Emily French (The Witness for the Prosecution)

In the short story The Witness for the Prosecution, Miss Emily French was a wealthy elderly spinster. She had no close family and no friends. She first got to know Leonard Vole after that he helped her after she tripped in London. After a second meeting he became a regular guest at her house, a grand house in Crinklewood where she lived with her maid Janet McKenzie and 8 cats.

Vole claimed that she asked him to help her understand her financials but, McKenzie claims that she was confident with her business affairs. She changed her will and suggested to McKenzie that Vole was to marry her. During the trial after her murder Vole denied this and said that she was well aware of his wife, Romaine.

During the trial, the only thing Defence Lawyer could think about was her only known relative, a nephew whom had badgered her for money before and was untraceable at any of his regular places at the night of the murder, but that is very weak and Romaine's "secret lover" is exposed Vole is freed. However Vole was guilty of killing Emily French.

The character was later reworked for Christie's own stage adaptation.