The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-12-16
ELIJAH D0NIE A BANKRUPT
Ea4c-,i Court Names Rsce"ers 10
Seize Zion CITY.
WRECK c? HIS GREAT FORTUNE

Officers Invade Precincts ~ Religious
Town While Its Founder Denies sis
inability to Meet Debts in Time - In
tIuslries IRE Not Profitable and Eusi-
ness Afrairs Aro in Ha. Shape.
Chicago. III. -. Financial difficulties
which began at the time OF the crusade
O. John Alexander Dowie--"EliJah
ItI.,-ard his Restoration Host to New
York a month ago. and which have
been rapidly increasing since his re-
turn. eliminated in the Federal Court
taking possession 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 10000. is the general
headquarters for Dowie's church. and
is said to represent an expenditure OF
S20,0O0,0OO.
Frederick VI. Blount,. cashier OF the
Chicago National Bank, and Albert u.
Currier, a law partner os Representa-
tive Boutell, were appointed receivers
of the property. Their bonds were
fixed at 100000 by Judge kohlsaat' OF
the United States District Court. VINO
made the appointment Oh the petition
of several creditors.
The receivers, with their attorneys
and Custodian Redieske, with six dep
uty marshals, went to Zion City to
serve on DOwie the notice Of the re-
ceivership. RedieSke and his deputies
went to the bank, while the others
called OIL Dowie at his house. AS the
officers were about to demand adnlS'
sion to The bank, man ran from rear
door. One of the deputies overlook
him, and second man came running
from the bank. shouting:
Let mt have those papers; ! will
get away with them"
Redieskc 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 it under
a guard.
While this was taking place at the
bank the receivers and their attorneys
called on Dowie and read TO linn the
petition and order Of court which
placed Zion in the hands Of receiver.
After hearing the petition Dowie
locked himself up with several Of his
leading sub0rdinates. He refused to
allow himself TO be seen. or 10 make
any statement, merely sending out
word that he had nothing 10 say.
The bankruptcy proceedings were
based on the allegation that Dowie is
insolvent. and that while in this condi.
ton he committed an act of bankruptcy
by making preferential payment on
November > to the e. Streeter Lumber
Company for $37T0. Dowie has been
hard pressed by his creditors. espe'
cially since it was announced that his
recent mission to New York had proved
unsuccessful financially.
Dowie's first confession of weakness
was made last Wednesday at 4 rally in
the Tabernacle at Zion City. He wept
as he told of the financial straits in
which the Zion industries found them.
selves. Instead of, frightening many
into depositing. this appeal sent long
line Of people to the bank to draw out
their money. Il
In the efforts to'remedy the condition
of affairs at Zion City hundreds OF let
tiers were sent out daily to Dowie's fol.
lowers in other parts Of the country.
In these letters, in which glowing
prospects of Zion City's future were
painted, and in which Dowie was
quoted as praying that all those who
believed in him would "follow the
Lord" all Dowieites were urged. al
most commanded. to sell their farms,
stores and everything else and come at
once to Zion City and take up the Work
of the church All those having money
il banks near where they lived were
asked to draw that money out and send
it for deposit at Zion City.
Dowie is known to have accumulated
q large sum as the head Of the Chris
tian Catholic Church, the assets OF the
organization being estimated at be-
.ween S200O0000 and 3O,00O,oW'.'
There was large outlay Of money
however, when Zion City was started.
Then lace and candy industries were
.tarted. and, as neither of these VEN
lures has ever paid, great deal more
money was tied up.. Dowie's diner
ences with his brother-in-law, Steven
son. over the management of the lace
factory cost more than S100,000, anu
other suits recently begun in Lake
County by creditors are said to agSre'
gate a large sum