The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-13
BROTHER.
Esther Mitchell Fatally Shoots
Slayer of CrefaeId.
''Holy Roller Leader Met Death
on Her Account.
JUST OUT OF JAIL:
Dead Man Was Acquitted Of
Murder Charge on Tuesday.
His Sister and CrefleId's Widow
Plotted Together.

Seattle, Wash, July 13.=Esther
Mitchell shot and killed her brother,
George Mitchell, in the waiting room
of the union depot The shot was fred
just as Mitchell rose to take the even
ing train for oregon. The brother,
who was acquitted Tuesday of killing
Franz Edmund Crefeld. the leader of
the Holy Rollers, dropped dead.
Esther Mitchell was at once arrested.
The Mitchells. George. Perry and
Fred, were sitting with Esther on z
bench in the big waiting room, talking
together and apparently on the best Of
terms. When the Oregon train was
announced, George Mitchell rose and
started forward. His sister stepped to
his side and, pressing the revolver
close to his head, pulled the trigger
before any one had realized what was
happening.
Esther Mitchell is the sister. to
avenge whose treatment George shot
CrefHeld- She has refused to have
anything to do with her brothe since
the shooting Yesterday was the first
time they had been seen together on
good terms Wednesday night Charles
Mitchell, the father of the family. and
the daughter, Esther, reached a recon
ciliation. For some days the girl had
refused to see her father Hearing
that he was about to return to his
home in Illinois. she consented to an
interview, at which all the rest of the
family except George Mitchell were
present.
Esther Mitchell and Mrs. Cremefd.
| widow of the deceased High Roller,
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 broth
ers were en- route to Oregon, where
/ they expected to go back to work.
/ Directly after the shooting, Perry
/ Mitchell and Fred Mitchell were ar
/ rested as witnesses. They were found
/ together on bench in the depot. sob
bing on each others shoulders.
Mitchell WOman's Statement.
Esther Mitchell made the follow
ing statement
Mrs. Crefieid and 1 talked over the
matter of killing George. The one
that had the best chance was to do it.
4 Mrs. Creffield bought the gun. We
were at the room about 4 o'clock this
afternoon and I thought I would have
a better chance to do it than Mrs.
Crefield. as my brother wanted to
see me, and believed that he would
think nothing about my going to the
depot. Then Mrs. Creffield gave me
the gun and I was to do it. We agreed
/ that 1t must be done as soon as pos
sible. I took the gun and my brother
Fred walked with me down to the
/ depot when my father went away yes
/ terday. They wanted me to see
! George then. and I did not want to
! because I could not get the gun un-
wrapped. had the gun wrapped up
and concealed and I refused to see
George. When I went home I took
I the gun and placed it under the mat
tress. Then I took it out about noon
/ today and kept it with me. Ny
brother Fred was up to my room to-
day and said that Perry and George
were going to Portland this evening.
( I went to the depot and saw Perry
get his ticket At last I saw George
and I shook hands with him. He and
Perry were walking in front and Fred
and I were walking behind. At that
4 time had the gun in my coat 7 was
walking to the door and George was
in front of me. That was the chance
I wanted and I shot him. Ny brother
Fred grabbed me, and sat down IN
! his lap and put my arms about his
neck. I sat there and the officer came.
I intended to follow him to Portland
/ if I did not get a chance at him here
am not sorry I did the shooting; [
am glad of it,
Mrs. CreneId Held
Seattle, Wash. July 1s.-Inne-
diateiy after the arrest of Esther
killed her brother here, Mrs. Maud
| Crefield, the widow of the prophet
whose death at the hands Of George
I Mitchell led to the tragedy, was taken
1 to the station. She frankly admitted
that she had entered into e compact
with Esther to kill the slayer of her
! husband She viii be held as an ac-
complice.
AlM= mzxe Nn@sss