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 13, 1906: Creffield is Due To Rise Today
Seattle Daily Times 5/13/1906 p1
Creffield is Due To Rise Today
Holy Roller ‘Prophet’ Expected by His
Wife to Emerge From Grave at 10:45 O’clock, Hour He Was Buried
“JOSHUA”
Creffield is scheduled to arise from his grave at 10:45 o’clock this morning. According
to his wife and some of his followers, George Mitchell did not kill the Holy
Roller “prophet” because he is a divine being, and after four days from the
hour when his body was placed in a grave in Lake View Cemetery he will return
to life and again take command of his followers.
It was for this
reason that Mrs. Creffield refused to allow any religious services either at
the Bonney-Watson chapel or at the grave. She said it was useless, as the man
was not dead, and confidently predicted that he would return to his flock at
the expiration of the allotted time. Her faith is still absolute, but she is
not exactly sure as to the details of the resurrection.
No guard has
been places at Creffield’s grave, and the authorities have taken no steps to
provide for the unusual event which they seem to believe has
been announced for a somewhat premature date. Creffield’s body was
buried, clad only in a white shroud, at the request of his wife, who believed
that to be fitting garment for his return to the world from which Mitchell’s
bullet had temporarily removed him, but those not so intimately connected with
the belief of the Holy Rollers, and who have not fallen so directly under the
spell are inclined to believe that the shroud will be somewhat soiled by the
passing of the years before it can be put to the use for which it was intended.
Young Mitchell,
in the county jail, is not much concerned over the proposed return of the man
he found it necessary for him to kill. He only smiles quietly when the subject
is mentioned. He is not inclined to joke about it because he realized that this
is a human life which he took and he realizes that the prosecuting attorney is
determined that he shall be punished for it, if it is possible for him to so
persuade a jury.
He thoroughly
appreciates the seriousness of his position, but has not shown the slightest
sign of fear. He has not even inquired of his attorneys or others what they
thought of his chances.
UNMOVED IN
COURTROOM
In the courtroom
yesterday morning, when he was arraigned and Judge Frater felt bound to oppose
his application for bail upon technical grounds, he would have been almost the
last man in the throng to be picked out as the one who sat there facing a
charge of murder in the first degree. His attitude was manly, quiet and
unperturbed.
The only sign of
weakness he has shown in the whole transaction was at the moment he
unexpectedly met Creffield face to face on First Avenue. It was so sudden, this meeting, that he drew back, and it was not until he
realized that the man was getting away from him that he recovered himself and
fired. Since then he has been cooler than the men about him.
Will H. Morris,
his attorney, is disappointed at the action for bail, but is far from
discouraged. He says it is only an indication that a hard fight will probably be
required to free his client from the clutch of laws which make no provision for
sentiment or the drastic necessities caused by the very existence of such men
as this “Joshua.”
Mitchell will be
arraigned to plead next Saturday morning, and that will be the next step in the
case. Just what will be done at that time has not been fully determined. As
long as bail cannot be secured, every effort will be made to expedite the trial
of the case in order that the young man may regain the freedom which but few believe
any jury will deny him.
HEADLINES IN DIFFERENT PAPERS FOR THE SAME ARTICLE
Oregon Daily Journal (Portland) 5/13/1906 p1
Widow of Holy
Roller Is Insane From Waiting to See the Dead Arise
Corvallis Times 5/15/1906
Widow of Holy Roller Is Insane From
Waiting to See the Dead Arise
Mrs. Creffield Grovels on Floor Begging
to Go to Cemetery--Becomes a Maniac.
(Special Dispatch
to The Journal)
Seattle, Wash.,
May 12.--Groveling on the floor of the police matron’s
home and begging hysterically that she be allowed to spend the night in the
Lakeview cemetery to witness the resurrection of her husband, Franz Edmund
Creffield, the late Apostle Joshua of holy Roller notoriety, Mrs. Creffield,
widow of the murdered man, has become insane. Today she pleaded with
Prosecuting Attorney Mackintosh to allow her to be taken to the cemetery under
guard, so she could see her husband rise from the dead tomorrow morning, as she
believes he will. The request was denied.
