# Joseph Peters — The Trail of the Serpent character guide > Joseph Peters in The Trail of the Serpent by M. E. Braddon. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Joe Peters, Peters, Mr. Peters, Mr. Joseph Peters, Joe **First appearance:** 0001-i-the-good-schoolmaster ## Snapshot A shabbily dressed, watchful 'scrub' of the Gardenford detective force whose silent attention to Richard Marwood hints at a loyalty deeper than his lowly post. ## Who they are Joseph Peters is the detective force's unglamorous drudge, a man with observant eyes and a mouth set crookedly to one side, present at every stage of Richard's arrest and trial. While the town howls for conviction, Peters keeps his own counsel, watching the prisoner with a scrutiny that could be suspicion or something else entirely. His persistence and peculiar position on the margins of the case make him the quiet engine of the novel's long pursuit of exoneration. ## In the story ### [VI: Two Coroner’s Inquests](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vi-two-coroner-s-inquests) The scrub of the detective force of Gardenford; watches Richard throughout the inquest with a mouth very much on one side. ### [The Dumb Detective a Philanthropist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vii-the-dumb-detective-a-philanthropist) The dumb detective transfers to Slopperton, takes lodgings in Little Gulliver Street, and arranges to bring up a foundling baby, hoping it may help solve the murder. ### [Seven Letters on the Dirty Alphabet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/viii-seven-letters-on-the-dirty-alphabet) Present in the gallery of the court, watching Richard intently. He signals to Richard by spelling words with his fingers, continuing his earlier communication from the railway carriage. ### [VI: The Quiet Figure on the Heath](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vi-the-quiet-figure-on-the-heath) Now a detective in Slopperton, he takes Kuppins and the baby for a drive, discovers the body of Jabez North, and investigates the death. ### [Mr. Augustus Darley and Mr. Joseph Peters Go Out Fishing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/ii-mr-augustus-darley-and-mr-joseph-peters-go-out-fishing) A detective and friend of Darley; arrives with eel-spears and a carpetbag; communicates with Darley in silent alphabet. ### [III: The Emperor Bids Adieu to Elba](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/iii-the-emperor-bids-adieu-to-elba) Fishing with Augustus Darley; hears a splash and communicates via finger-spelling. ### [Joy and Happiness for Everybody](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/iv-joy-and-happiness-for-everybody) Returns triumphantly to Kuppins after a successful operation involving the asylum and Slosh. ### [Mr. Peters Relates How He Thought He Had a Clue, and How He Lost It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vi-mr-peters-relates-how-he-thought-he-had-a-clue-and-how-he-lost-it) Relates his detective work, his belief in Richard's innocence, and the plan to feign madness. ### [Book V: The Dumb Detective](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/book-v-the-dumb-detective) Potential involvement as a detective figure or assistant. ### [II: Mr. Peters Sees a Ghost](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/ii-mr-peters-sees-a-ghost) Retired detective who sees the Count de Marolles and believes him to be a ghost, having found his body earlier. ### [III: The Cherokees Mark Their Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/iii-the-cherokees-mark-their-man) The detective accompanying Richard; points out the Count de Marolles in the grand tier box. ### [One Step Further on the Right Track](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/viii-one-step-further-on-the-right-track) The detective returns from Slopperton with urgent news, confirming that Jabez North's death was faked and that the man in London is the same person. ### [Book VI: On the Track](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/book-vi-on-the-track) Likely involved in the investigative efforts to track down the criminal. ### [IV: What They Find in the Room in Which the Murder Was Committed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/iv-what-they-find-in-the-room-in-which-the-murder-was-committed) Investigates the murder room in Slopperton, examining the flooring and cabinet for evidence to exonerate Richard Marwood. ### [Mr. Peters Decides on a Strange Step, and Arrests the Dead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/v-mr-peters-decides-on-a-strange-step-and-arrests-the-dead) Detective who orchestrates the arrest of Raymond Marolles aboard the ship to America. ### [Farewell to England](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vii-farewell-to-england) Bids farewell to Richard at Liverpool; plans to marry Kuppins and educate the 'fondling'; grateful for the annuity settled on him. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/characters/joe_peters - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/characters