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.
January 19, 1904: Our Brainy Contemporaries
Joe Haege as Edmund Creffield
Corvallis Gazette 1/19/1904 p2
Our Brainy Contemporaries
About a week ago the citizens
of Corvallis--a part of them at least--took two of the sect, known in common
parlance, as Holy Rollers, from their home and applied to them a coat of tar
and feathers, an on the following night, hearing that they had returned, again
visited the house with the avowed intention of taking them out and hanging
them. Now to a man in the distant background it looks very much as if these
Corvallisites were carrying their hatred of a religious sect entirely too far. It
may be and no doubt is true that these so called Holy Rollers are not in line
with the modern idea of religious worship, but surely they are not entitled to
the rough treatment they have received. They are accused of nothing worse than
praying, long and loud and of possibly roasting a few “prowling cats” on a
bonfire. Since the stoning of Stephen it has been a popular amusement with
people of all ages to abuse religious fanatics or those whom they did not
consider strictly orthodox, yet in every instance recorded in sacred or profane
history future events have clearly showed the lack of wisdom on the part of the
aggressors. We know nothing of the merits of the beliefs of the holy Rollers,
but will venture the assertion that Corvallis is and has been for years past
tolerating things beside which the Holy Rollers would appear as pure gold
beside tarnished brass. It is to be doubted whether the Holy Rollers have transgressed
the law of moderation and reason any further than have those who have
persecuted them. -- Lebanon Criterion.
Corvallis Gazette 1/19/1904 p1
The newspapers of the state
do wrong in speaking lightly of the tarring and feathering of the so-called “Holly
Rollers” of Corvallis. Since the days when Lord Baltimore guaranteed religious
toleration in the colony of Maryland, there has been need for demanding
toleration, even of those whose views may seem absurd to us. Once start the
craze of tarring and feathering every absurd form of religious worship, and the
evil will spread, and the monster of intolerance will demand as many victims as
the French revolution. If there are persons who, in the guise of religious
worship, commit infractions of the moral or criminal laws, let them be tried by
the courts, and under the laws of the land. It is only ignorance and brutality
of the most flagrant character to resort to force and cowardly mob rule. Unless
checked it will be resorted to more and more, until religious freedom is
annihilated.--Salem Journal
Corvallis Times 1/20/1904 p2
Newspaper Holy Rollers
The Lebanon Criterion, which
has the Holy Rollers for neighbors, is taking things philosophically now that
it has the situation to face. It says: “We will venture the assertion that
Corvallis is and has been for years past tolerating things beside which the
Holy Rollers would appear as pure gold beside tarnished brass.” The Criterion
is just about right. -- Albany Democrat.
Here are two recent recruits for Brooks and Creffield--Nothing [the print was blurry so Nothing may or may not be the word here] of the Democrat and the Criterion [more blurred text] since both editors so love the Holy Rollers, they ought by all means to join. With their fine talents, both would doubtless in time become apostles and a swift old Roller each would be. Join ‘em boys, join ‘em; at last you are on the right track.
Chapter of Holy Rollers where these articles are some of the sources:
Chapter 8: Tar and Feathers
***
January 13, 1904: Where Brooks Went
January 25: Holy Rollers’ in Hobo Camp Life
***
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)