Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, July 13, 1906, Image 1

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Morning Oregonian., July 13, 1906, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextJftflysfrittg- III PORTLAND, OREGON, FRIDAY, JULY 13, 1906. PRICE FIVE CENTS. VOL. XLVI.-SO. 14,226. IS SHOT DOWN BY SISTER Slayer of Holy Roller Creffield Murdered in Seattle. ESTHER GREETS WITH SMILE Loiters Behind at Depot for Opportunity to Assassinate Avenger of Her Honor. PISTOL HIDDEN BY HER CAPE Another Brother Reaches for Weapon Just Too Late. BULLET ENTERS HIS HEAD 1'amlly Party Was at Union Station to See George and His Brother Off for Portland on the Afternoon Train. FRINCIPA1S IX HOIS ROLLER TRAGEDIES. EDMOND CREFFIELD Self-proclaimed Joshua and prophet, who organized the cult at Corvallls. MRS. BURGESS E. STARR George Mitchell' j married sliter. whose complete aubmleelon to Creffleld's fanatical practices resulted In the fellow's conviction of a statutory charge, for which he was sent up for two years in the State Prison. GEORGE MITCHELL Slayer of Cref field because of the Roller's bestial treatment of his sisters. ESTHER MITCHELL George Mitch ell's younger sister and one of Cref fleld's most fanatical followers, who believed she waa to be the mother of a second Christ, and who hilled her brother at Seattle yes terday. MA I'D HURT CREFFIELD Daugh ter of O. V. Hurt, of Corvallls. and wife of the Holy Roller prophet, who probably incited Esther Mitch ell to kill George. SAMPSON LEVINS Former Corvallls man and follower of Creffield, said to be reorganizing the Rollers in British Columbia, and who Is thought to have supplied Mrs. Cref field with funds. FRANK HURT Of Corvallls. faithful disciple of Creffield, believed to have known of plan to kill George in event of acquittal. SEATTLtE, Wash., July 12. (Special.) Esther Mitchell shot and killed her brother George, the slayer of Franz Ed mund Creflicld, in the Union depot, at 4:20 o'clock this afternoon, as George and his brother Perry were on their way to take a Northern Pacific train for Port land. Miss Mitchell was walking behind the two brothers, in company with a third brother, Fred. She had gone to the depot for the purpose of killing her brother, and though she greeted him with a smile and a hearty handshake, she loitered be hind to get her opportunity. A revolver purchased the day before by Mrs. Cref field for the assassination was carried concealed under a cape thrown carelessly over Esther Mitchell's left arm. Fred Mitchell offered to carry the cape and as she, handed it to him, the sister raised her revolver and fired. The bullet etruck young Mitchell behind the left ear and he died instantly. Brother Leaps Too Late. As the gun was brought up Fred Mit chell leaped to seize the weapon but he was too late. He grabbed Esther's arm Just after she fired and the girl collapsed In his arms. She stayed there until depot policemen hurried up and placed her un der arrest. Both Esther Mitchell and Mrsi Creflleld. who was arrested at 7 o'clock tonight, while on her way back from the ceme tery, where "Joshua" Creffield Is buried, acknowledged in statements taken before Chief Wappensteln that they had con spired to kill George. Had it been nec essary Esther Mitchell was prepared to follow her brother to Portland. It was this insane demand for vengeance that prompted her to refuse to accompany her father on his return to Illinois. "I killed George because he had killed an Innocent man, and because he had ruined my reputation by saying that Creffield seduced me," Esther Mitchell declared, but both her statement and that of Mrs. Creffield indicate that the two had conspired to assassinate. Mrs. Creffield Bought Gun. Mrs. Creffl .Id prompted the ahootlng, MITCHELL and she bought the gun with which it was done. It had been agreed between them that the first one seeing .George should slay him. George and Perry Mitchell were to have gone to Portland last night. In fact, George had made all arrangements to meet certain newspapermen upon his ar rival. At the last moment, however, L. T. Sandel, who testified in George's be half at the trial, asked George and Perry to spend the night as his guests at South east Seattle, where a small group of Holy Rollers, including Frank Hurt and wife, reside. They did so. Today Fred Mitchell saw his sister and he told her that the departure of his brothers had been delayed. He told her they would leave Seattle at 4:30 o'clock this afternoon. She took the gun Mrs. Creffield ha,d purchased and went to the depot to meet them. Esther Takes Brother's Hand. Perry Mitchell saw