Leading
Corvallis
Newspaper.
Best
Advertising
Medium;
Vol. XL1H.
Corvallis, Benton County, Oregon, esday. July IB. lOOG.
THE SECOND TRAGEDY.
In Mitchell Family-Esther Shoots
Brother at Seattle.
"Esther shot and killed George
ia depot this afternoon L. T.
Sandell."
Such was the dispatch sent
from Seattle at 5 o'clodk Thurs
day night to O. V. Hurt, that
shocked Corvallis and sent a
shiver of horror over all who
listened to the direful news.
Liberated from prison only two
brief days, after standing all the
agony of suspense incident to a
trial for murder in the first degree,
Geoige Mitchell was shot down
in cold blood by the sister whom
he desired to protect.
O. V. Hurt, the man who has
perhaps suffered most from the
unholy teachings and influences
of the late Holy Roller Creffield,
was neatly over come by the
horrible news contained in San
dell's telegram. Mr. Hurt stated
that he had known, when in
Seattle, that the two women,
Esther Mitchell and Maud Hurt
Creffield, were carrying loaded
revolvers and they told Mr. Hurt
at that time that Mitchell had
better leave them alone. Mr.
Hurt warned George Mitchell
of danger and advised him not
to molest the two fanatics, but to
leave Seattle as soon as possible
and avoid the possibility of fur
ther danger. That " Mitchell
would have been wise in follow
ing this advice is proven in the
recent tragedy.
Mr. Hurt states that during
the Mitchell trial, in Seattle,
Maud Creffield and Esther Mit-
che'l declared that they would
willingly walk to Walla Walla
to see George Mitchell huug'."'"'
With such cold-blooded, mer
ciless natures, and with minds
completely dominated by Cref
fieldism, to the apparent efface-
ment of all womanly feelings,
it is little wonder that George
Mitchell was shot like a dog by
a sister who, all along, has shown
no aooreciation of his love tor
her.
Whether Creffield's influence
and Holy Rollerism will end
even now, is a matter seriously
doubted by the majority of Cor
vallis people familiar with the
history of the cult.
Claimed By Death.
At the family home several
miles southwest of Corvallis J
P. McBee died Friday sight,
from the rupture of a blood ves
sel in the head.
A week ago Sunday
Mr. McBee was in Corvallis for
the purpose of consulting a physi
cian. On his way to the doctor's
office be suddenly fell on the
street, but managed to arise and
proceeded to the office. An ex
amination showed that Mr. Mc
Bee had suffered a slight stroke
of paralysis and he was taken
home. Tuesday two local physi
cians were hurriedly summoned
by 'phone and Mr. McBee was
found to be helpless from a sec-i
ond and more severe stroke.
He was unconscious for about
two days before death came to re
lieve him.
"Doc" McBee, as deceased was
familiary called, was born in Mis
souri in 1847, and came to Ben
ton county when a young boy.
He was one of the best known and
wealthiest farmers ot the county,
and had just tairly started to en
joy life, having built a handsome
new residence last fall and sur
rounded himself and family with
every comfort.
The funeral occurred from the
family home at two o'clock Sun
day, and interment was in New
ton cemetery.
The immediate survivors are
the widow and four children.
Diving Chute.
Inspired by Milton Morgan and
Byron Taylor, a large number
of men and' boys about the city
Bade cpatribations toward tne in
stallation of a diving chute which
has been placed on the river bank
at the point known as the old C.
& E. warehouse. - Here men
and boys gather of warm evenings
and enjoy a plunge in the Wil
lamette. The chute which has just been
place in commission is 32 feet
long and extends from the top ot
the bank to within about a foot
of the surface of the water.
When near the water the lower
end of the chute turns up a trifle
in order , to give tne ""cnuier--the
proper skim over the surface
of the river. The chute was con
structed by Mr. Goldson at the
Colbert furniture factory and is so
placed that it can be raised or
lowered at the pleasure of the
bathers.
The chute is in the shape of
a groove and it is lined with zinc
after the fashion ot a bathtub.
Arrangements have been made
whereby water can be run down
the chute, thereby keeping it as
slick as though it had been
greased. The sensations of a
slide through one of these chutes
baffles description one has to
make the trip to know what it
means. At any rate the boys have
rt 11 !
a cnute wnicnanorastnem mucn
pleasure.
IN SALT LAKE PAPER.
Account of Oregonian Contest
Party's Visit to Utah.
Last Monday's issue of the
"Deseret Evening News," pub
lished in Salt Lake City, in tell
ing of the visit of the Oregonian
contest party," 01 which Miss
Agnes Wilson pf ,V;Coryallis is a
member, : has the folio wi ng -to
say:
Yesterday they had reserved
seats at the regular tabernacle
services where'1 they listened to a
discourse by Elder C. W. Pen
rose. Following ' the services
they were tendered a musical
recital by Asst. Organist Edward
Kimball, assisted by Emma
Ramsey Morris, and in the even
ing visited the Holmes art gal
lery. Today it was a case of "Wake
and call me early," for the crowd
was out sieht-seeing with the
dawn. This, morning they did
all there was to do in the way of
a speedy "seeing Salt Lake" trip
in automobiles and cars, and at
noon repaired to the Commercial
club for luncheon. The club
was the host on this occasion
and there were present several
Drominent euests. besides the
party.
