Entity Index
1 direct match plus 14 related mentions across person references, story text, source records, and indexed tags.
![When Arthur Bently Worthington embarked upon his return voyage to Christchurch from Tasmania in 1897, he must have been aware that his arrival there was unlikely to be accompanied by the same degree of fanfare and enthusiasm that greeted him when he first set foot in the city, in 1890. In December 1895 the ‘tall and handsome’ American with ‘steel-blue greyish and expressive eyes’, whose real name was Oakley Crawford, had suddenly departed Christchurch, having spent the previous five years in residence there building up and ministering to his flock of acolytes, the ‘Students of Truth’, converts to his new religion. In reality, the charming Worthington was a notorious confidence trickster, having previously travelled the length and breadth of the United States bigamously marrying and swiftly defrauding the many wealthy women who crossed his path – abandoning them, and any children that he may have fathered along the way. His liaison with Mary Plunkett, the ‘wife’ who accompanied him to New Zealand in 1890, was the first to diverge from this pattern. Worthington met Mary, the editor of a Christian Science journal and wife of a notable businessman, in New York in 1889, whilst posing as a faith-healer for the sect, and quickly won her over. It wasn’t long before the two, accompanied by her two children, fled America, as Mary’s former husband had begun to unravel Worthington’s shameful and shocking past. In Mary, Worthington had found a woman whose charisma and beauty perfectly complemented his own, and hoards of Christchurch residents soon fell prey to their peculiar brand of proselytisation. Many in Christchurch willingly parted with their cash, and in some cases even mortgaged their homes, to further the religion, and to furnish the couple’s lifestyle. This extended even to the erection of a magnificent columned edifice, the Temple of Truth, in Latimer Square in 1892 (and the lavish private residence attached to it for the couple), within which Worthington preached his self-styled revivalist ‘rational form of Christianity’ to large congregations several times a week, and his insights into reincarnation and sexology for a smaller, more select audience. It was the latter that provoked an outcry – the Methodists first, and then the other denominations expressed their moral outrage at Worthington’s doctrine of free love, and as details of his sordid past started to emerge, and whispers grew about the sexual ‘goings on’ within the group, things began to heat up for him. Creditors were soon seeking financial reparation in the courts from Worthington for bad loans, a schism occurred within the group which culminated in Mary leaving Worthington (historian Geoffrey Rice in Christchurch Crimes and Scandals 1876-99 speculates that this was likely on account of Worthington’s sexual promiscuity - he quickly moved on and ‘wed’ a young parishioner, however), and New Zealand authorities moved to have him extradited by the United States. No wonder then that he fled for Australia at the close of 1895. What is more surprising is his decision to return in 1897 – presumably to have ‘another crack’ at the citizenry of Christchurch via a series of lectures at the Oddfellows’ Hall in September. During his third lecture, on 26 September, an angry crowd thought to number 6000 amassed in the street outside the building; the police found themselves unable to placate the mob and felt that they needed to read the Riot Act – doing so for the first time in Christchurch’s history. In 1899, Worthington finally made a permanent departure from New Zealand – though the events in Christchurch didn’t deter him from continuing his life of crime, and he died in prison in New York in 1917. Entries in the Police Communications Book, such as those pictured, record the frantic attempts of the police to prepare for and contain the anger on the streets of Christchurch. Archives New Zealand’s Christchurch Regional Office holds a wealth of historical material relating to the Canterbury and Westland areas, and this book can be viewed in person in our Christchurch Reading Room. Archives New Zealand/Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga Christchurch Regional Office [Archives Reference: CH439/26].](/assets/images/2026-08-02T14-38-51-238Z-sri-lanka-deploys-troops-to-contain-riot-at-overcrowded-mahara-prison-wikimedia-1280.webp)
An inmate was killed and six others wounded as inmates destroyed multiple facilities inside Mahara Prison near Colombo.
Showing 1-15 of 15 articles.
world
Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign reveals intense debate and unprecedented pro-Israel spending in Michigan’s Democratic primary, reflecting broader US political dynamics.
Al Jazeera | Aug 2, 2026, 12:43 PM
world
A Sri Lankan court found two former officials guilty of criminal negligence for the deadly 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, sentencing them to death. The officials plan to appeal the verdict.
Al Jazeera | Aug 1, 2026, 9:55 AM
world
Following a breach of the border with Morocco, Ceuta authorities requested Madrid to declare a national emergency and send military support.
Deutsche Welle | Jul 31, 2026, 3:59 AM
world
Pathirage leads a competitive field including India’s Neeraj Chopra and Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem in the Commonwealth Games javelin final on July 31, 2026.
