This was in the 30s as well.

I was watching this documentary on this person names "brother 12" he was in a court room for stealing funds from his cult in canadia, then when the prosecutor was done talking he fell to the ground like a stone. Then everyone else dropped to the floor. Then the judge started choking before he could end the court session. Then "brother 12" rose from the court seats menicingly. Then it showed photos of the cult, were they did grueling farm work. But the cult started when brother 12 was ill in France. Then he had a vision. The gods said he was the 12th divinity. Then he went to a remote island in British Columbia, then built some shacks. The cult was about the only way to achieve happiness is through manual labour. Then he stole the profits and buried them in Mason jars around the farm. Then he went to court. But the creepiest thing of all, his treasurer said every time he speaks, he sees a grey mist and a monk like figure behind him.