Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-08-02
A CLEVER SCOUNDREL
WHO COMPLETELY DUPED FOR
MER JoHNsTowN Roy

A. Bently worthington Was His Name when
He Edited the Christian scteA,ce Maga-
zine" hut He was Judge Crawford when
He Dupsd Ed. Boggs, Of Charleston
W. Va.
The New York World orr~ II weck ago
exposed one of the most victorious conf
dencc men known in the aMnae OF crime.
One day last February stranger walked
into the office Of The christian Science
Maqasine, and introduced himself as A.
Bently Worthington. He was evidently a
man of brilliant uttainments, and was
given place at once on the editorial staff
of the paper.
He tell desperately IN love with Mrs.
convinced the lady she was intended for
him. Accordingly she left her husband
and was married to Worthington accord
ing to Christian Scisace tcnets.
When the W0rH exposed him as thief,
forger, swindler ana confidence man gen
orally, and besides had eight living wives,
he fled the city.
The following special from Richmond,
Va, gives an account of his escap-
ade in Charleston. As the old fellow said
= its mighty interes;in' reudin':"
RICHMOND, Va. July 28.-Since the
World has published so many chapters i'll
the history of the man with so many aliases,
known us Gen. A. B. Ward, Major Horace
Oakley Wood, A. b. Worthington, A. B.
Wordsworth, etc, chapter of which
your correspondent has personal kuowl-
edge will not be gninteresting.
In the Winter of 1884 there came to
Charleston, Kanswha county, West Va,
man, tall, well proportioned, with thick
dark hair, an auburn mustache, and dark
gray eyes. He was faultlessly dressed
and his personal appearance was that of
thorough gentleman. The few acquaiu-
tances he made were captvated by the
elegance of his manner and the charm of
his conversational powers. He rented II
house from Dr. Lawrence Carr, giving his
name as Judge j. Oakley Crawford, of
New York, and saying he had been ad-
vised to try the air of the West Virginia
mountains, on account of the lung trouble
with which he was afflicted. He added
that it was his desire to be as quiet as
ln haI ranta1 n hnnca
some distance from the town.
He declined all social advances on the
part of DR.. arr, and for some time lived
in seclusou. His lung troubles, however,
forced him to leave his retreat, as it was
necessary to have medicine. lie accord
ingly visited the pharmacy of E. L.
Bogss. The doctor" is a thorough
gentleman and a thorough Republican,
and II was with great pleasure that he
learned his handsome customer, besides
being brilliant conyersationalist and
man of wide information, was also Re-
publican and one who had done noble
work for the q. .. p. in the Blaine cam
paign of that year and who was, above
all, according TO his own statement, an
intimate friend of The d" Plumed Knight
himself After the Judge F" had i'm
parted this information he relaxed SO far
as to bring for DR.. Bogg's perusal letters
from numerous prominent Republicans
throughout the country, and also copies
of speeches which he had made during
the Blaine campaign. When these
speeches were examined they were found
to be able efforts, which showed that
Judge Crawford was one of the finest
campaign orators in the country. SO
good thing should not be kept, thought
Dr. Boggs, so he called in ether Republi-
cans, kindred spirits, among whom were
ex-Mayor Hulvey, Major Eugene Dana,
Colonel E. l.. Buttrick and the defeated
Republican candidate for Congress from
that district and others. They, too, were
captivated by the Judges many good
points, and after much hesitancy. by the
latter, he was induced to mingle more
freely among the people of the city.
Living in the house with Judge
Crawford were two women whom he rep.
resented as his sisters, but who kept much
closer than the " Judge had ever done.
When the latter decided to leave his re-
tirement his sisters returned to New
York. After their departure Crawford
made his home at Major Dana's house.
who was only too glad to have so charm
ing guest under his roof-tree While |
here the Judge received many social al- ]
tentions from the ladies.
Year after year the Republicans of the |
Third Congressional District had nomi- |
mated their candidate only to have him
showed under on election day. Just no
the clouds were the blackest, and even
the most sanguine had almost ceased TO
hope. But suddenly the clouds were dis
PEELED, hope of victory arose, and the
faithful became radiant with increased |
confidence. Judge Crawford was their
He was to turn the tide of bat
tie. No one could resist the persuasive
o1oo,,apoo ff fIo ,,oreo,oI Fr;arl &c To,,a.. |