[CW: References to alcoholism, child abuse, domestic abuse, child neglect, prostitution]
Harry Longbottom, 50, not so handyman
Runs a repair workshop. Frequently cheats his customers, especially if they are tourists. Has spent more than one night in a police cell, and has been fined even more often, usually for small things: being drunk and not cooperating or insulting police officers, not ensuring his kids are in school, fighting, etc. His wife is even more to handle than he is. One of his adult sons is in prison and one of his teenage sons in a reform school. The other kids have had encounters with the law as well.
Thread/Plot ideas:
• Harry gets into trouble with the law yet again;
• Alisdair questions him about a crime he may or may not have knowledge of;
• Alisdair finds the Noah Longbottom-Ben Ward case (see below) in the files, and decides to investigate and questions Harry.
Ruth Longbottom, 18, unemployed
One of Harry’s daughters. Definitely stole from her employer when she was a young teenage servant girl, but the employer decided to drop it and just fire her without a reference. No idea if its been registered. Probably has gotten into ‘smaller’ police encounters as a child for playing truant, begging, being rude and disorderly, caught once for pickpocketing. Moved in with a man in Grosmont when she was 16 and been mostly away, but recently been abandoned by said man and moved back to Whitby with her two young children when they got evicted. Already gotten in trouble with Wesley Roberts for leaving her children with her nine year old brother. Also lately trying to find ‘customers’ in the pub and alleys, so likely to get into trouble. Currently staying at Elijah Crane’s place, so there’s another chance for police-related drama.
Thread/Plot ideas:
• Ruth comes to the constabulary to look for Elijah and her kids XD;
• Ruth gets caught doing something illegal;
• Alisdair finds out Elijah’s living unwed with a woman, and a Longbottom at that!
Noah Longbottom, 17, farmhand
One of Harry’s sons. Currently trying to improve himself. Hasn’t been caught pickpocketing lately. Hasn’t been getting drunk or into fights. Probably a good thing now that there is a more serious (really?) police force in town. Still gets arrested for questioning sometimes by Wesley Roberts on suspicion of random things, and then released for lack of evidence. Some time ago, Elijah was called to the doctor’s office where he found Noah beaten up, but Noah refused to say anything or make a report. Later Harry came to the police office stating that Ben Ward and his pals beat his son. Ben was brought in for questioning but denied everything. Noah denied everything as well. So the investigation was dropped. There’d probably still be a file somewhere.
Thread/Plot ideas:
• Noah has once again been brought in for something on a mere suspicion by Wesley Roberts;
• Alisdair picks up the Longbottom-Ward file;
• Noah slips up and gets drunk and into a fight or so and the police is called.
James Longbottom, 9, urchin
Frequently plays truant, pickpockets, destroys windows with his slingshot, and is up to other mischief.
Thread/Plot ideas:
• Alisdair catches James in the act.
Benjamin Ward, 51, Fisherman
He’s a sort of adoptive father to Elijah Crane and that has probably helped him get away with more than he should have. I imagine the fishing community kind of has its own law and it sometimes clashes with the law of the country. Often commits small offences like fishing in the harbour, gathering wood in places where its forbidden or private grounds etc. But I think he’s more careful now that there are other constables. One of his sons, Simon, was tried for the murder of a filthy rich lawyer in training from a good family and hanged for it a little over three years ago. Some months before Simon’s arrest Ben was brought in for questioning by Elijah Crane over assault, after an anonymous claim that he had beaten Simon. Since both Ben and Simon denied it, there was no investigation. More recently, he was brought in for questioning by Wesley Roberts over the claim that he and some fishermen had beaten Noah Longbottom. Again, both he and Noah denied it and he was let go. Very recently there have been rumours and claims circulating that a Ward was involved in stealing from a church, and that Ben Ward was seen breaking into a building. One of the local priests, Malachi Brennan, has brought this to Wesley Robert’s attention. Other past Ward encounters with the police: The police helped investigate when two of Ben’s daughters went missing last winter. They were found the next day by a farmer in Castleton, having run away from home. One daughter was shortly missing some months ago and Ben asked for help at the police station. She was registered shortly, but turned out to be at a friend’s home. Probably no report was filed on the latter situation.
Thread/plot ideas:
• Alisdair investigated old or new Ben Ward/Ward family accusations;
• Alisdair investigates claims that Elijah uses his position to protect the Wards.
Anne Carrington, 46, wealthy lady
Where to start with the Carringtons. Their eldest son turned out to be a serial killer and was shot just as he was exposed. They are also one of the wealthiest families in town however. Recently Anne Carrington came to the police station in a state of distress and with an injured arm, claiming that she was scared of her husband and that he grabbed her so firmly that he hurt her. A doctor was called who diagnosed a dislocated shoulder and noted bruising from a firm grip on her wrist. He gave a medical statement. However, since the then head of the department did not want trouble with the great Magnus Carrington, Albert Hailey was sent to the Carrington manor to merely ask some questions, but nothing was done with it.
Thread/plot ideas:
• Alisdair takes the case up again… or decides to bury the file even deeper, because ew… trouble.
Tristan Wells, 31, Doctor/Alienist
He is a doctor and alienist, who has worked in an asylum in Leeds before, where he’s also done occasional visits to the prison and work for the police. Now struggling as a doctor in Whitby, he is sometimes called in by the police when there are injuries, or when the police wants help with someone who seems mad. He is the doctor who examined Anne Carrington. Police might get further involved in his life, because his maid, Pippa, is being stalked by a man who appears to have been behind her parents’ deaths and is out to kill her. I forgot for the moment why they didn’t go to police, but yeah, that might escalate soon enough.
Thread/plot ideas:
• If Alisdair chooses to investigate the Carrington case, he might question Tristan;
• Tristan is called in for other medical advice or for an injured or apparently insane person;
• Alisdair somehow becomes involved in the Pippa issue (We’d need to plot that out with Kimmie, who plays Pippa).
Gabriel Richards, 33, Roman Catholic priest
Somebody stole his bike
.
Thread/plot ideas:
• Ring ring.
