The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1906-08-10

NSANs ~ Az NV L
.stsr, Who had left their home in
PORTLAND. Ore, to inin the "Holv !
sollers." Tneir fanatloism was oom-
,.ete. Crtmeld, now known to be- q
degenerate of q type without q parall.
had his wicked will with both of
hem, and they gloried in their situa
Ion. Rumors of their sisters plight
brought their three brothers-G q
Perry and Fred Mitchell-from Port
and to reclaim them. G. orge, the
was twenty five, while Fred,
The youngest, was only q boy of seven
teen. While the brothers tried to get
their sisters to 90 home with them
Orefheld boldly proclaimed that Esth.
or Mitchell was indeed the virgin
whom the Almighty had ordained to
baoome the mother Of his SUCCESSOR.
Learning that their sisters
both victims OF the worst passions Of
the prophets, and that they were now
infatuated, beyond redemption-cOm.
pletely Gre George Mitchell bold.
ly declared that he would avenge
them. He said ne would Kill Crefield
on sight. Upon hearing this threat
the prophet slipped away in the night
to Seattle, WASH, taking his chief
tool, his wife and Esther Mitchell
with him. Hiding In a house In an
obscure part of the city, no gave him
self up to the worst excesses. In the
midst Of lis orgies he sent messages
to his followers st Corvallis that on
his return, which would be soon, he
would carry out Gods command to Of.
for up o human acGlllco.
This would ma k the summit Of his
elevation as 8 true prophet, and
thenceforth his people would be free
from persecution and would absorb all
Otber religious scots. For this saori.
fee they must obtain q male infant
When George Mitchell and his broth.
ers followed OreGleld to Seattle on
tEeir mission OF vengeance the Holy
Rollers" were In q frenzy Of zeal to
carry ont their leaders, awful COM
mand. Fer q week George Mitchell
walked the streets Of Seattle with his
hand on his revolver. Ole day he met
Oretlield face to face, and without q
word sent q bullet crashing through
his brain. He stood calmly beside the
body Of the prophet till the police
came and took him to jail.
Never was there a more complete
vipdicatiOn Of the crime Of murder
than resulted from that brief trial,
Neither the sisters nor the widow OF
the pi prophet appeared In court. When
Esther was asked to testify for her
brother who had avenged her, she
evinced only the utmost hatred for
him. The elder Mitchell had arrived
to do what he could for his son. Now
that he was free. father and the three
sons went in search Of Esther. All
met at the house whore the widow OF
OreGield, and Esther were living.
Esther submitted to a partial recon
ciliation. She agreed to go home with
them.
Ga the following day all went tC
land. While waiting for the train
they sat together on a bench In the
waiting room. The train rolled up tt
the station. Esther motioned tt
George to 90 first and look for seats
She was next behind him. AS George
lifted his foot to the car step, Estel
Mitchell, drew a revolver from hel
skirts, placed the muzzle within a few
inches Of her brothers. head, pulled
the trigger and he rolled dead at hel
feet. The murderess Of her brother
was Immediately arrested. AS she was
being taken away, her two living
brothers, Perry and Fred, sat on 9
station bench weeping in each others
arms. This is the story Esther Nit
chell told in her cell:
Mrs. Oref1eld and l talked over the
matter OF killing George. The one that
had the best chance was to do It,. Mrs.
CreiMald bought the gun We we're al
the room abou! o'clock this afternoon
and | thought I would have a better
chance to do 1t than Mrs. Orc I'll cid, as
my brother wanted to see me- and be-
lleved that he would think nothing
about my going to the depot. Their
Mrs. Orel1eld gave me the gun and
was to do 1t. We agreed that 1t must
be done as soon az possible. L 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 George
then, and l did not want to, because
l could not get the gun unwrapped.
had the gun wrapped up and conceal
ed, and | refused to see George. When
l went home l took the gun and plao
cd 1t under the mattress. Then l took
1t out about O Tuesday and kept
1T with me. MY brother Fred was up
TO my room to-day and said that Perry
and George were going to Portland
tuesday. l went to the depot and saw
Perry get his ticket. At last l saw
George and l shook hands with him
and | was walking to the door with
him. He and Perry were walking in
front and Fred and / were walking be.
hind. At that time 1 had the gun in
my coat. l was walking to the door
and George was In front Of me.
THAT was the chance / wanted and
L shot him. My brother Fred grab.
bed me and [ sat down on his lap and
put my arms about his neck. l sat
there and the officers came. l intend.
cd to follow him to Portland IL l did
not get q chance at him there. | do
not regret the shooting; l am glad l
did 1t. | am not insane, nor do | pro-
pose to try to escape punishment.
George Mitchell murdered a holy man.
He himself was o defiled one. l have
fulfilled my mission, and l am satisfi-
cd"
Later the widow Of Crcmeld signed
with Esther Mitchell q joint state.
ment to the effect that they had con.
spired together to kill Esther's broth