Marcus Kemp (Human)

Origin
When Sandra Cummings asks Dr. Marcus Kemp to attend Mardi Gras with her, he tries to decline. Her persistence wins out, yet he sends Robot Kemp, a lookalike robot of his creation, to go in his stead. Robot Kemp is wearing a cavalier costume.

The robot isn't sufficiently programmed for culture, despite the real Dr. Kemp's self-assurance on the matter. When a cabbie demands money for the ride, saying he'll kill the robot in a cavalier costume. The robot takes it for a threat, and kills the cabbie.

He then goes into the masquerade ball where he is to meet Sandra. Sandra coaxes him to go to the terrace for a kiss. The robot understands the word "kiss" as identical to "kill", taking it as another threat to his self-preservation. He kills Sandra, being sure to be praised by his master, Dr. Kemp, for his survival skills.

An angry mob forms to go after the robot, which they still thinks is human. Robot Kemp returns to Dr. Kemp's laboratory, informing the Dr. of his being followed by the angry vigilantes. The Dr. takes note of the blood-soaked cape of Robot Kemp's costume. Dr. Kemp smashes his robot to smithereens, burning the remainder and leaving no evidence for the enraged crowd when they arrive. The lynch mob does what lynch mobs do, and hang Dr. Marcus Kemp from a nearby lamppost.

Public Domain Appearances
Haunted Thrills #10