The Bouquet Page has been set up specifically to accommodate those who have read “85 Grams”, “Nobody’s Boy” or “John Muir” and have something ‘nice’ to say; but in reality we all know there has to be some negative.
Breaking Bad in Ladysmith
85 Grams: Art Williams, Drug Czar
by Daryl Ashby
Reviewed by Kathryn Neilson
During the 1970s, Arthur James Williams ran the largest MDA lab in North America near the small town of Ladysmith on Vancouver Island. With assistance from trusted confidants, he produced and distributed millions of 85-milligram capsules of this illicit “Love Drug,” formally 3, 4 Methylenedioxyphenylisopropylamine, while the RCMP sought in vain to bring him to justice.
85 Grams by Daryl Ashby, a Vancouver Island historian and journalist, is a biography of Williams couched in the narrative of the intense but ultimately fruitless RCMP investigation. Ashby’s extensively detailed account is rooted in archival research, media reports, legal sources, and interviews of many of the central characters, notably Dale Elliott, Williams’ right hand man, and several RCMP officers involved in the events. A contribution from Williams is notably absent. An experienced pilot, he disappeared while flying his Cessna from Vancouver to Nanaimo on November 30, 1977, adding an element of mystery to the book.
This is a highly readable book. While extensive detail can be tedious, here it is saved by a gripping story, told in short chapters that keep things moving quickly. The well-chosen photos, some taken by Ashby himself, add significant value.
85 Grams will be of particular interest to residents of Vancouver Island. Williams, his associates, and their families were well known around Ladysmith, and their rural MDA labs operated in familiar locations. His disappearance was widely reported, as were the legal proceedings that ensued from the RCMP’s efforts. Early publicity, including a lengthy interview with Ashby about the book with Dave Scott on Spaced Out Radio, suggests high local interest.[1]
Ashby paints Williams as an intriguing character, variously described by those who knew him as “brilliant,” “ingenious,” and “a legend” (pp. 17, 120, 240); but also arrogant, devious, and disdainful of authority. In Ashby’s opinion, Williams had the potential to be remembered “as the intelligent wizard that he was rather than the despised drug czar that he became (p. 18). (A reader may be forgiven for a passing thought of the American television series, Breaking Bad.)
Born in England in 1926, Williams immigrated to Canada following his service in the British Army during the Second World War and in 1966 settled with his wife on a rural property in Ladysmith. Ashby acquaints the reader with Williams’ considerable intellect and energy by recounting the diverse endeavours that preceded his engagement in the drug trade. A capable carpenter, in the late 1960s he developed an interest in archery and designed and marketed the “Williams Bow,” a high-quality weapon that attracted international attention and acclaim. This venture ended, however, when a competitor challenged his design and government funding was withdrawn. Williams’ lifelong refusal to pay taxes and his attempt to hide assets from Revenue Canada then led to legal proceedings and bankruptcy. Ashby reports this “pushed him over the edge” (p. 20) and cemented his contempt for the law.
Williams next turned his attention to growing a perfect hybrid mushroom, and incorporated the B.C. Institute of Mycology. It is unclear whether he intended this somewhat eccentric project to be a guise for MDA production from the outset. In Ashby’s account, Williams entered the drug trade because the hippies who lived on his property alerted him to the demand for recreational drugs and he wanted to take “full advantage of a demographic time bomb that was ready to explode” (p. 34).
In short order, equipment and supplies ostensibly ordered for mycology research were being used by Williams and his foot soldiers to produce MDA. His chief confidant, Elliott, was an associate of the notorious 101 Knights biker gang and was well-acquainted with the drug scene. Ray Ridge was another loyal follower. In 1973, under a veil of secrecy, Williams and his associates built a three-storey barn-like structure on his property with a legitimate lab for mycology research and a second intricately-hidden lab for MDA production.
The primary focus of the balance of 85 Grams is the RCMP’s five-year “cat and mouse” chase of Williams and the resulting legal proceedings. Limitations of space make it impossible to do justice to Ashby’s detailed and realistic account of the force’s efforts to obtain conclusive evidence that Williams was manufacturing MDA, and Williams’ skill in evading detection. He enjoyed significant cooperation from Elliott and several RCMP officers in compiling his account. Interestingly, the book is dedicated to Elliott.
