Character Relationship Map: The Acquittal

Characters

• Madeline Ames (played by Claire Windsor) — protagonist

  Madeline is the woman loved by both Kenneth Winthrop and Robert Armstrong, and she chooses Kenneth. During his murder trial, she discovers that the supposed clock in a butcher's window is actually a m...

• Robert Armstrong (played by Norman Kerry) — supporting

  Robert is Kenneth Winthrop's foster-brother and accuses him of murdering their foster-father, Andrew Prentice. He and Kenneth both love Madeline, who initially chooses Kenneth. Robert alleges that Edi...

• Kenneth Winthrop (as Richard C. Travers) (played by Richard Travers) — supporting

  Kenneth is Andrew Prentice's foster-son and stands trial for his foster-father's murder, accused by his foster-brother, Robert Armstrong. He loves Madeline, who chooses him and later discovers that th...

• Andrew Prentice (played by Charles Wellesley) — supporting

  Andrew is Kenneth Winthrop's foster-father and the man whose murder brings Kenneth to trial. He is secretly engaged to Edith Craig. A letter written by Andrew on the night of the murder is recovered a...

• Edith Craig (played by Barbara Bedford) — supporting

  Edith is secretly engaged to Andrew Prentice, the murdered man. During Kenneth Winthrop's trial, Robert Armstrong alleges that Edith and Kenneth were in love, offering a possible motive connected to t...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Edith Craig → Andrew Prentice (Romantic Secretly Engaged) — Their concealed engagement is mentioned during the trial and becomes part of Robert's allegation about a possible connection between Edith and Kenneth.

  The plot states that Edith Craig is secretly engaged to Andrew Prentice.

• Andrew Prentice → Robert Armstrong (Family Foster Father And Foster Son) — Andrew is also Robert's foster-father; his murder is the event behind Robert's accusation of Kenneth.

  The plot describes Robert and Kenneth as foster-brothers and identifies Andrew Prentice as their foster-father.

• Andrew Prentice → Kenneth Winthrop (as Richard C. Travers) (Family Foster Father And Foster Son) — Andrew's death leads to Kenneth's trial; the recovered letter ultimately places guilt on Andrew himself.

  Kenneth is tried for the murder of his foster-father, Andrew Prentice.

• Madeline Ames → Robert Armstrong (Romantic Unrequited Love Turned Mutual) — Robert's love is initially unreturned, but after Kenneth is cleared and the mystery is resolved, Madeline ends up with Robert.

  Robert has always loved Madeline, although she initially chooses Kenneth. The plot concludes with Madeline finding happiness with Robert.

• Madeline Ames → Kenneth Winthrop (as Richard C. Travers) (Romantic Chosen Lovers) — Madeline chooses Kenneth as her partner and helps undermine the timing evidence against him.

  The plot states that both Kenneth and Robert love Madeline, and that Madeline chooses Kenneth. She later discovers evidence that clears him during his...

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Edith Craig → Kenneth Winthrop (as Richard C. Travers) (Conflict Alleged Lovers) — Robert's claim introduces a suspected romantic connection, but it is rejected and the summary provides no evidence that the relationship existed.

  Robert alleges that Edith and Kenneth were in love, but the plot says this claim is not believed.

• Kenneth Winthrop (as Richard C. Travers) → Robert Armstrong (Conflict Foster Brothers And Accuser) — Their foster-brother bond is strained when Robert accuses Kenneth of murder, bringing him to trial.

  Robert is identified as Kenneth's foster-brother and accuses him of murdering their foster-father, Andrew Prentice.

Story Analysis

A murder trial is overturned by Madeline's discovery about faulty timing evidence and a recovered letter that reveals the truth.

Plot Progression

1. A Foster Father's Murder — Andrew Prentice's murder brings Kenneth Winthrop to trial. Robert Armstrong, Kenneth's foster-brother, accuses him of the crime.
2. Love and Suspicion — The trial unfolds alongside the rivalry over Madeline, who has chosen Kenneth despite Robert's love for her. Robert also raises an allegation involving Edith and Kenneth.
3. The False Time Clue — Circumstantial evidence depends on the time shown by an apparent clock. Madeline discovers that it is actually a meat scale, undermining the timing evidence and clearing Kenneth.
4. The Letter and the Truth — A postal inspector produces Andrew's letter, which had been stolen in a mail holdup and recovered. The letter solves the mystery, Andrew confesses and commits suicide, and Madeline finds happiness wit...