Local and General
This advertisement appeared in the Hobart Mercury the Saturday after receipt of the news of the riot in Christchurch, when Worthington was pelted with dead cats. (The "students" are his Hobart disciples): — Students of Truth, Schoolroom, Murray Street. Mr W. Smith will conduct Service To-morrow, 7 p.m. Subject: Treatment of Jesus repeated (Recent scene at Christchurch) — "For which of these works do ye stone me?" "Father forgive them — they know not what they do." -Ashburton Guardian, 23/10/1897.
News in Brief
The Christchurch Temple of Truth, erected by A. B. Worthington, is to be converted into the Christchurch Music Hall. -Evening Post, 29/12/1897.
At the Christchurch Magistrate's Court, in a civil action in which Mr A. B. Worthington was plaintiff, several persons who had been members of the body known as Students of Truth before their teacher left for Tasmania, were called as witnesses for the defence; and in his cross-examination the plaintiff endeavored to discount their evidence by trying to get them to admit that they were hostile to him generally, but he did not get much the best of it. He asked one witness (says the Lyttelton Times) if he had not been a persistent gossiper against him, to which he received the reply. "I could not say much good for you." Of a lady witness he asked: "You have been very active in your opposition to me?" He then asked her, "Did you not make a personal assault on me? Did you not scratch my face?", and the reply came: "I did not. I'll tell you what happened. You had been making statements about me from the platform which were untruthful, and I stood on a chair and you stood on the platform, and I said "How can you say that, you white-headed old scoundrel?" -West Coast Times, 27/8/1898.
It is difficult to pin down when the Christchurch Students ceased to meet. The last advertisement I can find for a meeting is on June 29, 1899, about the same time as Worthington finally left for Melbourne to begin his "mission" there.
Pars from the Bulletin
A. B. Worthington, the Temple of Truth apostle, recently shook the mud of Christchurch from his feet, and proposes to start a glory-shop in Melbourne. A. W. is the clever Yankee preacher whose way of mixing religion with easy divorce caused a Christchurch crowd to go temporarily on the riot. He had just come from Hobart, where, though the folks mobbed Chiniquy, they rather liked Worthington's style and the mystery that surrounded him. -Bay of Plenty Times, 5/7/1899.
THEY SAY -
— That Arthur Bentley Worthington, the religious fraud who founded the Temple of Truth in Christchurch and cut a gaudy sensation there until he threw over Sister Magdala for a younger and plumper sister, is now raising the wind for another Temple in Melbourne. The Argus has started to expose his life, and therefore Arthur is bound to succeed. People like him thrive best on notoriety. -The Obsever, 25/11/1899.
With Worthington gone again from New Zealand, news of his doings tended to be relegated to the back pages and "interest" columns.
The Fretful Porcupine
A. B. Worthington, the well-known religious quack, who founded the Temple of Truth in Christchurch and out a gaudy figure there until the place got too hot to hold him, is now holding meetings in Melbourne, and is still rhapsodising about the Ter-r-ruth. More than that, he is said to have shown one of his disciples a letter purporting to come from America, and stating that one of his relatives had died and left him a legacy of three million dollars. This will be funny news for the Christchurch people. They will recollect that Worthington frequently gave it out while he was there that he had just been left a million or two of dollars (exact amount a matter of no consequence), and that the money would be sure to arrive by 'the next Francisco mail.' But it never did. -Obsever, 19/1/1901.
Mr A. B. Worthington, of "Temple of Truth" notoriety, is irrepressible. He seems to take it for granted that all the happenings at Christchurch are entirely forgotten, for he has started to advertise himself in quite a big way over on the other side. A recent issue of the Adelaide "Critic" contains a full-page advertisement from Worthington about Worthington, which makes lovely reading for those who know the man. And, being marked as an "advertisement," it is to be inferred, of course, it was written by himself. It is headed by a cabinet portrait, which shows that he still gets himself up with the same attention to detail as of yore, and wears his hair after the same old studied neglige fashion, and keeps his smooth cheeks clean-shaven. The advertisement mentions quite a lot of things about A. B. Worthington and the Students of Truth he has gathered round him in Melbourne. It also says that he introduced his teaching twelve years ago at Christchurch, New Zealand, and established there a system of religious, educational, and social instruction and that his social ideas have been copied and imitated, endorsed and adopted, throughout Australasia. A good deal of matter follows in the best spread-eagle style, thus. — "During that time" (twelve years ago, presumably) he published and circulated over three million pages of literature, for five years he addressed audiences of from 1600 to 2000 people every Sunday; during two and a half years the Christchurch "Press" published from two to four columns ot his lectures every Saturday, he is "personally felt" in every detail of his work, and "his class-room hours are the happiest experiences of his followers"; "as a public speaker he is original, clear-cut, logical, eloquent, and impressive", he "has proved himself an intelligent, arduous, and unselfish devotee of metaphysics in its highest and best phases." All this will rather open the eyes of Editor Hornsby, who, if we remember aright, made the climate of Christchurch particularly tropical for Mr. Worthington just before the hegira to Melbourne took place. However, to hark back to that full page advertisement in the Adelaide "Critic." There are quite a lot of interesting things in it. It says, for instance, that "the development of the educational and social phases of A. B. W.'s work in Melbourne is awaited with an interest occasioned by a knowledge of its religious and ethical character." Wonder if the development in Melbourne will be on the same lines as at Christchurch; if so, it will be interesting enough to repay the waiters. There is a great deal in the puff advertisement about Worthington, about his wife, "who is as good as she is beautiful," about presentations to them both, and about their "lovely children," but there is not one word from beginning to end about Sister Magdala. The whole affair is a propos of a descent "the Student of Truth" was about to make on Adelaide. Owing to the painting and decorating of the hall where he holds his services in Melbourne, "he had consented to leave his work for ten days, at the urgent request of his students." And, it is stated to be the first time in twelve years that he is taking a holiday. -Free Lance, 13/4/1901.
Accidents and Fatalities
PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.
CHRISTCHURCH, June 7.— Mrs J. S. Atkinson, formerly known as Mrs Worthington, of Temple of Truth fame, was found drowned early this morning in a fountain behind her residence which contained only about two and half feet of water. Deceased was only recently married. Mrs Atkinson, who had been ill for some time and depressed, refused to have any one sleep in the same room or sit up with her. On the servant going to her room about 6 this morning she found the bed empty, and the deceased lady was found in an ornamental fountain in the grounds. Her feet were tied, and she had a blanket wrapped round her. -Taranaki Herald, 7/6/1901.
A Wasted Life.
