The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1906-07-17

ference, at which the young prison
oner's mother will be preeent. It
is understood Mrs. Thaw is in favor
of setting up defense Of insanity.
If such is the case, she will be in
accord with the lawyers. On the
other hand, if Mrs Thaw should list
en- to the pleadjngs of her son. who
does not like the insanity defense,
there will be difficulty to over
come.
Seattle. WASH, July 13.-Fully
cognizant Of the punishment tie
law demands for the crime of mur-
der in the first degree. Esther
Mitchell declares she had rather be
hanged than obtain her liberty, or
even Immunity from the law, on
the ground of insanity.
81 am not insane," she insisted
this morning." and before shooting
my brother I gave all the possible
results the fullest consideration.
II knew that I would be arrest.
ed, and that the excuse I had for
doing VIII It I did would not be con-
sidered by the court"
To question as to whether or
not she thought more of the dead
Holy Roller. Crefield, than she
did OF the members of her own fam
lily, the girl replied that Gre field
was a holy man, and that her broth.
er George was def1led.
She admitted that she had, as
was stated by Mrs. Maud Crefield,
volunteered to kill her brother,
knowing that Mrs Crefield would
not be able to do it.
The girl during the conversation,
evinced no emotion, and stated that
she was willing to plead guilty to
the crime of NJ urder in the first de-
gree and take her punishment. She
said she had no money and knew
no one who would lerd her any f.
nancial assistance if she wsnted
any. which she says she does not.
Mrs. Cref6eld is also willing to
submit to whatever punishment
may be in store for her. She, too,
declares that she is perfectly cane,
and the only excuse she offers for
her share In the killing is that she
was as justified in bringing about
the death of George Mitchell as be
was in killing her husband.
II would have killed him my.
self if it had been possible" che
said, Bat I knew it was not, and
after we had talked about 1t Esther
Mitchell volunteered to do it for
me. After some hesitation let
her do it. I expected to be pun
ished at the lime, and expect to
now. I have no money, and will
not admit that 1 am crazy, for
am not. I am just as happy here
as I have been at any time since
my husband was killed, aud I doa I
care what comes now" 1850.
The women are kept separated
in the Jail, Esther Mitchell being
confined by hers If in a small cell
ljnst cff tbs Jail Office, while Mrs
Ct, iii Id is in the woman's ward.
Tney have seen none of their friends.
Mrs. Creffield, while in Seattle,
had three revolvers in her posses.
lsion at different times. After the
killing Of Joshua" she took re.
vo.ver from her room. This she
turned over to the police mat,on af-
ter her arrest as witness. While
in the custody of the police matron
and under the closest surveillance
she succeeded in obtaining another
weapon. This she gave to the ma.
tron Monday night when she was
released. Wednesday morning she
purchased at Spangenberg's cutlery
store the gun with which Esther
Mitchell killed her brother. She
bought the revolver Wednesday
morning at 7:30 o'clock, few min,
utes after the store opened. She
told the clerk she wanted the weap.
on to keep around the house.
Tuesday night, when Mrs Cref.
field returned to the police matron's
house to get some clothes she thad
left there, she asked for the return
of her two revolvers. The police
matron refused to give them to her
She then said:
"Why. you might as well give
Continued on page 4.