New-York tribune., 1911-12-10
SANFORD CONVICTED
OF CAUSING 6 DEATHS
Shiloh Leader EIOquently Pleads
His Own Case in United
States Court.
"a PRISONER OF THE LORD
Defendant Says God Gave In
structions to Continue Voyage
of the Coronet-Severe
Sentence Possible.

OF the COrOneJ-SeVeTe
Sentence Possible.
Portland, Me, Dec. 9.-'1t Is all right;
the work at Shiloh will continue as long
as am able to direct It,"
This was the only comment which the
Rev Frank w. Sandford made this af-
ternoon when the jurors in the United
States District Court. before whom he
was tried on the charge Of causing the
death of six of the crew Of the schooner
yacht Coronet, returned a verdict OF
guilty on each count, after being out
forty minutes.
Sentence will be pronounced on the
leader Of the Holy Ghost and Us move
ment on December 1S. and he furnished
sureties In the sum OF $4,000 for his
appearance at that time. The punish
ment as provided in the Penal Code or
the United States is a fine Of not less
than $4,000 or Imprisonment for not
more than ten years, or both.
Taking the witness stand in the clos
ing hours of the trial, Sandford ad-
dressed the jury for an hour and half,
speaking the greater part OF that tline
with impassioned eloquence.
81 think / know what you are going
to do with me. gentlemen" he said. near
the close Of his statement. Il think God
told me sixty days ago on the water.
Please give me this assurance-that
wherever | go you will say that Mr..
Sanford went down with his colOrs fly
ing and his guns reverberating."
At times the self-styled 'Elijah's'
voice broke and he was near to sobbing,
especially when he told how he had left
successful pastorate eighteen years
ago to begin the work which resulted
i'm the building of the temple and other
buildings on the Durham sand hill. He
boldly proclaimed that he was ready to
take the consequences for the acts that
had been charged up against him, and,
turning to the jurors, he said:
IF | go to Jail l shall do the best
can. do not consider myself a pris-
oner of the law but a prisoner of the
Lord.
Heart Went Out to Esaumeus.
Others tell about the number OF men
lost" he continued with reference to the
voyage to the North Atlantic, where
four of the men on the Coronet died and
were buried at sea, but my heart
laughs at the number of souls saved.
My whole heart went out to the Esqui-
maus. I firmly believe that the righte-
Gus man praying to the righteous God
prevailed for every lost soul in Green
land. Every time hear talk of the men
lost | think of the thousands of Esqui-
maus. many of whom will join the white
rObed throng."
The statement of Sandford delivered
from the witness stand held the undi-
vided attention of court officials, jurors
and A large audience throughout its re-
cital.
After affirming that he would tell the
truth. the whole truth and nothing but
the truth. he took the stand and ad-
dressed the court and the jury, speaking
and giving his attention principally -
the jurymen.
lie declared that high heaven was
watching the scene at that very mo-
ment. watching to see that fair trial
was being given. and he felt it was due
each official TO give a frank statement
Of the voyage from his standpoint. This
he then proceeded to do. at times break
ing in with an argument.
Seven facts, he believed, We're essen
tial to a correct understanding Of the
voyage of the Coronet. and he recite1
each and dwelt on it at some length.
The first was that the destination Of
the Coronet was well known and deter
mined before the wreck of The Kingdom
took place. 1t was we'll known to all
on board that they expected to sail for
the North. Hudson Bay. Greenland, etc,
he said, and all were greatly disap-
pointed at the wreck of The Kingdom on
Mud Island. off the coast Of Africa.
Tells Of instructions from God.
The destination of the Coronet was
unchanged by the wreck Of the King
dom. This he stated as the second fact.
with earnestness Sanford told of his
instructions from God to continue. He
said:
81 said: Father. what next? What
next. now that we have this company
on board?
II received this answer-and | make
this statement advisedy, knowing what
am doing-I received THIS answer:
Continue.
The word was Continue under
stood it's meaning to be to go on with
the work. 1t was thoroughly discussed
and finally it was decided To go on with
the work which took us TO the far
north.
I'VE are disciples of God declared
Mr.. Sandford. IF we have not won
that medal in the past eighteen years
don't know who has
81 am talking before a God who listens
and knows when | commit perjury ana
will deal with me on high. no matter
what may result i'm this court.
He said that all knew what they were
TO do but not a protest was raised not
"A soul left the yacht.
I.ftt