THE STORY OF SISTER MAGDALA
Writes the Wairarapa Leader: — Those who know her as she really was will pity and forgive the rashly importunate act of Sister Magdala, whose death occurred on Friday last at Christchurch. A cultured woman, beautiful and commanding in person, she sought in speculation what she believed to be a better way to work out the problem of life — and death. Full of zeal in the cause of her sister woman and desirous of lightening the burden of the world's mothers, she early began a career of teaching. Gifted beyond the ordinary, she had no difficulty in rising to just that height to which the propounder of a new doctrine must attain and — while yet a young woman — she found herself surrounded by many hundreds of faithful, even enthusiastic, pupils. She married; and her husband was also a Christian scientist — a believer in the "triumph of mind over matter," and in the power to heal by faith or suggestion. Of the union of these two people there were children. Then happened what blasted and destroyed all her life, Mrs Plunkett — as she was then — met the crime-stained, polluted scoundrel, Arthur Bently Worthington — alias a dozen or so other names, under which he was wanted by the police of America. Worthington, with that facility to fascinate and entrap that has not even yet deserted him, laid seige to the heart of Mrs Plunkett and succeeded in convincing her (poor silly soul) that she was his affinity. She left her husband and, taking her children with her, accompanied Worthington first to Britain and then to New Zealand. Of her early triumphs (if they may be called that) in Christchurch as the principal teacher of the Student's of Truth; of her endeavours to restrain the evil nature of the man she had learned to know as he really was; of that brutish creature's treatment of her and her children; of her confession and renunciation, it is not necessary to say more than a passing word. She had given away all that was best in her life for a scoundrel of the very worst possible type, and she realised that she must expiate her offences against society in the one way only that is open to a woman; she must take up her cross and bear it with patience. And this Sister Magdala did. There were many thousands who sympathised with her; there were few who really knew her and how much she suffered. There were those who "passed her on the other side;" there were those who had hearts of gold, Christian hearts, who said to her (and acted up to the words in the fullest sense) "neither did I condemn thee." And now comes the news that she has deliberately taken her own life. She had married again, still clinging however, to her strange ideas. Was it the realisation of her failure, or some deeper spring of insane action which made her commit this last act of mutiny? Who shall say? This we know, that her life and its end should be a profound warning to those who seek after strange doctrines and foolishly, wrongfully — not necessarily sinfully — miss the love and serenity which come from conformation with the teaching which makes for human happiness and which gives to poor humanity that peace the world cannot give. -Ohinemuri Gazette, 17/6/1901.
Worthington's eventual arrest and trial for fraud in Melbourne is both a tribute to the courage of his victim, who must have anticipated the humiliation of such things as having certain letters read out in public, and a dissection of the Worthingtonian method of separating women from their money.
ARRESTED FOR FRAUD.
Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, September 2.
A. B. Worthington (minister of the Unitarian Church and formerly of Christchurch “Temple of Truth ”) has been remanded to Melbourne on a charge of obtaining from Miranda De la Juveny, of Melbourne, £1,095 by means of false pretences. Worthington admitted that he obtained the money but not under the conditions alleged. -Evening Star, 3/9/1902.
"AN APOSTLE OF TRUTH."
Melbourne, September 6. Amongst documents that came into the possession of the police when they searched Worthington's office was one purporting to be the will of his aunt, Christine Russell, who, dying in America, bequeathed him $3,156,685. There was also found a large quantity of correspondence, written on paper headed "Crosby, Worthington, and Dunn, attorneys and counsellors at law, 92, Broadway, New York," chiefly dealing with the difficulties of obtaining probate of the will. These facts figure largely in letters Worthington wrote to Madame Lajouveny when negotiating for a loan, in connection with which he was arrested. The money was to go towards building a temple for mental healing. -Opunake Times, 9/9/1902.
ARREST OF A. B. WORTHINGTON.
ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES.
FURTHER COURT PROCEEDINGS.
A LETTER TO ISIS.
(Received September 11th, 1.23 a.m.) MELBOURNE, September 10.
Worthington was again before the Court to-day. The prosecutor stated that on one occasion she hesitated about paying £200, but Worthington gave her a letter addressed to Isis, couched in mystical language, and she advanced the money. The magistrate declined to reduce the bail.
A REMARKABLE CAREER.
(Melbourne "Age.")
At the Central Police Court, Sydney, on September 2nd, Arthur Bentley Worthington, described as a Unitarian minister, was charged by warrant from Melbourne with having obtained from Miranda May de la Juveny, by means of false pretences, a sum of £1096, between July 27th, 1900, and April 1st, 1902. Detective-Sergeant Macmamny asked for a remand to Melbourne, which was granted. Arthur Bentley Worthington, who is alleged to have at different periods of his career adopted a variety of names, has had a strange and eventful career. He wae first heard of, as far as Melbourne people were concerned, in connection with his doings in Christchurch, New Zealand, where he preached as the Apostle of Truth, and attracted a large crowd of followers. The religion which he preached contained elements of spiritualism, faith-healing, and Unitarianism, into which was infused germs of the Pythagorean belief in the transmigration of souls. The mysterious elements in many religions were imported into this strange farrago which Worthington gave to his disciples; but it was not so much the nature of the doctrine as the actions of the man that aroused public interest when he made his appearance in Melbourne. It was known that he had practically been driven out of Christchurch, and that his attempts to live down the reputation which he had established there caused such resentment that on his last appearance he was stoned by the populace, who were only quietened when the Mayor appeared and read the Riot Act. Simultaneously with his departure from Christchurch, the "Students of Truth," as the society which he founded was termed, addressed a letter to the religious denominations in Tasmania, charging Worthington with wife desertion, fraud, and hypocrisy, which they were prepared to sustain with a mass of evidence. With this unenviable record Worthington came to Melbourne in 1899, after an unprofitable career in Tasmania, where the public proved either too shrewd or not sufficiently advanced in thought to accept the Worthingtonian doctrine. He opened at Burton's Art Gallery, where he delivered Addresses on Sundays, and gathered around him the nucleus of a congregation. Wealthy widows had always a strong attraction for him, as Madame de la Juveny has discovered to her cost. She was early enrolled among his disciples, and in July, 1900, a few months after he had started teaching, he told her that he was anxious to build a new temple in Flinders street, the site secured by him adjoining the Australian Church. He unfolded a comprehensive scheme, which included the establishment of a kindergarten and other institutions, on the lines which he had followed in Christchurch. A large sum of money was required for such a purpose, but Worthington asserted that he had been recently left a legacy amounting to £16,000 by a wealthy aunt in America. He had purchased the site, but not having sufficient money to complete the transaction the Bank of Victoria held the deed of the land as security against an overdraft, and he could not receive any remittances until the balance of the purchase money was paid out. In the meantime he desired to acquire a block of land near the Red Bluff, St. Kilda, where he prepared to build a sanatorium, and carry the theories of Christian science and faith-healing into practice. A plan of the land which he intended purchasing was submitted to Madame de la Juveny, who was, he told her, to be the "pyramid" of the cult in Melbourne, the highest honour which could be bestowed on a woman.