his sister standing near a pillar when he checked his grips. She had been seated near the center of the room watching for the three boys and had arisen when he passed.. Perry greeted her and a moment later signalled to George, whom Ksther had not seen. He approached and without words the brother and sister shook hands. Esther offered to accompany the broth- ! TSe Mitchell, ihe Mur.lered Man. t ers to their waiting train and the four started down the aisle toward the door, George and Perry Mitchell were in front with Fred and Esther walking a short distance behind. Fred was at the side of Esther, but about two feet distant. She was carrying a cape thrown over her left arm, and beneath it was concealed the revolver. Fred offered to carry the cape as the group passed down the aisle and reached for It. As he took it from Esther's arm she whipped the revolver into her right hand, raised the gun and fired. George dropped, killed Instantly. Murderess Collapses After Crime. Esther fell back as Fred Mitchell reached for her revolver and sat down into his lap with her arms about his neck. Fred had wrested the gun from her, but too late to prevent the killing. By a curious coincidence Officer Hurt, the man who arrested Mitchell when he killed Creffield, was the depot policeman who took Esther into custody for slaying her brother. Hurt turned her over to Officer Mason. To Mason the girl said, answering -a. question: "I am George Mitchell's sister and I shot him." "Why did you do it?" asked Mason. I will make my statement later on," said the girl calmly. She did not show any emotion. Miss Mitchell was hurried to the police station, while the body of George Mitchell lay on the depot floor awaiting the Cor oner. About the time Esther had reached the station George's body was 1 carried from the station toward the morgue. Hun- Concluded on Page 6.) ESTHER MITCHELL, HOLY ROLLER, WHO KILLED HER BROTHER ,: Drawn ESTHER URGED ON BY MRS. CREFFIELD Praise of Avenger Put Murder in Heart. PLOT FORMED AFTER TRIAL Widow Discusses Plans With Mitchell's Sister. BUYS HER A REVOLVER Girl Was Selected to Do the Killing, as Mrs. Creffield Believed She Was Suspected and Would Be Watched. ESTHER MITCHELL'S STATEMENT. "I do not regret 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 to it was sure death. "I intended to follow him to Port land If I did not shoot him here. "I killed George because he killed an innocent man, and because he has ruined my reputation by saying that Creffield seduced me." SEATTLE, Wash., July 12. (Special.) Arrived at the police station Esther Mitchell, apparently unconcerned, walked without assistance, into the of fice of the Chief of Police. As she passed two newspaper men requested an interview, but she retorted: "I was told not to talk to newspaper men," and that was the attitude she maintained after her arrest. But to the Police Chief she readily gave her explanation and later dictat ed this statement to Detective Ken nedy, called in to get a stenographic report of her confession. "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 Sec ond avenue and Union street. We were at the room about 4 o'clock this after noon 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. Ats. Creffield Looked for Victim. "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 From a Photograph by Harry Murphy. George then .and I didn't want to, be cause I couldn't get the gun un wrapped. 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 today at 4 o'clock. I went to the depot and saw Perry get his ticket and I fol lowed him. "At last 1 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. I 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. George was in front of me. Just the Chance She Wanted. "It was just the chance I wanted and I then 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 to it was sure death. I Intended to follow him to Portland if I did not shoot him here." Acting under instructions from Deputy County Attorney John F. Mill er, who had prosecuted her brother, Dr. J. B. Loughary made an examina tion of the girl to test her sanity. His report was that she was sane except on the question of the Holy Rollers' creed. When Mr. Miller entered the Chief's office to see Esther he asked her If she knew him, and she promptly replied: "Yes, Mr. Miller, I know you.' Reasons for the Killing. Later, as she was being taken away in a carriage to the County Jail, Miss Mitchell declared to Chief Wappen steln: "I killed George because he killed an innocent man and because he has ruined my reputation by saying that Creffield seduced me." Esther was taken to the County Jail" in