In the early 1970s the RCMP knew Ladysmith was a focal point of MDA distribution, and were aware of Williams because of an earlier marijuana charge and his association with Elliott. In 1972 their suspicions were raised because Williams’ Institute of Mycology was receiving large quantities of a key component of MDA, and they embarked on an investigation of his activities. For the next eighteen months they conducted intense surveillance of Williams and his associates, making multiple clandestine visits to their properties, entering buildings, installing rudimentary phone taps, and setting up cameras on neighbouring properties. Chemical shipments addressed to Williams’ Institute were traced and sometimes intercepted. Throughout, Williams watched with amusement, convinced he could outwit the RCMP.
Despite these efforts, the police obtained no direct evidence of MDA manufacture until a listening bug on Elliott’s property picked up sounds characteristic of production. On December 17, 1973, they conducted a raid and caught Elliott and his young son in the final stages of cooking MDA. A concurrent raid at Williams’ property revealed a partial recipe for MDA but nothing else of consequence. Both Williams and Elliott were nevertheless arrested and charged with conspiracy to manufacture and traffic in MDA, as well as trafficking in and possession of MDA for purpose of trafficking.
The 101 Knights were Art’s MDA distributors for Vancouver Island and the lower mainland
They went to trial in Nanaimo in late 1974, interestingly before a judge who was a family friend of Ashby and who took the unusual step of giving him access to his personal records for this book. This allowed Ashby to provide a uniquely detailed account of the trial. The judge convicted Elliott of trafficking in MDA but found the case against Williams was insufficient to establish guilt. Elliott’s conviction was later set aside on appeal leaving the RCMP with nothing to show for their efforts.
Undaunted, Williams believed the RCMP were no match for his cunning and he and Elliott were shortly open for business again. They established a new MDA lab hidden on a remote mountainside, accessible only by foot and off-road dirt bikes.
They discovered this lab in February 1977 empty with no evidence of active production. When they returned a few days later to plant a listening device they found the lab had been destroyed. Williams and Ridge had detected the presence of strangers and blew it up, describing this as “a simple business calculation” (p. 125). Business interruption was not a concern as they were concurrently operating several other labs.
Stymied in their attempts to obtain direct evidence of MDA production, the RCMP enlisted an undercover informant, “E752,” a man with no moral compass, deeply engaged in the illicit drug business, and “no stranger to the dark side of life” (p. 141). Under police direction, E752 infiltrated Williams’ operation as a vendor of the gelatin capsules that serve as MDA containers, and Williams took the bait. As he gained Williams’ trust, E752 convinced him to sell him MDA. Several purchases took place with Elliott and Ridge acting as intermediaries. E752’s “handler,” Cpl. Kary, gave him the funds to buy the MDA and also let him keep the drugs he purchased, traffic them, and keep the proceeds, as he was fearful of disrupting the flow of MDA and alerting Williams to the “mole.”
While these transactions provided clear evidence of possession and trafficking, the RCMP still lacked the direct evidence of MDA production needed to shut down Williams’ labs. Under pressure to conclude what had become an expensive and fruitless pursuit, as a last resort they conducted a raid on the properties of Williams, Elliott, and Ridge on August 16, 1977. Williams and Ridge were arrested but Elliott evaded capture. A thorough search of the three-story barn on Williams’ property revealed an intricately concealed route to the active MDA lab hidden in a corner, at last providing the necessary link between Williams and production of the drug.
Williams, Elliott, and Ridge were charged with conspiracy to traffic in MDA and possession of MDA for the purpose of trafficking and released on bail. While awaiting trial, Williams flew his Cessna to Vancouver to meet his lawyer on November 30, 1977 and vanished over the Strait of Georgia on his return flight.
Ashby recounts the searches and investigations that followed in an effort to determine whether Williams died in a plane crash or had managed to fly undetected to a safe haven where he had stowed the proceeds of his MDA enterprise. Although a formal inquest concluded he had died, the lively debate in the community suggested no clear conclusion.
