Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-12-02
O0W|E A BANKRUPT
Court Takes Possession of all
the Property in Zion
City, III.
HARD PRESSED BY CREDITORS
Assets of DowIe's Organization Many
Millions = Affairs Complicated -
Workmen in Factories Said to Have
Had No Pay for Weeks.

Had No Pay for Weeks.
Chicago, Dec. 2.-Financial difficult
ties which began during the crusade
Of John Alexander Dowie, the self
styled Elijah LII. and his restoration
host TO New York month ago. sAnd
which have been rapidly increasing
since Dowie's return, eliminated in
the federal courts taking possession Of
all the property controlled by Dewie
in Zion City, H. This town, which
was founded two years ago by Dowie,
has a population of over 10000, is
the general headquarters for Dowie' :
church and is said to represent an ex-
penditure of $20,000,000.
Fred NJ Blint, cashier of the Chi
cago National bank, and Albert D.
Currier, law partner of Congress
man Boutell, were appointed receivers
of the property The bonds were fixed
at 100000 by Judge Kohlsaat, of the
United States district court, who made
the appointment on the petition of
several creditors. The receivers left
for Zion City to take possession of
the property.
Made Preferential Payment.
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 a
preferential payment on Nov. to the
Estreeter Lumber company for s2,770
Dowie has been hard pressed by his
creditors, and especially since 1t was
announced that his recent mission to
New York had proved unsuccessful
financially.
Dowie is known to have aceumula+-
ed large sum as the head of the
Christian Catholic church, the assets
of the organization being estimated at
between $20,000.000 and $30,000,000
There was a large outlay Of money,
however, when Zion City was started
Then lace and candy industries were
started, and as both of these ventures
have never been paying investment
great deal more money was tied up
Dowie's differences with his brother
in-law, Stevenson, over the manage
ment of the lace factory cost more
than 100000, and other suits recently
begun in Lake county by creditors are
said to aggregate large sum. Attor
ney Ettelson, representing the peti
tioning creditors, in his arguments be
fore Judge Kohlsaat, said:
Affairs Much Complicated.
1.-THE creditors whom I represent
have reason to believe that Dr. Dowie
is insolvent. Judgments have been
accommodating against him for several
weeks past and there was every indi
cation that the overseer of Zion con
gregation could not pay his debts. In
such crisis the creditors sought pro
lection for their interests in the bank
ruptcy court. 1t is impossible to esti
mate the liabilities or assets of Dowie
lions affairs are complicated, and i
will take several weeks, believe, be
fore any idea of Dowie's finances car
be had"
Last Wednesday Dowie's first con
fession of weakness was made at 6
rally at Zion City.
"a lot of you people have cash il
your pockets Dowie said to his fol
lowers dig down and get it out. II
Is Gods and we need it in his work
You are towards If you don't give i
up. Deposit it"
Dowie talked in the same strain fol
more than an hour, tears glistening or
his cheeks as he told of the fnancia
straits in which the Zion industries
found themselves.
Started Run on Bank.
Instead of frightening many into de
posting, this appeal sent a long linz
OF people to the bank on Friday. whe,
they lined up at the paying teller''
window, drawing out their money.
1t is declared to be fact that thu
employees of the manufacturing indus
tries have not been paid in from folll
| to six weeks. What little they have
l-ceived Is said to have been paid en-
tirely in the Zion City coupon books
Early in the week before last Dowit
| made a personal trip through the vari
! Gus shops. 1t has been customary a
Zion City to start each days work II
| the shops with Is minutes devoted t
! prayers. On the day in question it Il
paid that Dowie went to each of thu
shops and talked for more than tw'
hours to the employees. He told hi
| followers and others that they mus
| either wait for their salaries or mus
endure a substantial cut in wages
This was agreed to. In one shop ;
non-member of Dowie's flock aske.
| Dowie why he was going to Australi.
If his finances were so bad
Perhaps may not be able to go a
ALL" quietly returned Dowie. Il ma,
have TO stay and see that things ar
set right before | leave"
j ---t------------
To Guard Against Fires.
Detroit, Dec. Fifty state and spe
cial fire insurance agents met her
and organized the Michigan Fire Prs