Page:John Feoktist Dudikoff - Beasts in Cassocks (1924).djvu/118

 Dudikoff, to get back from Metropolitan Platon and the Consistory on East 97th Street the $2,800.00 plus interest, which Dudikoff had deposited at the Mission Bank for safe-keeping, and also the $5,000.00 which Metropolitan Platon took of him in 1914 and, together with Archpresbyter John Slunin, gave Dudikoff shares of the Oil Field Company, whose oil-wells are located between the Caspian and the Azov Seas, as security.

Later, from a personal conversation with Dudikoff, I learned in greater detail about this money and what Dudikoff had suffered at the hands of Platon in Kiev (Russia), because he dared to ask for the return of his money. Whenever Dudikoff and Father Richlov spoke about it at the latter's home, I was well aware what it was al about, in spite of the fact that Father Richlov would often call Dudikoff aside and hold a whispered conversation with him. The affair became still clearer to me when Father V. Richlov made the following demand of me:

"You must keep to yourself all you have heard at my home regarding the money deposited by Dudikoff in Metropolitan Platon's Mission Bank, as well as the money taken of Dudikoff by Platon and Slunin for which they gave him the Oil Field Compaly's shares as security. When you are alone with Dudikoff you must draw him out and report to us what he is planning to undertake against Platon and Alexander in order to get his money back. If Dudikoff should ever bring suit in Court and calls you as a witness, you must testify that you have never been prssent during my conversations with Dudikoff, never heard anything of his money or shares, and flatly deny everything. Owing to this, Dudikoff will not get his money of the Metropolitan, and the Metropolitan will thank you."

Seeing that they were intending to cheat poor John F. Dudikoff out of his money, I was more inclined to do all I could to help him rather than to side with the conspirators and cheats. When, therefore, Dudikoff himself asked me to be of assistance to him, I agreed without any hesitation or subterfuge to keep an eye on Father V. Richlov I always tried to be near Father Richlov, although unobserved by him. whenever he met John Dudikoff. I thus was present at their meetings, and this entire affair, unworthy of the high calling of the clergy, has not escaped my attention. Only once did Father Richlov see me in the Consistory with Dudikoff, but this was after last meeting of Dudikoff and Richlov.