Madams de la Juveny does not appear to have realised to the full the advantage which she possessed in being the recognised ''pyramid'" of the new faith, but when symbolisms stood for cash Mr Worthington was among the most solvent of men. He told the "pyramid" that he had discovered recently that she was the reincarnation of the ancient Egyptian goddess Isis, and that he had an inward consciousness that he himself was none other than the great Osiris, who, as the sacred bull of the Egyptians, had been carried in procession before the Pharaohs of old. On many occasions he pointed out in the street persons who, though apparently quiet, everyday folk, he told the credulous Isis, were posessed of the souls of scriptural and historical characters. It was rather startling to the widow at first, but she got used to the idea, and was not at all astonished when one day Worthington showed her the photographs of five Hindoos, all of whose ages, he said, bordered on 100, though they did not look more than a quarter of those years. These, he explained, were the presentments of Mahatmas, who lived in remote ages on the fringe of the lofty Himalayas, and who were all powerful, all knowing, and were among the immortals.
From her dreams of the sublimity of these pure souls the lady would be rudely brought to earth again by a gentle hint that a little money would be acceptable. It was nearly always forthcoming, for Worthington appears to have had a persuasive manner, which would take no denial. She states that she first of all advanced him a sum of £200, and that she afterwards lent him sums of money ranging from £20 to £100, the total of the amounts being nearly £900. By this time she had exhausted her ready money, and told him so. The haughty spirit of Osiris, which did not obtrude itself during the settlement of these monetary transactions, did not prevent Mr A. E. Worthington from making a final pressing demand upon her purse. He told her that he wanted £200, and that if the money was not forthcoming his plans would all be upset. Madame de la Juveny, though an enthusiast in Worthington's cause, had yet a certain business instinct, and she began to feel that his demands were becoming excessive, and demurred against further loans. Her belief was put to the test by the receipt of a letter which Worthington handed to her one day in a sealed envelope. It professed to be a message from the five Mahatmas, each of whom advised her to assist Osiris in the project which he had on hand, otherwise the Nile would rise and overwhelm their work for 1500 years.
The message was too peremptory to be denied, and Madame de Ja Juveny hastened to obey the order of the Mahatmas, by raising £200 on promissory notes, which she handed to Worthington. Her business instincts, however, throughout the transaction caused her to obtain acknowledgments of all the sums that passed between them.
The building of the church, Kindergarten, and sanatorium was never carried into effect. About 12 months ago Mr Worthington, whose reputation as a speaker and entertainer is beyond question, received a "call" from the Hyde Park Unitarian Church, Sydney. He gladly obeyed the call, and was accepted, in spite of the protests of the Unitarian body in Melbourne, which urged that be was not a fit and proper person to hold this position. The church was in difficulties when he took charge, but the preacher rapidly became popular, and at the time of his arrest had a large congregation. When it became evident that Worthington had no intention of returning to Melbourne, or of repaying the sums which he had borrowed, Madame de la Juveny wrote several letters to him, asking for a repayment of the money, and faillng to obtain any satisfaction she threatened to take legal proceedings. He replied, admitting his liability, but stating that he could not and would not pay her back at present, and if she chose to take action she might do her worst. "I would rather face any disgrace into which you may bring me." he wrote in one of his letters, "than be in your position, and suffer what you will have to suffer at the hands of the Occult." Madame de la Juveny, however, had had enough of the occult, and decided to risk the wrath of those unknown and terrible powers. She consulted a lawyer, who placed the matter in the hands of the detectives, and DetectiveSergeant McManamny was told off to inquire into the case. His work resulted in a decision to take criminal proceedings against Worthington. A warrant was issued for his arrest on September lst by Mr S. Goldsmith, P.M., and armed with this, McManamny left for Sydney that afternoon, and put the warrant into execution immediately on his arrival there. -Press, 11/9/1902.
THE WORTHINGTON CASE.
THE MELBOURNE CHARGES.
SOME REMARKABLE DOCUMENTS.
The Melbourne “Age” of Sept. 4 says: Arthur Bentley Worthington, who was arrested in Sydney on Tuesday by Detective-Sergeant McManamny, on a charge of obtaining £1096 by false pretences from Mrs de la Juveny, a widow residing at Camberwell, arrived in Melbourne yesterday by the express in charge of the detective. He had made an appeal to the Sydney Bench, on being remanded, to be allowed to travel first-class and take a sleeping berth, but financial considerations prevailed at the last moment, and a secondclass compartment was chosen.
Worthington was not inclined to be communicative on the journey, though he took his arrest with philosophic calm. He told McManamny that the Rosicrucians would pull him through the difficulty. The fame of these mystic persons had not reached the detective’s ears, and he impolitely asked who they were and where they resided. Worthington replied that they were immortals, five in number, that three of them dwelt in Melbourne and two in Sydney. “Then why,” asked McManamny, “did they not let you know that a lady had interviewed me in Melbourne last Sunday, and that I was going to arrest you?” “They would never attempt to intercept the course of almighty truth.” was the solemn reply. As soon as the Melbourne papers were available, the accounts of his arrest were handed to Worthington for his perusal. He read them, and smilingly remarked, “I have read so much that has been published concerning myself that I have become callous. These statements do not disturb my peace of mind.”
The accused was brought before Mr S. J. Goldsmith, P.M., and Mr W. H. Purvis, J.P., at the City Court in the afternoon, and the charge read over. Detective-Sergeant McManamny briefly detailed the nature of the charge, and asked for a remand. Worthington had admitted to him that he did not own any property, as Mrs de la Juveny had been led to believe. The accused made no objection to a remand, and did not apply for bail. He was remanded for a week, and sent to the Melbourne Gaol.
