Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-04-19
'DOWIE IS WARNED
Letter Written to ZiOn's Leader in
1904 by His Overseers Gives
Startling Facts.
MIsAPPROPRIATED FUNDS.
Ms Advisers Assure Him Were True
y Condition Known He Would
Land I'm Jail Very
Promptly.


; Chicago, April l6.-Generai over
seer Wilbur Glenn Voliva produceu
the first OF his batcn OF documentary
evidence Sunday by which ne hopes 70
confound John Alexander DoWie anu
his followers who are endeaVorins "
regain control OF Zion CITY Inc IN
strument was letter written unuer
the date OF April H. lSO4' ana ao-
dressed to "Dr." powe' VINO was
then in Zurich, Switzerlanu' ~ 40.
ter was signed by overseers 'onn y.
Speicher, Charles >. bernard anu
Judge V. v. Barnes. IN tne @ocunent
they warned DoWle tna' uiAe1S ~
changed his ways In the management
OF Zion City clash was lnevitaple.
They stated that from their examin
alton OF the conduct OF the analrs VI
the colony 1t was evident that Dowie
had overdrawn his accounts at tne
bank in Zion City, that ne received
deposits when 1t was known tnat ing
bank was insolvent, that ne nad USED
funds otherwise than In accordance
with the representations maze Oy
the stock contracts and certincates
1and that the proof OF the appropria-
[ ton OF such large sums Tor MS own
personal use and Tor ends ontside OF
the industries named, would De IAN
tamount to a conviction OF embezzle-
ment in any court Of law. The let
ter further implored Dowie TO exer-
else a rigid economy on the part OF
himself and his family, saying that
expenditures to this end should be
based on needs rather than upon
fictitious income.
The inhabitants Of Zion City, antic-
ipating that such letter would be
read, focked to the tabernacle at an
early hour, and long before the SER
vices opened the big building was
filed. It was not until after the reg
ular Easter ceremony had been gone
through with that the sensation was
sprung, and the General Overseer
Voliva requested that Overseer Brace
field read that section of the letter
which said there is no doubt for a
moment that failure to meet pay
ments and an exposure of the true
condition Of things would land your
self and the cashier and general fnan-
cial manager in Jail very promptly, "
the audience signifed its approval Of
the sentiment expressed by vigorous
applause. The letter continued 1.-THE
standard of Zion can not be lower
than that set by the business world
outside. Your safest place will be
here at home. There is but one coun-
try outside. and that is Chill, where
you would be safe from the attacks
that would be made, and the situation
here would be hazardous If you con-
tinue your policy.
1.-THE using of funds otherwise than
in accordance with the representa-
tons made by the stock contracts
and certificates and the proofs Of the
appropriation of such large sums to
your own personal use and for ends
outside of the industries named, in
Guiding what has been done at Ben
MacDhui, would be tantamount to a
conviction"
The letter concluded as follows:
"Such is the extent Of Zion that no.
where in the civilized world will you
be without the pale of the extradition
law. Your business enterprises have
connections in every land, and hence
in every country venue can be laid