The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-12-10
LATEST ELIJAH IS GUILTY
JURY DECIDES SANDFORD
CAUSED SIN DEATHS.
Leader OF Holy Ghost and Us society
Making own Defence, says Followers
Knew Dcstina tion An Trouble Came
because They Failed to go to Arctic.


PORTLAND. Me. Dec. .. The Rev.
Frank W. Sandford the Holy Ghost ana
Us Society leader. was found guilty ny
jury in the United States District Court
to-day of causing the death of SIX ot MS
followers who succumbed to scurvy ana
starvation on the recent seventeen months
cruise of the schooner Coronet.
Judge Clarence Hale appointed Decem-
Der is AS the day for sentence The jury
deliberated hut forty minutes Tonight
Sandford was admitted to hail in the sum
of sl0.OoO for his appearance on the DAY
appointed for sentence. The penalty Tor
zach of the six counts Is fno not exceed
ing 900 or imprisonment not exceeding
ten years or both.
The modern Elijah heard the verdict
calmly. He previously had stated he was
on trial before two tribunals one of God
and one of man and intimated he did not
fear the earthly verdict. whatever the
result
Sandford took the stand himself this
morning and for an hour his dramatic
story held the closest attention of the
crowded court room The witness laid
particular stress on seven facts. as he
termed them. which the jury should know
to render an impartial verdict.
First. that the destination was known
TO every member of the crew.
second. that the destination was un-
changed from the time Of the wreck oi the
Kingdom of the coast OF Africa until the
Coronct was put abou, On Cape Race.
Third, that they had been forbidden by
God to visit any country over which they
had prayed the previous year.
Fourth. that they fully expected TO So
cure an abundance OF food from the fishing
fleet on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland
Fifth that they expected to get vege-
tables and fruit from Newfoundland
sixth. that the yacht Coronet has always
been absolutely under the control of the
will of God
seventh. that the troubles Of the Corone'
during the last forty days of the cruise were
due entirely TO the fact that they disobeyed
the will Of God and turned about from their
trip 70 Greenland and the far North.
The witness took up each Of his sever
facts in order, and commented at length
He said that after the Coronet took on
board the survivors OF the Kingdom. he
asked God what TO do next. and God
answered. Continue
The word was continue we understood
its meaning TO be 10 so on with the work, y
said Mr. Sandford. IT was thoroughly
discussed on board at the meetings and
finally it was decided to go on with the
work, which took us TO the North.
We are disciples Of God. five had not
won the medal in the past eighteen years,
| do not know who has.
Il am talking before God who listens
and knows when | commit perjury anc
will deal with me on high. no matter wha'
NAV result in this court"
He then declared that all knew wha
they were 10 do and that was the time
for them to get away If any cared so &c
do. but not protest was raised, not &
soul left the yacht
He declared dramatically. shifting the
rail of the witness stand. that if he hac
nothing else left for his eighteen years
service for God il was his consciousne,
of the Almighty and thar he hao )cer
true to the Lord.
His third fact, which he contendeC
was essential the jury should know. wa
| that he had been forbidden by God 10 visi
| the countries over which he prayed las
year and that was why he did not wisl
TO return to the United States
Mr.. Sandford at this point becam,
much affected, his voice was chokec
and the tears glistened in his eyes when h,
told Of the faithfulness Of his wife durin,
the eighteen years of his service for tn
Lord in his present manner.
When | started out" said he, -eigh
teen years ago, and resigned my pastor
ate. / was living in a brownstone from
and Just had marie d "a young woman
who came of a good family. whose fathe
was worth 500, 900. II meant much to he
to change and follow this life and sal,
to her How would you like to live de
pending upon Go d with no salary. n
contribution box, not to preach n sermo
and then stick contribution box into tn
face Of the man who had heard it, an
she said to me, | think it would be per
fectly lovely Last night | asked he
if she was sorry Of the decisio and sh
replied. Certainly not, and lshe laughe
when she said it."
Mr.. Sandford then said if he had beel
seeking financial gain he never woul,
have taken up this course Of life. II
declared with much emphasis that what
ever had been said Of him no one ha,
accused him OF being coward, Com
menting on evidence introduced TO sho,
he had said he would sail the Corone
into hell if God said so he explained
was simply figure OF speech used to sho,
how thoroughly he believed in obedienc
, to God.
He dwelt on the fact he had visite,
every ocean except the Arctic Oceai
and every sea in the world. He de
; scribed briefly the experiences of tn
! Coronet in rounding Cape Horn and sal
the only thing that brought them safel
, through was the needing of their prayer
. . by the Almighty
In his seventh fact he asserted tn
: : whole cause and explanation Of the hard
. ships which came to the Coronet and he
crew in the last forty days of the voyag
was dsobedience to Gods 8 will in turnin
back from the voyage to the far Noru
: This disobedience he attributed TO tn
spirit which had been brought aboar
: by the survivors Of the Kingdom.
e May God bless you" Sandford sal
n was the worst thing he had to say to an
\ man who had spoken against him. Afts
q saying he wanted TO be considered a ma
e who was true to his convictions he thanke
the court for listening to him.
C Gentlemen, he said to the jury. '"thel
n will be no squeezing from me. am her
It for the rough and ready of the footba
$ game"
d District Attorney Robert T. Whitehoui
i then made the closing argument for Il
d Government
: 1T is necessary" he concluded, :"
come back from the vagnries Of religion