The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-26
.DOWIE IN COURTS
EFFORT TO HAVE HIM DECLARED
 4 BANKRUPT.
Proceedings May Involve Contest for the Zios City Property. Which is Worth Between @I5,O00,0ON
 and S2O.000, 900.

Chicago. April 25.--Involuntary bank | ruptcy proceedings were started late | this afternoon against John Alexander Dowie individually before Judge K. M | Harris.
 Ransom F. Walker is one of the pe- | titioning creditors. He is guardian of | the estate of Ethel B. Foley, a minor | and conservator of William T. Foley. | The claims involved amount to S7,0O0 The petition alleges that March Dowie transferred property valued a; Si,200 to Margaret H. Fielder, and that January 10 other property was trans ferred to James H. Hirsch, thus show ing preference to these creditors over others which is alleged to be in vio- lation of the bankruptcy law. Dowie's liabilities are not actually known at this time. His assets are
 said to be about g, ,50o,o0o. The court set the matter for hearing next Mon- day.
 The action taken today threatens to disrupt Zion City in It's present unset tied state. and the friends of the va rious institutions controlled by the Christian Catholic Church In Zion fear that such serious complications may arise that Dowie's venture in building $ model city cannot bear this addi- tional burden.
 The filing if the petitions also places some knotty points of law before the court for an untangling.
 The Zion City property, estimated anywhere from $15.000.000 to s20,000.- 900, Is now claimed by two factions of the church, and if the courts step in, one of the warmest contests the bank ruptcy court has ever seen will develop.
 Early this year when Dowie was in Jamaica, where he went in search of help, he sent his power of attorney to General Overseer Wilbur Glenn Voliva Under this power of attorney, when the break occurred a month ago between Voliva and Dowie. the latters property was transferred by voliva to Financial Manager Alexander Granger The present status of the case is that Gran ger claims the property as agent of the Dowieites, while Dowie is attack ing the transfer in the courts and has sought an injunction restraining Vol iva and Granger from interfering with him.
 Before receiver Is appointed on the petition in bankruptcy filed today, the United States Court will endeavor to determine who has the proper titlA to the property. If Volivas claim Is Legitimate. the Federal courts could not assume jurisdiction for creditors, because the bankruptcy petition runs against Dowie individually. Should DOWIe cIdlm lo tue prove good, receiver could take possession The petition therefore. presents three cornered fight. which from present in dications promises to be long drawn out.
 This is the second time since he founded Zion City that John Alexander Dowie has been attacked In bankrupt cv in the United States Courts. De- cember i. 1903 d similar petition was hIed against Dowie and Judge Kohl satt then in tho United States Distrirt Court. appointed two receivers to tals charge of Zion City and all It's indus tries DOwie fought against the pro ceedings vigorously and succeeded i'm having the receivers discharged An advisory committee of creditors wac tban appointed. This committee s,tII axists under the old proceedInrs hrt it has nothing to do. Since the diS oharge of the receivers Dowie it |. aid has paid off every dollar of ,hs Saoo Oo0 of btedness then invot',n5 in the ease.
 Dowie's legal advisers declare ,h,. he Is solvent beyond question ana tha. inc bankruptcy proceedings will servo tn prnvA this assertion.