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.
April 9, 1914: Esther Mitchell Marries James Berry
Yaquina Bay News (Newport, Or) 4/9/14 p1
Married
James K. Berry and Miss
Esther Mitchell, both of Waldport, were married Tuesday evening in the parlor
of the Abbey Hotel. Justice of the peace, Dr. Wm. Berry tying
the golden knot. Their friends extend congratulations.
Lincoln County Leader 4/10/1914 p1
Newport.
Mr. James Berry and Miss
Esther Mitchell were married at the Abbey, Tuesday evening, Dr. W. M. Berry
officiating. The happy couple will spend their honeymoon at Waldport. Both
partied are well known in this county.
Lincoln County Leader 5/8/1914 p1
Bert Starr has
left our locality and quit the dairy ranch of O. V. Hurt on account of very
poor health. Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Helms and two sons, Willie and Clifford, of Waldport
have moved up and are going to try dairying for a while.
Yaquina Bay News (Newport, OR) 8/3/1914 p3
--W. B. Hartley, it is
reported has purchased the Seaview property from Mrs.
Burrows.
(An Advertisement)
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
Warren B. Hartley
Funeral Director and
Embalmer
Parlors Front St. Near New
Office.
Phone, 2402 and 2403
Calls answered promptly day
or night.
Newport, Oregon
Chapter of Holy Rollers where these articles are some of the sources:
Chapter 30: Final Chapter
***
April 6, 1909: Esther
Mitchell Leaves Asylum
August 3, 1914: Esther
Mitchell is Dead By Own Hand
***
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)