Dr Stone

In the novel The Murder at the Vicarage, Dr Stone is a well-known archaeologist who had recently come to stay at the Blue Boar, whilst he superintended the excavation of a barrow situated on Colonel Protheroe's property.

He is a little man, with a round, bald head. His face is round and rosy, and he wears very strong glasses. He speaks enthusiastically about archaeology, and his own pet theory.

It is later revealed that the man present in St. Mary Mead is not the real doctor, who Raymond West knows by sight, but an imposter out to steal Protheroe's silver.

He had instructed Gladys Cram to carry a suitcase, containing the silver and a change of clothes, into the woods, and hide it. He told her that this was necessary because he feared rivals who would not stop at burglary in order to disprove his theories. Miss Cram believed him, and did as she was told, not knowing that the suitcase contained the stolen silver.

The man posing as Dr Stone left St. Mary Mead by train, saying that he was going to London for a few days, and would return soon. It was later discovered that he was a well-known burglar with several different aliases.

Portrayals
Dr Stone does not appear in the BBC 1986 adaptation of the novel which formed part of the Miss Marple series.