Reminiscences of the Notorious A. B. Worthington.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue XX, 15 November 1902, Page 1220

Reminiscences of the Notorious A. B. Worthington.

Christchurch enjoys the invidious distinction of having accorded a hearing and a home to the notorious Arthur Worthington, and the Temple of Truth still stands in that city a monument to the specious rascal and to the credulity of his dupes there. But it is perhaps hardly fair to remember all this against the City of the Plains. It was doubtless a mere coincidence that Worthington settled there rather than in some ether New Zealand centre, and not that the people were more gullible. Be would probably have gathered as faithful a congregation around him in Auckland, Wellington or Dunedin. In the larger cities of Australia he must have found ample field for his knavery, and might have continued for years to prosecute his frauds without bringing' himself within reach of the long arm of the law. He had suceeded admirably for years in the United States, whence he came to this colony, though his methods were repeatedly exposed. Mere exposure, however, did not seem to interfere greatly with his career. Long before he left Christchurch, the Rev. John Hosking, of that city, had told the public what manner of man he was, and re-pub-lished a series of extracts on him from the American press which left no doubt as to the nature of his socalled religion. Among these is the narrative of how Mrs J. Plunkett, the wife of Plunkett, the Christian Science Healer, unmarried herself from him and married Worthington. This was in June of 1889.

Mr Worthington had come to New York in the previous February. He said he had just come from the West, where he had been a mining operator, and was on his w’ay to Europe. While walking along Forty-second-street one day he entered the office of John J. Plunkett, at No. 13, V\ est Forty-second-street, where that gentleman and his wife, Mary Plunkett, were editing the “International Magazine of Christian Science" and teaching a class the truths of their creed. He became a pupil un-

der Mr and Mrs Plunkett, and finally fell desperately in love with the latter One day Mrs Plunkett told her husband, to whom she had been married twenty years that she was not meant for him but for Mr Worthington. According to the doctrines < f Christian Science as preached by the Plunketts, Mr Plunkett took the announcement in good part and told his wife that as she did not love him any more and preferred Mr Worthington's company to his own he would give her up and leave his rival in charge of his home. Mr Plunkett packed his trunks and his books, hired an express waggon and had his earthly goods transferred to his new

Who has been sentenced to seven years' imprisonment in Melbourne for false pretences.

home at 125 West Forty-second-street, while Mr Worthington had his trunk and hat taken to the Plun kett homestead at No. 13. A few days later Mr Worthington and Mrs Plunkett sent for their friends and told them what had taken place. "There was no need of a marriage ceremony,” argued the couple, and Mr Worthington introduced Mrs Plunkett as his wife. After that the counle lived at Mr Plunkett’s former home, while Mr Plunkett, sacrificing his Christian Science precepts to nineteenth century ideas of right and wrong, applied to the courts for an absolute divorce from Mrs Plun-kett-Worthington. “When Mr Worthington first cam. to our house,” said Mr Plunkett, “he siiid his home was in San Francisco. A short time after he had succeedv . me in the affections of Mrs Plunkett, I received a letter, wherein the writer ini armed me that my wife’s ‘affinity’ w. s not what he claimed to lae, and . dv.sing me to seek further information in the West. I had learned that he had been known under the name of Gen. A. B. Ward, and I made up my mind, in order to protect the lady’ who was onee my wife, that I would learn something more about him.

“One day Mr Worthington and Mrs Plunkett, or rather Mrs Worthington, were sitrolling on Fifth Avenue, 1 walked up from (behind unnoticed and, tapping Mr Worthington on the shoulder, said to him: ‘How do you do, Gen. Ward?’ This had a great effect upon him, he suddenly turned around and before he could see my B .e, answered, ‘Oh, how are you?' When he saw me he became much alarmed and laughed at me, but it was a very nervous laugh. I then told him that he was known to me and left him to go his way.” Mr Worthington was seen by a reporter for “The World” at his office at No. 13, West Twelfth-street. “Have you read the story about Gen. Ward, the king of dead beats, printed in ‘The World?’ asked the reporter.

