The San Francisco call., 1904-10-09
WIE'S PRAYERS
NOT COLLATERAL
Hugh Craig Tells How Eli
jah Third Refused to Repay
Loan Made by Capitalist

In the days before John Alexander
Dowie blossomed out as Elijah Third
and before he dreamed his dream of
Zion, as a community in which he
should be the sole property he
was doing missionary work in Cali
fcrnia. This was in 1888 and at that
early period he showed an aptitude for
the use Of the money of others. He
left debt here amounting to S2727 Sc,
on which he later paid S962 As, but
no more. Pressed for payment on his
way to Australia last January he said
that he did not deem the debt a moral
or legal obligation. Thereupon he was
sued by Hugh Craig, who had been
EliJah's raven in the time of need.
The trial Of the case began yester-
day morning in Judge Murasky's court
and will continue Tomorrow Dowie
vas not present, Craig told something
O. his relations with the prophet and
healer. The Oakland capitalist said
that he owed a debt of gratitude TO
Dcwie, which, however, was not an
Offset to the financial claim. When
Dowie was here he spent much of his
time at the Craig home and by the
laying on of hands had cured Craig's
daughter of a painful shoulder trouble
and relieved Mrs. Craig of a serious
throat affection.
Dowie had known Craig's father in
Sydney, Australia, and when he came
here in 1888 he brought a letter of
Introduction from the elder Craig.
Dcwie began holding mission meet
ings and Craig took an interest in them
The fifth meeting was to be held at
the Grand Opera-house, but the
prophet was without funds and Craig
agreed to finance the undertaking. The
mission was not financial success and
Craig frequently asked Dowie for pay
ment. Dowie, who was spending from
one TO three weeks at time at Craig's
home, said he had no money but ex-
pected remittances from Australia.
These never came. The religious man
remarked that il embarrassed him and
hurt his work to be reminded of his
debt and Craig desisted.
Craig saw the prophet several times
in Chicago, where Elijah always anti
cipated reference to his obligation by
that he had prayed for a blessing on
Craig and his family. Craig replied
that the prayer was all right, but it
did not pay the account and that with
all Of his claims for spiritual and su-
pernatural powers, Dowie surpassed
all the men of his (Craigs) acquaint-
ance in handling money that did not
belong to him. He called Dowie's at
Il, 90, l. i
made any return for all the courtesies
given him here.
"On the morning of his arrival here,
January 10 last" said Mr.. Craig, two
cf Dowie's saints called at my office
and left a letter. The letter said that
Dowie had talked to his counsel, V. v.
Barnes, and another, on his special
Pullman car in which they travelled
and they understood his views about
the debt. With my attorney I called
on the two representatives at the Pal
ace Hotel and told them the whole
story Of the debt They said thar 1t
concided with Dowie's version, but ne
did not consider it a moral or legal
obligation, but if the Craigs were in
need he would give Mrs. Craig a pres
ent of $500.
Il told Barnes" the witness con-
tinued, that the Craig family wasn't
exactly in need; that I had paid the
last months bills and thought could
scratch through another month and
unless he could pay $1764 90 he need
not pay anything and would sue L
wanted no contributions from the
Dowie outfit for the Craig family"
The cross-examination Of Craig by
Dowie's attorney related largely to the
dates of missions conducted by Dowie
during his stay on the coast and the
plan Of the defense was not disclosed.