The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-02
Property Is Worth from 90 to
80 Million Dollars.
HIS BANK is CLOSED.
Says He Will Pay Out in a
Short Time.
Has Been Making Frantic Ap-
peals for Money Recently.

which began during the crusade of
John Alexander Dowie, the seif-styled
Elijah ILL.," and his restoration host
to New York month ago, and which
have been rapidly increasing since
Dowie's return. eliminated last night
in the federal courts taking possession
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 over 10000, is the
general headquarters for Dowie's
church and is said to represent an ex-
penditure of $4,000. 600.
Fred NJ. Blount cashier OF the Chi
cago National bank and Albert d.
Currier, a law partner of Congressman
Boutwell,, were appointed receivers OF
the property. Their bonds were fixed
at $fO0, 900 by Judge Kohlsaat of tha
United States district court who made
the appointment on the petition Of sew
eral creditors.
The receivers left for Zion City az
once to take possession of the pro-
perty.
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 q pre-
fGrenIlal payment OH INONGluDCI "
the E. Streeter Lumber company OF
49, TO Dowie has been hard pressed
by his creditors, and especially since
it was announced that his recent mis-
sion to New York has proved unsuc-
cessful financially.
Dowie is known to have accumulated
a large sum as the head of the Chris
tian Catholic church, the assets of the
organization being between 20,OO0,OO0
and SIC, 600 900. There was a large out
10 oF hnWaV6r- when Zion CITY
was started. The lace and candy in
dustries were started. and as potn OF
these ventures have not been paying
investments a great deal of money was
decided on as necessary. Dowie's dif-
ferences with his brother-in-law, stew
enson, over the management of the
lace factory cost more than $lo0oOO.
and other suits recently begun IN Lake
county by creditors are SAID TO assre-
gate large sum-
Attorney Ettelson. representing the
petitioning creditors. in his argument
before Judge Kohlsaat said:
''The creditors whom l represent
have reason to believe that DR.. Dowie
is insolyent Judgments have been ac-
cumulating against him for seYerai
weeks past and there was every 1ndi-
cation that the overseer of Zion con-
eregation could not pay his debts. In
such a crisis the creditors sought pro-
lection for their interests in the pank-
runtcv court It's impossible to esti-
Zion's affairs are complicated. ana II
will take several weeks l believe pc
fore any idea of Dowie's finances can
be had
appoint a receiver for the property on
the ground that Dowie should have no
tice of so important a proceeding.
After listening to further account OF
Judge Kohlsaat decided it would be
well to have the receivers appointed
before the property of Zion City could
be dissipated He therefore entered
the order appointing Messrs. Blount
and Currier.
Last Wednesday Dowie's first con-
fession of weakness was made at
rally in the tabernacle at Zion City.
"G lot of you people have cash in
Your pockets" Dowie said to his fol-
lowers Dig down and get it out. 1t
is Gods. and we need it in his work.
You are towards if you don't give 1t
up Deposit it,
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 to the bank on Friday when
they lined up at the paying teller'S
window drawing 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 Wau-
kegan, tried to withdraw $500 and was
told he would have to give 80 days no
tice before he could get his money. Yet
another appeal was made by Dowie for
funds, but the depositors who appeared
were few and the deposits were chiefly
in trivial amounts.
Yesterday Dowie asked the members
of Zion more urgently than ever for
money He declared that he must have
$500 900 without delay This sum, he
said, he was willing to take In short
loans but that they must be fOrthcom-
ing Immediately. In the effort to rem
edy the condition of affairs at Zion
City hundreds of letters were sent out
daily to Dowie's followers in other
parts of the country. In these letters,
in which glowing prospects of Zion
Citys future were painted, and in
which Dowie himself is quoted as pray
ing that all those who believe in him
will follow the Lord" all Dowieites
their farms, stores and everything else
and come at once to Zion City and
take up the work of the church. All
of those who have money in banks
were asked to draw that money out
of the local banks and send it for de-
posit at Zion City.
1t is declared to be a fact that the
employees Of the manufacturing indus
to six weeks. What little they have
received is said to have been paid en-
tirely in the Zion City coupon books
Early in the week before last Dowie
made personal trip through the vari-
Gus shops. 1t has been customary at
Zion City to start each days work in
the shop With Is minutes devoted to
prayer services.
on the day in question it is said
DoWie went to each of the shops and
talked for more than two hours to the
employees He told his followers and
others that they must either wait for