Harlem Character Index

In order to make reading and writing our stories a bit less confusing, we have the character index. This index is a listing of all the major characters (outside of the newsgirls and newsboys themselves) that appear in stories written by the Harlem newsgirls. They are listed alphabetically, by first name (since not all characters have last names) and include a brief description, who created the character, and what story(ies) the character appears in.

Click HERE to add your character(s) to the Index.

Lt. Alex Lansing

Lieutenant Alex Lansing is making it his mission to clean up the 'riff raff' of the city and make himself police chief in the process. He's young, determined, single, ambitious, and has it in for all street kids. If he seems to target the newsies in particular, it's because they're the most visible. Lansing is intelligent, physically fit, with a nasty streak that is almost all the newsies ever see of him. He does, however, respect guts. He has practically memorized the files on every kid who ever had a record and has particular grudges against Kid Blink of Lower Manhattan, Hammer Brown and Fingers Mulcahy of Harlem, and Seven Corleone of Bensonhurst. Created by Fingers Mulcahy.

Bacio "Kiss" Stefano

Real name's actually Stefan Bacio, but nobody has to know that. Too proudly wears the label "Trouble" and is Wick's partner in crime. Literally. He's seventeen, boxes for a 'living', and looks more like he's twenty-four. Speaks very broken English, but knows French via Wick's tuteledge. Wick keeps it that way, so that he has the upper hand in deals. He's rather short in comparison to Wick, standing only 5'10", but bears a horrible resemblance to Mess Anthony. No where near identical, mind you, but just enough to throw people for a minute. He's a smart worker, quick, quiet, painful when he wants to be. Has a nasty scar on his left bicep that resembles Jersey City. Resides in Little Italy, but travels as needed for a 'job'. Created by Ash Villaflores. First appears in Beauty From Ashes by Ash Villaflores.

Berto Forlani

Luke's younger brother and sidekick, Berto matches Luke only in his capacity for depravity. Physically, the family's good looks skipped him entirely, he's average height and stocky, with well developed muscles from years of street fighting. He has the same dark eyes and hair as his brother, but Luke's sharp, even features are blunted and squashed on Berto's face, giving him the look of a mean-spirited Neanderthal. Far from being as smart as his brother, he's willing to leave logistics to Luke and get his hands dirty with the two's unsavory dealings. He's known for being sadistic and rough with women, and has a twisted obsession with Queens' Faith Montgomery. Appears first in Dance with the Devil by Ruby Gallagher.

Breaker Dempsey

Breaker works for--er, rather worked for Jake Stones, a Brooklyn leader of the Underworld. After Jake's mysterious death at the hands of what is assumed, but not known, to be several Bronx newsgirls, he's got it in for the Bronx (especially Venus Armstrong). He's also not too fond of Liberty, considering she pick-pocketed his knife. Makes easy enemies, hard friends. Blonde-haired, six foot; broad-shouldered. Created by Liberty Andriola. First appears in The Struggle for Liberty by Liberty Andriola.

Brick Kaice

Breaker's "partner in crime" and best friend. Worked for Jake Stones as well. Also six foot, with redish hair and brown eyes. The kind of guy you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley by any means. Also has it in for Liberty, simply because Breaker does. A little slow, both mentally and physically, but who needs brains when you get your name from crumbling brick walls? Created by Liberty Andriola. First appears in The Struggle for Liberty by Liberty Andriola.

Charlie

Doctor Steven Giovanni runs the Greenwich Village newsboys house. He's perfectly willing to get up in the middle of the night to tend for an injured newsie or two. Or five. He rarely, if ever, charges street kids and makes up for it with several wealthy clients whom he robs blind. He knows most of the Manhattan newsies by nickname, and takes pride in calling them whatever they like to be called. He's in his late twenties, and is single. For now. He'll travel anywhere in Manhattan, anytime. As for the other boroughs, he'd do it if they asked, but they wouldn't be calling him anyway. Created by Verity Fowler.

Derby

The oldest of the Clason Point Boys at 24, Derby is a stocky black-haired Irishman. He emigrated America in 1897 and quickly found that the "land of opportunity" wasn't all it was cracked up to be. One of the original members of the gang, he quickly found a niche teaching the younger boys to fight. Created by Fib Wilcox. First appears in Honor Among Thieves by Fib Wilcox.

