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.
May 2, 1904: Frank & Mollie Hurt are Committed to the Asylum
Oregon Daily Journal (Portland) 5/2/1904 p1
“Rollers” Would Restore Eden
(Special Dispatch to The
Journal)
Albany, Or., May 2.--Frank Hurt and his wife, Nellie (sic) Hurt, who were Saturday afternoon
committed to the asylum at Salem, were yesterday morning taken to that
institution by Sheriff Worth Huston and Deputy I. A. Munkers. The sheriff also
took down Miss Urania Florence Seeley, the girl who was a few days ago taken
from the Holy Rollers and committed to the Boys’ and Girls’ Aid society, and
took her to Portland. When Hurt and his wife were brought to Albany the young
man was provided with a new pair of shoes and a hat, he being barefooted and
hatless. He wore these articles of clothing until placed in jail, when he
promptly divested himself of the shoes and hat and burned them in the jail
stove, and when called out of jail to be taken to the asylum Hurt was again
hatless and shoeless.
Miss Seeley, when seen by the
Journal correspondent, after being committed to the Boys’ and Girls’ Aid
society, talked rationally regarding the peculiar belief of the sect to which
she belongs, commonly known as the Holy Rollers.
“In time, she said, “we will
be restored to innocence and purity such as marked the condition of Adam and
Eve, but in order to reach that state we must put away all that is sinful. To
do this we must conquer our pride and everything that tends to make us proud, and
this included the destruction of clothing and ornaments. When the world is
restored to its original condition of innocence, we will be as were Adam and
Eve, and there will be no use of clothing or raiment of any kind. Then the
world will once more be innocent and God will dwell with us here on earth and
we will be like him.”
Evening Telegram (Portland) 5/3/1904
Holy Rollers To Put World Where Adam Entered It.
(A photo of “Miss Urania
Florence Seeley, Seventeen-Year -Old Victim of Strange Religion Relates Its
Aims and Objects”)
“All things will be restored.
The world will be again like it was before man fell. This can be brought about
only by the way we live here.”
Such was the explanation of
the “Holy Roller religion by Urania Florence Seeley who is now in safe the
keeping of the Boys’ and Girls’ Aid Society where she was brought from the Holy
Roller camp by Sheriff Huston. Since Frank Hurt’s family has been sent to the
asylum, and this innocent 17-year-old girl has been brought to Portland, the
Roller camp is a thing of the past, as the last member is now gone. Miss Seeley
said there were 17 members, all but three being women.
Probably more light on this
peculiar religion than has hitherto been known to the public was brought out
when she answered the query: “Why do you believe you should not wear shoes,
hats and other garments?”
“Adam and Eve were put into
the world without clothing,” was the girl’s answer. It showed that she was
still determined to defend the religion she had been wildly following for the
past few months.
“That is the way we should
live. When Adam fell the world was cursed, and now there is death. There would
have been no death is Adam had not sinned. All things will be restored, and we
can bring the world back to that condition by living like the Lord wants us to.”
“We did these things at the
command of the Lord. We received messages direct from him. Sometimes we would
all receive them together.”
“Around the camp we read our
Bibles and prayed. We did the work about the house.”
Although she defended her
religion, Miss Seeley would not discuss other subjects when seen today. At
times, with a view of defending her peculiar faith, she bursts forth with
expressions that could be credited to a much older person.
Although she is only 17 years
old, she has the experienced look of a much older person. She said she could
tell much about her religion, but that she did “not feel just right.” She is of
light complexion and more than “passing fair.”
She seems kind in her
disposition, and willingly does what she is told by the officers of the home. This
is much unlike the other Holy Roller who was at the home and who was hardly
manageable.
She would not say whether she
knew where Apostle Creffield is, but she intimated that some of the sect knew. She
seems determined in her ways, and does not want to give up her faith. She said
the name of her religion was “Restoration of All Things.”
In the little Bible which she brought with her are many passages marked with
red ink. The majority of these marked passages are confined to the first few
chapters of St. Matthew.
