CSI: 1906 Style
Forensics Before There Were Fancy Gizmos to Perform Tests.
Newspaper stories about autopsies connected to the Holy Roller case in 1906 make for some interesting reading.
George Mitchell was killed just days after he had been found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity, so his brain was scrutinized to see if it showed abnormalities.
A few months later, one of his murderers, Maud Hurt Creffield, committed suicide and the chemist who studied her stomach contents went into great detail as to how he came by his findings. I would not suggest trying this at home.
HEADLINES IN PAPERS FOR THE SAME ARTICLE
Seattle Post Intelligencer 7/14/1906 p1
Shows Mitchell Had Normal Brain
Post Mortem Fails To Disclose Any Trace Of Mental Derangement
Surprise To Physicians
Believe The Man Was Perfectly Sane At The Time He Killed Carefield
Daily Oregon Statesman (Salem) 7/14/1906 p1
George Mitchell Was Not Insane
Post-Mortem Examination Reveals Fact that Brain of Young Man Who Killed Holy Roller Creffield was in Normal Condition--Believed Discovery Will Have Important Bearing on Trial of Esther Mitchell.
That George Mitchell was as sane as any ordinary individual when he killed “Joshua” Creffield is the opinion of the physicians who performed the post mortem examination. The brain was subjected to an exceptionally close scrutiny and was found absolutely normal. This fact was brought out by the doctors after the brain had been removed and subjected to a careful examination. Every convolution was perfect. In place of denoting anything abnormal the organ appeared to have been well developed and to have belonged to a man of more than average intelligence.
Although the jury which sat upon the case returned a verdict acquitting Mitchell of responsibility for the slaying of Creffield on the ground of insanity, there was nothing in the brain of the man to indicate that he was not in his right senses when he fired the shot which ended the life of the Holy Roller.
BULLET HAD MISSED BRAIN
Under the supervision of Coroner F. M. Carroll the post-mortem examination was held in the Bonney-Watson undertaking rooms yesterday. Dr. J. B. Loughary handled the knife. The surgeons were surprised to learn that the bullet had not touched the brain. It had entered the skull just to the rear and about even with the lobe of the left ear. Ploughing its way through the skull it lodged in the bone of the right jaw. The carotid artery was severed and death was due to a hemorrhage. the ball had caused several fractures of the interior bones of the head and pieces of lead were picked out of the skull in its track.
The question of the greatest interest to the medical men present was not the course of the ball, but the appearance of the brain, and as soon as it was removed from the skull the physicians crowded around it. The fact that Mitchell had been acquitted of the murder charge on the ground of insanity led the medical men to expect to find some evidence of mental disorder. Every portion of the organ was found to be perfect, and the doctors agreed that the man must have been as sane as any one else. This came as a surprise to them and caused several of the medical men to remark that a miscarriage of justice had taken place when Mitchell was acquitted of the murder charge on the ground of insanity.
Coroner Carroll stated that so far as could be determined the brain was absolutely normal and his opinion was borne out by a number of the other surgeons present.
BEARING ON SISTER’S CASE
This fact is expected to have important bearing on the trial of Esther Mitchell and Maud Creffield. The fact that Mitchell was acquitted for the murder of Creffield on the ground of insanity and found to have a perfectly normal brain will be made use of by the prosecution when the two women are placed on trial for murder.
The physicians stated that it was possible for a person to be temporarily insane and that no trace would be discovered in the brain. In the case of chronic insanity some trace would have been found. In the case of Mitchell it was claimed he had brooded and schemed on the murder of Creffield for months, in which case it would have been chronic and traces would have been found.
Oregon Daily Journal (Portland) 7/14/1906 p8
Both Killed in Same Way
Bullet Entered Mitchell’s Head Nearly Same Place He Hit Creffield.
(Special Dispatch to The Journal.)
Seattle, Wash., July 14.--That George Mitchell was sane at the time he shot apostle “Joshua” Creffield is the opinion of the surgeon who performed the autopsy upon Mitchell’s body at the morgue of Bonney, Watson & Co. late yesterday afternoon. Mitchell’s brain was removed and found to be well developed. The convolutions were almost perfect.
The surgeons, among whom was Dr. Loughary, expert on insanity and former assistant superintendent of the state asylum for the insane at Steilacoom, declare that if Mitchell had ever been insane his brain would not have been in such perfect condition. It was perfectly normal.
Within one inch of the spot at which the bullet from George Mitchell’s revolver entered Creffield’s head, that of his sister entered his. Esther Mitchell declared that she intended to hit her brother at exactly the same spot that his bullet his Creffield, because she knew his death would be certain. The bullet from her revolver entered Mitchell’s head on about a level with the center lobe of the right ear. The bullet that killed Creffield entered about an inch higher in a straight line.
The autopsy showed that the bullet tore through the skull and lodged in the right jawbone. The carotid artery was cut and death resulted from a hemorrhage. The skull was badly fractured.
Seattle Star 7/13/1906 p1
Will Hold a Post-Mortem
Coroner Carroll will hold a post-mortem examination of the remains of George Mitchell late this afternoon, possible at 5 o’clock. No arrangements have been made as to the future disposition of the body. The two brothers here express a wish to bury the boy by the side of his mother in Eugene, Ore., but they have no money and their only recourse is to appeal to charity.
