Character Relationship Map: By Whose Hand?

Characters

• Jimmy Hawley (played by Ben Lyon) — protagonist

  Jimmy Hawley is a newspaper reporter and the central investigator aboard the night express from Los Angeles to San Francisco. After a jewelry magnate is found stabbed to death and an escaped killer is...

• Alice Murray (played by Barbara Weeks) — supporting

  Alice Murray meets Jimmy Hawley after they both board the train. A mix-up leads other people to think she and Jimmy are married, and the two begin traveling together. She is connected to Jimmy's journ...

• Chambers (played by Kenneth Thomson) — supporting

  Chambers is a wealthy passenger preparing to travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco with valuable jewelry, while his wife stays behind. Jimmy Hawley identifies him and his companion among the passen...

• Drunk (played by Tom Dugan) — supporting

  The Drunk is involved in an incident with Chick Lewis at the station. Chick, who has informed on the escaped Delmar, is being protected from him and helped onto the train. The summary provides no furt...

• 'Killer' Delmar (played by Nat Pendleton) — supporting

  Killer Delmar is a fugitive who has escaped, prompting police concern that he may be aboard the train traveling from Los Angeles to San Francisco. His escape is reported in the newspapers and leads Ji...

• Chick Lewis (played by Dwight Frye) — supporting

  Chick Lewis has informed on the escaped Killer Delmar and is being protected at the station. After an encounter involving a drunk, Chick is helped onto the train. His connection to Delmar and his need...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Jimmy Hawley → Chambers (Professional Reporter And Subject) — Jimmy observes and identifies Chambers among the train passengers as part of his investigative attention.

  Jimmy demonstrates his ability to identify passengers, including Chambers and his companion.

Story Dynamics

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

• Chick Lewis → Drunk (Conflict Protected From) — The drunk poses a threat or disturbance from which Chick is protected as he boards.

  Chick Lewis is being protected from a drunk and helped onto the train.

• Chick Lewis → 'Killer' Delmar (Conflict Informer And Fugitive) — Chick's informing on Delmar connects him to the escaped fugitive and leads to Chick being protected while boarding the train.

  Chick Lewis is described as the person who informed on Delmar, while Delmar is reported to have escaped.

• Jimmy Hawley → Alice Murray (Social Traveling Companions) — They meet aboard the train and travel together after other passengers mistake them for a married couple.

  Jimmy boards the train and meets Alice. After a mix-up leads others to think they are married, the two begin traveling together.

Story Analysis

A reporter and a group of passengers begin a train journey shadowed by the news of an escaped fugitive.

Plot Progression

1. A Journey Under Suspicion — Chambers prepares to travel with valuable jewelry while newspapers report Delmar's escape. Police worry that the fugitive may be aboard the train, casting suspicion over the journey.
2. The Reporter Hesitates — Jimmy's editor urges him to investigate, but Jimmy initially refuses to leave Los Angeles. The assignment remains unresolved as the train's passengers prepare to depart.
3. Chick's Risky Boarding — Chick Lewis is revealed as the person who informed on Delmar. Protected from a drunk, he is helped onto the train.
4. Unexpected Companions — Jimmy boards and meets Alice Murray. A mix-up leads others to believe they are married, and the two begin traveling together.
5. Faces Among Passengers — Jimmy demonstrates his ability to identify passengers, including Chambers and his companion. The available plot reference ends with the train journey underway.