The Washington herald., 1912-10-20
IDOL OF BROTHER C0NvICrs.
Clarence ID. Hillmaa, AfIlionalre,
Most Popular Man In jail.

| q.
Most Popular Man In Jail.
From the scona Lsds,r.
Clarence d. HNlman. millionaire realty
promoter and town site boomer. who was
recently sentenced to two years and stx
months at the Federal prison, on Nc
Nei,s Island. for using the mails to pro-
mote unlawful schemes. intends to apply
for parole In January Of next year,
when one-third Of his sentence will have
been served. He has told attaches at
the prison and fellow-convicts that he de-
sires parole and that he expects to
nave little trouble in obtaining a bonds
man to vouch for his conduct after he
has been released. According to the pa-
role laws. he must be given employment
at not less than SIS a month and his en-
Iioyer must give bond for his good con-
duct and custody until the full time Of
bis sentence has expired
In the meantime Hillman 10 the idol
Of his fellow-convicts. Leading the squad
Cf garden workers. the millionaire real
estate broker Is the favorite of every
striped resident of the stone home on the
island. He has made good In his promise
TO show exemplary conduct during his
imprisonment and has even gone further.
HE quick wit and bright sayings keen
guards and wardens are having less diff
Guilty than ever before in keeping order
among the men.
When he was first taken to McNeils
Island Hillman asked TO be assigned to
the berry patch and gardens. He said
joculariy that he had spent all of his
life promoting garden tracts and home
'ites and that he wished to have a little
real experience in garden work. 1t In
rot customary to allow prisoners to
work around the prison Immediately
after they arrive. but Hillman proved
such an accommodating and appreciative
trusty that II was not many days before
he was set to work In the gardens Since
that time he has been the leading MEM
ber of the garden squad. working unt,r-
ingly in the potato and berry patches
incidentally. the millionaire convict Is
taking on weight. He has increased
twenty pounds since he arrived at the
prison. despite his unceasing labors in
the prison garden. His tocularity daily
increases. II is said, and every convict
in the prison is anxious to be IN the
work squad with the Seattle millionaire
Every unusual occurrence at the prison
acts for the prisoner as the reminder Of
comical story. Often the other laborers
IN striped clothes burst into roars Of
laughter while at work as Hillman tells
some. funny story. In order to have
more working material for his fun. Hill
man has created a fictitious character,
whom he described as a '.rube'' Arkan-
sas farmer. The talk Of his fellow-pris-
oEers. or the daily work Of the prison
b:ings up many interesting anecdotes
which he attributes to his Arkansas
Former. and SO familiar have the imag-
mary farmers sayings and fancies be-
ccme that even a reference to them
brings gufraw from the other pris-
obers.
Hillman is described as a model pris-
oner. When not working in the garden
he spends his time reading magazines
and books in the prison lobby. or arguing
with other convicts. There are several
well-educatee men at the prison. and It
Is no uncommon thing TO see the entire
number Of prisoners grouped about Hill
man in some argumentative controversy
IN the lobby. discussing heatedy the lat
est issues of the day. Politics. for one
thing. are almost daily discussed In the
prison, tie prisoners taking sides and ap-
pointing Hillfnan and others to debate
over the intricacies Of the coming cam
paign.