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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 6, 1904: Creffield Believes in Satan and Eternal Punishment
Corvallis Times 8/6/1904 p2
A Dangerous Man
Creffield is in the hands of
the Portland authorities. Private information is that there is ample evidence
to bring him within the full liability of the penalty for adultery. The offense
was committed while the man posed as a vicegerent of Heaven, a man of God, a
leader of a religious sect. The sanctity of religion was used as a cloak and
means for his wicked purpose. The offense against man is infinitesimal compared
with the offense against all churches and church people. Great and damnable as
it is, however, it is one of the least in the manifold methods and wide extent
of his offending. The presence in the insane asylum of his victims, the care
necessary to keep others out of the asylum and the sorrow these things all mean
to affected families represent an aggregate of wrongdoing of which the public
has no conception and the law neither measure nor penalty. The estrangement of
members of a family from each other, accomplished in part, perhaps, by exercise
of occult influence, in part by threats of what terrible penalty, here or
hereafter, God may inflict upon a wife who recognizes her own husband and in
part by the influence a keen and wicked mind may lean to exercise over weaker
ones, all this is the work of a devil incarnate, which Creffield is. Murder,
arson, theft, bigamy, burglary, riot, and the ordinary crimes are, trifling in
their effects on society, compared to the wickedness of Creffield. There is no
excuse for him, no palliation of his offense, no room for him where there are
decent folk to be pestered, misled and ruined by his practices. His place is
the penitentiary, and for the sake of the sane and insane, here and elsewhere,
it may be hoped that the law and the courts will send him there to stay the
limit.
Evening Telegram (Portland) 8/6/1904 p14
Material Hell Says “Apostle”
Creffield Believes in Satan and Eternal Punishment. Formerly
Headed a Sect Holding Service at The Dalles.
Though the Holy Roller
religion of Edmund Creffield contains many new things, it omits the modern
doctrine that there is no material hell and that Satan does no exist in form.
“There is a hell and a devil.
The body, soul and spirit of wicked people will be punished in a material hell.”
With a look of reverence on
his face, Edmund Creffield confined in his cell at the County Jail repeated the
above sentence with deepest earnestness.
Creffield would not talk very
freely today. He seemed filled with a fear he would say too much, and a
religious objection to discussing things that might put his beliefs in a wrong
light. He had not been directed by heaven to speak, he said.
“I might talk for a long time for publication, but it would do the people no good. My labors would be a failure. You know I said yesterday that I did nothing except as directed to through a message from on high. It is the Holy Ghost that directs me.
“If the people ought to know
my doctrine, the spirit will tell me, and then I will write you what our
doctrine is.”
In speaking the name “Holy Rollers”
that has been applied to his religion, Creffield said he did not know where
that name had come from. He said “The people gave that to us.”
Creffield has an obstinate
nature. He does freely what he likes, but there is no persuading him to do a
thing against his will.
Creffield was at one time a
believer in the Roman Catholic faith, but he will not say why he has forsaken
the religion of his mother.
From passages in the Bible,
which he quotes freely and without hesitation, he reasons that, like the
apostle of old, he has been given power from on high and now he is an “interceder”
between heaven and earth. He thinks no one can be saved unless filled with the
power of the Holy Ghost.
WORKED AT THE DALLES
Creffield was at the Dalles
two years ago, and opened the Penal Mission at that place in connection with
the Star Lodging House. He stayed there about six months. Many of the followers
of the International Apostolic Holiness Union of the Dalles were followers of
his at that time.
He had about 20 followers at
The Dalles, and their meetings were always characterized by a great amount of
noise. He had some trouble with one of his associated and left the place, going
to the Willamette Valley.
Members of the International
Apostolic Union now holding meetings in the Dalles claim that Creffield was too
radical in his teachings, and they have renounced the more radical of his
ideas, but continue to teach doctrines which are still far removed from the
teachings of any established church. some of his former followers at the Dalles
claim that he was an expert at hypnotism, and practiced it a great deal. They
also believe that his followers at Corvallis who have gone insane are under his
spell.
Oregon Daily Journal (Portland) 8/6/1904 p2
Heavenly Talks In County Jail
Henry (sic) Creffield,
self-styled “Joshua” the high Holy Roller apostle has been kept busy at the
county jail in the last few days, so he asserts, holding conferences with the
Lord. He says he has received information from on high that there is a material
hell and that when the wicked depart this life their bodies, as well as their
souls, are tortured.
