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.
Esther Mitchell’s Statement to Detective Frank Kennedy that
was printed in several papers.
“Mrs. Creffield and I had
talked over the matter of killing George. The one that had the best chance was
to do it. Mrs. Creffield bought the gun at Second Avenue and Union Street. We
were at the room about 4 o’clock this afternoon and I thought that I would have
a better chance to do it than Mrs. Creffield, as my brother George wanted to
see me, and I believed that he would think nothing about me going to the depot.
Then Mrs. Creffield gave me the gun and I was to do it. We agreed that it was
to be done as soon as possible.
“Mrs. Creffield had been out once or twice looking for
George, and if she had got the chance she would have done it, and I would have
done the same. The first one that got a chance was to do it. I would have done
it before if I had got a chance.
“I took the gun yesterday
and my brother Fred walked with me down to the depot when my father went away.
“They wanted me to see
George, and I didn’t want to, because I couldn’t get the gun unwrapped. I had
the gun wrapped up and concealed, and I refused to see George.
“When I went home I took the
gun and placed it under the mattress. Then I took it out about noon today and
kept it with me. My brother Fred was up to my room today and said that Perry
and George were going to Portland at 4 o’clock. I went to the depot and saw
Perry get his ticket, and I followed him.
“At last I saw George, and I
shook hands with him and I was walking to the door with him. He and Perry were
walking in front and Fred and I were walking behind.
“At that time I had the gun
in my coat, having removed it from my bosom, where I had it concealed.
“Fred offered to carry my
coat, and I told him ‘all right.’
“Then I was walking to the
door and George was in front of me.
“It was just the chance I
wanted and I shot him.
“My brother Fred grabbed me
and I sat down on his lap and put my arms around his neck. I sat there and the
officer came.
“I do not regret doing it. I
am glad I did it.
“I fired once, and tried to
fire another, but there was such a loud noise made by the crowd I don’t know
whether I fired again or not.
“I shot him in the head, and
I knew if I hit where I intended it was sure death.
“I intended to follow him to
Portland if I did not shoot him here.”
Seattle Post Intelligencer 7/13/1906 p4
Perry Mitchell Tells of Killing
Makes Statement to Police Regarding Death of His
Brother.
It was between sobs that
Perry Mitchell told briefly to the officials so much as he witnessed of the
killing. He was broken down with grief and it was with great effort that he was
able to compose himself sufficiently to tell what had occurred.
Following is the account of
the tragedy as he gave it to Chief of Police Wappenstein and assistant Prosecuting
Attorney John F. Miller:
[See above article Evening Telegram (Portland) 7/13/1906
p2]
Seattle Post Intelligencer 7/13/1906 p4
Says She Does Not Regret Shooting
Esther Mitchell Makes Statement to Chief of Police
Regarding Tragedy
Immediately after her arrest
for the murder of her brother, Esther Mitchell made a statement to the chief of
police in which she said she did not regret the act.
The statement, which was
taken down by Detective Frank Kennedy, is as follows:
Seattle Star 7/13/1906 p6
Mrs. Creffield Did Planning
Widow Of Holy Roller Leader Says She Wanted To Kill
Mitchell Herself, But Was Afraid She Would Be Suspected And Plot Would Fail.
The following statement was
made to Chief Wappenstein and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Miller by Esther
Mitchell:
As soon as the news of the
news of the murder was received at police headquarters detectives were detailed
to look for Mrs. Creffield. Less than an hour after the killing she telephoned
to headquarters, stating she was at a grocery store, 434 North Broadway.
Detective George Brown was at once dispatched there, and found the woman
waiting for him. she stated that she had heard of the murder as she was going
out to the cemetery on the street car, and realized that Esther had
accomplished the deed.
Shortly after the arrest of
Mrs. Creffield Detective Philbrick was sent to the residence where she and
Esther had been stopping.
