The San Francisco call., 1903-12-02
DOWIE'S ZION
N HANDS Of
RECEIVERS
--
Court Takes Charge
} Of the Elijah'S
Property.
Followers Ignore His
s.. Pleas for More
Money.
Lack of Ready Funds Brings
Disaster to Leader of
Lack Of Ready Funds Brings
Disaster to Leader of
;. ...@. Restoration Host.


CHICAGO. Dec. Financial diff
culties which began during the crusade
OF John Alexander Dowie. the self
styled Elijah IL" and his restoration
host to New York q month ago, and
which have been rapidly increasing
since Dowie's return, eliminated to-
night in the Federal court taking pos
session Of all the property controlled
by Dowie; IN zion City. III. This town
which was founded two years ago by
DOWie, has a population: Of more than
10 600, is the general headquarters for
:. Dowie's church and is said to represent
an. expenditure OF S20,OO0yQO0.
Fred N. -Blount, cashier Of the Chi
cago National. Bank. and Albert D.
:e.urrier, a law partner Of: Congressman n
Boutellj were appointed receivers OF
the property. Their bonds were fixed
al. 100000 by Judge Kohlsaat Of the
4 nited States District Court, who made
the appointment on the. petition Of sew
eral creditors.
The bankruptcy proceedings against
Dowie were based on the allegation
that he is insolvent, and that while in
this financial condition he committed
an act OF. bankruptcy by making
preferential Payment on November 4
70 the T. Streeter. Lumber Company
q sSI70. DOwie has been hard pressed
pyt his creditors. and especially since il
-yas- announced that his recent mission
- Ne.g York had proved unsuccessful
fnancially..
ZION INDUSTRIES A FAILURE
-. Dowie is known 10 have accumulated
2: large SUM as the head Of the Chris
tan. Catholic Church" the assets. of
,I3e organization .heing estimated at
' oetH'e 'esE so, 100000 and $50, 600, 600. There
= was a. large outlay Of money however.
when Zion City was started. The lace
ana candy industries were started
ana as neither Of these ventures has
Deen paying. investment a great
osal more money was tied Up. Dowie's
!. oliIerenoes. with his -brother-in-law. Ste
Nenson' over the management of RI.
lace factory cost more than 500 o0o
ano other suits recently begun IN T,al,s
county by. creditors are said To agpre-
gate a large sum.
. Attorney. .Ettels, representing ~. -
. .tiiioning creditors, in his argument be
1ore Judge KOhlsaat said:
The creditors whom rer~......
:. have. reason 10 believe thar DR. Do1-,e
rs insolVent Judgments have beor -
s lnl uIatlng against him for several
weeks past and there was. every ;ndi-
cation that the Overseer of the zion
congregation could not pay his debts
. In such crisis the creditors .so,,obt
. protection for their interests. in tbe
Bankruptcy court. It is Impossible n
estimate the Liabilities or assets OF
.D9"ie.- -Zion's- affairs are complicated
and It V-il take several weeks. I he
:heve,- before any idea Of his finances
can be had"
COURT NAMES RECEIVERS.
p: Judge Kohlssat at first refused TO an
point a receiver for the propertv on
the ground that Dowie should have no
tice: Of 50 important a proceeding. AZ
ter: listening 70 q further account Of
DoW-ie' s affairs from EtteIs. Judge
Kohlsaat. decided 1t would be well to
gave the receivers appointed before the
properly az Zion City could be dissi-
pateds He therefore entered the order
appointing Blount and Currier.
Last Wednesday Dowie.s first confes-
sion ot weakness was made at a rally
in the tabernacle at Zion City.
a lot Of you people have cash in
yourf pockets" Dowie said to his fol-
lowers. Dig down and get it out. It
IL Gods and we need it IN his work.
You are towards II you dent give it I'D.
Deposit T."
Dowie talked in the same strain for:
more than an hour. tears glistening on
his cheeks. as he told of the financial
status in which the Zion industries
found themselves:
Instead Of frightening many into de-
posting, the appeal sent a long line Of
people 10 the bank on Friday. when
they lined up al the paying teller's win
dow, drawing out their money.
REVIEWS APPEAL FOR MONEY.
Less than $4,000 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 10 withdraw $500 and
was told he would have 10 give thirty
days notice before he could get his
money. Yesterday another appeal was
made by Dowie for funds, but the de-
positors who appeared were few. and
the deposits were chiefly IN trivial
amounts.
To-day Dowie asked the members Of
Zion more urgently than ever for
money. He declared that he must have