The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-09

Augusta fAIe.) Special to N. Y. World.
 The nvestigation of Shiloh--"Elitah' Sandfords Holy Ghost and Us Society at Durham--by Governor William T. Cobb, assisted by County Attorney Ralph w. Crockett of Lewiston, has re- vealed many new facts about the insti- tuition.
 That children of Shiloh are cruelty treated and deprived of many of the necessities of life: that adults are starved and improperly clothed, and that a life of idleness, together with an atmosphere of gloom, ruins dhe minds and bodies of all who believe Tn and obey the teachings of EliJah Frank w. Sandford--facts brought out in previous investigations of the in- stitution and trials of Sanford-are again revealed in all of their horrible details and substantiated with new and more conclusive evidence. And in addition to these comes disclosures or disease, depravity and insanity There are said to be scores of cases Of con sumption on the hilltop.
 Typhoid Fever Cases.
 At the present time there are several cases of typhoid fever on the hill top said to have been caused by the pol luted stream water, which all or the Shilohites drink. Impure water, liVins in unsanitary buildings and eating lm- proper and insufficient food are the nrIncinal causes given for the preva- fence of sickness and increasing death rate in the colony. No physicians are allowed on the hilltop. No matter what the nature of the illness Is nor how sick a patient may be- he must trust to prayer to restore his health. No medicines of any kind are given.
 They believe sickness is a sin or pun ishment for having sinned against Sandford or disobeyed the rules. Pa tIents critically III have been made to fast several days, taking no water or nourishment, to starve the devil our of their systems. This rule applies to the children and even bebes.
 County Attorney Crockett has the names of scores of children who have been made to fast and subjected to cruel punishment for having displeased or dlsobeyed Sandford. It was Tor causing the death of Leander Bartlett. a 14-year- old boy, who lived with his mother at Shiloh, by making him go several days while he was ill without food or water. that an indictn1ent for manslaughter against Sandford was found. ...,
 After three trials resulting in two disbursements and one verdict Of guilty" the later being set aside by the law court and new trial ordered, the manslaughter indictment against Sandford, together with four indict- ments for cruelty to children, were re- gently ouashed. The action of County 1 Attorney Crockett in not attempting to | convict SandfOrd on the cruelty eases l before they were nolle pressed is criti- | cised by many, as on the indictment ! found at the same time as the others, 1 charging Sandford with cruelty to his own child. he was tried, found guilty and fined $1O0 and costs.
 Governor Wants Evidence.
 The phase of Shiloh life in which i Governor Cobb is most interested is l that bearing on the care and opportu- ! mites of the children who live with l their parents, but who are controlled 1 by Sandford, and his Elders. T know l of no law to compel the adults at Shi-
 loh to take food when they want to | fast" said Governor Cobb, but when i childI en, and even babes, are starved | or otherwise abused by their parents or Sandford the former being in com plete submission and subject to the will of the later, then there is law under 1 which we may act. All we need is the 1 evidence-not what we know ourselves, i but what we can prove in court"
 But it is realized that it is difficult to l get evidence along certain lines. The dupes dare not testify against Sandford 1 as long as they arc members of his colony They dare not disobey a single wish of his, for he has taught them
 to believSAthat he is the true Elijah. They seem dazed, their answers are evasivc, and Dr. E. A. Crockett of Lew ! iston. who at the request of the Gov ernor. examined several of the Shiloh
 ties, says they appear as though they were in a hypnotic state. .%=..- <. s.s i Several of the Maine clergy have pri- l vately expressed their opinion that