END OF A NOTORIOUS SWINDLER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 71, 17 December 1917, Page 6

END OF A NOTORIOUS SWINDLER

'REV. A. B. ffORTBINGTON" DIES IN GAOL

FOUNDER OF THE STUDENTS

OF TRUTH

Now York, December 14. Samuel Crawford, known as the llc</. Arthur Worthinytoii, who formerly figured as a religious leader in iScw Zealand, and in forgery cases in Melbourne, died suddenly in gaol.—Alls.A : .Z. Cable Assn. The subeet of the foregoing cable message was known in Now Zealand as tho Rev. Arthur B. V.Vn-thiugton, but during his career ho also went under the names of Eugene Samuel Bom-ior Walton, Major Eugene Boiivior, Eugene Bouvier, E. U. Banncrton, Mons. Bennateau, Major Horace Oakley Wood, Arthur Wood, W. D. Wood, Arlington Buckingham Wadsworth, Dr. A. is. Wortbington. His real name was Samuel Oakley Crawford. Ho was born in Saugerties, Now lork, m 184/, and was consequently 70 years of age. Ho had previously served two terms of imprisonment, one of three years, at ■Albany, New York, m 18/0, for robbine a man, and one of seven years imposed upon bim in Melbourne m 1902 for swindling a young and prettywidow, of Cumberwell, of, close on ■CllOO Ho was at the time ot his death serving a term of imprisonment on a charge of false pretences concerning the Presbyterian Church at roughkeepsic, Now York. Worthington had a most extraordinary career. A splendidly-built man with a striking and welkmt face and a head of silvery grey hair, he attracted attention wherever he went. Being an excellent conversationalist and affable yet commanding m his manner, ho mad* friends quickly, and very quietly he sized them lor vnat they were financially worth to linn. Acceding to the American police records, he enlisted in he. North* Army in 1864, and fought in the Civil War After peace ho studied law, and was admitted to tho Barin New York. He practised his profession for only a short period. Becoming connected with a banking institution, he learnt in year what he could of finance, and hen commenced to move about the different States. . Always on the look out for propositions likely to bring K rist to bis mill, Worthington played the part of a lawyer, or banker, political orator, real estate operator, spiritualist, litterateur, mining speeuotor and organiser, and confiden e nan generally. He swindled hundreds of people, and, strange to say, manaJHo evade arrest in all but one case in tho United States. In 1868 Worthington contracted hw first marriage in New York It's not lono- before he deserted his wile °d S. He moved to Detroit, Michfi, where he was arrested and senionced or robbery. After his release Knt!to Chicago, where he.married he daughter of a clairvoyant I oft her, and a few months later, n Oho took part in another matrimon- • i He once more slipped ly d was next heard of in Peona, after fleecing b,s v.ct.ms Texas in 1878. he was told to leave the State or * ™MJ* 1 •nehed He turned up at »f i0 "> o , ed a dramatic company, and m rod one of the members, o leave her practice when it »»= hurriedhe had committed forgery. lie h«mcu as tlioso law u " -\ . I . e „ u ] ar f o l- ? ciCUtiS t;„l P tTgSaL\Houri Sh- ] became mixed ed. But uonuu b w ho had fiwt assl lieu , d body, sled for New Ze, peared. kater m> » -hnrch. This U -Tlß9o' He 2'f woman with was in l»Jy- P \ nnt \. eT organisation him « of Tnith, and known as the Sl»™ He induced his everything went well. Be q " bad followers to provide the m»e* h a temple, wh ch «jand* Quar . to-day. He tnckal ai Wm , rolling with to . t0 hcr se lf ,n a tig couie. J exposure of him. »'«• t llole . He ly found drowned & d . ,BtfcC KittMlourne.a ! ,dth ? .sr*SW-JWSJa ,, E ton arrived » ««.«, years in-evious to « n fast) (lr ? ,S ' , He fhuild™atomplo. SomeBlld spoke of buddin h . g c one who had lieai tj agal!l st Christctmrch made c u ? dmvu ,fs him, but w ' t, It,e,i'1 t , e ,i' followers that le cheeks he told iTL nnd would was another Saul of irs^^^ never sin again. » d inall ho He swindled overs «o" & could. Wicn nrresteo { _ , Worthington from the ferently. On bom* t to Melbourne Gaol m uui