The apostle has employed a
great deal of his time in marking a copy of the Bible. In view of his claims to
the priesthood, the following from Malachi ii:7, which has been encircled with
a pencil mark, is interesting:
“For the priests lips would
keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for his is the
messenger of the lord of the hosts.”
While in the municipal court
last Wednesday, Creffield was asked by a newspaperman to write a brief account
of his religious views. He promised to do so, but when he reached the county
jail changed his mind. He said he had been advised by the Lord, while riding
from the police wagon, not to write the article as requested.
What seems to bother
Creffield a great deal is the failure of the Lord , according to his statement,
to reveal to him what will be the outcome of the charge against him. He is
growing fleshy and helps the other inmates sweep out the corridor in which he
is imprisoned.
Chapter of Holy Rollers where these articles are some of the sources:
Chapter 11: God Will Plead Creffield's Case
***
August 5, 1904: He Does Nothing Unless Directed by God
August 9, 1904: No Flowers For Creffield
***
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
***
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)
Chapter 16: The Widow Creffield
Chapter 19: An Inherited Streak of Insanity
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)
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Theresa (T-) McCracken, 890 North Bayview, Loop Waldport, Oregon 97394 (541) 563-3112
***
Home Chapters Articles Asylum Records Brainwashing Hymns Contact
1897-1899:Local Lore, News Of Corvallis and Vicinity Told in Brief B. C. (Before Creffield)
1900:Holy Rollers' Lives Before Creffield
1901:Holy Rollers' Lives Before Creffield
1902:Holy Rollers' Lives Creffield
January 18, 1903: Fred Mitchell Attempts Suicide
June 10, 1903: Salvation Army Major Deserts and Joins the Holy Rollers
October 31, 1903: Zealot Worshipers Burn Furniture, Dogs & Other Things
November 2, 1903: Fanatics In Court
November 3, 1903: Had Promise of Tar and Feathers
November 4, 1903: Flight of The Apostles
November 5, 1903: Once-Esteemed Family No Longer Has the Sympathy of the Community
November 6, 1903: Rollers Take On New Life
November 7, 1903: Is Creffield Back?
November 11, 1903: “Apostle” Creffield Still Under Cover
November 24, 1903: Girl of Sixteen Almost Insane
November 25, 1903: In Pursuit of Creffield
November 27, 1903: The Lord May Starve Them
November 28, 1903: Holy Rollers Receive Unwilling Baptism
December 7, 1903: Demented Woman Suffers
December 8, 1903: Hurt Seen In Portland
December 11, 1903:Holy Rollers Roll Into Eugene Church
December 21, 1903:Holy Roller Victim Worse December 22, 1903: Linn County Holy Rollers December 23, 1903: Is Crazy Now
December 29, 1903: Holy Rollers’ Not Liked at the Dalles December 30, 1903: Owner of Property Refuses to Permit Séances January 6, 1904: Holy Rollers Tarred and Feathered January 9, 1904: Their Welcome Departure January 12, 1904: Editorial Comment: “Put yourselves in our place!” January 13, 1904: Where Brooks Went January 19, 1904: Our Brainy Contemporaries January 25: Holy Rollers’ in Hobo Camp Life February 1, 1904: Camp In Linn County Is Broken Up By Officers February 6, 1904: How They Tell The Holy Roller Story In Far Off Scotland February 11, 1904: Medium Mystify Corvallis People March 1, 1904: The “Holy Rollers” Offend Humanity March 16, 1904: Holy Rollers to Be Arrested on Serious Charge March 17, 1904: Where is the Apostle? March 21, 1904: Reward For Creffield's Capture March 23, 1904: Fugitive Creffield March 28, 1904: Reward is Offered April 1, 1904: “Holy Roller” Chief Very Badly Wanted April 18, 1904: Holy Roller High Priest Is Seen April 29, 1904: Urania Seeley is Arrested May 2, 1904: Frank & Mollie