Rutledge Mann

Mann was a chubby, quiet, but friendly man who ran an investment office in Suite 909 of the Badger Building. When The Shadow first enlisted him he was in his thirties and in financial difficulties. (DOUBLE Z, June 1932, p. 21-22).

Mann's family had once been wealthy and he once had an investment office. Then hard times came and he not only lost business but went into debt as well. Believing his situation hopeless and knowing that no one was dependent on him, he decided to commit suicide. Just as he put the gun to his head, The Shadow's hand stopped him. As Cranston, he had known Mann and knew of his plight. He got Mann's promise of cooperation and, in return, left an envelope. It contained $2500 and the address of his new office. Soon after, Mann learned how to use the codes and was assigned to his tasks.

Mann's similarity to Claude Fellows was, no doubt, a factor in The Shadow's choosing him. The Shadow needed someone to take over Fellow's role, after his death, and Mann did the job.

Agents would send their written reports to Mann. He, in turn, would deposit them along with newspaper clippings which he took from sources all over the country, to the Jonas office. When agents needed detailed instructions for a job, Mann would convey the orders. Agents working out of New York City would send all reports to Mann, if The Shadow was not in the region to directly run the job. The Shadow also used Mann to gain any information he needed in the financial world. This was Mann's specialty and saved The Shadow much work.

As time went on, some of these jobs were altered. When Burbank expanded his communications job, The Shadow got closer to his men and Mann was not needed as much for a contact. Nevertheless, he kept up his financial work and was steadily used.




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