Character descriptionHis name is Harold Anthony, not Harold Bendini. His wife reverted to her maiden name, Rosa Bendini, because she doesn't want to be married to him any more. Works in a brokerage. Married to Rosa Bendini, employee at Naylor-Kerr, Inc.

Reserved notes for this caseHarold loses a fistfight with Archie in front of the brownstone (three consecutive kidney punches dropped him).

Character descriptionAssistant chief filer of the Machinery & Parts section at Naylor-Kerr, Inc. Beautiful.

Reserved notes for this caseJealous husband starts fight with Archie -- Archie wins barely.

Character descriptionMaster chef in Wolfe's kitchen, has a small apartment in the basement. (In "Fer-De-Lance," his apartment is across from the plant room, not in the basement.) Swiss; native French speaker, served in WWI. Uninterested in murder, except whether a client is in the offing; gets anxious about household finance when Wolfe isn't working. Doesn't like to talk while cooking. Changes to his old slippers at 9 pm because of "things left on his feet by the war to remember it by". Implied he was a member of the Swiss Alpine Patrol during WWI.

Reserved notes for this caseForgot to tell Archie that Kerr Naylor came to see him on the night that he was killed.

Character descriptionSecond in line behind Saul Panzer when Nero and Archie need extra manpower.

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Character descriptionInspector with NYPD, Homicide. Has tolerate / hate relationship with Wolfe. He respects Wolfe, but is greatly irritated by his eccentricities. Habitually chews (but rarely lights) cigars. Notably, Cramer lights a cigar in Wolfe's office during "Instead of Evidence" in which the murder weapon is an exploding cigar! First name is given as Fergus one time, but generally accepted as Lionel. Had a son in the Army Air Corps during WWII. Archie has called Mrs. Cramer on the phone more than once to reach the Inspector at home. Archie's favorite alias for him is "the man about the chair" or "any name with a double "d", e.g., Mr. Judd". At no time is Inspector Cramer ever referred to in the books as "Lionel T." Cramer; his first name is given as "Fergus" in "Where There's a Will." There is a lone later reference to him as L.T.C. (The Silent Speaker), but never Lionel. Stout's biographer, John McAleer, asked Stout to explain the "Fergus"/"L.T.C" discrepancy; Stout replied: "No significance. Laziness. I didn't bother to check on whether he already had a first name. Of course, all discrepancies in the Nero Wolfe stories are Archie Goodwin's fault." (from "Royal Decree; Conversations with Rex Stout) He is featured in a book by Stout called Red Threads, first published 1939, tracking down a killer with a young fashion designer. There is no reference to Nero Wolfe.

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Character descriptionHired hand used by Wolfe and Archie when extra manpower is needed. Not the best, but can tail better than anybody but Saul. The favorite "irregular" after Saul - Fritz: "I'm glad it's Orrie instead of Saul or Fred"; Archie: "Such a chore for Saul or Fred of course, but I didn't like doing it for Orrie."; Mr Wolfe: "He doesn't have the dignity of a man who has found his place and occupies it, as you have, Fred." Bald, burly, 5'10, 190 lbs; moves like a bear. Married with four children. Archie: "You can trust him to hell and back."

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Character descriptionEmployee of Naylor-Kerr, Inc.

Reserved notes for this caseArchie found her finger prints on the folder and papers in his file cabinet. She is a snoop and a gossip and Archie used her to spread information about Hester Livsey to trap the murderer.

Character descriptionNero Wolfe's tough and witty assistant.

Reserved notes for this caseWins a fight with Harold Bendini (see Rosa Bendini, wife). A stiff right to the body and two hard kidney punches are required to subdue Harold (p. 44).

Character descriptionUsed periodically by Nero Wolfe for leg work.

Reserved notes for this caseReports in to Nero Wolfe that Jasper Pine has fallen from a window to his death.

Character descriptionSon of the founder of Naylor-Kerr, Inc. Employee of Naylor-Kerr, Inc.

Reserved notes for this caseKilled because he said he knew who killed Waldo Moore.

Character descriptionSecretary at Naylor-Kerr, Inc.

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Character descriptionWomanizer.

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Character descriptionTop hired hand Nero and Archie look to for manpower. Hosts regular Thursday night poker game at eight pm at his apartment in Brooklyn. Rust-colored hair, 5'7, 145 lbs, big nose and flat ears. In the "Rubber Band" (ch. 6) Archie tells us that Panzer has a photographic memory when it comes to faces.

Reserved notes for this caseWas tailing Kerr Nayor the night he was murdered. He saw him meet with Hester Livsey and talk with her for almost an hour. Saul lost Naylor when he unexpectedly hopped in a cab.

Character descriptionDaughter of George Naylor, wife of Jasper Pine, president of Naylor-Kerr, Inc.

Reserved notes for this caseCecily actually got Moore his job to distract Hester Livsey from Jasper Pine, Cicely's husband. Cornered by Wolfe in the office and tells that her husband killed Waldo Moore and Naylor Kerr.

Character descriptionPresident of Naylor-Kerr, Inc.

Reserved notes for this caseInfatuated with Hester Livsey, secretary. Killed Waldo Moore because of his romantic involvement with Hester. Killed brother-in-law Naylor Kerr because he knew of the Moore murder. Commits suicide when Wolfe is on to him.

Character descriptionInitially an employee in N.Y. D.A.'s office. Later Cramer's man. Detective (sergeant). Unfriendly.

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Character descriptionSupplies cheese to Wolfe on occasion.

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