Charles Craddock

In the novel Cards on the Table, Mr Charles Craddock was the husband of Mrs Craddock. He died of anthrax poisoning from an infected shaving brush. He and Mrs Craddock lived at 117 North Audley Street.

Mrs Craddock was always complaining that Charles neglected her. They had a row one day, and Dr Roberts arrived in the middle of it. Charles accused the doctor of unprofessional conduct, and threatened to have him struck from the Medical Register. Dr Roberts calmed him down, and told him that his wife was hysterical and did not know what she was saying, and that the whole thing arose from her disordered imagination.

Charles later contracted anthrax, and although Mrs Craddock nursed him with devotion, he died. Superintendent Battle surmises that the doctor could have infected Charles' shaving brush with anthrax. Although it is known that there was a case of anthrax among the doctor's patients at the time, there is no proof that this is what happened.