a private carriage, and she asked that the blinds be drawn to shield her from the curious crowd. Police Matron Mrs. Kelly supported her as she ehierged from the Chief's office, but the girl's steps were firm and her attitude showed she did not need as sistance. Sheriff Smith was in charge of the girl. Orders were given for the arrest of Mrs. Creffield immediately after Esther Mitchell had been taken. Detectives failed to find her at the lodging-house where she had stayed with Miss Mitch ell. Half an Jiour later Mrs. Creffield telephoned from a grocery store at 434 North Broadway to Police Captain Sul livan, saying she would remain there until an officer called. She an nounced she presumed she was wanted. Heard of Murder on Street. When Detective Brown found Mrs. Creffield at the grocery store, she de clared she had seen two "plain-clothes men" approaching the house as she left, and thought they might want her. She insisted she had been to the cem etery to visit "Joshua" Creffleld's grave, and on her way back heard the (Concluded on Page 4.) CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER The Weather, YESTERDAY'S Maximum dear.; minimum, 70. TODAY'S Fair and not a temperature, 08 j warm. North - west winds. Killing: of George Mitchell. Esther Mitchell shoots her brother George at the Seattle Union Depot. Page 1. Cold-blooded assassination Is planned with Mrs. Creffield, widow of Holy Roller chief slain by George Mitchell. Page 1. Mrs. Starr, another sister, receives the news in Portland, with a smile. Page fl. Esther Mitchell deeply Imbued with the strange teachings of Creffield. Page 6. Morbid mob at Seattle storms morgue doors to see victim. Page 6. Foreign. Captain Dreyfus declared Innocent and will be promoted. Page , Ex-President Regalado of Salvador killed In battle with Guatemala. Page 3. Guatemalan rebels claim decisive victory. Page 3. Extensive reforms in British army proposed. Page 9. Russia. Anarchy reigns and open rebellion Is ex pected. Page 3. Cabinet offers resignation and Czar proposes coalition. Page 3. Admiral Chouknin dies. Page 3. Politics. Hearst gives way to Bryan that lie may organize new party. Page 2. Colorado Supreme Court forbids Investiga tion of election frauds. Page 5. Bryan defines his political opinions. Page 4. Domestic. Mrs. Hartje denies she wrote love letters and experts declare them forgeries. Page 1. American sealers brutally treated in Russia. Page 14. Seven children drowned In Iowa. Page 10. Sport. Beavers defeat Slwaahes easily, 6 to 1. Page 7. Long-distance automobile race starts. Page 7. Pacific Coast. Chautauqua draws large crowds to Glad stone Park. Page 1. Charges of graft made against city officials of L.a. Grande. Page 7. Company K man of Portland wins gold medal at Salem shoot of Guardsmen. Page 7. Commercial and Marine. Columbia River salmon run is slack. Page 15. Selling wave strikes stock market. Page 15. Bullish sentiment in grain markets. Page 15. Columbia River gradually cutting deeper channels, says Army Engineer. Page 14. Portland and Vicinity. Portland spends a big sum to keep cool. Page 10. East Si Improvement Association commit tee Inspects oil tanks. Page 10. First Battery reaches Oregon City on first day of practice march. Page 10. Executive Board calls delinquent city con tractors to time; imposes penalties. Page 10. Salem grower predicts higher prices for hops. Page 11. Water Superintendent Dodge denies that river water Is pumped into city mains. Page 11. Booth land-fraud case argued in , Federal Court. Page 11. ."m.ntv Kin iV)1 t 17 "Blx-blt" lcsurancA com panies. Page 11. SHE EXERCISES S Mrs. Hartje Denies Writing Letters. FORGERY USED AGAINST HER Expert Finds Several Hand writings in Them. PASSION FOR TOM MADINE Millionaire Disconcerted by Wife's Change of Testimony Forged and Mutilated Papers Used to Secure DIvocre. PITTSBURG, July 12. Mary Scott Hartje, who is contesting a suit for di vorce brought by her husband, Augustus Hartje, the millionaire paper manufact urer, was the startling witness when the case was taken up today, after a week's adjournment to allow counsel for both sides to examine with experts handwrit ing in the letters that Mrs. Hartje is al leged to have written, and which figure prominently in the case. Mrs. Hartje threw the counsel for her husband into a somewhat disconcerted at titude when she flatly contradicted her testimony of last week and denied that she ever wrote the Wagner letter, known as exhibit No. 6. This letter is one of the "standards" in the case, and formed large part of the premise from which the handwriting experts for her husband ar gued that she