New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-02
D0WIE A BANKRUPT.
RECEIVERS FOR ZION.
No Salaries Paid for Sir Weeks
Frantic Calls for Money.

session of all the property controlled by DOwie
in Zion City. III. This town, which was founded
two years ago by Dowie. has population of
more than thousand, is the general head
quarters for Dowie's church. and is said to rep
resent an expenditure of $20O00OO0.
Frederick NJ Blount. cashier of the Chicago
National Bank and Albert D. Currier. law
partner of Representative Boutell were ap-
pointed receivers of the property Their bonds
were fixed at 100000 by Judge Kohlsaat of the
United States District Court. who made the ap-
pointment on the petition of several creditors
The receivers left here for Zion City tonight 10
take possession of the property.
RECEIVERS GO TO ZION CITY.
The receivers. with their attorneys and Gus
todian Redieske. with six deputy marshals went
to Zion City tonight to serve on Dowie the
notice of the receivership. Redieske and mis-
deputies went to the bank. while the others
called on Dowie at his house. AS the officers
were about to demand admission to the bank
man ran from rear door. One of the deputies
overlook him, and a second man came running
from the bank. shouting:
Let me have those papers; I will get away
with them"
Redteske threatened to arrest them unless they
returned at once to the bank, which they did
He then placed the bank and the three men in
ii under guard.
While this was taking place at the bank the
receivers and their attorneys called on DoWle
and read TO him the petition and order of court
which placed Zion in the hands of a receiver Al
ter hearing the petition, Dowie locked himself
ND with several of his leading subOrdinates. He
refused TO allow himself to be seen, or to make
anv statement merely sending out word that
he had nothing to say.
The order of court compels Dowie to appear in
court on December IL
The bankruptcy proceedings were oased on the
allegation that Dowie is insolvent, and that
while in this condition he committed an act OF
bankruptcy by making preferential payment
on November ? to the E. Streeter Lumber COM
pany for S3,77O. Dowie has been hard pressed
by his creditors. especially since it was an
nounced that his recent mission to NeW-4orK
had proved unsuccessful financially
ASSETS ESTIMATED AT S3O.OO0OOO,
Dowie is known to have accumulated large
sum as the head Of the Christian Catholic
Church, the assets of the organization being
estimated at between $20,O0OOO0 and S3OoOO-
OOO There was large outlay of money, how
ever, when Zion City was started. Then lace
and candy Industries were started, and as
neither of these ventures has ever paid. a great
deal more money was tied I'D. Dowie's differ
enses with his brother-in-law. Stevenson, over
the MANAGEMENT OF the lace factory cost more
than 100000 and other suits recently begun in
Lake County by creditors said to aggregate
a large sum.
Mr. Ettelson. representing the petitioning
creditors in his arguments before Judge Kohl
saat said. IT is impossible to estimate the
liabilities or assets of Dowie. lions affairs are
complicated and it will take several weeks.
believe. before any idea OF Dowie's finances can
be had
Judge Kohlsaat at first refused to appoint a
receiver for the property, on the ground that
Dowie should have notice Of so important a
proceeding but. after listening 10 further ac-
count of Dowie's affairs, decided that it would
be we'll to have the receivers appointed before
the property at Zion City could be dissipated
He therefore entered the order appointing
Messrs. Blount and Currier.
FIRST CONFESSION OF WEAKNESS.
Dowies first confession of weakness was
made last Wednesday at rally in the Taber-
nacIes at Zion City. "A lot Of you people have
cash in your pockets" he said to his followers
Dig down and get it out 1t is Gods and
we need it In His work You're towards If you
don't give it up. Deposit it,"
He talked in the strain for more than
an hour. weeping as he told of the financial
straits in which the Zion industries found
themselves Instead of frightening many into
depositing this appeal sent long line of people
to the bank on Friday TO draw out their money
Less than $1,000 was deposited in the bank
on Friday. while the amount withdrawn was
twice as much Late in the afternoon A w.
Graham Of Waukegan, tried to withdraw his
account OF $500 and told that he would
have to give thirty days notice before he could
get his money Yesterday another appeal was
made by Dowie for funds but the depositors
y.-T,1 rod yy1Tp fnV- and W.
chiefly in trivial amounts. To-day DOwie asked
the members Of Zion more urgently than ever
for money. He declared that he must have
100000 without delay This sum, he said. he
was willing take in short loans. but they must
be forthcoming Immediately.
In the efforts TO remedy the condition Of af-
fairs at Zion City hundreds of letters were sent
out daily 10 Dowie's followers in other parts of
the country. In these letters. in which glowing
prospects of Zion City's future were painted and
in which DOwie quoted as praying that all
those who believed in him would follow the
Lord" all Dowieites we're urged. almost COM
manded 70 sell their farms, stores and every
thing else and come at once to Zion City and
take UP the work OF the church All those haV-
ing money In banks near where they lived were
asked to draw that money out and send II Tor
deposit at Zion City.
EMPLOYEES NOT PAID FOR WEEKS
II is said that the employees of the manufact-
uring Industries nave not been paid in from four
10 six weeks What little they have received is
said to have been paid entirely in the Zion City
coupon books. Early week before last Dowie
made personal trip through the various shops
1t has been customary at Zion City TO start
each DAYS work in the shops with fifteen min
u,es OF prayer. on the day in question it is said
that DOwie went TO each of the shops and
talked for more than two hours to the employees
He told mis- followers and others that they must
either wait for their salaries or endure a sub
stantfal cyt In wages. This was agreed to-
In one shop a member of Dowies flock
asked Dowie why he was going to Australia II
his finances We're so bad