An examination of the effects found in the room occupied by Worthington at the Unitarian Church, Hyde Park, Sydney, disclosed a number of documents, which will be produced in evidence against him. Mrs de la Juveny stated that Worthington had informed her that he was a partner in a firm of solicitors carrying on business at 92, Broadway, New York. She was shown a number of letters addressed to Worthington and written on memorandum forms bearing the name of the firm Crosby, Worthington and Dunn, attorneys and chancellors-at-law. The letters all dealt with the disposal of a property worth £16,000, which it was stated had been left to Worthington by an aunt, who had recently died. The following letter, which was found with, others among his effects, explains the terms of the alleged bequest with the greatest clearness. It is dated New York, July 15, 1900, and reads:—
“My Dear Buck, — At last Mrs Russell is dead. Fifteen years of suffering ended. I write this by hand, so that the typist in the office cannot know what I say to you. I enclose copy of will and list of properties, so at last you are once more rich. But you must remember that the will has to be probated, not only here in New York, but also in Boston, Chicago, St Louis, Bridgeport, Bar Harbour, London (England), and Paris (France); also, probably in Montreal (Canada). We have to advertise notice of probate sixteen weeks — that is four months preceding the Surrogates Court, which will make it December, after which a copy of it will have to be sent to each city and country where any of the property is located, and certificates of admission to probate filed in those Courts. This will throw us into August or September, 1901, before you can come into possession. I only mention this so you will not arrange to use any bulk of moneys before you are ready. Meantime I send you a hundred, which you can get at once, and will keep doing this until you can handle the income which, according to the list, ought to be very large. You will see by the will that the legacy to be paid by us will more than exhaust what we have an hand, so if we send Joyce that three thousand to buy that temple in Christchurch, N.Z., and £8000 for the St Kilda property, you must get along for the time on as little as you can. Don’t lend any money. Buck, you are such a fool with money; you give it to anybody that asks you! The life insurance company have nearly two hundred thousand to invest now, and each month adds to the amount. It will have to be put into real estate. How many children have you now? I suppose there is no use asking you to give up your religious fad any more, so I will be still, although you know my opinion. Your aunt was as wilful as over about the horses and all the stock on the Peekskill farm, so they are all eating themselves into rottenness, no one getting any good of them. You surely don’t want to maintain an old brute hospital, do you, and the pack of old and poor relations who make-believe take care of them. Crosby has written a formal letter about the shares belonging to the estate, which he thinks ought to be sold. I think that is trustees’ affair. Do you think there is any prospect of your running over? You see if you had any of your old ambition left you could go to the Senate now, easy, hands down, but there! I know what you will say, so I stop. Send in any special directions you may have in mind, and recollect we are the same old firm again, whether you like it or not, until you forbid us to use your name. — Sincerely and affectionately, DARIUS DUNN.”
Several letters written by the same person were found. In one of those “Darius Dunn" writes, under date of August 16 of the same year: — “I have had a very tiresome day. I have seen a draft for £15,000 which has been sent to me. Doesn’t that look nice!” He added that the probate duty in New South Wales would be about £2000, and in Victoria about £200 more, and that the amounts were so high that he would not pay them. Rather than do so he had ordered the draft to be returned. This letter was shown to Mrs de la Juveny by Worthington, to account for the delay in the arrival of the money with which he intended carrying out his project of building a temple.
Again, on Oct. 13, a letter was addressed to "Dear Buck” by his New York friend, stating that there were still difficulties in the way of settling the payment of the probate duty. A further communication, dated Nov. 15, read: — “I will do my best to send you five thousand by Dec. 1.” The writer left the letter unposted, and two days later the following postscript was added: — “Just heard from Dunn that we may not get the money by Dec. 20 even, but he will do his best.” Then, referring to Mrs de la Juveny, he naively asks, “Is that name Jury? Spell each letter separate.”
On April 30, 1901, Darius Dunn writes; — “ Again sorry to disappoint you. Will forward £100 per month.” The settlement of the probate was still in dispute on Oct 13, when the New York solicitor writes: — “You have taken too much upon yourself. I must point out, my dear fellow, that we have advanced since August, 1900, 20,000dol, and we have not had a penny out of the estate as yet. I cannot make out the name of the guardian you want appointed for your boy. Is it Mrs Minnie de la Juny? Spell it plainer in your next. Are you sure she is all right, for if you died she would have almost unlimited power under the will.”
Strong doubts are thrown upon the genuineness of these letters by the fact that a large number of memorandum forms, headed in the same manner, were found by Detective McManamny in Worthington's possession. It is stated that no such firm of solicitors exists, and the detective is endeavouring to ascertain where the forms were printed, as he has a suspicion that they were prepared in Melbourne or Sydney.
Among the multitude of documents was found a type-written copy of the alleged will of Christina Russell. In this document the testatrix, after a solemn preamble, appoints the Honourable Darius Gerald Crosby, Judge William Bently Hamilton, and Henry Dalton her executors and trustees, and leaves her property to her “dear, dear, dearest loved nephew,” Arthur Bently Worthington, after making bequests to numerous relatives, friends and retainers. The clause relating to the latter reads: — “I give and bequeath to my faithful coachman, William Hartshorn, my faithful, honest and good butler, Henderson D. Crockham; my dearly beloved cook, Mary Ann Coulter; and my devoted companion, Miss Agatha Crocker Vandulip, each five hundred dollars.” The will is witnessed by Hamilton Fish, jun., William Thornton, and Albert Harrington, all of New York city.
Then follows a list of the properties belonging to this colossal estate, consisting of city properties, English consols, theatres, hotels, seaside villas, railway shares, bank shares, farms and mining shares. The distribution of this wealth is set forth as follows:
New York City . . 1,908,534dol
Chicago .... 444,401dol
St Louis . . . 183,900dol
Boston . 271,297dol
Bridgeport . . 63,845dol
England . . . 91,564dol
Bar Harbour. . . 35,230dol
Cash N.Y. Life Insurance Co., solicitors, etc. . 201,834dol
Total . . 8,156,635dol
McManamny found other documents in Worthington's possession, which bore out the statements of Mrs de la Juveny. One was the Mahatma letter, directing her, as Isis, to fly to the aid of Osiris. It is typewritten, on pink parchment, and is a strange piece of composition. It reads as follows:
Isis
Mother
Empress
Priestesses
The Master Waits
The Nile Rises Alpha.
Go at once.
Fly swifter than Light Mooe
Be Still as night The two halls
Do not excite him
Be calm.
The Building waits
The Mosque waits Omega.
The Lodge waits
Before the Moon comes to the disc
Now to-day
Offer at once Delta
Compel Osiris to accept.
Take to him or the Nile swallows
For another 1500 years
Alpha, Mooe, the two Halls, Omega, Delta.
Mrs de La Juveny has explained the nature of the pyramid which was presented to her by Worthington, as a symbol of their faith. As a reward for her benefactions to Osiris, she was to be installed in the temple as Isis, and on the occasion of her induction to the rank of priestess she was to present the pyramid, which was handed over to her keeping. It is of metal, inscribed with various symbols of Egyptian worship, and bearing the names of Osiris, Isis and Horos at the base. On one side is the inscription, ‘‘To the lodge of the Rosy Cross, from Isis.”
