Hillman

In the novel 4.50 from Paddington, Hillman is the gardener at Rutherford Hall. He is a very old man, and is somewhat deaf. He lives in a cottage adjacent to the big stableyard.

Hillman feels that he ought to have two men and a boy to keep the place properly maintained, but Luther Crackenthorpe will not hear of it. Hillman had difficulty getting Mr Crackenthorpe to get a motor mower. Mr Crackenthorpe had wanted him to cut the grass by hand.

Hillman gives Lucy Eyelesbarrow some background on the Crackenthorpe family. He tells her about Josiah Crackenthorpe, who started Crackenthorpe's Fancies, made his fortune, and built Rutherford Hall. He had a terrible temper, and was disappointed in both his sons because they did not want to be involved in running the family business. After Josiah died in 1928, Luther and his family moved to Rutherford Hall.

Portrayals
Among the many adaptations of the book, Hillman only appears in MGM's 1961 adaptation Murder, She Said. Here he actually has a larger role than in the book. He wheels Luther around in his wheelchair and helps him with his various wants, such as fetching liquor. There is also some effort to develop a sinister aspect to his character as part of the suspense. He is often seen patrolling the grounds with a gun and a dog. Later, he prevents Miss Marple from going through a certain door in the barn on the grounds that Mr Luther had prohibited anyone from going into that room. Miss Marple sneaks into that room by night and discovers the dead body of the woman in it. The part of Hillman is played by Michael Golden.