Evening journal., 1917-12-14
FACED BY WOMAN
HE ROBBED. DIES
REV. Arthur Worthington, E"
Arch Swindler, SuccumbS
TO Shock in Jail
DEATH AT 72 ENDS
CAREER OF CRIME

NEWBUBGH. Dec. ti.-Samuel Oakley
Crawford. better known as the REV.
Arthur WOrihingion," one Of the clcy-
crest characters in modern criminal his
tory, died under dramatic circumstances
i'm Jail here yesterday.
Crawford, who was 2 years old, col.
lapsed when confronted by Mrs. Jen-
ME A. Showaltor, OF Wilmington Del.
who identified him az "a man who had
promised to marry her IN July. 1916
under the name Of Charles Graham
Boone. Two weeks later, she says. he
decamped with some Of her money.
When the woman appeared before him
yesterday he stared at her for q mo-
ment. and then sank TO the floor with
a groan. He was dead before q physi-
clan could reach him. state Detective
Frank W. Mccoy, OF Wilmington, had
come here with Mrs. Showalter with
warrant in an effort TO get Crawford
back to Delaware for trial. He is said
10 have married a Mrs Casey, OF VII
minFton.
Crawford had been IN ia since Janu-
ary, when he was arrested Tor swindling
the Rev. y. Stanley OF New Hamburg
out Of several hundred dollars while
member OF the presbytery. After be-
ing deposed he fed, but was found in
the National Soldiers Home at New
port News.
Crawfords career reads like an inn
/ 7glnative story Of criminal fiction. His
years of crime reached nearly forty
an din that time no Is believed 20 have
obtained fraudulenily and spent more
than a si.O0000O and 20 have married
ten women bigamcusly.
Up TO the time he obtained the pas
torate Of the New Hamburg church he
had posed as lawyer real estate opcr-
ator, sp.riiuslist. orcanizer. froe love
exponent, Christiac Science healer, in
-uranca agent, judge. captain major.
colonel and general in ilc Regular,
Army. Unitarian minister Mormon
preacher, actor prohibition lecturer
and member Of a long list Of various
cults.
Crawford never could blame mis-
early start in life or his bringing up
for his criminal rropensitles. He was
born in Saugerties and as hoy enlisted
in the Civil War After the war he
studied law at Columbia and cradu-
ated in the class Of 1867.
I'm 1868 he married the first Of the
women who have called him husband.
Two years later he deserted her and
departed with all the money he could
get from her and her friends. Then hc
took 10 horse trading. but conducted 70
in such a manner that he soon found
himself in the Albany penitentiary.
Afier his release he confined most of
his efforts 10 sNindling wemen Of their
savings by marriage and desertion On
the side. however, he forged, begged
and hnuunrrsnI An naNas d.
serted after three years returned 10
the stage. saved her money ana paid an
his debts Of which she knew.
He continually led siroller's life.
and travelled 70 many foreign coun- +
tries lie established a religious cult
IN New Zealand, but it was too much /
for the New Zealanders and he was
sent ont Of tho country. He was nfXt
heard OF I'm Tasmania, and then IN Mel
bourne, where he was Jailed for forgery
and served seven years
Europe he travelled over without cost
TO himself. hut greatly Go the discOn
fort Of others and then returned 10
this country. One of his most remark
able achievements here was the obtain
ing Of $1,000 from the Morm0ns in Utah
on some swindling pretense
Only once In his career did Crawford
work In partnership with another. That
WAS IN 1881 and lsS2 when ho ioined
forces with a notorious English swind-
Ter known as Lord Ashton Tn those
years Crawford was known as Airing
ion Buckingham Wadsworih Wr0ihinc-
ton. Tho pair got into society in Chi
cage and Boston, parting with each
other in the Massachusetts city. where
Crawford started his operations among
the spiriiualists
In 1856 he appeared in Grnln. Ga.
where hc met an heiress TO s60OO0 and
married her. Tie was then posing as
Judge John ID. Crawford" Arier
honeymoon trip 90 Europe Crawford
persuaded his bride 90 part with $40
900 with which he told her he would
start a banking business. Instead he
deserted her, going 10 Spokane. where
he lived as a high roller for year.
spending most OF the sum ne had
stolen.
He bobbed up next in Providence a.
General 4. r. Ward and told how he .
was wounded while serving in the
Union Army There he met Miss Emma
Marie Perry, an heircss TO S2009O. and
married her. soon afierwari he dis
appeared after inducing his bride 10
glye him most Of her money
It was in 1911 that he 8ppoarCd in
Poughkeepsie and told The local minis
tcrs that he was a graduate 0f Oxford ,
and a minister. but had lost his papers
in a shipwreck. He was soon assigned
ia. ihc New Hamburg Church but over
worked his practice Of borrowing ,
money until suspicious were aroused
and his career Investigated. !
After he decamped the news 0f bis .
cscapades In Wilmington came 10 the
swindled clergymen and detectives were .
sent after him. He managed TO cvadc 1
them until last January.
Even then IT, was found he had SO n
won the confidence Of the inmates that =
they offered TO make up a purse for his a
defence. Several Of them offered 500 r
each on his assertion that he was ia r.
nOcent. IN
WITH PRISONERS
on CAR FOR TWO HOT RS