The results of the post-mortem will be made known to the prosecuting attorney’s office. It will be largely a matter of form.
Any prosecution will depend entirely upon the report of medical examiners at the girl’s insanity. Dr., J. B. Loughary, who examined the Mitchell girl at the jail last evening today absolutely refused to divulge any opinion that he may have formed. This will be given to the prosecuting attorney and is for the information of that official only.
Seattle Star 7/14/1906 p1
Brain Shows No Insanity
Physicians Say George Mitchell Was Normal At Conclusion Of Post Mortem Examination.
George Mitchell’s brain was normal and he was as sane as any ordinary person when he shot Edmund Creffield. This is the verdict of the doctors who made a post-mortem examination at the morgue yesterday.
Coroner F. M. Carroll supervised the examination and Dr. J. B. Loughary handled the knife. Owing to the fact that Mitchell had been acquitted on a plea of temporary insanity, the doctors were interested in the appearance of his brain.
BRAIN REMOVED
This was removed entirely and subjected to a close and exhausting scrutiny. It was the unanimous opinion of the experts in attendance that Mitchell’s brain, instead of indicating anything abnormal, gave every indication that the boy in life had been gifted with more than average intelligence.
IN PERFECT CONDITION
Every portion of the brain was in perfect condition. The physicians say that while it is possible for a person to be temporarily insane and show no trace in the brain, they insist that where there is chronic insanity, no matter on what subject and no matter how great or small the defection may be, there is certain to be signs of it visible in the brain structure.
The fact that Mitchell was discharged on the grounds of temporary insanity and that his brain showed strong developments of the better qualities, will be made use of in the prosecution of Esther Mitchell, the sister.
BLED TO DEATH
The bullet which ended George Mitchell’s life did not penetrate the brain. The bullet entered to the rear and about even with the lobe of the left ear. Plowing its way through the skull it lodged in the bone of the right jaw. The carotid artery was severed and death was due to a hemorrhage.
Chapter of Holy Rollers where these articles are some of the sources:
Chapter 21: Yet Another Page One Murder
***
More Articles About George Mitchell''s Murder
Editorial Calling for Gun Control in 1906
***
Newspaper Articles about Creffield & the Holy Rollers
1897-1903: B.C. (Before Creffield)
October to December 1903:Holy Rollers Burn Furniture & Pets
January to March, 1904: Holy Rollers Tarred and Feathered
April to June 1904: Holy Rollers are Committed to the Asylum
July 1904: Creffield is Found & Arrested
September 1904: Creffield's Trial
April 1906: Men are Gunning For Creffield
May 1906: Creffield is Murdered, Murderer is Considered a Hero
May 1906: Holy Rollers Found Starving Near Heceta Head
June 1906: George Mitchell's Trial Begins
July 1906: Hurt Testifies of Debauched Wife and Debased Sisters
July 1906: Esther Mitchell Kills Her Brother
August to October 1906: Seattle Prepares for another Big Trial
November 1906: Maud Hurt Creffield Commits Suicide
April 1909-August 1914: Esther Leaves the Asylum
1953 Stewart Holbrook's Murder Without Tears
1951Startling Detective Magazine, Nemesis of the Nudist High Priest
***
Chapters from
Holy Rollers: Murder & Madness in Oregon's Love Cult
Part 1: The Seduction
Chapter 1: Trust Me, Brothers And Sisters
(Life Before Creffield [B.C.])
Chapter 2: God, Save Us From Compromising Preachers
(Creffield's Preachings)
Chapter 3: The Flock
(Profiles of the Holy Rollers Were)
Chapter 4: The Holy Rollers
(Things Start to Get Wild on on Kiger Island)
Chapter 5: Housecleaning
(There's a Sacrificial Bonfire)
Chapter 6: Community Concerns
(Officers Visit)
Chapter 7: Esther, The Chosen One
(Creffield Plans to Marry 16-Year- Old)
Chapter 8: Tar and Feathers
(The Men of Corvallis Act)
Chapter 9: Sane People Don’t Go Bareheaded
(Holy Rollers are Committed to the Asylum)
Chapter 10: More Beast Than Man
( Creffield is Arrested)
Chapter 11: God Will Plead Creffield's Case
(Creffield in Court)
Chapter 12: Scandal
(Shocking Testimony at the Trial)
Chapter 13: Calm Before the Storm
(The Holy Rollers Resume their Lives)
Chapter 14: Giving Up The Ghost
(Men are Gunning for Creffield)
Part Two: The People V. Creffield
Chapter 16: The Widow Creffield
Chapter 19: An Inherited Streak of Insanity
Part Three: The Madness
Chapter 23: Seeking Reconciliation
Chapter 24: Another Holy Roller Page One Murder
Chapter 25: What Can Papa Do For You?
Chapter 26: Human Life is Too Cheap In This Community
Chapter 30: The Final Chapter
(What Happened to Everyone Afterwards)
The Epilogue
(Heaven's Gate)