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.

June 16, 1906: Special Venire of Sixty Names From Which to Select Jurors

 

Seattle Daily Times 6/16/1906 p5

Talesman to Try Mitchell

Special Venire of Sixty Names From Which to Select Jurors in What Promises to Be Very Hard Fought Case.

 

A special venire of sixty talesman, twelve of whom will serve on the superior court jury which will try George Mitchell, charged with murder in the first degree for killing Joshua Creffield, was drawn by the King County jury commission this morning. The majority of the names are those of residents of Seattle.

 

The Mitchell case has been set down for trial on June 25 and it is conceded both by Prosecuting Attorney Mackintosh and Will H. Morris, who is the counsel for the defense, that the trial will take at least three weeks. Both the prosecution and the defense are prepared to exhaust every possible legal effort in support of their contentions and the trial is expected to be one of the most sensational ever held in the State of Washington.

 

URGE FREEING MITCHELL

 

There will be a large number of witnesses brought from the Oregon towns where Creffield and his peculiar religion flourished, and it is probable that the doings of those who were his dupes will be gone into the fullest extent.

 

Not in years has there been a criminal case on the Pacific Coast which has caused so much interest to people beyond the immediate confines of the locality in which the crime was committed as has the killing of Creffield. Ever since the press dispatches flashed the details of the affair broadcast letters from all parts of the Untied States have been received by Prosecuting Attorney Mackintosh and by Attorney Morris. For the most part these letters have urged the release of Mitchell and have approved his course in ridding the world of Creffield.

 

The latest of these letters was received by Prosecuting Attorney Mackintosh this morning from a man who signs himself H. Peachee, of 101 West Morris Street, Indianapolis, The writer urges the prosecuting attorney to make only a formal effort to secure a conviction, and thanks him beforehand for so doing.

 

MEN ON THE VENIRE

Those who will be called upon to be examined as to their qualifications to act as jurors on the case are:

J. B. Camp, Arthur; Fred Strum, Sixth Ward, Fifth Precinct; Asa Gardner, First Ward, First Precinct, C. W. Frankland, Third Ward, First Precinct; Phillip N. O’Malley, Fifth Ward, Fourth Precinct; H. A. C. Thompson, First Ward, Sixth Precinct; W. B. Hanson, Ninth Ward, Fifth Precinct; A. Mortenson, Fourth Ward, Sixth Precinct, George Boyd, Stuck; Mark Holmboe, Ninth Ward, First Precinct; Fred Shilling, Oak Lake; R. J. Fahey, Fourth Ward, Second Precinct; H. R. Tucker, Eighth Ward, Second Precinct; J. G. Brooks, First Ward, First Precinct; Clark Hall, Bothell; Ernest Hofer, Bagley; W. M. Smith, Arthur; E. S. Molton, Juanita; Tom R. Roberts, Seventh Ward, Sixth Precinct; E. J. Quinn, Fifth Ward, fifth Precinct; L. Guidve, Black Diamond; C. W. Howeny, Durham; E. Bolink, Eighth Ward, First Precinct; Nels Benson, Enumclaw; L. J. Champlin, Meridian; F. Johnson, White River; George Thompson, Seventh Ward, Fourth Precinct; J. Simpson, Kent; G. S. Nelson, Ninth Ward, Fifth Precinct; Thomas B. Doyle, Fifth Ward, Sixth Precinct; Peter Boores, Lawson; Chas. L. Sheldon, Eighth Ward, First Precinct, Thomas Keenan, First Ward, sixth Precinct; S. A. White, South Park; W. L. Ludlow, Sixth Ward, fifth Precinct; George McCarthy, Bothell; Andy Cassi, Issaquah; J. C. Adams, Brighton; W. C. Howard, Fourth Ward, sixth Precinct; R. C. Madson, fifth War, Fourth Precinct; Herbert Burk, Georgetown; J. A. Sanborn, Seventh Ward, sixth Precinct; Godfrey Bader, Oak Lake; A. Mitchell, First Ward, Third Precinct; C. A. Sandel, Hot Springs; H. B. Earley, Enumclaw; Ole Thompson, Second Ward, Third Precinct; John Platt, Tolt; Dio Reinig, Snoqualmie; F. J. Case, West Seattle; C. A. Newman, Enumclaw; J. A. Lydell, Second Ward, First Precinct; John F. Dore, Seventh Ward, Fourth Precinct; Thomas Olin, Preston; Alex Wood, First Ward, First Precinct; James W. Gaw, Ninth Ward, Fifth Precinct; E. Howecroft, Sixth Ward, Second Precinct; O. S. Ostrem, Adelaide; James O. Cross, Arthur; W. I. Evans, Juanita.

 

 

Daily Oregon Statesman (Salem) 6/17/1906 p7

Churches

Where One May Go and Worship This Morning and Evening.

 

GOSPEL SERVICES--There will be gospel services in the Holiness tabernacle on Twelfth street at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p. m. Beginning with this Sunday meetings will be resumed under the auspices of the former pastors. Everybody cordially invited. M. L. Ryan, P. A. Shipley.

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