Daily Capitol Journal (Salem)
5/2/1904 p1
Interviewed. Odd People Are Not Insane
Have No Prescribed Form of Religious Worship But
Believe in Divine Messages. Say They Will Remain in
the Asylum Until the State Gets Tired of Keeping them There--Have Queer Ideas Regarding
Dress.
(The first page of the
article is illegible)
p4 (Continued from first page)
. . . refused to do so, and would rather suffer than to
desert what we know is right.”
When questioned concerning
the form of worship accepted by his people he said: “We never prescribe any
form of worship, but allow every person to pray and act as they feel would
serve the Lord best. We are called “Holy Rollers” because some of the members,
when they are praying, get tired of kneeling and prostrate themselves on the
floor at times, but that is not one of the requirements of the church. we do not fast, as some of the people reported, except to
occasionally refrain from eating for perhaps a day, or until we get hungry. I
know that stories have been circulated alleging that at times we will not
partake of food for several days, but there is no truth in such reports. We
have no creed or special by-laws, except those found in the Bible, and we
believe the whole book, both New and Old Testament. We are not like other churches, we take everything in it as God’s word. we believe that any person can get messages from God by
first preparing themselves to receive them. God always answers prayer, and we
pray so that we will be able to get our direction from him.”
Hurt did not care to say
whether he had ever received revelations himself, but answered in an evasive
way, “Oh, any person can receive commands from God.”
“Will you make an effort to
get out of this place,” was asked, and he replied “No not a thing. I am
satisfied and will remain until they get tired of keeping me. I do not intend
to give up my religion, and I constantly have a prayer in my heart to God. My
father expects me to get weaned away from my views, but he will never
accomplish what he expects to do.”
Mrs. Hurt is a comely looking
woman of perhaps 23, and talks very intelligently. She would not speak for
publication, saying that the band had already received more than enough
advertising. She is apparently of good parentage, and is not at all hasty in
answering questions concerning herself or the views
entertained by her fellow believers. her father and mother,
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Sandell, live in Seattle, and are said to be quite
well-to-do people. She joined the Salvation Army about six years ago, and met
Creffield. The two afterwards moved to Corvallis, and there the prophet married
a sister of Hurt, while the Sandell girl married Hurt
last July. Creffield and Miss Sandell were at the Ryan mission in this city for
some time, and afterwards went back to Corvallis where they commenced to
receive, as they claim, messages from God.
The people of Corvallis and
the upper portion of Linn County are determined to break up the band, and this
is one of the first moves in that direction. The Hurts appear rational in every
way, even while discussing their hobby, yet they get very earnest at times, and
explain in minute detail the power of prayer. This seems to be about the only
thing practices by the followers of this queer belief.
It is the deliberate opinion
of the reporter that these people who have been sent to the Oregon insane
asylum are not insane.
PATIENTS AT ASYLUM
There are 1328 patients at
the asylum 921 males and 407 females.
Holy Rollers
The Holy Rollers here,
through their prophet Creffield have just received enlightenment in the way of
several messages from Heaven. One is that all believers must go barefooted,
bareheaded and not braid or adorn their hair.
Last week they proceeded to
carry out this part of the program by appearing on the streets in the aforesaid
condition. Frank Hurt who is living over in Linn County came to the Post Office
Tuesday clad only in a pair of overalls and jumper. Several of the women have
appeared on the streets with unkempt hair and without wraps to protect them
from the chilly air. Friday afternoon an exciting chase took place when Hurt
again appeared at the Post Office. Deputy marshal Overland attempted to capture
him, several others joined in the chase, but Hurt out sprinted them all and
reached his boat and pushed out into the river before his pursuers came upon
him.
The people here would like to
see Creffield, who is supposed to be hiding not far away and perhaps somewhere
in the city. There is no doubt that this renewed activity of the Holy Rollers
is due to his influence.
Urania Seeley, an orphan, was
arrested here Thursday on a warrant issued by her sister, Edna V. Seeley, who
lives in Oregon City. The girl is only about 16, and very pretty. The have had
her under their influence for some time, and would have caused her ruin.
