Vincent Spaulding, in Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Red-Headed League," is unusual because he appears as a seemingly ordinary man with a peculiar and specific interest in a job that only hires red-haired individuals. His sudden employment with the League and his odd behavior, such as encouraging Jabez Wilson to take the job, raises suspicion. Ultimately, it is revealed that he is actually a criminal named John Clay, using the League as a cover for his plan to dig a tunnel to rob Wilson's pawnshop. This dual identity highlights the theme of deception within the story.
Vincent Spaulding was a character in the red-headed league story (Sherlock Holmes). He was Jabez Wilson's assistant working half-wages. Later on in the book you find out that he is actually John Clay. A criminal mastermind (who Holmes has to arrest).
Vincent Spaulding "Has a white splash of acid upon his forehead." Also, his ears were "pierced for ear-rings," which was uncommon among men except in the seafaring class in the Victorian era.
He aka Vincent Spaulding who planned a bank robbery in "The Red Headed League." He is the main "bad" character in this story.
John Clay aka Vincent Spaulding Archie aka Duncan Ross aka William Morris
Follow in this order to find out mystery clue 5. Jabez Wilson's pawn shop is behind the the City and Suburban Bank. clue 2. The red-headed league job took Jabez Wilson away from his shop from ten until two in the afternoon. clue 1. Spaulding spent a lot of time in the cellar clue 4. When Holmes looked at Vincent Spaulding's knees, he saw that they were covered with soil. clue 3. When Holmes knocked on the ground in front Jabez Wilson's pawn shop, he discovered that the ground beneath was solid.
Wilson's assistant Vincent Spaulding and John Clay are the villens
Vincent Spaulding's only fault was that he didn't clear the mud stains from his trousers. that gave the clue to Sherlock that he was digging a tunnel. I think a more important fault was that he closed the Red-Headed League one day too early.
Vincent Spaulding was a character in the red-headed league story (Sherlock Holmes). He was Jabez Wilson's assistant working half-wages. Later on in the book you find out that he is actually John Clay. A criminal mastermind (who Holmes has to arrest).
Vincent Spaulding "Has a white splash of acid upon his forehead." Also, his ears were "pierced for ear-rings," which was uncommon among men except in the seafaring class in the Victorian era.
He aka Vincent Spaulding who planned a bank robbery in "The Red Headed League." He is the main "bad" character in this story.
John Clay aka Vincent Spaulding Archie aka Duncan Ross aka William Morris
The main characters in "The Red-Headed League" by Arthur Conan Doyle are Sherlock Holmes, Dr. John Watson, and Jabez Wilson, the client who seeks Holmes's help to investigate the peculiar league. Other minor characters include Mr. Merryweather and Vincent Spaulding.
Follow in this order to find out mystery clue 5. Jabez Wilson's pawn shop is behind the the City and Suburban Bank. clue 2. The red-headed league job took Jabez Wilson away from his shop from ten until two in the afternoon. clue 1. Spaulding spent a lot of time in the cellar clue 4. When Holmes looked at Vincent Spaulding's knees, he saw that they were covered with soil. clue 3. When Holmes knocked on the ground in front Jabez Wilson's pawn shop, he discovered that the ground beneath was solid.
There are a few suspicious details that Mr. Wilson fails to recognize when he gets his interview for the position at the red-headed league. Wilson's new assistant, Vincent Spaulding, was willing to work for half the normal wage. Spaulding was also the one who found the advertisement in the newspaper, and he practically pushed Wilson all the way to the front of the application line whereupon Wilson was promptly led in to the interview.
In "The Red-Headed League," foreshadowing is woven throughout the narrative. First, the peculiar job offer to Jabez Wilson hints at something unusual about the league. Second, Sherlock Holmes's initial skepticism about the league suggests that it may be a ruse. Third, Wilson's mention of his assistant, Vincent Spaulding, raises suspicions about his true motives. Fourth, the oddity of the league's sudden dissolution hints at an underlying plot. Finally, Holmes's keen observations during his investigation foreshadow his eventual revelation of the crime, leading to the discovery of the bank vault.
They needed to get Wilson out of his shop. That would allow them to do the digging that was required. So they came up with a mindless time consuming job that would allow them to keep him busy and out of their way.
He wanted to learn the business.