The Dollop Episode 722: Oregon's Unwritten Law (Live)

Podcast: The Dollop with Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds
Date: February 24, 2026
Theme: A comedic deep dive into the history of "Oregon’s Unwritten Law": an era when “honor killings”—particularly those involving men killing men (and sometimes women) for sexual transgressions—were not just morally excused but often legally tolerated in Oregon and across America. Through a series of wild, tragic, and absurd tales, Dave and Gareth lampoon the ways gender, reputation, and vigilante “justice” warped both the legal system and social norms.

Overview

In this episode recorded live, Dave Anthony presents Gareth Reynolds with a bizarre and troubling chapter of Oregon history: the so-called "unwritten law." This informal but widely accepted code allowed men to kill people who, in their view, "dishonored" their homes or female relatives—most frequently over accusations of infidelity or sexual conduct. The episode follows infamous murder cases connected to this ideology, the slippery slope of its legal defense, a cult leader's sexual exploits, and the inevitable collapse of the policy as public opinion soured.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

Introducing "The Unwritten Law"

• Dave opens with the 1859 case of Daniel Edgar Sickles, a NY congressman who murdered his wife’s lover, successfully pleading the first U.S. case of temporary insanity (“honor killing” defense).
• The unwritten law essentially entitled men to kill sexual "ruiners" of their female relatives with near impunity in both legal and social spheres.

Notable Quote:
Dave [04:39]: "This was the first use of temporary insanity as a defense, and the jury quickly found him not guilty. This is an honor killing, or as it would become known, the unwritten law, which means it’s okay to shoot cheaters."

The Belding Family Murders (Oregon, 1902)

• Alfred Belding murders his estranged wife Sylvia, her lover "Gip," and his mother-in-law, and attempts to kill his son and father-in-law; tries to use the unwritten law and insanity as defenses.
• Downfall: His own hypocrisy (he had a mistress), the killing spree beyond the “target” lovers, and nonchalance post-murder (ordering a drink) undermined sympathy.

Notable Moment:
Gareth [14:34]: "So funny that he was also cheating... he was like: Disgusting! You betrayed everything. This is my girlfriend. She’s awesome."

Key Takeaway:
The unwritten law had functional limits—familicide and child endangerment crossed the line, even for sympathetic juries.

The Cult of Edmund Creffield & Corvallis' Sexual Panic

• Edmund Creffield moves into the Hurt household, starts a free-love cult, and seduces both the wife and daughters.
• After the cult is kicked out, he’s tarred and feathered, then immediately marries a Hurt daughter, Maude.
• A husband of one of Creffield’s followers tries and fails to shoot him; George Mitchell, the brother of two of Creffield's lovers, tracks him and finally shoots him dead in Seattle (“I got my man”).

Notable Quotes:
Gareth [21:33]: "You've cucked me into another dimension."
Dave [30:13]: "So George Mitchell—the brother of Donna, Starr, and Esther—went to Seattle and shot Edmund. And George said, ‘I got my man.’"

Memorable Segment:
Family testifies in court about the graphic sexual details of Creffield’s exploits, resulting in open-court laughter and sobbing, culminating in Maude's suicide, Esther’s institutionalization and later suicide, and a chain-reaction of further tragedy.

The Mary Murray Case (Hubbard, 1905)

• 16-year-old Mary is seduced by Lincoln Whitney with a promise of marriage; he abandons her after she becomes pregnant.
• Her brother, Orlando, unsuccessfully attempts financial negotiation before shooting Lincoln three times.
• Orlando uses the unwritten law defense and is acquitted amidst sensationalistic press coverage, even as chaos erupts in the courtroom.

Notable Exchange:
Gareth [48:31]: "Feels very pedestrian… Hey, I killed a guy, I was pissed off… whoopsie. Banged my sister, can I go home?"
Dave [54:01]: "So the verdict ended up being innocent. And when it was read, an old woman yelled, 'Thank God for it.' And then the entire courtroom applauded and people rushed to congratulate Orlando.”

Gradual Collapse: Complexity, Contradiction, and Public Backlash

• A tragic, farcical chain of events involving infidelity, violence, corruption, and hypocrisy erode public faith in the unwritten law.
• Example: The Melvin and Kate Bradley case—after domestic violence, beatings, and a deadly bar brawl involving a cop who himself is sexually entangled with the family, the situation devolves into a sordid spectacle, further confusing the idea of “just” vengeance.

