In the novel Mrs McGinty's Dead, Mr Scuttle was one of managers at Breather and Scuttle, a firm of house agents in Kilchester where James Bentley worked for some time before the events in the book. Poirot called on Scuttle to seek some background information on Bentley. Scuttle told him that Bentley was a decent and conscientious worker but had no idea of salesmanship. When business took a downturn, the firm had to dismiss Bentley as he was the least competent among the staff. On the pschology of Bentley, Scuttle thought Bentley was unlikely to have murdered Mrs McGinty. "Shouldn't have thought he had the guts," he opined. However, Bentley always made "a bad impression on people."
Scuttle was described as a "brisk, bustling man, with a hearty manner."