In the course of an interview, says the “Argus,” Mrs de la Juveny expressed her satisfaction at Worthington’s arrest, and said that she would willingly face the unpleasantness of prosecuting him, if by doing so she could be the means of preventing him from imposing on others. “Of course, I heard a number of stories about him when he came here,” she remarked, “but I was unwilling to believe rumours, and I could not understand how he escaped being arrested by the police if he had committed all the crimes with which he was credited. Before I lent him money I ascertained that other ladies, from whom he had borrowed small sums, had been faithfully repaid, and I had no reason to doubt the genuineness of the documents which he showed me as a proof that he had money coming to him.”
It has been ascertained, with reference to Worthington’s borrowing transactions, that on each occasion he handed back to Mrs de la Juveny a cheque for the amount which he had borrowed to date. The cheque was retained by her, and was always exchanged for one of a larger amount at each successive loan, until it finally reached the amount of £1096. On his departure Mrs de la Juveny presented it at the Bank of Victoria, and found that it was valueless. -Lyttelton Times, 13/9/1902.
One of the tenets of the Students of Truth as enunciated by the notorious Worthington is a belief in the transmigration of souls, and when in Christchurch it was currently reported that he recognised in two hard-headed men of business the subsequent embodiments of Moses and the Prophet Elisha, while he himself claimed to have recollections that in a former state of existence he was a woman with a family of eleven children. In Melbourne he has succeeded in recognition in Madame de la Juveney the Egyptian goddess Isis, while he claimed to be her colleague Osiris, and in travelling on the trams of the city Osiris would entrance the fair Isis with stories as to the careers in a previous state of their fellow passengers and pedestrians on the footpaths. Now Osiris hints that all sorts of calamities will befall Isis as a revenge of the Occult for being the means of causing the prophet so much trouble, worry and anxiety, with possibly a season in duress. -Waikato Argus, 18/9/1902.
THE FRETFUL PORCUPINE
The genial Worthington, of "Temple of Truth" fame, when asked if he wished to say anything before being committed for trial, replied that he would have a great deal to say when the proper time came. Which reminds of the answer given to a similar question by a party who was accused of stealing ducks. "Have I anything to say?" he said in high-pitched tones of indignation; "I've got lots to say. I wish to heavens I'd never seen the blessed ducks!" -Observer, 20/9/1902.
THE WORTHINGTON CASE.
CABLE NEWS
SEVEN YEARS' HARD LABOUR.
STRONG REMARKS BY THE JUDGE.
United Press Association — By Electric Telegraph — Copyright. (Received November 1st, 9.25 a.m.) MELBOURNE, November 1.
Worthington has been sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with hard labour. Prior to being sentenced, he was asked if he had anything to say, and replied: — "I had thought to mention three things, in the hope that they might mitigate my sentence. Firstly, during the last eighteen months my health has been seriously impaired; secondly, your Honour might have consideration for my wife and children; lastly, I ask you to remember that I have been in prison for two months. I may also say that my wife yesterday sent me her forgiveness for what has been revealed, and asked me to mention to you that she had done so. That is all I wish to say." The prisoner then bowed his head and cried.
The Judge, in passing sentence, said: — "You have been convicted on four separate charges of obtaining money or valuable securities on false pretences. The evidence disclosed some very disgraceful conduct on your part. I must say I look upon you as one of the most dangerous impostors who ever came into this country."
He then sentenced the prisoner to eighteen months' imprisonment for each of the first two offences, and two years on each of the other two offences, the sentenced to be cumulative. The prisoner was stunned on hearing the sentence, and the warder led him from the dock.
SYDNEY, November 1. Worthington was sentenced late, and owing to the congestion of the telegraph lines the news was not available here last night.
THE EVIDENCE BEFORE THE COURT.
The trial of Arthur Bentley Worthington on four distinct charges of false pretences was commenced at the Criminal Court, Melbourne, before Mr Justice Holroyd, and a jury of twelve, on the 22nd of last month.
THE CHARGES. The charges were that on July 10th, 1900, he obtained from Miranda May de la Juveny the sum of £28, by pretending that he had bought a property at St. Kilda, which he had called Thalassa, and had succeeded to certain property under the will of his aunt; that on July 30th he obtained £109 from the same lady by falsely pretending that he was furnishing a sanatorium at St. Kilda, and was receiving monthly remittances from America; that he obtained from her cheques for £78 and £22 by false representations that he had purchased certain land next to the Australian Church, Flinders street, was in receipt of remittances, and had received a letter from Messrs Crosby, Worthington and Dunne, New York; that on August 30th, 1901, be obtained from her another cheque for £200 by pretending that he had bought "Thalassa," and the Flinders street property, had succeeded to property under has aunt's will, and had received a letter from an unknown source for Madame de la Juveny — all with intent to defraud.
The accused to each charge said, with emphasis, "I am not guilty."
Mr Finlayson, K.C., appeared for the prosecution, and Mr D. Gaunson for the defence.
THE PROSECUTRIX' STORY. Miranda May de la Juveny, widow, said that she first met Worthington about the end of June, 1900, after a lecture on "The Handwriting on the Wall," given by him. She attended the next lecture, and on July 10th called to see him, at his invitation, at his own rooms. He showed her a cable message from New York, and told her his aunt was dead, and had left him everything. He said he was worried about money for the rent, and asked her if she could help him. He added that he would get remittances, and pay her in three months. She cashed a cheque, and gave him £28. He told her he had bought a property at St. Kilda, and intended to start a sanatorium. On July 30th he told her he was furnishing the sanatorium, and asked her if she could let him have £109. She gave him a cheque. In August he asked her if she could let him have £100, but she replied that she could not. On the following Saturday be showed her a copy of his aunt's, will, with a list of properties, which he said were worth £600,000, and also a letter he said he had received from Crosby, Worthington, and Dunne, solicitors, of New York. [The letter has been published.] He told her he had bought land in Flinders street, and wanted to build a temple. She went to the bank, and found she could get an overdraft of £78 on some debentures. She borrowed a cheque for £22, and gave Worthington the two cheques for £78 and £22. Between that and August, 1901, she lent him other moneys. In the latter month she received the metallic looking package produced from him.
HOROSCOPES AND SYMBOLS. Mr Justice Holroyd. — What do you call it? — He called it a symbol.
Mr Justice Holroyd (looking at it.) — "Ah! you may call it an article." (Laughter.)
Witness, continuing, said that Worthington had explained to her before the meaning of the symbols on the article. The crescent and the three stones referred to certain portions in the Bible in Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and Numbers. The symbol with the cross on it was called the "ankh," and meant "the sacred mirror of creation." (Laughter.) The symbol in the centre meant the place where anyone who enters a pyramid must give their horoscope. (Laughter.)
