Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-12-07
WEES DEBTS
RECEIVERS NAMED TO HANDLE
ZION CITY AFFAIRS.
Judge kOhlsaat of the Federal
Court at Chicago Listens to Ar.
guments of Applicants and
Grants Their Petition. Large
Amounts Involved.

NhCok', boC. S.-r lndnCldl O1InCul
ties, which began during the crusade o.
John Alexander Dowie, the self.stylec
''Elijah H. and his restoration host
to New York month ago, and which
have been rapidly increasing since his
return, eliminated last night in the
federal courts taking possession of ali
the property controlled by Dowie in
Zion City, Ills. This town, which wa.
founded two years ago by Dowie, has q
population of over 10000, is the gen.
eral headquarters for Dowie's church,
and is said to represent an expenditure
of 500, OOO, 900
Fred M. BIount, cashier of the Chi.
cago National Bank, and Alabert D.
Currier, law partner of Congressman
Boutell, were appointed receivers of the
property. Their bonds were fixed al
100000 by Judge Kohlsaat, of the
United States district court, who made
the appointmet on the petition of sew.
eral creditors.
The bankruptcy proceedings against
Dowie we're based on the allegation that
he is insolvent, and that while in this
financial condition be committed an
act OF bankruptcy by making a prefer.
entail payment on Nov. to the E.
Streeter Lumber Company OF $40.
Dowie has been hard pressed by his
creditors, and especially since it wae
announced that his recent mission to
New York had proved unsuccessful
financially.
I Dowie is known to have accumulated
a large sum as the head of the Chris.
tian Catholic church, the assets of the
organization being estimated at between
twenty and thirty millions. There was
a large outlay of money, however,
when Zion CITY was started. The lace
and candy industries were started, and
as both of these ventures have not been
paying investments great deal more
money was tied up. Dowie's differ
ences with Stevenson, his brother-in-
law, over thu management of the lace
factroy cost more than 100000, and
other suits recently begun in Lake
county by creditors are said to aggre.
gate large sum. Attorney Ettelson,
who represented the petitioning credi.
tors. in his argument before Judge
kohlsaat, said:
"The creditors whom 1 represent
have reason to believe that DR.. Dowie
is insolvent. Judgments have been &C.
cumulating against him for several
weeks past, and there is every indica-
ton that the overseer of Zion congre-
cation cannot pay his debts. In such
a crisis the relitors sought protection
for their interests in the bankruptcy
courts. 1t is impossible to estimate
the liabilities or assets of Dowie.
lions affairs are complicated, and it
will take several weeks. believe, be-
fore any idea of Dowie's finances can
be had"
Judge Kohlsaat at first refused to APP
point receiver for the property, on
the ground that Dowie should have no.
tice of SO important proceeding. AT.
ter listening to further account of
Dowie's affairs from Mr.. Ettelson.
Judge Kohlsaat decided 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,