wrote the famous 40 letters to "Tom" Madine, the coachman co-re spondent in the case. Expert Discovers Forgery. The sensation thus produced was further heightened when David N. Carvalho, the handwriting expert, was called for Mrs Hartje and declared on the stand that the torn and mutilated exhibit . o. 35, on which the case is. In part, based, was "forged and mutilated document." He said he had noted three distinct handwrit lngs in the exhibits. Mr. Hartje's lawyers asked for an ad journment that they might determine their course. An adjournment was refused, but a recess was taken. When the case was resumed at 2 o'clock. Mr. Carvalho went on the stand and reiterated his testimony. Dr. Marshall D. Ewell. the Chicago hand writing expert, corroborated him. Both said the letters they had examined were in the same handwriting as the Wagner letter. Court adjourned for the day with Mr. Ewell on the stand. Both Mr. Carvalho and Dr. Ewell will be called to the stand again tomorrow and each of the 40 letters will be taken up separately. What) Mrs. Hartje Did Not Write. Mrs. Hartje was shown exhibit No. 6, a letter addressed to Susie Wagner, a form er domestic. When on the stand pre viously, Mrs. Hartje said she had writ ten the letter. Today she denies its au thorship. After an examination of the letter during the week's recess she said WOMAN RIGHTS HELD AS ACCESSORY IN MURDER OF GEORGE MITCHELL ' '" : ' ;vT; ' X;''-- im ' "' ' ' MRS. MAUDE she had come to the conclusion that the handwriting was not hers. "I wrote Susie Wagner a letter," the witness continued, "in which there were many of the same expressions, but the sentence to the effect that I wanted Susie on my side was never written by me." Mrs. Hartje was then closely ques tioned as to what she did during the recess, particularly as to the examina tion of the "standard" letters. During the course of the examination, the wit ness was extremely nervous. Written by Different Persons. Mr. Carvalho said he had examined the letters, and found that some were written by one hand and some by others. "I don't think," said the witness, "that exhibit No. 6, the Wagner letter, was written by the same hand." Con cerning exhibit No. 34, an envelope, the witness said, "the handwriting on that envelope is not the handwriting of the other letters, but a fair resemblance." On exhibit No. 35 he found that some of the pieces had been misplaced and that the pencil was applied to it. He be lieved it to have been written by the same person who wrote the Wagner let ter, and that letters 19 and 20 were also in the same handwriting. fexnimt jno. 35 was the letter which Edward G. Hartje found in the ashpile in the barn at Augustus Hartje's residence. Jbetters Burn With Love. The letters; - on the authorship of which the decision of the court rests, were filled with the most loving senti ments, breathing passionate regard In every sentence, assuring the coachman of th.e writer's undying love, that she had left her husband for him and would never love anyone else. She accused him of growing cold toward her, but said her hear, was on fire with love for him and always would be so. Interspersed with all these loving messages was much practical advice, such as admonishing him to be careful about brushing the horse dust out of his hair, not to neglect his bath, to put talcum powder on his feet and be sure and change his socks daily. The libellant rested his case on the reading of the letters and the defense is now on. Letter No. 1 purports to have been written in London, when the Hartjes were about to return from their Euro pean trip. It advises Madine to lie low and not let Hartje see him going aboard the boat. After getting safely aboard his directions for the evening are as follows: "I will wait until I know he is in bed. Then you be around the door. Just be there sitting some place, and when you see me follow right after me, but not too close. If there is no one In the hall, just turn right in my door." There has been much testimony dur ing the trial to show that the Hartjes occupied separate rooms on the Baltic returning from Europe. Another letter speaks of sending Madine some money (this is on board the boat), and says: "Be very pv 'int. l this, for dear knows what may happen .before you are safe in my arms again. Go to bed early and take good care of yourself. I got down on my knees and prayed that we might be aboard this boat tonight." Gives Practical Advice. In a third letter is this practical ad vice: "Do be careful what you eat and don't eat. too fast. Keep your body clean and take all the rest you can get. Some day we will have things