Ashby returns to Ridge’s jury trial in 1978 and the efforts by the defence “to peel back the layers of lies, half-truths and careless preparation” (p. 201) of the Crown’s witnesses. E752 was the Crown’s star witness. His evidence left no doubt that he had manipulated the RCMP to his advantage, and the RCMP was effectively on trial for relying on a known criminal and financing his drug trade with taxpayers’ money. The jury decided the end justified the means, however, and convicted Ridge. Following appeals he served less than a year.
Elliott, who had continued to produce MDA while in hiding on a boat, was apprehended in February 1979. On April 1, 1980, he pleaded guilty to possessing and trafficking in MDA, and served four years. The criminal law can be challenging to decipher and Ashby does a creditable job in recounting the legal proceedings in the book. Legally-trained readers will detect some minor errors but these have no significant impact on the narrative. Those acquainted with the justice system will enjoy his portrayal of the pre-Charter world of police investigations and trials. The enactment of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982 placed significant restraints on the investigative powers of peace officers, and introduced new complexity to judicial proceedings. The freedom with which the police pursued Williams would not be permitted today, and the two-week trial against Williams and Elliott in 1974 with 29 witnesses and over 200 exhibits would now take months.
At the end, Ashby turns to events in 1979 that revived the debate over whether Williams had died or was comfortably ensconced in some remote tropical paradise. It is left for the reader to decide. “Ten different fiction writers could come up with ten plausible explanations for what happened, but all the evidence would leave doubt overshadowing each theory,” Ashby concludes (p. 239).
In his interview with Dave Scott, Ashby revealed that his intent was to take a deep investigative journalistic approach to Williams’ story. He has admirably accomplished that. He also told Scott that he may write a sequel focusing on the informant, E752. If so, his followers can look forward to another intriguing crime story about the hidden underworld of Vancouver Island.
Kathryn Neilson is a retired lawyer and judge. Her legal career in Vancouver included government service as Crown Counsel, as well as private practice in civil litigation and administrative law. She was a part-time adjudicator for the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, and also worked in the field of international human rights in South Africa and in Cambodia, where she spent a year with the United Nations as a human rights officer. She was appointed to the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 1999, and to the B.C. Court of Appeal in 2008, retiring in 2016. Ms. Neilson has served on a number of professional and community boards and committees. During her career she periodically taught part-time at the law schools of U.B.C. and the University of Victoria, and in the Department of Criminology at Simon Fraser University. She was also engaged in continuing legal education courses for lawyers and judges. She has published papers on diverse legal topics and on her experiences in Cambodia.
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Publisher/Writer: Alan Twigg
The Ormsby Review is a journal service for serious coverage of B.C. books and authors, hosted by Simon Fraser University
David Banks – 25aug03
Hey Daryl; I read both books and found them profoundly moving. Having experienced those times, your depth and accuracy swept me up and shook me. I was on the Mainland at the time. Thank you for your candid, thorough, detailed work. Cheers, Dave
Comment Don Miller
Daryl, I got your new book from your wife on Thursday.
Read the first 4 or 5 chapters that night, read the remaining chapters last night….until 5:00AM this morning. OUTSTANDING!!!
Each of your three books has their own style, each one quite suitable for the subject matter, this one really hits it out of the park
I know I posted when I had bought the books. I just searched it was
Well, let me tell you I finally got around to reading it !
Oh my goodness SO good !!
Read it so fast and I didn’t bring the other one , “Nobody’s Boy”
Can’t wait to break into that one when I get back!
What’s exciting is my husbands client bought Pylades Island & he built them their beautiful cabin.
When I asked him about relation of this book & Pylades, he said yes the owners had torn down the house that stood there and removed everything – lots of stuff
I can’t wait to get together with these clients again See if they know anything about the history!
& I’ll give them this book
Hi. I am not a reader at all, having never read a complete book until the age of 42.
“85 Grams” is that first book I read from start to finish in a very short time. It was then followed by “Nobodys Boy” which was again read in a very short time.
I have always been intrigued by the “bad guy” and how they can out-smart the authorities with all there education and technology. Who doesn’t love an underdog?
