The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-04-16
ARREST FOR BANKS
J. c. Banks, DoWie Preacher,
Spent Saturday Night and
Sunday in the Jail
CLAIMS He is PROSECUTED
Street Preacher Declares in Court That
He Will Conduct His Own De-
Tense and That He Was
Preaching the Gospel
CLAIMS He is PROSECUTED

j. G. Banks an expounder of the Cos
pei along the lines laid down by the late
John Alexander Dowie spent Sunday
and Saturday night in cell at the
county Jail and this morning he was ar
raigned before Justice McCarron on
charges of aiding in making distur-
bance and for blocking the streets Of
the city. Banks who appeared good deal
of martyr in court entered plea Of
Not Guilty. to the charges against
him and the hearing of the case was
continued until Thursday morning.
Banks is an Englishman who former
ly resided at Zion City, but who recent
ly came to Kenosha and accepted work
in one of the factories here. He is a
vigorous speaker and since he came to
Kenosha he has been a leader in the
local branch of the followers of Dowie.
For several months he has been holding
street meetings and Of late these meet
ings have been attended with considera-
BILE disturbance. The limit was reached
on Saturday night. Banks had as
sembled a crowd of no less than 500
people at the corner Of Park and Main
streets and had started with his usual
sermon when the crowd of men and
boys began to push about the speaker.
The crowd gathered in force and the
disturbance became SO great that women
and children were being trampled down.
The chief of police was called and told
Banks to leave and stop his speaking,
but the preacher refused and kept on
talking. The crowd became so trouble
some that it blocked the entrance to
stores in the neighborhood and It was
thought that some of the statements
made by the speaker would arouse the
members of the crowd to violence. At
this time the chief arrested Banks and
placed him in jail and this put an end
to the disturbance.
Banks was calm and collected when
arraigned in court and stated that he
would conduct his own defense. The
leaders of the DoWie church in Kenosha
were on hand as witnesses in his favor
and an elder came up from Zion City
to aid in the defense. Banks entered
a plea of 'FNot Guilty" and demanded
an immediate trial but the chief could
not get his witnesses in time to go on
with the case and the hearing was con
tinued.
In speaking of the matter Banks de-
clared that his arrest was an outrage
without parallel in the city of Kenosha.
He declared that he was preaching the
gospel and had made no move which
would be against any law or ordinance
in the city. He claimed that as he
started to talk band of toughs entered
the crowd with the idea of making trou-
BILE and that it was the action of these
men and boys which called for the po-
lice. Banks has been expressing pretty
strong sentiments in his speeches and it
is said that some people of the city
have been made decidedly angry at him
and they have threatened to do him
bodily violence if he is allowed to con-
tinue his TRADES on the streets. Banks
is unique figure. Tall and gaunt with
light red whiskers and with decided
accent in his speech he has attracted
considerable attention. He is one of the
most violent of the so-called Dowietes
and his speeches are almost as violent
as those made by Dowie during the
earlier years Of his career in Chicago.
Banks admits that he was once arrested
in Kenosha on suspicion that he had
been connected with robbery but he
had no trouble securing his release.
Some of the men who have been
watching the case declare that Banks
is suffering from religious mania and
it is just possible that an effort will be
made to have an examination into his
mental condition. At the conclusion of
the hearing this morning Banks was al
lowed to go on his own recognizance.