Doctor Steven Giovanni

Doctor Steven Giovanni runs the Greenwich Village newsboys house. He's perfectly willing to get up in the middle of the night to tend for an injured newsie or two. Or five. He rarely, if ever, charges street kids and makes up for it with several wealthy clients whom he robs blind. He knows most of the Manhattan newsies by nickname, and takes pride in calling them whatever they like to be called. He's in his late twenties, and is single. He'll travel anywhere in Manhattan, anytime. As for the other boroughs, he'd do it if they asked, but they wouldn't be calling him anyway. Created by Dice McKenzie.

Dove Parker

Messenger between Brooklyn and the Bronx. Lives in Brooklyn. 5'10", goldish blonde hair and soft brown eyes. Age 16. He's a bit of a hopeless romantic, but wouldn't let anyone know it if his life depended upon it. Best friends with Liberty Andriola. Has an almost spiritual connection with her-he feels pain when she feels pain; he knows across the entire city when something is wrong. Dating Mouse McMullen from the Bronx after some quite interesting and heroic circumstances. Brother to Swifts Parker and War Parker (both of Brooklyn). Created by Liberty Andriola. First appears in The Struggle for Liberty by Liberty Andriola.

Enid Mulcahy

A small woman, Enid makes many wonder which of her many customers gave her daughter Fingers her height. The brown hair and eyes, at least, are clearly her mother's legacy. Enid is as ill-tempered as her daughter without Fingers' strength of character. Fortunately or unfortunately, she's usually too lost in morphine hallucinations to snipe at people. First appears in Many Reasons Why by Fingers Mulcahy. Created by Fingers Mulcahy.

Grover Neely

In his late thirties, Grover is not the worst of New York's villians, but he tends to leave people who've met him with the urge to wash their hands. Of medium height with well-oiled brown hair and blue eyes, he runs a brothel in South Brooklyn. Among his employees, is Fingers' mother Enid Mulcahy. In his favor, Neely is not at all ambitious, nor is he even overly cruel. He's a bully, but is quite content with his corner of the vice market. First appears in Many Reasons Why by Fingers Mulcahy. Created by Fingers Mulcahy.

Jason Nichols

Jason is a twenty-year-old former pickpocket who spent most of his life running a clan of pickpockets out of a warehouse in London. In 1902, he came to New York City with intentions of making Smoke Schaefer his, then realized that she was very happy in her current relationship. He decided to stay in New York City with the hopes of catching Smoke on the rebound whenever her relationship ended, and is still waiting for the opportunity. He is about six feet tall, with messy blonde hair and dark hazel eyes, both bordering on brown. His left knee has gotten increasingly worse since an accident at the age of fourteen, and he now walks with a cane. He is clean-shaven, skinny as can be, having spent his last three years in London not making much money, and handsome in an odd way, but never looks happy. Appears in The Past is Past and The Letter by Smoke Schaefer. Created by Smoke Schaefer.

Jeremy Lloyd

Jeremy is a tall (6' 2"), strong built, attractive, blonde, blue eyed, 17-year-old boy from Midtown. He is half German, half English and speaks German fluently. Works as a opium den runner (taking messages/shippments to dens around the island) and hates every second of it. Has a very ill temper. Besides his temper, he is quiet...he listens and watches instead of talking and talking. Has a sweet smile that hints at his secretive sweet side. Protective as hell. Created by Sketch Meeks. First appears in Untitled by Sketch Meeks.

Karry Hill

Karen Maura Hill is Needle's daughter. Approximately three years old, she is extremely shy. Something about her eyes and the shape of her face are reminiscent of Needle, but she draws most of her looks from her mother Maura who is died giving birth to her. Karry lived with her mother's parents in Harlem until a fire took the tenement and both of her grandparents. Needle brought her back to East Harlem and is trying to figure out how to care for the two of them in future. Created by Fingers Mulcahy.

Kevin "Souther" Culligan

Eighteen-year-old Souther is the leader of the South Bronx newsboys. He's got bright red hair and a face full of freckles that he never managed to lose. He has a tendency to blush easily, so that the other guys love to tease him, and he's a horrible liar. He's a decent fighter, however, and is almost better than his predecessor at keeping the rowdy Bronx boys in line. Created by Fingers Mulcahy. First appears in Who Steals My Purse by Fingers Mulcahy.