Then the woman
begged the police matron to take her there. When this was refused she became
hysterical and up to a late hour tonight had refused to be quieted or take any
rest or food. Her cries are like those of a wild animal. She declares that if
she is not in the cemetery to greet her husband when he arises her soul is
lost. The woman is firm in her declaration that “Joshua” will arise from the
dead tomorrow morning.
DID NOT SHED A TEAR
When he was
buried she did no shed a tear or show the slightest sign of sorrow. She
maintained her composure, firm in the belief that although her husband was
buried Wednesday, Sunday would see him alive again. It is feared the woman’s
mind will be permanently lost. It may be necessary in the morning in an effort
to quiet her to take her to the cemetery to show her that the grave has not
been disturbed. She declares that if she is not present at the resurrection she
will be punished for her infidelity.
The mental
breakdown of the woman today is in strange contrast with her demeanor since her
husband’s death. Except for the first few minutes as her husband’s prostrate
form lay in the drug store outside of which he was shot she has showed no grief.
Even then she cried: “He cannot die. He must not die. He never did George
Mitchell any harm.” The doctor’s declaration that he was dead did not shake her
belief that her husband was immortal.
At the morgue
and at the cemetery she shoed no sign of sorrow, telling the police matron that
her husband would arise Sunday.
CONDITION IS SAD
The police
matron, who is used to insanity in all its forms, declares that Mrs. Creffield’s
condition is the saddest sight she has ever seen. The woman has not become violent,
but it is feared she might. She is simply hysterical. If she becomes at all
violent she will be taken to the county jail, where her husband’s slayer is
confined awaiting trial. The fact that Mrs. Creffield has been in the insane
asylum in Oregon in the midst of the frantic demonstrations of the Holy Rollers
makes the officers believe that her condition may become permanent.
The woman is
under orders of the prosecuting attorney and will be held by the police matron
as a witness at the trial of George Mitchell unless she becomes insane. A close
guard will be kept over her all night for fear she may harm herself or others.
LETTERS FROM
OREGON FOLLOWERS
For a time the
police matron attempted to convince her that her belief in her husband’s
resurrection was ridiculous and that there was no use of her going to the
cemetery to witness his resurrection from death. Mrs. Creffield, however, would
not pay any heed to the matron’s arguments. She declared she knew as did all Creffield’s followers, that he could not die; that he was Christ and
that it was foreordained that the Sunday after his burial he would rise again
and show himself to the world that he was really Christ.
Since the murder
Mrs. Creffield has received letters from some of the faithful in Oregon
assuring her that her husband would again rise from the dead. The names of the
correspondents were withheld from all the newspapers at the request of the
police matron.
WILL DENOUNCE
MITCHELL
Tomorrow in
several churches sermons will be preached on the Creffield slaying. Rev. Myron
W. Haynes, who gained much notoriety in Chicago before he came to Seattle by
his fight with relatives when his name was dropped from the list entitling him
with other ministers to reduced rates, has announced that he will denounce
Mitchell from the pulpit of his fashionable church as a cold-blooded murderer. Haynes
has already congratulated Prosecuting Attorney Mackintosh on his determination
to vigorously prosecute Mitchell. Haynes will beg his congregation to drop its
sympathy for Mitchell and take sides with the prosecution. He is the only
clergyman who will probably denounce Mitchell. The others will take sides with
the young slayer, or at least pass over it hurriedly and point out the iniquity
of Creffield’s life. Haynes has brought upon himself much unpopularity by
denouncing Mitchell. Public opinion here is strong in the slayer’s favor.
MANNING’S LETTER
HELPS
The letter from
District Attorney Manning did much to make unanimous the public sentiment that
Mitchell should be liberated even without a trial. The declaration of
Prosecuting Attorney Mackintosh that he would prosecute Mitchell as he would
any other murderer is looked upon as an unfortunate incident. If Mitchell had
been allowed bail today a number of prominent citizens were willing to furnish
security upwards of $30,000.