To welcome them to Salt Lake
and Utah a committee went to
Ogden yesterday. it was com
posed of Gov. Cutler, Adjt. Gen.
Ray C. Naylor, N, P. Nelson,
private secretary of the governor,
Fisber Harris and J. C. Mc
Donald. After the Tabernacle
recital Gov. Cutler thanked the
organist and Mrs. Morris on
behalt of the visitors - for the
courtesies shown tnem.
This afternoon following the
luncheon the party went out to
Saltair, from which they plan to
return in time to eaten taeir
train out on schedule time, at 8
o'clock tonight.
Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Ralls and
Mrs. Wesley Hinton, all of Mouroe,
visited friends in Corvallis Satur
day and attended to business af
fairs. Kenneth, the little son of Prof,
and Mrs. G. A. Covell, has been
suffering with an abscess on the
back of his neck. Sat urday 'the at
tending phrsiciai opened the ab
scess, and the little patient ia doing
nicely.
Ethel Hooker, telephone operater
for the Home Telephone company
at Pl&inview and for a farmers' line
connecting with- the home, com
mitted suicide at the home of her
brother-in-law Friday morning
by shooting off the top of her head
with a shot eun. The act was com-
mitted with suicidal intent, as eiUb-
4ished by the investigation: held by
tht coroner a lew boors later. -
PLOTTED TO KILL
And Willing to Face Punishment
The Seattle Tragedy.
Mrs. Maud Hurt-Creffield and
Esther Mitchell are the ones, and
the only ones, who plotted to
kill George Mitchell, according
to their own declarations.
They did not tell Mrs. Burgess
Starr because they say she talks
too much. They feared to tell
other Rollers lest their plans
should miscarry by some chance
word being spoken.
The women both vow that
their plans were made with ut
most deliberation and they scoff
at the idea that they are insane.
A relentless war is to be carried
on in Seattle to drive every Holy
Roller from the city and from
King county.
Experts are- to examine both
women for insanity, but these
will not be called upon to report
their findings at present
The state has abandoned any
idea held immediately after the
shooting of George Mitchell of
treating the women as insane
persons and is determined upon a
vigorous prosecution.
"I am positive that no insanity
exists in any member of the
Mitchell family, that is any that
I have seen, and our office will
make a hard - fight against this
plea," said Deputy Prosecuting
Attorney Miller ; in a statement
Friday night..
"Since the first appearance of
Esther Mitchell in this city,
which .was shortly after her
brother shot ..Creffield," he con-linued,ltI-haveiybjeeAincpntaQt
with her a- good deal, and she'
has never at any time displayed
any form of insanity. We mere
ly asked to have her re ained in
the custody of the police matron
until after the other trial was
completed.'
"All stories that she was to
become the. mother of a new
Christ was denied to me by the
girls. I investigated these
charges while in Portland and re
ceived corroboration of Esther's
statement. She stated on sev
eral occasions that, her brother
had no reason for shooting Cref
field on this account.
"I do not believe that any
person outside of Esther and Mrs.
Creffield will be implicated in
this murder. I really believe
that it was the result of their
secret consultations. Of course,
we cannot tell what evidence we
might secure at a later date, but
from information that we have in
this office at the present time I
feel safe in making the state
ment that Esther Mitchell aad
Mr.-. Creffield are alone respon
sible for the murder of George
Mitchell."
The women" themselves cor
robrate Mr. Miller in his belief.
Both positively assert that no act
of theirs was ever more deliberate
or less free from motives of in
sanity than the murder of Mitch
ell.
"I am not insane," declared
Esther Mitchell today. "Before
I killed my brother, Mrs. Cref
field and myself talked it over,
and we knew that we would be
arrested and the law would pun
ish us. After mv arrest I told
the chief everything.
"I only told the truth. I knew
the law would not consider the
reason which makes me believe
I did right, and any way I don't
see what harm it can do, for
am going to be punished any
way, I suppose.
"He." continued Miss Mitch
ell, speaking of Creffield and in
answer to a question, " was a
holy man. My brother was of
the world and was defiled. It
was right for him to be punished
for what he did, and the law set
him free. .
"I have no monev." she said
reverting :. again- to- her own af
fafuj "and 7 have no. friends to
whom I could go,; if 2 would,
and I would not. If they ask
me I shall say that I killed
George, but I will never say that
I was insane; ; I dont see what
is the use of a lawyer, so far as I
am concerned.
i "I 'do not know Judge Upton.
His message was read to me last
night, but I never heard of him in
my life, and I do not know why
he should offer to help me. What
can he do? I would not let him
tell the jury that I was crazy, for
I am not, and you say that is the
only way I can keep from being
hanged. '
"Yes, George was set free that
way, but he did not enjoy his
liberty long, did he?" The girl
spoke as calmly as if George had
been a total stranger.
