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 19, 1906: Many Witnesses For Mitchell

 

Phoebe MitchellSeattle Daily Times 6/19/1906 p5

Many Witnesses For Mitchell

Attorney Will H. Morris Secures Superior Court Order for Thirty Prominent Oregonians to Attend Trial. Men and Women Who Have Felt Blight of Creffield’s Teachings Will Tell of Holy Roller Doings on Stand.

 

At the request of Attorney Will H. Morris, of the law firm of Morris, Southard & Shipley, attorneys for George Mitchell, slayer of Joshua Creffield, whose case will be drawn for trial on June 25, Superior Judge Frater this morning signed an order giving permission to serve subpoenas on thirty witnesses for the defense living in Oregon. As an indication of the court’s opinion as the probable length of the trial, is the fact that Judge Frater questioned the necessity of the witnesses being in court on June 26, the day on which Mr. Morris wants them to be ordered to attend.

 

Judge Frater gave as his opinion that at least three days and possibly longer would be required to obtain a jury, and stated that as the state would be required to pay these witnesses he did not want them here before they were actually needed. Mr. Morris replied that arrangements had been made with the greater number of his witnesses to remain in Oregon until summoned by telegraph in time for them to reach Seattle on the day when their presence would be required in court, but that there were five or six whom he wanted here on the date in question. On this understanding, Judge Frater signed the order.

 

MANY PROMINENT OREGONIANS

 

Among those who will testify on behalf of Mitchell are several prominent Oregonians. Many others have had dear experience concerning the results of Creffield’s presence in the state. On the list filed with the county clerk this morning is the name of John Manning, prosecuting attorney for Multnomah County; Dr. F. W. Brooks, one of the most prominent physicians in Portland; William T. Gardner, superintendent of the Boys’ and Girls’ Aid Society, at which institution Esther Mitchell, a sixteen-year-old sister of the defendant, was committed for a year as the result of Creffield’s influence, and Mary J. Graham, matron of the same institution.

 

William J. McMillan and Milt Beem, two men who drove Creffield from the beach at Waldport, where he had established a colony and later brought the misguided and starving victims back to their homes, are on the list, as is also Edwin H. Baldwin, who was only prevented from making Mitchell’s act unnecessary by the fact that the revolver with which he attempted to shoot Creffield missed fire (sic). Lewis Hartley, another witness, has had his family broken up by Creffield.

 

MITCHELL’S RELATIVES TO TESTIFY

 

Other witnesses will be Mitchell’s relatives and relatives of Mrs. Creffield, and mayors, peace officers and well known citizens of various places in Oregon, who have known the defendant from the time he was five years old, and who will testify to his good character and also to the provocation which led to his killing Creffield. In addition to the witnesses mentioned in the order secured today Mr. Morris states that some thirty additional witnesses will be subpoenaed before the trial is over.

 

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney John F. Miller left yesterday for Corvallis and other Oregon towns for the purpose of securing data and information to be used by the prosecution. He will be away for several days.

 

 

Seattle Star 6/22/1906  p1

Mitchell’s Brother Here For the Trial

Comes from Danville to Lend What Assistance He Can to the Slayer of Holy Roller Creffield.

 

Perry Mitchell, brother of George Mitchell, arrived in Seattle this morning from Danville, Ill, to be present when his brother is placed on trial Monday for the killing of Edmund Creffield, the Holy Roller leader.

 

Upon his arrival in the city at about 10 o’clock he almost immediately went to the courthouse and visited his brother. They talked for about an hour in the jailer’s office and then Perry made direct for the offices of his brother’s attorneys. He was seen at the court house by a reporter for the Star.

 

WILL HELP BROTHER

“I don’t want to say anything about this affair yet till I’ve seen the attorneys,” he said. “I’ve come all the way from Illinois to do what I can to help my brother, and it would be foolish to say something that would weaken our side. I was in Danville when I read in one of the papers that my brother had killed that cur, Creffield, and I left the town immediately for Seattle. I haven’t seen my sister, Esther, yet. I didn’t even know she was in town until this morning.

 

INTEREST GROWS

 

Interest in the case is increasing as the time for the trial approaches. The prosecuting attorney’s office has laid aside all other business in the preparation of the prosecution, and the same thing can be said regarding the preparation for the defense.

 

Mr. Shipley says that he receives letters every day from prominent people in Portland offering their services as witnesses or in any other way they can be of help to the defense.

 

 

Corvallis Times 6/22/1906 p2

Begins Monday

Trial of George Mitchell--Corvallis Witnesses Leave for Seattle Tomorrow.