Mr Justice Holroyd. — Must give their what? — Their horoscope. On the right hand side this symbol —
What is it? — Something like two feathers. That was the illumination of the head member of the lodge. Eventually he was going to initiate her into this lodge. She believed all this to a certain extent, because the man had an awful influence over her at the time.
Witness, continuing, said that Worthington told her in August, when she was temporary secretary, that unless be could get £200 he would lose the Flinders street property, and all he had paid on it. She hesitated to borrow £200 to lend him, but decided to do so on receipt of the letter addressed "Isis, mother, empress," which threatened that the Nile would swallow for another 1500 years if she did not. She gave Worthington back his own cheque for £800. and be gave her a cheque for £1000, dated December 1st. She had given him altogether £1052. Worthington's cheque was dishonoured.
SOME INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE. Cross-examined, witness stated that Worthington left on September 16th to take a position as minister of the Unitarian Church in Sydney, with only about a week's notice. She would have been suspicious had she known he was going. After that date he made several flying calls to Melbourne to the students, sometimes staying two or three days. She had written the letter on April 8th. 1902, concluding "Yours faithfully," but at that time she had not lost faith in him. When the cheque was presented in December and was not honoured it did not cross her mind that she would not get her money, because Worthington had told her the probate of the will of his aunt might not be through by December, that she was not to rely too much on it, but that the solicitors said it was bound to be through by March. After March she wrote to Worthington and said, "Considering the business between us, it must be treated on strict business lines." She believed Worthington had been swindling her when on September 1st she discovered from the bank that he was not getting remittances from America, and from Vale and Sons that he had not purchased the Flinders street land, and that made her determined to take the step she did take. She had been suspicious from April. She admitted having written a letter which concluded, "Oh, my love, my soul, know that my love is unchanging, unfailing, eternal."
Mr Gaunson — Who was that written to? — Mr Worthington.
Did you mean those words? — At the time, yes.
Was that written to him, a married man with three children in Sydney? — Yes I cannot say it was written to him in Sydney.
Witness (continuing) said Mrs Worthington and she had exchanged visits. She had become guardian for one of his children, but she had never loved it.
Mr Gaunson (handing up letter) — Is this your writing? — Yes.
Mr Gaunson (reading) — "Oh, God. Oh, my Osiris, oh. I have never felt anything like this. Oh, this separation. It is the first time in my life. I cannot bear to be alone. I was caught in the terrible storm, and as I sheltered, oh, darling, enfolded in your arms..." If he were to read the whole letter perhaps the ladies might retire.
You also wrote, "Ah, one beautiful, lovely vision. Oh, as you stood singing the hymn, oh, so noble and so powerful. Oh, that stays with one. Oh, that you will only think of me as brave, loyal, and true only, kind and devoted only to you, the work, and the children." Did you mean his children? — "Yes; on the strength of what he told me."
Mr Gaunson (reading) — "The children, they are my little ones, too. Oh, cast out any other thought of me, and this will help me to be stronger, nobler, wiser, and will lead me sooner to you." You wrote that with a big dash under the word sooner? — Yes.
Witness, in reply to further questions, said that she had always treated Mrs Worthington with proper respect. She had promised to be guardian to Gladstone, because she could not get out of it.
On the second day of the trial Madame de la Juveny was further cross-examined. She said she was to be initiated into the lodge of the Rosicrucians, to learn more of the occult. Worthington got her muddled by his psychic training, mental telepathy, and the rest of it. In her mind she often could not believe what he told her, but she tried to do so. He drilled her to believe that to enter the lodge she must renounce money and everything.
Letters were produced from Worthington to witness and read. In one, dated May 5th, 1902, he wrote with other things: — "The Flinders street property will be lost to me, and almost all I have paid on it, unless I can pay £4000 by June 21st." and concluded: — "Oh, Isis, I cannot put one word of love in. I feel you do not want it. Oh, oh, oh." (Laughter.) Another, dated March 8th, 1902, opened: —
"My Own, My Isis, —
"Your last is here. Could I have had it a week ago — all might have been well. But, darling, it is too late. I have eaten nothing for days, and this is Saturday, and I too ill to go to the church to-morrow, much less to the lecture.
"Oh, my Babe, my little one. For four weeks I carried the chill of the death of your love. Oh, I felt it all gone, all dead, all killed by this cruel, cruel law. Oh, how sweet this letter. I dare not keep it. I am in bed, and don't know how I will get this to mail, but I will get some way."
It contained the statement, "Mrs J. and daughter gone. Mrs W. hanging as though by a thread." A number of other letters were put in, in which the accused tried to dissuade her from placing the business moneys between them in the hands of a third party. In several letters reference was made to Mooe, who, witness explained, was supposed to be the head of the Rosicrucians, and 107 years old. In another letter Worthington mentioned that "she had an awful time with her heart." "She," witness explained, referred to Mrs Worthington.
Witness stated that the accused had told her frequently that his wife could not possibly live more than twelve months. When this period expired she told him that her attitude towards him could be no more than sisterly. -Press, 3/11/1902.
WORTHINGTON'S SENTENCE.
SEVEN YEARS' HARD LABOUR.
SEVERE TONE OF THE JUDGE.
PRESS ASSOCIATION. (Received November 1, 9.25 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day.
Arthur Bentley Worthington, formerly of the Temple of Truth, Christchurch, who was convicted a few days ago of having obtained moneys from Madame la Juveny by means of false pretences, was sentenced by the Supreme Court yesterday to seven years' imprisonment with hard labour.
When asked prior to sentence being passed if he had anything to say, the prisoner replied: "I had thought to mention three things, and I hope they will mitigate the sentence. The first is that during the last fifteen months my health has been seriously impaired. The second is that your Honour might have consideration for my wife and children. Lastly, I ask the Court to remember that I have been in prison for two months. I may also say that my wife yesterday sent me her forgiveness for what has been revealed, and asked me to mention to you that she had done so. That is all I wish to say." The prisoner then bowed his head and cried.
The Judge in passing sentence said: "You have been convicted on four separate charges of obtaining money or valuable securities on false pretences. The evidence disclosed some very disgraceful conduct on your part. I must say I look upon you as one of the most dangerous imposters who ever came into this country."
His Honour then sentenced the prisoner to eighteen months' imprisonment for each of the first two offences, and two years each for the other two offences, the sentences to be cumulative.
The prisoner appeared stunned on hearing the sentence, and a warder led him from the dock. -Evening Post, 1/11/1902.
A. B. WORTHINGTON.
DEFENDED BY HIS WIFE.
