This one-hour presentation will take you through the events (and additional deaths) surrounding the 1906 murder of Corvalis-based cult leader Edmund Creffield in downtown Seattle.  

It’s a great way to examine the evolution of laws and cultural norms in the Pacific Northwest shortly after Washington became a state – from “frontier justice” to the varied applications of insanity defenses.

PRESENTERS:

Following studies at Louisiana State University (LSU) and University of Southwestern Louisiana (now ULL) GEORGE EDMONSTON JR. built a career in writing and public relations through numerous positions at LSU, ultimately serving as editor of LSU Magazine. He moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1986 and was editor of Oregon State University’s alumni magazine, The Oregon Stater, for twenty years. He co-authored Tales from Oregon State Sports, and his articles have appeared in numerous publications.  

ROB MEAD is the Washington State Law Librarian and a Legal Research & Writing Instructor at South Puget Sound Community College. Previously, Rob worked as a disability law attorney, and he has continued to write about the rights of the elderly and people with disabilities throughout his career. He currently serves as one of the co-authors of Advising the Elderly Client (Thomson Reuters) and recently served as one of the co-authors of How Gender and Race Affect Justice Now (Washington Gender and Justice Commission, 2021).  

Speaker biographies, learning objectives and class agenda can be viewed HERE.

Self-reported CLE credit (1.00 Law & Legal) is available through the WSBA from 11/12/2025 to 10/28/2030.  The activity number is 2067606.