Hurt are Committed to the Asylum May 4, 1904: Maud Hurt-Creffield & Sophia Hartley are Committed May 7, 1904: Attie Bray &Rose Seeley are Committed June 11, 1904: Attie Bray Escapes June 17, 1904: Mae Hurt is Committed June 29, 1904: Sarah Hurt is Committed July 22, 1904: Holy Roller on Death Row July 29, 1904: Creffield Found Half Dead Under Hurt’s House July, 30 1904: Armed Guards Protect Creffield July, 31 1904: Corvallis Could Not Raise a Mob August 1, 1904: Creffield says, "I am Elijah" August 2, 1904: Creffield Does Not Dislike Prison August 4, 1904: Creffield Says He Is Entirely Purified August 5, 1904: He Does Nothing Unless Directed by God August 6, 1904: Creffield Believes in Satan and Eternal Punishment August 9, 1904: No Flowers For Creffield August 13, 1904; The Holy Rollers And The Man Who Made Them August 16, 1904; Creffield Reward Will Be Returned August 19, 1904: Followers in Asylum Stick To Faith August 23, 1904: Creffield Will Fight His Own Case August 28, 1904: Creffield Destroys His Revelations September 16, 1904: Creffield is Guilty September 21, 1904: Holy Rollers go in and Out of the Asylum March 22, 1905: Prison Life Of Joshua Creffield> April 8, 1905: Life In Corvallis Returns to Normal December 12, 1905: Frank & Mollie Hurt Have a Baby Girl April 24, 1906: Creffield Establishes a Camp Near Waldport April 30, 1906: Donna Starr Leaves Children to go to Her Spiritual Love, Joshua Creffield May 1, 1906: Creffield Takes Credit for The San Francisco Earthquake May 3, 1906: Creffield In Fear Of His Life May 7, 1906: Holy Roller Shot Down Like A Dog May 8, 1906: Medal to Be Given Mitchell in Recognition of His Killing May 9, 1906: Oregon Prosecutor Would Aid Mitchell May 10, 1906: Shows No Emotion At Husband’s Grave May 11, 1906: Bail Is All Ready May 12, 1906: Mitchell Denied Bail May 13, 1906: Creffield is Due To Rise Today May 14, 1906: Creffield’s Widow Watches At Grave May 15, 1906: Corvallis Starts Fund for Defense of Mitchell May 16, 1906: Holy Rollers Starving Near Heceta Head May 17, 1906: Public Sentiment Favors Mitchell May 18, 1906: Creffield Railed in Vermont May 19, 1906: Mitchell to Enter Plea of Not Guilty May 27, 1906: Joshua Says Not to Worry June 1, 1906: Morris Claims Mitchell Rid World of a Fiend June 16, 1906: Prosecution and Defense are Making Last Preparations June 19, 1906: Many Witnesses For Mitchell June 24, 1906: Trial Will Cost Taxpayers Ten Thousand Dollars June 25, 1906: George Mitchell on Trial For His Life June 26, 1906: Mitchell Jury is Selected With Care June 27, 1906: Mitchell Trial Held Up By Squabble June 28, 1906: Jury is Secured to Try Mitchell June 29, 1906: Trial is Now on in Earnest June 30, 1906: Mrs. Creffield's Testimony July 1, 1906: Creffield’s Ghost Controls His Flock July 2, 1906: Esther Mitchell on Stand Refuses To Aid Brother July 3, 1906: Hurt Tells of Debauched Wife and Debased Sisters July 4, 1906: Creffield’s Unsavory Record Presented to the Jury July 5, 1906: Expected Admissibility of Evidence Will Arouse Controversy July 6, 1906: Others Testify They Wished to Kill Creffield July 7, 1906: Insanity Expert on the Witness Stand July 8, 1906: Plan To Revive Holy Rollerism July 9, 1906: Killing of Judge Emory May Effect Mitchell July 10, 1906: Mitchell Case Goes To Jury July 12, 1906: General Rejoicing at Mitchell’s Acquittal July 13, 1906: Esther Mitchell Kills Her Brother! July 14, 1906: Mitchell Boys Are Done With Esther July 15, 1906: Hurt Will Come to Aid of His Daughter July 16: 1906: Will Mortgage His Home for Daughter July 17, 1906: Let’s Think When We Talk July 18, 1906: Mrs. Starr’s Life Threatened July 19, 1906: Mrs. Creffield Weeps in Jail July 20, 1906: George Mitchell’s Attorney Offers Aid to Murderesses July 21, 1906: Mitchell Boys to Stand by Esther July 22, 1906: Hurt Thinks Both Women