“1 did read it,” he replied. “I thought it was a personal attack and libellous. I saw a lawyer, and he told n e it was not.” “But your name was not mentioned in the story. How could it affect you then?” asked the reporter. Realising that he had evidently said too much, Mr Worthington repeated that 'has ilawypt- had' itold him as much. 'Then you went to a lawyer to consult him about the matter?” “No, I did not. The lawyer came io my office about some other business and I spoke to him about it.” "Are you A. Bentley Worthington?" asked the reporter. The new editor of the “Christian Science” said he was. “Were you ever known as Gen. A. B. Ward?” “No, I was not. And I don’t know Gen. Ward. And it seems to me that this man Plunkett (referring to his wife’s husband) is trying to make things unpleasant for me. But I can assure you. sir,” and' here Mr Worthington raised his face heavenward and conjured a smile to his countenance, “that I am not afraid to meet any charges that may be preferred against me. Here I am, right here at my house, and here I can (be met by anybody who has anything to say against me or against my character. I am 1 at home to all who wart to see me, and if Plunkett has anything to say about me he can say it right here.” “When did you last reside in Grand Forks, Dak.?” “My dear sir, I don’t know where Grand Forks, Dak., is. I have never heard of such a place and certainly never was there in all my- life.” A letter was received later from W. S. Wilder, of Grand Forks, who vas a law partner of Gen. Ward, wherein the former said' that he would like very much to have a few minutes’ conversation with the “General.” Adklitional information received indicated that that mysteri-

ous and much-wanted individual had not less than seven aliases. They were Samuel Oakley Crawford, Eugene Samuel Bouvier Walton, Major Eugene Bouvier, Eugene Bonner, E. li. Bannerton, Mons. Bennateau, Major Horace Oakley Wood, Arthur Wood, W. D. Wood, Arlington Buckingham Wadsworth and Gen. A. B. Ward, or any other name or combination of the above. He is said to have been a banker, lawyer, political speaker, real-estate operator, spiritualist, literateur, mining speculator and organiser, bigamist and confidence man generally. The circular which contained the above information stated that he of the many aliases had operated in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Texas, Utah, Kansas, California, West Virginia, Georgia, Washington Territory, and North Dakota. He was wanted for a four-thousand-dollar forgery, on an indictment for larceny after trust and for obtaining money under false pretences, also on a bail-bond surrender. He had eight living wives an J three daughters, respectively aged eight, twelve and twenty years. Two wives had procured divorces on the ground of desertion. The circular further stated that Gen. Ward, with his eleven aliases, has been in Canada several times, and in Europe once, and that when despondent, through ill-health or impecuniosity, he threatened suicide. He can shed copious crocodile tears, and bleed freely from his lungs, whenever the occasion requires, continues this account. He never omits an opportunity to “Young-Men-Chrisgian-Union-ise his victims." is devout or devilish by turns, but always suave and sympathetic, unprincipled but not given to violence. Such is the- description given of Gen. A. B. Ward.

In December, 1885, a man registered at a hotel in Charleston, West Virginia, as S. O. Crawford, and with him were two women who he said were his sisters. In the following February he leased a fine estate near the city, purchased a horse and carriage, and went into retirement, because, he claimed, his health was very bad and he wanted to be in retirement, as the air of the Eastern resorts did not agree with him. He refused to see anyone for some time, but as his health improved he began to form acquaintances, and charmed ell who came in contact with him. In the year 1886 he was introduced to J. E. Dana, an extensive coal operator, and who was also interested in a large and valuable tract of timber land in one of the back; counties. Crawford said he could sell the land, and told Dana great stories of his moneyed influence in the East, principally in New York. Dana offered him the land, and Crawford, who had by this time become Judge John D. Crawford, quit housekeeping and took the two women away. He wrote Dana from the Hoffman House, New York, that the land was sold, and he then returned to Charleston, where he showed a contract for its sale. A in Washington had an option on the land, and as Crawford wanted to consummate the sale at onee. the gentleman must be bought off. Crawford went to Washington, and on his return showed a receipt for money paid the gentleman. Dana, and all who were interested in the land deal, knew the gentleman’s signature well, and believed it genuine. There was an undivided interest in the land owned by a Mr Miller, who resided at Nebraska, and to push the sale Dana gave Crawford £6OO to buy this interest. Crawford left then, and it was tha last heard of him till he turned up in Griffin, Georgia. Dana, through a photograph left behind, found that Crawford had

