The San Francisco call., 1906-07-13
G. Mitchell Slain by Girl
to Save Whose Fair Name
He Shot "Holy Roller .
TRAGEDY OCCURS
IN SEATTLE DEPOT
Youth Who Was Acquitted
Of Murder Tuesday Enjoys
Freedom but Few Hours
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL

SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL.
SEATTLE, July I2.-Esther Mitchell
shot and instantly killed her brother,
George Mitchell. n short time after 4.30
O'Clock this afternoon in the waiting
room of the Union depot. The shot was
fred just as Mitchell rose to take the
evening train for Oregon. The brother,
who was acquitted Tuesday of killing
Franz Edmund Crel1eld, the leader of
the Holy Rollers" dropped in his
tracks. Esther Mitchell is the sister to
aveBEe whose treatment George shot
CrefieId. She refused to hnve anything
10 do with her brother after the shoot
ing of CrefieId. Today was the first
time they had been seen together on
good terms.
The Mitchells, George, Perry and
Fred, were sitting with Esther on a
bench in the big waiting room. talking
together and apparently on the best of
terms. When the Oregon train was an
nounced George Mitchell rose and
started forward. His sister stepped to
his side and pressing the revolver to
his head pulled the trigger before any
one could stay her hand
Last night Charles Mitchell, father
OF the family. and his daughter. Esther.
reached a reconciliation. For some
days the girl had refused TO see her
father Hearing that he was about to
return TO his home in Illinois she con-
sented TO an interview. at which all
OF the rest OF the family except George
Mitchell were present
Esther Mitchell and Mrs. Crefield.
widow OF the deceased Holy Rollet."
today announced their intention of
making Seattle their home The two
women took small apartments here,
sold their witness certificates to raise
funds and apparently had made UP
their minds TO remain in Seattle
The three brothers were en- route to
Oregon. where they expected to go
back to work Directly after the shoot
ing the girl was arrested. Perry
Mitchell and Fred Mitchell were ar
rested as witnesses. They were found
together on a bench in the depot sob
bing on each others shoulders.
At the police station Esther was the
cslmest one present She refused TO
talk with reporters, saying she had
been told not to. but declined to say
by whom. Later she made a statement
10 Chief Wappenstein. in which she
said that on Tuesday when George was
acquitted, she determined that as ne
had killed Joshua he must die. She
said she Immediately secured the re-
volver and awaited her time:
Perry Mitchell said to the Chief: DO !
not blame Esther: she is completely
under the influence of Mrs. Crefheld, /
who has told her to kill George"
The police held the same opinion. and
detectives were Immediately sent to
nend the dead Holy Rollers widow
She was found in her hotel and taken
70 headquarters, where she refused to
talk.
George Mitchell killed Joshua Cref--
field, a Holy Roller" priest. in Second
avenue one morning two months ago.
He claimed that Crefield had ruined
his sister the young girl whose bullet
today ended his life. He was tried on
a charge OF murder and acquitted, his
defense being insanity. For a year
prior 10 the shooting Of Crefield
Mitchell and his sister had not spoken.
She did not go near him during his
trial and disappeared after his acquit-
tai He began a search for her which
ended at the home of Mrs. Crefield. |
widow OF the Holy Roller leader APP
parently a reconciliation was effected. |
the girl volunteering 10 accompany her
brother 10 the depot to see him off to
Oregon.