Anyways, in what I have read and further online searching, I have so many questions. I never pass Arts old property without looking and wondering what was and still is. I have driven by Ralph’s property on Rosalie Rd and tried getting a sneak peak to no avail.
Then there’s Phil (Stirling)…
I guess I don’t have any specific or direct questions, just looking for any other tidbits that were left out of the books from a direct source.
Hat off to writing these two incredible books!
“Bouquet from Kim Madden”
I just finished reading 85 grams today. I was excited to read it and was not disappointed.
As a kid I had heard about Art through my dad, who knew Art through his bows. We still have one of Art’s bows and three arrows he made.
I later heard more about him from his son, who married my friend. He sounded like a man of mystery and intrigue.
Thanks for telling this story. The book was very engaging and easy to read. Art and his crew became notorious but they were also like regular folk in town.
They were my friends’ dads, known to all walks of life, so also very integrated into our community.
I look forward to reading your latest book.
Don Miller: (Nobody’s Boy) – Daryl, I got your new book from your wife on Thursday. Read the first 4 or 5 chapters that night, read the remaining chapters last night….until 5:00AM this morning. OUTSTANDING!!!
Each of your three books has their own style, each one quite suitable for the subject matter, this one really hits it out of the park. I can see now you were holding out on me when after reading about Art I had quizzed you about Phil (Stirling). You had all the details then it certainly paints a different picture than what the media came up with.
So what is next? Government officials and casinos money laundering? Maybe the name Doug Alexander comes up?
Colin Arsenault: (Nobody’s Boy) – WOW….Nobody’s Boy, is a story with both answers and questions , that I thoroughly enjoyed …..it shows us that some people on this earth have a lot bigger balls than others…as they say “go big or go home”……..thank you Daryl …can’t wait for the next one……we can’t help but wonder, who the real crooks are…lol
Steve Barrie: (Nobody’s Boy) – Loving this book too, almost finished, some things in this one that were a part of my old life
Ken Bryski: (Nobody’s Boy) – Great book! Couldn’t put it down and read it in one day. Only stopped reading long enough for a dinner break
Carol Powers: (Nobody’s Boy) – “Right on Daryl.. this is going to be my Xmas present to myself! I can’t wait I already have a signed copy of 85 grams that I keep pristine and an unsigned copy which has been dog-eared and reread over and over. I can’t get enough of our own Island history. And we who are Islanders know just how many “stories” there really are!! Keep ‘em comin!!”
Faye McKinnon: (John Muir) – “Just wanted to send out an enthusiastic recommendation for this book!
In John Muir: West Coast Pioneer, Daryl Ashby has written a tremendous account of the settling of Vancouver Island and manages to educate and entertain with every page. Two thumbs.”
Well from me to you: “Three thumbs up to Faye for taking the time to share her voice
Wayne Cave: (85 Grams) – “Just read 85 Grams and highly recommend this boo. Extensive research. This true account is worthy of a movie. At the end I wanted more”
Aaron McKee: (85 Grams) – “Hi Daryl, they say not to buy anything for yourself before Christmas so I had to wait for your book (lol). I just finished it and loved it! Dale (Elliott) was a friend of mine and he said ‘there’s gonna be a book’. I can’t imagine how much work had to be put into writing this book. I will be telling a lot of people to get a copy. Thanks for all your hard work.”
Sue Lauman – Manager, Indigo Chapters, Nanaimo: (85 Grams) Hi Daryl. I have been selling your book (85 Grams) like crazy and went to buy one tonight for my dad and we are sold out! I have been recommending it to every true crime shopper this week and it has been flying out of here. I need 20 more, but they will likely be sold by next week.
Award Winner: (85 Grams) Canada Book Awards has recognized “85 Grams: Art Williams – Drug Czar” as the winner of their prestigious award on December 6, 2018.
Sandy Collins-Chiang: John Muir) “Daryl, I just finished this book. It is the best book I’ve ever read! Please write more books for me ! ! !”
Hailey Mannynvali: (85 Grams) – “I was so consumed with your book that I was disappointed when I turned the last page. I’m very thankful that you continue to post more pieces of the story that still has me so intrigued.”