been near Bennington at one time, elso that he had a sister living at Dorchester, near Boston, and that the two women who were here with him were not his maters. One was a Mrs Sargent—the name she went by— and the other her sister, Miss Louise Jenkins. He brought them there in order to procure a divorce for Mrs Sargent, whom he was to marry. It turned out that he was playing them, as the divorce showed by Mrs Sargent proved to be a cunning forgery, like ail Crawford’s papers. It was found that- he had a law office under the Parker House, Boston; that he was out of funds and had to do something to raise a stake, so he mail? love to the woman and got her to furnish him a year’s living by the promise of divorce and marriage. She put all her money in his hands, and with the year's support he came out £2OO ahead. Crawford left Charleston on March 10, 1886, shortly after which he marlied a young lady in Griffin, whom he swindled out of about £4OOO. He took the lady to Europe on a wedding tour. Upon his return he proposed starting a bank and had everything arranged, and went to Cincinnati to purchase a banking outfit. The next heard from him was at Spokane Falla. Mr Dana told a “World" correspondent that Crawford’s sister at Dorchester knows all about his career, as does a man named Sampson, who claims to be a Boston detective. The sister telegraphed Dena to meet her in New York and made him believe that she would settle the matter when he reached that city. The woman failed to show up, but wrote to him to visit Boston, which he did. The female put up a story of poverty and wished her brother dead, and said all she wished to see Dana for was to find out about her brother, as she claimed not to know of his whereabouts. This was about April 1, 1886. " The sister went to Griffin, Ga.. and saw Crawford married as H. O. Wood. In the following August Dena would have written up the sister for Boston papers, but failed to do so on account of letters from the mother of Crawford’s Georgia victim When Dana threatened to do so and told the sister in very plain terms that he would, she sent the alleged de-

tcctive, Sampson, after him with threats of prosecution fur blackmail. This female wrote as much to Dana's business partner, who forwarded the letters to him. Sampson is supposed to be in with the gang. The sister wrote letters here as a blind while Crawford was in Griffin. t From a letter written by a professor of Columbia law School, it appeared that Crawford had served a term in the penitentiary. Crawford had made swindling a study. Crawford, it appears, was born in IS4B at Saugerties. N.Y. His Christian name was Samuel Oakley. He was a son of Samuel and Susan Crawford. There were four children, two sons and two daughters. The eldest brother, William, was a wild and reckless character, who left Saugerties many years ago am! is supposed -to be dead. Samuel Oakley lived there until about February, 1864, when he enlisted and went into the Union Army. After the war closed he resided there a year or two. He was given a good common school education, and for a time was student in a law office, and is said to have subsequently graduated from the Law Department of Columbia College. As a young man Samuel aspired to popularity and self-advancement, ventured early before the public and pretended to have studied for the ministry, having, it is said, been admitted to preach in New Jersey by the Methodist Church. In his native town he appeared as a lecturer oa temperance, in addresses before Sun-day-school entertainments, etc. His conduct was questionable as to sincerity. and but little faith was placed in him. ‘ His first business transactions are said to have been as an insurance agent for a company in New Jersey or Pennsylvania. He was then located in Albany, and there married a telegraph operator. Crawford lived extravagantly, but his business career at Albany was brief, as ha v.as arrested and convicted of false dealings. He was sentenced to three years in the penitentiary, but was released before the expiration of his term. After his release Crawford is supposed to have gone West, and from that time led a roaming life.

Among other aliases Worthington, in his pre-Christian Science days, was known as Bannerton and Monsieur Bennateau.

