# Old Brotherhood — The Viaduct Murder character guide > Old Brotherhood in The Viaduct Murder by Ronald A. Knox. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Brotherhood, Mr. Brotherhood, Poor old Brotherhood, Mrs. Brotherhood **First appearance:** 0002-the-viaduct-murder ## Snapshot The bankrupt man everyone assumes lies dead beneath the viaduct — except the corpse's identity is precisely what nobody can prove. ## Who they are Brotherhood is the absent center of the case: a daily commuter, recently ruined, whose body the four golfers believe they have found — though no one has actually heard from or of him since. The evidence cuts both ways, since a man with a season ticket and a bungalow ten minutes from the viaduct seems an odd fit for the stranger in the third-class carriage. Whether he is victim, suicide, or a debtor who staged his own disappearance to dodge creditors is the question that keeps the investigation alive through its middle stretch. ## Relationships ### [Gordon Davenant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/gordon_davenant) _social_ Gordon has a respectful but distant acquaintance with Old Brotherhood, a fellow member of their social circle. ### [Mordaunt Reeves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/mordaunt_reeves) _social_ Mordaunt and Old Brotherhood have a polite but somewhat formal social acquaintance within their shared community. ### [Marryatt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/marryatt) _social_ Marryatt and Old Brotherhood are casual social acquaintances, interacting mainly in group settings. ### [Mr. Carmichael](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/mr_carmichael) _social_ Mr. Carmichael and Old Brotherhood have a distant social connection, meeting occasionally through mutual acquaintances. ### [Mordaunt Reeves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/mordaunt_reeves) _social_ Mordaunt and Old Brotherhood have a polite but somewhat formal social acquaintance within their shared community. ### [Gordon Davenant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/gordon_davenant) _social_ Gordon has a respectful but distant acquaintance with Old Brotherhood, a fellow member of their social circle. ### [Mr. Carmichael](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/mr_carmichael) _social_ Mr. Carmichael and Old Brotherhood have a distant social connection, meeting occasionally through mutual acquaintances. ### [Marryatt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/marryatt) _social_ Marryatt and Old Brotherhood are casual social acquaintances, interacting mainly in group settings. ### [Marryatt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/marryatt) _social_ Marryatt and Old Brotherhood are casual social acquaintances, interacting mainly in group settings. ## In the story ### [I: The Paston Oatvile Dormy-House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/i-the-paston-oatvile-dormy-house) Mentioned as the likely owner of the umbrella due to his habit of carrying one; his weekend activities are unknown to the group. ### [V: On the Railway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/v-on-the-railway) Referenced as the victim who fell from the train; his death is the subject of investigation. ### [XI: A Funeral and a Vigil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xi-a-funeral-and-a-vigil) Deceased; his funeral is the central event of the chapter, and his belongings are used as bait. ### [XIX: Mordaunt Reeves Talks to Himself](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xix-mordaunt-reeves-talks-to-himself) The murdered man; his death is the subject of Marryatt's sermon, and Reeves considers visiting his grave for inspiration. ### [Proof at Last](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xx-proof-at-last) The victim; his relationship with Marryatt and the gift of the Momerie book are key to the case. ### [XXII: In the Fog](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xxii-in-the-fog) Brotherhood is the victim; his murder is the central event of the chapter, and his book 'Immortality' is used in the plot. ### [Gordon Offers the Consolation of Philosophy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xxiv-gordon-offers-the-consolation-of-philosophy) Referenced as the source of Marryatt's nightmare and the ghostly presence that frightened him. ### [The Dull Facts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xxv-the-dull-facts) Victim; his movements on the day of the murder are detailed, including his drinking, mistiming his watch, and losing his luggage. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/old_brotherhood - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters