GEORGE PROCTOR

Real Name: George Proctor

Identity/Class: Human (1900s era)

Occupation: Stage magician

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Harry Findlay

Enemies: Percy Milliken, O'Brien, Mr. Watts

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: 701773 (prisoner number), the Great Corot

Base of Operations: A prison somewhere in the USA

First Appearance: Crime Must Lose I#6 (April, 1951)

Powers/Abilities: George Proctor was an excellent stage magician who was gifted at performing sleight-of-hand tricks.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'11")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 165 lbs.)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown

History:
(Crime Must Lose I#6/2) - George Proctor was a stage magician who had turned to crime and in 1906 wound up in prison. He behaved as though he were a model prisoner but secretly began making plans to break out of prison. While cleaning the prison warden's office, he used a bar of soap to take an impression of the warden's keys. Using tools in the prison workshop, Proctor fashioned a duplicate of the warden's key and opened the door to his cell, releasing himself and his cell mate Harry Findlay. The two men fled in separate directions.

    George was picked up a few days later by a police detective but refused to reveal how he'd made his escape. The warden blamed his guard Watts for being careless, thinking he had left the cell door unlocked. Harry was likewise recaptured and moved to a cell with Percy Milliken, an engineer. George was interested in Percy's background and suggested they could collaborate for an escape but Percy wanted to finish serving his time.

    George soon escaped prison again and journeyed to the midwest, performing again on stage as "the Great Corot." A police detective named O'Brien caught up to George at one of his shows and slapped handcuffs on him but George quickly slipped out of the handcuffs, cuffing O'Brien to a post. However, O'Brien had been accompanied by two other detectives who arrested him.

    George was sent back to the same prison and Watts escorted him to a new cell that had been built just for him using the talents of Percy Milliken. Percy designed the cell to work without hinges or locks, the elements which George had always been able to thwart in the past. Instead, the cell door was opened by a master switch operated by Watts. Milliken was released early for good behavior and George was enraged to finally be trapped behind bars.

Comments: Created by Carl Wessler and Robert Q. Sale.

    This profile was completed on 10/23/2025 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the Appendix's 25th anniversary celebratory event.

Profile by Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
George Proctor should not be confused with:

Harry Findlay

Harry Findlay was George Proctor's cell mate in prison. He escaped with George in his first escape but was quickly recaptured and celled with Percy Milliken until Percy designed a new cell that George couldn't escape from. When George was recaptured, Harry was again made his cell mate.






--Crime Must Lose I#6/2

Percy Milliken

Percy Milliken was an engineer who had swindled his clients and spent ten years in prison. He earnestly believed in demonstrating his good behavior and serving his time, ignoring George Proctor's suggestion that they collaborate in escaping. Percy ultimately designed a cell from which George couldn't escape. While George was incarcerated in the new cell, Percy was released early for good behavior.






--Crime Must Lose I#6/2

Mr. Watts

Mr. Watts was a guard at the prison where George Proctor was incarcerated. When George repeatedly escaped, Watts was at first blamed but they finally designed a cell George couldn't escape from.






--Crime Must Lose I#6/2

images: (without ads)
Crime Must Lose I#6/2, page 1, panel 1 (George, main)
Crime Must Lose I#6/2, page 3, panel 3 (George, face)
Crime Must Lose I#6/2, page 2, panel 1 (Harry)
Crime Must Lose I#6/2, page 4, panel 7 (Percy)
Crime Must Lose I#6/2, page 3, panel 6 (Watts)

Appearances:
Crime Must Lose I#6 (April, 1951) - Carl Wessler (writer), Robert Q. Sale (artist), Stan Lee (editor)

First posted: 09/16/2026
Last updated: 10/23/2025

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
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