Mra Eva Worthington writes to the "Sydney Bulletin" in defence of her husband as follows: — Sir, — The articles in the papers relative to A. B. Worthington (my husband) were too untrue to allow me to keep silence and make no protest. It is easy to make atrocious statements against a man who cannot defend himself. I did not expect the "Bulletin" to add to the shocking and prejudged punishment inficted by the Press, by which judge and jury were strongly prejudiced against him before his trial. The offence for which he was tried, condemned and punished would have been, under the circumtsanees, committed by ninety-nine men out of every hundred. Men, in their inmost hearts, know that, and usually make allowance for each other's weaknesses.
My husband's offence dates from his arrival in Maoriland; and it was not so much against society as against the churches, who will not tolerate any teaching that is not orthodox. On coming to Maoriland with Sister Magdala to teach a new interpretation of Divine Science, my husband never posed as the inventor of a new religion. All the students under his direction became familiar with Professor Henry Drummond, A. P. Barton, the Rev Charles Parkhurst, Emily H. Cady, Emma Curtin Hopkins, and hosts of other leading lights in this truth. The remarks from the Press generally on his teaching are nothing more nor less than gross stigmas upon his audiences, one of which you refer to as "a large and growing congregation of enthusiastic and well-to-do people." Amongst the congregation of Sydney were people of noble character, with whom I, for the first time since leaving Maoriland, was perfectly happy — women and men whom I am proud to have known. Would to Heaven I could have said the same of Melbourne!
I now appeal to you for Justice. In the first place A. B. Worthington did not break away from Sister Magdala, nor did he cause her to leave him; neither were they living together as man and wife. My admiration for and belief in her repentance for her past life, compels me to beg for justice for her, as well as for my husband. I have all this from excellent authority (not my husband). The real cause of the separation was as follows: — Mr W., being overworked, was constrained to go away for a change and rest. During his absence Sister Magdala lectured. She made a statement that she had long wanted to lecture to the people on material matters, but that Mr W. would not allow it; now that he was gone she would speak plainly, and to the purpose; which she did. The subject was an admissible one only before an audience of one sex only.
Sister Magdala had instituted what she called "The Order of the Temple," all members of which had to bind themselves to give up all indulgences, and to live a life of denying the flesh; married members, men and women, to live as if single; single members to take the vow of celibacy. She herself lived up to her teaching — a life of perfect purity — as all in her house (The Temple Home) could and did testify. Her constant companion and room associate was one Miss Garstin, who assumed the name of "Sister Franc." This young lady was loved and respected by all who knew her. She was with Sister Magdala to the very end. Had there been any relations between her and my husband, all respect would have been forfeited, and an end to the Order of the Temple would have ensued. On Mr W.'s return from his tour, the Temple Committee laid a formal complaint before him in regard to Sister Magdala's lecture, and asserted that she must promise never to lecture in that way again before she wouldl be allowed to re-enter the Temple. This she would not do. The committee then set watch over the Temple doors, and did not allow her admittance. For some weeks every influence possible was brought to bear upon her, without result, when, one Sunday evening during service, the left the Temple Home with Miss Garstin.
That "an insatiable hankering for a girl" caused Mr Worthington to break with Sister Magdala is not true. I did not at that time know him; neither did Sister Magdala turn away half of the people, for she never had an audience again in Christchurch. It is not true that Sister Magdala could not live without him, for she and Sister Franc had a very happy life together; they founded a Community Home, and "treated" (healed) people. They wrote a small book, entitled "The Better Way," dealing with the sex subject. Finally she married a most estimable gentleman. My belief is she could not reconcile herself to unarried life, and her fanaticism in reference to that subject had unhinged her mind and that she was not responsible for the act that deprived her of life. She was a lovely woman, but her severity killed the love that he retained. She would have madie a splendid Mother Abbess.
Sister Magdala had the ordering of the Temple Home from its inception, during its building and its furnishing. Hers was the guiding hand. So much had been spent on the Temple itself that the Home was elegant but plain. There never was a pinktiled bath; there were no pink, gold or white rooms as described by you, and the "massaging damsels" would have had a bad time, and certainly would not have been tolerated either by Sister Magdala or the people who were members or students.
To the credit of Maoriland and Sydney, be it said, my husband was never associated there with women. It was in Melbourne that he fell. The cause of his fall was the result of orthodox persecution. Mr W., after his conversion to his teaching had made up his mind to live up to his high ideals, but, like many another man, circumstances were too much for him. When he had attracted a splendid congregation in Maoriland, and it was found that he was hurting the Church, and did not preach a hell of fire and brimstone, an enemy hunted up from the "Police Gazette" facts regarding the career of one Worthington, which he embodied in a pamphlet, and sold copies for ls. The proceeds of this, with added collections, were sent to the Chief of Police, New York, America, with the said pamphlets, requesting that a detective be sent out to take Mr Worthington back to America, where he should be punished for his bigamous propensities. The reply was, I believe, that the man had been shot by one of his wives on board a steamer. Not contented with this, this mail communicated with the Colonial Secretary in London, who interfered on his behalf, and was told that had Worthington really been so bad, and was now doing so well, that they had better leave him alone. An enemy vras responsible for a party of women from his congregation wrecking the garden and furniture of Mr W.'s private house, in Magdala's time. When my eldest child was born, every window in my house was smashed. The Riot Act was read, and police protection had to be afforded to the Temple.
Finally, we decided to try Hobart. After us came those pamphlets; the lies contained in them being credited, prevented our getting a 1iving. We then (unfortunate move) went to Melbourne. Again those accursed pamphlets pursued us, and we were almost starved. For six months we could not get a hall even. Then this woman came. The fretting brought on me so severe an illness that my life was given up. During this illness, I received the most devoted care from my husband. He has always been devoted to myself and his children. It was whilst in this dire need that he had her money. His wife dangerously ill, his children wanting food, ninety-nine out of every hundred men would have done as he did. What man who has taken money from a woman can coolly cast her aside? Had he deserted me, I could have compelled him to contribute to my support. When I refused to live in the same place as that woman, he had to desert her, and a prejudiced Press, Judge and jury gave him seven years'.
In delicate health, and with a family of four young children to support, the youngest a month old, I am destitute. My people in Maoriland will receive me, but I cannot even pay pay fare over, and they have it not. The women of Sydney, who gave me the only happy time I have had since my marriage, have been ministering angels. They have paid my rent, kept us, and have nursed me during my confinement. These noble women have been my comfort and stay, God bless them! You speak of my husband as devoting all his time to the care of his skin and the exercising of his muscles; it is not true. He was too busy a man to be wasting time. Three lectures every week, attendance at church in the day time, weekly concerts and entertainments, the school, etc, always left him exhausted. What other parson has a record to show for such an amount of work, week in and week out, ever since I have known him?
