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.
November 22, 1906: Esther Says Maud Did Not Kill Herself
Seattle Post Intelligencer 11/22/1906 p4
Says Friend Did Not Kill Herself
Esther Mitchell Refuses to Believe the Report of the
Coroner.
Despite the findings of the
chemists and the resultant declaration that Mrs. Maud Creffield died from
strychnine administered by herself, Esther Mitchell
still emphatically says that it is impossible and there is no truth in the
report of the coroner.
“If she had been intending
to commit suicide,” said the girl prisoner yesterday, “I would have been told
of it and would have gone out of this world with her. Only one thing could have
induced her to have done such a thing and that would
be a command from above. Had such a command come she would have communicated it
to me for she told me everything, and more especially she would have told me of
any such a message as that. It was our wish that we should die together if we
passed from this world. She would not have left me of her own will without a
word about her plan. Another thing that makes it impossible that she committed
suicide is, that she looked forward to the time when she would be sent to
Oregon. She did not care for her own sake what became of her, but her father
and mother were so anxious to have her near them, and they have suffered so
much for her sake that she was anxious to have this come about.
“Both of us have been
certain that we would be sent either to Steilacoom or to Oregon, and she was
too anxious to relieve the sufferings of her father an mother to have killed
herself. On the night of her death I was with her almost continually until
late. Just a few minutes before she died she went into the bathroom and took a
cold foot bath. This was the only time she was away
from me during the night. I will never be brought to believe that she took her
own life.”
Esther Mitchell is still in
a very nervous condition, but she seemed to be improved yesterday, when seen by
a reporter for the Post-Intelligencer. There is more color in her face, and she
seemed to be stronger than any time since the death of her friend. A thorough
search was made of her cell during the day, but not a sign of anything in the
way of poison could be found. To make doubly sure that nothing could be
secreted in the room everything was removed. The bedding was changed entirely,
she was asked to change her clothes and not an article was left in the room
that had been there before. In all that transpired the girl aided the officers
and often called their attention to articles or packages
which they had failed to examine.
Esther believes that the Supreme
Court will rule in her favor and declare the action and findings of the
insanity commission legal and proper. She appeared to take more interest in her
case yesterday than any time since it began.
Corvallis Gazette 11/23/1906 p3
O. V. Hurt and J. F. Yates
arrived home Wednesday morning from Seattle.
Daily Oregon Statesman (Salem) 11/25/1906 p2
Will They Follow Creffield
SALEM, Or., Nov. 24, 1906--Editor Statesman: You invite a discussion in your columns of the
way things are going on at the Mission on 12th street, and I would like to add
a few word to what has already been said on this question.
I visited this place not
long ago, and I can’t say that I was very favorably impressed with the things I
saw.
There seemed to be two
classed of people there; one out of idle curiosity and the other the saints and
those who were going through the different degrees approaching that condition.
The efforts of the workers
and those who had charge seemed to be to work up the emotions of the victims to
such a pitch that they would lose all self control and
roll on the floor and show other signs that they were striving with the spirit.
The best definition that I can find for this kind of condition is religious
intoxication, and if carried on day after day will have results as bad as the
continual use of whisky or any other drug that puts one in an unnatural
condition.
I believe there can be as
much harm done to the rational mind from a continued use of these doctrines as
the excessive use of alcohol.
I believe if a poll of the
inmates of the asylum were made that there would be found almost as many
unfortunates who had lost their reason from as continued excessive religious
frenzy as from the use of alcohol.
I believe the Bible teaches
moderation in all things, and wish some way could be found to make these people
worship their Master in a more rational way. The last time I attended their
services (before the present building was built, and they were having their
services in a tent,) one man in particular was making a big fuss and jumping up
in the air and going through all kinds of antics. This man was Edmund
Creffield, and any one who knows what happened after he left here, and the
present meetings are just as liable to graduate some more candidates to blacken
the history of this sect and bring misery and suffering to their unfortunate
families. This sect ought to be watched by the authorities, and some restraint
put on their actions before it is too late.
An agnostic,
--G. H. Deacon
Corvallis Gazette 11/30/1906 p1
A Word for Her
Maud Hurt-Creffield was from
childhood intensely religious. Her convictions were strong and once convinced
that she was right, nothing could turn her from her purpose. Her likes and
dislikes were pronounced, and hard to change.
When about the age of eight
years of age she was an energetic worker at revival meetings, going among the
congregations and pleading with friends and acquaintances to seek the salvation
so freely offered. She was in fact considered a child wonder in religious work.
Her early life was spent for others and her chief aim was to become as nearly
perfect as a Christian could be. Often has gone to the home of someone who was
ill, and with true unselfishness has cared for the children, done the washing,
and done the other work freely, and without price. Many a time has she spent
her last penny for some gift for a little child.
All her life Maud Hurt was
kindly and generous, with an even temper and a good disposition, and not until
an evil influence led her into a by-path did she cause her parents sorrow .
She was 26 years of age
September 29th, ‘06, having been born and reared in Benton county.
May charity,
like a mantle, fall gently over her memory, and only her kind acts be
remembered by those who knew her as a happy, innocent child.
--A Friend.
Corvallis Gazette 11/30/1906 p3
O. V. Hurt received a few days ago a copy of the “Seattle Star,” which contained quite an exhaustive article on the story of Mrs. Creffield having died from strychnine poisoning. This paper declares that the jail attendants doubt the idea of suicide and state that it was impossible for her to have come to her death in that manner. In a letter to his father, Frank Hurt also declares that comparatively few people in Seattle believe the story of suicide. The general supposition is that death came from neuralgia of the heart. To guard against any further possible trouble, Esther Mitchell has been clothed throughout with newly bought clothes. She too, asserts that Mrs. Creffield could not and did not suicide.
Chapter 29: Poison?
***


***
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)