Al Jazeera | Jul 31, 2026, 1:07 AM
global-institutions
The UN International Organization for Migration highlights a multibillion-dollar criminal industry exploiting job seekers, with victims trafficked into scam centers primarily across Asia.
UN News | Jul 28, 2026, 7:55 PM
general
New tariffs targeting forced labor violations will take effect Friday, following a Supreme Court ruling and an investigation under the Trade Act of 1974.
ABC Top Stories | Jul 24, 2026, 4:07 AM
world
Under a US-brokered agreement, Israeli forces have begun withdrawing from parts of southern Lebanon, with Lebanese troops moving into the vacated areas as part of a pilot zone initiative.
BBC World | Jul 21, 2026, 11:09 AM%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M0%20706%20L1536%20432%20L1536%201024%20L0%201024%20Z%22%20fill%3D%22%23f3f5f7%22%20opacity%3D%220.18%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M1060%200%20L1536%200%20L1536%201024%20L1250%201024%20Z%22%20fill%3D%22%23cc0000%22%20opacity%3D%220.38%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Crect%20x%3D%2284%22%20y%3D%2288%22%20width%3D%22210%22%20height%3D%2218%22%20fill%3D%22%23cc0000%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Ctext%20x%3D%2284%22%20y%3D%22164%22%20fill%3D%22%23ffffff%22%20font-family%3D%22Arial%2C%20Helvetica%2C%20sans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2264%22%20font-weight%3D%22900%22%3EWORLD%3C%2Ftext%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
world
The AI-powered system is deployed in seven developing countries and tested by 40 others to improve disaster preparedness.
South China Morning Post World | Jul 19, 2026, 1:24 PM%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M0%20706%20L1536%20432%20L1536%201024%20L0%201024%20Z%22%20fill%3D%22%23f7d56b%22%20opacity%3D%220.18%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M1060%200%20L1536%200%20L1536%201024%20L1250%201024%20Z%22%20fill%3D%22%23d01f2f%22%20opacity%3D%220.38%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Crect%20x%3D%2284%22%20y%3D%2288%22%20width%3D%22210%22%20height%3D%2218%22%20fill%3D%22%23d01f2f%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Ctext%20x%3D%2284%22%20y%3D%22164%22%20fill%3D%22%23ffffff%22%20font-family%3D%22Arial%2C%20Helvetica%2C%20sans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2264%22%20font-weight%3D%22900%22%3EWORLD%3C%2Ftext%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
world
With dengue infections more than doubling in the first half of 2026, Sri Lanka is expanding its efforts to curb the mosquito-borne disease, focusing on the capital and nearby districts.
CNA Latest News | Jul 15, 2026, 12:44 PM%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M0%20706%20L1536%20432%20L1536%201024%20L0%201024%20Z%22%20fill%3D%22%239fd2d6%22%20opacity%3D%220.18%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M1060%200%20L1536%200%20L1536%201024%20L1250%201024%20Z%22%20fill%3D%22%23c23b22%22%20opacity%3D%220.38%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Crect%20x%3D%2284%22%20y%3D%2288%22%20width%3D%22210%22%20height%3D%2218%22%20fill%3D%22%23c23b22%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Ctext%20x%3D%2284%22%20y%3D%22164%22%20fill%3D%22%23ffffff%22%20font-family%3D%22Arial%2C%20Helvetica%2C%20sans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2264%22%20font-weight%3D%22900%22%3EWORLD%3C%2Ftext%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
world
Alex Alfirraz Scheers cautions that a US ground assault in Iran could lead to uncontrollable escalation.
Al Jazeera | Jul 14, 2026, 6:57 PM
global-institutions
UNESCO highlights the need for innovative financing to protect education spending as foreign aid decreases and calls for investigation into Sri Lanka prison violence.
UN News | Jul 10, 2026, 8:53 PM
world
Global markets, including Latin American assets, fell following U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement ending the interim Iran war accord, with oil prices rising sharply amid renewed geopolitical tensions.
CNA Latest News | Jul 8, 2026, 4:42 PM
global-institutions
Top UN officials emphasize the importance of effective policing and partnerships amid budget challenges at the fifth UN Chiefs of Police Summit.
UN News | Jul 7, 2026, 9:59 PM
world
Violence erupted between rival drug gangs at Negombo Prison, resulting in at least 23 deaths and numerous injuries, marking one of the deadliest prison riots in Sri Lanka in recent years.
ABC Australia News | Jul 6, 2026, 9:03 AMShowing 1-15 of 15 articles.