Creffield and the Holy Rollers made page one headlines from 1903 to 1907. When I was researching Holy Rollers: Murder and Madness in Oregon’s Love Cult I spent months transcribing hundreds of articles. I’m not sure why I was so obsessive. Maybe it was my way of immersing my self into a cult without joining one. Anyway, I’m posting them all for those who are really interested in the story, or are interested the history of journalism, or are interested in how a scandalous story played out in the "media" in a by gone era. Since I no doubt made typos and unconsciously corrected papers' typos, these web pages should not be cited in anything serious (e.g. your dissertation). For such projects they should only be used as starting points and you should refer to the original sources. If you want a shorter version of the story, buy my book. Enjoy.
November 3, 1903: Had Promise of Tar and Feathers
Evening Telegram (Portland) 11/3/1903 p5
Had Promise of Tar and Feathers
Holy Rollers Disappear from
Corvallis -- Women Return to Homes.
[Telegram
Coast Special]
CORVALLIS,
Or., Nov. 3. -- The two leaders of Holy Roller fame who have been causing so
much disturbance in Corvallis for a week left Sunday for parts unknown. They
evidently were informed that a mob of citizens were preparing to present them
with a coat of tar and feathers, and a pleasant ride out of town on a rail. If
they had remained 24 hours longer this city would certainly have been the
center of another scandal. The family who destroyed their household effects
while under the influence of a religious delusion have at last come to their
senses and have replaced the furniture they sacrificed with new.
Corvallis Gazette 11/3/1903 p3
The two
leaders of Holy Roller fame, Krofield (sic) and Brooks, left on Sunday
afternoon for parts unknown.
Corvallis Gazette 11/3/1903 p3
R. C. Kiger
of this city brought in from his Kiger Island ranch and sold to Smith and
Boulden a lot of the finest calves that has been seen in this city for many
days. They are full blood roan shorthorn stock, spring calves of an average
weight dressed of 260 pounds. They are certainly beauties and a credit to the
county.
Chapters of Holy Rollers where these articles are some of the sources:
Chapter 2: Creffield's Preachings
Chapter 5: A Sacrificial Bonfire
***
November 2, 1903: Fanatics In Court
November 4, 1903: Flight of The Apostles
***
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)