Salt Lake Telegram — "Spanish Mansion Awaits Coming of Goliath's Slayer" (March 23, 1930)

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Spanish Mansion Awaits Coming of Goliath's Slayer

Judge James Rutherford Has San Diego Home for King David or Prophets

By RONALD W. WAGONER United Press Staff Correspondent LOS ANGELES, March 22-A $75,000 Spanish mansion commanding a superb mountain view and lying almost within a stone's throw of the ruins of California's first mission awaits the coming of King David, slayer of Goliath.

Judge James Rutherford, owner of the mansion in San Diego and president of the International Bible Students and Watch Tower Bible and Tract society, admitted today that he was not quite sure when King David would appear, but added that "everything is ready for him when he does."

Judge Rutherford, once a circuit Judge of Missouri and a friend of William Jennings Bryan when the Great Commoner first ran as the Democratic nominee for president, has deeded the property to King David, preferably, but he included any of the kings or prophets mentioned in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews as alternatives.

David, Gideon, Barak, Sampson. Jepthae, Joseph and Samuel are the Biblical characters who will find a great welcome at the hands of Judge Rutherford and his associates if they ever become residents of southern California.

"I purposely landscaped the place with palm and olive trees so King David and these princes of the universe will feel at home when they come to offer man the chance to become perfect," said the tall, dignified judge.

"But how will you identify King David or any of the other representatives from God?" Judge Rutherford was asked.

"Beforo I signed the deed I realized the possibility of some old codger turning up bright and early and declaring he was David," the judge replied. "The men I have designated to test the identity of these men are officers of my socl- (Continued on page 7.) Spanish Mansion Awaits Coming of Goliath's Slayer

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etles and, having consecrated, themselves to the Lord, they will be divinely authorized to know imposters from the real princes."

Records on filo in San Diego show that the ten-room, two-story residence was turned over to Judge Rutherford by Robert J. Martin of Brooklyn, N. Y., for $10 consideration, and that Judge Rutherford subsequently deeded it to tho ancient kings.

Judgo Rutherford's plan to establish the famous Biblical characters in comfortable California quarters is one of the most unique religious plans on record in a state where novel religious ideas are many, and often, according to some persons, not of such charitable natures.