Esther Mitchell asked anxious
ly for Mrs. Creffield, and wist
fully begged for a chance to see
her.
I would like to see her," she
said. "I volunteered to shoot
George." 'Then, apparently
anxious to shield Mrs. Creffield
urther, she'added: "She did
not want me . to, but we knew
that she couM not do it, for they
were afraid of her, so I did it."
Mrs. Creffield does not attempt
to justify her" part in the shoot-
ng on the : ground of religious
training, nor does she insist that
the Creffield influence is still
alive. She was asked whether
the spirit of Joshua had been
heard or whether . she expectea
him to return to her.
"I never said ,he would," she
declared.
"But the men at the morgue
all said you -did after the fun-
erai," it was urged.
'Yes, I suppose a great many
things have been said MDh. I
didn't want to deny anything,"
she added wearily.- (Then o the
killing of Mitchell she stated :
"I had as much right to cause
his death as he had to kill my
husband. I would have done it
myself if I could, but I could not
because they were afraid of me.
Esther knew this and volunteer
ed to do it for me. At first I did
not want her to, but when we
had talked it over for a while I
told her to do it if she could .
"I knew we would be arrested
and I was afraid I would be killed
before I was locked up. "Oh,"
she added hurriedly, "I should
not have said that! But I didn't
know what they would do with
me."
"They can't' hang me, can
they? she added. Both capital
punishment and imprison
ment for life were suggested as
extremes, and of the latter she
said:
"I don't care. I would be
just as happy there in the state
penitentiary as I have been since
ray husband was killed, or as 1
ever can be anywhere."
Mrs. Creffield, - like Esther
Mitchell, insisted that she was
hot insane.
The To edo Leader sayB: Dr. R
D. Burgess, who was knocked out
in a ball game at Waldport on the
Glorious Forth, is still undergoing
repair?, but expects to be out toon
to look after his other patients. !
Mrs. Emma Frink drove to Cor
vallis Saturday irom her home in
Philomath, and went to the Jesse
Moses home for a brief visit. She
was suddenly taken ill with bfart
trouble and a physician was su:r.-
oconed, and in a few hours she vcas
resting easy. The" intense heat '
doubt had something to do with ; e
illness.
E. C. Ogg, - wife and two son,
are to leave Nawton, Iowa, thi
weak for Corvallis. They come f.
the purpose of joining O. J. Black
ledge and family in a three weeke'
camping expedition at YachaaU.
having come hern three years ago
for the fiiinia kind of a trh). Tw
thousand miles to go camping! and!
there are hundreds in Corvallis who
never get outside the city limitp
for a vacation rest. -
Lost Big yellqw cat, marked
by having half ot left ear cut off.
One. dqllaf , for return.. , Notify
Urm-- or. store. Mrs. , F. -I.
Miller. wv - - . 59
-
You're Sure to Crow
Over my set ot Shirt Waists Sets like those
now on sale at this store.
Shirt Waist Sets
for July are just as goo for August or Septem
ber, or any other month, if bought here. If
you want what's exquisite, at a modest price,
buy a set. We guarantee they're the greatest
value for the sum invested that can be had.
See them and bay a set.
Albert J. Metzger
WATCHMAKER
Occidental Building, - - - Corvallis
Franklin Iron Works porvalus, or.
A Specialty
We are making a specialty in the form of the latest and most
up-to-date eye glass mounting, ever offered to the public.
This eye glass mou -ting is "The Heard" guaranteed to stay on
where others absolutely fail.
If you care to investigate call at my store any time. J
iE. W. S. PRATT, Jeweler and Optician.
J mini FO R A FINfc. l!Nfc. Ur
Guns, Fishing Taokis, BasebaSi Goods
Go to Gun Hodes'
We Carry the Famous Bristol Fishing Rod
(f
Rates offered by us are $1.00 per year where the farmer
uses his own telephone (farmers not having telephones can
purchase from us at $3.50 each) or $5.00 per year where we
furnish the telephone.
You can be connected with 200,000 Local and Long Dis
tance telephones.
Further information at any of our offices-
PACIFIC STATES TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH CO.
f O.
CORVALUD STEAM LAUNDRY,
Patronlzo Homo Industry.
tOtitmldm Ocfem 8oll(tMmd.
All Work Gmmrmatf.
SPENCER'S
Hair Invigorafor
And Dandruff EradJcator
vt3f of ""B-"-;-'3r
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. i JfMSi JU.W". FT 15
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P CI
4 Mmmsut:
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3
Trade lark Registarail. -
Price, - Fifty Cents
Manufactured by
The Vegetable Compound Company
Corvallis, Oregon" 9t
You to Buy a
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Now on Hand
, Fiiet. comp, first, served.
price. If you want a high
grade -Baler, now ie your
chance. Order today.
1
Cham. Blmkealmm.
OORVAUM,
WHEBOM.