As Eugene Bannerton. he married a well known actress in Toronto, Canada, December 26, 18T8. He was then playing as Eugene Bennateau. with the Helen Blythe troupe. His wife was starring with the same company. At the close of the theatrical season Mr and Mrs Bannerton left the stage and settled in New

Lisbon. Wis., where they purchased • handsome little house. Here the juuug married coup.e lived happily and contented, while Bannerton practised law. He did well and became the partner of a prominent lawyer of New Lisbon. and was trusted by everybody in town. He naturally made good use of bis opportunities by borrowing money from his friends, which, he. however, always forgot to return. He had been married about three years when little Kate, a pretty child, now about eight years old, was born. Two other children had died shortly after their birth. While in New Lisbon he forged a number of bonds and cheques. His partner, who believed he had found in Bannerton a true friend, tried to settle the matter quietly. He ■went on Bannerton’s bend, and a few days after Bannerton. or Worthington, left for parts unknown. The little woman went on the stage again and by hard work succeeded in paying off all her husband’s debts. She obtained a divorce from him some years ago on the ground of desertion.

Mrs A. B. Ward, of Grand Forks, Dak., was the seventh wife csf Worthington. Ward, after robbing his young wife of all her property amounting to over £2400, left her penniless and in destitute circumstances.

When she first knew him his face was smooth, and when he left he wore small grey side-whiskers. He represented himself to be a single man. and she never knew anything different until he went away, tome time after she received proof* of has having been previously married several times, and in each case deeerting the wife, who never heard anything further from him unless through the papers or detectives.

The result of these revelations was that Worthington found the States too hot for him. and so he removed himself to Christchurch, New Zealand. Of his career there the following brief epitome, elicited in 1896 by inquiries from Hobart, to which he had gone, gives the main facts. They were as follows: — That he arrived in Christchurch in 189*1 under a name that was not his own, but had been assumed by him not more than a year previous to his arrival in the colony, with a view to escaping from the penalties entailed his forgeries, swindles, wife desertions and other criminal acts in the United States.

That he brought with him to Christchurch, and introduced as his wife to those with whom he became acquainted, a lady to whom he had not been legally married. That he inaugurated a series of lectures, and founded in this city a system of teaching, of which he claimed to be the compiler, whereas many of his lectures were plagiarised from Christian Science writers and teachers in America.

That he emphasised certain doctrines of the said teaching, such as the non-resistance of evil, and the universality of the good. in such a way as to blunt the perception of his followers to a sense of right and wrong with regard to his own actions. and to check any disposition on their part to oppose such actions as were not consistent with his professed standard of moral rectitude. That after lecturing in this city for about eighteen months to increasing audiences, he encouraged the proposition of certain of his followers to erect extensive buildings in which to carry on their religious work and teachings.

That at the end of three years from his arrival in Christchurch he quarrelled with the lady- • hom he had brought here as his v ife. and

having secured to himself he support and assistance of the rustees, he succeeded in forcing her to leave the Temple of Truth. That after being separated from this lady for about four months, he entered into intimate relations with another lady, whose house he was in the habit of visiting at late hours <f the night, under the pretence of assisting her in literary pursuits, the discovery of which caused another breach amongst the students, those who could not approve of this course of conduct being treated with contumely and insult. That in January, 1595, he encourag-

ed the trustees, by default of payment of interest on mortgage of the Temple of Truth, to force a sale of said property, with a view to his being able to purchase and secure a clear title to the same by means of money which he led his followers to believe he was expecting from Ameri-

Tba after purchasing the property at auction for about one-half of its original cost he delayed payment of tiie put chase money from month to month by various excuses regarding the non-arrival of the money from America. That in August. 1895, he married a yonng lady of this city in opposition to the wishes of many of his followers. while the lady whom he had brought here as his wife was living in poverty in Australia. That in December. 1895, being threatened with involvment in legal proceedings for the recovery of moneys advanced, he left for Australia, alleging that he would proceed thence to America to expedite the receipt of money for completing the purchase of the temple.

That, after being absent for nearly two months, he wrote from Hobart to the treasurer of the trustees intimating that no money would be forthcoming from America, and that it was not his intention to return.