Her sister tried by every
other means to get her away, when she had herself appointed guardian and took
her by force.
It is the intention to have
the girl placed in the Boys’ and Girls’ Aid Society, that she may be kept away
from the influence of the Holy Rollers.
The last message the Holy
Rollers have received is that all shall go to the heathen in Africa as
missionaries.
There is a strong sentiment
in favor of stopping the practices of the Holy Rollers, even if heroic measures
have to be adopted, and something probably will be done for they are a menace
to young women, and their purpose seems to be principally to get the girls
under their control and influence.
Miss Edna Seeley is a nice
looking young woman. She says her parents are dead and there are three sisters,
one, the oldest, aged about 21 years, being now with the Holy Rollers near
Corvallis. She sobbed bitterly when she told the story of her troubles, and
when her young sister was committed to the care of the Boys’ and Girls’ Aid
Society she became radiantly happy, as she now felt that the child was now safe
from vicious practices of the Holy Rollers.
She came up from Oregon City
to Albany on Thursday and filed a petition with County Judge Palmer asking that
her sister be taken from the Holy Rollers and placed in the care of the Boys’ and
Girls’ Aid Society of Portland. The judge at once issued a warrant for her
arrest. She was found with several others in a house on the Linn county side of
the Willamette opposite Corvallis where some of the Rollers reside. At the
trial, several members of the sect denounced the movement in scathing terms and
told of the unspeakable actions of the leaders. When the girl herself was asked
if she had anything to say, she was mute, and Judge Palmer ordered her
committed to the Boys’ and Girls’ Aid Society.
The girl was brought to town
bareheaded as she had destroyed her hat according to divine revelations
commanding such a course. Her sister asked permission to comb the child’s hair
and this was given, and the county judge also ordered Miss Edna to buy a hat
for her sister.
Deputy Sheriff Munkers
reports that in the house where he found the girl no furniture was to be seen,
that the house was bare, and the occupants appeared to be dazed or on a verge
of insanity.
The last scene in the Holy
Roller drama was enacted Saturday when Frank Hurt and his wife Mollie were sent
to the Insane Asylum at Salem by the Linn County Court.
Hurt’s father was the
principal witness. The testimony showed that the parties refused to work and
that they destroyed all their good clothing and other property by fire, neglected their persons and generally showed insanity.
The young man was formerly a
salesman. He appeared in overalls saying he had burned his good clothing on
orders from God, and had also destroyed a new bicycle for the same reasons.
His wife had destroyed her
clothing. She was formerly a captain in the Salvation Army, then took up with
Apostle Creffield and married young Hurt.
Brownsville Times Fri 5/6/1904 p1
Holy Rollers Insane
Frank Hurt and Wife Declared Insane--Girl Arrested.
ALBANY, April 30.--The last scene in Holy Roller drama in Linn county was
enacted in Albany today when a husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hurt, were
jointly examined by the County Court and committed to the State Insane Asylum
at Salem. The religious fanatics were brought to Albany by
Sheriff Huston today on a charge of insanity issued from District
Attorney Kelly’s office with J. K. Berry, of Corvallis, as complainant.
The examination developed
much interest concerning the Holy Rollers and was sufficient to warrant the
County Court in committing the Hurts/ O. V. Hurt, father of the young man,
spoke with much emotion of the downfall of his son, and at the end of the
examination pleaded with him to return home, change his ways of acting and thus
avoid spending a period of uncertain duration in the insane asylum. But the
son, urged on by the fanatic wife, was obdurate and said that he would rather
spend years in the insane asylum that return to the worldly ways that preceded
the advent of Holy Rollerism.
The father stated that Frank
Hurt was always very religious, becoming a member of the Methodist Church while
a mere boy, and was industrious and exemplary in his habits. At the age of 8 or
9 years Frank joined the Salvation Army, continuing there until Apostle
Creffield appeared upon the scene. Young Hurt then became sanctified, took unto
himself a wife who formerly belonged to the Salvation Army and was also a
Roller, and has since gradually become more fanatical.
