Charles Leverson

In the short story The Under Dog, Charles Leverson is the nephew of Sir Reuben Astwell. After the murder of Sir Reuben, Charles became the chief suspect, primarily based on the testimony of Parsons, the butler and the housemaid. The butler's room was below that of Sir Reuben. He had heard Charles come back late at night. Charles let himself in with his latchkey. He went to Sir Reuben's room. They were heard to argue. Then there was a "dull thud". Parsons heard the cry "My God" then later "No harm done". Subsequently Charles was heard to depart whistling. The housemaid emptied a basin of blood-stained water from Charles's room. Charles' blood-stained fingerprints were also found on the corner of a chest in Sir Reuben's office. Blood-stains were also found in the sleeve of his coat. Lady Nancy Astwell is however convinced that Charles is innocent although she has nothing better to offer than intuition. Nonetheless, she asks Poirot to help.

Charles's background did not help his case, According to Lady Astwell, Charles's mother was Sir Reuben's sister. She had married a comparatively rich man but he had lost his money in a financial crash. After his parents died, Charles, then twenty three, came to live with his uncle. At the time he was training to be a barrister but Sir Reuben took him into his company. Charles is however not very industrious and always arguing with his uncle about some mistake he had made. It is also known that Charles is short of money and stands to inherit half of Sir Reuben's estate.