The Washington herald., 1908-08-27
ROLLERS" IN COURT
Alleged WifeO Dead Prophet
Is a Feature.
WOULD GUARD CRowDY ESTATE
Petition Asking for Injunction and
Appointment of Receiver 10 Take
Charge of Church Assets Filed by
Trustees-Lovey J. Crowdy, II Is
Alleged, Is Not widow of Bishop.

While Bishop Cr0wdy was IN the land
OF the living the Feet Washers and
Holy Rollers the sect of which he
vas the originator and founder. worked
harmoniously under his prophetic guild
ance and waxed fat IN every way.
Although the bishop was buried
some time ago. there are those among
HIS followers who contend he viii shortly
be back Up 10 this writing This ex-
pectation has not come true. and the
majority OF hts disciples and the trustees
OF the Church Of God and Saints OF
Christ OF the United States and the Con
tinent OF Africa seem 10 have arrived
at the conclusion that their counsel and
adviser has gone never 90 return
Evidence Of this BELIEF was furnished
yesterday by Joseph W. Crowdy and
seven trustees OF the church entering suit
against Lovey J Crovdy. August N
Crowdy. Isaac s Crovdy. and the Ma
Jional Metropolitan Bank Of this city.
asking for sn injunction and the appoint
uent OF receivers 70 take charge Of the
church assets
An AAAe8eu ~ AAN-
The petition sets forth that according
TO papers fled in the prabate court L-0vey
J. Crowdy is the alleged wife Of the
late Prophet William S. Crovdy. who
was At the time Of his death. the church
sect leader OF bishop" II is also stated
that certain funds belonging % the
church are on deposit n the National
Metropolitan Bank. OF this city.
The assertion is made tha- Crowdy
died intestate in Newark. y J.. On Au-
gust ( last. Notwithstanding the beIief Of
some Of his faithful flock that he only
sieepeth- The petitioners say Crowdy
bought 10 acres Of land in Virginia
for $500, conveying title 70 the
trustees o. the church; that he
bought premises 1I1S L street north
west for s. so with money belonging 70
the church. and that the furniture in the
house is worth about $3.50. The property
al the southwest corner of Eighth and
y streets northwest. occupied by the
hotel Of the church. was purchased by the
dead bishop for Ss.co5. and. according TO
papers. the stock in the grocery store at
80 y street. known as the Church OF
God and Saints Of Christ Grocery store.
IS worth about S250. L IS further alleged
that the tabernacle az Fourth and New
York avenue IS worth SLc@0. and that
there are about s. 80 in cash on deposit
in the bank. and about $500 in the safe
al the bishops late residence.
Refers TO n Divorce.
That Lovey J. Crovydy IS not the legal
wife Of the departed bishop is the ALE
CATION set Up in the petition It is stated
that he was divorced about ten or twelve
years ago in san Francisco. and that he
married again in this city, his wife being
Hauis Crowdy
The court IS asked 10 enjoin the de
PENDANTS from disposing Of the property
and TO restrain Lovey J. Crowdy from at
tempting to collect the money on deposit
in the bank and to enjoin the Register
Of Deeds from issuing letters Of admins
tration to the alleged widow OF the bishop.
\ positive contradiction Of many OF the
statements alleged in the suit filed against
the Crowdys was made by Mrs. Lovey
Crowdy last night.
When seen by a representative OF The
Washington Herald. the widow Of the
Holy Rolling prophet was highly in
QlSDaII- cDe Sdll- N Lne UrSL pace.
the statement that she had been divorced
from the bishop. and that he had
taken on another member Of the faithful
as wife. was a malicious faIsehood on the
part Of somebody
According TO her declaration. she was
married to ". s Crowdy In Hanover
Mo, about twenty-five years ago. As to
the so-cslled second wife, Halle Crowdy
she said she was never anything but a
house servant in the Crowdy household
after they came 10 Washington The
woman real name she says. is Halle
Booker. the "CrOwdy' having been taken
Of her own accord. as is doEe sometimes
by house servants
Owned by the Bishop.
The house lib L street northwest. with
all the furniture and other articles there
IN; the grocery store in y street. the
pair of horses and the brougham- and the
moneys in bank. Mrs. Crowdy declares.
We're all the absolute personal property
Of the one who "sleepeth
Asked whether she intended TO fight
the suit in the courts. the widow said
she was not prepared 10 say. iuasmuch
as the papers fled had come as a SUI
prise, and she had had no time in which
TO consider what action would be taken.
An Early Impression.
From the CIeTelsud Plain Dealer.