The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-26
SEEKING WAY TO PUNISH
 THE "OVERSEER" OF ZION
Public Excitement Over the Revelations of the h. quest Into the Methods of DOwie,
 the Chicago "Healer."


 ner's inquest on Thursday regarding the methods of Dowie. the. healer" stirred public sentiment yesterday to an extraordinary degree and aroused the officers of the law to strenuous at tempt to find means of punishing the "Overseer" of Zion.
 Early in the morning States Attor- ney Deneen assigned two of his assist ants to a search for a criminal law which would cover the case Of the fraudulent ministrations under whicn two women have died in agony Wlthln a fortnight. MT. Deneen asked that his assistants report to nim at the ear Hest moment.
 Toward evening they announced that they could find no statute under Wh.c Dowie could be indicted and prosecut' ed, but the States Attorney, asked them to take up the matter again to- day and make a further search.
 Meanwhile the City Health Depart ment and the State Health authorities are engaged in similar inquiry.
 If any way is found for making successful prosecution there Is no coubt that the Coroners jury, which in the Mrs. Judd case will re-assemble next Thursday, will seiZe hold of the Opportunity to start John Alexan 1e: Dowie on his way to punishment.
 May Be Left to Public Sentiment.
 The general opinion yesterday among lawyers was that the laws as at pres ent shaped were inadequate to cope with this modern evil. 1T they are found not to reach the ''Zion" OVer- seer. the consensus of judgment was that he would be left to the powerful law of public sentiment, which prom ises to be sufficient to crush him and his crueltjes. Otherwise the matter must be held in aosyance unti. the next Illinois General Assembly is con- vened. when legislation will be de- manded that will drive kin from the State.
 Funeral services were held during the day over the remains of Mrs. Louisa Christensen, who died at Zion after being for ten days without medical treatment for burns sustained Tn the recent So nh Chicago fir.. The cere- rnony was held at H. E. Haggard's un- dertaking establishment, 153 South Western Avenue. The Health De- pertinent is continuing Its in- vestigation of Haggacd's action in removing the bodies of Mrs. Judd and Mrs. Christensen without permits.
 Inquiring Into Dowie's History. Interest in Dowie reached to inquiry into his history yesterday. It was found that from a penniless prisoner in
 
 changed him to President of a bank, owner of a fortune of $5,000,000. pro- prietor of the greatest religious city planned since the Mormons settled in Utah, Czar of a faith cult numbering 10000 followers. head of college" publisher of a newspaper, and owner of hospitals" In thirteen years John A. Dowie. convict, has become "Dr." John Alexander Dowie. millionaire, wearer of royaEpurple robes. Emperor of Zion,' faith healer. defer of the State Legislature.
 Thirteen years ago John A. Dowie came near riding on a rail in the town of Sydney, Australia. Today he rides forth in his private carriage attended hv footmen. When he journeys outside the city he goes in private car. attended by a corps of retainers. Thirteen years ago the prison authorities of Australia were ready to take his photograph by force; a few months ago he paid $5Oo for a heroic" photograph of himself. a picture eight feet high, taken by the largest camera in the world When he began crying his religious wares in Chicago in 1892 he preached in a rick ety. one e-storied frame building at Stony Island Avenue and Sixty-second street Today he controls "hotels, "synagogues," bakeries, shops, stores and homes in numbers along M1chl- gan Avenue, between Twelfth and SIX teenth Streets. and in the intersecting thoroughfares. Out at Waukegan 6,4Oo acres of land. held by John Alexander Dowie, is being cleared for the rising of Zion City Within the great house which is to be occupied by Dr." John Alexander DoWie, General OVerseer or the Christian Catholic Church in Zion" is to be placed $50.000 worth of fur nture. ''The Pope of Rome has palace and magnificent furniture" said Dowie re- gently, "because he is the head of great church. am the head of a church, too, so why should not have the same kind of things?
 Source of Dowie's Wealth.
 Dowie has never explained where the money came from which created all these things. This question Is now be- ing answered as the result of the re cent revolt of many "Elders' and "eyangelists' from the faith of Dowie- ism. The explanation is made by the Rev. Samuel H. Stokes. one of the revolters.
 Thousands of dollars a day are gathered in by John Alexander Dowie es the 'tithes' and offerings of poor deluded souls in all parts of the coun- try. He seeks to get all the money he can put his hands on. The money of the rich and poor Is srdspeu OS him."
 Into the hands of Dowie each week goes at least 10 per cent of the earn mos of every follower of DOwieism. He nisims that from 50,000 to 60,0OO men and women pay these offerings over to him. What the amounts received each day. each week. or each year aggregate is known only to Dowie.
 Tn return, those who obey his orders blindIy receive his injunctions as to what constitutes holy living"
 Holy living" says Dowle, means no smoking. no drink ing of liquors, no giving to theaters, no joining of secret societies. no taking of medicines or drugs"
 Believing in the efficacy of prayer and bowie for every human i'll, they may die in pain, without medical at tendance. as did Mrs. Emma Lucy Jndd and Mrs. Louisa Christensen, whose deaths are now being investi- gated by the Coroner and the States Attorney. This is held by Dowie to be mart of the faith"
 Encouraged by his advancement nroud of his public claims that he 'has r1ade S5,00O, ,000" he has recruited his own standing army-the Zion guards. His followers assert that these men, all drilled in military tactics, will gladly give up their lives, if need be, if the "General Overseer'' is threaten ed Mobbed in Mansfield, O., stoned in