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.
August 19, 1904: Followers in Asylum Stick To Faith
Many Of Creffield’s Victims May Recover
Corvallis, Or., Aug 19.--The
asylum superintendent informs O. V. Hurt that his wife is hopelessly insane. Frank
Hurt and his wife, Maude Hurt-Creffield, and Sophia Hartley will probably
regain their mental balance.
Hurt is firmly of the opinion that all were thoroughly victimized by Creffield. He says that all knew everything they did, but could not resist, and not explain why they acted as they did. Mrs. Hartley is now at the Bohemia mines and although able to cook for six men, was not improved in mind. She keeps her Bible hidden from relatives and there seems to be no help for her mental condition.
HEADLINES IN DIFFERENT PAPERS FOR THE SAME ARTICLE
Evening Telegram (Portland) 8/20/1904 p5
Elijah’s Sway Is Not Lost
Followers in Asylum Still Believe in So-Called
Prophet. Attribute His Rescue From Starvation to Divine Interposition.
[Telegram Coast Special]
Daily Oregon Statesman
(Salem) 8/21/1904 p7
Stick To Faith
This Is Motto Of The Holy Roller Ban Confined In The
Asylum. What Effect Will Creffield’s Capture Have on Minds of His Faithful
Followers Who Were Told to Fear Not, as the Lord Was His Keeper.
SALEM, Or., Aug 20.--“Stick
fast to the faith!” is the motto of the members of the Holy Roller band who are
confined within the walls of the Insane Asylum for the purpose of curing them
of the strange belief with which they have been convicted through the agency of
Creffield, the self-styled “Elijah.” The question which is bothering the minds
of the officials of that institution, who are watching the actions of the Holy
Roller band very closely, although they are separated males from females and
not allowed to commune with one another in any manner, shape or form is: “What
effect will the capture of Creffield from his erstwhile hiding place under the
house of O. V. Hurt, at Corvallis, have upon the minds of his faithful
followers.”
About the last words which
were spoken by Creffield to his small “flock,” before they were separated,
were: “Fear not for me as the Lord is my keeper and will not let me famish or
deliver me into the hands of my enemies.” Although this speech seemed to have a
wonderfully stimulating effect upon the “persecuted” few, up to the time of
capture of Creffield, Frank Hurt appeared to be improving gradually, coming out
from under the “spell,” as it were, and the officials of the asylum began to
hope that he would recover entirely and be in a condition to be released within
a short time. When Creffield was dragged from his hiding place it was thought
that the influence which he held over his followers would be irretrievably
shaken since his parting words to them had not been borne out as he had
predicted.
It seems, however, that his
capture has had just the opposite from the desired effect upon those undergoing
treatment for insanity for they now appear to regard Creffield in a different
light, crediting his timely rescue from a seemingly inevitable death from
starvation to the Supreme Being. Although every effort is exercised to prevent
them from hearing a single word as to what is transpiring in respect to Creffield,
they appear to know what is going on, yet not one word will they utter to
reveal their feelings in the matter. They keep their own counsel, answer all
questions that are put to them, but evade all direct questions pertaining to
Creffield and their regard for him.
Although they do not state in
so many words, it seems to be the opinion of the officials of the asylum that
it would be better for those who are confined in that institution, if Creffield
were sent to the penitentiary, instead of to the asylum, for their faith in
Creffield is so strong that they believe the Lord will come to his deliverance
before he will allow him to be punished by his mortal enemies.
Chapter of Holy Rollers where these articles are some of the sources:
Chapter 11: God Will Plead Creffield's Case
***
August 16, 1904: Creffield Reward Will Be Returned
August 23, 1904: Creffield Will Fight
His Own Case
***
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)