John Hopkinson



John Hopkinson was a solicitor.

Early Life
John had an injured ankle, having fractured it early in his life. He was the solicitor for Inspector Ian Stratford during the divorce of his wife.

John was a good friend of Gordon Seavers, he found his body and took a letter from it. He was aware that Richard Harries had blackmailed Gordon, resulting in his suicide.

Experiment
John visited Banquo Manor to view Richard Harries' experiments on brainwaves; he was there to give him legal advice. Richard looked down upon John for his lack of scientific knowledge. Although Harries' experiments amazed John, he did not like him.

John hid behind a curtain, eavesdropping on a conversation between Harries and his fiancée, Susan Seymour. He overheard her telling him the marriage was off. George then told him the history of Banquo Manor and it's founder, Robert Dodds.

Gordon was expected at the manor but John did not tell George of his death.

John met Dr. Friedlander when he came to assist in the experiments with his assistant Herr Kreiner. John and Friedlander questioned Harries on his experiment, John was not in favour of collective though as he stated "our minds are private property". Harries merely told him he wasn't bothered by the moral implications.

After dinner John crept into Harries' lab and sabotaged his experiment. He wanted revenge on him for Gordon's death.

They all went to witness Harries' experiments; he hooked himself and his sister, Catherine Harries, into his machine. It overloaded and John managed to take Catherine's headpiece off, saving her life; Harries was killed.

Murders
John was questioned by Inspector Ian Stratford; he became nervous but managed to put on a calm air. Stratford questioned him on his decision not to tell George of Seavers' death; he lied, saying George had been very ill and he hadn't had the chance to tell him.

That night John dreamed of Harries and awoke to hear one of the escaped rats nearby. John befriended Susan; they discussed the murder of Harries. Harries body was stolen and later found returned. Beryl was found death and in her hand was a piece of paper from Harries' notes.

The note had evidence of Harries' blackmailing. Stratford was able to deduct that John was the murderer but decided not to prove it and hence, prosecute.

George and Elizabeth Wallace were found dead. Stratford, John and Kreiner then began searching for the killer.

They found the Doctor, and then Harries. His corpse was walking, seemingly alive. Ian, John, Kreiner and the Doctor then fled from the corpse which then followed them. Harries grabbed John's ankle; only with a collective effort was he pulled free.

They barricaded themselves in Hopkinson's room. Dr. Friedlander thought Catherine had linked with Richard while she was unconscious and that the killings were her wish to protect his honour. She agreed and halted Harries by thinking hard.

Catherine followed Ian, John, Baker and Friedlander when they went to get chain to tie up Richard. She told them she was consciously controlling Harries in the killings, that she was connected to him and that she would now kill them. Baker knocked her over and they barricaded her out.

Catherine used Richard to break into the room from outside while she waited in another room. He came through the French window but together they forced him out and barriced the window. Catherine shot Ian in the shoulder, John helped tend to him.

John and Friedlander moved to the study via a fork in the chimney. They then escaped out the window. Susan and Kreiner abseiled down to them; Susan fell but John caught her. Simpson fell from the top window and seemingly died.

John and Friedlander then ran, pursued by Harries. Susan and Kreiner returned to the house. They arrived at George's shed and collected some dynamite before heading back, all the time followed by Harries. (EDA: The Banquo Legacy)

Personality
John was good friends with Seavers and so took the chance to kill Harries. His guilt made him nervous in confronting Stratford but he soon regained his composure. John became good friends with Susan, comforting her in the chaos of events. (EDA: The Banquo Legacy)