The Detroit times., 1910-12-28
SEATTLE MAGNATE
ACCUSED OF FRAUD
Seattle Millionaire Is Charged With
Putting His Hands Into Work
ingman's Pocket.

SEATTLE, Wash, Dec. 27.-Seattle
mas a man who, with seven federal
grand jury indictments Tor fraud
hanging over his head, is confident
that he will never wear stripes in the
federal penitentiary on McNeils isl
and.
The reason for his confidence is the
fact that he has several millions which
he can get with few days notice.
Other cities have had their AFRO
CANT, indicted rich men, with equal
confidence in their millions TO keep
them out of Jail. But Seattle's man
is unique I'm that instead OF resortlng
10 the indirect methods OF robbery,
such as bribery. franchise stealing
and the general campaign OF graft.
the evidence that led TO the lndict-
ments against him indicates that
under the guise OF a benetactor he
put his hand directly into the poor
mans pocket.
His name is C. u. Hillman. He is
the largest land owner in the north
west. barring, perhaps, the Weyer-
ndeuStE llN - q
millionaire. whose favorite label for
himself is the poor mans friend.
Iiillman is the most sensational
operator In land values who ever ex.
plotted this new country, where real
estate schemes are talked on every
corner. For Hillman operated on a
large scale and appealed to the poor
mans desire to own his own home.
Hillman's usual plan was to start
new towns. According to the indlct-
ments, he would advertise that the
prospective towns would be great sea
port manufacturing cities. the indus
tries were coming there, that the
Northern Pacific, the Canadian Pa
cifc, the Milwaukee and the Union
Pacific would build to the town. that
rights OF way had been plotted. that
there would be employment for all
who bought land from Hillman.
The thing would start with bang.
Hillman bought a steamboat and gave
free excursions to certain OF his prop
erty. Autos proclaiming the virtues
OF the land and advertising the excur-
sions patroled the streets. Once ne
advertised that he would pay $500 to
the parents of the first baby born in a
new town.
But in many cases the railroads
never built in, the industries didn't
come, the buyers were unable to ind
work The first payments were made
out of earnings of years, then he
dreams of the buyers faded. They
were unable to continue the payments
and lost everything. Even the oner
to the first baby was never paid Till
Hillman had been sued for II. In
some cases Hillman agents showed
one plat of ground and sold another,
according to the indictments. In
others he sold the same land to sew
eral buyers. Practically 90 per cent
OF the buyers were the poor. the ig-
norant. the hard working.
Hillman had been arrested once be-
fore and convicted. but he got a new
trial and the prosecuting attorney
failed to prosecute again. In August,
1910. Hillman was arrested again. This
time u. S. District-Attorney Todd ac-
cused him of using the mails to de-
fraud.
Hiilman wasn't worried, even
though the United States government
was on his trail. With his money he
felt absolutely immune from punish
ment. But he didn't want much said
about II in the newspapers, however
That would hurt his business. He
thought the papers should suppress
the story as he was a big advertiser
But the Seattle Star, an indepen-
dent newspaper printed the story in
glaring headlines. Hillman immedi-
ately started suit for libel. The Star
refused to be muzzled and Hillman
started other suits until they totaled
a halfmillion dollars.
Then the grand jury indicted Hill
man on 25 counts Conviction would
involve in all 92 years sentence in the
penitentiary and a fine OF $2l 800.
Then II indicted five of his employees
and the postmaster at Saratoga,
Wash. who was charged with being
a Hillman agent.
Hillman, still confident, prepared
for bitter fight He engaged the
best lawyers in Seattle and Tacoma,
They attacked the indictments. They
demanded the return OF Hillman
books. seized by Todd as evidence.
They moved TO quash. they filed de-
murrers, they fought for delay. They
give evidence that they will exhaust
the last technicality before Hillman
is punished.
His lawyers are combing the law
books for precedents, for loopholes.
IIillman doesn't realize. lie doesn't
see how it is possible for d man as
rich az he is to go 10 jail.
There are rich men likethst