Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-07-03

1
Mr.. Hut is man Of about 80 years
stockilk built, intelligent and KINDLY o.
appearance. He spoke in a hesitatdnt
manna, and had to be frequently
prompted to proceed in laying bare has
family misfortunes. Several times hi
had to stop speaking and fight for self
control.
What He Told Mitchell.
After stating in response to a ques-
ton, that he was the father of Maud
Hurt Creffeld, the dead mans widow,
he said;
az met the defendant, Mr.. Mitchell,
in Portland the last week in March.
todd him Crefield was out Of prison
and described 10 him the effects of
his power over the women folks.
81 told him that Crefield used to get
his followers to lie on the floor and
roll about praying and shouting. He
would keep telling them that God
would smite them unless they did as
he said. He claimed to be the Savior,
have kuOwn Crefield to keep them
rolling about ON the fod1 in this man
ner for from II to "a hours at one
time. His power over his followers
who weie nearly all women, was some,
thing wonderful. They did whatever
he said. They were dead TO all hui
man sympathy. They left their chill
dren, their husbands and their pa
rents go uncared for and without a
kind thought or word.
obeyed Him Like Children.
"Credlield would say, for example,
as told young Mitchell, 'Esthe-
you do this, and she would |
do it. He would tell my wife or daugh-
ter to do a thing, and it would be done
as he said.
"When they got together for re-
hgious services, all would lie on the
flod'. Orefiield would walk about |
among them and sometimes he would |
roll about, too. While lying this way
they were supposed to receive messages
FROM God. Cnefield would keep telling
them to pray and shout with all their
might or God would smite them.
THESE things happened mostly at
my home, while l was away, prior to
thc time Crefheld was sent to the PEN
Itentiary. !
esther Mitchell came to me one
lay ami said she had received an inspi-
HtGon from God that he would smile
ne unless | made my peace with Him.
She warr'Sl me not to attempt to 20 to
own that day, as had been in the
iabN of doing,
When | talked 'he matter over with
'ecrge Mitchell l told him they were
III IN religious frenzy, and that all
II them had bNen driven crazy bv
.TefhcAd l told him that my wife, |
Hrs. O. V, Hurt, my son, Frank, and b
ny daughter, May HUt, had AN been
eat 10 tho asylum as a result Of thoir
s'-oViations with Crehield. l told him
hat his sister, Esther, had been taken
rom my hNnS, whe,e she had been
taNung 10 the Boys and Girls Aid
'ociety al Portland, because Of her
icntsl state, told him that his sis.
er was o"anpbetely 'od on account Of
hA raigicn
Al ono time, as Crefiioli's powdI
r"w, they ohecNd a sacrifice of two
0gs Sns cat heard there had been
dk OF OGWipS up a &ttlo gs-l az a
acrinee' CrNfheld mado them turpI
he pictures ri their homes to the wall
yang such things partook Of vanity
nn n" world. About this time th.
Aes'f Of Linn ccunsy came 70 NV
ono ard a0"k ogetheld away to 10 ex.
m'o'>d as 70 hs sanity. They diJ potl
mai ham IA am asylum, and he camel
ack.
TEL Of the Naked Orgies
IL aasAly ealuo 20 such a pass thatl
Nfiie'd mSie tho wOussr burn al their
"th~s as sacrifice and woar po,Asn.