On other subjects young Hurt
and wife are intelligent and reasonable. During the examination Frank Hurt
admitted the destroying of cats and dogs, headgear, clothes, footwear,
pictures, etc., stating that God commanded their destruction because the
animals were a nuisance and the clothing was too good, causing him to be proud.
He further stated that at first messages were received by Creffield from God,
who directed his flock, but that now all receive direct commands from the Lord.
These commands are not
audible, says Hurt, but come to them while praying. Asked if he did not know if
such things were a hallucination and very foolish, Hurt replied: “No, I know
when God talks to me.”
Hurt and his wife both look
emaciated, having fasted for days at a time. They often spend entire days and
nights lying flat on the floor, face downward, praying the Lord for further
light. Hurt is 22 years of age, his wife 23. They quote scripture glibly and
are ready to use a quotation in parrying any thrust by questioners.
A further teaching of
Creffield, which is claimed to be a direct message from God, is that the Holy
Rollers must not work, that God will care for his children. Frank Hurt and wife
are the last of the sect so far as Linn County is concerned. They were the only
people remaining at the Holy Roller headquarters this side of the river. If
more of them appear, they will be dealt with summarily.
Weekly Herald (Albany) 5 May 1904 p1
Burned His Shoes In County Jail
(the usual, plus)
The young man when brought to
Albany Saturday was provided with a hat and a good pair of shoes, brought for
him by his father before the officers brought the two from Corvallis. These he
wore Saturday and up to the time he was placed in jail. Here a fire had been
kindled, as it was cold. When the young man was called out of the jail
yesterday morning he was once more bareheaded and barefooted, and investigation
showed that he had again burned his hat and shoes, having put them in the jail
stove. He went to the asylum bareheaded and shoeless.
The Sheriff also took down
Miss Urania Florence Seeley, the girl who was a few days ago taken from the
Holy Rollers and committed to the Boys’ and Girls’ Aid society, and took her to
Portland.
“In time, she said, “we will
be restored to innocence and purity such as marked the condition of Adam and
Eve, but in order to reach that state we must put away all that is sinful. To
do this we must conquer our pride and everything that tends to make us proud,
and this included the destruction of clothing and ornaments. When the world is
restored to its original condition of innocence, we will be as were Adam and
Eve, and there will be no use of clothing or raiment of any kind. Then the
world will once more be innocent and God will dwell with us here on earth and
we will be like him.”
She also stated that the
members of the sect believed that cooked food should not be
eaten by man, and that fire had not been brought into the world by the
creator, but was the invention of man. The members of the sect, she said, were
putting away all that was sinful as fast as possible and this included cooked
food; that they were gradually discarding this and learning to eat what food
nature had provided, just as it was prepared by the Creator, and that
ultimately they would be enabled to subsist entirely on food that was the
product of Mother Earth. Meats are not used by them at all. . . .
Among the last to leave was
Miss Seeley, and older sister of the girl recently sent to the Boys’ and Girls’
aid society. Miss Seeley, who worked as a domestic in a Corvallis family for a
time left when her sister was taken away by the officers.
She is believed to have gone to Hood River, where another colony of this
peculiar sect is said to be located. . .
The report comes from Salem
that Frank Hurt, the Holy Roller sent to the asylum from here last Sunday,
became angry at his keepers Sunday evening because he was not allowed to occupy
the ward in which his wife was detained, and he prayed loudly for the
destruction of the asylum.
Chapter of Holy Rollers where these articles are some of the sources:
Chapter 9: The Holy Rollers are Committed to the Insane Asylum
***
April 29, 1904: Urania Seeley
May 4, 1904: Maud Hurt-Creffield & Sophia Hartley are Committed
***
Copies of Some of the Holy Rollers' Commitment Papers to the Oregon Insane Asylum
The Oregon Insane Asylum in 1907
***
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)