A search of the rooms
revealed a box of 38-caliber cartridges and the clothing of Creffield was also
discovered, where it had been carefully kept by his wife. The two women had
been stopping at the Pretoria house, room 27 Sixth Avenue and Pine Streets.
After telling the officers
all regarding the shooting which she knew, Mrs. Creffield was sent to the
county jail where she will be held as an accessory before the fact.
Daily Oregon Statesman (Salem) 7/13/1906
Esther Mitchell Kills Her Brother
Slayer of Holy Roller Creffield Is Shot Down While
Attempting to Board Train at Seattle Union Depot--Child Murderess Says She Is
Glad She Did it--Mrs. Joshua Creffield Also Placed Under Arrest.
SEATTLE, Wash., July 12.--Revenge,
terrible, swift and premeditates sums up the killing of George Mitchell by his
eighteen year old sister, Esther Mitchell, today. Esther Mitchell is the girl
for whom George shed the blood of Franz Edmund Creffield, when he shot down the
leader of the so called “Holy Rollers” in Seattle on May 7. It was because of
her alleged maltreatment by the fanatical leader that Mitchell took his life
and risked his own, and cold blooded murder is his reward. Mitchell was about
to board the 4:30 p. m. train at the Union depot for Portland, where he was to
take up his residence and begin life anew, when Esther left two others
ostensibly for the purpose of bidding George good bye, but instead, as George
turned half around to greet her, she produced a revolver which had been hidden
under a cloak that hung over her arm, and fired once, the bullet entering his
left ear. Mitchell fell to the ground dead, and the weapon of death and
destruction was wrenched from the hand of the child murderess by her brother
Fred, while another brother, Perry Mitchell, caught the trembling form of his
sister in his arms, crying out, “Oh, Esther, how could you do it?”
Quickly there was a
commotion in the depot and the protection of a police officer was soon afforded
the girl. She submitted to arrest without protest, and when interrogated as to
why she had committed the crime answered, “I was commanded to do it.” At police
headquarters Chief Wappenstein questioned the girl as to the motive for the
crime. “I killed him because he killed Joshua. We were commanded to do it.”
Without waiting for a more
detailed statement Chief Wappenstein summoned the detectives who were given
hurried orders to locate at once and bring in the widow of the Holy Roller
leader. While the officers were on the way the woman wanted notified police
headquarters where she could be found and was soon in the custody of the
police. At police headquarters she was as frank as was Esther Mitchell and said
that one of them had to kill George Mitchell. Esther was delegated to do the
deed as it was thought she would have a better chance.
Esther Mitchell made the
following statement this evening:
Seattle Star 7/13/1906 p6
Esther Offered To Do Killing
Sister Volunteered To Murder Her Brother, Believing
She Would Get Better Opportunity Than Mrs. Creffield--Carefully Considered
Every Detail Of The Crime.
The following statement was
made to Chief Wappenstein and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Miller by Esther Mitchell:
Seattle Post Intelligencer 7/13/1906 p4
Planned to Kill Mitchell Herself
Mrs. Maud Crefeld States That She discussed Matter
With Esther
Chapter 23: Seeking Reconciliation
Chapter 24: Another Holy Roller Page One Murder
***
Seattle Times July 13, 1906: Ester Mitchell Kills Her Brother!
Seattle Star July 13, 1906: Her Good-Bye Was A Missile Of Death
Evening Telegram (Portland) July13, 1906: Esther Mitchell Draws Gun From Under Cape and Kills Geo. Mitchell
Seattle Post Intelligencer July 13, 1906: Denies She Hated Murdered Brother
Oregon Daily Journal (Portland) July 13, 1906: Cold-Blooded Murder of George Mitchell
Esther Mitchell’s Statement to Detective Frank Kennedy that
was printed in several papers.
***
July 12, 1906: General Rejoicing at Mitchell’s Acquittal
July 14, 1906: Mitchell
Boys Are Done With Esther
***
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)