John Sholto

Major John Sholto was a British officer of the 34th Bombay Infantry in India. Although he is already deceased by the time the story begins, he is a central character in The Sign of the Four.
While in service in India, Sholto became friends with Captain Arthur Morstan, and the two learned about the existence of the fabulous Agra Treasure. However, Sholto betrayed Morstan and stole the treasure after discovering its location from Jonathan Small. A quarrel with Morstan about the treasure resulted in Morstan's accidental death, which Sholto covered up. For years Sholto lived in fear Small's vengeance. He employed two British prize fighters as "porters" (bodyguards) and actually fired a pistol at a one-legged man whom he mistook for Small.
Sholto had two sons, Thaddeus and Bartholomew. In his later years he became remorseful for his actions, and for keeping Morstan's share of the treasure from his orphan daughter, Mary. With his health failing, he tried to tell his sons the location of the treasure with instructions that they should share it with her, but died before he could do so. This made his sons curious and they wanted to find out more about the treasure.
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es:John Sholto
Category:Army
Category:British characters
Category:Characters: The Sign of the Four
Category:Thieves
Category:Picture needed