Page:John Feoktist Dudikoff - Beasts in Cassocks (1924).djvu/121

 On May 18, 1922, I saw Father Richlov leave Dudikoff on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 97th Street, New York. Richlov went to the Consistory, returned with a little book and handed it ti Dudikoff. It later turned out to be a Baptist version of the Gospels. I further saw that Father Richlov, after another talk with Dudikoff went once more to the Consistory, and having emerged from there fifteen minutes later, took him to an ice-cream parlor on the corner of 96th Street. I followed them to the ice-cream parlor and saw through the window how Father Richlov, having counted out nine bills at $20.00 each, handed them to John Dudikoff, put the tenth $20.00 bill into his own pocket, and taking out a card handed it to Dudikoff. Dudikoff wrote something on the card and returned it to Father Richlov. Afterwards, Dudikoff explained to me that Father Richlov had him sign a receipt for the $200.00, and having no paper, Dudikoff wrote the receipt on Father Richlov's visiting card. It was 7:00 o'clock in the evening when I saw all this.

The next day I was present, this time without hiding, at the meeting between Father V. Richlov and Dudikoff on Chambers Street. I stood so near them that I heard everything that passed between them, particularly so that, being excited, both spoke very loudly, especially Father Richlov. To Dudikoff's question: "When am I going do get the balance?" Father Richlov, all excited, replied: "Why are you so uneasy? What else do you wish? You received the Gospels, you received $200.00 and the rest of the money—the $2,600.00 you deposited in the Mission Bank and the $5,000.00 for which they gave you shares, Metropolitan Platon will pay you to a cent to-morrow. You will also get a position at $50.00 a week. And if you insist, you will get nothing at all, and I will say that I don't know anything about the matter. Remember that you have already walked into our trap by having signed your confession."

I saw the rough draft of the "Written Confession", whitten in Father Richlov's hand (his handwriting is very well known to me), from which Dudikoff copied his "Confession". I am familiar with the contents of the "Written Confession" because I had the rough draft in my hands and read it. This "Written Confession" was signed by Dudikoff in my presence and his signature was ceritfied by Notary Public Joseph Podlesny in the latter's office at 9th Street near Third Avenue.

Early in June, 1922, I called three times together with Dudikoff, at the Consistory, 15 East 97th Street.