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.

Corvallis Times 12/23/1903 p2
Is Crazy Now
And May Have to be Sent to the Asylum--A Corvallis
Girl
Apostle Creffield, according
to all accounts is again in the vicinity of Corvallis. He arrived a few days
ago, and is said to be an occupant with others of the old house across the road
from the Beach dwelling, a few hundred yards east of the Ferry. Worship
according to the Holy Roller idea is carried on there by disciples of the sect.
There was also much activity among members of the faith in the house in the
main part of town during the past week.
Meanwhile Ester Taylor is in
a bad state of mental derangement in the Boys and Girls Aid Society hospital in
Portland. She is a Benton county girl who was among the worshipers when the
late excitement among the sect was at its height. She is a sister of Mrs. Starr
of Portland, and sometime ago the latter took her to Portland and had her
placed at the Boys and Girls home for care and treatment. A news item about her
in yesterday’s Oregonian reads as follows:
Ester Taylor, the unfortunate
young girl whose reason has been upset by religious fanaticism since she joined
the “Holy Roller” movement continues to suffer with the hallucination that she
must spend every minute of her time in prayer.
It is feared that her mind is
permanently affected and that it will be necessary to have her committed to the
insane asylum. She is still under the care of the Boys and Girls Aid Society.
Evening Telegram (Portland) 12/23/1903
"Holy Roller" Victim Better
Miss Ester Taylor, victim of
the “Holy Roller” craze is reported improved today. Superintendent Gardner, of
the Boys’ and Girls’ Aid Society, stated that she voluntarily asked to be put
to work yesterday afternoon, which he regards as a good sign of improvement. If
she continues in this manner, he says, it will not be necessary to send her to
the insane asylum.
Chapter of Holy Rollers where these articles are some of the sources:
Chapter 7: Esther, The Chosen One
***
December 22, 1903: Linn County Holy Rollers
December 29, 1903: Holy Rollers’ Not Liked at the Dalles
***
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)