THE UNMASKING OF WORTHINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 24, 17 June 1893, Page 566

THE UNMASKING OF WORTHINGTON.

TSE TBUE STORY OE TSE EA_I_,3E HIT

(Specially written for the ‘Graphic,’ by ‘ONE WHO KNOWS.’)

The everlasting * I told you so * isn’t in it this time. A Worthington scandal has been prophesied any day the last two years, but when it burst suddenly on us last Friday evening it was of a nature quite unexpected by the acutest. All sorts of things have been said about it ; but no one has had the grand pleasure diawn out of the worst troubles, of saving * I told you so.’ That he would ‘ bolt,’ commit suicide, be arrested by detectives from New York, be thrashed, or in some other way get his name up many people expected, but that be should be so idiotic as to act as he has done hadn’t even been dreamt of. The Star of the 3rd poured all THE FAT IN THE FIRE. It contained a short letter, signed ‘lndignant,’ which stated in so many plain words that Worthington who had deceived, swindled, and deserted seven women in America, had treated his present wife in the same way with a slight change of programme. Formerly he used to run away from a wife when her money was all gone. This time having established hintself in comfortable quarters at the head of a confiding congregation, having used her money, abilities, and knowledge to gain that position, having spent all her money and got tired of her, he preferred under the circumstances for her to move on to moving on himself, and but for that letter she would be by this time on her way to Sydney childless, penniless, friendless. Who is THE YOUNG LADY' IN AUCKLAND who has lately inherited money ? The ‘ Temple of Truth ’ here, Worthington’s chapel, doesn’t pay. The ‘Students of Truth ’ as they are called, were not wealthy, and they have —or most of them have — ruined themselves, mortgaged their little sections and homes, turned their, properties into cash to pay for building and decorating this temple and a twelve-roomed house for Worthington. Their weekly collections, upon which he has to live, have, in consequence, fallen off. Another wife with money is therefore a necessity for him. Hence the removal of the present and the talk of the future mistress of his battered heart and really beautiful home. He was in Auckland a few months ago lecturing and looking around to see if your soil was prolific, with a view to a possible change of residence. The climate, however, didn’t seem to suit him, but one young lady did. Who is she? • But the best laid scheme?,’ etc., you know. That letter stirred up those horrid papers. Impertinent pressmen, special reporters, and all that odious set started investigating, interviewing and writing, and day after day the Star and the Lyttelton Times have given columns upon columns of facts, some of which are funny enough for a farce, while others are pathetic enough to wring the heart of the hardest. Mrs Worthington was the Mrs Plunkett celebrated throughout America as one of the leading Christian Scientist body. When she left her husband and joined Worthington, the latter was so poor as even to want clothing. THE UNPARALLELED HEARTLESSNESS of the man shone out in the circumstances connected with Mrs Plunkett leaving his home, for, you know, she is staying for the present at Coker’s. After carefully and with the patient skill of a demon work ing matters for the last few months up to the point, he latterly managed to keep her in the house, separated from her friends and the Students. How he contrived to induce the trustees of the building to persuade her to sign a document resigning his name and pledging herself to leave the colony and not divulge any of the events of his past life you will get from the papers. But they don’t tell how that document was signed Confinement in the house had made her ill, and one day—a Wednesday—confronted with the prospect of being turned into the street with nothing at a moment’s notice, worn-out completely, the unfortunate woman signed the paper. She had no friends near or about her to advise her. One girl—faithful, loving creature—was with her, but rhe was powerless to do more than give heartfelt sympathy. This was done on Wednesday evening. The next evening there was the usual weekly meeting of the Students in the Temple. A paper here had a day or two before given a re hash of the oft told old tale of his doings in America. He stood up calmly, and referring to it said he was not going to defend himself, if he required defending he ought not to he there. This not twenty four hours after he had with brutality closed the lips of the only person here who could properly tell that