Deanna Walts Bamford: (85 Grams) – “I downloaded the book on Kindle and finished reading it a few hours ago. It brought back memories of the stories Dale (Art’s right-hand man) told me. I was only 16 when I first met him while he was at Elbow Lake (prison). I traveled there with Ingrid (wife) and Steven (son) for a visit. I enjoyed your book and couldn’t put it down until I had finished it. I’m going to order a hardcover which I will give to my daughter for Christmas.”
Diane Donaldson: (85 Grams) – “Good job on 85 Grams. I was reading another book and couldn’t put your’s down, so it’s your fault I’m tired this morning! I stayed up to late to finish it.”
David Dale: (85 Grams) – “Just finished your book and thought it was marvelous! Having grown up down the road from the Elliotts and having worked next to the Williams, it was so interesting to be able to put details to the faces.”
Nomi Bredin: (85 Grams) – “I just finished reading the book. Very interesting and good writing. I just don’t understand what you went through for research. This book is amazing.”
Mariah Dupuy: (85 Grams) – “I read this book in one sitting yesterday, totally engrossing !”
Sue Rocco: (85 Grams) – “My husband is not an avid reader, did not put your book 85 Grams down until it was done. Great job Daryl maybe I can read it now”
Bob Eakin: (85 Grams) – I am not an intellect by any estimation but I found your 85 Grams to be extremely well written for my preference with an ‘easy read’ flow. Terrific book, could not put down so cover to cover in 7 hours.
I suppose the subject content was an advantage as I have always had the ‘perverse’ interest in the drug world (never participated), came to the island from Edmonton (mentioned in book – grew up in the river flats at school next to Littles Brick yard – not sure any connection but the name Littles rang home as well as a local news caster Daphne Little.
Another major ‘hook’ was the local island references –plenty of mountain hiking in the area past 15 years here, quite familiar with Ladysmith, Chemanis etc.. – So you touched on many areas of my personal history by coincidence and with such a comfortable read I thoroughly enjoyed your writing – will research your other endeavors but just wanted to pass on recognition for 85 Grams.
Hollie Andrew: (John Muir) – This afternoon I finished reading your account of John Muir’s life on Vancouver Island, and it added a great deal to my knowledge of a number of things from that part of the country. I knew the HBC was a villain in much of Western Canada, but hadn’t realized how strong it was for such a long time also in BC.
I have been to Valparaiso, Chile with my Chilean friend, Miriam, and we spent a week there in a nice time-share about 10 or 11 years ago. So, it was interesting to find out what a successful city port it was so long ago.
Your history of the Island shows again how so often we perpetuate the names of earlier people even if they were not particularly nice or honourable folks. The Muirs were certainly a fine Scottish family, and i enjoyed getting to know them a bit.
Anyway, I’m glad I had a chance to read this book and to gain a new perspective. I will recommend it to my friend in Comox and my friend in Nanaimo, because they would both likely know many of the spots you described in the saga.
Sina Marie McCasky: (85 Grams) – Just finished the book Daryl! Awesome… a definite recommend to anyone… but knowing the area and some of the people just made it even more interesting!!!
E752 – Crown’s Primary Informant: (85 Grams) – Have read it and still digesting lots of Art history. So much I was right about re; HIS TENACITY, intelligence, AND Playing with truth. Should tell you about transcripts I have from RCMP I was given containing actual conversations taped by me with Art. Volumes in huge binders. Just have to remember where stored.
Should burn them I guess.
Vance Smith: (85 Grams) – Just finished 85 Grams – couldn’t put it down.
Fascinating and shocking what goes on in our backyard. The amazing research and quotes make you feel like you were there. A deep look into the underworld and what the RCMP were doing to fight it. Unbelievable at times. must read for sure.
This would make a great movie!
Leah Bonde: (85 Grams) – IF you HAVE NOT….BUY AND READ, NO DISAPPOINTMENTS!
Pat O’Shea: (85 Grams) – Hi Daryl, Finished your book yesterday. It was great to get the holes filled in. It’s too bad Ralph didn’t get a chance to read it. I’m sure that Happy will appreciate it. Anyway, loved the book. Hope to see you at the launch.
