Johnston McCulley’s “The Man in Purple” features well-off man-about-town Richard Staegel, handsome, young and athletic, who is engaged to Betty Hayler. They both want thrills before marrying and settling down, so decide to go into crime and steal from the rich, but only the rich who have gotten their wealth by ripping off “widows and orphans,” and all their take is given to charity. They create the Man in Purple persona, dressed in an all-purple outfit including a full-face mask. To prevent leaving behind evidence, Richard invents a special material that is easily destroyed. Assisting Richard and Betty is Broph, a down-and-out guy Richard rescues and recruits in the first story. Opposing them is Detective Troman.
Appearance List “The Man in Purple” in Detective Story Magazine (October 1, 1921), “The Man in Purple Meets a Man in Blue” in Detective Story Magazine (November 5, 1921), “Breath of Disaster” in Detective Story Magazine (December 10, 1921). See Johnston McCulley Bibliography.
Sample Read Detective Story Magazine (October 1, 1921) [Internet Archive]
Description Johnston McCulley’s “The Man in Purple” features well-off man-about-town Richard Staegel, handsome, young and athletic, who is engaged to Betty Hayler. They both want thrills before marrying and settling down, so decide to go into crime and steal from the rich, but only the rich who have gotten their wealth by ripping off “widows and orphans,” and all their take is given to charity. They create the Man in Purple persona, dressed in an all-purple outfit including a full-face mask. To prevent leaving behind evidence, Richard invents a special material that is easily destroyed. Assisting Richard and Betty is Broph, a down-and-out guy Richard rescues and recruits in the first story. Opposing them is Detective Troman.