STORY’ OF CRIME AND CRUELTY'. In the ‘ Temple of Truth,’ too ! One of the conditions in the agreement was that the two children—hers, not his—should be left with him. That he should want, or she agree to thi«. has puzzled many. Knowing her and him I can understand it. He doubtless thought they would give him some hold over her, so that she would keep strictly to the bond as to divulging disagreeable matters. She believed he really cared for them, and that they might exercise an influence for good over him. Besides, they would continue their education at the Students’ Kindergarten. Anyhow it was so arranged. But in a couple of days he sent them away to her with a note, in which he carefully mentions sending all their belongings with them. That sounds as if he wouldn’t wrong them or her, doesn’t it? But he remembered to keep her plate—not silverene. potosi, or other such imitation, but solid silver, five shillings an ounce heavy spoons and forks, entree dishes, dish covers, tea set, etc. His memory will be jogged on this score by a lawyer shortly. When rumours first came here that he was THE MANY-WIVED, MANY-ALIASED ADVENTURER of whom the New York correspondent of the Argus had written, he said to me with tears in his eyes that he was in a cruel position. There was just such a thread of truth running through the account that he couldn't say straight it was untrue.’ Thread indeed! Ship’s hawser it proves to be. Another time standing up before his congregation—students they call themselves—he said choking with emotion (he’s an accomplished actor) that he had never done anything in his life that he was ashamed of. Well, perhaps so. Some people take a pride in peculiar practices. SISTER MAGDALA — she wishes to be known so now—promises ns that ‘all shall be set straight.’ By this we take it she means that either she will compel him to make, or that she will make for him a clean breast as to all past delinquencies. It will be an interesting record. He has retained all her library and a variety of things (besides the plate), such as pictures, ornaments, etc,, to say nothing of the furniture of his twelve-roomed house all paid for with her money. Legal proceedings for the recovery of these will be immediately commenced by her, and nnless he either bolts or suicides we may expect to see him pass under the harrow in the witness-box when the revelations will be startling. Wife or swindle? that is the question that is being asked. WHETHER HE CAN LEGALLY' MARRY is a question which probably even he couldn’t answer ; but supposing he met a woman sufficiently rich and complacent, the event’s a certainty. If not, the other is more than on the cards. I know Sister Magdala fears it, and I believe that her refusal to countenance any such conise was one of the reasons that have led to the present position. At a lecture she delivered on Monday she said if he did not repent or was not checked he would have all those poor Students who had mortgaged their homes and their little properties in his hands. The buildings belonging to the Students, comprising Temple and dwelling-house, are vested in the bands of trustees, but these gentlemen have shown themselves to be as wax in his hands already, and some of them have been induced by him to sign statements that have no sooner been published in the papers than they have been utterly refuted. Such backboneless men could easily be gammoned into giving up the trust deed (one of them yesterday told me the Students did not want to have it executed, but he insisted on it, dear good man), and then he would have £B.OOO worth of property at his mercy. At his mercy, oh Lord ! HOW IT ALL CAME OUT? Yes, of course, 1 haven’t told you. Well, I don’t think more than four people in all Christchurch know. The yarns about it are numerous. Some credit Sister Magdala with having written that first letter, and others say it’s that faithful friend I’ve referred to, Sister Franc. All agree that it’s someone closely mixed up with the matter. The fact is, the discovery of the plot to ship Mrs Worthington away was an accident. Worthington had managed things cleverly, and very nearly succeeded. Having moulded four pliant trustees to his liking, he literally shut up his wife ; then the badgering took place, the signing of the document on Wednesday night, and swift preparation for

the departure on the following Tuesday. None knew of this but the four trustees, three jealous widows, and the sister friend. It was religiously kept from the Students who would soon have altered matters. One of these, a married lady, not having seen or heard of Mrs Worthington for some days, became anxious, and went to the house on Thursday evening. She found the ordinary entrances from the Temple to the house fastened* up (the two buildings are side by side and attached), and at the front door she could gain no admission. FROM ANXIOUS SHE BECAME SUSPICIOUS, and determined to force an entrance even if police as" sistance were neerssary. After some trouble she got round through the garden of a neighbouring house to the kitchen door and boldly entered. Once in, the way was fairly e'eir, and soon she was in Mrs Worthington’s—Sister Magdala’s, I beg her pardon—room. She was lying prostrate in bed, the faithful Sister Franc with her. This sister had been night and day with Mrs Worthington, though all attempts short of violence were made to get her away. A long talk checked with sobs, moistened with tears, and fired with indignation took place, and the story was told, to be repeated by the visitor—l might say rescuer—to her husband later on. Kesult: The letter in the Star ; confusion among the conspirators ; dismay and anger among the Students ; and a thorough investigation by the papers. Sam Weller said, ‘ beware of vidders.’ Worthington knows how to manage them, and finds them profitable. There are many among his followers. Napoleon said every private carried a field-marshal’s baton in his knapsack. The ‘ vidders,’ perhaps, each one looks forward to promotion to the post of honour in the Temple. According to their means Worthington places and bleeds them. This genius also knows HOW TO UTILISE GARRULOUS OLD MAIDS. One is kept about the building to tell how she knew Worthington in New York and was years in his uncle’s service. Her testimony to W.’s character would be effectual if it didn’t go a leetle too far. She knew him twenty years ago when he was married to the poor woman just turned out. He then ordinarily drove four-in-hand, was handsome, wealthy,and honoured. ‘She Mrs Plunkett? oh,no.’ That’s the breakdown. Unfortunately, Mrs W. confesses to being Mrs Plunkett, and as she says with pathos, ‘ln saying this I tell all.’ So the old maid’s testimony, though creditable to Worthington’s genius, scarcely redounds to his honour.