottram)

_professional_

Mr. Mottram and Simmonds interact professionally, possibly as employer and employee or colleagues.

### [Mr. Leyland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/characters/mr_leyland)

_professional_

Mr. Leyland and Simmonds have a professional relationship, likely as employer and employee or colleagues.

### [Angela Bredon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/characters/angela_bredon)

_professional_

Angela Bredon and Simmonds have a professional relationship, possibly as part of the investigation or household staff.

### [Mr. Brinkman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/characters/mr_brinkman)

_professional_

Mr. Brinkman and Simmonds interact in a professional capacity, likely as employer and employee or colleagues.

### [Mr. Mottram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/characters/mr_mottram)

_professional_

Mr. Mottram and Simmonds interact professionally, possibly as employer and employee or colleagues.

## In the story

### [VII: From Leyland’s Notebook](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/vii-from-leyland-s-notebook)

Mottram's nephew and heir to the shop; mentioned as having quarreled with Mottram over politics, providing a possible motive.

### [X: The Bet Doubled](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/x-the-bet-doubled)

Identified as Mottram's nephew and the prime suspect; Bredon argues he murdered Mottram to inherit the half-million.

### [XII: The Makings of a Trap](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xii-the-makings-of-a-trap)

Simmonds is seen in a lovers' lane with the barmaid, suggesting a possible accomplice; Leyland suspects him of murder.

### [XIII: A Morning with the Haberdasher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xiii-a-morning-with-the-haberdasher)

The haberdasher; Bredon visits his shop to observe him under the guise of buying handkerchiefs.

### [XIV: Bredon Is Taken for a Walk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xiv-bredon-is-taken-for-a-walk)

Referred to indirectly through Emmeline's story; revealed to have known about the codicil and offered to free his fiancée from their engagement, undermining the motive for murder.

### [XV: A Scrap of Paper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xv-a-scrap-of-paper)

Implied to have murdered Mottram and burned the will copy in a hurry, knowing he was cut out of the inheritance.

### [XXV: Bredon's Account of It All](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xxv-bredon-s-account-of-it-all)

Mentioned as the likely heir to Mottram's unsettled estate, enough for him to marry on.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/characters/simmonds
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/characters