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 4, 1906: Creffield Greatly Hurt True Religion
Evening Telegram (Portland) 8/4/1906 p4
Greatly Hurt True Religion
Such Men as Creffield Are Pitied, but Censured by
Rev. Palmer.
Dowie Is One of Greater of These, Says Portland
Minister.
(In a box)
Such men as Dowie give
inspiration--if it can be called inspiration--to such men as Creffield. Dowie
is the father and these are the sons. He is the greater and these are the
lesser lights.--Rev. Ray Palmer, Baptist Evangelist,
of Portland
___
“Influence of people such as
these on Christianity is demoralizing in a degree much greater than the general
public understands,” is the stern arraignment of Edmund Creffield, self-styled
“Joshua,” by Rev. Ray Palmer, a prominent Portland minister. “I have not had an
opportunity to see Creffield, but his actions lead one to believe that he is
insane. If he is mentally deranged, he is to be pitied. But where a person has
full control of his mental faculties and urges upon the people and urges upon
the people any ideas of religion other than those of Jesus Christ and the Holy
Bible, that person tears down the foundation stone of morality, good government
and the world’s advancement.
“Impostors, that’s what they
are!”
Rev. ray Palmer, former
pastor of the Second Baptist church, of this city, but now engaged in
evangelical work, uses strong language against
purveyors of new and strange religions. Speaking of their influence, he said:
The influence of these
people and their fake religion cause outside and neutral people to become
disgusted. It leads people farther from the narrow path. We always have these
things to contend with in all churches.
“Radical teachers believe
they receive revelations direct from God. Instead of building up morality, they
are tearing it down.
“This class of men and women
seem to have the lowest kind of ideals. After a time they come to a point where
they say they cannot sin, but that is just when they are sinning the most.
Christianity is the most practical thing in the world.
“Such men as Dowie give
inspiration--if it can be called inspiration--to such men as Creffield. Dowie
is the father and these are the sons. He is the greater and these are the
lesser lights. Young Darling, of prominent Portland parents, who lives like a
wild man in the foothills near Los Angeles, is another of these religious
fanatics.
“Christianity would be much
better off if there were some way to take care of these men, but this is a free
country, and I suppose we shall always be bothered and have to contend with
such characters.”
Seattle Star 8/4/1906 p5
Will Defend Mrs. Creffield
W. A. Holzheimer has been retained to defend Maud Creffield. The selection of Mr. Holzheimer was at the instance of Will H. Morris. While it is not decided, it is generally thought that insanity will be the defense.
Chapter of Holy Rollers where these articles are some of the sources:
Chapter 28: Insanity?
***
August 1, 1906:
Relatives to Help Esther Mitchell
August 6, 1906: Mitchell Boys in Drunken Row
***
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)