The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-12-05

JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE.
Tuesday afternoon when Judge c. @.
Kohlsaat, of the United States district
court, ordered him to appear before him
on December II and show cause why he
should not be adjudged bankrupt.
Receivers were appointed Immediately,
and at ten o'clock Tuesday night they
took Zion City and all it's Industrial en-
terprises into custody.
The order of the court was read to
Dowie himself, custodian was placed
at Shiloh cottage, and the surrender both
OF his own papers and those at the bank
was insisted upon. An effort was made
by Zion resident to take some of the
documents from the bank, but the plan
was frustrated.
Frederick M. Blount, cashier of the
Chicago National bank, and Albert Dean
Currier, of the law firm of Boutell, Cur
rier & Freeman, were named as the re-
u, ceivers. The court action took place at
five o'clock. By eight o'clock they had
qualified by filing their bonds for $780,
900 and were on their way to Zion City
with a heavy escort of United States
marshals, constables and lawyers.
Three creditors, with a total of claims
amounting to only Sligo, forced Dowie
into the hands OF a receiver. They were
the H. B. Smith Machine company, of
Smithville, N. j., with a claim OF $401;
Elizabeth McCrimmon, of Batavia, ILL.,,
with claim of $500, and Meyer &
Wenthe, of Chicago, with claim of $100.
The attorneys for these three creditors
were obliged to appear twice before
Judge Kohlsaat before he would grant
their petition. Early in the afternoon
he held that Dowie should be notified
before such action was taken. At the
second hearing, however, the argument
was made that such a notice would act
against the rights of the creditors, CIV
ing Dowie chance to conceal assets.
The appointment, accordingly, was
made.
At midnight it was decided to operate
the industries under the receivership,
but to close the bank, pending an in
vestigation.
Dowie's immediate liabilities are
placed at $3S5.00O, including $4,000
due January 1 on mortgages. $40 900 on
lawsuits, s150,OOO on dividends. and s4O.-
900 on salaries.
The value of Zion City is estimated at
$4,000, 900. 1t extends over $500 acres
of land, which cost Dowie in the neigh
borhood of $1000OOO The improve
ments on this site are said to have cost
100000. Of these the lace factory cost
100000 and the candy factory $25 900.
The population of Zion City is estimated
at 10000. 1t was founded in 1901.
Dowie knew that the receivers and
their aids were coming, however, an
hour before they arrived. He TALKED over
the long distance telephone to Chicago,
saying he would take no step in OPPOSE
ton to the officers of the law, though he
considered the court action an outrage.
This is not law" he said. "This is a
midnight marauding party" He de-
clared that Zion City was thoroughly
solvent, that ali claims presented to-day
would be paid, and that his attorneys
would appear in court to get relief from
the receivership. 1--WE will take action
the first thing in the morning." he said.
vitriolically, 'to rid ourselves of these
bandits" The lawsuits of the last
month against Im-the joint causes OF
the present di4aster-he characterizes
., as wicked and malicious, and shameful
actions, brought to produce ruinous
condition" The debts of Zion, he as
serted, did not reach one-fiftieth of its
assets.
Overseer Jane Dowie is abroad and
thus one source of advice and comfort is
lacking to Dowie. Rumors have been
current for month past that most OF
the tangible assets of Zion, outside OF
real estate, went along with her, and are
now outside the jurisdiction of the
American courts. Attorney Jacob New.
man, for the plaintiffs in the case, init.
mated Tuesday night that this might be
true. Dowie intends also to go abroad
the first of the year.
Aged wisconsin Man Dend.
Lacrosse Wis, Dec 2.-Thomas
Flannery, prominent farmer and be-
lieved to be the Oldest man in western
Wisconsin. died Tuesday, aged 101.
Embezzlement Charged.
Santa Fe, N. NJ, Dec. 2.-The grand
Jury at Socorro indicted Abram Abeyta
ex-county treasurer, on charges of en-
bezzling 100000 of county funds, and OF
grand larceny Of the public records OF
his Office. His trial was set for Deem
Der 8.
Fatal Railway Disaster.
Mahanoy City, Pa, Dec. "A private
car containing officials of the Philadel-
phia & Reading railway crashed into