Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-10-06
Mans|aughter, Caus-
ing Death Of Bartlett, :
II
Begins at Acknowledged With
Neg|ecting the Sick Lad.

Auburn, Me, oct. 5.-The third trial
| of Rev. Frank W. Sanford, leader OF
tie Holy Ghost and Us colony at Shiloh
on the charge of manslaughter, was
opened here, today, in the supreme
court Of AndroscOggin county. Public
interest in this case has not at al
waned since the time Mr.. Sanford was
arrested in connection with the death
of boy, Leander Barton, at the Shiloh
colony.
Mr.. Sanford is charged with causing
the death of the boy by refusing to per-
NIT the administration of medicine, or
the offering of remedial treatment of
any kind while the boy was suffering
from diphtheria. Disobediance on the
part Of Barton it is alleged, induced the
defendant to adopt his attitude which
the Indictment declares to be illegal.
The Holy Ghost and Us Society is
the name given to Mr.. Sandford's reli-
gious colony.
On the first trial of Sanford which
was held in this county. the jury disa-
greed. On the second trial in Franklin
county. the jury returned a verdict Of
guilty, but later the law court ordered
Il new trial with a change of Venue on
the ground that public opinion had
worked unfairly to the defendant.
The prosecution was represented by
County Attorney Ralph w. Crockett,
and. the defendant by Henry w. Cakes
of Auburn, and H. L. Coolidge Of Lis
bon Falls.
No INN ~ thn first
cupicd the attention of the court
In his opening to the jury County At
torncy Crockett said that the State
would show Frank w. Sanford. five
years ago. declared himself to be
Elijah. that he was respected in the
community with the authority of this
character, that Leander Bartlett. aged
II. was a member Of the community in
1903. was taken i'll of diphtheria and
died. During the boys illness Mr.. Sand
ford ordered fast which included the
sick; that Leandcr Bartlett was denied
medical and even prayer which is be-
lieved at Shiloh as efficacious to heal
and that Sanford said in chapel: Il
wouldn't care if / saw Leander Bart
let's dead body lying before me-
The boys death was due to orders
given by Sanford and hence Sandford
was responsible.
The first witness was George A. Bar
ton Of Auburn, who testified to Sand
fords paramount authority at Shiloh;
of his orderings of whippings for child
rcn by parents; of fasts ordered by
Sanford and OF his attendance on
Bartlett. He said he heard Sanford
say in chapel before a crowded congre-
cation that he would not care if he
saw Leander Bartletts dead body "
ing in front Of him. Sanford was
vexed with Bartlett because he had
been disobedient. Later Sanford
ordered the fast of Nineveh'' which
lasted from Friday to Sunday. Bart
lett tasted with the others. He died on
the day the fast broke. The cross-ex-
animation brought out that Leander
Bartlett's mother was there all the
time and attended him in his illness.
One of the sensational features of the
afternoon was the testimony of Mrs.
George Barton of Auburn, that she
heard Sanford command parents to
whip their children and that parents
obeyed implicitly. They were denied
the use of medicine, medicine was for
bidden on the hill. Babes tasted as
we'll as the others when orders went