The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-04-16

OVerseers in 1904 Accused Him of OVer-
 drawing His Accounts in Zion City
 Bank and That He Received Deposits
 When He Knew Institution to be In
 sOlvent-His Acts TantamOunt to Il
 Conviction for Embezzlement iE Any
 Court Of Law.
 Chicago, April 15.-General Overseer Wilbur Glenn Voliva produced the first of his batch of documentary evidence to-day by which he hopes to overthrow completely John Alexander Dowie and his followers who are endeayoring to regain control of Zion City. The in strument was a letter written under the date of April IS, 1904, and addressed to Dowie, who was then in Zurich, Switzerland. The letter was signed by Overseers John c. Speicher, Charles J.. Bernard and Judge V. V. Barnes. In the document they warned Dowie that unless he changed his ways in the man. agement of Zion City a clash was inev- itabIe. They stated that from their ex- animation of the conduct of the affairs of the colony it was evident that DoWie had overdrawn his accounts at the bank in Zion City, that he had received deposits when it was known that the bank was insolvent, that he had used funds otherwise than in accordance with the representations made by the stated contracts and the charities and that the proof of the appropriation of such large sums for his own personal use and for ends outside of the indus tries named, would be tantamount to a conviction for embezzlement in any court of law. The letter further im- plored Dowie to exercise a rigid econ omy on the part of himself and his family, saying that expenditures to this end should be based on needs rath- CT than upon fictitious income.
 The inhabitants of Zion City, antici- pating that such letter would be read. Hooked to the Tabernacle at an early hour, and long before the services open ed the big building was filled, After l lUG ICSuleI ErdSlCl lltQ LSSll concluded General Overseer Voliva re- quested Overseer Brasefield to read the liter in question. When Deacon Brase- 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 con- dition of things would land yourself and the cashier and general financial manager in jail very promptly the audience signified it's approval by ap- plause. The letter continued: "The standard of Zion cannot be lower than that set by business world outside. Your safest place will be here at home. There is but out country outside, and l that is Chili, where you would be safe from the attacks that would be made and the situation here would be hazard ous if you continue your policy
 "The using of funds otherwise than | in accordance with the representations made by the stock contracts and certi- ficates and the proofs of the appropria- tion of such large sums to your own personal use and for ends outside of the industries named, including what has been done at Ben Mac Dhui, would be tantamount to a conviction"
 The letter concludes as follows:
 Such is the extent of Zion that mo- where in the civilized world will you be without the pale of the extraditlon law. Your business enterprises have connections In every land and hence in every country venue can be laid on a criminal charge"
 General Overseer Voliva then called Deacon Newcomb, who was one of the party who was travelling with Dowie at the time the letter was directed to Dowie. Deacon Newcomb stated that he flew into a great passion when he discussed the epistle saying that the policies he had inaugurated must pre- vail.
 Dowie spent a quiet Sunday in this city and presided over simple Easter ceremonies which were participated in | by a few of his faithful followers at the Auditorium Annex.
 | The attorneys for both sides said the conferences would be resumed to-mor- row and that there were yet hopes that a basis for an amicable settlement | would be reached,