The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-29
Self-styled Prophet Unable to
Give $500 Bond.
William Moody, Another Of Clan,
Arrested Near AtchiSOn.
HEARING TOBEJULY Z.
Papers of Prisoner Show That
He Had Many Titles.
Cheap Note Paper Bears Rub
Der Stamp Letter-head.

Israel Alfred ]. Dennis, the man
suspected of having fraudulently OBJ
tanned near 200 from William Klee,
a shoemaker who had fallen under
the spell of Dennis, has been lodged
in the Shawnee county Jail in default
of $500 bond.
AT the request of Sheriff Jonathan
D. Norton the Atchison county auth
critics made the arrest last night of
William Moody who is said to have
been equally interested In getting
Klee's money. Deputy Sheriff Ben
Judkins went to Atchison this morn
ing to get the man who has been in
charge Of the farm and ranch near
there.
The county officers believe Dennis
made Klee, who is fanatic in faith,
believe that the gift of the money
would secure him against physical
death and spiritual condemnation.
klee still believes this and is an I'M
willing party to the prosecution which
was started by Daniel Klee, father of
the victim. The preliminary hearing
of Dennis will take place July in
the city court.
Examination of Dennis pockets
when he was committed to Jail pro-
duced an interesting assortment of
papers which the man employed in
introducing the Restored Church of
the Messiah into Topeka. Evidently
the church was started in Denver as
letter head, printed with rubber
stamp on sheet of cheap note paper
has the address:
The Restored Church of the Messiah.
National Headquarters.
'1515 Larimer Street, Room %,
Denver, Col"
Pockets Contained Papers.
One certificate, the appointment of
Israel Alfred ]. Dennis as president Of
the church. is signed by David Char
ters, founder This is sealed with a
design of overlapping triangles, in the
angles of which are eleven mystic let
tiers, in the center the word Israel"
and round the edges, THE Seal of the
Living God" This seal has been used
upon. all of the dozen certificates
Dennis record of his first entrance
into the church bears the date of Feb
ruary IL, 1904, ard reads as follows:
81, Israel Alfred ]. Dennis, president
of the Restored Church of the Messiah,
and prophet, seer and revelator to the
same, bear record that upon the 4th
day of February, 1891, in the city of
Sterling, Sanpete Co, Utah, the Angel
Gabriel appeared to me and, in the
presence of two OF his fellows, wrote
the name of the Father in my forehead
with pen and ink in Hebrew letters.
(Signed)
ISRAEL ALFRED ]. DENNIS.
"And to this, we, the servants Of the
Lord, Daniel and Paul, bow our heads
and say amen.
DAVID CHARTERS, OANIEL).
GUSTAV EPHRAIM, PAUL)."
The certificates Of appointment, of
which Dennis carried quite a number,
were made out upon a printed blank
form and were sealed with the Seal
Of the Living God" Some of his ap-
pointments are signed by his wife who
variously assumes the names, Eloahim
Bathsheba Beatrix Dennis and Beatrix
S. A. Dennis, and the varied titles of
treasurer of the church, chief matron,
high priestess and elect lady. Some of
the other appointment are signed by
James McGann and r. Lee kirkland.
Had Plenty of Titles.
The title conferred upon Dennis by
these certificates are:
"Prophet-elect,'' dated November 20,
1908
teThe chief apostle of God in the Re-
stored Church of the Messiah and the
Kingdom of God" dated May %, 1905.
High priest Of the royal priesthood
of the kingdom of God in the u. S. A.
and all the world" dated May 20, 1910.
"Chief patriarch Nov 81, 1908.
"Pastor of the Topeka branch of the
Restored Church of the Messiah"
May %, 1910.
supreme grand ruler and national
organizer"
"King of the Kingdom of God in. the
land of Zion (America)," dated Nov.
81, 1908.
Israel Alfred ]. Dennis as he calls
himself, has maintained n headquar-
tiers at 800 Quincy street two months,
the windows of the place being decor
ated on the outside with signs of vari-
Gus sorts.
Dennis is a large, round-shouldered
man about so. long curly hair and
beard, the latter giving him patri-
archal appearance. He walks with
staff, speaks deliberately and talks
with the utmost confidence of the ulti-
mate supremacy of his church.
ct received several sums of money
from Mr.. Klee," he admitted to County
Attorney ]. J. Schenck. in the exam
nation which preceded his arrest.
''This was not for my personal benefit,
church. I have employed some of the
money for the expenses of the head
quarters, some of it has been given to
James L. Delk. who now is in Wichita
esta blishing a branch of the church.
Some of it has been turned over to
William Moody. who is in charge of
the farm and branch at Atchison."
Klee was told by Dennis. he says,
that unless he turned over all his
worldly possessions to the church, he
would lose his life and that his little
son would be stricken dead. while the
| wrath of heaven would pursue his
family through the world to come.