Kiam Villaflores

22-year-old half brother of Ash and Muse, 6' tall, and looks a lot like the twins. Very friendly, very protective of Ash and Muse, and very handsome. He lives in Charleston, South Carolina, but on rare occasions he will come to visit his siblings here in New York. He isn't quite as 'refined' as his siblings, because he hasn't been in the public eye as much as they have. Created by Ash Villaflores. Appears in The Green Door.

Lady Jane

Left on the lodging house doorstep the night after Valentine's Day, Lady Jane was discovered by Imp, named by Verity after Lady Jane Grey, and pampered by Secrets Lighten, who was visiting at the time. The "fluffily grey bundle of fur and whiskers without a tail" quickly purred her way into the three girls hearts. Appears in chatVerity Fowler, Imp Harris, and Secrets Lighten.

Lash Fraken

Gets his name from some deep scars from his stepfather's horsewhip, which he liked to use on him when he was a child. The most noticable of these is visible on the nape of his neck. He's second in charge of a kennel outside Brooklyn Heights, and Spot Conlon calls on him occasionally to 'take care of business'. In other words, he busts bad guys for a second income, regardless of how meager it may be. Longtime foe of Wick Mauvais he'd do anything to see the guy behind bars forever. He's generally an easy-going, and wants to see the good guys win no matter what. He has a soft spot for animals, too. He's 18, about 6'1, very buff, fair skin with green eyes that dance when he's happy. Knows how to make people feel comfortable, but at the same time could do major physical damage if he so desired. First appears in Beauty From Ashes by Ash Villaflores.

Luke Forlani

Counted high among the most feared and hated figures of the New York streets, 21 year old Luke Forlani has a very serious and well deserved reputation for so young a criminal. Originally from Brooklyn and beaten out of the leadership of that borough by a little upstart named Spot Conlon, Luke spent two years in jail for assault on a police officer. Aided by his brother, he escaped from prison and is continually hatching new schemes to make life miserable for newsies in various parts of the city. Cold, merciless and extremely intelligent, Luke has only two goals in life, gain control of Brooklyn, and wreak havoc in the name of revenge on his former girlfriend, Ruby Gallagher. Although sinfully handsome on the outside - very tall and leanly muscular, with dark hair and even darker eyes, perfect features and a smile that can be both seductive and terrifying - he is probably the blackest soul one will ever have the bad luck to meet. His murder victims include but are not limited to, another former girlfriend Mindy McReevey, Brooklyn newsboy Sebastian Deveer, and pickpocket Pinwheel Anderson. Appears first in Dance with the Devil by Ruby Gallagher.

Michael Nichols

Michael was born the son of a prostitute in London. He adored his mother, is convinced she was a sweet woman and wishes he only could have gotten to know her better. Shortly after Michael's birth, she passed away, leaving 12-year-old Jason to look after his brother. Jason was already picking pockets, and rounded up some local boys to move into a warehouse and set up their center from there. Michael hung around and watched the boys playing cards until he was about seven and a half before he began picking pockets on his own. He never really got good at the job, but could often get women to give him money by using his charm. He was eager to move to New York City, and would love to become a newsie someday. Michael is about five feet tall, with raggedly cut brown hair falling just below his ears, and his brother's brown eyes. He is easily excitable, eager about everything, friendly, and very talkative in a little boy sort of way. He is envious of his brother, and also rather sad since his brother doesn't care much for him. Appears in The Past is Past and The Letter by Smoke Schaefer. Created by Smoke Schaefer.

Mrs. Evans

Victoria Evans is the owner of the Harlem Newsgirls' Lodging House. She is a tall, thin woman in her late-forties to mid-fifties (no one really knows and she'd never tell you either), with black hair tinged with gray and pale gray-blue eyes. Evans, as she is commonly referred to by the girls, was windowed in her thirties and never remarried. The money from her husband's estate is enough to keep she and the girls comfortable. Like many of the girls, she enjoys to read and is quite-well read. She has a calm, reserved manner and quite a no-nonsense attitude about how things are run. Though she seems to come off as somewhat aloof, those who know her know she's more than happy to lend an ear, a cup of tea, and some free advice. Created by Blue Skies Costello. Appears all over the place.