 

Several Corvallisites leave tomorrow and next day for Seattle to be witnesses in the trial of George Mitchell, the slayer of Creffield. The trial is set for Monday morning, and promises to be a memorable legal battle. The subpoenaing of the Corvallis witnesses was done by Sheriff Burnett yesterday. On the list is O. V. Hurt, Miss May Hurt, Mrs. B. E. Starr, E. H. Baldwin, E. R. Bryson, Sheriff Burnett and Lewis Hartley. Others who will appear as witnesses are B. E. Starr, District Attorney Manning, and the superintendent and other attaches of the Boys’ and Girls’ home of Portland. These witnesses are 29 in number, all being for the defense. For the prosecution, but one witness will be summoned, to wit, Maud Hurt, who has been held ever since the shooting by the Seattle authorities to give testimony. Mr. Bryson and Mr. Burnett will not go unless wired for.

 

Lawyers for both the prosecution and defense have been in Corvallis to gather evidence. Mr. Morris the most renowned criminal lawyers perhaps in Washington was here several weeks ago, familiarizing himself with the circumstances incident to Creffield’s career, and selecting matter for defending young Mitchell. Tuesday, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Miller of Seattle, was in Corvallis on a similar errand in behalf of the prosecution. He was but half a day in town, and is understood to have found little here to encourage his side of the case. He said in private that everybody he met in Corvallis was prompt to declare that Creffield ought to have been killed long before,” adding that he never saw such unanimity of sentiment.

 

The trial will attract a great deal of attention. The battle to save the life of Mitchell will be all that legal talent and human intelligence can muster. One of the lawyers for the defense is an Oregon boy, Silas Shipley, who is a graduate of Pacific University at Forest Grove, and is said to be one of the most effective advocated in the country.

 

Belief is pretty general that the jury will find justification for Mitchell’s act and that the boy will not be subjected to severe punishment. There are, in fact, many who anticipate an acquittal.

 

 

Seattle Star 6/19/1906 p1

Witnesses Called in Mitchell Case

Prosecution and Defense are Making Last Preparations For Trial Which Will Be Heard Next Monday.

 

The last important step for the trial of George Mitchell, for the murder of Edmund Creffield on the streets of Seattle on May 7 last, were made today by the office of Prosecuting Attorney Mackintosh and by the attorneys for the defense, Morris, Southard & Shipley.

 

MILLER IS ABSENT

 

Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Miller has been absent from the city since Sunday. Mr. Mackintosh and his deputies disclaim any knowledge of his whereabouts, but a telegram received from Corvallis this morning states that Mr. Miller is expected in that city some time today, where he will collect evidence for the prosecution.

 

This morning Mr. Morris appeared before Judge Frater and asked that certain witnesses for the defense be subpoenaed, the order being issued. The wittiness are:

O. V. Hurt, Mitchell’s brother-in-law,; John Catlin, Lewis Hartley, Phoebe Vander Kellen, Mrs. Hager, Milt Beam, Charles Shires, Alpheus Mills, Edwin H. Baldwin, George Van Drant, John Baldwin, William T. Gardner, Dr. F. W. Brooks, Peter View, William J. McMillan, Fred Mitchell, George’s brother; James K. Berry, Burgess E. Starr, Mitchell’s brother-in-law,; Emory P. Harris, Mary J. Graham, John Manning, J. J. Woods, Henry R. Morris, E. R. Bryson, M. P. Burnett, Mrs. Hager, Mr. Grover and Mrs. Burgess E. Starr and May Hurt, Mitchell’s sisters.

 

Corvallis Gazette 6/19/1906 p2

Additional Local

 

The following amounts have been handed the Gazette for the aid of George H. Mitchell, whose trial begins in Seattle the 25th; Ernest Fischer, 50¢; John Calverley, 50¢; C. A. Bohannon, $5.00; A. E. Mallow, 50 cents.

 

 

Seattle Post Intelligencer 6/23/1906 p9

Coming In Defense of Geo. H. Mitchell

Witnesses Will Leave Corvallis Today to Appear at Seattle Murder Trial.

 

Special to the Post-Intelligencer.

CORVALLIS, June 23.--O. V. Hurt, E. D. Baldwin and J. K. Berry will leave tomorrow morning for Seattle as witnesses George H. Mitchell, charged with the murder of Franz Edmund Creffield.

 

Subpoenas have been received for fifty witnesses here, including Sheriff Burnett, Attorney Bryson, Miss Mae Hurt, Lewis Hartley, Mrs. Burgess Starr and others. It is probable the sheriff and Attorney Bryson may go the first of the week.

Mrs. Burgess Starr today signified her intention to go to her home in Portland tomorrow. She will not go to Seattle.

 

Seattle Post Intelligencer 6/23/1906 p9

Attorneys Ready For Mitchell Trial

 

Both Prosecuting Attorney Kenneth Mackintosh and Morris, Southard & Shipley, attorneys for the defense, state they are ready for the trial of George Mitchell, accused of the murder of J. Creffield, which is to begin next Monday. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney John R. Miller is in Oregon, looking up features of the case, but is stated that most, if not all the state’s evidence will be Seattle people.