Are Insane July 23, 1906: Frater Favors a Commission of Alienists July 24, 1906: Mackintosh Will Oppose Calling Commission July 26, 1906: Is Reconciled to Holy Roller Wife July 27, 1906: Holy Rollers Seek Home in Wyoming July 28, 1906: Mitchell Juror is Insane July 30, 1906: Esther Will Deny Committing Murder In The 1st Degree July 31 1906: Esther Mitchell Says Not Guilty August 1, 1906: Relatives to Help Esther Mitchell August 4, 1906: Creffield Greatly Hurt True Religion August 6, 1906: Mitchell Boys in Drunken Row August 8, 1906: St. Louis Woman Coming to Convert “Rollers” August 12, 1906: Esther Mitchell Close to Death from Typhoid August 13, 1906: Esther Mitchell Not Seriously Ill September 1, 1906: Four Charged with First Degree Now in County Jail September 10 1906: To Examine Minds of Slayers September 12, 1906: Hurt Thinks His Daughter Insane September 13, 1906: Esther Mitchell Objects to Help September 14, 1906: Women Not Agitated September 15, 1906: Mrs. Creffield’s Trial Set for Next Month September 17, 1906: Mrs. Creffield on Stand September 18, 1906: Maud Creffield Anxious to Hang September 19, 1906: Are They Sane of Insane? September 21, 1906: Both Women May Go Scott Free September 22, 1906: Where is This Thing to End! September 23, 1906: Murders Must Be Tried September 24, 1906: Must Not Deport September 25, 1906: Judge Frater is in Very Small Business September 28, 1906: Insanity Board Not Paid October 1, 1906: Holy Roller Woman Dies While in Trance November 9, 1906: Mrs. Creffield Said to Be in Very Nervous State November 17, 1906: Maud Creffield Dies in the County Jail November 18, 1906: Death May End a Hypnotic Spell November 19, 1906: Reviews Findings in Examination of Brain November 20, 1906: Mrs. Creffield Killed Herself with Poison! November 21, 1906: Poison Is Found In The Stomach Of Mrs. Creffield November 22, 1906: Esther Says Maud Did Not Kill Herself December 4, 1906: Washing Dirty Linen December 17, 1906: Sad Christmas For Holy Roller February 21, 1907: Esther Mitchell Goes to Asylum April 30, 1907: Esther Mitchell Still Believe in Creffield & His Return April 6, 1909: Esther Mitchell Leaves Asylum April 9, 1914: Esther Mitchell Marries James Berry August 3, 1914: Esther Mitchell is Dead By Own Hand 1953 Stewart Holbrook's Murder Without Tears 1951 Startling Detective Magazine: Nemesis of the Nudist High PriestA List of All the Articles
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1903 to 1907 Newspaper Articles About the Holy Rollers
1906 Editorial Calling for Gun Control
After Multiple Murders Involving the Holy Rollers
Stewart Holbrook Holy Rollers Article
Advertisements from 1893 to 1913
***
Oregon Insane Asylum
Where the Holy Rollers Were Committed
Creffield, Brainwashing & Thought Reform
Early Cases of Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity
1906 Autopsies Of Holy Rollers
Forensics Before CSI
Holy Roller Bizarre Divorce Decree
Hartley describes trying to kill his wife's lover
***
The Shadow Testament
A Play About The Holy Rollers
How the Fire Fell
A Movie About The Holy Rollers
***
Life in Corvallis in the early 1900s
Life in Waldport, OR in early 1900s
Facts & Stats about 1906
And How The Holy Rollers Measured Up
Oregon State Penitentiary
Where Creffield Was Incarcerated
***
Could you ever be lured into joining a cult?
Share your thoughts about, and experiences with, cults
***
The Salvation Army Opening Fire in 1886
Reverend Knapp's Bible Songs of Salvation & Victory
Songs Sung by the Holy Rollers
About the Authors
In addition to writing, McCracken is a cartoonist.
To see some of her 'toons, go to the Home of McHumor Cartoons mchumor.com
Snail Mail
Theresa (T-) McCracken
890 North Bayview Loop
Waldport, Oregon 97394
(541) 563-3112
HOME of
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Theresa (T-) McCracken