“The most amazing story ever told in a Canadian court was unfolded to Chief Justice Morrison here, today, as witness after witness related details of life under Brother XII, otherwise Edward Arthur Wilson, but now known as Amiel de Valdes, who claimed to be the personal Chela of a divinity, ruling fortified islands and armed guards. Strange rites, peculiar happenings and conditions described as equaling the worst features of penal colonies or slave compounds of olden times were described in the testimony of a dozen witnesses, and in documents filed during the hearing of the claim of Mrs. Mary W. T. Connally, former society leader of Asheville, North Carolina, against Valdes and his coworker and chief assistant, Zura de Valdes.

“Judgment was given Mrs. Connally for $26,500, moneys advanced by her, damages of $10,000, and ownership of the De Courcey group of islands and 400 acres on Valdes Island. It was at Valdes Island and on the De Courcey group that the men and women gathered who, in the spirit of altruism, had joined the Aquarian movement originated by Valdes, and it was on these isolated places and at Cedar-by-the-Sea that he gave them ‘hell-on-earth,’ as Mrs. Connally and other witnesses described conditions.

“The composite story as told by witnesses under the questioning of V. B. Harrison, counsel for Mrs. Connally, surprised even those in the courtroom, who anticipated the most sensational disclosures would be made.

“All witnesses testified that on being accepted for service at headquarters Brother XII displayed a most earthly interest in their possessions, and these were soon at his disposal. Once a candidate was accepted and was given the privilege of coming to Cedar-by-the-Sea, which is some half dozen miles from Nanaimo, he or she was warned against the other disciples, and