Alexander Roby

Born in 1892 to a wealthy middle class London family, Roby dropped out of Peterhouse prior to knocking around the Foreign Office for a couple of years. He left the FO and spent his time studying fringe interests (astronomy, art, the occult) and mixing with people of whom his family did not approve.

He was at one point engaged to Delia Hartston, but Delia broke this off in late 1925.

On October 14th 1926 Roby's father Herbert and sister Georgina were brutally murdered at the family home in Curzon Street. Alexander was the also at home, and initially claimed responsibility. He was arrested, but instead of being charged with the Roby Murders was committed to St Agnes Asylum. The papers committing him were signed by Dr Highsmith, Roby's older brother Grahame Roby and the Roby family physician, Dr Lionel Trollope.

Highsmith believes Roby suffers from 'sympathetic mania', which manifests as severe night terrors, or scotophobia, that start each year at the anniversary of the muders and continue until the Spring. These attacks are being well-managed with laudanum, and Highsmith believes him fit for release to the care of his family or a convalescent home. Highsmith also believes Alexander innocent of the the Roby murders.

His release hearing is scheduled for November 30th 1928.

Roby spends his time studying poetry and has made unusual marginal notes in his poetry books referring to various elements common to both the play 'Carcosa' and Robert W Chambers's 'King in Yellow' stories.

He made an unusual statement to Dr Bartlett.

Back in 1923, a book by Alexander, called 'Der Wanderer durch den See' was published.

In November of 1925, Grahame Roby hired Vincent Tuck to follow Alexander for 3 weeks to find out what he was doing when he was away from home. During this time, Roby spent his evenings with Lawrence Bacon, Malcolm Quarrie and a man called Edwards, meeting at Bacon's antique shop in Liverpool Road. Sometimes Roby stayed there until the early morning. Roby also visited the British Museum reading room once during this period, and also had a loud public argument with Delia Hartston, which may have signalled their breakup.

The meetings with Bacon, Quarrie and Edwards were corroborated by Delia, who also mentioned Roby spending time with a man called Coombes who appeared to act as some kind of hired muscle for Bacon. Delia broke up with Alexander because of his increasingly erratic behaviour at this time, and says that when she last saw him he was continually talking about the 'nine teeth' prepared in the Suffolk village of Clare Melford for some great event due to take place in December 1925.