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.
December 21, 1903: Holy Roller Victim Worse
Evening Telegram (Portland) 12/21/1903 p16
Holy Roller Victim Worse
Pretty Ester Taylor’s Reason Is Flown, and She Must
Go to Insane Asylum.
Believes She Has Command From God That She Must Do
Nothing but Pray.
Her reason destroyed by the
influence of religious fanaticism, the case of Ester Taylor, the pretty young
woman who was a member of the “Holy Rollers” is most pitiable. The girl shows
no sign of improvement in mental condition, and Superintendent Gardner, of the
Boys’ and Girls’ Aid Society, stated this morning that unless she grew better
very soon he will have her consigned to an asylum.
“Miss Taylor is worse today,”
said Superintendent Gardner, “and unless she improves quickly I guess she will
have to be sent to the asylum for the insane. Her case is one of the most
pathetic I ever knew. She now says she has a message from God to do no work,
but to spend every moment of her time in prayer.
“Of course she cannot be
treated as an incorrigible, for she is not; but is seems to do no good to let
her have her own way, and unless she changes for the better soon we will ask to
have her consigned to the insane asylum. She would pray all day, kneeling by
her bedside if permitted to do so.”
Miss Taylor is but 15 years
of age. She was among the first residents of Corvallis to join the “Holy Roller”
movement and from constant association with the rabid leaders of the sect and
from continual practice of the strenuous forms of worship of the members her
mind became unbalanced. She has been in the care of the Boy’s and Girls’ Aid
Society for about one month. It was thought that quiet and care would bring
back her reason, but it is feared her case is hopeless.
Recently Frank Hurt, one of the “Holy Roller” leaders came up and spoke to Miss Taylor while she was going to church in company with the matron of the home. He told her to remain on victory’s side, and since then she has been gradually growing worse.
Chapter of Holy Rollers where these articles are some of the sources:
Chapter 7: Esther, The Chosen One
***
December 11, 1903: Holy Rollers Roll Into Eugene Church
December 22, 1903: Linn County Holy Rollers
***
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)