The Roman Hat Mystery

The Roman Hat Mystery

By Ellery Queen.

Table of Contents

1. Titlepage
2. Imprint
3. Dedication
4. Lexicon of Persons Connected with the Investigation
5. Explanation for the Map of the Roman Theatre
6. Foreword
7. The Roman Hat Mystery
   1. Part One
      1. I: In Which Are Introduced a Theatre-Audience and a Corpse
      2. II: In Which One Queen Works and Another Queen Watches
      3. III: In Which a “Parson” Comes to Grief
      4. IV: In Which Many Are Called and Two Are Chosen
      5. V: In Which Inspector Queen Conducts Some Legal Conversations
      6. VI: In Which the District Attorney Turns Biographer
      7. VII: The Queens Take Stock
   2. Part Two
      1. VIII: In Which the Queens Meet Mr. Field’s Very Best Friend
      2. IX: In Which the Mysterious Mr. Michaels Appears
      3. X: In Which Mr. Field’s Tophats Begin to Assume Proportions
      4. XI: In Which the Past Casts a Shadow
      5. XII: In Which the Queens Invade Society
      6. XIII: Queen to Queen
   3. Part Three
      1. XIV: In Which the Hat Grows
      2. XV: In Which an Accusation Is Made
      3. XVI: In Which the Queens Go to the Theatre
      4. XVII: In Which More Hats Grow
      5. XVIII: Stalemate
   4. Interlude
   5. Part Four
      1. XIX: In Which Inspector Queen Conducts More Legal Conversations
      2. XX: In Which Mr. Michaels Writes a Letter
      3. XXI: In Which Inspector Queen Makes a Capture—
      4. XXII: —and Explains
8. Endnotes
9. List of Illustrations
10. Colophon
11. Uncopyright

Imprint

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Grateful Acknowledgment
Is Made to
Professor Alexander Goettler
Chief Toxicologist of the City of New York
For His Friendly Offices
in the Preparation of This Tale

Lexicon of Persons Connected with the Investigation

Note: The complete list of individuals, male and female, brought into the story of Monte Field’s murder and appended below is given solely for the convenience of the reader. It is intended to simplify rather than mystify. In the course of perusing mysterio-detective literature the reader is, like as not, apt to lose sight of a number of seemingly unimportant characters who eventually prove of primary significance in the solution of the crime. The writer therefore urges a frequent study of this chart during the reader’s pilgrimage through the tale, if toward no other end than to ward off the inevitable cry of “Unfair!”⁠—the consolation of those who read and do not reason.

E. Q.

• Monte Field, an important personage indeed⁠—the victim.

• William Pusak, clerk. Cranially a brachycephalic.

• Doyle, a gendarme with brains.

• Louis Panzer, a Broadway theatre-manager.

• James Peale, the Don Juan of Gunplay.

• Eve Ellis. The quality of friendship is not strained.

• Stephen Barry. One can understand the perturbation of the juvenile lead.

• Lucille Horton, the “lady of the streets”⁠—in the play.

• Hilda Orange, a celebrated English character-actress.

• Thomas Velie, Detective-Sergeant who knows a thing or two about crime.

• Hesse, Piggott, Flint, Johnson, Hagstrom, Ritter, gentlemen of the Homicide Squad.

• Dr. Samuel Prouty, Assistant to the Chief Medical Examiner.

• Madge O’Connell, usherette on the fatal aisle.

• Dr. Stuttgard. There is always a doctor in the audience.

• Jess Lynch, the obliging orangeade-boy.

• John Cazzanelli, alias “Parson Johnny,” naturally takes a professional interest in Gunplay.

• Benjamin Morgan. What do you make of him?

• Frances Ives-Pope. Enter the society interest.

• Stanford Ives-Pope, man-about-town.

• Harry Neilson. He revels in the sweet uses of publicity.

• Henry Sampson, for once an intelligent District Attorney.

• Charles Michaels, the fly⁠—or the spider?

• Mrs. Angela Russo, a lady of reputation.

• Timothy Cronin, a legal ferret.

• Arthur Stoates, another.

• Oscar Lewin, the Charon of the dead man’s office.

• Franklin Ives-Pope. If wealth meant happiness⁠—

• Mrs. Franklin Ives-Pope, a maternal hypochondriac.

• Mrs. Phillips. Middle-aged angels have their uses.

• Dr. Thaddeus Jones, toxicologist of the City of New York.

• Edmund Crewe, architectural expert attached to the Detective Bureau.

• Djuna, an Admirable Crichton of a new species.

The Problem Is⁠—
Who Killed Monte Field?

Meet the astute gentlemen whose business it is to discover such things⁠—
Mr. Richard Queen
Mr. Ellery Queen

Explanation for the Map of the Roman Theatre

1. Actors’ dressing-rooms.

2. Frances Ives-Pope’s seat.

3. Benjamin Morgan’s seat.

4. Aisle-seats occupied by “Parson Johnny” Cazzanelli and Madge O’Connell.

5. Dr. Stuttgard’s seat.

6. Orangeade boys’ stands (only during intermissions).

7. Area in vicinity of crime. Black square represents seat occupied by Monte Field. Three white squares to the right and four white squares directly in front represent vacant seats.

8. Publicity office, occupied by Harry Neilson.

9. Manager Louis Panzer’s private office.

10. Anteroom to manager’s office.

11. Ticket-taker’s box.

12. Only stairway leading to the balcony.

13. Stairway leading downstairs to General Lounge.

14. Cashiers’ offices.

15. Property Room.

16. William Pusak’s seat.

17. Orchestra boxes.