Notable Quotes:
Dave [74:36]: “Maybe life is a little too complicated for, like, the unwritten law.”
Gareth [74:44]: “Yeah, it might be. It really might just be time to allow sex to just—have people have sex. Don’t look at me.”

A Final Example: The Reynolds-Lulu-Hibbens Triangle

• Charles Reynolds, a Civil War veteran, discovers his much-younger wife, Lulu, is having an affair (as confirmed by their six-year-old).
• When direct confrontation and romantic "rescue" (day at the amusement park) fails, Charles murders her lover George. He’s found not guilty under the unwritten law.

Notable Exchange:
Dave [90:17]: "She wasn't hypnotized. Quote: We were just attracted to each other. The jury took 30 minutes to declare Charles innocent. But cases like this made people really rethink the unwritten law..."

The Beginning of the End

• After World War I, Oregon (and the nation) turn against "honor killing" as legal defense; convictions become more likely, and the unwritten law mostly dies out by the 1920s.
• Dave and Gareth end by lampooning the gendered double-standard that enabled generations of injustice—always at women’s and “home-wreckers’” expense.

Final Thoughts:
Gareth [93:02]: "It’s just a law to enable men in some way. Sometimes for murder. Right?"
Dave [93:12]: "Yeah… we were kind of running shit. Not very well."

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments with Timestamps

• [04:39] – Dave: "This is an honor killing, or as it would become known, the unwritten law, which means it’s okay to shoot cheaters."
• [14:34] – Gareth: "So funny that he was also cheating... he was like: Disgusting! You betrayed everything. This is my girlfriend. She’s awesome."
• [21:33] – Gareth: "You've cucked me into another dimension. By the way, I've been fucking you."
• [30:13] – Dave: "[Creffield case] George said 'I got my man.'"
• [54:01] – Dave: "So the verdict ended up being innocent. ...Old woman yelled, 'Thank God for it.' ...Courtroom applauded and people rushed to congratulate Orlando."
• [74:36] – Dave: "Maybe life is a little too complicated for, like, the unwritten law."
• [74:44] – Gareth: "Yeah, it might be. It really might just be time to allow sex to just—have people have sex. Don’t look at me."
• [90:17] – Dave: "She wasn't hypnotized... The jury took 30 minutes to declare Charles innocent. But cases like this made people really rethink the unwritten law..."
• [93:02] – Gareth: "It’s just a law to enable men in some way. Sometimes for murder. Right?"
• [93:12] – Dave: "Yeah… we were kind of running shit. Not very well."

Episode Structure and Timestamps

• 00:59–02:14: Banter, audience/interruption, and intro to topic
• 02:20–07:59: History and context of honor killings/unwritten law (England to U.S.)
• 08:00–14:08: The Belding family tragedy (early example in Oregon)
• 20:11–35:50: The Edmund Creffield cult and its carnage
• 36:35–54:01: Mary Murray and Orlando's "honor murder" and court drama
• 54:01–74:15: The Bradley-Giddings murder—messy, almost satirical escalation
• 74:15–92:50: Later cases, public backlash, and the unwritten law's downfall
• 92:50–End: Closing thoughts on the gender bias and comedic wrap-up

Tone and Style

• Bitingly satirical, irreverent, and openly critical of historical gender double standards
• Riffs and long improvised bits (esp. at [41:16], [82:53]) lampooning 19th–early 20th-century social mores, courtroom shenanigans, and the legal system's failures.
• Throughout, Gareth is baffled and incredulous, while Dave plays the “straight man” historian (with plenty of deadpan).

Conclusion

This live episode showcases The Dollop's signature mix of meticulously-researched, absurd history and rapid-fire riffing. It exposes how the "unwritten law" allowed generations of violence and hypocrisy—especially against women—under the guise of "honor." Through increasingly outrageous stories, the hosts chart the rise and inevitable collapse of a cultural and legal farce, making it equally horrifying and hilarious for contemporary listeners. For fans of dark history, legal absurdity, or briskly confrontational comedy, this episode serves the goods.