Clarence Merkinley

Clarence "Busby" Merklinley (b. 1894, d. 1965) was noted as a British-American gangster and businessman who attained notoriety during the Prohibition era as a facilitator of illegal liquor sales. He visited prison on multiple occasions, with his longest stretch from 1925-1929.

Merkliney would stay at The Gilman during his visits to Hester's Hat Rack but usually for brief overnights. His contacts at the hotel, which would feed liquor to the hat shop via the basement, were Tobias Gilman and Mollie Fontaine (a.k.a. M. Hester) and her brother, Eddie Fontaine.

Merkliney's family was from Virginia.

He was so known as "Busby" after his association with Hester's Hat Rack, a now-legendary speakeasy. A busby, traditionally associated as a military head-dress made of fur, however the origin of the nickname is unknown. Rumors have speculated it was based on associations Merkliney may have had with the British royals, commentary on his "fuzzy" body, or that the hat shop used a busby to mark Merkliney's anticipated visit to the location by being placed "on hold" as a code.