In light of the
fact that other judges have allowed murderers bail, it has led the public to
look with disfavor on Judge Frater’s refusal to allow Mitchell bail. It is
certain that Mitchell if tried will be acquitted by the jury. No man, although
many have tried, has ever been convicted here for murdering a seducer of his
wife or daughter. Mitchell’s case is much stronger than that of the men already
liberated for shooting down libertines.
The press of
Seattle has taken his side and created a public sentiment in his favor that
none of these other men had. Money will be supplied for
Mitchell’s defense by many Seattle men if it cannot be raised in any
other way.
Seattle Post Intelligencer 5/13/1906 p5
Court Denies Bail To Geo. Mitchell
Letter Announces That Sisters of Prisoner Confessed Creffield’s Guilt.
After listening
to the pleas of the attorneys for George Mitchell for an hour yesterday give a
recital of the history of the affairs leading up to the killing of Franz Edmund
Creffield in their endeavor to induce the court to admit the prisoner to bail,
Judge Frater denied the motion on the grounds that the law will not admit of
the action.
Preceding the
arguments of the attorney for the prisoner and the short statement of facts by
Prosecuting Attorney Mackintosh the young man was arraigned and the information
read to him. His attorneys then asked for a continuation and Mitchell will
plead on May 19.
In making his
statement to the court in support of the motion for bail, Attorney Will H.
Morris dwelt not on the law bearing on the matter, but rather asked the court
to consider the motion from a humane standpoint. Mr. Mackintosh merely recited the
law governing the admission to bail of prisoners charged with a capital offense
and the court gave he ruling.
During the
course of his arguments Attorney Morris stated that Mitchell is in receipt of a
letter from F. T. Gardener, superintendent of the Boys’ and Girls Aid society
of Oregon, in which that official of the institution declares that the sister
of the young man confessed the criminal relations which Creffield had with them
and further that he has received the information from fathers that they
hesitated to prosecute the man because of the notoriety that would result.
Superintendent
Gardner offers to give testimony in the case for the defense and in closing
expressed a hope that the young man will be exonerated. The
letter was received by Mitchell yesterday morning thru the sheriff’s
office.
Oregon Daily Journal (Portland) 5/13/1906 p9
Mitchell Is Denied Release on Bail
(Special
Dispatch to the Journal)
(The usual)
Lincoln County Times (Waldport) 5/18/1906 p1
More About Creffield
Waldport, Or., May 13,1906
The Toledo
Reporter says: “In the killing of Creffield society has been rid of a dangerous
character;” “the world abhors a villain” (such was Creffield); “it despises a
coward.” It then goes on to say George Mitchell is a murderer and should be
hanged for the killing of Creffield. The Reporter drops back to the days of
dueling when the civilized world abhors such means of revenge today, and the
laws of our country forbid such. The Reporter is just about one hundred years
behind civilization. It says “men are blood hungry and
blood crazy.” Such was Creffield; but was it men’s blood he wanted? No, it was
the blood of young, innocent girls that this devil in human form craved; and
his record shows that his devilish purpose was accomplished. How would the
editor of the Reporter feel in this matter if his wife or daughter were placed
under the hypnotic influence of such as Creffield? The laws of our land cannot
reach such fanatics, only for a short term. Then is for the father, brother or
husband to avenge the wrong done.
Creffield met his just deserts and should have had that meted out to him long ago. George Mitchell did what any good American citizen should have done--not risk his own life to such a depraved brute as Creffield. Instead of suffering any penalty, he should be acquitted and given a gold medal by the people of Oregon. JUSTICE
Chapters of Holy Rollers where these articles are some of the sources:
Chapter 15: I Got My Man
Chapter 16: The Widow Creffield
***
May 12, 1906: Mitchell Denied Bail
May 14, 1906: Creffield’s Widow Watches At Grave
***
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)