# Injun Joe — The Adventures of Tom Sawyer character guide > Injun Joe in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Joe, Both Injun Joe **First appearance:** 0010-ix-tragedy-in-the-graveyard ## Snapshot A half-Indian outcast with a grudge against the town, whose sudden violence in the graveyard turns boyish mischief into a matter of life and death. ## Who they are Injun Joe moves through St. Petersburg as a figure of whispered menace — a man the town has wronged and who nurses his revenge in silence. When Tom and Huck witness his brutal act in the graveyard, he becomes the shadow that haunts every adventure that follows, a threat capable of drowning two boys without a second thought. His presence transforms the novel from a romp into something with real stakes, forcing Tom to weigh his oath against a man's life. ## Relationships ### [Tom Sawyer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tom_sawyer_se/characters/tom_sawyer) _rivalry_ Injun Joe is a murderous villain who becomes Tom's deadly enemy after Tom testifies against him in court. ### [Muff Potter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tom_sawyer_se/characters/muff_potter) _rivalry_ Injun Joe frames Muff Potter for a murder he himself committed, making Potter his victim and scapegoat. ### [Huckleberry Finn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tom_sawyer_se/characters/huckleberry_finn) _rivalry_ Huck secretly follows and fears Injun Joe, eventually helping to thwart his plans for revenge. ### [Tom Sawyer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tom_sawyer_se/characters/tom_sawyer) _rivalry_ Injun Joe is a murderous villain who becomes Tom's deadly enemy after Tom testifies against him in court. ### [Tom Sawyer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tom_sawyer_se/characters/tom_sawyer) _rivalry_ Injun Joe is a murderous villain who becomes Tom's deadly enemy after Tom testifies against him in court. ### [Muff Potter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tom_sawyer_se/characters/muff_potter) _rivalry_ Injun Joe frames Muff Potter for a murder he himself committed, making Potter his victim and scapegoat. ### [Huckleberry Finn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tom_sawyer_se/characters/huckleberry_finn) _rivalry_ Huck secretly follows and fears Injun Joe, eventually helping to thwart his plans for revenge. ### [Huckleberry Finn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tom_sawyer_se/characters/huckleberry_finn) _rivalry_ Huck secretly follows and fears Injun Joe, eventually helping to thwart his plans for revenge. ### [Muff Potter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tom_sawyer_se/characters/muff_potter) _rivalry_ Injun Joe frames Muff Potter for a murder he himself committed, making Potter his victim and scapegoat. ## In the story ### [IX: Tragedy in the Graveyard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tom_sawyer_se/chapters/ix-tragedy-in-the-graveyard) Injun Joe stabs Dr. Robinson to death, then places the knife in Potter's hand and lies to Potter about what happened. ### [Conscience Racks Tom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tom_sawyer_se/chapters/xi-conscience-racks-tom) Injun Joe calmly and falsely testifies against Muff Potter during the inquest, reinforcing the boys' belief that he is in league with Satan. His menacing presence dominates the scene. ### [The Salvation of Muff Potter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tom_sawyer_se/chapters/xxiii-the-salvation-of-muff-potter) Injun Joe is present in court, smirking at the proceedings until Tom's testimony exposes him, causing him to flee. ### [Splendid Days and Fearsome Nights](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tom_sawyer_se/chapters/xxiv-splendid-days-and-fearsome-nights) Injun Joe haunts Tom's dreams and remains at large, evading capture despite rewards and a detective's search. ### [Real Robbers Seize the Box of Gold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tom_sawyer_se/chapters/xxvi-real-robbers-seize-the-box-of-gold) Disguised as a deaf and dumb Spaniard; reveals his identity and plans a dangerous job with his accomplice. ### [XXVII: Trembling on the Trail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tom_sawyer_se/chapters/xxvii-trembling-on-the-trail) Injun Joe is mentioned as a threat who may seek revenge and is associated with the mysterious No. 2. ### [XXVIII: In the Lair of Injun Joe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tom_sawyer_se/chapters/xxviii-in-the-lair-of-injun-joe) Found asleep on the floor in the haunted room, drunk, with a bottle and tin cup nearby. ### [XXIX: Huck Saves the Widow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tom_sawyer_se/chapters/xxix-huck-saves-the-widow) Plans revenge on Widow Douglas for her husband's actions; intends to disfigure her. ### [Tom and Becky in the Cave](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tom_sawyer_se/chapters/xxx-tom-and-becky-in-the-cave) Revealed to be the Spaniard; Huck identifies him as the man who threatened the widow. ### [Found and Lost Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tom_sawyer_se/chapters/xxxi-found-and-lost-again) Injun Joe appears briefly in the cave, holding a candle, but flees when Tom shouts. ### [Turn Out! They're Found!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tom_sawyer_se/chapters/xxxii-turn-out-they-re-found) Injun Joe is trapped in the cave after Judge Thatcher seals it, as revealed by Tom. ### [XXXIII: The Fate of Injun Joe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tom_sawyer_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-fate-of-injun-joe) Found dead in the cave, starved to death, with his broken knife and makeshift cup for catching water. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tom_sawyer_se/characters/injun_joe - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tom_sawyer_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tom_sawyer_se/characters