As for his wrong-doing, I recognise it, and I take into consideration his circumstances. Trusting that you will believe that not even the devil is as black as he is painted, — I am, yours, etc.,
EVA WORTHINGTON, Harrow Street, Stanmore.
p.s. — My servant, who has been six years with us, can describe to you the Temple House. The apartment belonging to my husband was as plainly furnished, almost, as a hermit's cell. -Star, 29/11/1902.
WORTHINGTON MOSTLY SHAMMING.
(Received 9.6 a.m.) MELBOURNE, this day. The Attorney-General has rejected the petition for the release of A. B. Worthington (of Temple of Truth fame), who was alleged to be mentally weak. The doctors who examined him reported that Worthington's disorders were partly deliberate simulation and partly hysterical excitement, which he was able to summon at will. -Auckland Star, 1/11/1905.
Personal Pars
A. B. Worthington, who was somewhat of a preacher in Christchurch, and later on, Sydney a few years ago, and who got into trouble over some financial matters connected with a foolish female, and got sentenced to some years in Pentridge Gaol, has been released, and has joined the Salvation Army. He claims to have been converted while in gaol. -NZ Truth, 5/6/1909.
A HOLY FRAUD.
MR WORTHINGTON AGAIN.
FINDING TROUBLE IN AMERICA.
By Cable. — Press Association. — Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association NEW YORK, October 27. The Presbyterian Church tribunal at Poughkeepsie, after investigating charges of false pretences, deposed the Rev. Arthur Worthington, who is alleged to be identical with Samuel Crawford, who organised "a Temple of Truth" in New Zealand, about 1892. -Sun, 28/10/1916.
"WORTHY" WORTHINGTON.
A Criminal Career Closed.
The death of Samuel Crawford, or as he was better known in Australasia, Arthur Worthington, closes the career of a remarkable criminal. Of all the scoundrels and arch-impostors who have cursed New Zealand, Worthington is entitled to rank as the most impudent, and that the man should die in gaol is not altogether surprising, but that right up to the end he imposed on gullible human nature is surprising when we consider the man's past, and the disclosures which had been made concerning him in two continents. At the time of his death, Crawford or Worthington was serving a term of imprisonment in a New York gaol for having "taken down" the faithful of a Presbyterian Church at a place called Poughkeepsie, New York. It was Worthington who founded the sect known as the Students of Truth at Christchurch. He swindled and victimised every woman that he "charmed," and finished up in Melbourne with a seven years' stretch for robbing a confiding woman. He was a bigamist, a thief, a swindler and a thorough scoundrel, and carried on his "graft" under the cloak of religion. -NZ Truth, 29/12/1917.
AMAZING ADVENTURER
“REV ARTHUR WORTHINGTON” ENDS HIS EXTRAORDINARY CAREER IN PRISON.
By Telegraph — Press Association — Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. NEW YORK, December 14.
Samuel Crawford, known as the Rev. Arthur Worthington, who formerly figured as a religious leader in New Zealand, and in forgery cases in Melbourne, died suddenly in gaol.
A MARVELLOUS LIFE.
The death of the clever imposter, well known in New Zealand as Rev. Arthur B. Worthington, closes a career that has few paraiells in the records of crime. He was a man who played many parts in life, and had assumed many names in the course of a career which stamped him as one of the greatest of modern swindlers, who did his villainy under the guise of religion.
The real name of Worthington was Samuel Oakley Crawford. He was born in Sangerties, New York, in 1847, and seems to have begun his career of crime in early manhood. He had a striking appearance and his personality was all in his favour and he had a faculty for winning the confidence of people, whom he soon duped.
According to the police records he enlisted in the Northern Army in 1864, and fought in the Civil War. After peace he studied law, and was admitted to the Bar in New York. Her practised his profession for only a short period. Becoming connected with a banking institution, he learnt in a year what he could of finance, and then commenced to move about the different States. Always on the lookout for propositions likely to bring grist to his mill, Worthington played the part of a lawyer or banker, political orator, real estate operator, spiritualist, litterateur, mining speculator and organiser, and confidence man generally. He swindled hundreds of people and, strange to say, managed to evade arrest in all but one case in the United States.
In 1868 Worthington contracted his first marriage in New York. It was not long before he deserted his wife and child. He moved to Detroit, Michigan, where he was arrested and sentenced for robbery. After his release, he went to Chicago, where he married the daughter of a clairvoyant. He left her, and a few months later, in Ohio, took part in another matrimonial alliance. He once more slipped away, and was next heard of in Peoria, where he became a law clerk and worked in connection with the Y.M.C.A. Matters becoming too warm, he slipped to San Francisco. Here he was about to be married when word was received that he was a bigamist. He escaped, and reaching Salt Lake City, joined the Mormons. He preached in the famous temple, and so gulled many of Brigham Young’s followers that he was able to depart with £1000 belonging to them. He contracted more marriages, and after fleecing his victims levanted.
After further exploits in Texas and New York, Worthington came to New Zealand in 1890. He and a woman with him established an organisation known as the Students of Truth, and everything went well. He induced his followers to provide the money to build a temple, which stands in Christchurch to-day. He tricked all he could. Quarrelling with the woman, he found himself in a tight corner owing to her exposure of him. She was subsequently found drowned in a waterhole. He left Christchurch and sailed for Sydney. He went to Melbourne, and then to Hobart. On his return to Christchurch he obtained more money by means of false pretences, and again sailed for Sydney. For some peculiar reason the people he had swindled in Christchurch decided not to have him arrested, and he got away.
Passing through Sydney, Worthington arrived in Melbourne, and for some years previous to 1901 he deluded hundreds. He was making money fast, and spoke of building a temple. Someone who had heard of his exploits in Christchurch made accusations against him, but with tears rolling down his cheeks he told his followers that he was another Saul of Tarsus, and would never sin again. He did so, though. He swindled every woman and man he could. When arrested in Sydney Worthington treated the matter indifferently. On being released from the Melbourne gaol in 1907 he went to America.
At the time of his death he was serving a term of imprisonment on a charge of false pretences concerning the Presbyterian Church, at Poughkeepsie, New York. He had previously served two terms of imprisonment, one of three years, at Albany, New York, in 1870, for robbing a man, and one of seven years imposed upon him in Melbourne in 1902 for swindling a young and pretty widow of Cumberwell of close on £ll00. -NZ Times, 17/12/1917.
Crawford - or Worthington - was mostly forgotten after the Great War. His temple was renamed the Choral Hall, then it was a dance hall called Latimer Hall, and was demolished in 1966 for a YWCA building. I have not been able to find more than one image of the place which I can use with permission but a search for images using the words "temple of truth" or "latimer hall" will disclose a few. A similar search for "temple of truth" will bring up a photo of the man himself.
What a great story. Thanks
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