The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-10-27
MINISTER Who WE'D
7 TIMES UNFROCKED
Presbytery Finds Clergyman
Guilty Of Fraud and False
Pretenses.

ROUUnIKEEPSIE, N. Y, Oct. H.
"For fraud and false prtenses and for
obtaining moneys fraddulently." and for
various other offenses. the Rev. Arthur
Worthington, aged sixty-eight years,
Of this city, has been deposed from the
Presbyterian ministry and excommuni-
Gated from the church by the judicial
committee OF the North River Presby-
terry.
Following this action, the evidence ad-
duced In a two weeks trial was sent to
District, Attorney r. 70, Aldrich for
criminal steps., 90 20;
Testimony tended to show that wor-
Ellington was. really Samuel Oakley
Crawford, son OF deceased minister, OF
Saurgerties, n. Y; that In forty-six
years of INSTRUMENTATION he had mar
ried by one creed or cult or other
ceremony at least seven women. some OF
whom still live. and that he had OBJ
tained large sums here and abroad In
religious causes.
His wife and family live in Pough-
keepsie. but the pseudo cleric has van
ished. 1t was his disappearance whieh
prompted the inquiry, revealing that he
had never been ordained in any faith,
nor had ne been sadmitted to the bar.
another profession he assumed.
Took Stenographer's Savings.
Worthington's movements were
traced by agents OF the Presbyterian
commission from his boyhod home to
Philadelphia, where. as Samuel Craw-
ford. he married a stenographer at
twenty-five. soon after disappearing
with her savings. He reappeared In
Iowa, married a wealthy woman and
took her to Boston. deserving her for
another woman, according to the
testimony. ....
His fourth marriage was contracted
In Georgia. With this wife. he went
to Chicago and opened law office.
studied n law there y FeGor1 lie ' Vanish
ed from Chicago and next was seen
In New York. where, as the Rev. A.
Worthington, for the first time In the
knowledge of the witnesses testifying,
Mrs. Plunkett.
Again he took a wife, this time Mrs.
Plunkett. 1t was testified. by a heav-
the woman and $4,000 OF her hus-
bands money located in New Zealand,
where he attempted to found a temple
OF culture. Wealthy persons sub;
about $4,000 and slipped away TO
Tasmania. Two detectives engaged
In New Zealand found him.
May Have Prison Record.
The life record submitted indicated
that Worthington spent some time In
the Albany penitentiary early in life
and did not again run afoul Of the law
until 1902, when, after his Tasmanian
trip, he was torn from the side OF yet
another woman and incarcerated In
New Zealand from 1902 until 1908. In
1903 he applied to the North River
Presbytery for admittance as a minis
ter. claiming the Unitarian faith. After
due time. he was admitted.
The Rev. A. Worthngton assumed
the pastorate at New Hamburger. N
Y. In 1909. He had with him then q
wife and several children. After lega
difficulties he dropped out of sight.
The Rev. +. ]. Stanley, Of Newburg
N. Y, testified that Worthington, un.
der pretext Of being the heir of one
Helen Russell. in the chancery court
OF New Jersey whose estate OF $40, 10,
he would soon receive, borrowed 81 400
He produced apparently legal proofs OF
his heritage. Subsequently the investi
gators found the signatures of tn,
secretary of state OF New Jersey anC
the clerk of the chancery court wer,
forged. There was no inheritance.