Mr. Searls

Robert (Bob) Searls runs the East Harlem Newsboys' Lodging House. He is a somewhat portly man on the short side and is heavily balding. A pair of round, dark-rimmed glasses add to his owl-ish appearance. Searls is a very quiet man; quite timid in fact. He sort of fell into the role of running the house by accident, not because he chose to. He doesn't dislike his job; however, he remains very hands-off in terms of the boys. He keeps the place clean, heated, and free of leaks and holes, but does not care to step beyond the role into the personal lives of the boys. Created by Blue Skies Costello. Appears all over.

Nic Malign

Known as "Malign" or "The Malignant" to many, Nicolas created quite a reputation for himself in the West as an outlaw. Even though his name is abhorred by all and everyone fears him, no one actually knows what The Malignant looks like, since he has never been caught. He is merely a shadow phantom. (The convict is a very tall, very thin male about the age of 29. His eyes are forrest green, and his hair is uncombed. ) His main territory is Reno, Nevada, but he has a hand in other crime establishments all over the country as well. Charles Demeter, his right-hand man if he ever had one, tried to back out of one of Nic's biggest schemes ever, trying to keep his little sister, Aeva, away from danger. In rage, Nic framed Chuck and laid low for a while. When Chuck was caught and executed, Aeva wandered through the streets aimlessly. She came upon Nic, but only recognized him as a friend of Chuck's. Delighted to meet someone she knew (and being only 5), Aeva had no second thoughts about him taking her under his wing. As she soon found out his wing was nothing more than a trap, she began a little hobby of hers called trying to escape. Eventually, Aeva did escape. What she doesn't know is that Nic has not given up on finding her. He has some unfinished business he needs to attend to. Created by Aeva Demeter. Appears in Getting Away by Aeva.

Noah Kingston

Tall and lanky, nineteen-year-old Noah has dark hair that tends to flop into his eyes, and dark eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses. He's very quiet and serious, but when he has something to say it's usually something that should be listened to. Noah usually has a sketchpad with him. He's one of the few newsies in the city that reads as much as, or more than, Verity does, which is why Ruby Gallagher introduced the two of them. The rest, as the old saying goes, is history. Currently he works a a bookstore in Lower Manhattan, and is sharing an apartment on Orchard Street with Verity's twin brother. Created by Faith Montgomery. First appears in Three's a Crowd by Verity Fowler.

Pigeon Kwek

He gets his name from the bird itself. Just as pigeons pay no mind to impending danger until the last split-second, Pigeon has the ability to be oblivious to pain or circumstance and gets out of the way right before death becons. He's one of Spot's Boidies, from Brooklyn. Not a very cheery fellow, and is about as ugly as they come. Pale yellow hair which reveals a nasty scar on his scalp, if the sun hits it right, blue-gray eyes that never gleam, and a perpetually frowning face. Not too tall, not too short, nor too skinny nor brawny. Talks enough to be understood. Not much of an accent. Created by Ash Villaflores. First appears in Beauty From Ashes by Ash Villaflores.

Paoul "Wick" Mauvais

Dark hair that's touched with blond, blue eyes, eighteen years old. A huge (6'4"), mean-spirited French Brooklynite who was involved with the attempt to overthrow Spot - knows the likings of Breaker, Brick, Forlani - you name the bad guy, he wants to help. He's a hired assasin, if you will. Doesn't have a conscience, so if you have the money, he has willpower. Has an attraction towards arson, coupled with his wickedness, gave him the name 'Wick'. Created by Ash Villaflores. First appears in Beauty From Ashes by Ash Villaflores.

Rebecca Anne Fowler

Andrew and Verity's younger sister, Rebecca still lives at home in Rainbow, New Jersey. Fifteen, with the same brown hair but hazel eyes leaning towards green, she can be just as collected as her older sister while being just as mischevious as her older brother. In fact, Andrew claims that the reason he teases Imp Harris so much is because she reminds him of both Rebecca and Verity, whom he teased all the time at home. Created by Verity Fowler. First appears in Every Rainbow Has Its Pot of Gold by Verity Fowler.

Red Anderson

Red hair, blue eyes. A runaway from Connecticut. Leader of East Harlem newsboys until fall of 1899 when the police finally caught him and sent him back to his parents who sent him off to boarding school in CT. That's all you need to know about him for now, seeing as I haven't actually made anything else up about him. *grins* Created by Blue Skies Costello. He'll be appearing in Land o'Darkness by Blue Skies Costello and Flash McAllen.