Al Wills – President, Archery Canada: (85 Grams) – Even though I’ve been in archery for more than 47 years, many of which as President of Archery Canada, I’m afraid I never knew Art Williams, although I have lived with his exploits both on Vancouver Island and across Canada for all that time! From his resurrecting and then the countless articles in the Canadian Archer to his powered archery lane automatically returning the butt to the shooting line for arrow retrieval, I’ve seen a lot! The legend of his eclectic meetings as the Canadian Archery Federation chair are classic! So, when I met Daryl Ashby during his research for his book 85 grams, I was even more fascinated! What followed was a long history of me bugging Daryl as to when the book was finished, it took a while, but finally this year, the word was out, the book was done! I couldn’t meet Daryl fast enough to get a copy!! I thoroughly enjoyed the book, what a character he was! I was a bit disappointed by how quickly (for me only I’m sure) the archery ended! However, I was still fascinated by his life, his exploits and his genius. It read like I knew him and by the end I felt like I’d been a part of his life! I must drop in and see Happy again! Now I smile even more as I look at his bows and magazines in my collection!
Rob Johnson – vice-pres. Ladysmith Archives & Historical Society: (85 Grams) – I finished your book very enjoyable, well researched and I like how you made the people come alive and you got to know them
Sue Spicer – Yuma Ariz: (85 Grams) – Darn you Daryl Ashby! Just loaded your new book on my Kindle… I WAS in the middle of another book but made the mistake of reading the Prologue on your book and now I’m hooked! What other book??? Can’t put it down !!! Looks like a perfect read.
Margaree Elliott – Dale Elliott’s wife: (85 Grams) – Oh I am enjoying it – was just looking at the pictures.
Rick Gonder – retired RCMP: (85 Grams) – I was working with Dave Staples during this investigation. Your book is an excellent read
Laurie Krall: (85 Grams) – Picked up my book today at salamander book store. So stoked to read it. Can’t put it down
Holly Oelette: (85 Grams) – I’ve shared your post Daryl. I find this story very interesting! I work at Chapters and it is definitely selling from our store!
Bill Sampson – wish we could go, I’m a slow reader, read about 1/3 of the book and it’s very well written and very interesting reading about this history that was going on as I was growing up. I even recognize some of the names. some of the Elliott’s used to live only a couple miles down the road where I grew up. I never did and still don’t believe he crashed his plane, as it was never found
Wilbroad Juma – Nairobi, Kenya: (85 Grams) – Wow, I am really longing to read this piece, how can someone get a copy of this? is it available in the African market?
Joy & Eli Fricker: (85 Grams) – This looks like a book I’d love to read.
Cheryl Ashby: (John Muir & 85 Grams) – I have read John Muir and swear if History books were written this way in high school, I would have passed History class with flying A’s. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time! Currently reading 85 Grams and would highly recommend it! Fascinating read and each page leaves me wanting to know more
Wendy Ashby: (85 Grams) – A lot of blood, sweat and tears went in to the making of Daryl’s new book “85 Grams”. It is a true account of what took place many years ago with the notorious Art Williams, the Drug Czar of Ladysmith. This read will keep you spell bound until you finally say, “It is finished”. Just enough intrigue, mystery, crime, murder and even some relationship issues to keep you on your toes
Brent Ridge – son of Art Williams right-hand man: (85 Grams) – Hey good morning to you sir. My mom told me some great news this morning about the book. I just wanted to say thank you for doing that I can’t wait to read it
Elliott Hockley: (85 Grams) – Good to hear you’re already drawing interest, you’ve written a great book and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I’ll certainly be recommending it.
Dave Obee – Managing Editor Times Colonist: (85 Grams) – I would love to see it
Brenda Bailey: (85 Grams) – Cannot wait to get my hands on this book: 85 Grams Art Williams Drug Czar
Barbara Bennett: (85 Grams) – I’m going to get this book on Art Williams, I was around for his product back in the day.
Wendy Ashby: (85 Grams) – So proud of my husband. He is adept at building cars and writing great books. 85 Grams is a must read as it has a little bit of everything in it that even a fiction reader will love it. 🙂
