All the more pity, therefore, that Wildman should have allowed strictly non-ethical attitudes gradually to assume the reins in his activities. These were to prove his downfall. In this he was aided by his Messianic conceit, his megalomania which persuaded him that he had a World Mission in the matter of the corporal chastisement of the young.

We must now chronicle in outline the sad story of Wildman’s fall. No doubt the Authorities had had their eye on him for some time past, but the first sign of the storm breaking occurred in February, 1953, [actually January – C.F.] when, as a result of the examination of certain of Wildman’s pamphlets, a police squad invaded his premises. They showed their warrant, and proceeded to search the two or three rooms with their wealth of material.