Samuel Latham

Greying, blue-eyed Samuel Latham is the owner of Literary Pursuits, a bookstore at the eastern corner of West 127th and St. Nicholas Park. A childless widower in his late 40s, he tends to treat his employees as if they were his own children. He opened the bookstore in April of 1902 in memory of his wife, Charlotte, who loved books. Created by Verity Fowler. Appears in All Kinds of People by Verity Fowler.

Sophie Townsend

Good friends with the Fowler twins (she's Andrew's girl), Sophie works as a waitress at Mama Nuss's Restaurant on the Lower East Side. With her dark brown hair, green eyes and freckles, at times she looks more like Verity's twin than Andrew does. Created by Verity Fowler. Appears in Wrong Side of the Bed by Verity Fowler.

Speedy Smithson

The leader of a band of pickpockets in Harlem. Full name Miles Richard Smithson. 19, tall, tan, black hair and eyes. A real "Tall, Dark, and Handsome". Quiet and quick, hence the name, he runs his pickpockets tightly and with morals. Sweet on Gypsy Gardener. Created by Gypsy Gardener. Appears in Rovin' Gypsy Girl by Gypsy Gardener.

Stevie Dell

Stevie is a tough, street-smart factory worker from Harlem. He's seventeen and six feet tall, with cold gray eyes and dark blonde hair. Every inch of him is muscle, and he loves to show it off. He's fairly chauvinistic, and definitely isn't nice. He dated Spacey Cliffton of the Bronx for a while before severely beating her and leaving to terrorize other newsgirls, namely Harlem, since it's closer to home. Stevie is obviously an alcoholic and abusive, but he's also very mysterious, making it hard for people to trace him. Created by Spacey Cliffton of the Bronx. First appears in Out of Trouble by Spacey Cliffton.

Tommy Springs

Tommy is an eighteen-year-old sailor and Smoke's best friend, he loves his job but wouldn't mind seeing more different people his age. He is quiet and sweet, but not exactly shy. He's generous and likes helping people. Tommy has brown wavy hair cut short, green eyes, and a few dark freckles and moles scattered across his face. He and Smoke grew up in the same lower-class neighborhood in London. At the age of eight, he ran away and worked several poorly-paying jobs, including a year with Jason Nichols' pickpocketing clan. At the age of fifteen, he began working on the Fellowship for Mr. Russell with Smoke. He loaded ships and helped run them on the sea. He still has this job and loves it, but every time he's in New York City - for about four days near the end of each month - he frequents the Harlem area to see Smoke. Appears in The Past is Past and The Letter by Smoke Schaefer. Created by Smoke Schaefer.

Violet Merriweather

Blonde hair, carefully shaped into sausage curls, wide blue eyes, and pouting lips give her an innocent air, but Violet is about as angelic as Fingers is sweet tempered. Around boys Violet is sugary sweet, but in a calculated way. Around girls, she is not nearly as nice. Many of the older Harlem newsboys have been prey for her at one time or another, back when she lived in Harlem. (The family moves around the city a little too often, not settling in one neighborhood for more than a few months at a time.) She's not very fond of the Fowlers, Verity especially, ever since the critter incident. Created by Verity Fowler. Appears in An Uncommon Lady by Verity Fowler.

William "Four Eyes" O'Malley

William "Four Eyes" O'Malley has spent time in every borough, save Staten Island. He was a Brooklyn newsy until April of 1899 when he chose the wrong side in the territory wars there and was 'asked' to leave. From then until the winter of '01-'02, Four Eyes spent his time in the Bronx, keeping a low profile and acting as the advice-giver of the Bronx newsboys. It seems an odd role, except for the fact that anyone telling their problems to O'Malley knew he wouldn't throw stones. He stepped back into the spotlight in January 1902 beginning a rather complicated romance with Ruby Gallagher and earning the lasting enmity of Luke Forlani. He and Ruby are now married and living in Morningside Heights. First appearing Who Steals My Purse by Fingers Mulcahy. Created by Fingers Mulcahy.

Whip Hudson

Whip Hudson is the 22 year old leader of the Clason Point street gang in the South Bronx. Brown-haired and brawny, Hudson is normally easy-going, but heaven help the Clason Point Boy who gets out of line. Created by Fib Wilcox. First appears in Honor Among Thieves by Fib Wilcox.