 

“The great fight will be,” said Attorney S. M. Shipley, yesterday “in securing the admission of testimony of our witnesses regarding the doings of Creffield in Oregon. We expect, however, by the time the case goes to the jury, that the jury men will be pretty well informed as to the facts of the case. The trial will, I think, last some weeks. We have our witnesses ready to come whenever summoned by telegraph, but there will be many difficulties encountered. It will probably require at least three days to select the jury, so difficult will it be to find anyone who is not acquainted with the case, or who has not formed an opinion on it.”

 

A brother of Mitchell arrived from Illinois yesterday. He is the man who took Esther Mitchell East after she was declared to have been rendered insane by the preachings of Creffield.

 

 

Seattle Star 6/23/1906 p1

Will Testify For Mitchell

Witnesses From Oregon Will Arrive in Seattle Tomorrow--Case is Ready for Monday Morning,

 

Several important witnesses in the trial of George Mitchell for the murder of Franz Edmund Creffield are expected to arrive in Seattle tomorrow from Oregon. These people are relatives of Mitchell and one or two are business men. In a letter received by Morris & Shipley last night the following names are mentioned as among those who are expected: O. V. Hurt, B. H. Baldwin, J. K. Berry and Burgess E. Starr.

It is not known yet whether Mrs. Starr will be at the trial or not.

 

Practically all the preparations have been made by both sides for the hearing of the case Monday morning.

 

 

Evening Telegram (Portland) Sat 6/23/1906 p4

Mitchell Trial is Absorbing Topic

Corvallis Taking Much Interest in Coming Fate of Creffield’s Slayer.

 

[Telegram Coast Special]

CORVALLIS, Or., June 23.--Great interest is being taken in the Mitchell trial, which is set for June 25 at Seattle. Attorney Will Morris, for the defense, and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney John Miller have both visited Corvallis in search of evidence for their respective sides of the case. So far as known, the prosecution has not summoned any witnesses from this section. For the defense the following subpoenas have been issued: J. K. Berry, Mae Hurt, O. V. Hurt, Lewis Hartley, E. R. Bryson, M. P. Burnett, Ed Baldwin, John Baldwin, Ed Glover, of Corvallis; John Manning, Prosecuting Attorney, Multnomah County, W. T. Gardner, Superintendent Boys’ and Girls’ Aid Society; Mary J. Graham, matron Boys’ and Girls’ Society; J. J. Wood, attorney; Burgess Starr, Mrs. Burgess Starr and Phoebe Vanderkelen, sisters of Mitchell; Fred Mitchell, a brother; Mrs. Hager, Dr. F. W. Brooks, Peter View, Emery P.Harris, Henry R. Morris, of Portland; Charles Shires and Alpheus Mills, Mayor and Marshall of Newberg, Milt Beem, Tidewater; John Catlin and George Van Drant, Albany; William J. McMillan, Waldport. Among those from Corvallis, E. R. Bryson is Prosecuting Attorney of Benton County, and M. P. Burnett, Sheriff.

 

 

Morning Oregonian (Portland) 6/23/1906 p6

Witnesses From Corvallis

Many Subpoenaed to Attend George Mitchell’s Trial at Seattle.

 

CORVALLIS, Or., June 22.--(Special.)-- Witnesses are being subpoenaed here for the trial of George Mitchell, slayer of Creffield, to begin in the Seattle courts Monday. among those to go from here are (the usual list.) Lawyers for both the prosecution and defense have been in the Corvallis, gathering testimony. Will H. Morris, senior counsel for the defense, was here for several days weeks ago, and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, John F. Miller, of King County, left here Wednesday morning after a stay of a day.

Mr. Morris is understood to have found much evidence of value to his case, but the common opinion is that the prosecution’s representative found only a strong and universal sentiment justifying Mitchell’s act and a united hope that the Washington jury may get a full conception of his provocation.

 

Some of the witnesses will leave for Seattle tomorrow.

 

 

Evening Telegram (Portland) 6/23/1906 p5

All Ready For Mitchell Trial

Defense Prepared to Wage Great Battle for Slayer of Creffield.

 

[Telegram Coast Special.]

SEATTLE, Wash., June 23.--Both Prosecuting Attorney Kenneth MacKintosh and Morris Southard and Shipley, attorneys for the defense, state they are ready for the trial of George Mitchell, accused of the murder of Joshua Creffield, which is to begin Monday. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Miller is in Oregon looking up features of the case, but it is stated that most, if not all the state’s evidence, will be Seattle people.

 

“A great fight will be waged.” said Attorney Shipley, “in securing the admission of testimony of our witnesses regarding the doings of Creffield in Oregon. We expect, however, by the time the case goes to the jury, that the jury men will be pretty well informed as to the facts of the case. We have our witnesses ready to come whenever summoned by telegraph, but there will be many difficulties encountered. It will probably require at least three days to select a jury, so difficult will it be to find any one who is not acquainted with the case, or who has not formed and opinion on it.”


A brother of Mitchell arrived from Illinois yesterday. He is the man who took Esther Mitchell East after she is declared to have been rendered insane by the preachings of Creffield.

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