different. What I have you shall share. I will keep you well and take care of you as I do the children." In many of the letters there are sen tences to show that John Scott, father of Mrs. Hartje, his wife and her sisters all knew of her love for Madine and aided and abetted it, but that the father's advice was that she be careful until the divorce, suit was ended an she obtained a settlement from Hartje which would enable her to go away and live with Madine in comfort (Concluded on Page 4.) HTIKT CREFFIELD. DREYFUS HONOR CLEARED OF STAIN French Court Finds Him Innocent. NO BASIS FOR CONVICTION Declares Esterhazy Wrote the Damning Letter. NEW TRIAL UNNECESSARY After 12 Years' Torture and Perse cution, Dreyfus Is Vindicated and Will Return to the Army as Brigadier-General. TRAGEDY OF DREYFUS. September, 1894 The bordereau dis covered in waste paper basket at Germany Embassy by French spy. October 15, 1884 Captain Dreyfus formally accused of writing treason able bordereau by Major Paty Du Clam. December 19, ISO 4 Captain Dreyfus tried by secret courtmartlal and con demned. January 5, 1805 Public military degradation on square of military school, Paris, in presence of 6000 troops and crowds of civilian spec tators. March 15, 1895 Dreyfus lands on Devil's Island. November 14, 1897 Major Esterhazy formally denounced by Dreyfus family to the Ministry of War. January 8. 1898 Esterhazy acquitted by a courtmartlal. January 13. 1898 Emll Zola made public accusation of Illegal court martial proceedings in both Dreyfus and Esterhazy trials. January 20, 1898 Zola prosecuted by Minister of War and found guilty. August 30, 1898 Lieutenant-Colonel Henry confessed to forging letters which helped condemn Dreyfus, then committed suicide. September 19. 1898 Cabinet deter mined on revision of the Dreyfua case. " June 3, 1899 Court of Cassation annuls sentence and orders new court martial. July 1, 1899 Dreyfus lands in France from Devil's Island. August 7, 1899. Second courtmartlal on Dreyfus begins at Rennes. September 9, 1899 Dreyfus found guilty again with extenuating circum stances and sentenced to ten years in prison. September 20, 1899 Pardon granted, Dreyfus still protesting his innocence. July 12, 1906 Court of Cassation annuls sentence and declares him in nocent. PARIS, July 12. Alfred Dreyfus was to day completely acquitted of the charges on which he was condemned as a trai tor, dismissed from the army and Im prisoned on Devil's Rland, and regarding: which France has been torn for years by the most bitter political and racial agitation. His vindication was twofold, the Supreme Court first announcing its decision and the Ministry later deciding to present an urgent bill In Parliament restoring Dreyfus to the army, with ad vanced rank and, otherwise giving the government's most ample reparation. The decision of the court was a fore gone conclusion, as exhaustive inquiries had completely demolished the fabric of the accusation against Dreyfus, showing that the real culprit was Major Count Esterhazy. The decision therefore an nulled the condemnation of the Rennes courtmartlal and ordered that the acquit tal be posted and published throughout France. Tonight the Ministers held a prolonged special session at the palace under Presi dent Fallieres and determined on the government's course in carrying out the decision. The text of two bills were formulated, which will be introduced In the Chamber of Deputies tomorrow, con cerning respectively Dreyfus and Colonel Plquart, with the object of restoring both to the ranks they would have held If they had continuously served in the army. Dreyfus consequently will be nominated a Major, with eventual early promotion to a Lieutenant-Colonelship. Plquart will immediately become a Brigadier-General. Dreyfus' name also will be inscribed on the list for the Legion of Honor, but he will not be directly nominated to the dis tinction, though probably a decree plac ing him on the list will shortly appear. Deputy Breton ha given notice of a bill providing for the transference of Emile Zola's remains to the Pantheon with a public ceremony. COTJRT ANNOUNCES DECISION All Accusations Unfounded and No Cause for New Trial. PARIS, July 12. The Supreme Court today announced its decision annuIlUg the condemnation of Dreyfus without & new trial. The effect of the decision is a complete vindication of Dreyfus, en titling him to restoration to his rank la the army aa though he had never been accused. The decision was read by Presiding Judge M. Ballot-Beau pre, president of th Court of Cassation, immediately on the reassembling of the court at noon. The Concluded on Page 0.)